25 May
2024
25 May
'24
3:20 p.m.
On Sat, May 25, 2024, 8:14 AM Jon Elson via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org
wrote:
On 5/24/24 11:49, Mike Katz via cctalk wrote:
I know a guy in a basement in Germany that has three supercomputers up and
running, that he installed and maintains himself. Except for when he
invites guests over, they're very personal.
That being said, I don't know that the Bendix G-15 fits the bill, but the
LINC very much does, especially considering it was kinda of intended to be
a single user machine, and at least one of the team that put it together
brought one home and used it there.
If I were writing the definitive history of personal computing, I'd maybe
start with SIMON, then the LINC, then eventually the Altair.
Sellam
The problem with this debate is that the
definition of
Personal Computer is totally fluid and can be written so
that the writers opinion is fact.
Yes, the Bendix G-15 was said to be the first personal
computer. It was as big as a refrigerator, and weighed a LOT
more, and drew much more power. (300 vacuum tubes, 3000
Germanium diodes, drum memory.) but, one guy could program
it and run it.
The LINC comes in a close second.
Jon