Advent of Computing Sean Haas
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- History
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Welcome to Advent of Computing, the show that talks about the shocking, intriguing, and all too often relevant history of computing. A lot of little things we take for granted today have rich stories behind their creation, in each episode we will learn how older tech has lead to our modern world.
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Nim
This is going to be a wild rambling ride. In 1939 a computer called Nimatron was made. It was one of the earliest digital electronic computers in the world. It did one thing: play a game called Nim. Over a decade later, in 1951, another Nim machine hit the scene. This computer called Nimrod, was designed to demonstrate how computers worked... by playing a game of Nim.
These machines, humble as they may sound, end up deeply complicating the history of computing. Join me as I, once again, muddy the long arc of progress.
Selected Sources:
https://archive.org/details/faster-than-thought-b.-v.-bowden - Faster Than Thought
https://www.goodeveca.net/nimrod/NIMROD_Guide.html - Faster Than Thought -
IBM Compatible (No, Not Those)
This episode wraps up the System/360 trilogy by taking things back to where they started for me. We will be looking at System/360 clones, how they could exist, why they existed, and why IBM didn't crush them. We close with a discussion of how these earlier clones impact our understanding of the IBM PC story. The truth is, by 1981 IBM was no stranger to clones. This is the culmination of a wild story, so prepare!
Selected Sources:
https://archive.org/details/iclbusinesstechn0000camp/mode/1up - ICL: A Business and Technical History
https://archive.org/details/impactreportamdaunse/page/1/mode/1up - Impact Report by INPUT
https://www.stayforever.de/ibm-pc-a-conversation-with-dr-david-bradley/ -
US v IBM
My coverage of the IBM System/360 continues! In this episode we look at US v IBM, and the fallout that surrounded the release of the System/360. By 1969 IBM already had a history of antitrust litigation. What was IBM doing to upset the Department of Justice, and how does it tie in to the larger story of clone computers?
Selected Sources:
http://www.cptech.org/at/ibm/ibm1956cd.html - 1956 Consent Decree
https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/298/131/ - 1936 Consent Decree
https://archive.org/details/foldedspindledmu00fish/page/n5/mode/2up - Folded, Spindled, and Mutilated -
VCF SoCal - Interview with Micki and Steve
In this episode I sit down and talk with Micki and Steve about VCF SoCal, a new Vintage Computer Festival! The event is taking place in Orange, California on Febuary 16th and 17th. VCFs are a wonderful time, and a great opportunity to meet up with other retro enthusiasts.
The weekend will be filled with exhibits and speakers, including myself! I will be in attendence, and talking about some super cool technology. Stick around until the end of the interview for the full details.
More information on VCF SoCal can be found at: https://www.vcfsocal.com/ -
The Full 360
The release of the IBM System/360 represents a major milestone in the history of computing. In 1964 IBM announced the 360 as the first family of compatible computers. Users could choose a system that was just the right size for their needs, mix and match peripherals, and have no fear of future upgrades. If you started on a low-end 360 you could move up to a top of the line model and keep all your software! Something like this had never been done before.
Such a watershed moment resulted in interesting cascading effects. In this episode we will look at the 360 itself. In the coming weeks we will be examining how it shaped and dominated the market, how it led to a federal antitrust suit, and how a mysterious series of clone computers survived in uncertain times.
Selected Sources:
https://spectrum.ieee.org/building-the-system360-mainframe-nearly-destroyed-ibm
https://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/2012/11/102658255-05-01-acc.pdf - Fred Brooks Oral History
https://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/2017/11/102655529-05-01-acc.pdf - 14K Days -
The Jupiter Ace
Released in 1982, the Jupiter Ace is a fascinating little computer. It's hardware isn't much to write home about. It's just an 8-bit microcomputer very much in line with other systems of the era. Where it shines is it's software. In a period when most home computer ran some version of BASIC the Ace was using Forth. On the surface that might sound like a trivial difference, but that one deviation from the norm made all the difference in the world.
Selected Sources:
https://www.theregister.com/2012/09/21/jupiter_cantab_jupiter_ace_is_30_years_old - The Register article on the Ace
https://jupiter-ace.co.uk/documents_index.html - Every other Ace resource you could ever want
Customer Reviews
absolutely outstanding work and narrative
very very informative and very well researched by the host. Award winning journalism.
Love it
As a software engineer, this is the perfect podcast that caters to the niche interest I have in history of computers.
This is delightful!!
I just listened to the first episode on the Mundanium and it scratches all my special interest itches. I worked in a library in college, and now work as a data analyst and have always had an interest in computer history. I can’t believe I had never heard any of this before. They were so ahead of their time! Can’t wait for the next episode.