Gidday Tony
On 31-May-01, you wrote:
>>
>>
>> I've just been reading "Computer: A History of the
>> Information Machine", by Martin Campbell-Kelly and WIlliam
>> Aspray. It mentions the Altair 8800 (on page 240) and
>> describes the front panel:
>>
>> When loaded, the program would run; but the only evidence
>> of its execution was the change in the shifting pattern of
>> the neon bulbs on the front.
>>
>> Neon bulbs? Did the Altair really have neon bulbs on the
>> front panel? I would have expected LEDs -- can anyone
>> clarify this, please?
> The schematic I've just looked at shows LEDs. FWIW the schematics of a
> couple of other S100 front panels also show LEDs for the monitoring
> lights.
> Neons were not at all common on transistorised (or IC-based) computers.
Not surprising, since neon needs 90V to light it.
Regards
--
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Received on Thu May 31 2001 - 03:56:40 BST