I thought I’d post these two ads together. Here is a Remington Rand computer ad from 1955 and below is a Remington typewriter ad from 1902.
What’s New in Mnemonics?
The news is that the magnetic-core memory has emerged from the computer laboratory and has been in customer use for approximately a year, passing all tests with flying colors. This new development has been pioneered by Remington Rand with the Univac Scientific—the first installation of a commercially available computer that successfully uses magnetic-core storage.
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128KB of ram for $6400 ($21,800 in 2007 dollars). That’d get you somewhere around 1.2TB of ram today.
Small wonder: a breadbox-size computer with up to 1 million bytes of fault-control, semiconductor memory—at 5c a byte.
For technically and/or environmentally demanding applications where processing reliability, or high speed, or both, are essential, HP 21 MX and HP 1000 computers can now contain up to 1 megabyte of memory in modules of 128k bytes.
With up to 1 million bytes of fault-control semiconductor memory, HP’s small computers can go to work in demanding applications where large or disc-based systems were previously needed:
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Reading this ad sure takes me back. I know that the first thing I think about when I remember the seventies is the Fairchild F-8 microprocessor. Doesn’t everybody?
Looking Back On Tomorrow
“Science Fiction, my electronic eye.” great-grandfather said.
“Half the time it’s not fiction at all, just premature fact.”
by Boni Peluso
“Well, Bobby, how about a story before bedtime?” great-grandfather asked as he tucked me snugly into my weightless bubble.
“Oh, yes tell me some more about the old days and what they were like.”
He smiled and squeezed my arm. “OK son, I know just the thing. Long ago, back in 1999, I was being transferred from a unit control center in the New City to Space Station Zenith 1. While packing I found an old, old copy of Scientific American. It was yellow and rumpled and dated — imagine this—September 1977! At that time periodicals were printed on sheets of wood pulp!’ “Wow! No playback cards?”
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Yup, this is a punched card modem.
IBM 1001 DATA TRANSMISSION SYSTEM
… new low cost way to send punched card data… by telephone
This IBM 1001 Data Transmission System lets you send business information in punched card form, from any office, plant or department to your central data processing installation at the cost of a telephone call.
It speeds collection of information concerning inventory, purchases, payroll, production, etc., keeps you continually informed of what’s happening in your business while it’s happening.
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5 NEW IBM PRODUCTS
DELIVER MORE DATA PROCESSING PER DOLLAR WITH IBM BALANCED DATA PROCESSING Out of IBM’s continuing program of research and development, proved by months of rigid testing, come these great new products to serve business, industry and science. And with them, IBM adds new emphasis to the concept of Balanced Data Processing—a standard for all data processing based on measuring the value of data processing in terms of net results, rather than speed of individual units.
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Doubling Univac’s Speed!
The famous Univac of Remington Rand has widened even further its lead over other electronic business computing systems. Univac is still the only completely self-checked system… the only one which can read, write, and compute simultaneously without extra equipment. And now, the Univac II adds to these superior features the speed of a magnetic-core memory.
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Seconds Split a Million Ways
Measuring the split flashes of time that are microseconds makes possible many modern miracles of science.
By Carl Dreher
IT TOOK you about one second, or 1,000,-000 microseconds, to read the title of this article. On that basis one microsecond may seem short enough to satisfy everyone, but to the modern electronics engineer it is a fairly long time. Describing a new electronic gadget, its inventor informs us that each dial division corresponds to 0.0132 microseconds; in other words, he is measuring down to a ten-thousandth of a millionth of a second.
That’s slicing it rather fine, but if it is worth a few dollars to you, you can buy a pulse generator that will deliver bursts of power adjustable down to 0.1 microsecond. You can order it from an advertisement-nothing special about it—plug it into a wall socket like an electric iron, and you’re a member of the microsecond-splitting fraternity yourself. It’s economical to operate, too—consumes only 40 watts.
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I have never heard of this kind of memory before. It’s sort of like ram, sort of like a hard drive, and sort of like core memory. Certainly interesting.
THERE ARE 3,000 ‘BITS’ OF INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE
Dots like these are part of an amazing electronic memory that can store, in binary language, 5.8 million “bits” of information. Such a memory unit is a fundamental part of the complex new Electronic Switching System that Western Electric is building for the Bell System. The dots are precisely 35 thousandths of an inch square and one thousandth thick.
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PLATO was a pretty amazing computer system for it’s day. Here is a blurb from the wikipedia entry:
…the last production PLATO system was turned off in 2006, PLATO nevertheless pioneered key concepts such as online forums and message boards, online testing, email, chat rooms, picture languages, instant messaging, remote screen sharing, and multiplayer online games…
“Control Data PLATO increased our training efficency 167%”
“PLATO computer-based education will save Merrell-National over 12,000 classroom hours on just one drug product training program alone.”
Gary J. Wilson, Sales Training Manager
Merrell-National Laboratories Division of Richardson-Merrell Inc.
“Today’s modern ethical drugs demand sales people who are better informed, more technically oriented and better able to relate vital product information to help doctors do a better job. To meet the challenge, Merrell-National Laboratories has initiated a program to improve the quality of pharmaceutical representative training.
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Get it? The Apple is a revolutionary computer. Ben Franklin was a revolutionary. Ben Franklin + Apple Computer = Marketing Genius.
What kind of man owns his own computer?
Rather revolutionary, the whole idea of owning your own computer? Not if you’re a diplomat, printer, scientist, inventor… or a kite designer, too. Today there’s Apple Computer. It’s designed to be a personal computer. To uncomplicate your life. And make you more effective.
It’s a wise man who owns an Apple.
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Six facts every engineer and scientist should know about the new CRC102-A
Electronic Digital General-Purpose Computer
1. LOW INITIAL COST - The CRC 102-A is one of the lowest priced, large scale, digital electronic computers now available commercially. It may be purchased, rented, or leased with an option to buy. Performance guarantees are given as part of every lease contract.
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This was when you could still buy the Apple II as a kit with just the motherboard. Also the floppy drive wasn’t released until the year after this ad.
Introducing Apple II.
The home computer that’s ready to work, play and grow with you.
Clear the kitchen table. Bring in the color T.V. Plug in your new Apple II? and connect any standard cassette recorder/player. Now you’re ready for an evening of discovery in the new world of personal computers.
Only Apple II makes it that easy. It’s a complete, ready to use computer—not a kit. At $1298, it includes features you won’t find on other personal computers costing twice as much.
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