On Thu, 6 Aug 2015, Jay Jaeger wrote:
Acch. All this modern/complicated stuff. Once you powered on an IBM 1410 (2 seconds), you could have it (141O O/S: 1410-PR-155) running in as little as a minute, counting the tape drive mount: Mount tape on unit 0 [30 seconds tops, as tape is probably already there] Storage Scan to +1 Sense switches to a blank character [The above two were normally left that way] Mode switch to CE Computer Reset Start 00000 [This clears storage] Computer Reset Move Mode Switch to Display Start 00000 [Display before altering] Press margin release on console typewriter while it types out "bbbbb" Computer Reset Move Mode Switch to Alter 00000 A(WM)L%B000012$(WM)N [Read tape to end of core/record to loc 12] Computer Reset Start [Wait about 10 seconds for 1410-PR-155 to load] :)
Obviously it is simplest if somebody (or machine) outside, loads the code into memory, and then triggers a GOTO. Which is cheaper, or more reliable, a "trained" operator, or a smaller external machine? Your expertise is the simplest and most reliable way to do it. But, if adequately appreciated, you are probably no longer the cheapest. So, they tried to replace you with a machine.
