Origin of the term minicomputer (was Re: PDP-1 as ...

[Ian King]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-
> bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Chuck Guzis
> Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2010 9:44 AM
> To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
> Subject: Re: Origin of the term minicomputer (was Re: PDP-1 as ...
> 
> Here's another one, "midicomputer".
> 
> A web search yields a lot of repetitions of the unhelpful definition
> (between a mainframe and a mini) and references in a couple of papers
> to various systems as such (e.g. VAX 11/780 and PDP-11/40).
> 
> Did any manufacturer ever use the term to describe its own products?
> 
> ...and I found this quote in an online buyers' guide:
> 
> "Instead of saying "maxicomputer", most computerists says
> "mainframe", which is an old-fashioned term; but I´ll say
> "maxicomputer", which is more modern and easier to understand."
> 
> Computers and hemlines...
> 
> 
ISTR a discussion in a trade magazine back in the '80s of the distinction between a superminicomputer and a minisupercomputer.  Ah, marketeers, aren't they cute?  -- Ian