Saved Altair 4K BASIC

From: Allison J Parent <allisonp_at_world.std.com>
Date: Wed Nov 11 10:38:28 1998

< It's all a matter of time, place and comparison. What was DEC charging
< for a box, OS and BASIC at the time?

An 8E with basic, enough core and tty would likely be about 14-18k maybe
less. Used it could be in the under $3000 range in '77.

In 1972 I was offered a pdp-8I with he works(TTY, RS08, DECTAPE, 32k core)
for a mere $10,000 operating! It was a bit steep for me but a new
chevy truck then was $3300.

< >Absolutely. I agree 100%. If he had priced it in the range that a
< >hobbyist could afford, and proportionate to the cost of the system ($50
< >for the kit?) then people would buy it. Its nothing to throw down $25
< >$50 if you're getting a manual and support with that.
<
< Pish-posh. In 1978, we're talking about a bunch of scroungy ex-
< or current- ham radio operators who'd cross the street to pick up
< two pennies on the sidewalk. Even today, why do people routinely
< pirate software that can be had for $20 in the CompUSA discount bin?

That characterization was at best inaccurate. The members of LICA (LI
computing ASSOC) were less than 25% hams, many(60%) were professionals in
the industry (mostly large iron). Most were techs and hard wroking slobs
that the price of a KIM-1 was stiff for them and $350 for Basic was
several weeks pay.

Allison
Received on Wed Nov 11 1998 - 10:38:28 GMT