Re: Ten thousand TRS 80s...
----- Original Message ----- From: "malcolm.iiug" <maliiug@btopenworld.com> To: "'Ian Goddard'" <goddai01@hotmail.co.uk>; <informix-list@iiug.org> Sent: Monday, September 08, 2008 8:26 PM Subject: RE: Ten thousand TRS 80s... > Well, if we really are in the business of "I started before you" then maybe > I should get out my trump cards. I actually started on an ICL 1909 which > was then upgraded to an ICL 1907. And YES it was an UPgrade in 1967. We > didn't even have an operating system in those days, and wrote our own called > COOP (Computer Operating). > And if you are wondering about the size of my first machine - it has 32K > words of memory (each word was 16 bits if my fading memory isn't misleading > me) I believe it was actually a 24-bit word, as that gave enough room for a 15-bit address, a 6-bit opcode, and three additional bits for such things as indexing and indirect addressing. (http://www.quadibloc.com/comp/cp0303.htm). I vivdly recall having to compile (using #XEKA/B) then consolidate (#XPCK) my COBOL programs (once they'd been keyed from coding sheets onto 80-character cards and loaded of course!), then pore through the consolidation listing to identify the particularly inefficient code (most of it in my case), then make it more efficient to squeeze it into the allotted 32K. Before the happy days of overlaying techniques, of course. How I miss PIC S9(6) COMP SYNC RIGHT ! (I miss the George 3 editor more, but that's an even sadder story) Regards Glyn > and the memory module alone was about 5 feet high by about 5 feet wide > and about 3 feet deep. The processor was a similar size. > > I decided today to wax lyrical about computer careers and projects and came > up with the following- > > Hopes and Dreams > Plots and Schemes > Fears and Dread > System Dead. > > Now doesn't that sum up all computer products/projects? and even careers? > > Regards > > Malcolm > > -----Original Message----- > From: informix-list-bounces@iiug.org [mailto:informix-list-bounces@iiug.org] > On Behalf Of Ian Goddard > Sent: 06 September 2008 10:47 > To: informix-list@iiug.org > Subject: Re: Ten thousand TRS 80s... > > John wrote: >> >> Well just after they invented electricity we used these @ the high >> school I went to... >> >> http://www.vintage-computer.com/images/asr33_2.jpg >> >> Uhhhh that would be about 1976....... man that makes me old!! > > No it doesn't. I started with ICL 1907 & punched cards about 1970 doing > post-grad. > > -- > Ian > > Hotmail is for spammers. Real mail address is igoddard > at nildram co uk > _______________________________________________ > Informix-list mailing list > Informix-list@iiug.org > http://www.iiug.org/mailman/listinfo/informix-list > > > _______________________________________________ > Informix-list mailing list > Informix-list@iiug.org > http://www.iiug.org/mailman/listinfo/informix-list > >