10 Apr
2003
10 Apr
'03
12:06 p.m.
On Thu, 10 Apr 2003, Tony Duell wrote:
If the IBM 5100 is classed as an 'early personal
computer', why isn't the
HP9830 also included? The 9830 came out in 1973 (I think, maybe 1974). It
had a cut-down BASIC in ROM (no string variables, for one thing, but it
_is_ BASIC) which could be extended by plug-in ROM modules (Matix
Operations, String Variables, Extended I/O, Plotter, Terminal Emulator,
etc all exist). It could take up to 16K bytes of RAM, had a full-size
QWERTY keybard and a 1-line 32 character display. Oh, and 4 I/O slots.
Is the only reason this is not classed as an 'early personal computer'
the fact that it says '9830 Calculator' on the nameplate?
It probably has more to do with the fact that it is not heralded nearly as
much as the other machines mentioned.
When people first start collecting they typically go after the more common
names: Altair, IMSAI, etc. Once they mature as collectors, they start to
discover that there are a large number of other machines from the same
era.
I think the list posted is representative of a not so mature collector.
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
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