From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on inbox.vuxu.org X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-0.8 required=5.0 tests=DKIM_INVALID,DKIM_SIGNED, HTML_FONT_LOW_CONTRAST,HTML_MESSAGE,MAILING_LIST_MULTI autolearn=ham autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 Received: (qmail 12646 invoked from network); 8 Mar 2023 17:45:54 -0000 Received: from minnie.tuhs.org (2600:3c01:e000:146::1) by inbox.vuxu.org with ESMTPUTF8; 8 Mar 2023 17:45:54 -0000 Received: from minnie.tuhs.org (localhost [IPv6:::1]) by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 865DC412C1; Thu, 9 Mar 2023 03:45:47 +1000 (AEST) Received: from mail-vs1-xe31.google.com (mail-vs1-xe31.google.com [IPv6:2607:f8b0:4864:20::e31]) by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix) with ESMTPS id 5A73E412AD for ; Thu, 9 Mar 2023 03:45:29 +1000 (AEST) Received: by mail-vs1-xe31.google.com with SMTP id by13so16105785vsb.3 for ; Wed, 08 Mar 2023 09:45:29 -0800 (PST) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=ccc.com; s=google; t=1678297528; h=cc:to:subject:message-id:date:from:in-reply-to:references :mime-version:from:to:cc:subject:date:message-id:reply-to; bh=J1Pa5Rr+bLvjDB1LcMFZXiVTpWiR+0K321uPRKJi4iE=; b=GPzOZrPagSCF2AhcGvy9AKWKrFArtCFHfgfijoLI/yNFDdC88iIOSCup02AvaX7CDE GKLEpDu5GFVEaM+WSuhpKi3LLw85lW0fU4mGEsSeMgInjfCzhr+XSVbs1nPK6ZQpSWYK 17SLqkAnbrBo+GUiaddiv5M3dumdXVHHRlHF8= X-Google-DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=1e100.net; s=20210112; t=1678297528; h=cc:to:subject:message-id:date:from:in-reply-to:references :mime-version:x-gm-message-state:from:to:cc:subject:date:message-id :reply-to; bh=J1Pa5Rr+bLvjDB1LcMFZXiVTpWiR+0K321uPRKJi4iE=; b=H3SzkI79dxx2pc2qAVc1Uq2eTOV6XFwofnVCOgtVRY1MFJEa2Em7HUvdUvAbTA2Cgb be8WrGocAoZUPcsyuW20mIX5oFpWZ4ZJ1Z6OGoUgGda4PNJbztVa4zm6PHui04s2oK23 vGDk65iz7MnzArpD8P+kdC5rGXw3rg4Kkrve3MjJjJQKju88lygAjEq3nVgseoG1tA6s BJfCZmuKGI7xALVAe/zkWVTnCGgQ2mVcELOnK+dMoNAKgHnpVXpAwjSdYIq6hKATQW6d Jz4e6FadLc4fXTVpqpdAgjcGeRBBZRxG+YDw6ZQwFTBYf9ly8L9e9tjy+IdgxlWtfhws MkTg== X-Gm-Message-State: AO0yUKV67ZMru8jI3VqfJVJgwmi+qNqY9e/kwJe4b/0ACkfLv2j+XUco mID0mNMoXo3TA4teQyzuRRZz62WNTtEhj922m+dT9w== X-Google-Smtp-Source: AK7set+qmtc8ZhMKMG4xWjsxVIXjSD0Z8cahXqqOCfRTwHxYddDRg4jsG2/HGM91l8mq8C/f7OCo6RxKmcWAlGahl9s= X-Received: by 2002:a05:6102:3e10:b0:421:c926:4b6d with SMTP id j16-20020a0561023e1000b00421c9264b6dmr12185065vsv.0.1678297528051; Wed, 08 Mar 2023 09:45:28 -0800 (PST) MIME-Version: 1.0 References: <1297BE06-BE03-477A-AC60-40A269090295@planet.nl> <73309724-1F69-49D4-B54B-63DD298CBD27@planet.nl> In-Reply-To: From: Clem Cole Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2023 12:45:01 -0500 Message-ID: To: Dan Cross Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="000000000000fcbe3a05f6671751" Message-ID-Hash: AAUBUZNTU5NWED5V75NVRFXISC73KFRQ X-Message-ID-Hash: AAUBUZNTU5NWED5V75NVRFXISC73KFRQ X-MailFrom: clemc@ccc.com X-Mailman-Rule-Misses: dmarc-mitigation; no-senders; approved; emergency; loop; banned-address; member-moderation; nonmember-moderation; administrivia; implicit-dest; max-recipients; max-size; news-moderation; no-subject; digests; suspicious-header CC: Paul Ruizendaal , "tuhs@tuhs.org" X-Mailman-Version: 3.3.6b1 Precedence: list Subject: [TUHS] Re: Origins of the frame buffer device List-Id: The Unix Heritage Society mailing list Archived-At: List-Archive: List-Help: List-Owner: List-Post: List-Subscribe: List-Unsubscribe: --000000000000fcbe3a05f6671751 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable On Wed, Mar 8, 2023 at 9:24=E2=80=AFAM Dan Cross wrote: > I wouldn't try to be too rigid in your terms here. The term > "workstation" was probably never well-defined > I agree. > By the early 90s this was understood to mean a single-user machine in > a desktop or deskside form factor with a graphics display, and a more > advanced operating system than something you'd get on a consumer-grade > machine. But the term probably predated that. > Definitely. > > Would a Tek 4014 connected to a VAX count? > And herein lies the issue. The term was taken from the engineering/architecture style definition of the 50s/60s - where someone had a desk/table/bench and *area to do 'work'*. With the CTSS/Multrics et al., the birth of interactive computing is the term used to define an area (usually in a shared computer terminal room). B= y the time of Tek 4014 and ME-CAD in particular, you often saw darkened rooms where one or two Tek 4000 series terminals might be attached to a large (more capable) computer - be it a PDP-10, IBM, or later Vaxen. At this point, everything is shared - because the computer is shared - only on the terminal itself is a single user, but this was called a 'workstation,' at that time *as the place where you did work*.. Fast forward to the first personal (mini) computer - *a.k.a.* the. Xerox Alto These were intended to be single-user computer systems, and the CPU was not a shared resource like a time-shared system. Next, we see the MIT LISP machine and the PascALTO [*a.k.a*. the. 3-Rivers Perq] -- same thing. BTW: = I also just looked at my copy of the CMU SPICE (Scientific Personal Integrated Computing Environment). In none of these does the term workstation show up (be. used) *to describe the computer itself* - *i.e.,* the term is still only used in the context of the place/area you do work. All of these use the term *personal computer *to describe the device being used in that place*.* We also start to see the birth of firms like Apollo, Masscomp, and later VLSI Systems (later renamed Sun Microsystems). But also build personal computers that can perform the same computing task as 32-bit minicomputers such as the Vax. Fast forward to the IBM release of the IBM 5150 Personal Computer based on an Intel 8088 - which is decidedly a much less capable computer than what is being sold by the folks using Vaxen, M68000s, or Zilion Z8000. While this system can be a fine replacement for a 'word processor' and even run the business friends 'Visicalc' - it is not suited for the CAD style work that is ruining on minicomputers. But ... IBM usurps the term 'Personal Computer' to describe their new product (and make it sound a bit more than what it really was). But now you have a problem in the market at large. Marketing folks at places like 3-Rivers, Apollo, and the like need a new term to start to describe the capabilities of the computer in their more expensive products to differentiate them from the new IBM product and explain their value for that extra cost -> i.e. they were no selling personal computers, but complete and much more capable systems that integrated into a network, had raster graphics, *etc*. and to perform tasks that the IBM PC was unable. So they took the term of how the product was being used -> *to create a place to do work, to be the device that allowed you to do (real) work*. =E1=90=A7 --000000000000fcbe3a05f6671751 Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable


On Wed, Mar 8, 2023 at 9:24= =E2=80=AFAM Dan Cross <crossd@gmail.com> wrote:
I wouldn't try to be too rigid in your terms here.= The term
"workstation" was probably never well-defined
I agree.
=C2=A0
By the early 90s this was understood to mean a single-user machine in
a desktop or deskside form factor with a graphics display, and a more
advanced operating system than something you'd get on a consumer-grade<= br> machine.=C2=A0 But the term probably predated that.=C2=A0
<= div>Definitely.=C2=A0

Would a Tek 4014 connected to a VAX count?
And her= ein lies the issue.=C2=A0 The term was taken from the engineering/architect= ure style definition=C2=A0of the 50s/60s=C2=A0- where someone ha= d a desk/table/bench and area to do 'work'.

With the CTSS/Multrics et al., the birth of = interactive computing is the term=C2=A0used to define an area (usually in a= shared computer terminal=C2=A0room).=C2=A0By the time of Tek 4014 and ME-CAD= in particular, you often saw darkened rooms where one or two Tek 4000 seri= es terminals might be attached to a large (more capable) computer - be it a= PDP-10, IBM, or later Vaxen.=C2=A0 At this point, everything is shared - bec= ause the computer is shared - only on the=C2=A0terminal itself is a single = user, but this was called a 'workstation,' at that time as the=C2=A0place where= =C2=A0you did work..

Fast forward to the= first personal (mini) computer -=C2=A0 a.k.a. the. Xerox Alt= o

These were intended to be = single-user computer systems, and the CPU was not a shared resource like a = time-shared=C2=A0system.=C2=A0Next, we see the MIT=C2=A0LISP machine and the PascALTO [<= i>a.k.a. the. 3-Rivers Perq] -- same thing. BTW:=C2=A0I also just looked at=C2=A0my copy of the CMU = SPICE (Scientific Personal Integrated Computing Environment). In none of these does the term workstation show up (be. used)=C2=A0to describe the computer itself=C2=A0-=C2=A0i.e., the t= erm=C2=A0is still only used in the context of the place/area you do wor= k.=C2=A0 All of these use the term personal computer to describe the= device being used in that place.

<= /div>
We als= o start to see the birth of firms like Apollo, Masscomp, and later VLSI Sys= tems (later renamed Sun Microsystems).=C2=A0 But also build personal comput= ers that can perform the same computing task as 32-bit minicomputers such a= s the Vax.

Fast forward to the IBM release of t= he IBM 5150 Personal Computer based on an Intel 8088 - which is decidedly a= much less capable computer than what is being sold by the folks using Vaxe= n, M68000s, or Zilion=C2=A0Z8000.=C2=A0 While this system can be a fine rep= lacement for a 'word processor' and even run the business friends &= #39;Visicalc' - it is not suited for the CAD style work that is ruining= =C2=A0on minicomputers.=C2=A0 But ... IBM usurps the term 'Personal Com= puter' to describe their new product (and make it sound=C2=A0a bit more= than what it really was). But now you have a problem in the=C2=A0market at= large.

Marketing folks at places = like 3-Rivers, Apollo, and the like need a new term to=C2=A0start to descri= be the=C2=A0c= apabilities of the computer in their=C2=A0more expensive products to differentiate them= =C2=A0from the=C2=A0new IBM product=C2=A0and explain their value= for that extra cost -> i.e. they were no selling personal computers, bu= t complete and much more=C2=A0capable systems that integrated in= to a network, had raster graphics,=C2=A0etc. and to perfo= rm tasks that the IBM PC was unable. So they took the term of how th= e product was being used -> to create a place to do work, to be the device that allowed = you to do (real) work.
3D""<= font color=3D"#ffffff" size=3D"1">=E1=90=A7
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