yo

From: Brett <danjo_at_xnet.com>
Date: Wed Apr 30 09:23:00 1997

On Tue, 29 Apr 1997, Sam Ismail wrote:
> On Tue, 29 Apr 1997, Brett wrote:
> > > Yes, I realized that. The PDP-8 and PDP-11 are definitely worthy of
[Snippy]
> > *other* stuff. Once seeing a PDP-8, it kind of hit home that, Yes you
> > could pack all the power of a room full of stuff into one half height
[Snippy]
> Well, even though I am proposing a micro as the Computer of the Show, it
> does not mean that this is to the exclusion of all other systems.
> Definitely the PDP will be featured (if we can get one at the show) and
> will enjoy a billing equal to the other systems. Your next point is
> compelling though...

Gee, Sam, I thought ALL my points were compelling 8-)

> > > Good suggestions. But for the first year, recognizable names from
> > > the annals of computer history would go a longer way towards gaining
[Snippitty]
> > running battle with and ask them too! Explain how the *battle*
> > improved the world for everyone. Nobody was right - nobody was wrong.
> > It's just how things went.
>
> This would be attractive to Cray. But isn't Cray gone now?

Are they? Was that recent? Who is supporting the hardware/software now?
Gee, isn't MITS gone? Isn't Commodore gone? Isn't the Home Computer
Products Division at TI gone? I don't know about MITS but Rockwell
might like some words since they still(?) source 65XX products, and TI
wouldn't mind some interest. Motorola did/do the 6800/68000.

> Anyhow, if we tell the plight of one manufacturer, other manufacturer's
> will get a black eye that we didn't choose THEIR system and will hold a
> grudge against the show for ever more. I don't think you can win unless
> you highlight ALL the systems and have ample history on ALL the players
> in the computer industry.

You'll still miss SOMEBODY 8-) There's no way around it if you plan on
keeping the show to any KNOWN display area (you don't have a Tardis do
you?)

> So this is what I plan on doing, except I still want to showcase a micro
> as the show highlight because:
> 1) I grew up on them and

Well, my kids grew up on Minis. There was just no other place to put them,
the kids I mean 8-) Used a PDP 11/23 as a changing table 8-)

> 2) they brought computers into the hands of the masses.

What! This is a good thing? 8-)

> Mini's made them accessible to businesses, etc. But micro's made
> computing power accessible to just about anyone. They would be the
> systems that people would most readily identify with. I think as long
> as we have a mix of all the different platforms, it will be a show for
> all.

Kidding aside, have you thought about the layout of the show? Are you
going to try a "Trip Throught Time" style (linear) with the oldest up
front and then walk thru to the present? Are you going to try a *cross*
with seperate arms Minis down one way 65/68 stuff down another and Intel
down the long one and the *selected* machine at the top? Or aren't you
thinking that far ahead yet?

BC
Received on Wed Apr 30 1997 - 09:23:00 BST