18 Aug
2010
18 Aug
'10
6:46 p.m.
Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:25:34 -0700
From: Al Kossow <aek at bitsavers.org>
Subject: Origin of the term minicomputer (was Re: PDP-1 as
minicomputer [was RE: OT - sort of])
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
<cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Message-ID: <4C6C097E.8060908 at bitsavers.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
The earliest use of the term as we use it today was an ad in
Datamation announcing the (Varian) Data 520i in April, 1968.
<snip>
Apparently as early as May 1987 the term minicomputer was used in the WHITE
HOUSE executive offices and quoted in several newspapers, along the lines,
"Without a minicomputer one really can't tell ..."
Given the lack of technical expertise in Washington, this suggests a much
earlier origin of the word.
Tom
But it
all depends on how you define "minicomputer" as to what
specifically falls in the category.
Who originally created the term? marketing??