Retro Hardware


Classic computers, consoles, and hands-on retro tech projects.

Bringing My Atari 2600 Joysticks and Paddles Back to Life

Atari 2600 Controller Restoration, 2026 by Steven Reid

I recently got back into retro hardware. My starting point was gaming, as I ordered one of the new Atari 7800s that plays the old cartridges. In my haste to grab a few games, I inadvertently purchased a complete 2600 with controllers. I’ll blame travel and lack of sleep for missing that detail. But it gave me the opportunity to attempt something I’ve never done before: restore the controllers.


My Retro Computing Binge, Falling Back in Love With Hardware

Retro Hardware

Lately I’ve been on a binge — a retro computing hardware binge. It started last year when I went searching for a working Timex Sinclair 1000. The idea was simple. Set it up and run my own programs on real hardware again. What began as a hunt for one machine quickly turned into something bigger.