News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Accounting machines, the IBM 1403, and why printers standardized on 132 columns.

Re:Accounting machines, the IBM 1403, and why printers stand... by acqq on Tuesday January 22, 2019 @04:04PM (#18972447)
Read the notes, it's especially interesting:

> in 1954, Remington Rand introduced the first high-speed drum printer, the "High Speed Off Line Printer System" for the UNIVAC computer. This printer produced 600 lines per minute at 130 characters per line. The printer used 18 kW of power and was cooled by 8 gallons per minute of chilled water.

Wow.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Accounting machines, the IBM 1403, and why printers stand... by chiph on Tuesday January 22, 2019 @09:23PM (#18975114)
A friend was a programmer in the 90's for a firm that was getting a new higher-end IBM 3090. He was in the manager's office looking over the layout for the installation, when he asked "Where is the water pump going?"

Blank look, followed by the "oh shit" look.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Accounting machines, the IBM 1403, and why printers stand... by skookumchuck on Tuesday January 22, 2019 @05:46PM (#18973420)
It's a good thing we don't need listings anymore.
[ Parent | on HN ]