Did you know that in the 40's CRT tubes were sometimes used as RAM? Strange, but true! I found this fascinating when I stumbled upon it on Wikipedia:
William's Tube on Wikipedia
It would use the photon beam to "write" binary on the phosphors, and then read it back. The charge on the phosphors lasts for a fraction of a second, and you can erase one by writing the block next to it. Hope everyone finds this as cool as I did!
EP
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Computer of the Day - IIgs
This computer is one of my most intriguing. It was released in 1986, and was the last Apple II computer. It has no internal HD, like all Apple II's, and I don't have a disk drive for it. It has a 1 or 2.8Mhz processor, and was the first Apple II series computer to feature high performance graphics and sound (Hence, II G S.) It was also the first computer to have ADB (Apple Desktop Bus), that became the standard keyboard/mouse connector on all Macs for over a decade.
Perhaps some clarification is needed. For anyone who isn't aware, here's how it works:
Apple is a company. They produce different lines of products. Their computer line of products is called "Macintosh." Before the Macintosh line of computers came out, the also had the Apple, Apple II and Apple III line of computers. However, they were discontinued in 1992 in favor of the much better Macintosh line of computers. At it turns out, it's improper to say "mac does this" or "mac is a good company" because, of course, "Mac" is just the name of the computers that Apple makes. It is correct to say "Mac Vs. PC" because the computers that Apple makes are called "Macs."
Anyways, on with our computer of the day, and a photo:
This one is a Woz signature Limited Edition. Unfortunately, it's not rare or special.
Wikipedia page
Other Page with better picture
EP
Perhaps some clarification is needed. For anyone who isn't aware, here's how it works:
Apple is a company. They produce different lines of products. Their computer line of products is called "Macintosh." Before the Macintosh line of computers came out, the also had the Apple, Apple II and Apple III line of computers. However, they were discontinued in 1992 in favor of the much better Macintosh line of computers. At it turns out, it's improper to say "mac does this" or "mac is a good company" because, of course, "Mac" is just the name of the computers that Apple makes. It is correct to say "Mac Vs. PC" because the computers that Apple makes are called "Macs."
Anyways, on with our computer of the day, and a photo:
This one is a Woz signature Limited Edition. Unfortunately, it's not rare or special.
Wikipedia page
Other Page with better picture
EP
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
How has Apple Revolutionized Technology? Let Me Count The Ways...
First off, let me just say this: You WILL be amazed by this article!
First off, Apple Computer, Inc. was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. The Apple II in 1977 was one of the first ready-made computer, and was aimed at the home market instead of the nerdy tech-y niche.
In 1983, Apple released the first computer with a Graphical User Interface, the Lisa. Unfortunately, it retailed at $10,000 and only the most affluent businesses could afford them. When the Macintosh made it's debut in 1984, it revolutionized the computer industry forever. It set the standard for computers ever since. The low price, relatively high specs, GUI, user-friendlyness made it very popular.
In 1991 Apple released some of the first laptops - the Powerbook line, with three models, the 100, 140, and 170. Before this, "laptops" were thought of as "portable computers" and looked like this.
Then, in 1993 Apple invented the PDA. The Newton was a device that was way ahead of it's time; Wikipedia says "The Newton project was a PDA platform. The PDA category did not exist for most of Newton's genesis, and the "personal digital assistant" term itself was coined relatively late in the development cycle by Apple's then-CEO John Sculley,[1] the driving force behind the project. Newton was intended to be a complete reinvention of personal computing. For most of its design lifecycle Newton had a large-format screen, more internal memory, and an object-oriented graphics kernel. One of the original motivating use cases for the design was known as the "Architect Scenario", in which Newton's designers imagined a residential architect working quickly with a client to sketch, clean up, and interactively modify a simple two-dimensional home plan."
During the 90's, Apple fell into a rut, and really just blindly kept doing the same thing; Confusingly named biege boxes (Quadra 630, Centris 500, Performa 550, Quadra 605, Powermac 7200, 7300, 8500, ETC. What's up with that?) Steve Jobs was basically fired from Apple in the late 80's, but came back on as CEO in 1997. Following his return, Apple released the first iMac.
The iMac came out in 1998, and was the first blue-green computer available to consumers. It was once again aimed at the home market, and placed heavy emphasis on being super-easy to set up, and internet-ready. It had no Floppy drive, which was Apple's move to remove the Floppy disk, a medium that had been used for over 20 years.
In 2001, Apple unveiled the iPod. Not much description is needed for this, I'm sure as everyone knows, Apple set the standard for portable MP3 players for the next decade.
Apple began working on a tablet computer in 2003, but the mobile processors that are needed for a successfull portable computer. This project eventually gave birth to the iPhone, and later the project actually culminated in the iPad.
iPhone. The iPhone set the standard for smartphones. The touch interface was revolutionary, and since then cell phones have moved more towards the touch-based smartphones rather then old-style flip phones with keyboards. Here's a very early "smartphone" by Nokia, and released in 1996.
How will the iPad change the way we think about portable computing? Only time will tell. Netbooks may not ever be the same.
Anyways, thanks for reading, hopefully this was interesting!
EP
First off, Apple Computer, Inc. was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. The Apple II in 1977 was one of the first ready-made computer, and was aimed at the home market instead of the nerdy tech-y niche.
In 1983, Apple released the first computer with a Graphical User Interface, the Lisa. Unfortunately, it retailed at $10,000 and only the most affluent businesses could afford them. When the Macintosh made it's debut in 1984, it revolutionized the computer industry forever. It set the standard for computers ever since. The low price, relatively high specs, GUI, user-friendlyness made it very popular.
In 1991 Apple released some of the first laptops - the Powerbook line, with three models, the 100, 140, and 170. Before this, "laptops" were thought of as "portable computers" and looked like this.
Then, in 1993 Apple invented the PDA. The Newton was a device that was way ahead of it's time; Wikipedia says "The Newton project was a PDA platform. The PDA category did not exist for most of Newton's genesis, and the "personal digital assistant" term itself was coined relatively late in the development cycle by Apple's then-CEO John Sculley,[1] the driving force behind the project. Newton was intended to be a complete reinvention of personal computing. For most of its design lifecycle Newton had a large-format screen, more internal memory, and an object-oriented graphics kernel. One of the original motivating use cases for the design was known as the "Architect Scenario", in which Newton's designers imagined a residential architect working quickly with a client to sketch, clean up, and interactively modify a simple two-dimensional home plan."
During the 90's, Apple fell into a rut, and really just blindly kept doing the same thing; Confusingly named biege boxes (Quadra 630, Centris 500, Performa 550, Quadra 605, Powermac 7200, 7300, 8500, ETC. What's up with that?) Steve Jobs was basically fired from Apple in the late 80's, but came back on as CEO in 1997. Following his return, Apple released the first iMac.
The iMac came out in 1998, and was the first blue-green computer available to consumers. It was once again aimed at the home market, and placed heavy emphasis on being super-easy to set up, and internet-ready. It had no Floppy drive, which was Apple's move to remove the Floppy disk, a medium that had been used for over 20 years.
In 2001, Apple unveiled the iPod. Not much description is needed for this, I'm sure as everyone knows, Apple set the standard for portable MP3 players for the next decade.
Apple began working on a tablet computer in 2003, but the mobile processors that are needed for a successfull portable computer. This project eventually gave birth to the iPhone, and later the project actually culminated in the iPad.
iPhone. The iPhone set the standard for smartphones. The touch interface was revolutionary, and since then cell phones have moved more towards the touch-based smartphones rather then old-style flip phones with keyboards. Here's a very early "smartphone" by Nokia, and released in 1996.
How will the iPad change the way we think about portable computing? Only time will tell. Netbooks may not ever be the same.
Anyways, thanks for reading, hopefully this was interesting!
EP
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