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Haven't we come a long way? Or perhaps not that far?

Discussion in 'News & Current Events' started by Plastic Nev, Dec 7, 2014.

  1. Plastic Nev

    Plastic Nev SUPER MODERATOR IN MEMORY

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    Sir Clive Sinclair gives an interview first talking about the early days of the Sinclair computers that made computing cheap and available for everyone. Then moves on and says, that although they may be much faster now, there hasn't been that much further movement.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-30333671

    Also under the video is an interesting write up too.

    Nev.
     
    Plastic Nev, Dec 7, 2014
    #1
  3. allheart55 (Cindy E)

    allheart55 (Cindy E) Administrator Administrator

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    Good article, Nev. Back in the late '70's when I worked at RCA Astro and Space Division, the computers were the size of very large refrigerator/freezers and were lined up side by side in banks of climate controlled refrigerated sterile rooms. I think it's safe to say, we've come an awful long way.
     
    allheart55 (Cindy E), Dec 7, 2014
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  4. Match

    Match Registered Members

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    When you look at the specs of your smartphone compared to a zx81 or zx spectrum 48k I think we have come a long way in a short time, in fact I'm probably holding more processing power in my fingers now than what they had in a room in the 70s
     
    Match, Dec 8, 2014
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  5. Plastic Nev

    Plastic Nev SUPER MODERATOR IN MEMORY

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    The first computers I ever saw was a few days after I started work at the Crown Paints factory, way back in the mid 1970's. Cabinets the size of caravans made by IBM in those early days, and a mixture of those massive reels of half inch magnetic tape mixed in with a punched card machine for programming.
    Add to that a fire protection system of firstly a loud alarm system to get folks out of the specially sealed and air conditioned rooms, followed a few minutes later by a massive injection of CO2, the cylinders were the standard large gas size as used on oxy acetylene cutting, and I think ten cylinders all interconnected. All a bit frightening stuff when you realised that if you weren't out quickly enough you would be gassed.

    The CO2 used of course as water would definitely be a big no on that sort of equipment.

    Nev.
     
    Plastic Nev, Dec 8, 2014
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