[ih] AT&T, carterfone, the 103, and why didnt BBSs start earlier?

[John Day]

While Illinois had a 7094 with 2 1401s when I got there (which was 
interesting to code), they also had the asynchronous Illiac II, and 
within  a couple of years a 360/75 and /50 (which was a mess to 
code), the fabulous B5500 was not only a revelation, but an 
inspiration.

With it you learned the power of good design over mediocre design.

At 13:53 +0900 2009/08/14, Randy Bush wrote:
>  > I'm pretty sure that no one could actually see the other boxes behind
>>  a 7090 :-)
>
>they did not go on the 7040 and 7094 or 1401 we had (u chi comp center).
>no comms, period.  well, bisync.  and the 1130 had nada as i remember.
>perhaps we were deprived, don't remember.
>
>maybe the lgps and GEs etc vint and the other kinky left coasters played
>with had comms in those days.
>
>and let's not forget 134 baud 2741 selectrics.  doug mosher (rip) was
>able to whistle into an acustic coupler to get those to type his name,
>an amazing feat.
>
>and we shoukd really say dale heatherington, the engineer behind the
>curtain, not hayes.  dennis was management, and bad management it turned
>out.  (i consulted to hayes through those years).
>
>to try to be a bit on topic, i too think carterfone was all about
>opening to competition.  and not just modems.  it meant we could attach
>anything (reasonable) to the at&t's and itt's (you do remember them,
>yes?) networks.
>
>randy