1966 Mag: Build NE-2 Neon Bulb Computer - scan available

[Jules Richardson]

Chuck Guzis wrote:
> <rant>
> I'll make this vintage computer-oriented.  How many people still own 
> a working dishwasher/clothes washer with an integral computer that 
> was manufactured over 10 years ago? 

Aside from the longevity, my big gripe there is the step backwards in the UI - 
lots of modern washers seem to just have a few little LEDs to give a basic 
indication of what they're up to. Back in the days of timers, you could see 
exactly what was going on and how long things had left to run - but now such 
functionality seems to be treated as a luxury item and only comes on the more 
expensive models.

> 10 years ago, I repaired my TV by replacing a shorted disc cap. 

Mine's horrible - it spends about 50% of its life in a failure mode where 
response from the remote goes really sluggish and the sound cuts out with just 
the occasional faint buzzing noise. It's a mass of microprocessors and big 
custom chips inside though, so other than the obvious checks for bad joints 
and flakey caps there's been nothing I can do with it.

It's times like that when I really start cursing the "progress" that computers 
have brought :-(

> Has anyone noticed the large number of CRT monitors appearing on the 
> giveaway lists?  I wonder if that's not a mistake.

Yeah, lots of them this side of the pond too. I still find a CRT far nicer to 
work with than an LCD though - probably because a CRT gives more of an 
aliasing effect that looks more "natural" than the crisp jaggedness of an LCD 
display. Although the modern way seems to be to have as crisp an LCD as 
possible, then compensate by requiring masses of video memory, a fast CPU, and 
aliasing everything in software ;)

The display on the PC is sadly a 19" LCD since the 21" Iiyama I had went bang 
(LOPT death) - I'm keeping an eye out for another big CRT though (plus there 
was a nice wide expanse of space above the face of the CRT which was very 
useful for perching 'pending' papers on top of - my desk's a lot messier since 
the LCD came along :-)

cheers

Jules