Birbla

Discussion summary

A website similar to IMDb but focused on computers in films was discussed, highlighting various computer models and their appearances. Users noted the prominence of Apple computers and the lack of certain references.

What the discussion says

  • Many users appreciated the detailed lists of computers in films.
  • Some pointed out missing references, like IBM PC and Wargames.
  • Discussion about the prominence of Apple computers in media.
  • Users shared personal experiences with owning or recognizing computers.
  • Comments on the portrayal of advanced civilizations with Apple technology.
“IMFDB but for computers. I like it.”
— rsamtravis
“No IBM PC references? Not one?”
— ____tom____

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  • Hacker News
  • I remember seeing the TRS-80's in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou but I didn't know that they were Model IV's.

    According to this list, there was a TRS-80 Model III in the Star Wars TV series Andor:

    Andor - Season 1, Episode 1, "Kassa" (2022)

    by jim_lawless
  • I spotted at least one touch-screen PC. Is that still a computer? Just kidding.

    Pocket Computers are computers, why are they not in there?

    There is even a trope due to a legal practice about Apples subclass of pocket calculators: iPhones are only worn by good guys in movies, that is a rule by Apple that possibly spoils some twists.

    by a3w
  • What timing. I was just preparing my Sony Vaio PCT-C1MHP only yesterday to try and sell. I remember seeing this in a movie around 2000 (probably Charlies Angels) and got one.

    https://www.starringthecomputer.com/computer.html?c=64

    by martin-adams
  • While not a movie, a bunch of NeXT Cubes (at least the monitors) were used in a Madonna video --- apparently some production company got a good deal on machines intended for Japan (hence the katakana interface)
    by WillAdams
  • Fun Fact: in king of queens, most of the pcs (for example airport episode with doug's parents) are just RCT tvs with paper printout of a screen taped over it.
    by ssenssei
  • Ha! A couple decades ago I saw the original Westworld, spotted some assembly, and thought it looked like 6502/Apple II code, so I assumed that was “probably” it and thought I was a clever nerd. Now I check this list and discovered it wasn’t 6502, and then realized the 6502 (1975) didn’t exist at the time the movie was shot (1973). Reviewed some scenes just now on YouTube and I can see it doesn’t look like 6502 code at all. It does look like the assembly might be the code behind some of the animated displays that look like old screen savers that you see on the other monitors in the film, perhaps, based on a few comments & variables in the code. (For example: https://youtu.be/Luo3uEVOahw?t=2645)
    by dahart
  • Similar: https://www.imcdb.org/ IMCDB, the Internet Movie Car Database
    by roughly
  • IBM's AN-FSQ-7 panels from 1950s SAGE have shown up in a huge number of movies. They are still showing up in new movies. Woody's Electrical Props in LA rents them out.[1]

    Those slanted panels aren't the computer. Those are the modems.

    [1] https://woodysprops.com/item.php?uid=122&page=4

    by Animats

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