5 Jul
1997
5 Jul
'97
4:06 a.m.
From: ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell)
4) Education. This includes 'writing programs for fun', understanding h
computers (hardware and software) works, etc. This is IMHO the main use
classic computers to the average person these days, and the way we'll a
more people into the hobby. I've said before that you can learn more ab
processor operation by spending a couple of days with a minicomputer CP
schematics for it and a 'scope than by sitting through most lecture cou
the subject.
This I consider a big item. Some of the classic machines are significant
in their simplicity or usful in that you can point to identifiable
elements (ram, ALU, CONTROL). I frequently use the PDP-8 design for this
as it's very simple and the instruction set is about as minimal as can
be and still be useful. The same can be asid for some of the 8bitters as
well.
Allison