Info on things old wanted...

From: Lawrence Walker <lwalker_at_mail.interlog.com>
Date: Tue Oct 14 17:36:43 1997

> Date: Sun, 12 Oct 1997 20:48:31 -0400 (EDT)
> Reply-to: classiccmp_at_u.washington.edu
> From: William Donzelli <william_at_ans.net>
> To: "Discussion re-collecting of classic computers" <classiccmp_at_u.washington.edu>
> Subject: Info on things old wanted...
> X-To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp_at_u.washington.edu>

> I received a bit of mail from a buddy:
>
> >1) IBM 29 card punch + writer machine fitted into a desk
> >2) Bendix DATAGRID Digitizer (a large unit) w/ pad (about 1.5 m by 1 m)
>
> >The digitizing machine and pad are connected by some hefty
> >wires. Les inspected the works and declared "gonna hafta
> >cut them wires." Maureen suggested that she take a look
> >at it first.
>
> Does anyone have any information on these two things? My guess is that the
> IBM card machine may be
  pre-computer (programmed by plugboards, etc.).
  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
                                       
 WHOAH here !! Just a minute !! Are you trying to say that anything
without a LSI chip or integrated circuit-board is a "pre-computer" ?
 This might be the beginning of an epistimological revision to rival
that of the term PC to mean a MSDOS machine or R&R meaning any
kind of new pop music.
  Or is it that the caps,diodes, and transistors are miniturized on
modern computer chips ? Or that the instructions for routing of info
for processing is done on disk rather than by plug-boards ?
 They'll have to rename the Brabbage Museum to Gates.
Another victory for King Bill !!

Lets hope not.
ciao Larry

 
lwalkerN0spaM_at_interlog.com
Received on Tue Oct 14 1997 - 17:36:43 BST