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Re: Blast From Past - IBM 670 Mag Drum Computer

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On Wed, 2 Jul 2025 23:30:45 -0400, c186282 wrote:
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_650
>
> These were quite popular during the mid 50s up
> until the early 60s. Compared to other brands
> they were CHEAP - biz and schools could afford them.
> First known install was for an insurance company.
>
> In truth, check the instruction set, they were
> closer to what we'd now call a 'programmable
> calculator' rather than a general-purpose computer.
> However, cleverly employed, they could still be
> very useful.
>
> Some of the instructions were very CISC ... like
> 'PCH' for writing to a punch card. Clearly there
> was a lot of hidden code that one instruction
> evoked.
>
> Tubes/valves ... 125Khz, not Mhz or Ghz, clock
> speed. Instruction speeds measured in milliseconds.
> 1000 to 4000 WORDS of disk memory. Maybe around
> 40 instructions per second ...
>
> A variety of add-on units.
>
> Odd base-10 decimal words. Program an emulator in
> shitty Python on yer laptop and it'd be likely
> thousands of times faster than the original unit :-)
>
> Oh, typical setup, *6000* pounds of metal.

Plus 2000 pounds of airconditioning.

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Blast From Past - IBM 670 Mag Drum Computer c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-07-02 23:30 -0400
  Re: Blast From Past - IBM 670 Mag Drum Computer Allodoxaphobia <trepidation@example.net> - 2025-07-03 12:03 +0000
    Re: Blast From Past - IBM 670 Mag Drum Computer rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-07-03 18:43 +0000
      Re: Blast From Past - IBM 670 Mag Drum Computer c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-07-05 02:14 -0400
        Re: Blast From Past - IBM 670 Mag Drum Computer Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2025-07-05 13:30 +0000
          Re: Blast From Past - IBM 670 Mag Drum Computer rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-07-05 18:05 +0000
          Re: Blast From Past - IBM 670 Mag Drum Computer Bobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> - 2025-07-05 13:25 -0700
          Re: Blast From Past - IBM 670 Mag Drum Computer Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-07-06 00:20 +0000
            Re: Blast From Past - IBM 670 Mag Drum Computer rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-07-06 03:38 +0000
          Re: Blast From Past - IBM 670 Mag Drum Computer John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2025-07-07 09:09 -0700
            Re: Blast From Past - IBM 670 Mag Drum Computer c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-07-07 17:52 -0400
              Re: Blast From Past - IBM 670 Mag Drum Computer rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-07-08 03:30 +0000
                Re: Blast From Past - IBM 670 Mag Drum Computer c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-07-08 01:55 -0400
                Re: Blast From Past - IBM 670 Mag Drum Computer c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-07-08 22:36 -0400

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