10 Jul
2007
10 Jul
'07
5:04 p.m.
If I can inject my 2 cents into the discussion, first
off I don't think anyone should be put off from buying
the book, it's probably a worthwhile read, despite any
possible historical discrepancies. I'm sure there's a
thing or 2 that can be learned from it. I personally
haven't made a point of purchasing vintage computing
reading material (generally, but I have bought at
least one book on the origins of the internet). You
can only spread funds so thin sometimes...
Jim...OI you've probably been subscribing to this
list longer then me (2+ years), and in fact I'm sure
of it. You must have witnessed a conversation or two.
I can't see the reason for all the
amazement/frustration. It happens all the time
frankly. *You* begin a thread, and someone takes it in
an entirely different direction, or just accentuates a
minor point. AND IT LAST FOR 9 1/2 WEEKS!!! So get
used to it :).
And frankly, Theresa's post was effective in pressing
a few buttons. I wish her and her hubby the best
w/regards to the book, but you can't state stuff like
that on a forum like this and expect it not to be
challenged.
I may be dim, but I'm not sure I understand the
difference between a computer and an information
appliance in Allison's reply (nor for that matter the
reference to the Gutenberg Bible). The earliest analog
computers were responsible for information
processing/delivery (I'm sure this goes w/o saying -
computers always are, as abstract as the processing
may seem), though I guess it depends on how you define
"information" (in that case missile trajectories or
what have you). A printing press' sole purpose is to
disseminate information, so comparing a *computer* to
it is probably valid. Maybe those w/more of an
historical and/or engineering perspective can
enlighten me.
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