I can say a bit on altairs (others will fill in more I'm sure <grin>). Altairs
were programmed with binary coding. So you set each switch up/down for the
binary, then toggled an accept switch, then went on to the next "line" of your
program. Extremely slow to put in a program.
Thats why quickly, people built addons that would allow for disk drives/tape
drives/paper drives.
As for keyboards, I have heard of one, not positive it actually ever existed
(someone might know).
Monitors weren't largely used. Most of the time a teletype terminal system
would be used (where instead of a screen, your output is typed on a large roll
of paper). I know that they did add the ability to hook to a monitor/t.v.
later.
A good book on that era, is Stan Veits "History of the personal computer". One
of the reasons I like it, is Stan was one of the first computer shop owners in
New York city, at the time Altairs were coming out. He describes many of the
different machines of the time in this book, and his experiences with them (fun
reading for someone interested in vintage computers). If you want a copy, let
me know and I'll e-mail you the bookstore's website.
As for more information, this list is good for hearing information, and also, if
you do a websearch on vintage computers, you'll find websites devoted to the
older computers.
And last, remember, that you did work on some older computers :) The IIc, and
the Tandy are computers, that most people today don't even realize ever existed
:)
Noel
Jason Willgruber wrote:
> Hi!
>
> I've been growing up in the age of "IBM era" of computers. The only non-IBM
> (compatible) computers that I've worked on was an apple //c and a TRS-80
> model III that nearly caught my basement on fire. I'm 16 years old, so I
> haven't had any experience with any pre 1980's stuff (other than the //c).
>
> What I'm wondering, is what exactly is a PDP, or a VAX, or an Altair, or any
> of the other things that come up frequently on the list. Also - how is one
> of the computers (such as the Altair) operated, with all the switches and
> indicators? Is there a keyboard or a monitor with it?
>
> ThAnX,
> --
> -Jason Willgruber
> (roblwill_at_usaor.net)
> ICQ#: 1730318
> <http://members.tripod.com/general_1>
Received on Fri Mar 12 1999 - 19:50:03 GMT