[vcf-midatlantic] our new museum -- micro exhibit -- pick 28!
Christian Liendo
christian_liendo at yahoo.com
Fri Nov 6 13:52:13 EST 2015
I am writing in plain text. So I don't know why the mail server is flipping out.
To reply to Evan.
> So? Exhibit isn't just about home computers. Nothing will convince us to remove the PET and Apple II. :)
I never said remove the Apple II, I don't see my list which had the Apple II and Pet in it.
> Schools, my friend!!! Apple II dominated.
Yes, that's schools. I was talking about homes.
We had TRS-80s in schools and everyone I know owned a Commodore or Atari
I tend to think that we forget that while the hobbyist market began home computing, a lot of history also had to do when home computers started to get big.
I think this is too much overlooked. When machines started to get into non-hobbyists hands markets grew and with that so did a lot of innovation.
The reality is that Atari had a market which was established with their game machines and they used that market to up sell to home computers.
They also designed the system with ease of use that other systems like the PET & Apple II didn't have.
The Atari was clearly designed for the home based on the following points
1. Low price point
2. Cartridge Port
3. Use of TV as monitor
4. Sold through non-computing retail outlets like Sears and other retail outlets.
While the VIC and C64 fared much better. Atari did it first and I would argue started the trend.
>> IBM PC Jr., I don't see the significance
> Big Blue's entry into home computing.
To me it was too little too late.
>> Next Workstation Ahead of it's time
> We don't have one.
I thought you did and just decided it was too new. That's system that the club should have.
> Eventually. There won't be room for that exhibit in stage one.
I can understand that. But I think long term a section for CPUs and the progression is important.
>> HP-85B, I don't see the significance
HP was a big player in engineering micros, while the home users were
building Altairs and playing with BASIC .... I think we should teach
this. Too many history books teach people that homebrew and hobby
systems were the ONLY small computers back then.
Our homebrewed "Dudley" PDP-8 clone. N
As previously explained -- this is our best example, albeit technically
a mini, of a desktop-sized homemade system. Got to show at least one
such thing.
Apple Mac Portable, there were earlier laptops
Of course, I wrote a book about that. :) Maybe show something that was
more of a commodity, such as (any) run-of-the-mill mid/late-1980s laptop.
More information about the vcf-midatlantic
mailing list