21 Mar
1998
21 Mar
'98
2:08 p.m.
At 01:21 AM 3/21/98 -0600, you wrote:
I know people collect calculators, but I just can't imagine how it can
bring the same kind of satisfaction as computer collecting. You can't
really hack a calculator. They don't lend themselves very well to
restoration efforts. They can't do many tricks. And few of them have any
sort of personality
Have you ever tried a HP 41? How does up to 961 external devices of
nearly every descrptions grab you? That's just one of the capabilities of
the HP-41 using the HP-IL interface. I currently have a 41 running a HP
logic analyzer!
(OK, I'll admit that HP tries pretty hard in this
area).
They did a good job too :-)
Has anybody ventured a definition of computer that allows us to weed out
mere calculators? How about:
* must be programmable
* must be general purpose
* must have alphanumeric input capabilites
* must have alphanumeric display capabilites
The HP-41, 71, 75 and all the newer ones fit this description.
Unfortunately, this would mean that an Altair isn't a computer until you
add a terminal, but it keeps those pesky HP-65's out of the group.
-- Doug
Joe