B: RE: RE: RE: OT-first computer /// was- PFDs/// Aspen Problems

[Jim Blodgett]

"The EC-1 and other analogue computers were used until 1965, when first
affordable digital computers became available."

I was trained on the use of analog computers around 1970.  Raytheon was
still using analog computers to model missile flight control systems in
1973.  The advantage of analog computers was their ability to solve
differential equations very simply, albeit not with the greatest of
accuracy.

Regards,
Jim Blodgett



-----Original Message-----
From: beech-owners-bounces at beechcraft.org
[mailto:beech-owners-bounces at beechcraft.org] On Behalf Of Shawn Grubb
Sent: Wednesday, April 08, 2009 12:01 PM
To: beech-owners at beechcraft.org
Subject: B: RE: RE: OT-first computer /// was- PFDs/// Aspen Problems

Not my first computer, but I have on my shelf a Heathkit EC-1 analog
computer circa 1960.  With vacuum tubes!!

Looks like this:

http://oldcomputermuseum.com/heathkit_ec1.html

Shawn Grubb





-----Original Message-----
From: beech-owners-bounces at beechcraft.org
[mailto:beech-owners-bounces at beechcraft.org] On Behalf Of
info at genesishobby.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 08, 2009 1:17 PM
To: beech-owners at beechcraft.org
Subject: B: RE: OT-first computer /// was- PFDs/// Aspen Problems

Frank,

It was a Heathkit H-89 for me, with a huge 64K RAM, and two 360k floppy 
drives.  It was the cat's meow and I was king of the mountain - for a little

while.

John Beech
1954 Bonanza, "Sweet-E"
www.hobbytrading.com/N157F/
KSFB - Sanford, FL


> From: Frank Stutzman <stutzman at stutzman.com>
> Subject: RE: B: Was... PFDs/// Aspen Problems
>
> I built my first "personal comuter" in 1978 (the KIM-1, google it if you
> must).  No tubes, no disks.  It had a whopping 4K of memory and used a
> audio cassette tape recorder for permanent storage.  In kit form it cost
> me something like $300.
>
> Again, apologies.
>
> Frank Stutzman
> Bonanza N494B     "Hula Girl"
> Boise, ID