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[Paul Koning]

Subject: CDC console
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I just got a pointer to this thread...

Rick's description is excellent, lots of accurate details.

One very small point: the 6x00 console wasn't a vector display in the
full sense of the word.  It would draw text in vector mode, but any
graphics had to be in dot mode.  So if you wanted to draw a shape that
couldn't be done as character graphics, things would be pretty slow;
output speed was character per 2.5 microseconds or so, and a dot was
simply another chacter (a period, actually).

Yes, it uses electrostatic deflection.  The deflection final stage
amplifier tubes were essentially 3CX100A5 tubes -- originally designed
for 250-500 watt UHF transmitters.

And yes, the "deadstart panel" is effectively a boot ROM -- 12 words
of 12 bits each.

Bitsavers has a manual for this beast, with schematics:
http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/cdc/6x00/82100010_dd60a_Mar65.pdf .  And
here http://ed-thelen.org/comp-hist/vs-cdc-6600.html is a picture of
the deadstart panel.

    paul