Rick Bensene wrote: > Earlier today, I wrote: > >>> Doubtful that VW Bug was on the Autobahn at the time, and, while the >>> advertisement was very >>> novel with a full-on minicomputer in the back seat of a VW Bug, the amount >>> of data >>> potentially being transported was likely only 4K 12-bit words, or 48K bits. > >>> Since the machine had magnetic core memory, the system would retain the >>> content of its memory >>> without power, so in this scenario, the VM Bug was actually capable moving >>> data from one >>> point to another, albeit, not all that much data. > >>> Now, if the Bug had a trailer hitch, it could tow a trailer behind it with >>> a gasoline or >>> diesel powered generator with sufficient capacity to run the PDP-8. If >>> that were the case, >>> the machine could actually process the data in its memory while it was >>> moving down the >>> road...something a station wagon full of reels of magnetic tape wouldn't be >>> able to do. > > To which David Barto replied: > >> Are you suggesting some kind of, say, portable computer? > >> Runs, dodging and weaving. > > I'm not sure that you could fit a complete Model 33-ASR Teletype in the > passenger seat of > the Bug. I suppose if the Teletype was removed from its stand, it might be > able to sit on the > seat, and be powered by the same generator that runs the Straight-8. The > Straight-8 came with a 110-baud > current-loop serial I/O interface, so it'd just be a matter of cabling it up > to the Teletype. > > It'd be really hard to operate the machine while driving, for sure. It'd be > far worse than messing with a smartphone while driving :-/. > But, once stopped somewhere pleasant, you could actually develop programs > using the punched tape reader/punch on > the 33ASR. It'd definitely be an example of early "mobile computing". > (Tongue firmly in cheek). >
Please stop trying to discuss classic computers on the station wagons mailing list. :-)
