Info on things old wanted...

From: William Donzelli <william_at_ans.net>
Date: Wed Oct 15 08:23:46 1997

> > 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 whole family of data processing machines is commonly called "unit
record equipment". Yes, the stuff does process data just as a modern
database can, but they are really not general purpose data crunchers like
a "standard" 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.

The lines of history are often very blurry. Rarely does anything get
invented or changed in an instant of time. Data processing machines are no
exception, but one does have to come up with some naming conventions, or
use ones already in place. I was just using an existing one.

And no, I never implied that computers started with LSI chips - as a few
of you people know, I collect minis mostly, and two of my machines do not
have integrated circuits at all. I still call them computers (OK, one is
actually a calculator, but I am not going to open that can of worms).

William Donzelli
william_at_ans.net
Received on Wed Oct 15 1997 - 08:23:46 BST