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Cyhist Apr 7 1997 C
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Date: Mon, 7 Apr 1997 17:24:47 EDT
Reply-To: "CYHIST Community Memory: Discussion list on the History of
Cyberspace" <CYHIST@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU> Sender: "CYHIST Community Memory: Discussion list on the History of
Cyberspace" <CYHIST@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU> From: keith reid-green <kreid-green@ETS.ORG>
Subject: Re: 1620 (Operating vintage computers as a hobby)
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Community Memory: Discussion List on the History of Cyberspace ______________________________________________________________________
George Seymour said: "Does anyone know if the 1620 was a model between the 1402 (sic) and the 360?"
First, the 1402 was an input/output box, not a computer. If I have my numbers straight, it was a card reader/punch. The computer that used this device was a 1401.
The 1401 was a variable length instruction, 7-bit byte computer with word marks to delimit the length of an instruction or a data item like a number or a string. The evolution of the 1401 was to the 1410 and then the 7010 and thence to extinction.
The 1620 was developed as an inexpensive "scientific" computer, with card input and various low-speed output devices. And FORTRAN. When I worked at Hercules from 1961 to 1965, we had two 1401s and one 1620, plus various mainframe computers, all IBM. We set up the 1620 to be used as an "open shop" machine. In those days we didn't let amateurs on the big iron and eventually we succumbed to pressure and let assorted non-computer people write programs for the 1620, which we acquired especially for them. I remember an engineer coming to me with a problem. He said, "I have a problem with this curve I am integrating. I ran out of storage (memory, if you insist.)" I said, "You can't run out of storage on that kind of problem. Are you using the trapezoidal rule?" He allowed as how he was. I said, "Well, you couldn't run out of storage, because all you do is read in two numbers, calculate the trapezoid, throw away the first number, read the next and calculate the next trapezoid, right?" He said, "No, I read in all the data before I calculate any trapezoids." Another strong argument for the closed shop. (Break out the fire extinguishers, here come the flames.)
The 1620 was also a dead end computer. Neither the 1401 nor the 1620 contributed in a significant way to the development of the 360.
Keith Reid-Green
KReid-Green@ets.org
Princeton, NJ
______________________________________________________________________
Reply-To: "CYHIST Community Memory: Discussion list on the History of
Cyberspace" <CYHIST@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU> Sender: "CYHIST Community Memory: Discussion list on the History of
Cyberspace" <CYHIST@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU> From: keith reid-green <kreid-green@ETS.ORG>
Subject: Re: 1620 (Operating vintage computers as a hobby)
______________________________________________________________________
Community Memory: Discussion List on the History of Cyberspace ______________________________________________________________________
George Seymour said: "Does anyone know if the 1620 was a model between the 1402 (sic) and the 360?"
First, the 1402 was an input/output box, not a computer. If I have my numbers straight, it was a card reader/punch. The computer that used this device was a 1401.
The 1401 was a variable length instruction, 7-bit byte computer with word marks to delimit the length of an instruction or a data item like a number or a string. The evolution of the 1401 was to the 1410 and then the 7010 and thence to extinction.
The 1620 was developed as an inexpensive "scientific" computer, with card input and various low-speed output devices. And FORTRAN. When I worked at Hercules from 1961 to 1965, we had two 1401s and one 1620, plus various mainframe computers, all IBM. We set up the 1620 to be used as an "open shop" machine. In those days we didn't let amateurs on the big iron and eventually we succumbed to pressure and let assorted non-computer people write programs for the 1620, which we acquired especially for them. I remember an engineer coming to me with a problem. He said, "I have a problem with this curve I am integrating. I ran out of storage (memory, if you insist.)" I said, "You can't run out of storage on that kind of problem. Are you using the trapezoidal rule?" He allowed as how he was. I said, "Well, you couldn't run out of storage, because all you do is read in two numbers, calculate the trapezoid, throw away the first number, read the next and calculate the next trapezoid, right?" He said, "No, I read in all the data before I calculate any trapezoids." Another strong argument for the closed shop. (Break out the fire extinguishers, here come the flames.)
The 1620 was also a dead end computer. Neither the 1401 nor the 1620 contributed in a significant way to the development of the 360.
Keith Reid-Green
KReid-Green@ets.org
Princeton, NJ
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