Re: Apple Computers-collector's items?

[dastar@crl.com (Sam Ismail)]

warren@borg.com wrote:

: Here's another take at the situation.  The data processing paradigm evolves about
: each 8 years:  punch cards, paper tape, mag tape, diskettes, cd, layered/latticed cd
:  = 40 years.  Then in the software arena:  binary coding, assembler, 
: 3GL(COBOL/FORTRAN), 4GL, then OLE-DDE-Office Vision, etc. = 40 years.

: Next:  Voice activated computing, such as IBM's Merlin (the successor to WARP) 
: which is to market in 1996, deep layered cd's with more capacity than 15 gigabytes 
: per each cd (1966, for under $1200), cable modems (now) with 10 meg b-rate d/l 
: and 1.5 meg b-rate u/l for under $400.

: With each paradigm change, the skills, knowledge, and habits of the old ways 
: become less and less valuable.  The enduring traits of persistance, unquenchable 
: search for knowledge, and excitement in the face of a new learning experience, 
: are common to each of the paradigm shifts I have outlined.  It is we who are the 
: common factor, not hardware, not software.

: What is the next paradigm?


The problem which 2 of your 3 paradigms is that they only involve increased
capacity (faster modems, higher density storage devices) and the basics
of data communication and data storage don't change (the protocols, yes,
but not the basics).  The computer languages do continue to evolve, but
it is my opinion that anyone who wants to become a student of computer
science should know where his trade came from.  If he just started out
with OLE/DDE stuff, he would miss out on a lot of the basic paradigms
that would differentiate him from a good programmer who read his computer
history.

(When I say "he" I mean both genders by the way.  I'll use "she" in
my next argument exlcusively to make up).
)

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Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass