-----Original Message----- From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Patrick O'Keefe Sent: Monday, June 30, 2008 2:22 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: David Caminer (1915-2008)
On Sun, 29 Jun 2008 19:43:08 +0200, Thomas Berg <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >... >http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008023617_camin erobit29.html) >... Certainly no reflection on Mr. Camimer but that Seattle Times article would have been a bit better if it had not said: " ...developed two more generations of LEO, the last with transistors, rather than the noisy vacuum tubes used in the first two models. ..." Noisy vacuum tubes? Vacuum tubes had a number of drawbacks but I don't recall their being particularly noisy. I can only assume the original models either had a bunch of clattering relays, or noisy cooling systems. <SNIP> No, the writer is quite technically astute and meant that the vacuum tube circuits with their chokes, coils, etc. were ELECTRICALLY noisy. But knowing that their audience wouldn't have a clue (as the editor didn't either) and so cut all that out so that it just said that the vacuum tubes were noisy (since the editor's only exposure to vacuum tubes are at their bank's drive-in). </extreme sarcasm> Regards, Steve.T ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
