Posted on 10/28/2021 1:27:32 PM PDT by algore
If the 'motherboard' is the size of a matchbook, why NOT for goodness sakes?
That's kind of scary, isn't it?
That’s a computer?
Heck yeah.
A single board computer, yes.
Heck, about 35 years ago I had a single board computer
based on the Hitachi HD64180 microprocessor that was
only about three or four, maybe five or six times larger than that thing
in the picture. And that was 35 years ago.
The HD64180 basically was a souped-up Zilog Z80 that ran
the ZCPR3 operating system which was basically a souped-up
version of CP/M (Control Program For Microcomputers).
And I'll tell you that it was a sorta nifty thing back in the early 1980's.
Okay, I'll stop talking Geek-Greek now...
Oh, here is something like it:
In the late 80s, I had an IBM PS2/50 (IBM 8250) w/ proprietary Micro Channel architecture; is that the same thing?
Not exactly.
But speaking of IBM -
In 1981 I spent just over $3000 for one of the first IBM PCs.
It had two full-height 360K 5 1/4 inch floppy drives.
It originally had no hard drive at all until I installed a
20 Megabyte half-height 5 1/4 inch Seagate drive.
Magically transforming it into an IBM PC-XT.
Actually better than the original XT model - which only had a
10 megabyte drive.
The thing would be a fairly valuable collectors item now -
if I still had it - but it's loooong gone now.
Here we go:
My $4,200 PS2/50 also had 2 floppy dives, a black screen w/ orange type and I started on DOS 3, w/ 9 commands. I used a lot of Egghead Software, until Windows v2.1 286 Runtime w/ graphics came out, and then v3.1... aaaahhh, the good old days. Remember the old 12.2 dial-up modem cradles? BBS? What a hoot.
Nah, in this context “super hackable” means “easily configurable with cheap components.”
The varieties of Linux OS that can be run on the Raspberry Pi are very stable, secure — and free.
The Model F! My favorite keyboard ever. A joy to type on.
It was so comfortable that they’re making knockoffs of it nowadays.
I found them to be a little too noisy, 'clackety' and 'mechanical feeling' really.
A number of years ago I 'standardized' on the Logitech K120 keyboards.
They are now all I use for desktop machines.
Silky smooth, quiet, low cost, and totally reliable.
But the crux of the issue is that I am NOW totally used to the things.
Of course I don't and (usually) can't use them with a notebook or tablet.
I certainly remember BBSes. A buddy of mine ran one in fact.
But cradle modems - I never had the pleasure. I saw a
number of 'em, but never myself used one, that I remember.
The best keyboard. I even connect one to my laptop. I like the clicking, and the numbers keypad. Tested at 110/wpm using one.
Mine had a "CGA" card that provided sixteen stunning colors.
(Actually eight colors in either high or low intensity.)
And I started out on MS-Dos 2.0 - which I quickly upgraded
to 2.1. I remember when IBM was selling IBM "PC-Dos" -
when you bought a machine back then you had to choose
between MS-Dos and PC-Dos. From a practical standpoint
there was virtually no difference.
You know - in remembering this nonsense I am reminded of
my Grandmother who told me about how in her childhood in
the winter they would sprinkle the coal ashes from their
furnace on the snow-covered street in front of the house
(in Philadelphia) to prevent the horses from slipping
and falling... (I'm serious.)
A "Computer Graphics Array" screen:
Stunning, Eh?
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