'Home' computer: Definition

From: Brett <danjo_at_xnet.com>
Date: Sun Jun 29 18:10:33 1997

On Sun, 29 Jun 1997, Ward Griffiths and/or Lisa Rogers wrote:
> On Sun, 29 Jun 1997, Brett wrote:
> > I remember someone saying in one post about MCMXXX and the response being
> > *must have meant MCMLXXX* - why? Triode tubes (valves - I love that word)
> > were around - Why couldn't you build a computer using tubes from the 30's.
>
> That was me. Yes, it might have been _possible_ to build a machine in
> 1930, but at that time nobody had made the connection between Babbage's
> ideas and electronics. IIRC, it was John von Neuman who took that fatal
> step, then published it. And then all Hell broke loose, and there is no
> sign of the rift closing within our lifetimes. I _love_ it. With
> respect to the old Chinese curse, we live in interesting times. And we
> have done so since the Harvard Mark I. (Well, there _is_ that rumoured
> German predecessor, but it was never advertised.)

Which reminds me, my oldest handheld is from Korea. It feels great on my
feet! My uncle picked it up for me in the mid-60's tho the design has been
around in Asia for centuries.

BC
Received on Sun Jun 29 1997 - 18:10:33 BST