Missing computer company's

[TractorTYMe]

I had an internship with Unisys in 1994, oh and whom doesn't remember the Italian Computer company Olivetti. They were famous for their wired patches of leads of their PCB's on their computer system.

 

[garry1p]

I worked in NASA communications for a while

I worked in NASA STDN 1968 to 1972 every computer we had was one of a kind.

I remember when or communication center was up graded from a small kitchen size room with racks of equipment and ended up with just 2 small cabinets.

The only time we interfaced with Manned Flight was President Nixon talking to the astronauts on the moon voice came through our equipment in Rosman, NC.

 

[Oaktree]

I will never forget the year when we got Wang. We ( Env Health Dept ) were chosen by Wang to test their new systems. The secretaries were overjoyed. They could edit/correct any correspondence - right on the monitor. Once in final state - the printers would print out as many copies as needed.

Wang had an interesting marketing approach in the days before they became mostly a word processor company. Prior to that they built & sold "programmable calculators". In reality, they were minicomputers but in those days (60s/early 70s) the word "computer" conjured up images of big scary mainframes that were expensive and complicated to use, and a lot of companies may or may not have had a budget for that, but it seemed there was always room in the budget for a programmable calculator.

Many of the calculations for the Apollo moon shot were done on Wang calculators. That pre-dated my time there by a year or so, but it was still being touted in their sales brochures.
I was somewhat involved in the development of their early word processors.

 

[garry1p]

People don't accept change very well or fight it all the way, except those in the computer world, I know I lived it every single day and accepted it as normal.

 

[Hughman]

This thread has turned into total tech ****. Geeks with tractors... Who would of thunk?

 

[bmaverick]

This thread has turned into total tech ****. Geeks with tractors... Who would of thunk?

And most of us geeks with tractors have ones with NO-TECH. Who wants a machine with a computer, only for it to fail into limp-mode or worse. Then you have no Right-To-Repair other than the dealer.

So, us geeks, having to live with tech for years, know the right answer, no tech means easy fixings and less things to break.

 

[BravoXray]

no mention of Packard Bell? Boo.. my first computer or Gateway?

I used to get a lot of service calls from friends that had bought Packard-Bell computers, and once they were out of warranty they were junk. I could usually salvage the HD and put in a new computer. I found that the power supplies were the weakest component, but keyboards were junk too.

 

[bmaverick]

I used to get a lot of service calls from friends that had bought Packard-Bell computers, and once they were out of warranty they were junk. I could usually salvage the HD and put in a new computer. I found that the power supplies were the weakest component, but keyboards were junk too.

PB and Gateway did somethings well in advance compared to other brands that offered the same stuff.

I recall both companies on the desktops were the first out with those front cover full media port connections. Then as those two companies faded away, Dell made it common.

As of today, PB is still in business. They were acquired by a UK company and remains there today.

You can buy a Packard-Bell iMedia desktop or their OneTwo, with Win11.

The PB AirFrame edge-to-edge displays are sold on Amazon as well,

Amazon.com

This is whats left of retail Packard Bell, only on Amazon for North America,

Packard Bell

Packard Bell has been a pioneer in cutting edge technology, and today this historic brand is once again available for opportunities in the US through exclusive license agreements with three historic trademark logo options. Opportunities are available in all consumer electronics categories...

www.amazon.com

 

[dstig1]

Twin Cities had a lot of early computer stuff here. I think Cray merged with Silicon Graphics and I think still exists but not sure. Univac, Control Data, Honeywell did a lot too.

 

[ultrarunner]

And most of us geeks with tractors have ones with NO-TECH. Who wants a machine with a computer, only for it to fail into limp-mode or worse. Then you have no Right-To-Repair other than the dealer.

So, us geeks, having to live with tech for years, know the right answer, no tech means easy fixings and less things to break.

Yes and Yes… and don’t get me started on license to use, etc.