30 Jul
2021
30 Jul
'21
4:36 p.m.
On Fri, 30 Jul 2021, Chuck Guzis via cctalk wrote:
Not really--it's very old technology, (1964), of
limited capacity (about
20 KB per tape), was a hideously expensive way to buy a typewriter
(about USD$7000 in 1964, or about USD$61,000 today), used almost
exclusively in large corporate offices to create form letters and
documents. In other words, it was not intended as an archival medium.
The effort required in preparing a document was considerable (one used
the mini-keypad for various functions). For a memo, it was easiest to
use the typewriter as a typewriter.
There are more interesting things to look at.
Well, form letters are "important".
But, once microcomputer word processing matured, they could be done easily
and much better.
An acquaintance was working on creating an emulation of the MT/ST, as a
way for those who were familiar with the MT/ST and/or actually liked it,
to be able to continue unchanged on a microcomputer.
But, then he started adding features. Besides delaying the completion
until it was no longer relevant, it was suggested that he change the name
from "MT/ST" (pronounced "empty
ST") to "FULL ST".