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Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941

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  Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com - 2020-01-21 12:24 -0800
    Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 mentificium@gmail.com - 2020-01-21 17:49 -0800
    Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 robin.vowels@gmail.com - 2020-03-10 06:01 -0700
      Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com - 2020-03-10 11:34 -0700
      Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 J. Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> - 2020-03-10 19:20 -0400
        Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 robin.vowels@gmail.com - 2020-03-11 07:12 -0700
          Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 Rich Alderson <news@alderson.users.panix.com> - 2020-03-11 15:02 -0400
            Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2020-03-11 20:07 +0000
            Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 robin.vowels@gmail.com - 2020-03-11 18:08 -0700
              Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 J. Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> - 2020-03-11 21:32 -0400
              Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com - 2020-03-12 15:18 -0700
          Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 Ahem A Rivet's Shot <steveo@eircom.net> - 2020-03-11 19:56 +0000
            Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com - 2020-03-11 13:07 -0700
              Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 robin.vowels@gmail.com - 2020-03-11 18:32 -0700
            Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 robin.vowels@gmail.com - 2020-03-11 18:31 -0700
              Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 J. Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> - 2020-03-11 21:37 -0400
                Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 robin.vowels@gmail.com - 2020-03-11 21:03 -0700
                  Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 J. Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> - 2020-03-12 06:48 -0400
                Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com - 2020-03-12 15:25 -0700
                  Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 J. Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> - 2020-03-12 18:42 -0400
                    Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 robin.vowels@gmail.com - 2020-03-12 20:04 -0700
                      Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 J. Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> - 2020-03-12 23:24 -0400
                      Re: unreliable, or Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 John Levine <johnl@taugh.com> - 2020-03-13 03:31 +0000
          Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 J. Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> - 2020-03-11 19:09 -0400
          Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 John Levine <johnl@taugh.com> - 2020-03-12 00:06 +0000
            Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 J. Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> - 2020-03-11 21:32 -0400
              Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 robin.vowels@gmail.com - 2020-03-11 21:01 -0700
                Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 J. Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> - 2020-03-12 06:54 -0400
                  Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 John Levine <johnl@taugh.com> - 2020-03-12 17:38 +0000
                    Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2020-03-12 17:44 +0000
                  Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 robin.vowels@gmail.com - 2020-03-13 20:51 -0700
                    Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 J. Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> - 2020-03-14 06:39 -0400
                  Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 robin.vowels@gmail.com - 2020-03-13 21:43 -0700
                    Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 J. Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> - 2020-03-14 06:38 -0400
                      Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 robin.vowels@gmail.com - 2020-03-14 04:28 -0700
                        Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 usenet@only.tnx (Questor) - 2020-03-16 18:50 +0000
                          Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2020-03-16 19:19 +0000
                      Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 Gerard Schildberger <gerard46@rrt.net> - 2020-03-14 18:15 -0700
                        Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 J. Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> - 2020-03-14 22:07 -0400
                          Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 Gerard Schildberger <gerard46@rrt.net> - 2020-03-14 21:12 -0700
                            Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 J. Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> - 2020-03-15 09:05 -0400
                              Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 Gerard Schildberger <gerard46@rrt.net> - 2020-03-15 14:22 -0700
                                Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 J. Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> - 2020-03-15 18:31 -0400
                                  Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 robin.vowels@gmail.com - 2020-03-15 19:39 -0700
                        Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com> - 2020-03-15 12:07 -0700
                      Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2020-03-15 16:42 +0000
                        Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com> - 2020-03-15 12:07 -0700
                          Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 Ahem A Rivet's Shot <steveo@eircom.net> - 2020-03-15 19:52 +0000
                            Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com> - 2020-03-15 15:38 -0700
                          Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 J. Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> - 2020-03-15 16:18 -0400
                            Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 robin.vowels@gmail.com - 2020-03-15 19:36 -0700
                              Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 John Levine <johnl@taugh.com> - 2020-03-16 23:17 +0000
                    Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com> - 2020-03-14 09:44 -0700
            Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com - 2020-03-12 15:17 -0700
              Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 robin.vowels@gmail.com - 2020-03-12 20:12 -0700
                Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com> - 2020-03-12 20:21 -0700
          Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 Quadibloc <jsavard@ecn.ab.ca> - 2020-03-12 05:53 -0700
            Re: Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941 scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2020-03-12 17:12 +0000

Page 1 of 3  [1] 2 3  Next page →

#209281 — Thomas J. Watson (IBM) profile 1941

This is a profile of the 'supersalesman' of IBM.  Pretty
good description of IBM life at that time.


Two parts
 https://archive.org/details/the-saturday-evening-post-1941-05-24/page/n11

 https://archive.org/details/the-saturday-evening-post-1941-05-31/page/n23


I have mixed opinions of Watson.  On the one hand, he did
build a company that revolutionized information technology.
The fundamentals he created are with us today even if the
hardware is different.  Although he personally was not
an engineer, he knew how to recruit the best.  Other companies
tried to do what IBM did but failed.  Contrary to myth, he
was very supportive of electronics and computers.  He
was generous with his company's money.

On the other hand, he was an absolute dictator.  He
created a cult of personality.  It was his way or
the highway, even when he was technologically wrong.
Fortunately, most of the time he did make the right
decisions.

He did pay his workers well, but he demanded an awful
lot from them.  They were to be devoted to the IBM way--
Watson's way--24/7.


Watson was naïve about war.  He believe in "world peace
through world trade".  He figured countries that were
happily making money would be too busy to go to war.  He was
wrong.

His monopoly position is tricky.  He clearly had a
monopoly in I.T.  On the one hand, he earned it through
superior service and equipment.  He had good patents.
On the other hand, he got some good patents through
acquisitions, not internal inventions.  He was
aggressive.

[toc] | [next] | [standalone]

#209282

On Tuesday, January 21, 2020 at 12:24:48 PM UTC-8, hanc...@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:
> This is a profile of the 'supersalesman' of IBM.  Pretty
> good description of IBM life at that time.
> 
> 
> Two parts
>  https://archive.org/details/the-saturday-evening-post-1941-05-24/page/n11
> 
>  https://archive.org/details/the-saturday-evening-post-1941-05-31/page/n23
> 
> 
> I have mixed opinions of Watson.  On the one hand, he did
> build a company that revolutionized information technology.
> The fundamentals he created are with us today even if the
> hardware is different.  Although he personally was not
> an engineer, he knew how to recruit the best.  Other companies
> tried to do what IBM did but failed.  Contrary to myth, he
> was very supportive of electronics and computers.  He
> was generous with his company's money.
> 
> On the other hand, he was an absolute dictator.  He
> created a cult of personality.  It was his way or
> the highway, even when he was technologically wrong.
> Fortunately, most of the time he did make the right
> decisions.
> 
> He did pay his workers well, but he demanded an awful
> lot from them.  They were to be devoted to the IBM way--
> Watson's way--24/7.
> 
> 
> Watson was naïve about war.  He believe in "world peace
> through world trade".  He figured countries that were
> happily making money would be too busy to go to war.  He was
> wrong.
> 
> His monopoly position is tricky.  He clearly had a
> monopoly in I.T.  On the one hand, he earned it through
> superior service and equipment.  He had good patents.
> On the other hand, he got some good patents through
> acquisitions, not internal inventions.  He was
> aggressive.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watson_(computer) -- is a question-answering computer system.

https://wiki.opencog.org/w/Mens_Latina -- is a Latin-language question-answering AI.

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#210391

On Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at 7:24:48 AM UTC+11, hanc...@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:
> This is a profile of the 'supersalesman' of IBM.  Pretty
> good description of IBM life at that time.
> 
> 
> Two parts
>  https://archive.org/details/the-saturday-evening-post-1941-05-24/page/n11
> 
>  https://archive.org/details/the-saturday-evening-post-1941-05-31/page/n23
> 
> 
> I have mixed opinions of Watson.  On the one hand, he did
> build a company that revolutionized information technology.
> The fundamentals he created are with us today even if the
> hardware is different.  Although he personally was not
> an engineer, he knew how to recruit the best.  Other companies
> tried to do what IBM did but failed.  Contrary to myth, he
> was very supportive of electronics and computers.  He
> was generous with his company's money.
> 
> On the other hand, he was an absolute dictator.  He
> created a cult of personality.  It was his way or
> the highway, even when he was technologically wrong.
> Fortunately, most of the time he did make the right
> decisions.
> 
> He did pay his workers well, but he demanded an awful
> lot from them.  They were to be devoted to the IBM way--
> Watson's way--24/7.
> 
> 
> Watson was naïve about war.  He believe in "world peace
> through world trade".  He figured countries that were
> happily making money would be too busy to go to war.  He was
> wrong.
> 
> His monopoly position is tricky.  He clearly had a
> monopoly in I.T.  On the one hand, he earned it through
> superior service and equipment.  He had good patents.
> On the other hand, he got some good patents through
> acquisitions, not internal inventions.  He was
> aggressive.

He is famous for the line "I think that there is a world market for
five computers." [need to check source]

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#210418

On Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at 9:01:18 AM UTC-4, robin...@gmail.com wrote:

> He is famous for the line "I think that there is a world market for
> five computers." [need to check source]

He never said it.

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#210430

On Tue, 10 Mar 2020 06:01:14 -0700 (PDT), robin.vowels@gmail.com
wrote:

>On Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at 7:24:48 AM UTC+11, hanc...@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:
>> This is a profile of the 'supersalesman' of IBM.  Pretty
>> good description of IBM life at that time.
>> 
>> 
>> Two parts
>>  https://archive.org/details/the-saturday-evening-post-1941-05-24/page/n11
>> 
>>  https://archive.org/details/the-saturday-evening-post-1941-05-31/page/n23
>> 
>> 
>> I have mixed opinions of Watson.  On the one hand, he did
>> build a company that revolutionized information technology.
>> The fundamentals he created are with us today even if the
>> hardware is different.  Although he personally was not
>> an engineer, he knew how to recruit the best.  Other companies
>> tried to do what IBM did but failed.  Contrary to myth, he
>> was very supportive of electronics and computers.  He
>> was generous with his company's money.
>> 
>> On the other hand, he was an absolute dictator.  He
>> created a cult of personality.  It was his way or
>> the highway, even when he was technologically wrong.
>> Fortunately, most of the time he did make the right
>> decisions.
>> 
>> He did pay his workers well, but he demanded an awful
>> lot from them.  They were to be devoted to the IBM way--
>> Watson's way--24/7.
>> 
>> 
>> Watson was naïve about war.  He believe in "world peace
>> through world trade".  He figured countries that were
>> happily making money would be too busy to go to war.  He was
>> wrong.
>> 
>> His monopoly position is tricky.  He clearly had a
>> monopoly in I.T.  On the one hand, he earned it through
>> superior service and equipment.  He had good patents.
>> On the other hand, he got some good patents through
>> acquisitions, not internal inventions.  He was
>> aggressive.
>
>He is famous for the line "I think that there is a world market for
>five computers." [need to check source]

Yes you do.  The actual statement, at the April 28, 1953 stockholders
meeting, was, referring specifically to the 701:   "I.B.M. had
developed a paper plan for such a machine and took this paper plan
across the country to some 20 concerns that we thought could use such
a machine. … As a result of our trip, on which we expected to get
orders for five machines, we came home with orders for 18."

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#210441

On Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at 10:20:37 AM UTC+11, J. Clarke wrote:
> On Tue, 10 Mar 2020 06:01:14 -0700 (PDT), r.....@gmail.com
> wrote:
> 
> >On Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at 7:24:48 AM UTC+11, hanc...@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:
> >> This is a profile of the 'supersalesman' of IBM.  Pretty
> >> good description of IBM life at that time.
> >> 
> >> 
> >> Two parts
> >>  https://archive.org/details/the-saturday-evening-post-1941-05-24/page/n11
> >> 
> >>  https://archive.org/details/the-saturday-evening-post-1941-05-31/page/n23
> >> 
> >> 
> >> I have mixed opinions of Watson.  On the one hand, he did
> >> build a company that revolutionized information technology.
> >> The fundamentals he created are with us today even if the
> >> hardware is different.  Although he personally was not
> >> an engineer, he knew how to recruit the best.  Other companies
> >> tried to do what IBM did but failed.  Contrary to myth, he
> >> was very supportive of electronics and computers.  He
> >> was generous with his company's money.
> >> 
> >> On the other hand, he was an absolute dictator.  He
> >> created a cult of personality.  It was his way or
> >> the highway, even when he was technologically wrong.
> >> Fortunately, most of the time he did make the right
> >> decisions.
> >> 
> >> He did pay his workers well, but he demanded an awful
> >> lot from them.  They were to be devoted to the IBM way--
> >> Watson's way--24/7.
> >> 
> >> 
> >> Watson was naïve about war.  He believe in "world peace
> >> through world trade".  He figured countries that were
> >> happily making money would be too busy to go to war.  He was
> >> wrong.
> >> 
> >> His monopoly position is tricky.  He clearly had a
> >> monopoly in I.T.  On the one hand, he earned it through
> >> superior service and equipment.  He had good patents.
> >> On the other hand, he got some good patents through
> >> acquisitions, not internal inventions.  He was
> >> aggressive.
> >
> >He is famous for the line "I think that there is a world market for
> >five computers." [need to check source]
> 
> Yes you do.  The actual statement, at the April 28, 1953 stockholders
> meeting, was, referring specifically to the 701:   "I.B.M. had
> developed a paper plan for such a machine and took this paper plan
> across the country to some 20 concerns that we thought could use such
> a machine. … As a result of our trip, on which we expected to get
> orders for five machines, we came home with orders for 18."

Wiki gives the year as 1943, a decade before your date.

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#210444

robin.vowels@gmail.com writes:

> On Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at 10:20:37 AM UTC+11, J. Clarke wrote:
> > On Tue, 10 Mar 2020 06:01:14 -0700 (PDT), r.....@gmail.com
> > wrote:
> >=20
> > >On Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at 7:24:48 AM UTC+11, hanc...@bbs.cpcn.co=
> m wrote:
> > >> This is a profile of the 'supersalesman' of IBM.  Pretty
> > >> good description of IBM life at that time.
> > >>=20
> > >>=20
> > >> Two parts
> > >>  https://archive.org/details/the-saturday-evening-post-1941-05-24/page=
> /n11
> > >>=20
> > >>  https://archive.org/details/the-saturday-evening-post-1941-05-31/page=
> /n23
> > >>=20
> > >>=20
> > >> I have mixed opinions of Watson.  On the one hand, he did
> > >> build a company that revolutionized information technology.
> > >> The fundamentals he created are with us today even if the
> > >> hardware is different.  Although he personally was not
> > >> an engineer, he knew how to recruit the best.  Other companies
> > >> tried to do what IBM did but failed.  Contrary to myth, he
> > >> was very supportive of electronics and computers.  He
> > >> was generous with his company's money.
> > >>=20
> > >> On the other hand, he was an absolute dictator.  He
> > >> created a cult of personality.  It was his way or
> > >> the highway, even when he was technologically wrong.
> > >> Fortunately, most of the time he did make the right
> > >> decisions.
> > >>=20
> > >> He did pay his workers well, but he demanded an awful
> > >> lot from them.  They were to be devoted to the IBM way--
> > >> Watson's way--24/7.
> > >>=20
> > >>=20
> > >> Watson was na=C3=AFve about war.  He believe in "world peace
> > >> through world trade".  He figured countries that were
> > >> happily making money would be too busy to go to war.  He was
> > >> wrong.
> > >>=20
> > >> His monopoly position is tricky.  He clearly had a
> > >> monopoly in I.T.  On the one hand, he earned it through
> > >> superior service and equipment.  He had good patents.
> > >> On the other hand, he got some good patents through
> > >> acquisitions, not internal inventions.  He was
> > >> aggressive.
> > >
> > >He is famous for the line "I think that there is a world market for
> > >five computers." [need to check source]
> >=20
> > Yes you do.  The actual statement, at the April 28, 1953 stockholders
> > meeting, was, referring specifically to the 701:   "I.B.M. had
> > developed a paper plan for such a machine and took this paper plan
> > across the country to some 20 concerns that we thought could use such
> > a machine. =E2=80=A6 As a result of our trip, on which we expected to get
> > orders for five machines, we came home with orders for 18."
> 
> Wiki gives the year as 1943, a decade before your date.

So you'll tkae the word of a bunch of amateurs over the published history of
IBM????

-- 
Rich Alderson					  news@alderson.users.panix.com
      Audendum est, et veritas investiganda; quam etiamsi non assequamur,
	  omnino tamen proprius, quam nunc sumus, ad eam perveniemus.
									--Galen

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#210453

Rich Alderson <news@alderson.users.panix.com> writes:
>robin.vowels@gmail.com writes:
>
>> On Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at 10:20:37 AM UTC+11, J. Clarke wrote:
>> > On Tue, 10 Mar 2020 06:01:14 -0700 (PDT), r.....@gmail.com
>> > wrote:
>> >=20
>> > >On Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at 7:24:48 AM UTC+11, hanc...@bbs.cpcn.co=
>> m wrote:
>> > >> This is a profile of the 'supersalesman' of IBM.  Pretty
>> > >> good description of IBM life at that time.
>> > >>=20
>> > >>=20
>> > >> Two parts
>> > >>  https://archive.org/details/the-saturday-evening-post-1941-05-24/page=
>> /n11
>> > >>=20
>> > >>  https://archive.org/details/the-saturday-evening-post-1941-05-31/page=
>> /n23
>> > >>=20
>> > >>=20
>> > >> I have mixed opinions of Watson.  On the one hand, he did
>> > >> build a company that revolutionized information technology.
>> > >> The fundamentals he created are with us today even if the
>> > >> hardware is different.  Although he personally was not
>> > >> an engineer, he knew how to recruit the best.  Other companies
>> > >> tried to do what IBM did but failed.  Contrary to myth, he
>> > >> was very supportive of electronics and computers.  He
>> > >> was generous with his company's money.
>> > >>=20
>> > >> On the other hand, he was an absolute dictator.  He
>> > >> created a cult of personality.  It was his way or
>> > >> the highway, even when he was technologically wrong.
>> > >> Fortunately, most of the time he did make the right
>> > >> decisions.
>> > >>=20
>> > >> He did pay his workers well, but he demanded an awful
>> > >> lot from them.  They were to be devoted to the IBM way--
>> > >> Watson's way--24/7.
>> > >>=20
>> > >>=20
>> > >> Watson was na=C3=AFve about war.  He believe in "world peace
>> > >> through world trade".  He figured countries that were
>> > >> happily making money would be too busy to go to war.  He was
>> > >> wrong.
>> > >>=20
>> > >> His monopoly position is tricky.  He clearly had a
>> > >> monopoly in I.T.  On the one hand, he earned it through
>> > >> superior service and equipment.  He had good patents.
>> > >> On the other hand, he got some good patents through
>> > >> acquisitions, not internal inventions.  He was
>> > >> aggressive.
>> > >
>> > >He is famous for the line "I think that there is a world market for
>> > >five computers." [need to check source]
>> >=20
>> > Yes you do.  The actual statement, at the April 28, 1953 stockholders
>> > meeting, was, referring specifically to the 701:   "I.B.M. had
>> > developed a paper plan for such a machine and took this paper plan
>> > across the country to some 20 concerns that we thought could use such
>> > a machine. =E2=80=A6 As a result of our trip, on which we expected to get
>> > orders for five machines, we came home with orders for 18."
>> 
>> Wiki gives the year as 1943, a decade before your date.
>
>So you'll tkae the word of a bunch of amateurs over the published history of
>IBM????

To be fair, Wikipedia actually states:

    "I think there is a world market for maybe five computers" is often attributed
    to Thomas Watson, Senior in 1943 and Junior at several dates in the
    1950s. This misquote is from the 1953 IBM annual stockholders' meeting.
    Thomas Watson Jr. was describing the market acceptance of the IBM 701
    computer. Before production began, Watson visited with 20 companies
    that were potential customers. This is what he said at the stockholders'
    meeting, "as a result of our trip, on which we expected to get orders for
    five machines, we came home with orders for 18.\u201d[5]

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#210464

On Thursday, March 12, 2020 at 6:02:37 AM UTC+11, Rich Alderson wrote:
> r.....@gmail.com writes:
> 
> > On Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at 10:20:37 AM UTC+11, J. Clarke wrote:
> > > On Tue, 10 Mar 2020 06:01:14 -0700 (PDT), r.....@gmail.com
> > > wrote:

> > > >He is famous for the line "I think that there is a world market for
> > > >five computers." [need to check source]
> > >=20
> > > Yes you do.  The actual statement, at the April 28, 1953 stockholders
> > > meeting, was, referring specifically to the 701:   "I.B.M. had
> > > developed a paper plan for such a machine and took this paper plan
> > > across the country to some 20 concerns that we thought could use such
> > > a machine. =E2=80=A6 As a result of our trip, on which we expected to get
> > > orders for five machines, we came home with orders for 18."
> > 
> > Wiki gives the year as 1943, a decade before your date.
> 
> So you'll tkae the word of a bunch of amateurs over the published history of
> IBM????

The official history has probably been sanitised.

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#210471

On Wed, 11 Mar 2020 18:08:18 -0700 (PDT), robin.vowels@gmail.com
wrote:

>On Thursday, March 12, 2020 at 6:02:37 AM UTC+11, Rich Alderson wrote:
>> r.....@gmail.com writes:
>> 
>> > On Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at 10:20:37 AM UTC+11, J. Clarke wrote:
>> > > On Tue, 10 Mar 2020 06:01:14 -0700 (PDT), r.....@gmail.com
>> > > wrote:
>
>> > > >He is famous for the line "I think that there is a world market for
>> > > >five computers." [need to check source]
>> > >=20
>> > > Yes you do.  The actual statement, at the April 28, 1953 stockholders
>> > > meeting, was, referring specifically to the 701:   "I.B.M. had
>> > > developed a paper plan for such a machine and took this paper plan
>> > > across the country to some 20 concerns that we thought could use such
>> > > a machine. =E2=80=A6 As a result of our trip, on which we expected to get
>> > > orders for five machines, we came home with orders for 18."
>> > 
>> > Wiki gives the year as 1943, a decade before your date.
>> 
>> So you'll tkae the word of a bunch of amateurs over the published history of
>> IBM????
>
>The official history has probably been sanitised.

Hat.  Tinfoil.

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#210502

On Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at 9:08:19 PM UTC-4, robin...@gmail.com wrote:

> > So you'll tkae the word of a bunch of amateurs over the published history of
> > IBM????
> 
> The official history has probably been sanitised.

Those books have been out for years without criticism.

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#210451

On Wed, 11 Mar 2020 07:12:10 -0700 (PDT)
robin.vowels@gmail.com wrote:

> Wiki gives the year as 1943, a decade before your date.

	Two years before the end of WWII - seems very unlikely.

-- 
Steve O'Hara-Smith                          |   Directable Mirror Arrays
C:\>WIN                                     | A better way to focus the sun
The computer obeys and wins.                |    licences available see
You lose and Bill collects.                 |    http://www.sohara.org/

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#210452

On Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at 4:00:05 PM UTC-4, Ahem A Rivet's Shot wrote:
> On Wed, 11 Mar 2020 07:12:10 -0700 (PDT)
> robin.vowels@gmail.com wrote:
> 
> > Wiki gives the year as 1943, a decade before your date.
> 
> 	Two years before the end of WWII - seems very unlikely.

Both Junior's memoirs and "Building IBM" are quite clear that
Watson Sr looked toward electronics early on (circa 1940)
and then to computers.  IBM did develop the Harvard Mark I
calculating machine and then its own SSEC machine early on.

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#210469

On Thursday, March 12, 2020 at 7:07:32 AM UTC+11, h.....@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:
> On Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at 4:00:05 PM UTC-4, Ahem A Rivet's Shot wrote:
> > On Wed, 11 Mar 2020 07:12:10 -0700 (PDT)
> > r.....@gmail.com wrote:
> > 
> > > Wiki gives the year as 1943, a decade before your date.
> > 
> > 	Two years before the end of WWII - seems very unlikely.
> 
> Both Junior's memoirs and "Building IBM" are quite clear that
> Watson Sr looked toward electronics early on (circa 1940)

More precisely, 1939.

> and then to computers.  IBM did develop the Harvard Mark I
> calculating machine and then its own SSEC machine early on.

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#210468

On Thursday, March 12, 2020 at 7:00:05 AM UTC+11, Ahem A Rivet's Shot wrote:
> On Wed, 11 Mar 2020 07:12:10 -0700 (PDT)
> r.....@gmail.com wrote:
> 
> > Wiki gives the year as 1943, a decade before your date.
> 
> 	Two years before the end of WWII - seems very unlikely.

IBM approved the project to build the Harvard Mark I in 1939.

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#210472

On Wed, 11 Mar 2020 18:31:15 -0700 (PDT), robin.vowels@gmail.com
wrote:

>On Thursday, March 12, 2020 at 7:00:05 AM UTC+11, Ahem A Rivet's Shot wrote:
>> On Wed, 11 Mar 2020 07:12:10 -0700 (PDT)
>> r.....@gmail.com wrote:
>> 
>> > Wiki gives the year as 1943, a decade before your date.
>> 
>> 	Two years before the end of WWII - seems very unlikely.
>
>IBM approved the project to build the Harvard Mark I in 1939.

And it didn't actually run until 1944.  Further, it was not electronic
and it was horrendously slow.

By the way if you can find a statement in wikipedia to the effect that
Watson made a statement about 5 computers in 1943, please provide a
link.

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#210479

On Thursday, March 12, 2020 at 12:37:28 PM UTC+11, J. Clarke wrote:
> On Wed, 11 Mar 2020 18:31:15 -0700 (PDT), r.....@gmail.com
> wrote:
> 
> >On Thursday, March 12, 2020 at 7:00:05 AM UTC+11, Ahem A Rivet's Shot wrote:
> >> On Wed, 11 Mar 2020 07:12:10 -0700 (PDT)
> >> r.....@gmail.com wrote:
> >> 
> >> > Wiki gives the year as 1943, a decade before your date.
> >> 
> >> 	Two years before the end of WWII - seems very unlikely.
> >
> >IBM approved the project to build the Harvard Mark I in 1939.
> 
> And it didn't actually run until 1944.  Further, it was not electronic
> and it was horrendously slow.
> 
> By the way if you can find a statement in wikipedia to the effect that
> Watson made a statement about 5 computers in 1943, please provide a
> link.

Go look yourself. I found it easily enough.

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#210483

On Wed, 11 Mar 2020 21:03:56 -0700 (PDT), robin.vowels@gmail.com
wrote:

>On Thursday, March 12, 2020 at 12:37:28 PM UTC+11, J. Clarke wrote:
>> On Wed, 11 Mar 2020 18:31:15 -0700 (PDT), r.....@gmail.com
>> wrote:
>> 
>> >On Thursday, March 12, 2020 at 7:00:05 AM UTC+11, Ahem A Rivet's Shot wrote:
>> >> On Wed, 11 Mar 2020 07:12:10 -0700 (PDT)
>> >> r.....@gmail.com wrote:
>> >> 
>> >> > Wiki gives the year as 1943, a decade before your date.
>> >> 
>> >> 	Two years before the end of WWII - seems very unlikely.
>> >
>> >IBM approved the project to build the Harvard Mark I in 1939.
>> 
>> And it didn't actually run until 1944.  Further, it was not electronic
>> and it was horrendously slow.
>> 
>> By the way if you can find a statement in wikipedia to the effect that
>> Watson made a statement about 5 computers in 1943, please provide a
>> link.
>
>Go look yourself. I found it easily enough.

No.  You made the assertion that it was in wikipedia.  So it's up to
you to support that assertion.  If you can't then the default
assumption is that you made it up.

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#210503

On Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at 9:37:28 PM UTC-4, J. Clarke wrote:

> >IBM approved the project to build the Harvard Mark I in 1939.
> 
> And it didn't actually run until 1944.  Further, it was not electronic
> and it was horrendously slow.

Was the Harvard Mark I really all that slow by the standards
of its day?  Yes, it was a mechanical machine, and a trig
or log took a full minute. But so was everything else at that 
point in time.  

At that time, the only alternative to the Mark I was a bunch of
humans punching desk calculators.  They were even slower.
The Mark I had the advantage of continuous operation, passing
results of one equation automatically to the next and other
logic.

As best as I can tell, the Mark I was a powerful tool.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_Mark_I

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#210506

On Thu, 12 Mar 2020 15:25:08 -0700 (PDT), hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:

>On Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at 9:37:28 PM UTC-4, J. Clarke wrote:
>
>> >IBM approved the project to build the Harvard Mark I in 1939.
>> 
>> And it didn't actually run until 1944.  Further, it was not electronic
>> and it was horrendously slow.
>
>Was the Harvard Mark I really all that slow by the standards
>of its day?  Yes, it was a mechanical machine, and a trig
>or log took a full minute. But so was everything else at that 
>point in time.  

It was horrendously slow by the standards of 5 of them doing all the
calculations in the world.  It could do 3 additions a second.  What
did a building full of bookkeepers with adding machines average?

>At that time, the only alternative to the Mark I was a bunch of
>humans punching desk calculators.  They were even slower.

Individually less, but not collectively.

>The Mark I had the advantage of continuous operation, passing
>results of one equation automatically to the next and other
>logic.
>
>As best as I can tell, the Mark I was a powerful tool.
>
>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_Mark_I

It was for the time but it wasn't a replacement for large numbers of
people with calculators.

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