Classic Computers vs. Classic Computing

From: Dave Babcock <daveb_at_cup.hp.com>
Date: Thu Sep 13 20:37:54 2001

> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org
> > [mailto:owner-classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org]On Behalf Of Douglas Quebbeman
> > Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2001 3:01 PM
> > To: 'classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org'
> > Subject: RE: Classic Computers vs. Classic Computing
> >
> >
> > > Doesn't it seem a little odd to be debating whether emulators and
> > > simulators are on-topic when the bulk of the list traffic is about
> > > politics, and even the list owner can't get full cooperation in
> > an attempt
> > > to end threads that have absolutely NO connection with computers nor
> > > computing?
> >
> > Ah, you've seen right through me...
> >
> > We need to get our minds off it for a while, now, I think...
> >
> > However, I'd actually hoped the discussion would quickly
> > leave the real vs. virtual iron and stimulate some interest
> > in the simulators and their range of capabilities.
> >
> > For example, the IBM 1620 emulator, written in Java, is
> > very nice graphically; the 1620 had a great front panel.
> > You can toggle in a program and run it; additionally,
> > it comes with a memory test (or somesuch) already "loaded".
> >
> > But it has no facilities to load/save programs to/from disk.

It will have when it's done. It's still a work-in-progress. Our plan is
to have console typewriter, paper tape reader/punch and card reader/punch
done graphically like the front panel.

The IBM 1620 History project (of which the emulator is one part) has been on
hold for almost a year but is being restarted.

> > OTOH, Doug Jones' PDP/8E emulator provides those capabillites,
> > and if you haven't seen Bernhard Baehr's PDP8/E emulator for
> > the Mac, you should, assuming you have a Mac on which to run it.
> >
> > Hands down, though, the DEC-10 emulators are most excellent!
> > They are able to provide me with a nearly exact duplicate of
> > one of the computing environments I grew up with and miss.
> > The few differences are: I'm the only user (something we used
> > to live for), and the machine name doesn't say I U P U I in
> > it. But I can change *that*...
> >
> > I can also get other users online, but that's another story...
> >
> > Regards,
> > -dq

Thanks,
DaveB
Received on Thu Sep 13 2001 - 20:37:54 BST