ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted January 13, 2006 Report Share Posted January 13, 2006 I thought that maybe some of the older girls and guys here have some similar memories.My first computer I ever worked with was an IBM system 360 model 20. It would have easily filled my current living room. It had4KB (4096 bytes) of memoryno HDall input (including program executables) via punch cardsoutput either on printer or punched cardstwo tape units for sortingoperating system TOS, that later became DOS, and eventually VSEprogrammed by form-based RPGAt the same time I also worked on an IBM system 360 model 40. This would have filled my entire apartment. Some factsmemory: 64KB8 removable HDs, model 2314; capacity: 27MB per packall input via punch cardsoutput either on printer or punched cards6 tape units for sorting or intermediate data storageoperating system OS/360 that later became MVS, and now z/OSprogrammed mostly with IBM assembler, as well as PL/1 and Fortrantasks controlled by job control punch cards; executables stored on disk librariesthere was an IBM typewriter-type console for operator controland yes, the front of the CPU unit was filled with blinking lights, as in a cheap science fiction movieSee also http://images.google.com/images?q=IBM+360&...b=ii&oi=imagest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deuces wild Posted January 13, 2006 Report Share Posted January 13, 2006 Get this one while you can: http://tinyurl.com/ajtxp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted January 13, 2006 Report Share Posted January 13, 2006 My first computer was passed on to me by my son. It was a DAN, top of the range when he bought it. It had 32MB of RAM, which I upgraded to 256. You needed the patience of Jobe to do much on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thos Posted January 13, 2006 Report Share Posted January 13, 2006 I am a relatively new computer user but I am reminded that about three or four years ago I toured NASA Control Centre (or should I say Center) in Houston and was told that the then present day PC's were more powerful than those used to control space launches at the time of space race.Thos. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artist Posted January 13, 2006 Report Share Posted January 13, 2006 It is strangely attractive in a way. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thos Posted January 13, 2006 Report Share Posted January 13, 2006 It is strangely attractive in a way. :)What are you looking at??Thos. :unsure: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scuzzman Posted January 13, 2006 Report Share Posted January 13, 2006 It is strangely attractive in a way. :)Why thank you, never thought you'd notice :wub: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted January 13, 2006 Report Share Posted January 13, 2006 It is strangely attractive in a way. :)What are you looking at??Thos. :unsure:She was looking at my photo on my profile page. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artist Posted January 13, 2006 Report Share Posted January 13, 2006 so - I forgot the quote - don't be picky!! I am just NOT in the mood! :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadyassa Posted January 13, 2006 Report Share Posted January 13, 2006 Mine was a Dragon 32, more like a game player, but I got a free dotmatrix printer with it that printed on that tractor feed paper stuff. A lot of the software was on tapes and if you didn`t get the volume right (?) it wouldn`t load.I sold it on Ebay a couple of years ago to an antique shop :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deuces wild Posted January 13, 2006 Report Share Posted January 13, 2006 It is strangely attractive in a way. :)What are you looking at??Thos. :unsure: She was looking at my photo on my profile page. I could then understand the word "strange" but certainly not "attractive". :P :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted January 13, 2006 Report Share Posted January 13, 2006 My first encounter with computers was at a distance. We had a large "Main Frame" device at head office which was kept in conditions of controlled humidity and clinical cleanliness, and no one was allowed to break wind within half a mile of it. One of my lab assistants used to go acroos into the Finance dept. every day, for threequarters on an hour( if a connection could be made), and key in all the raw material and product testing results, plus shopfloor inspectors results, and we got a printed out monthly report "instantly" three weeks after the end of the month, The accounts department utilised it for the intervening time. This was progress! Previously each lab assistant and inspector used to do their own bit, and the deparmental clerk did the final report in a couple of day, and the report was finished two days after month end. This was in the middle 70s. After a struggle I managed to knock this on the head and got hold of a progammable calculator so that my dept. clerk could do it all in about a quarter of the time that the whole mess took.When Sinclair brought out his ZX80 (197?) I got one, and the little B&W TV for the monitor, not forgetting the casette tape recorder for data storage, and learned to programme using basic. Eventually, once I had found what could be achieved, we got an IBM PC (with one 5 1/4 inch single sided floppy for data storage and a built in memory almost as small as a politician's). We used MSDOS, Ashton Tate's early dBase for data manipulation and processing and Wordstar for text. I had virtually forgotten about about Mr Sinclairs machine until this topic was started...thank you, Pat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r4may Posted January 13, 2006 Report Share Posted January 13, 2006 Elliot 803 was my first computer, The worlds first semi conductor computer using transistors and diode etc:-1mico-sec cycle time with 48 bit word, 4K core memory, paper tape input/output, 25mm magnetic film storage and a teleprinter hard copy. Sound system was a single speaker operated by the buffer overflow bit.Keyboard had 48 Bit Keys plus control push button keys to load the bootstrap paper tape programs and control programs.Programs written in machine code only to start with until a compiler got written.No such thing as a personal computer until Texas, Intel and others developed the microslice and microchip.Remember the Nascom ??Those were the days :) :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gandalph Posted January 13, 2006 Report Share Posted January 13, 2006 For me, my first serious computer was the Tandy TRS 80. 32k (wow, what do you do with all that) no software on the shelves. It was a case of bury your head in the book's and develop your own BASIC programmes or it did nothing. This was when I started my own business in 1976 and was looking for a better way to produce Invoices and cut down on my paper work. It did the trick after three months of reading and trial and error.I've still got my TRS-80 Model 100 Laptop. I believe it was the very first type of laptop ever produced. It is still in it's original state. Never upgraded the RAM or anything. Still in it's original case with Manual and still has the original Ni-Cad backup battery, and, is still working to this day. I've been offered a lot of cash from an American for this little gizmo as he can't get one for a museum he is starting in Seattle but I have turned him down five times. It's a great little machine and I still keep notes and a database of names and telephone numbers on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deuces wild Posted January 13, 2006 Report Share Posted January 13, 2006 For me, my first serious computer was the Tandy TRS 80. 32k (wow, what do you do with all that) no software on the shelves. It was a case of bury your head in the book's and develop your own BASIC programmes or it did nothing. This was when I started my own business in 1976 and was looking for a better way to produce Invoices and cut down on my paper work. It did the trick after three months of reading and trial and error.I've still got my TRS-80 Model 100 Laptop. I believe it was the very first type of laptop ever produced. It is still in it's original state. Never upgraded the RAM or anything. Still in it's original case with Manual and still has the original Ni-Cad backup battery, and, is still working to this day. I've been offered a lot of cash from an American for this little gizmo as he can't get one for a museum he is starting in Seattle but I have turned him down five times. It's a great little machine and I still keep notes and a database of names and telephone numbers on it. If this is the computer you are talking about then sorry to burst your bubble............tell him to jump onto Ebay and he can get one for $25. :D http://tinyurl.com/9ysb2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gandalph Posted January 14, 2006 Report Share Posted January 14, 2006 That's the one Deuces. I haven't got a bubble to burst as I told the potential buyer at the time there must be plenty of them around somewhere if only he looked. He said to me that he had never seen one in the original case with the manual in such a good condition and that's why he wanted it. He has made me an offer five times but I have refused to sell him it as money is not an issue. Out of the thousands that were made there must be hundreds around. I think it was because of the low serial number as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deuces wild Posted January 14, 2006 Report Share Posted January 14, 2006 Sorry I did not know that. You have to admit everything offered on the Ebay auction I posted was in excellent condition considering it's age. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gandalph Posted January 14, 2006 Report Share Posted January 14, 2006 Sorry I did not know that. You have to admit everything offered on the Ebay auction I posted was in excellent condition considering it's age. :)Eureka! by gad sir I think I have it. I started myself wondering why my friend in Washington was so interested in the TRS 80/100 that I have. I've never really thought about it before, so I decided to Google around and do a bit of reading. I came across a website about the history of Bill Gates and his friends in their Harvard days and how the basic language had been developed etc.. Not much interesting there really, then I came across this,Introduced in 1983 and costing $800, the Tandy/Radio Shack PC Model 100 redefined the concept of portability in personal computing. It included built-in text editing, spreadsheet, and communications programs. Microsoft worked closely with Tandy in the definition and development of the machine.I bought my TRS 80/ 100 early December 1983, I'll bet you cant guess what the serial number of my model is. :D It may be just a coincidence, but, it might just be the answer to why he wants it. [Answers on the back of a £20.00 note to Gandalph c/o Windows Forum] :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deuces wild Posted January 14, 2006 Report Share Posted January 14, 2006 And the answer is............................................................................ :rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gandalph Posted January 14, 2006 Report Share Posted January 14, 2006 And the answer is............................................................................ :rolleyes:001983 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deuces wild Posted January 14, 2006 Report Share Posted January 14, 2006 Cool. B) Looks like a keeper! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadyassa Posted January 14, 2006 Report Share Posted January 14, 2006 And the answer is............................................................................ :rolleyes:001983Wow thats great like dw says you must keep it and all the packaging etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gandalph Posted January 14, 2006 Report Share Posted January 14, 2006 And the answer is............................................................................ :rolleyes:001983Wow that's great like dw says you must keep it and all the packaging etc.The serial number is the only reason I can think of that would account for my friend wanting it. I have a friend down the NE of England who I have been trying to contact today as he bought one from the same shop three weeks after seeing mine and I know he still has it. He is away in Germany at the moment so I will get in touch when he returns. I am very interested to know what the serial number on his is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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