13 Dec
1998
13 Dec
'98
5:20 p.m.
In the 386 issue of PC Magazine, May 30, 1989, there is a two page spread
(p98&99) called "Another Kind of Memory." It is a timeline from 1890 to
1990
of historical milestones on the path to computerdom. Of special interest to
this group they list the Kenbak PC, 1971 as the first personal computer. The
Xerox Alto was the first workstation with a mouse, 1972. Mits Altair featured
on cover of Popular Electronics, July 1975.
They make no claims that the Altair was the first personal computer, only that
it was on the cover of a popular magazine.
Does anyone out there have a KenbaK PC?
Paxton
13 Dec
13 Dec
6:17 p.m.
On Mon, 14 Dec 1998 Innfogra(a)aol.com wrote:
In the 386 issue of PC Magazine, May 30, 1989, there
is a two page spread
(p98&99) called "Another Kind of Memory." It is a timeline from 1890 to
1990
of historical milestones on the path to computerdom. Of special interest to
this group they list the Kenbak PC, 1971 as the first personal computer.
I believe the Kenbak claim to "first pc" came as the result of a contest
held by TCM in Boston. I don't remember what their criteria was, but I
think it had to be nationally advertised, for one.
Before calling anything the "first pc", you need to first define "pc."
We generally agree here that by no sensible definition can the Altair be
called the "first pc." Maybe the Kenbak was the first transistorized
computer that was nationally advertised for under $1000, I dunno.
Does that mean the 1961 relay-based minivac, for example, isn't a "pc"?
Maybe it isn't a computer. It depends on who you ask. Personally, I'm
more interested in the rich and varied forms of computers than calling one
"the first."
I'm also interested in "personal" in trying to understand how we got to
where we are today. To me, the early attempts to get "normal" people to
*understand and experiment* with computers on their own is just as
important as the role played by cheap microcomputers and the wide variety
of microcomputer software that made machines *useful* to individuals.
-- Doug
14 Dec
14 Dec
3:32 a.m.
New subject: Rescue - Sun3
A friend of mine just sent me this, and Suns are not something I collect.
Hope someone can save it!
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1998 21:23:44 -0800
From: cotofana <cotofana(a)jps.net>
Reply-To: cotofana(a)jps.net
X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.5 [en] (Win95; I)
X-Accept-Language: en
Path:
news2.avtel.net!news.callamer.com!news-out.cwix.com!newsfeed.cwix.com!207.0.56.122!news.eli.net!blushng.jps.net!209.239.207.46
Xref: news2.avtel.net comp.sys.sun.wanted:16156
FREE for pickup in Hayward, CA. (east bay)
---------------------------------------------
If you know someone who loves antiques... 8)
---------------------------------------------
CONTACT: ccotofan(a)ucsd.edu for more info
--------------------------------------------
It'd be a shame to throw it all away, but I
don't have the space or time to make use of it.
---------------------------------------------
Sun 3/75:
* 8 Mb ram
* sun 3 keyboard in excellent cond.
* corresponding optical mouse and pad
* ROM Rev 2.3
* 19" b/w monitor attached to case
* passes startup hardware tests
* on start up, it looks for an ethernet address to boot from...
Ten 60 Mb tape cartridges & tape rack:
* SunOS 4.1.1 (for the Sun 3) on two tapes
* SunDraw, SunPaint, SunWrite, SunPhigs, SunBin on separate tapes
* 3 blank tapes
Documentation:
* Solaris 2.1 Binders (some shrinkwrapped, some opened; all in
great cond.) 8 total
* SunDraw, SunPaint, SunWrite inst. manuals (all unopened)
* Sun3 hardware inst. et al manuals
* Solaris 2.1 Manuals (some shrinkwrapped, some opened; all in
great cond.) also 8 total
* other manuals: Openwin 3 Desktop Ref. Guide & User's Guide
Cables, etc:
* an old ext. HDD of unknown size in generic case
* 2 DB50 cables (one short, one long)
* four 9-pin monitor cables (long and short)
* several other misc. cables
-------------------------------------------
6:31 a.m.
New subject: Rescue - Sun3
On Mon, 14 Dec 1998, Marvin wrote:
Sun 3/75:
* 8 Mb ram
* sun 3 keyboard in excellent cond.
* corresponding optical mouse and pad
* ROM Rev 2.3
* 19" b/w monitor attached to case
* passes startup hardware tests
* on start up, it looks for an ethernet address to boot from...
Ten 60 Mb tape cartridges & tape rack:
* SunOS 4.1.1 (for the Sun 3) on two tapes
* SunDraw, SunPaint, SunWrite, SunPhigs, SunBin on separate tapes
* 3 blank tapes
Documentation:
* Solaris 2.1 Binders (some shrinkwrapped, some opened; all in
great cond.) 8 total
* SunDraw, SunPaint, SunWrite inst. manuals (all unopened)
* Sun3 hardware inst. et al manuals
* Solaris 2.1 Manuals (some shrinkwrapped, some opened; all in
great cond.) also 8 total
* other manuals: Openwin 3 Desktop Ref. Guide & User's Guide
Cables, etc:
* an old ext. HDD of unknown size in generic case
* 2 DB50 cables (one short, one long)
* four 9-pin monitor cables (long and short)
* several other misc. cables
-------------------------------------------
Someone to the north is very lucky...this is a really cool old system. I
have one that I'm looking for the right monitor for (the one that mounts
to the dimple top)....around the LA area....hint....
By the way, if anyone is looking to hack at a 3/50, I have one that won't
boot up for grabs. I'm pretty sure it's just some bad memory, but I have a
couple of these and don't have time to mess with it...
9509
days inactive
9509
days old
3 comments
4 participants
participants (4)
-
A_Finney＠wfi-inc.com -
Innfogra＠aol.com -
marvin＠rain.org -
yowza＠yowza.com