On Wed, 22 Apr 2009, derschjo at msu.edu wrote: Notice the accoustic coupler in the top-left, bottom-left, and bottom-right. Here's what I make of the text: The Control Data Remote Calculator is an amazing new tool developed for you. It enables many scientists, mathematicians and statisticians to simultanously use the CONTROL DATA(R) 6600 - the world's most powerful computer - to get quick answers to problems stated in mathematical language. At the same time it frees the user from frustrating conventions, programming intermediaries and tedious waiting. This culmination of power and convenience broadens your horizons - encourages experimentation, innovation and creativity. Up to 2000 calculators can be installed remotely via standard telephone channels through the common-user dial network. Calculators can operate concurrently with normal processing and other types of remote terminals. This flexibility along with compact portability enables the calculator to be used for "homework". Whether at home or office, the user merely queries the computer from the calculator keyboard containing all conventional mathematical functions and symbols. Answers are shot back on the calculator's display panel. Powerful computer system, and the means for people to get at them the moment they need to, account for today's preference for Control Data computer systems in scientific research and development. Talk over your requirements with your Control Data representative. Or write our Minneapolis address, Dept 5-725. -- David Griffith dgriffi at cs.csubak.edu A: Because it fouls the order in which people normally read text. Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing? A: Top-posting. Q: What is the most annoying thing in e-mail?

On 23 Apr 2009 at 21:32, Jochen Kunz wrote: Yeah, but it's not the real thing, Jochen. The 180 runs essentially 6600 emulation with very different timings . DIfferent peripherals and hardware implementation; the experience just isn't the same. One might as well run an emulator on a PC. Running a 6600 "every Saturday" would have been an insane proposition, given the the effort it took to get the thing powered up. Thanks, Chuck

On 24 Apr 2009 at 9:41, Jochen Kunz wrote: A PC isn't a "real" computer? You're beginning to sound like the old girlfriend who made fun of my MITS Altair. The funny thing is that the Altair was probably as fast as the STAR-1Bs we had at work--or at least it seemed that way at the time. Of course the MITS box lacked the memory and I/O of the 1Bs. OTOH, my MITS box 8080 was about the same speed as the PPU on a 6000-series system and had about the same memory. --Chuck