Altair 8800

[dave walsh]

Just wondered if anybody on here built one of these in 75? It was shown in the middle of "The Virtual Revolution" tonight [BBC2]. Doesn't appear on the favourite computers thread but I suppose it's even older than most of the choices there. I remember seeing it in the electronics mag and wondering why anyone would bother? I suppose you needed the insight at the time!
Dave W

[Dave Moll]

I had the insight. What I lacked was the cash!

I also saw it advertised and would have loved to have built/owned one, but seem to remember that the cost was somewhat beyond my limited means at the time.

I had a pang of nostalgia when I saw it flash on the screen last night.

edit: I've discovered that someone makes/made the kit available in the 21st century. The cost still is beyond my limited means!

[dave walsh]

Thanks Dave. I didn't have cash either but never got to that stage anyway as computers weren't that interesting to me at all [until I heard about this new Internet idea]. Writing code-no interest/ability. Computer games-no thanks.
Probaly accounts for my dismal skills. It's an interesting and surprising series though. Dave W

[dave walsh]

Part One of The Virtual Revolution is on again tonight BBC2 11-20pm. Dave W

[evingar]

Interesting programme - It will be interesting to see where it heads in future episodes.

WRT the Altair - I was only 13 at the time, so it was also well beyond by 10P / week pocket money.

WRT the kit, having trouble seeing the justification for spending all that dough. It's not original and it's a wholly useless article as far as practical use is concerned. I can just about see the merit in restoring an original one, but doing so wouldn't be classed as "heaps of fun" in my book - much rather spend my time on something with a valve in it or something I could actually find a real use for - sorry to be a "party pooper" . Takes all kinds I guess

[Dave Moll]

Originally Posted by evingar

WRT the kit, having trouble seeing the justification for spending all that dough.

Don't worry - neither would I spend my money on the kit - even if I could afford it. I was just amused to find it while using Google to refresh my memory of the Altair.

I should qualify my earlier comments by saying that it wasn't specifically the Altair 8800 after which I hankered at the time. Knowing that I could never own one of the (at least) seven-figure mainframe computers on which I worked (even if had had the space for one), I immediately took an interest when home computers started to be advertised, as I loved the idea of actually owning a computer.

In the end the market and I met when I parted with £400 for a BBC Micro. But that, as they say, is another story - and would be off-topic to expand upon here.

[evingar]

Originally Posted by Dave Moll

In the end the market and I met when I parted with £400 for a BBC Micro. But that, as they say, is another story - and would be off-topic to expand upon here.

Ditto
A more practical machine altogether, even if it did cost 1/4 of my junior trainee understudy engineer / bell boy/ coffee maker annual salary at the time - Just imagine spending that kind of money (pro rata) on a PC now