14 Feb
2008
14 Feb
'08
8:22 p.m.
Hi
I wish to make a correction. The tubes were called audions and were
not made until 1906. Low gain made them hard to use for radio uses
but that has nothing to do with digital uses.
Dwight
From: dkelvey at hotmail.com
To: cctalk at classiccmp.org
Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 20:08:46 -0800
Subject: RE: Oldest operational computer was Re: cctalk Digest, Vol 54, Issue
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From: wdonzelli at gmail.com
---snip--
I am sitting here, reading this thread, and am astounded by what
people think tubes could do back in 1906. It would have been
*impossible* to make any sort of computing device using the technology
of the time. You would have better luck porting OS/2 to a 709.
Tubes back then barely worked. When they did work, they barely
amplified. And you were lucky to get 50 hours out of them. A try
getting two that were vaguely similar electrically. And then try to
find someone that actually knew how the things worked.
Hi
Where did you get this infomation?
Audiotrons were used for telephone amplification and generally ran
for a thousand hours or more. Many collectors have these tubes that are
still operational today.
Gain was low but for digital that is desired. A gain of three or four
in power is more than is required for digital computers. More than
that would be a waste.
Although, I don't have any audiotrons myself, I do have tubes
made in the 20's that are still working at close to new specs.
I do agree that the large number of tubes required would be difficult
to remain operational but requirements for a digital computer are
not that great compared to other applications.
Dwight
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