[cctalk] Re: Silly question about S-100 and video monitors

When I said "tape drive", I was actually thinking mostly of cassette On Wed, 30 Aug 2023, Mike Katz wrote: > I think you forgot the most common storage back then.  Audio cassette at 300 > or 1200 baud. > > On 8/30/2023 5:39 PM, Fred Cisin via cctalk wrote: >> On Wed, 30 Aug 2023, Wayne S wrote: >>> When s-100 machines came out, they were standalone. The serial port was >>> for sending serial data not for a terminal. You would have to write some >>> software to use it with a terminal. >> >> Of course. >> >> To do anything with it, you needed some input and output. >> Either a good front panel, or >> a serial port plus software for a terminal, or >> a keyboard input with software, plus a video board with software. >> >> paper tape for storage, so as to not have to key in every program evey >> time, or >> a tape drive, or a disk drive. >> >> By the end of the 1970s, computers were being sold with terminal or >> keyboard/video hardware and software, and then disk drives and an operating >> system.  BASIC on paper tape, ROM, or disk, . . . >> >> By the end of the 1970s, you did not need to be an electronics/comupter >> hobbyist to buy and use a personal computer. >> It became possible, without even a scope and soldering iron! >> >> >> -- >> Grumpy Ol' Fred             cisin(a)xenosoft.com