24 Apr
2002
24 Apr
'02
10:01 p.m.
> > An easy way to spot a product intended for
the toy market as opposed to
> > one intended to be seen as a computer, is that the disk drive interface
> > is external.
I would propose that the label "toy" might be
suitable for machines that
have external disk controllers _and_ an external network interface
Woah... my PS/2 is a 'real' computer?
It has internal storage (built in DVD drive, and 2 user upgradable RAM
slots), AND has built in network interfaces (2 USB ports on the front
which can be used for connecting 2 PS/2's together, and a proprietary
expansion slot on the back for the recently released network/modem
connector for connecting your PS/2 to the internet.. which I would
classify as built in, since it connects to the single body unit, and was
intended pretty much for this network box, and really is more of an
optional part).
Glad to know I didn't spend $300 on a toy.
Oh... and the GameBoy is a real computer to. It has built in storage
(game card slot), and built in networking (head to head port).
I could probably go on with more examples... I could even narrow it down
to ones that have built in floppy drives (to fade off the non "disk"
drive concept, although I think claiming to need a floppy drive excludes
an awful lot of other legit storage mediums, like all those systems that
only use tape). There is a V-Tech kids learning "computer" that comes to
mind that used 3.5" floppies (although, it might have lacked the required
network port, but I think it had a serial port, but probably didn't
support a "network" protocol).
-chris
<http://www.mythtech.net>
24 Apr
24 Apr
10:41 p.m.
Keep the timeframe in mind ... in the '80's I think the generalization I made
holds up pretty well. As hardware became denser, things changed.
Nowadays, those old big-iron machines are all either toys or scrap, after all.
Dick
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris" <mythtech(a)mac.com>
To: "Classic Computers" <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 24, 2002 9:01 PM
Subject: Re: "Toy" computers (was Re: Micro$oft Biz'droid Lusers)
> > An
easy way to spot a product intended for the toy market as opposed to
> > one intended to be seen as a computer, is that the disk drive interface
> > is external.
I would propose that the label "toy"
might be suitable for machines that
have external disk controllers _and_ an external network interface
Woah... my PS/2 is a 'real' computer?
It has internal storage (built in DVD drive, and 2 user upgradable RAM
slots), AND has built in network interfaces (2 USB ports on the front
which can be used for connecting 2 PS/2's together, and a proprietary
expansion slot on the back for the recently released network/modem
connector for connecting your PS/2 to the internet.. which I would
classify as built in, since it connects to the single body unit, and was
intended pretty much for this network box, and really is more of an
optional part).
Glad to know I didn't spend $300 on a toy.
Oh... and the GameBoy is a real computer to. It has built in storage
(game card slot), and built in networking (head to head port).
I could probably go on with more examples... I could even narrow it down
to ones that have built in floppy drives (to fade off the non "disk"
drive concept, although I think claiming to need a floppy drive excludes
an awful lot of other legit storage mediums, like all those systems that
only use tape). There is a V-Tech kids learning "computer" that comes to
mind that used 3.5" floppies (although, it might have lacked the required
network port, but I think it had a serial port, but probably didn't
support a "network" protocol).
-chris
<http://www.mythtech.net>
11:07 p.m.
On Wed, 24 Apr 2002, Richard Erlacher wrote:
Keep the timeframe in mind ... in the '80's I
think the generalization
I made holds up pretty well. As hardware became denser, things
changed.
Nowadays, those old big-iron machines are all either toys or scrap,
after all.
Bear in mind that mainframes stay in production for 20+ years. And 20+
year old mainframes go into production with a secondary customer
regularly. IBM is selling as much big iron as they can produce. They are
selling more big iron now, then they ever did in their heyday.
Peace... Sridhar
--
"How do you fight such a savage?"
"With heart, faith, and steel. There can be only one."
-MacLeod and Ramirez, "Highlander"
11:02 p.m.
On Wed, 24 Apr 2002, Chris wrote:
I would definitely call at least *some* PS/2's real computers. Like the
9595. It's built like a tank, and is rock-solid stable. Also, I have
held vehicles aloft with them.
Peace... Sridhar
--
"How do you fight such a savage?"
"With heart, faith, and steel. There can be only one."
-MacLeod and Ramirez, "Highlander"
> > An
easy way to spot a product intended for the toy market as opposed to
> > one intended to be seen as a computer, is that the disk drive interface
> > is external.
I would propose that the label "toy"
might be suitable for machines that
have external disk controllers _and_ an external network interface
Woah... my PS/2 is a 'real' computer?
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