True or False? - Page 2 - Subaru Enthusiasts Car Club of the Sierras

sperry · 2010-02-12, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dknv

cd\

The first computer I worked on (IBM5520) used 8" disks in a disk cartridge, so I'm sorry, but the first time I saw a 3.5" disk, I said "How Cute!".

It's unbelievable what they fit on a micro SD 'card' now, that I swap on my cellphone.

I had a job back in the 90's testing A/D converters used on BART train brakes. The testing software was on 8" floppy disks... not sure what computer system is was on... but I swear you could hear the individual bits being read. "THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!"

A1337STI · 2010-02-12, 04:56 PM

my family didn't own a PC until 97 ? and i got hired into an internet company in 98

What's a floppy?

/Sarcasm

tysonK · 2010-02-12, 05:08 PM

Thanks for the new option Scott.

I'm not in love with the neon green "highlight" but I can deal. Since I go to this forum all the time I don't really need any highlights at all, just "bolded" bumped threads is enough.

knucklesplitter · 2010-02-13, 10:29 AM

Mine was the first graduating engineering class at Virginia Tech ( '88 ) to be required to own their own PC's. Great leading-edge idea at the time. But the school made disastrous recommendations for the PC:
- IBM "Turbo" I think 4.5MHz "suitcase" version with like an 8" built-in monitor (monochrome).
- About 1/10 the RAM needed
- NO HARD DRIVE!
- Math coprocessor was only recommended later
- 5-1/4" floppy was only non-RAM data storage
- No recommendation for a mouse.
- DOS 3.2 based I think. No Windows yet.
- This was like $2k+ back then!

Imagine trying to run a DOS-based CAD program off the floppies (plural) (no hard drive) with no math coprocessor, insufficient RAM for even Word Perfect, and no mouse. Did I mention an 8" monitor?

I was fortunate in that I transferred into the program, and based on advise got instead an IBM clone for half the price, more RAM, a $100 math coprocessor, a HUGE 14" monitor, and later a $125 ball mouse. Still no hard drive though.

</old guy>

Kevin M · 2010-02-13, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knucklesplitter

Imagine trying to run a DOS-based CAD program off the floppies (plural) (no hard drive) with no math coprocessor, insufficient RAM for even Word Perfect, and no mouse. Did I mention an 8" monitor?

I tried, but even as a CAD guy who learned on amazingly awesome 100mhz machines in 1996 using DOS-based R12 and R14, my brain cannot compute this.

Dean · 2010-02-13, 02:56 PM

You children are so funny.

I bet most have never seen what I first used, a teletype with round keys. I think attached to an early PDP 11???

I missed using paper tape and card readers by a matter of months. Cassettes tapes were state of the art.

The first system I administered in I think 1980 was an IMSAI that you had flip the switches on the front to set the firmware start location and hit the start switch. I think the one I worked on had 16K RAM for 4 dumb terminals.

Check out the rocking specs.

Announced: August 1975
How many: Around 20,000
Price: US $931 assembled
US $599 as a kit
CPU: Intel 8080A, 2.0 MHz
RAM: 64K max
Display: front panel LEDs
Controls: front panel switches
Expansion: card-cage w/ S-100 bus
Storage: optional cassette or
floppy drive
OS: CP/M, BASIC

knucklesplitter · 2010-02-13, 04:45 PM

Oh yeah? Well I still have my Dad's slide rule.

Dean · 2010-02-13, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knucklesplitter

Oh yeah? Well I still have my Dad's slide rule.

I owned a slide rule at one point in my life, but don't remember why or how to use one.

knucklesplitter · 2010-02-13, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean

I owned a slide rule at one point in my life, but don't remember why or how to use one.

I was waiting for an abacus comment.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abacus

Dean · 2010-02-13, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knucklesplitter

I was waiting for an abacus comment.

Do I look Asian?

knucklesplitter · 2010-02-13, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean

Do I look Asian?

When Dee told her brother a couple years ago that I go to "local Subaru meets", he said, "So... he hangs out with a bunch of asians?"

ScottyS · 2010-02-14, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dknv

cd\

The first computer I worked on (IBM5520) used 8" disks in a disk cartridge, so I'm sorry, but the first time I saw a 3.5" disk, I said "How Cute!".

It's unbelievable what they fit on a micro SD 'card' now, that I swap on my cellphone.

#Dean on

On my first computer, I had to poke holes in 36" cardboard sheets and feed them into a slot where a trained gecko interpreted them and would do simple arithmetic. He was right 70% of the time.

#Dean off

ScottyS · 2010-02-15, 10:57 AM

Whoa, shiny buttons.

dknv · 2010-02-15, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottyS

#Dean on

On my first computer, I had to poke holes in 36" cardboard sheets and feed them into a slot where a trained gecko interpreted them and would do simple arithmetic. He was right 70% of the time.

#Dean off

Is That where the word 'geek' came from? Since he also had a 70% success rate spelling his own name.

2010-02-12, 04:56 PM	#27
A1337STI EJ205 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 1,840 Car: Impreza and an Impreza Class: AS / CRS PerfStock "pedal on the right"	my family didn't own a PC until 97 ? and i got hired into an internet company in 98 What's a floppy? /Sarcasm __________________ Fighting uphill battles, one bullet at a time!

2010-02-12, 05:08 PM	#28
tysonK warehouse SECCS Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: SoCal... Posts: 6,253 Car: 04 Evo 99 Cadillac Class: street de le mod	Thanks for the new option Scott. I'm not in love with the neon green "highlight" but I can deal. Since I go to this forum all the time I don't really need any highlights at all, just "bolded" bumped threads is enough. __________________ Anjali? Anjali?

2010-02-13, 02:56 PM	#31
Dean Señor Cheap Bastarde Real Name: Dean Join Date: May 2003 Location: $99 Tire Store Posts: 9,294 Car: $.04 STI Class: Fast,Cheap & Reliable=STI Deal, did somebody say Deal? Oh, Dean, yeah that's me.	You children are so funny. I bet most have never seen what I first used, a teletype with round keys. I think attached to an early PDP 11??? I missed using paper tape and card readers by a matter of months. Cassettes tapes were state of the art. The first system I administered in I think 1980 was an IMSAI that you had flip the switches on the front to set the firmware start location and hit the start switch. I think the one I worked on had 16K RAM for 4 dumb terminals. Check out the rocking specs. Announced: August 1975 How many: Around 20,000 Price: US $931 assembled US $599 as a kit CPU: Intel 8080A, 2.0 MHz RAM: 64K max Display: front panel LEDs Controls: front panel switches Expansion: card-cage w/ S-100 bus Storage: optional cassette or floppy drive OS: CP/M, BASIC __________________ I am a Commodore PET --- Now get off my lawn you kids...

2010-02-15, 10:57 AM	#38
ScottyS EJ205 Real Name: It is real! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: RNO Posts: 2,367 Car: 1998 Impreza Wagon, 1991 Legacy Turbo Sedan, 2003 Nissan Xterra Class: tvFree Yes, I'll fix it for you. Again.	Whoa, shiny buttons. __________________ "Trend Number One is that people aren't getting any smarter." Dogbert

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2010-02-13, 10:29 AM	#29
knucklesplitter EJ205 Real Name: Matt Taylor Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cousin-Fck, Carolina Posts: 1,475 Wish in one hand and sht in the other...	Mine was the first graduating engineering class at Virginia Tech ( '88 ) to be required to own their own PC's. Great leading-edge idea at the time. But the school made disastrous recommendations for the PC: - IBM "Turbo" I think 4.5MHz "suitcase" version with like an 8" built-in monitor (monochrome). - About 1/10 the RAM needed - NO HARD DRIVE! - Math coprocessor was only recommended later - 5-1/4" floppy was only non-RAM data storage - No recommendation for a mouse. - DOS 3.2 based I think. No Windows yet. - This was like $2k+ back then! Imagine trying to run a DOS-based CAD program off the floppies (plural) (no hard drive) with no math coprocessor, insufficient RAM for even Word Perfect, and no mouse. Did I mention an 8" monitor? I was fortunate in that I transferred into the program, and based on advise got instead an IBM clone for half the price, more RAM, a $100 math coprocessor, a HUGE 14" monitor, and later a $125 ball mouse. Still no hard drive though. </old guy>

2010-02-13, 04:45 PM	#32
knucklesplitter EJ205 Real Name: Matt Taylor Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cousin-Fck, Carolina Posts: 1,475 Wish in one hand and sht in the other...	Oh yeah? Well I still have my Dad's slide rule.