Pepsi (was: Drive By Pokings... Was first programs

From: Ross Archer <archer_at_topnow.com>
Date: Thu Jan 18 13:52:13 2001

You would think the first principle of a consumer device
of any sort is that nothing you can do within the bounds of
reason should cause it to blow up.

Not so with the Compucolor computer. There were
a range of settings in the video chip which could cause the chip to
gradually overheat and destroy itself. Or maybe it was the
monitor... it was years ago, and my memory is fuzzy, but I think
the warning applied to the IC. I think one BASIC poke was all
it took.

Does anybody remember the whole story (or care)?

-- Ross


Tony Duell wrote:

> > > the HP85 manual where it said something like:
> > > 'There is no way you can damage the computer through use of the
> > > keyboard'.
> > > That was the right thing to say to (somewhat shy) me.
> >
> > I have always reassured my programming students that nothing that they
> > accidentally enter through the keyboard of their computers would actually
> > DAMAGE the computer. One wiseguy said,"I entered a Pepsi."
>
> Didn't one of the Apple ][ manuals (Applesoft Tutorial) contain a
> statement like (and this is from memory..)
>
> 'You cannot damage the Apple by typing. Unless you type with a hammer. So
> feel free to experiement. With your fingers'.
>
> -tony
Received on Thu Jan 18 2001 - 13:52:13 GMT