flexible computers?

[70herald]

My first home computer was a Sinclair ZX-81 followed by a Heathkit H-80. The Heathkit was put together largely by my father and remarkably enough started up the on the first try. Still worked a few years ago when they donated it to a museum.

 

[PAUL161]

Wow, that's the first time I've heard of the old Heath Kit in years. I almost bought one in 1963, but didn't think I'd have the knowledge to put it together. I didn't have any knowledge in electronics and scrapped the idea. So I got into airplanes instead. Would have been a lot cheaper if I'd bought the Heath Kit instead!

 

[SilentUnicorn]

the first computer in our house when i was growing up was a Heath Kit that my father built.

mark

 

[NutmegCT]

This thread sure brings back memories. My first "home computer" was a kit I built around 1956, the GENIAC logic computer. It was designed to show kids some basic aspects of logic; really just a sequential set of rotating switch arrays.

I never made it up the scale to the later improvements:

* GENIAC = Genius Almost-automatic Computer
* TINYAC = Tiny Almost-automatic Computer
* WEENIAC = Weeny Almost-automatic Computer (only 60 made)
* BRAINIAC = Brain-Imitating Almost-automatic Computer

As I continue to explore "obsolete tech", I sure wish I could find one of those Geniac kits again - or at least the original design "schematic". The ebay ones are always a tad over priced for me.

Tom

 

[angelfj1]

Have an extra $10k. Get one of these.

Tesla Personal Supercomputer

 

[aeronca65t]

I programmed with cards at the Trenton State Computer Lab around '67. That was probably the first time for me.

When I got out of school I did a fair amount of CNC programming (if you can call it that) on teletypes like the one below. We even had an audible modem to send out programs to a lab in Princeton to be checked out.

I still have some 1" paper tapes around here somewhere (and one of our older CNC machines still has a tape reader).

The first "personal" computer I bought was a Timex-Sinclair (which I still have).

 

[tomshobby]

I still have some 1" paper tapes around here somewhere (and one of our older CNC machines still has a tape reader).

Those tapes were so much fun. They would break or get some dirt and close a hole or two and the machine would do strange things.
The last shop I programmed for still had a machine with a tape reader and we still made tapes. It was still being used in 1996 when I left.

 

[Roger]

Oh, yes, I have a set of steel drawers in my garage, containing tools, that were originally 80-column punched card drawers.

And I remember upgrading to Cobol 64.

 

[tomshobby]

Oh, yes, I have a set of steel drawers in my garage, containing tools, that were originally 80-column punched card drawers.

And I remember upgrading to Cobol 64.

Punch cards....when we had to not only have a stack of cards with the questions, but a stack with the "program" to answer the questions. I wonder how many trees were used to make all those cards. I worked at a phone company that used them for billing. A couple of pallets a week for just that one office.

 

[coldplugs]

Those tapes were so much fun. ...

Folks used to cover the holes with small adhesive dots to avoid repunching an entire tape. I remember one of our customers having problems after we installed a new high speed tape reader because they had used transparent dots - the new reader read the tapes optically & the light shined through the blocked holes.

A few years ago I put a bunch of photos of miscellaneous bits & pieces of our computers where I worked. They're here if anyone's interested. This was the early IBM system 360 era.

 

[judow]

I programmed with cards at the Trenton State Computer Lab around '67. That was probably the first time for me.

When I got out of school I did a fair amount of CNC programming (if you can call it that) on teletypes like the one below. We even had an audible modem to send out programs to a lab in Princeton to be checked out.

I still have some 1" paper tapes around here somewhere (and one of our older CNC machines still has a tape reader).

The first "personal" computer I bought was a Timex-Sinclair (which I still have).

OMG I forgot about that. Got one in the attic. You sure did refresh my memory.

 

[tomshobby]

This thread sure brings back memories. My first "home computer" was a kit I built around 1956, the GENIAC logic computer. It was designed to show kids some basic aspects of logic; really just a sequential set of rotating switch arrays.

Tom

My first was one I built in 1960 or 61. I had an HO train pike that had an extensive switch yard. I need a way to control the switches so I went to the local electronics store, Saterfield, and bought transistors and made a simple logic system that worked. Probably the first computer in my town.