MetaFilter posts tagged with ibm and history

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

1965 - Kemeny and Kurtz go to 1964

Artw — Fri, 08 May 2009 15:21:53 -0800

A Brief, Incomplete, and Mostly Wrong History of Programming Languages

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.

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.

anildash — Sun, 11 Feb 2001 03:34:03 -0800

And you thought Microsoft was evil. There appears to be pretty significant evidence that IBM was involved in automating the persecution of Jews by the Nazis. Read more about it here, here and here.

And since we haven't even settled the question of when a nation has atoned for its sins, what exactly is the statute of limitations for a company's sins?