RE: [LegacyUG] Hollerith
There may have been only one complaint on the list. But I have received more that were sent directly to Support (and some thanks for trying to put a stop to this off-topic marathon). Reminisces definitely are part of our genealogy research and family history. However, they have *no* place on the Legacy User Group mailing list which was created for the discussion of Legacy and the add-on programs. This is not a general discussion group about genealogy or family history. There are plenty of other lists and forums to discuss reminisces. Thanks for using Legacy. Sherry Customer Support Millennia Corporation [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com We are changing the world of genealogy! When replying to this message, please include all previous correspondence. Thanks. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Toni Allen Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2007 7:58 PM To: LegacyUserGroup@LegacyFamilyTree.com Subject: Re: [LegacyUG] Hollerith Good Thoughts Bill, After all, there wouldn't be a Legacy program if there hadn't been that evolution in computers that people were writing about... Just one point ... you said to "those who complain", there was only ONE person who complained ... the majority of people were enjoying the informative little pictures of not so long ago computer life and the vast changes ... It's too bad the ONE person who complained didn't have a delete key that would work... All in all, the subject wasn't that OT Merry Christmas to you also Toni in cold, snowy, snowy, Michigan - Original Message - From: "Bill Hardy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2007 3:41 PM Subject: [LegacyUG] Hollerith > I have been a LUG member for sometime. I have not been a contributor, > only a watcher and listener At my age (80) I feel that the less said the > better. > However with regard to the afore mentioned off subject letters about > computers, which I suppose should be kept within limits, I say to those > who complain: > These experiences are the very meat of the things you are so hung up about > with your grandfathers and great grandfathers. Twenty years from now your > children and grandchildren will be scurrying around to find such things > about their ancestors. > During this whole thing I have not read one word of anger, > vituperativeness, berating or vulgarity, only a little reliving of some > good memories. > Genealogists are your priorities only on 100 year old statistics? > >Merry Christmas!, May some of the good memories you record be your own. > Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
Re: [LegacyUG] Hollerith
Good Thoughts Bill, After all, there wouldn't be a Legacy program if there hadn't been that evolution in computers that people were writing about... Just one point ... you said to "those who complain", there was only ONE person who complained ... the majority of people were enjoying the informative little pictures of not so long ago computer life and the vast changes ... It's too bad the ONE person who complained didn't have a delete key that would work... All in all, the subject wasn't that OT Merry Christmas to you also Toni in cold, snowy, snowy, Michigan - Original Message - From: "Bill Hardy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2007 3:41 PM Subject: [LegacyUG] Hollerith I have been a LUG member for sometime. I have not been a contributor, only a watcher and listener At my age (80) I feel that the less said the better. However with regard to the afore mentioned off subject letters about computers, which I suppose should be kept within limits, I say to those who complain: These experiences are the very meat of the things you are so hung up about with your grandfathers and great grandfathers. Twenty years from now your children and grandchildren will be scurrying around to find such things about their ancestors. During this whole thing I have not read one word of anger, vituperativeness, berating or vulgarity, only a little reliving of some good memories. Genealogists are your priorities only on 100 year old statistics? Merry Christmas!, May some of the good memories you record be your own. Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
RE: [LegacyUG] Hollerith
Beautifully said, Bill. I like these lists as I get to hear other people stories Love it!! Tom -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Bill Hardy Sent: Sunday, 16 December 2007 7:41 AM To: LegacyUserGroup@LegacyFamilyTree.com Subject: [LegacyUG] Hollerith I have been a LUG member for sometime. I have not been a contributor, only a watcher and listener At my age (80) I feel that the less said the better. However with regard to the afore mentioned off subject letters about computers, which I suppose should be kept within limits, I say to those who complain: These experiences are the very meat of the things you are so hung up about with your grandfathers and great grandfathers. Twenty years from now your children and grandchildren will be scurrying around to find such things about their ancestors. During this whole thing I have not read one word of anger, vituperativeness, berating or vulgarity, only a little reliving of some good memories. Genealogists are your priorities only on 100 year old statistics? Merry Christmas!, My some of the good memories you record be your own. Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.17.2/1184 - Release Date: 14/12/2007 11:29 AM No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.17.2/1184 - Release Date: 14/12/2007 11:29 AM Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
[LegacyUG] Hollerith
I have been a LUG member for sometime. I have not been a contributor, only a watcher and listener At my age (80) I feel that the less said the better. However with regard to the afore mentioned off subject letters about computers, which I suppose should be kept within limits, I say to those who complain: These experiences are the very meat of the things you are so hung up about with your grandfathers and great grandfathers. Twenty years from now your children and grandchildren will be scurrying around to find such things about their ancestors. During this whole thing I have not read one word of anger, vituperativeness, berating or vulgarity, only a little reliving of some good memories. Genealogists are your priorities only on 100 year old statistics? Merry Christmas!, My some of the good memories you record be your own. Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
Re: [LegacyUG] Hollerith
Gary C., Your comments on disks relate to our recent discussion on the disk "defrag" function and perfectly illustrate how disk performance is inevitably degraded by too much related data stored on non- contiguious disk blocks. One need only picture multiple read/write heads flying in and out of a stack of four foot disks, searching for the bits in a single file. Much better if they are all right next to each other. Defrag. It's easy, although it does take awhile, even with a single platter. Then cyber life improves. Gary B. On Dec 15, 2007, at 12:13 PM, Gary Crull wrote: The disk drives of that day were about 6 feet tall and the platters, or disk surfaces, where the data was physically stored, were probably about 4 feet in diameter. As a programmer back then we had to program our reads and writes to disk by coding cylinder and head addresses. If you were not efficient in doing so the whole unit would get a workout moving up and down the individual disk platters and moving in and out on an individual disk platter. Fun to watch, but highly inefficient! Even though it sounds, and is, archaic by todays hard drives the principle is still relatively unchanged - and fits in a housing not much larger than an oversized pack of playing cards, and in many cases far smaller. Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
Re: [LegacyUG] Hollerith
Grump - Original Message - From: "Ron Bernier" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Legacy Family Tree" Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2007 12:48 PM Subject: Re: [LegacyUG] Hollerith Sherry, Geoff, and Jim, You apparently given up on enforcing the no HTML posting to the list (I'm not saying this message was posted in HTML), but I really hope you have not given up on enforcing the requirement to avoid off topic subjects. This off topic subject has continued way too long and I really wish someome from Legacy would step in and put an end to it. Obviously, this list has gotten totally out of hand and it appears that Millennia has given up even attempting to moderate the list. Ron Bernier, Woonsocket RI On Sat, 15 Dec 2007 12:13:45 -0500, "Gary Crull" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said: I corresponded with Ed off-line concerning this topic but since everyone seems to be enjoying we old timers' war stories from those of us who have been around a while I will add some more thoughts. Besides, may give Sherry/Geoff and others on staff an idea as to at least the experience of a portion of their users! Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
Off topic posts and HTML (Was RE: [LegacyUG] Hollerith)
No, not "grump", Thomas - it's a matter of practicality. If you want Support to be able to find your problems and requests through the onslaught of emails on the LUG list Keep on topic! We deal with hundreds of emails every week and it can be overwhelming to wade through the off-topic posts. When a thread goes off topic, I tend to just start skipping over messages in that thread. Ron, thanks for bringing this to our attention. I've only glanced through the list this week because of the sheer volume (which means I probably could have missed something critical!). Looking at the archives, I see that there have been way too many posts on this subject. One or two we might be able to tolerate. Ok, back to Legacy and Legacy add-ons, everyone! If you wish to continue with your computer history stories, please do so off list! And yes, as much as we've posted about HTML, both on list and off list, I think people are ignoring *us*. My Christmas wish is for a new emailer program that will block HTML again or at least convert it to plain text! Personally I find HTML email hard to read most of the time due to the colors and small fonts. Please, everyone remember why not to use HTML - take a look at our etiquette guidelines again http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/Etiquette.asp 1. HTML format messages require more server space for archiving than plain text messages. 2. HTML messages can hide viruses. 3. HTML messages will increase a message's Spam rating by certain domain blockers. 4. Some older e-mail readers display HTML messages by including hypertext code, which makes them hard to read. 5. Some people with visual impairment may have difficulty reading messages with colored text or tinted backgrounds. And read the reasons why *not* to use HTML and if you need help turning it off, go to the link at Rootsweb http://helpdesk.rootsweb.com/listadmins/plaintext.html Thanks for using Legacy. Sherry Customer Support Millennia Corporation [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com We are changing the world of genealogy! When replying to this message, please include all previous correspondence. Thanks. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Thomas Herson Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2007 10:26 AM To: LegacyUserGroup@legacyfamilytree.com Subject: Re: [LegacyUG] Hollerith Grump - Original Message - From: "Ron Bernier" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Legacy Family Tree" Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2007 12:48 PM Subject: Re: [LegacyUG] Hollerith > Sherry, Geoff, and Jim, > > You apparently given up on enforcing the no HTML posting to the list > (I'm not saying this message was posted in HTML), but I really hope you > have not given up on enforcing the requirement to avoid off topic > subjects. This off topic subject has continued way too long and I > really wish someome from Legacy would step in and put an end to it. > > Obviously, this list has gotten totally out of hand and it appears that > Millennia has given up even attempting to moderate the list. > > Ron Bernier, > Woonsocket RI Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
Re: [LegacyUG] Hollerith
I'm sorely tempted to get back into this discussion with more of my own experiences, but ... I promised, so I won't. I have a request, though, of the Legacy programmers. How about a rewrite to fit in a region of 64K, better yet 48K? :-) Ed Gary Crull spoke thusly: I corresponded with Ed off-line concerning this topic but since everyone seems to be enjoying we old timers' war stories from those of us who have been around a while I will add some more thoughts. Besides, may give Sherry/Geoff and others on staff an idea as to at least the experience of a portion of their users! Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
Re: [LegacyUG] Hollerith
Sherry, Geoff, and Jim, You apparently given up on enforcing the no HTML posting to the list (I'm not saying this message was posted in HTML), but I really hope you have not given up on enforcing the requirement to avoid off topic subjects. This off topic subject has continued way too long and I really wish someome from Legacy would step in and put an end to it. Obviously, this list has gotten totally out of hand and it appears that Millennia has given up even attempting to moderate the list. Ron Bernier, Woonsocket RI On Sat, 15 Dec 2007 12:13:45 -0500, "Gary Crull" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said: > I corresponded with Ed off-line concerning this topic but since everyone > seems to be enjoying we old timers' war stories from those of us who > have been around a while I will add some more thoughts. Besides, may give > Sherry/Geoff and others on staff an idea as to at least the experience of > a portion of their users! Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
Re: [LegacyUG] Hollerith
I corresponded with Ed off-line concerning this topic but since everyone seems to be enjoying we old timers' war stories from those of us who have been around a while I will add some more thoughts. Besides, may give Sherry/Geoff and others on staff an idea as to at least the experience of a portion of their users! I retired in 1999 after 38 years in Information Technology as a Sr Systems Analyst. My career started in 1962 right out of college and not even knowing what a computer was. What was commonly referred to as the first generation of computers back then, the IBM 650, was being replaced by the next generation of computers, the IBM 3050 used for scientific applications and the IBM 3060, used for commercial applications. I think those were the model numbers anyway. This generation was in turn replaced a few years later with the ultimate, at the time, IBM 360 series. I remember well the punched cards that were the method used in communicating our coded instructions to the computer, which in my case was an IBM 1401, used as a slave unit to the large mainframe computers in getting data in a format they could process more quickly. The basic 1401 had 8k of memory but ours had a whooping 16k. Later models of the IBM 1400 series were huge, having 32k or more of memory! I've dropped boxes of cards containing the coded instructions and had to sort them back into the proper sequence on a sorter. I've also made Christmas wreaths out of old cards much like was mentioned about the poinsettia. Also did my share of typing programs in to my first home computer, an IBM PCjr, from magazines. The disk drives of that day were about 6 feet tall and the platters, or disk surfaces, where the data was physically stored, were probably about 4 feet in diameter. As a programmer back then we had to program our reads and writes to disk by coding cylinder and head addresses. If you were not efficient in doing so the whole unit would get a workout moving up and down the individual disk platters and moving in and out on an individual disk platter. Fun to watch, but highly inefficient! Even though it sounds, and is, archaic by todays hard drives the principle is still relatively unchanged - and fits in a housing not much larger than an oversized pack of playing cards, and in many cases far smaller. As a computer user we never see this, only system programmers write the actual code, probably in Linux, C++ or some other computer language other than the COBOL of my day. We hold in our hands now the computing power that took up an area of a small house back then. The complexity, power, user friendliness of today's version of Legacy, and the much anticipated v7 with even more bells and whistles makes me wonder what hardware and software will be when we turn over our research work to our children and or grandchildren. Legacy is a far cry from Family Roots by Quinsep that was my very first genealogical program than ran from one or two old floppy disks. And I do mean floppy disks of the 5 1/2" variety not the hard cased variety that replaced them. Those were good ol' days, but the new days of the future will be a true wonder to behold. So much for the meandering of an old (67) man. I'll go back to my corner, sit down and shut up now. Hope I don't get scolded for my ramblings. gc Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
Re: [LegacyUG] Hollerith
I DO have an event!! Here it is: Sharon learned her trade on the job. There was a mainframe computer onsite, and everyone had to submit their jobs through punched cards, putting up large tapes on tape drives, inserting a large computer disk, and retreiving the printed output. Programs were keyed on keypunch machines, which produced punched cards. Data to be input through these programs was also on punched cards, large tapes or computer disks. Here, she worked on the first automated systems in the Commonwealth of Virginia for tracking diseases of cattle (brucelosis and mastitis), paint registration (tracking every brand and color of paint sold in the state, the ingredients of each, locations of buying and selling) and a system to track the sale of milk and the farm of orgination. Sharon's grandfather Ritchie had said to her when he learned of her new job, that he had heard she was working on a "glorified adding machine". Side note: When I first started as a programmer, a computer system was on order, but not on site. So the sales people would drive from Richmond VA to Baltimore MD each night with boxes of punched cards to run through the computer. Then they would drive back to Richmond, and the next morning we would get our boxes of cards and the program print outs - only to discover all our own keypunch errors (no keypunch staff) and the nightly routine would start all over again. When the computer was finally delivered, there were no computer operators, so the programmers were also the own operators. - Original Message - From: "M Couch" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Friday, December 14, 2007 6:04 PM Subject: RE: [LegacyUG] Hollerith On topic - of course you have all this information recorded under Event - occupation for the younger generation to read and marvel at?! :-) -- Margaret Couch NZ Ed Lawler wrote: I apologize for being totally off topic (I don't encourage it, and I won't do it again - promise) ... Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
RE: [LegacyUG] Hollerith
OK - so I'm bound to be the one who gets a ticking off for continuing the off-topic discussion - but all this talk of computers in the "olden days" made me think of these rather famous understatements! "Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons." Popular Mechanics, forecasting the relentless march of science, 1949 "I think there is a world market for maybe five computers." Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943 "I have traveled the length and breadth of this country and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing is a fad that won't last out the year." The editor in charge of business books for Prentice Hall, 1957 "But what ... is it good for?" Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip. "There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home." Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977 "640K ought to be enough for anybody." Bill Gates, 1981. Sharing ideas provide the stimulus for discussion, learning, and creativity: "Many ideas grow better when transplanted into another mind than in the one where they sprang up." Oliver Wendell Holmes. "If at first, the idea is not absurd, there is no hope for it." Albert Einstein Merry Christmas Cheers, Jan -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Heather Stovold Sent: Saturday, 15 December 2007 1:58:PM To: LegacyUserGroup@legacyfamilytree.com Subject: Re: [LegacyUG] Hollerith Well, ok, I've been biting my tounge, enjoying the overall thread I do remember the personal computers that only had switches on them - although the first computers I really remember using (other than a mainframe at the University) was computers like the "Exidy (sp?) sorcerer", the "Commador Pet", the "Compu-color" (it was in colour!) as well as home builts. CP/M was the first Operating System I etc. etc. etc. .. No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.17.2/1184 - Release Date: 14.12.2007 11:29:AM Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
Re: [LegacyUG] Hollerith
Does anybody remember the little HP's that stored their programs on a cream colored plastic strip about 2 inch wide and about 10 inches long. Did my first programming on that in basic - had a measuring instrument that put out an electronic output to the computer. Put a rolled cylinder about 15 foot diameter and maybe 30 feet long on a vertical lathe - take a reading every 10 degrees and about every 3 feet horizontal and calculate how straight the centerline of the cylinder was. The cylinders were for Minuteman missile silos, many of them buried on the Dew Line in Canada. Couldn't do those calc's now at 80 years. Art Seddon - Original Message - From: "Thomas Herson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Friday, December 14, 2007 7:48 PM Subject: Re: [LegacyUG] Hollerith The first computer I had at home was a Timex/Sinclair. It was wonderful as a way to learn basic programming, except that initially I had no way to save anything. But then they put out a tape-drive which didn't always work. Then came the Commodore. Tom Tom in Ithaca, NY Searching for Herson, Handlen, Farrell, Gelchenor, Graham, Eakins, Bower, Robinson, Cunningham - Original Message - From: "Heather Stovold" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Friday, December 14, 2007 9:58 PM Subject: Re: [LegacyUG] Hollerith > Well, ok, I've been biting my tounge, enjoying the overall thread > > I do remember the personal computers that only had switches on them - > although the first computers I really remember using (other than a > mainframe at the University) was computers like the "Exidy (sp?) > sorcerer", the "Commador Pet", the "Compu-color" (it was in colour!) > as well as home builts. CP/M was the first Operating System I > remember - although I'm sure the others ran something or other. I did > see an Apple I (it was wire-wrapped) - and I was familiar with Apple > II's. I think most of these machines had 4K or 8K of memory - and I > mainly remember using cassette tapes to load in programs and run them. > As I mostly ran games (ok - I was about 8 at this point) - > nothing was saved or anything. It took 15 or 20 minutes to load a > game (all text) to run - and it often took more than one try, as the > volume (and anything like Bass etc on the cassette player) had to be > lined up just right. I think maybe one or 2 of the computers might > have had a floppy disk - not sure if it was the 5+1/4" ones I used > later or the 8" ones.I self-taught myself basic at this time (and > later grew up to be a software developer - imagine that!) > > I did miss the whole punch-card thing - but I do remember getting old > ones from my dad to take to Kindergarden or Grade 1 for crafts - I > know how to make a Christmas Poinsetta craft out of them! (how is > that for an obsolete piece of useless info!) > > I was fortunate to be able to remember and be a part of the incoming > wave of Personal Computer history. My dad taught programming on the > mainframe at the university when I was younger - and in the mid-70's > opened the first computer store in the city (and I think only the 2nd > or 3rd in Canada!) - As I mentioned, I self taught myself computer > programming in Basic, and started learning Assembly. > > Oh - and my love of Genealogy was ignited because of computers. My > dad started entering the research he had done into the computer when I > was about 15 and was putting 1 person in at a time. He showed me > the program, and it was driving me crazy about how long it was taking > him to enter the info - so I data-entered it all in. When I remember > what that program was like, it sure makes working in Legacy like a > fantasticly wonderful dream! > > And yes - I do have my Software Development career entered into Legacy > as an event - but I doubt I have nearly enough of my memories like > that written down anywhere permanently! > > > On Dec 14, 2007 8:28 PM, June McDonald <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> I too am enjoying them. I only go back to a few years before hard drives >> came in and remember the wonderment that they were. I realise that makes >> me >> just a spring chicken (if only!!) and that was only some seconds ago in >> computer history! >> >> Please don't complain anyone - sure it is OT but it is very pleasant, >> particularly at this time of the year. We will all get back to business >> with >> our new year resolutions I am sure. >> -- >> June McDonald >> Canberra, the nation's capital >> >> >> - Original Message - >> From: "Toni Allen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> To: >> Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2007 1
Re: [LegacyUG] Hollerith
The first computer I had at home was a Timex/Sinclair. It was wonderful as a way to learn basic programming, except that initially I had no way to save anything. But then they put out a tape-drive which didn't always work. Then came the Commodore. Tom Tom in Ithaca, NY Searching for Herson, Handlen, Farrell, Gelchenor, Graham, Eakins, Bower, Robinson, Cunningham - Original Message - From: "Heather Stovold" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Friday, December 14, 2007 9:58 PM Subject: Re: [LegacyUG] Hollerith Well, ok, I've been biting my tounge, enjoying the overall thread I do remember the personal computers that only had switches on them - although the first computers I really remember using (other than a mainframe at the University) was computers like the "Exidy (sp?) sorcerer", the "Commador Pet", the "Compu-color" (it was in colour!) as well as home builts. CP/M was the first Operating System I remember - although I'm sure the others ran something or other. I did see an Apple I (it was wire-wrapped) - and I was familiar with Apple II's. I think most of these machines had 4K or 8K of memory - and I mainly remember using cassette tapes to load in programs and run them. As I mostly ran games (ok - I was about 8 at this point) - nothing was saved or anything. It took 15 or 20 minutes to load a game (all text) to run - and it often took more than one try, as the volume (and anything like Bass etc on the cassette player) had to be lined up just right. I think maybe one or 2 of the computers might have had a floppy disk - not sure if it was the 5+1/4" ones I used later or the 8" ones.I self-taught myself basic at this time (and later grew up to be a software developer - imagine that!) I did miss the whole punch-card thing - but I do remember getting old ones from my dad to take to Kindergarden or Grade 1 for crafts - I know how to make a Christmas Poinsetta craft out of them! (how is that for an obsolete piece of useless info!) I was fortunate to be able to remember and be a part of the incoming wave of Personal Computer history. My dad taught programming on the mainframe at the university when I was younger - and in the mid-70's opened the first computer store in the city (and I think only the 2nd or 3rd in Canada!) - As I mentioned, I self taught myself computer programming in Basic, and started learning Assembly. Oh - and my love of Genealogy was ignited because of computers. My dad started entering the research he had done into the computer when I was about 15 and was putting 1 person in at a time. He showed me the program, and it was driving me crazy about how long it was taking him to enter the info - so I data-entered it all in. When I remember what that program was like, it sure makes working in Legacy like a fantasticly wonderful dream! And yes - I do have my Software Development career entered into Legacy as an event - but I doubt I have nearly enough of my memories like that written down anywhere permanently! On Dec 14, 2007 8:28 PM, June McDonald <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: I too am enjoying them. I only go back to a few years before hard drives came in and remember the wonderment that they were. I realise that makes me just a spring chicken (if only!!) and that was only some seconds ago in computer history! Please don't complain anyone - sure it is OT but it is very pleasant, particularly at this time of the year. We will all get back to business with our new year resolutions I am sure. -- June McDonald Canberra, the nation's capital - Original Message - From: "Toni Allen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2007 12:27 PM Subject: Re: [LegacyUG] Hollerith > Ed, I don't think you have to apologize ... I for one, am really > enjoying > these little memories > from the past, they all put a smile on my face. > Also, I notice no one has complained about them, > which must be a first! > Toni in Michigan Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTre
Re: [LegacyUG] Hollerith
Well, ok, I've been biting my tounge, enjoying the overall thread I do remember the personal computers that only had switches on them - although the first computers I really remember using (other than a mainframe at the University) was computers like the "Exidy (sp?) sorcerer", the "Commador Pet", the "Compu-color" (it was in colour!) as well as home builts. CP/M was the first Operating System I remember - although I'm sure the others ran something or other. I did see an Apple I (it was wire-wrapped) - and I was familiar with Apple II's. I think most of these machines had 4K or 8K of memory - and I mainly remember using cassette tapes to load in programs and run them. As I mostly ran games (ok - I was about 8 at this point) - nothing was saved or anything. It took 15 or 20 minutes to load a game (all text) to run - and it often took more than one try, as the volume (and anything like Bass etc on the cassette player) had to be lined up just right. I think maybe one or 2 of the computers might have had a floppy disk - not sure if it was the 5+1/4" ones I used later or the 8" ones.I self-taught myself basic at this time (and later grew up to be a software developer - imagine that!) I did miss the whole punch-card thing - but I do remember getting old ones from my dad to take to Kindergarden or Grade 1 for crafts - I know how to make a Christmas Poinsetta craft out of them! (how is that for an obsolete piece of useless info!) I was fortunate to be able to remember and be a part of the incoming wave of Personal Computer history. My dad taught programming on the mainframe at the university when I was younger - and in the mid-70's opened the first computer store in the city (and I think only the 2nd or 3rd in Canada!) - As I mentioned, I self taught myself computer programming in Basic, and started learning Assembly. Oh - and my love of Genealogy was ignited because of computers. My dad started entering the research he had done into the computer when I was about 15 and was putting 1 person in at a time. He showed me the program, and it was driving me crazy about how long it was taking him to enter the info - so I data-entered it all in. When I remember what that program was like, it sure makes working in Legacy like a fantasticly wonderful dream! And yes - I do have my Software Development career entered into Legacy as an event - but I doubt I have nearly enough of my memories like that written down anywhere permanently! On Dec 14, 2007 8:28 PM, June McDonald <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I too am enjoying them. I only go back to a few years before hard drives > came in and remember the wonderment that they were. I realise that makes me > just a spring chicken (if only!!) and that was only some seconds ago in > computer history! > > Please don't complain anyone - sure it is OT but it is very pleasant, > particularly at this time of the year. We will all get back to business with > our new year resolutions I am sure. > -- > June McDonald > Canberra, the nation's capital > > > - Original Message - > From: "Toni Allen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: > Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2007 12:27 PM > Subject: Re: [LegacyUG] Hollerith > > > > Ed, I don't think you have to apologize ... I for one, am really enjoying > > these little memories > > from the past, they all put a smile on my face. > > Also, I notice no one has complained about them, > > which must be a first! > > Toni in Michigan > > > > > > Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et > > Legacy User Group guidelines: > http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp > Archived messages: > http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ > Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp > To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp > > > > Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
Re: [LegacyUG] Hollerith
I too am enjoying them. I only go back to a few years before hard drives came in and remember the wonderment that they were. I realise that makes me just a spring chicken (if only!!) and that was only some seconds ago in computer history! Please don't complain anyone - sure it is OT but it is very pleasant, particularly at this time of the year. We will all get back to business with our new year resolutions I am sure. -- June McDonald Canberra, the nation's capital - Original Message - From: "Toni Allen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2007 12:27 PM Subject: Re: [LegacyUG] Hollerith Ed, I don't think you have to apologize ... I for one, am really enjoying these little memories from the past, they all put a smile on my face. Also, I notice no one has complained about them, which must be a first! Toni in Michigan Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
Re: [LegacyUG] Hollerith
Ed, I don't think you have to apologize ... I for one, am really enjoying these little memories from the past, they all put a smile on my face. Also, I notice no one has complained about them, which must be a first! Toni in Michigan - Original Message - From: "Ed Lawler" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Friday, December 14, 2007 3:25 PM Subject: Re: [LegacyUG] Hollerith I apologize for being totally off topic (I don't encourage it, and I won't do it again - promise) ... But I remember the time when I sent my coding sheets to the keypunch department, waited a week to get back my boxes of Hollerith cards, dropped them on the way to the Data Center and cussed when I realized that I'd neglected to fill in the card number columns on the coding sheet, and, consequently, I'd just dropped two boxes of unnumbered cards (keypunch operators had to be very literal back then). Then had to spend the rest of the day comparing each card to lines of code to put them in order again. At least the cards were interpreted. If I'd had to read the holes, I'd have trashed the whole lot and started over. Were those the "good old days" or what? These kids today don't realize how good they have it. Ed Lawler Gary Brown spoke thusly: Our instructor insisted that we learn to read the bit of data on a hollerith card by holding it up to the light to see where the little holes were punched. His point to prove was that what machines had over brains was speed and capacity, not basic capability. Also directed that we sign our names on test papers in ones and zeros. Computers suddenly seemed much less awesome. But we digress... Gary On Dec 14, 2007, at 2:17 AM, RICHARD SCHULTHIES wrote: I don't go back as far as some, but the high school I attended had the identical system with hollerith cards that Doris Day destroyed in the movie with Cary Grant. Our teacher made sure we saw it. Rich in LA CA --- Cathy Redish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Thanks to everyone for their replies. I will set up separate locations, which is going to involve a massive review of my data. I can do a lot of other clean-up at the same time using ideas I have read here. I remember programming a KDF-9 using paper tape! Cathy, Dundas, Ontario Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
Re: [LegacyUG] Hollerith
Touche! and, ah, nope. :-) Seriously, thought never crossed my mind. M Couch spoke thusly: On topic - of course you have all this information recorded under Event - occupation for the younger generation to read and marvel at?! :-) Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
RE: [LegacyUG] Hollerith
On topic - of course you have all this information recorded under Event - occupation for the younger generation to read and marvel at?! :-) -- Margaret Couch NZ Ed Lawler wrote: > I apologize for being totally off topic (I don't encourage it, and I > won't do it again - promise) ... Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
Re: [LegacyUG] Hollerith
Ed Lawler wrote: I apologize for being totally off topic (I don't encourage it, and I won't do it again - promise) ... I don't mind! :-) But I remember the time when I sent my coding sheets to the keypunch department, waited a week to get back my boxes of Hollerith cards, dropped them on the way to the Data Center and cussed when I realized that I'd neglected to fill in the card number columns on the coding sheet, and, consequently, I'd just dropped two boxes of unnumbered cards (keypunch operators had to be very literal back then). Then had to spend the rest of the day comparing each card to lines of code to put them in order again. At least the cards were interpreted. If I'd had to read the holes, I'd have trashed the whole lot and started over. Were those the "good old days" or what? These kids today don't realize how good they have it. In the early '70s, working for an Australian bank just off of Piccadilly, London, I was writing COBOL batch programs and had to have the coding sheets sent of to be punched onto cards. This was one place were the punch-girls could not only correct some COBOL coding errors, but also add a missing full-stop or two! -- Regards, Mike Fry Johannesburg. Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
Re: [LegacyUG] Hollerith
I apologize for being totally off topic (I don't encourage it, and I won't do it again - promise) ... But I remember the time when I sent my coding sheets to the keypunch department, waited a week to get back my boxes of Hollerith cards, dropped them on the way to the Data Center and cussed when I realized that I'd neglected to fill in the card number columns on the coding sheet, and, consequently, I'd just dropped two boxes of unnumbered cards (keypunch operators had to be very literal back then). Then had to spend the rest of the day comparing each card to lines of code to put them in order again. At least the cards were interpreted. If I'd had to read the holes, I'd have trashed the whole lot and started over. Were those the "good old days" or what? These kids today don't realize how good they have it. Ed Lawler Gary Brown spoke thusly: Our instructor insisted that we learn to read the bit of data on a hollerith card by holding it up to the light to see where the little holes were punched. His point to prove was that what machines had over brains was speed and capacity, not basic capability. Also directed that we sign our names on test papers in ones and zeros. Computers suddenly seemed much less awesome. But we digress... Gary On Dec 14, 2007, at 2:17 AM, RICHARD SCHULTHIES wrote: I don't go back as far as some, but the high school I attended had the identical system with hollerith cards that Doris Day destroyed in the movie with Cary Grant. Our teacher made sure we saw it. Rich in LA CA --- Cathy Redish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Thanks to everyone for their replies. I will set up separate locations, which is going to involve a massive review of my data. I can do a lot of other clean-up at the same time using ideas I have read here. I remember programming a KDF-9 using paper tape! Cathy, Dundas, Ontario Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp Give Legacy as a Gift for 25% Off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2b49et Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
