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Halt and Catch Fire: The PC Wars Come to TV
Popular Mechanics ^ | June 3, 2014 | Alyson Sheppard

Posted on 06/10/2014 5:13:00 AM PDT by PJ-Comix

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To: PJ-Comix

I bought my first computer, and IBM PC back in April of 1983. With the printer and monitor the entire system cost me over $6,000.

Just to show you how prices have fallen in the industry, I just bought a Thinkpad last month, which is easily 10 times faster with 1,000 times more storage capacity, for $650.


21 posted on 06/10/2014 6:26:41 AM PDT by MNnice
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To: Proud_texan
Another bad deal is when Digital Research let the OS deal get away from them over a NDA.

Word was Gary Kildell blew off the big meeting with IBM.

I remember when I managed one of the first retail computer stores in Boston in 1980 where we sold Apple and we had former DEC programmers crack open the CP/M code to have it run on Apple so we could sell Wordstar along with Visicalc to accounting firms.

That was a lawsuit dodged.

22 posted on 06/10/2014 6:34:57 AM PDT by AU72
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To: All

watched a few minutes of the start.

disliked the characters, nothing redeemable, stopped and deleted.

Complete waste of time.

A fake command used as a title to a series that is best left in the bargain bin software box.


23 posted on 06/10/2014 7:04:47 AM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: CatherineofAragon

“TURN” started off slowly and then ramped up to become a no-miss program for me.

***
My biggest complaint is the fact that we have to “rewind” to catch some of the dialogue. Most annoying. Second complaint is the celebration of adultery.

I don’t know if I will watch season 2.


24 posted on 06/10/2014 7:08:42 AM PDT by Bigg Red (31 May 2014: Obamugabe officially declares the USA a vanquished subject of the Global Caliphate.)
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To: PJ-Comix

Pretty sobering that the 1980s have become the old days.


25 posted on 06/10/2014 7:09:24 AM PDT by Bigg Red (31 May 2014: Obamugabe officially declares the USA a vanquished subject of the Global Caliphate.)
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To: AU72
"Word was Gary Kildell blew off..."

IIRC, he actually FLEW off -- in his private plane -- instead of meeting with IBM.

Not the brightest decision he ever made...

26 posted on 06/10/2014 7:10:35 AM PDT by DJ Frisat (Proudly providing the NSA with provocative textual content since 1995!)
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To: DJ Frisat
I've heard that story, too. The quote was something like "I'm gonna go punch holes in the sky, don't want to spend the day with suits" or something like it.

But the NDA issue seems to be the "official" story.

Never met the man but I expect the former.

27 posted on 06/10/2014 7:23:34 AM PDT by Proud_texan (Strange how paranoia can link up with reality now and then. - PK Dick)
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To: Bigg Red

It seems there’s a lot of that mumbling going on when actors deliver their lines. I wondered if I was the only one who thought so. My hearing is fine, but yes, I do find I have to rewind.

Unfortunately the ratings for “TURN” weren’t very good, so unless AMC wants to give it another chance, I don’t know if it will return. Meanwhile, “Honey Boo-Boo” continues to be a ratings winner....


28 posted on 06/10/2014 7:34:26 AM PDT by CatherineofAragon ((Support Christian white males---the architects of the jewel known as Western Civilization).)
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To: AU72
Amazing the amount of contortions that used to be required just to get stuff done. And how crummy the software really was.

But at the time I sure liked it.

29 posted on 06/10/2014 7:39:42 AM PDT by Proud_texan (Strange how paranoia can link up with reality now and then. - PK Dick)
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To: CatherineofAragon

Check out “Fargo.”


30 posted on 06/10/2014 7:46:30 AM PDT by PJ-Comix (Boko Haram was enabled by Buku Huma)
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To: PJ-Comix

Thanks for the recommend


31 posted on 06/10/2014 7:52:22 AM PDT by CatherineofAragon ((Support Christian white males---the architects of the jewel known as Western Civilization).)
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To: Proud_texan
Amazing the amount of contortions that used to be required just to get stuff done. And how crummy the software really was.

We sold a lot of accounting packages that consisted of an Apple II, Visicalc, Wordstar, Corvus 5mb HD and Spinwriter letter quality printer. Price was just south of 9 grand.

32 posted on 06/10/2014 8:02:09 AM PDT by AU72
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To: AU72
Yeah, convoluted and expensive. I remember when the computer you actually wanted was always $5k.

Ah, remember all of those well with the exception of the Corvus. I didn't jump on the HD wagon until the Davong which I recall was about 5Mb and about $5k.

And I just recalled a fond memory not only of serial printers in general but also the giant enclosures used for the Spinwriter in an office setting. Those were extremely LOUD suckers to be sure.

33 posted on 06/10/2014 8:10:57 AM PDT by Proud_texan (Strange how paranoia can link up with reality now and then. - PK Dick)
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To: Proud_texan
Those were extremely LOUD suckers to be sure.

Yeah they screamed at 55 cps. You could replenish whole reefs with them now.

34 posted on 06/10/2014 8:12:47 AM PDT by AU72
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To: AU72
Speaking of reefs...

THE WORLD’S FIRST LOW TECHNOLOGY ARTIFICAL REEF

The funny thing is I never had a problem with those CMI drives.

35 posted on 06/10/2014 8:28:53 AM PDT by Proud_texan (Strange how paranoia can link up with reality now and then. - PK Dick)
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To: Proud_texan
The funny thing is I never had a problem with those CMI drives.

That's bringing me back when I was stuck at a Computerland that sold AT's on the grey market by getting them without the HD and substituting.

IBM got the wind of this and almost yanked Comperland's distribution rights.

36 posted on 06/10/2014 8:32:50 AM PDT by AU72
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To: PJ-Comix

I like the show,, and still believe there is potential for a show showing the early days here in SV..
I hear the 80’s were rockin’ out here...


37 posted on 06/10/2014 8:44:17 AM PDT by ßuddaßudd (>> F U B O << "What the hell kind of country is this if I can only hate a man if he's white?")
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To: CatherineofAragon
It seems there’s a lot of that mumbling going on when actors deliver their lines.

I've noticed that too. I suspect it's a combination of trying to mimic the authentic British speech of the time plus they're often speaking in hushed voices, almost a whisper. Very hard to comprehend at times.

38 posted on 06/10/2014 8:45:40 AM PDT by ken in texas
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To: ken in texas
"I've noticed that too. I suspect it's a combination of trying to mimic the authentic British speech of the time plus they're often speaking in hushed voices, almost a whisper. Very hard to comprehend at times."

That's a good point. Since TURN was about a spy ring, there was necessarily a lot of hushed speaking.

39 posted on 06/10/2014 9:36:04 AM PDT by CatherineofAragon ((Support Christian white males---the architects of the jewel known as Western Civilization).)
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bkmk


40 posted on 06/10/2014 10:28:39 AM PDT by AllAmericanGirl44
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