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“<X> is a toy…” has been a common refrain for decades as new technologies are labeled toys. The first personal computers were clearly hobbyist toys. Here’s a 1977 article where the toy CPU was compared to the IBM 370 CPU. FYI, Microsoft’s original phone number was 425-8080. Headline 8080 vs. 370 (those are both chips)Comparison table. Happy to provide in text if you DM me.
206-882-8080.
Now that this is a thread correcting my ridiculous typo (that will cause me lost sleep), please enjoy this long list of “[…] is a toy” from a while back. ♻️ medium.learningbyshipping.com/is-a-toy-21312…
PS/ If I did the math correctly, adding 16MB of memory to an IBM 370 in the 1970s would cost about $1.2M in 1975 dollars and I believe a lease was required.

Comparison: *new* IBM mainframe serving all of Cornell in 1985 had 4MB. The newer 3090 “super computer” w/64MB cost $5M.
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Steven Sinofsky
@stevesi
1/The announcement 10 years ago today of the "magical" iPad was clearly a milestone in computing. It was billed to be the “next” computer. For me, managing Windows, just weeks after the launch of Microsoft’s "latest creation" Windows 7, it was a as much a challenge as magical. Steve Jobs with ipad in chair.
2/Given that Star Trek had tablets it was inevitable that the form factor would make it to computing (yes, the dynabook...). Microsoft had been working for more than 10 years starting with "WinPad" through Tablet PC. We were fixated on Win32, Pen, and more. Star Trek tabletAlan Kay Dynabook
3/The success of iPhone (140K apps & 3B downloads announced that day) blinded us at Microsoft as to where Apple was heading. Endless rumors of Apple’s tablet *obviously* meant a pen computer based on Mac. Why not? The industry chased this for 20 years. That was our context. 140,000 apps3 billion downloads
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Steven Sinofsky
@stevesi
"What is the future of operating systems?" Is a great question that comes up quite a bit (like @Stripe yesterday). "Future of" is always tricky but one thing is always the case in software, which is everything interesting in tech moves "up the stack". Thoughts… 1/ What is the best computer for you? magazine cover with bill gates.
2/ In earliest days of microcomputers (PCs before PCs) it was not uncommon for those interested to spend most of their time debating the merits of various processors. This is from a 1977 debate. Is Z80 the wave of the present?
3/ At the time many believed that computing would evolve to have many competing "computers" built on different platforms. But this is never a sustainable state. Why? Because to move forward requires engineering abstractions, and abstractions mean interesting stuff moves up. Various computers in a review roundup.
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Steven Sinofsky
@stevesi
In 1984 when 19 different word processors were reviewed in PC Magazine, they looked at “the right way to test—function by function.” This included bold/underline/center, search and replace, error beep (or not), and recovering from floppy disk errors. Magazine cover.Search and replace checklistUnderline, bold,Handling error messages
by 1988, reviewed word processors grew to 55. Windows Word was still DNE so this character mode. As commented, pro writers loved XyWrite. Students loved Volkswriter. Pros/Lawyers loved WordPerfect. Check out # writers on reviews. 30 pages of tables! Note editors choice badge.
My favorite was always "number of words in spelling dictionary". More huge table of features.
Read 4 tweets

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Stu Cvrk
@STUinSD
Thread: On the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 Initiative

1. In 2016, Saudi Arabia announced a grand vision and plan to transition from a top oil and gas-producer to a more diversified – and even industrialized – economy. Let’s take a gander at the country and the plan.
2. First, here is some background information on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) from the CIA Factbook:

<quote>
2A. Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to Islam's two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina. The king's official title is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.
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brusicor 🔵₂
@brusicor02
Ce qui m'attriste surtout dans le reportage de France5 sur les olives, c'est la position de Raphaël Haumont. La soude est abordée à deux endroits dans le documentaire, comparons :
⏸️ 8:56 : c'est la journaliste en voie off
⏸️ 31:54 : c'est Haumont le chimiste qui présente.
(1/10)
#LT (2/10) Alors que c'est un traitement commun pour les olives VERTES, en aucun cas spécifique pour les olives noires confites. Cette étape était inutile a priori, vu qu'il partait déjà d'olives vertes du commerce.
#LT (3/10) Après, présentation du produit utilisé pour stabiliser la coloration : le gluconate ferreux (qui, vu la couleur, est bien oxydé).
Dans l'industrie, la solution est à 0.1%, donc il aurait fallu peser 0.1 g de solide.
Ici, c'est facile 100 fois plus concentré. 😮
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Stu Cvrk
@STUinSD
Thread: On Dealing with Congress – Properly!

[H/T: @WinstonLeslie ]

1. The nation has over $22 trillion in long-term debt. We have been engaged in “overseas ventures” (aka “small wars”) continuously for almost 20 years. The Chinese have been stealing our lunch for 40 years.
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Seonyeong Leigh
@2nd_rate
소설에서는 다음과 같은 부분이 붙는데, 스칼렛이 대략 이렇게 번역되는 글귀를 새겨 준다고 합니다.

"오하라네가 포크에게 - 유능하고 신실한 하인이로다"

아니 이 미개한 백인놈들이?????
그런데 여기서 특이한 건 포크의 반응인데, 스칼렛의 제안에 말을 빙빙 돌리다 화제를 딴 데로 옮겨 버리죠.

<히익!!?? 아니 아가씨 에이 뭐 그건 아니고요, 아 그렇죠 그거 그 엇 유에프오다! 아닌가? 헤헤 제가 잘 몰라서 저기 그런데 말이죠 아가씨 아씨는 천사십니다 흑인애호가이죠 그렇죠...!>
그냥 넋놓고 읽다 보면, 결과적으로 시계에 <너 노예 ㅊㅋ>라는 글귀를 새기지 않게 된 건 깜빡 잊고 - 스칼렛 본인도 잊어버렸습니다! - <흑인들은 좀 어리석구나...> 정도의 인상만 남긴 채 넘어가기 쉬운 구절입니다.
Read 1107 tweets
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Joseph Britt
@Zathras3
<Thread>. Read this @NormOrnstein piece in @newrepublic, suggesting an agenda for the New Democratic House majority. As he says, there are a lot of items here, some (like new voting rights legislation) more urgent than others. A few thoughts... newrepublic.com/article/152127…
2. First, a point both @NormOrnstein & @RonaldKlain have made: important parts of the infrastructure supporting House members were allowed to atrophy during the Boehner/Ryan period, and must be rebuilt. This is not as simple as flipping a switch. It will take time.
3. Committees need experienced investigators and talented lawyers; personal Member staff, some of whom will be brand new to the Hill, will need training. @NormOrnstein mentions (presumably as a longer term project) restoring the Office of Technology Assessment,...
Read 16 tweets
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brusicor 🔵₂
@brusicor02
J'ai envie de me laisser tenter :
1 fav = une information en chimie que tu pourras ressortir en soirée.
1️⃣ Le gymnémate de potassium neutralise le goût sucré : mettre un petit tas de sucre sur la langue donne l'impression de manger du sable.
2️⃣ Le bismuth est un des rares éléments qui se dilate en gelant : tel la glace flotte sur l'eau, un morceau de Bi flotte sur son liquide.
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