24 Jul
2015
24 Jul
'15
3:53 p.m.
On Fri, Jul 24, 2015 at 2:58 PM, Chuck Guzis <cclist at sydex.com> wrote:
On 07/24/2015 01:18 PM, Fred Cisin wrote:
It's not a real computer unless it has a real front panel with
switches and blinkenlights. Real computers haven't been commercially
sold in ages.
A keypad and display scanned by software, e.g., Heath H8, doesn't
qualify; an important purpose of the front panel is to examine and
modify memory for diagnostic purposes when the computer isn't working
properly.
The KL10 CPU used in later PDP-10 systems (DECsystem-10 and
DECSYSTEM-20) doesn't qualify because the only real front panel is on
the PDP-11 front end; there's no front panel to examine and modify
main system memory.
Now, obviously, the first "REAL"
computer needed to have internet
connectivity.
---and a USB port. :)