The first computer I used was in '65 - I took a summer course at Stevens
Tech and learned FORTRAN on an IBM 1620; I think it was a 7090 which
they had also, but only the real geeks could use it, and I wasn't among
them. Then in '66 I learned (a little) of 1401 AutoCoder. The freshman
year at RPI it was the 360 model 50 - still with punched cards.
At the risk of starting a definitions war, I got a TI SR-52 for
statistics and games (still have it). Shortly thereafter I put together
my Sol-20 (2 weeks of soldering everynight after dinner, and 6 weeks to
find the two reversed diodes which prevented it from working)- still
have it. I had a RS Model I very briefly - don't have it. Then it was
on to a North Star Horizon - still have it, a Morrow Decision 1 (sold it
but I found a replacement), and then a PC XT clone and descendents - the
only ones in this lineage I still find "cool" are my HP 200LX and Poqet.
Of course I used many other - Cromemco, various Rat Shacks, Osborne 1,
KayPro, Apple II, Sinclair, PETs, VICs, C-64's, Atari 400-800, TI, Adam,
etc. I have since added to my collection an IMSAI, CompuPro, and Ithaca
InterSystem, a Lisa 2/5, plus some smaller systems like Ohio Scientific
Challenger, Apple II+, Epson PX, KayPro 10, Osborne Executive, Sinclair
kit, Mac 512, Color Classic, et al. Sometime in the next xx years I
will finish putting together my Mark-8 repro with a TV typewriter. And
I know it was a lousy machine, but since I ALMOST bought one instead of
my Sol, I'd still like an Altair 8800 (but I don't see many around in my
price range lately <g>). Steve Ciarcia has suggested that someday he
MIGHT make me a present of his Digital Group, but I really lust after
his Scelbi (and he's smart enough not to leave it to me in his will -
how tempted I might be... <g>)
Bob Stek
Saver of Lost Sols
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