First Computer Store

[Richard Loken]

On Fri, 24 Jul 2015, Chuck Guzis wrote:

> I remember Paul Terrell opining the Byte Shop in late 1975.  You could
> buy the MITS stuff as well as the Apple.  Things were moving pretty
> quickly back then.  I believe mention was made in an early MITS newsletter.

Ah that was my question.  I did not pay attention to computers at all until
1980 and it another five or more years before I had any interest something
that could be lifted by one man.

My interest is still largely confined to big iron.

I am sort of curious about whether a computer store in 1975 sold only parts
and kits or whether assemble self supporting packages were starting to
appear.  Was this still the era of the front panel and the S100 bus or had
they move onto stuff like the Kaypro and the Apple ][?

Circa 1988 I bought a TRS80 Model II with an external drive cabinet and an
immense Tandy printer for $100.00.  As far as I recall, the prof who sold it
to me had paid about $10,000.00 for it around 1978.  It was still pretty
hard to lift without help.

-- 
   Richard Loken VE6BSV, Unix System Administrator : "Anybody can be a father
   Athabasca University                            :  but you have to earn
   Athabasca, Alberta Canada                       :  the title of 'daddy'"
   ** richardlo at admin.athabascau.ca **             :  - Lynn Johnston