Emulators of Classic Computers

From: Tom Jennings <tomj_at_wps.com>
Date: Tue Jan 20 01:47:59 2004

Making a replacement for a tube is easy, as long as you don't require it
to look like a tube.



On Mon, 2004-01-19 at 14:47, Antonio Carlini wrote:
> > But with TUBE computers you just fix the broken part.:)
> > That is the major difference between IC's and the earlier
> > generations of computers. That is part of the reason real
> > classic computers have a better chance of sticking around,
> > as you can still make parts like core memory for a modest
> > amount of $ compared to anything with a IC in it. Ben.
>
> Tubes are still being manufactured, but 50 years from now,
> will they still be made? If not, how feasible would it be
> to make a replacement for an existing tube (assume a common
> tube where characteristics are known) as a hobbyist?
>
> The early ICs, I would guess, were simple enough that,
> given the specs, you could knock up a work-a-like from
> modern parts.
>
> I agree that, from the restorer's point of view, modern
> parts (FPGAs, ASICs etc.) are hard to replace. But that's
> just because the internal structure is not known (and that
> matters for FPGAs). If you did know how a given FPGA was
> constructed internally, I expect you could "emulate" it
> with one from a few generations later.
>
> Antonio
>
>
Received on Tue Jan 20 2004 - 01:47:59 GMT