From: "Pat Barron" <pat_at_transarc.ibm.com>
> Anyone know anything about the CD referred to at this link:
>
> http://members.aol.com/HistoryCD/HOC.html
>
> Is this worth having?
>
> --Pat.
This CD is quite good - there is actually a lot of information in there,
pictures, computer descriptions, company histories, biographies etc etc. It
is a shame that it exists as two _totally_ disconnected parts. Some of it is
in the form of HTML pages, and the rest as Windows Help files (they suggest
using Alt-TAB to switch between the two parts - no links! - but there are
reasonable links within each of the two parts). There are some contributions
from others, such as section on "Shoebox Comptometers" - interesting, but
contributes to a jumbled appearance. You keep getting a totally different
"Table of Contents", "Index" or "Main" page when browsing different parts.
Hidden within it all is stuff I have not seen anywhere else, like a list and
some details of 100 computers that were under development between 1945 to
1955. Lots of chronologies, even one on software.
The CD I got from Amazon a couple of months ago is Copyright 2000, but no
one individual claims credit for it as far as I can see, but one or more
people did a lot of work because it does not all appear to have been just
lifted from the net. I have not had the chance to delve in detail to see if
I can find any errors.
I have lifted the following words from the Introduction HTML page to give
the publishers own fuller description of what they provide.
Phil
(Brisbane - Australia)
=================================
Introduction
This book provides an introduction to the fascinating field of computing
history.
We have chosen to use an encyclopedia format to provide a wide coverage of
the subject, both in terms of time periods and in the types of technologies
addressed.
This special Year 2000 Edition has been revised and expanded to take
advantage of Web Browser technology for viewing the over 300 photos
contained in this Encyclopedia
The History of Computing Encyclopedia now consists of two parts:
Part 1:
The Text Portion, consisting of "Windows help file" type documents is
accessed by clicking on START, PROGRAMS, HISTORY OF COMPUTING, from your
Start menu bar. The text portion contains over 1,000 pages of information.
Part 2:
The Photo Gallery is accessed through your web browser. The Photo Gallery
contains over 300 photos of early machines, computers, components, computer
pioneers and more.
Your Web Browser should be pointed to:
C:\History1\01HISTORYCD-Welcome!.htm
Keep both Parts 1 and 2 open and you can toggle back and forth using your
Alt-Tab key combination, or your mouse.
Contents: In this Encyclopedia you will find information on early
calculators, early counting methods, early typewriting mechanisms,
developments in vacuum tube technology and transistorized circuits, early
electromechanical calculators, early electronic digital computers as well as
modern microprocessor-based systems.
We have also included information on many computer companies as well as
brief biographical sketches of many computer pioneers.
Also, this special edition of History of Computing contains Mr. Brooke W.
Boering's fascinating historical pages and photos of the Comptometer adding
machine.
Industry Growth: The number of computers in the world has grown tremendously
during the past 20 years. It is estimated that the total number of computers
in the world is over 500 million. In the U.S. alone, there are an estimated
160 million computers, with 150 million of these being personal computers.
This reference guide covers hundreds of calculators, early large computers
and early microcomputers.
No single book can cover the entire subject of computing. However, we hope
that this unique CD ROM guide will provide you with valuable information
that will spark your interest towards further exploration of this
fascinating subject.
Our Goals are to:
- Increase the appreciation of computer history as a valuable topic of
study;
- Provide a computer-based reference guide to make learning fun and easy;
- Provide a general overview of the subject of computing technology; and
- Spark your interest in the field and excite you into further reading and
exploration!
Received on Sat Jun 17 2000 - 08:43:45 BST