Amazon Unveils the Kindle Fire HDX Amazon unveiled the newest version of the Kindle Fire, the Kindle Fire HDX. It sports a 7″ HDX display (1920×1200) with high pixel density (323 PPI), a 2.2GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM. Perhaps its most unusual feature is the […]
In 1993, NASA launched the Space Shuttle Endeavour with an IBM ThinkPad 750 on board. On a mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope, the crew used a notebook computer in space for the first time. The IBM ThinkPad 750 was used to observe color
In 1959, IBM released the IBM 1620 data processing system. The IBM 1620 was a small, transistorized inexpensive scientific computer that could perform more than 100,000 calculations a minute. In the eleven years that it was on the market, approximately two thousand units were sold.
In 1982, Sony launched the first consumer compact disc (CD) player in Japan. The CDP-101 was available in the US the following March for $1,000. A review in Stereophile magazine stated …some aspects of the sound I heard are quite unlike what most of us
Geek Facts for October 1st – The First CD Player, IBM, Purdue and NASA Read More »
In 1941, Dr. Henry Edward “Ed” Roberts was born. Considered by many to be the ‘father of the PC’, he may be more accurately described as the ‘father of the PC industry.’ His Altair 8800 appeared on the cover of Popular Electronics in January 1975
Geek Facts for September 13th – A New Industry and Two New Computers Read More »
In 1960, IBM announced the IBM 1410 data processing system. The IBM 1410 contained large volume storage facilities and fast input/output units. According to IBM’s website, initial orders for the 1410 exceeded 3,500, making it the most widely-accepted data processing machine ever produced. Learn more
In 1988, International Business Machines (IBM) shipped version 4.00 of the PC-DOS operating system. PC-DOS 4.0 had an optional text-based file manager shell (DOSSHELL) with pull-down menus called by typing the F10 key, optional mouse support, a text-based user interface and support for hard disk
In 1992, Microsoft announced Windows 3.1. Windows 3.1 required a minimum of a 286 PC with 1MB of RAM to run. Windows 3.1 was the first version of Windows to be distributed on CD-ROM in addition to 720k, 1.2MB, and 1.44 MB floppy distributions. Installed
In 1987, IBM introduced the PS/2 as well as OS/2. The Personal System 2 computer ranged in price from $2,595 to $10,895. There were four models offered, with processors ranging from the 8 MHz 8086 to the 20 MHz 80386. The OS/2 operating system was
In 1985, IBM announced that it was planning to stop making the PCjr consumer-oriented computer. The PCjr had been expected to dominate the home computer market but, in the 16 months that it was on the market, only 240,000 units were sold. Learn more at
In 1983, IBM released PC DOS version 2.0. Completely rewritten from the ground up, DOS 2.0 added subdirectories and hard disk support for the new IBM XT. Learn more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_PC_DOS#PC_DOS_2.x
In 1985, IBM-PC DOS Version 3.1 update released. PC DOS 3.1 was the first OS to provide a network support. Learn more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_PC_DOS In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone. The patent for the telephone became recognized as the most valuable patent in
