More
seriously, from what you say, I think I would consider it a
computer in some applications but maybe not in all. To give you
another example, is a Z80-based machine a compouter? Well, jasut
behind me is a TRS-80 Model 4 which uses the Z80 as its processor,. I
think most, if not all, of us would call that a computer/ But next to
it is an HP terminal that uses a Z80 as its controller. It is not user
programamble, it can only ever runs the firmware. So I'd probably call
that a terminal, not a computer, at least when I'm using it (when I am
repairing it, of course, I have to know how the Z80 executes code,
what the Z80 opcodes are, etc).
In fact, quite a number of "computers" (particularly
microcontrollers) are used for non-computational (and often non-
programmable) applications. (e.g. a simple timer).
Indeed. And I am not sure those should be called 'computers'. Is an IBM
PC keyboard a 'computer' (ther's an 8048 microcontrolelr inside)? Is the dot
matrix printer next to me a 'computer' (it's got a pair of Z8s and a Z80
in it). And so on.
I think that to some extent whether I consider something as a computer
depends on what I am doing with it. If I am printing something out, I
don't think of said Sanders 700 printer as a computer. When it doesn't
print properly, and I have to conenct a logic analyser to it, then of
course I debug it as any other microprocessor system, and I then start to
think of it as a computer.
Even less clear examples that I can see from where I am sitting are the
Apple Laserwriter II and the Commodere 8250LP. Most people, myself
included, call those a 'printer' and a 'disk drive'. But both contain
microprocessors and both can run user programs (the formerm of course,
includes a Postscript interpretter, the latter has commands to read and
write the intenral RAM memory and execute from a given location). They
miught be computers....
I think it comse back to soemthing I said a few days ago. Some things are
classed by just about everybody who knows what they are as 'computers'
(e.g. my PFP8/e). Some things are clearly not computers by any reasoanble
defintiion (e.g the Exakta Varex camera in front of me). Some things
might be computers or not depending on the exact defition you use (ENIAC,
Colossus) or how you are regarding them at the time (an embedded
microproccessor control system, many printers, etc). This does not mean
the word 'computer' is useless. It just means that claims of the 'first
<type> computer' need to be interpretted with care.
-tony
