[cctalk] Re: Operating system, on punch cards?

[Paul Koning via cctalk]

> On Mar 1, 2026, at 3:18 PM, Steve Lewis <lewiss...@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> ...
> I've seen OS's loaded from vinyl records and reel-to-reel, just never imaged 
> one being loaded from any kind of paper. :) 

I wrote my first programs in 1969, on paper tape (for the THE system EL-X8 I 
mentioned).  I remember they had magtapes, but I never used them or encountered 
anyone who did.  My other early machine was a Philips PR-8000, which had paper 
tape as its only storage device.

I suspect the load tape was actually mylar, not paper, for strength.  I didn't 
see that often but I remember occasionally seeing punched mylar tape for tapes 
that were read many times.  

        paul