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Cyhist Dec 05 1996 A
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Date: Thu, 5 Dec 1996 08:00:13 EST
Reply-To: "CYHIST Community Memory: Discussion list on the History of
Cyberspace" <CYHIST@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU>
Sender: "CYHIST Community Memory: Discussion list on the History of
Cyberspace" <CYHIST@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU>
From: keith reid-green <kreid-green@ets.org>
Subject: Re: CYHIST: PCs
______________________________________________________________________
Community Memory: Discussion List on the History of Cyberspace ______________________________________________________________________
I had a little something to do with a PDP8 when I was working for Mobil Oil Corp. in NYC. The office in London was supposed to collect all telegraphic communication from the European offices and send them via the transatlantic cable at night, when the rates were lowest. So they got a PDP8 to collect and concentrate the messages and to transmit them. I was planning my first trip back to England (this was 1966) since I emigrated in 1949.
I went to Maynard, Mass., to attend a PDP8 class. DEC was in its original building then--an old paper mill. No renovation had taken place and the wooden floors sagged alarmingly. The most charming feature of the place was the little squares of sheet metal that covered the rat holes. I would have cheerfully defected on the spot, except that probably would have meant no trip to England.
On another topic, I haven't seen any conversation about the Tektronix 4051.
I worked on 4051s and later, 4052s from 1978 through 1986. They were known as "Desktop Computers". They were programmed in BASIC with some very good extensions. The machine consisted of a box with a little green screen and a slot for a mag tape cartridge. The keyboard was attached. When I was at RCA Labs (1978-1986) we used them for numerical control of milling machines and lathes. If anybody would like to hear more about this, I'll be glad to discuss it.
Keith Reid-Green
KReid-Green@ets.org
______________________________________________________________________
Reply-To: "CYHIST Community Memory: Discussion list on the History of
Cyberspace" <CYHIST@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU>
Sender: "CYHIST Community Memory: Discussion list on the History of
Cyberspace" <CYHIST@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU>
From: keith reid-green <kreid-green@ets.org>
Subject: Re: CYHIST: PCs
______________________________________________________________________
Community Memory: Discussion List on the History of Cyberspace ______________________________________________________________________
I had a little something to do with a PDP8 when I was working for Mobil Oil Corp. in NYC. The office in London was supposed to collect all telegraphic communication from the European offices and send them via the transatlantic cable at night, when the rates were lowest. So they got a PDP8 to collect and concentrate the messages and to transmit them. I was planning my first trip back to England (this was 1966) since I emigrated in 1949.
I went to Maynard, Mass., to attend a PDP8 class. DEC was in its original building then--an old paper mill. No renovation had taken place and the wooden floors sagged alarmingly. The most charming feature of the place was the little squares of sheet metal that covered the rat holes. I would have cheerfully defected on the spot, except that probably would have meant no trip to England.
On another topic, I haven't seen any conversation about the Tektronix 4051.
I worked on 4051s and later, 4052s from 1978 through 1986. They were known as "Desktop Computers". They were programmed in BASIC with some very good extensions. The machine consisted of a box with a little green screen and a slot for a mag tape cartridge. The keyboard was attached. When I was at RCA Labs (1978-1986) we used them for numerical control of milling machines and lathes. If anybody would like to hear more about this, I'll be glad to discuss it.
Keith Reid-Green
KReid-Green@ets.org
______________________________________________________________________
