1 - PDP stood for personal data processor. The PDP-1 was advertised w/a teddy bear which I believe was delivered with it. So it depends how big your desk was.
2 - In the 1960s @ Oak Ridge it was common to order equipment, including computers, by adding parts of the product specs into the bid requirements. I was told of one RPQ (or whatever they were I called - I can't remember) that was passed on by all vendors. A discreet call was made to one vendor and they were asked to compare the RPQ to the specs for one of their computers. I think the equipment was a PDP-8S but I don' trust the memory. They were ideal for interfacing to experiments because they were cheap to buy and cheap to implement and they came with logic boards running on the same backplane that could be used for interfacing at low cost. Originally needed interfaces were either made completely in house or built from "off the shelf" equipment seriously modified by the electronic techs. Later companies like Ortec (bought by EG&G) and Tennelec were founded by lab scientists to build commonly used equipment. In our labs (physics, chemistry, ...) you could build or have built whatever your budget would allow. The Mathematics Division (incl. Robert Rannie of Share fame) were too busy trying to get the mainframes doing their assigned job. IBM Mainframe Discussion List <IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU> wrote on 12/29/2013 04:28:19 PM: > From: Paul Gilmartin <paulgboul...@aim.com> > To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU, > Date: 12/29/2013 04:28 PM > Subject: Re: ▶ One day, a computer will fit on a desk (1974) - YouTube > Sent by: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU> > > On Sun, 29 Dec 2013 14:30:52 -0600, Andy Wood wrote: > > > >Some may say that the HP 9100 was only a calculator, but Bill > Hewlett himself supposedly said that HP called it a calculator > rather than a computer as a marketing ploy (knowing that potential > customers could more easily justify the purchase of a "calculator" > than of a "computer". > > > Expensive calculator vs. low-priced computer. Perhaps somewhat thereafter > DEC was advertising the PDP-8 with such as "Aha! The old 'computer in a > gas chromatograph trick!'" And a coworker of mine told of an experience > in a physics lab of outflanking the IT Politburo by ordering an expansion > memory as an "addressable latch". > > I suppose there persists a "doughnut hole" between the desktop and the > Enterprise where IT continues to obstruct purchases, according to > Parkinson's Law of Triviality. > > >In context of that video, the HP 9100 is particularly significant - > Athur C. Clarke had been presented with one by HP in 1970. > > > Is that Clarke? I'm not entirely familiar with his appearance. And the > filming location? Sri Lanka? > > -- gil ----------------------------------------- The information contained in this communication (including any attachments hereto) is confidential and is intended solely for the personal and confidential use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient or an agent responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this communication in error and that any review, dissemination, copying, or unauthorized use of this information, or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by e-mail, and delete the original message. Thank you ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
