On Tue, 30 Mar 2004 18:06:31 -0500 (EST)
William Donzelli <aw288_at_osfn.org> wrote:
> > I think you need a bit of perspective here! "Lots of us" is
> > a microscopic crowd, a very few hardcore collectors with the
> > $ to stockpile.
>
> I think the number of people on this list with PDPs of some flavor would
> be quite high - maybe at least 20 percent? It is a rough guess, but
> judging from the posts here and there over the years...
>
I have a few tubes of IM6100 Microprocessor chips, which is the first generation 'PDP-8 on a chip.' That's as close as I come to having a PDP-8 though. I programmed a PDP-8 in the 'Introduction to Computer Programming' course that I took at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1978. And I worked at a Microfilm shop that had COM (Computer Output to Microfilm) Cameras controlled by PDP-8 processors a few years after that. Otherwise I have had little experience with DEC gear, though I'm about ready to track down my first VAX sometime soon (I hope).
> As far as "$ to stockpile" - almost anyone on this list could have a PDP-8
> (with the exception of a Straight, LINC-8, or -8/S) if they put their mind
> to it. They are still out there, so if money is problem, old fashioned
> legwork will eventually pay off. An then there is ebay, of course, and we
> all know that quite few PDP-8s appear every year. Spending $1000-2000 for
> a PDP-8 (maybe an 8/E) is really not completely insane. Put in some
> overtime, wheel and deal, sacrifice a few other luxuries, whatever -
> budget and save and that $2000 will appear.
>
> Now an S/360 is a different matter. I have worked my legs for something
> like seven years for one, and nothing has come my way (although I missed
> that model 22 by a few weeks, I think). I have also made a serious budget
> for one if Ebay finally pops one up, but none have. Where am I to get one?
>
Wouldn't you need a raised floor/controlled-environment to run a S/360? My dad worked with those back in the day, and I have an authentic official 'System 360' Ashtray still in the box that he brought home, but that's the only S/360 item in my collection. Anybody else have a S/360 ashtry, or one of the wooden 'THINK' desk signs IBM distributed in the 60's? (still have one of those dad gave me, too) I really, REALLY wish I hadn't lost track of the IBM LP record I used to have from some IBM Symposium. It had IBMers singing songs, etc. They had an official Company song, back in the day.
Received on Tue Mar 30 2004 - 19:41:51 BST