Vintage computer photogallery - Time Magazine

From: caveguy at sbcglobal.net> To: cctalk at classiccmp.org> Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2007 15:34:30 -0400> Subject: Re: Vintage computer photogallery - Time Magazine> > On Fri, 12 Oct 2007 11:21:23 -0700, Brent Hilpert wrote:> > >Stroller wrote:> >> > >> http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1670168_1461055,00.html> > >Lovely photography but many of the blurbs leave a lot to be desired as far> >as historical and technical accuracy goes. Can't have everything I guess.> > >e.g. this bizarrely phrased attribution:> > >> #10: Core Memory> >> Because it holds its state, core memory is able to retain information> >> even when the electricity is turned off, thereby paving the way to modern> >> computing.> > >Howze that again?> > Many years ago, when removing magnetic core from process control systems I was required to erase well > more like scramble the magnetic core before it could leave the plant. So there was no chance process > variables would leave the plant. I would take off the top cover and pass a magnet over the core array and > told them to put it back into the system, if they did not believe me, but I had no idea what state the > production line would come back up in, if at all. Never had anyone put one back in and test it.> > One of the sales points of using magnetic core memory on early process control systems even as late as > the early 8080 days, was core's ability to retain state on loss of power. One of the leading process control ---snip---