Old Computers.

Alex

Neatorama reader Steven Stengel has a neat collection of old, ... er vintage computers from the 70s and 80s.

This one to the left is IBM 5100, which is considered the world's first portable computer.

The Model 5100 is IBM's first microcomputer, i.e. not a mainframe, and is also considered the world's first portable computer. Although at 55-pounds, it might best be described as "self-contained" rather than "portable".

There were very few other computers available at the time, and nothing even close to the capabilities of the 5100. It is a very complete system - with a built-in monitor, keyboard, and data storage. It was also very expensive - up to US$20,000. It was specifically designed for professional and scientific problem-solvers, not business users or hobbyists.

Link - Thanks Steven!


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ah, the 5100! It came in 2 flavors, with built-in BASIC or built-in APL. To my knowledge, it was the ONLY small computer that supported APL (one of my favorite exotic languages).

I got to play with one in Grad School, but only for an hour maybe.
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I know this sounds silly, but I've never ridden a public bus and I've always been intimidated by my ignorance about how to pay the fare, etc. So maybe this isn't such a bad idea for yokels like me.
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I'm with Paul on this one, for a long time I found public buses distinctly intimidating. They're on a schedule, and there's always people waiting in line behind you, so obviously the pressure is on you to know what the heck you're doing when you get on rather than futzing around trying to figure out where your change or cash or card goes, and whether you need to wait for (and/or keep) that little ticket it spits out after that, and how you're supposed to know what stop they're at and how many more until yours and whether or not you should pull that little cord or just assume the bus driver is gonna stop and what if you've gotten on the wrong bus anyway and get whisked off to parts unknown and are never seen again and, and, and ...

Yeah. I'll take them now when I'm feeling adventurous, but buses ARE kinda scary!
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i agree that the bus is intimidating! all those numbers on the schedule, the possibility of getting on the wrong bus, the shady characters at the bus stop. and the driver really does get cross if you don't know what you're doing! i think a guide like this would totally increase ridership.
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@ Jo

I don't know where you live but there is a problem with Goths bringing their pets on buses? Around here the Goths I see are usually sans-pet.
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@johzephine -

Thanks for posting the link -- I hadn't heard the story.

"Maltby -- who lives on state benefits and got engaged in November -- said her choice of lifestyle might seem unusual but was harmless."

Now there's a shocker. She's on the dole. Your tax dollars... er, pounds sterling, hard at work. Living in the welfare state is sweet, huh?
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The General public is not afraid of taking buses in Canada. Old people are afraid of everything they haven't done in a fortnight (Is that the right British expression?) Why Diss something that could help your grandmother/grandfather? I guess they don't do the Interweb so good. Last time I live in the UK, the privatised train system was killing people left, right and center. I hear that has changed for the better. I don't know anything about this step-by-step campaign, but I do know this!: It doesn't hurt. Remember that school-yard bully? yeah, It's the author of this story.
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