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.

 

[Oaktree]

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

Or just more bells and whistles that make something more difficult to use without really improving the product by much.

 

[WinterDeere]

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.

All of this computerization is supposed to give us more reliable machines, the system is there to provide better efficiency and reliability than without, but as we all know... failures of the many sensors themselves often cause service calls.

Overall, I think we have to acknowledge that cars and tractors today are much more reliable than the past. But when they do require service, you're more likely to require specialized equipment.

 

[WinterDeere]

Or just more bells and whistles that make something more difficult to use without really improving the product by much.

Drive a carbureted car with points ignition for ten years, then come back and let's have that discussion again. The product is vastly improved, but things not breaking as often, is usually not noticed. It's hard to notice things not happening.

Explain to a kid of today, that in the 1970's, sometimes your car just didn't start in the morning. They won't even understand what you're talking about.

 

[ultrarunner]

Carburetors... that is almost exclusively my fleet from my Chevrolet service van to my Samurai and my Model T and A.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Drive a carbureted car with points ignition for ten years, then come back and let's have that discussion again. The product is vastly improved, but things not breaking as often, is usually not noticed. It's hard to notice things not happening.

Explain to a kid of today, that in the 1970's, sometimes your car just didn't start in the morning. They won't even understand what you're talking about.

I'm old enough to remember when regular maintenance included getting a summer tune-up in the spring and a winter tune-up in the fall.

 

[kenmbz]

ah, points, condensers, tuning SU and Holly carbs.
Always fun when in a rush to get somewhere.
And don't get me started on all the grease points on the chassis.
And repacking bearings all the time.

But lots of camaraderie with others as we shared these tasks on each others cars.

I remember a friends dad standing on the flat head v8 to get it lined up to drop it in after a rebuild. Luckily he was short and the hoist was strong. That was a big engine.

My 2011 Jeep has a computer for the lighting, another for engine mgmt. My wifes car must have a slew of computers, hell it even has 6 or so cameras plus sensors etc.

I remember working on a Z80 based embedded computer, looked up Zilog and they are still in the bizz.

I had a coworker who made memory upgrade cartridges for Atari 400/800 and made quite a few dollars off of those.

Hmm is Timex/Sinclair still in business ?

 

[dstig1]

Carburetors... that is almost exclusively my fleet from my Chevrolet service van to my Samurai and my Model T and A.

Wait - you have a model T&A? That sounds ...interesting...

 

[ultrarunner]

Wait - you have a model T&A? That sounds ...interesting...

At least one from every decade with the oldest 1905 Oldsmobile followed by Model T’s and A’s, Bantams etc… include VW Thing and 62 Corvette, Mustangs…

All through High School I work for a Early Ford shop and met a lot of interesting people.

 

[kenmbz]

I guess we are not going to see any T&A, only T's and A's
Nice car collection.
FIL had a model T, scary taking turns, but it was a lot of fun to drive and weird with the shifting and pedal layout.

 

[ultrarunner]

I really need to get back to enjoying the cars… came close a few times finding the ideal property where they could be displayed.

2019 was the last time any were on the road…

I guess we are not going to see any T&A, only T's and A's
Nice car collection.
FIL had a model T, scary taking turns, but it was a lot of fun to drive and weird with the shifting and pedal layout.