MetaFilter posts tagged with computer and History

“Better finish it while there’s still an Apple II market out there,”

loquacious — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:13:35 -0800

The development blog for the original Prince of Persia from Jordan Mechner.

Expandable to 16k!

MtDewd — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:53:40 -0800

50 years ago today, IBM announced the 1401 Data Processing System. Originally designed as a spooling system for the larger machines, the 1401 became very popular as a mainframe in its own right, eventually being called 'The Model T of Computers'. By the end of 1961, the number of 1401s installed in the United States alone had reached 2,000 - representing about one fourth of all computers installed by all manufacturers at that time. 15- 20,000 were eventually built. The Computer History Museum in Mountain View is having a 50th anniversary celebration on November 10th. Here's what $125,600 (or $2500/month rent) would get you: 1401- 6-bit processor with 1400 bytes of core storage. Clock speed 87KHz 1402- combination card reader (800 cards per minute) & punch (250 cards per minute) 1403- 600 lpm printer If you're willing to spend more you could get up to 16k of memory by getting a 1406 Then you might want some 729s (featured here) for card to tape or tape to print operations, at $30k-60k apiece. If you need some disk space, you could try the 1405, for up to 20MB. The processor was approximately 30"x58"x58", and used a 30A, 208V power connector (3 phase). The entire system needed 23,000 BTU of cooling per hour. The Computer History Museum has been restoring two systems for the last 5 years, the second of which it acquired from a father and son who were using it to operate a billing service business until 1995 out of their home in Darien, Connecticut. Those without access to their own 1401 can download an emulator. (You might need reference material, or at least the reference card). Here's a Hello World to get you started. Previously: Music , History

George Julius' Mechanical Totalisator

Fiasco da Gama — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:41:29 -0800

Sir George Julius's Automatic Totalisator, first used by the public in New Zealand, and quickly taken up by racetracks throughout Australasia and North America (warning hideous HTML), automates parimutuel betting.

"All I got in this world is my balls and my word and I don't break either of 'em for nobody!"

bigmusic — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:43:12 -0800

Before the mouse, there was the trackball. Built for DATAR in 1952, DATAR turned out to be a complete failure. The next user interface device that used a ball was the mouse at Xeroc Parc in 1972. Trackballs are a dying breed of interface devices. But sometimes a trackball just seems more natural choice for certain applications - not so obvious for others. Would you sit on one?

300 baud of awesome in a wooden box

loquacious — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:47:03 -0800

This is what 300 baud looks like online today.

The Red Hill Guide to Computer Hardware

loquacious — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 23:01:36 -0800

The Red Hill Guide is an amazingly detailed and well-written compendium of desktop hardware old and new, with a focus on PC and x86 compatibles. Look for your first CPU, hard drive or mainboard.

Twenty years of Macintosh

loquacious — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 11:42:55 -0800

Twenty years of Macintosh - a well done retrospect about the Apple Macintosh presented in a series of posters, annotated with excellent topical links for further reading.

a logical extension of our desire to connect and relate things

nickyskye — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 20:20:01 -0800

The Information Machine, [YouTube]. This short animated film was written, produced and directed by Charles and Ray Eames for the IBM Pavillion at the 1958 Brussels World's Fair [embedded sound]. Animation by Dolores Cannata. The topic is the computer in the context of human development.

ARPAnet

loquacious — Sun, 19 Mar 2006 01:23:36 -0800

Computer Networks: The Heralds of Resource Sharing (Google video) A fascinating 30 minute documentary about ARPAnet - the precursor to today's Internet. (Can you spot the real ubernerd mover and shaker at BBN? Hint: He wears no tie!) (via: all over the place)

I'm sorry, Dave, you have been outbid by another user.

Eothele — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 10:17:36 -0800

It is with great regret that we place our PC Collection up for purchase. We being The Freeman PC Museum, not to be confused with any of these. Move over, leicester codex?

Look ma, no mouse!

KS — Thu, 31 Mar 2005 23:15:36 -0800

Myron Krueger began his pioneering work in interactive art in 1969. He was one of the first to explore the aesthetics of interactivity with his "responsive environments." While preparing a talk that included a reminiscence of Krueger demoing Videoplace in the 80s, I was surprised he'd not yet merited even a stub in the Wikipedia. While that may eventually motivate me to register and start the page, for now, I will just share some links. [more inside, including videos]

Jef Raskin, creator of the Macintosh, has died.

killdevil — Sun, 27 Feb 2005 13:23:54 -0800

Jeff Raskin, widely considered the father of the Macintosh computer, has died. Visit folklore.org for stories chronicling the birth of the computer Jef named after his favorite varietal (but misspelled in order to avoid confusion). Jef's contributions to the development of simple, intelligible, "humane" computing environments didn't end with the Mac; learn more here and here.

Is That A Dragon or a Duck?

absalom — Fri, 07 Jan 2005 09:42:39 -0800

Adventure - based on the classic text game of the same name - was the first game ever to contain an easter egg. It seems laughably primitive these days, but when it first hit shelves, Adventure was a programming masterpiece. The text version of Adventure (by Willie Crowther and Don Woods) required hundreds of KB and a mainframe computer to operate, so much that Atari brass told Warren Robinett not to even bother with a 2600 version. He did anyway, and the results are near legendary. The 2600 version of Adventure went on to sell over a million copies at $25 a pop. For his effort Robinett recieved absolutely nothing beyond his $22,000/year salary. Play the 2600 Adventure. (Flash) If you're one of those who requires some eye candy, why not download the Quake 3 Adventure Map, instead?

Apple-1 a day, on eBay.

me3dia — Mon, 27 Sep 2004 11:50:40 -0800

Apple-1 CPU, VG-Mint.
"This computer, as is documented, was bought from Steve Job's parents garage. The checks for the purchase and the original manual are included." More photos here.
[via coudal]

Shirky: Spectrum as resource

freebird — Mon, 16 Aug 2004 12:52:42 -0800

A nice article on some of the engineering and economics aspects of WiFi, and the history of frequency regulation in the USA.

Silicon Valley strikes again

starscream — Tue, 07 Oct 2003 13:59:18 -0800

The Computer History Museum is hosting this years Vintage Computer Festival in Mountain View, California. Featuring live demonstatrions of a Xerox Alto as well as an auction for a Commodore 64 prototype, this year promises to be fun for geeks of all ages. (via Wired)

quattro

the fire you left me — Tue, 04 Feb 2003 20:19:27 -0800

The IBM 1403 Printer (1964) playing music. This may change your life.

stuporJIX — Fri, 15 Feb 2002 04:43:59 -0800

www.computerhistory.org is the virtual incarnation of computer historian and collector Michael Williams' phat-ass computer museum. My favourite, BTW, is the timeline, searchable by year or topic. What technological milestones occured in the year of your birth?