On 13/02/2008 23:27, Lisi Reisz wrote:
On Wednesday 13 February 2008 23:00, Bob K. wrote:
I've been using desktop PCs for over 30 years
Sorry to quibble, but the first PC wasn't launched until August 12, 1981. So
it can't be _over_ 30 years!!
My ability to _remember_ the history of computers is very distressing. Well,
at least I can say that I don't remember Colossus, tho' I do ante-date
it. :-(
Lisi
Like many other things, IBM arrogated unto themselves the term "PC" for
Personal Computer. In fact, at the time, IBM had a very similar
reputation [for monopolistic practices] to Microsoft's today. There were
several personal computers available years before IBM's came on the
scene. I entered the field late (1982) with a BBC micro. One of the
things available with that system was that the BBC broadcast source code
(BASIC) over the airwaves which you could record onto tape (via a
cassette radio) and then "play" into the micro. Many programs were
distributed this way, all freeware :-)
--
Harold Fuchs
London, England
Please reply *only* to [email protected]
