Few people have heard of it, yet many consider John Blankenbaker's KENBAK-1 to be the first commercial personal computer.
Hacking The Atari Video Music
By James Grahame
The Atari Video Music was styled to resemble a high-end stereo component that produced a kaleidescope of weird video effects that pulsed in time to your favorite Kraftwerk or Pink Floyd LPs. If offered a pair of RCA audio inputs and an RF video output, along with a series of buttons to select several profoundly named effects including Solid, Hole, and Ring. There is also an Auto mode, just in case the unit's owner is unable to escape the giant blue spiders long enough to press another orange button in a timely fashion.
Switched On in Austin has taken the Video Music a step further by offering custom modifications. These include a composite video output, upgraded 1/4" input and thru jacks for both audio inputs, a distortion output, 8 waveform mixers and hue modulation. A pre-modded unit costs $650, but they'll also modify your own box.
