11 Jan
1998
11 Jan
'98
4:57 a.m.
But then where would the mac (toaster style) fit? Computer or system?
I am not sure the term computer to differenciate the box styles is adequate
since they are all basically "Computers" I guess what I'm trying to find is
a term to differenciate the packaging of computers.
Also consoles is used for video games that plugs on the TV and would cause
confusion.
System is a pretty broad designation that can describe a lost of things.
Am I getting picky or what? Maybe we need to invent some terms a la jargon
in order to differentiate the various types of packaging.
For computers like the C-64, the TI-99/4a, Atari 800,
etc. I call the CPU
a "console". Basically, anything with an integrated CPU, keyboard and
video output I call a console. I don't tend to think of things like the
Apple ][ as "consoles" because they didn't use a TV as their monitor by
default, which the above systems generally did (there goes my Apple ][
bias again). But really, the Apple ][ fits my description of "console".
The all-in-one dealies like the TRS-80 Model II/III and their ilk would
be "computers" because they have all the basic adjuncts to define an
entire computer in the most generic sense of the word (CPU, keyboard,
display, storage).
Piece-part systems like the IBM, I'd call "systems" because you have a
system consisting of a CPU and peripherals, such as the keyboard, monitor,
disk drives, perhaps a mouse...
Also, things like a PDP or DG Nova would be "systems", but I think people
prefer to refer to them as "mini's".
Sam Alternate e-mail:
dastar(a)siconic.com
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