What are the really unusual or weird computers?

Jay West wrote: SortofKindaNotReally MicroData Reality machines were firmware implementations of Pick (Reality), not software implementations. As a result, you couldn't actually microprogram the thing as an end user (normally). There *WAS* an EEPROM board that would replace the firmware board, but I don't believe that was typically released to the field. I used to have two M1600's (the early ones with the wood panels). One of them did have the EEPROM microcode option but I do know that particular unit was sent out from microdata "under the table". I had let these two machines slip through my fingers many years ago, long before I got into collecting. BUT - on the bright side - I found out a year or so ago that those two machines actually did wind up in the hands of another collector who is known to another listmember! I now have an M1600 that is the later metal panel variety, waiting to be restored. Even on the software implementations (which the microdata's weren't), you could create new missionary instructions from native instructions by playing some games in the 5-pass assembly process. However, this wouldn't technically be considered microprogramming as the "native" instructions would be just whatever the underlying cpu was (68000, PDP11, RS6000, x86, etc.). So you could create new virtual instructions, but still not really microprogramming. Jay -------------- I always thought the early MicroData systems were different from the Reality series. Looks like I was wrong. (Where is Jim Stephens when you need him? He has all these systems and the software to go with them.) Billy