[Elecraft] Now that we know

[Larry Phipps]

You guys bring up memories. I think I was a bit behind you. My first 
experience at school was with an IBM 360 at the Univ. of  Mich., running 
a proprietary language known as MAD (Michigan Algorith Decoder), plus 
the usual COBOL/SNOBOL/Fortran, etc. I remember punch cards and batch 
output (what a pain), but I was able to cheat because I had a EE class 
where the prof gave us access to his account using the TeleType Model 28 
terminals in the EE bldg., so needless to say, I didn't use up much of 
my allotted time for the computer classes to get my programs debugged ;-)

My first experience with a mini was with a Data General Nova II, with 
paper tape I/O (plus front panel switches, of course). The thing had 16k 
of core memory, and a "huge" hard drive of 64k. The drive weighed about 
100 lbs, and was pressurized with helium. We had a big tank of 
industrial grade helium that we could re-pressurize with when we had to 
open it up for maintenance... and of course we all had to inhale it and 
talk funny.

Larry N8LP



Mike Morrow wrote:

>Kevin wrote:
>
>  
>
>>The memories are good ones but I realize the kids working
>>the store were not born when those computers were first 
>>considered obsolete.
>>    
>>
>
>I spent many a happy evening with Ga. Tech's Univac 1108 scientific mainframe 35 years ago, and their older but clever stack machine known as the Burroughs B5500.  
>
>Later, as a EE grad student at U of Arkansas after leaving the Navy, I learned about IBM's famous System 360/370.  How many people today remember the "Houston Automatic Spooler Program (HASP)" or would understand a bumpersticker that read "Honk if you love JCL!"
>
>Today, we are most of us computer appliance operators, who learn application programs, but know little about the hardware and firmware beneath the application.
>
>73,
>Mike / KK5F
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