Floppy Days 159 - The KayPro, Part 3 with Matt Jones

FLOPPY DAYS 159 - The KayPro - Part 3 With Matt Jones

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/FloppyDays

Sponsors:

• 8-Bit Classics

• Arcade Shopper and https://thekeep.net

• FutureVision Research

• Tuc's Workbench 

Hello, and welcome to episode 159 of the Floppy Days Podcast for January, 2026.  I’m Randy Kindig, your host.  We are currently covering computers introduced in the year 1982 and, to that end, we are currently in the middle of a series of podcasts about the Kaypro line of computers.  Kaypro had a rich and varied family of computers; certainly much more so than I ever realized.  I was able to interview David Kay, son of the founder of KayPro, and president of the company for some time, in the previous two episodes.  This month we’ll delve into history, tech specs, and more, through the topic of using the machine.  Next month we’ll complete the series by starting with books and magazines and ending with current Web sites and a lot more content in between.

I will have a video version of this episode posted to the Floppy Days Podcast channel on YouTube.

You will hear ads from some great vintage computer stores, themselves vintage computer fans, throughout the early part of this podcast.  For all of these storefronts, when you place an order, please mention Floppy Days in the notes or comments of the order.  Doing so will help support the podcast.  Many thanks!!

I also wanted to mention those listeners who appreciate the show enough to donate through patreon.com.   I really appreciate you guys and it helps offset the cost of running the podcast.

Regarding that, I've created some tiers for paid members and have come up with some ways to reward those who are generous enough to monetarily support the Floppy Days Podcast on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/FloppyDays ), such as early access to videos of interviews like the one being brought to you in audio form in this episode.  Visit Patreon to see more details concerning the rewards for supporters .

I just want to say that it is my intention to always make all content available to everyone at no cost, while at the same time providing some benefits for those generous enough to support the podcast. I hope you agree I’ve come up with a good compromise

Please let me know your thoughts. Enjoy!!

New Acquisitions

• C64 Ultimate - https://www.commodore.net 

• Smith Corona Ultrasonic 450 Typewriter and Messenger Module - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTcWEU2UPgM 

News

• Interview with Stewart Cheifet for Floppy Days back in 2017 - https://floppydays.libsyn.com/floppy-days-78-interview-with-stewart-chefeit-computer-chronicles 

Upcoming Vintage Computer Shows

• Vintage Computer Festival Montreal - Jan. 24-25, 2026 - Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC - https://vcfed.org/vcf-montreal/ 

• Tandy Retro Show 2026 - Jan. 24-25 - virtual - tandyretroshow.com 

• Vintage Electronics Expo - Jan. 31, 2026 - Oakland Expo Center, Waterford, MI -  https://www.thevee.org/ 

• Vintage Computer Festival SoCal - February 14-15, 2026 - Hotel Fera Events Center, Orange, CA - vcfsocal.com 

• Indy Classic Computer and Video Game Expo - March 20-22 - Wyndham Indianapolis Airport Hotel, Indianapolis, IN - https://indyclassic.org/ 

• VCF East - April 17-19 2026 - InfoAge Science and History Museums, Wall, NJ - https://vcfed.org/events/vintage-computer-festival-east/ 

• Midwest Gaming Classic - April 24-26 - Baird Center, Milwaukee, WI - https://www.midwestgamingclassic.com/ 

• The Annual “Last” Chicago CoCoFEST! - April 24-25, 2026 - Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago-Carol Stream (Wheaton), Carol Stream, Illinois - https://www.glensideccc.com/cocofest/ 

• Commodore Los Angeles Super Show 2026 - April 25-26 - Burbank, CA  - http://www.portcommodore.com/class 

• VCF Europe - May 1-3 - Munich, Germany - https://vcfe.org/E/ 

• Vintage Computer Festival Pacific Northwest 2026 - May 2-3 - Tukwila Community Center, South Tukwila, WA -  https://vcfpnw.org 

• VCF Southwest - May 29-31, 2026 - Westin Dallas Ft. Worth Airport - https://www.vcfsw.org/ 

• Retrofest 2026 - May 30-31 - Steam Museum of the Great Western Railway, Swindon, UK - https://retrofest.uk/ 

• Schedule Published on Floppy Days Website - https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSeLsg4hf5KZKtpxwUQgacCIsqeIdQeZniq3yE881wOCCYskpLVs5OO1PZLqRRF2t5fUUiaKByqQrgA/pub 

References

• Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaypro 

• KayPro (CP/M) information at retrocmp.de - https://retrocmp.de/kaypro 

• KayPro Journal - http://kayprojournal.com