Non-fake Apple 1 on ebay

[Fred Cisin]

On Fri, 20 Nov 2009, Tony Duell wrote:
> I specifically mentioned the HP9830 becasue it _is_ IMHO similar to many
> early micros. A rough spec :
>
> -- All-in-one desktop machine, just plug into the mains and go
> -- Built-in QWERTY keyboard, 1-line (upper case) alphanumeic display and
> digital cassette drive
> -- Built-in ROM BASIC.. OK, the built-in BASIC was pretty minimal, there
> weren't even stirng variables, for example, but it was still BASIC. You
> turned on the machine and started programming
> -- Plug-in ROM modules to extend the BASIC (string variables/operations,
> matris operations, plotter cotnrol, extended I/O are the ones I have in
> my machine)
> -- 16-bit bit-serial proecessor
> -- 2K words to 8K words of RAM (IIRC). A word is 16 bits.
> -- Built-in interface to a thermal 80-column printer
> -- And slots for 4 more interface modules to intruments, paper tape,
> other printers, modem, etc. I have the 8-bit parallel I/O, BCD input (to
> link to DVMs, etc), serial printer (half-duplex RS232), modem (bit-banged
> RS232, advanced modem (a hardware RS232 interface handling async and sync
> modes) and another parallel printer interface. There wrre many others.
> And that was in early 1973. OK, it was called a 'calculator' but IMHO
> that was for marketting rasons. It's a computer, surely. And it is, IMHO,
> a reasonable candidate for 'first personal computer'
>
> > I am NOT going to attempt to create an exhaustive, nor thorough, list so
> > assume that lack of inclusion of your favorites is not intended to
> > diminish their importance.  Each of us KNOWS what the most important and
> > significant machine was.
>
> So I? I am not sure I do....

Although you did just make a reasonably good case for the HP9830   :-)



--
Grumpy Ol' Fred     		cisin at xenosoft.com