Datapoint 2200 8 bit computer update by Jack Frassanito

Bugbooks

Jack Frassanito and group the old days.

I have published several blog post about Datapoint and the Datapoint 2200 8 bit computer.  Jack  Frassanito the coinventor of the Datapoint 2200 has sent this update information and I am posting his comments below.

Dear David, (November 9,2015)

I have listened to your recording on your blog and several corrections are in order.

Datapoint 2200 terminal - audio description of the terminal/ computer and the Datapoint Corporationa and the 8008 microprocessor by David Larsen.




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"Festival News" Vintage Computer Festival SE April 2016

Datapoint 2200 atThe Computer Museum of America

Here is a photo of the Datapoint 2200 at the
Computer Museum of America in Roswell Georgia.

Vintage Computer Festival Southeast 2016
         At the Computer Museum of America
When: Saturday April 2, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday April 3, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Kings Market Center, 1425 Market Blvd., Suite 200, Roswell, GA, 30076
Admission: Adults, $10 for one day and $15 for two days. Children ages 17 and younger are admitted free.
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Jack  Frassanito:
There is a generally perceive myth that Gus Roach, Phil Ray and I accidentally invented the personal computer. This myth is probably based on the fact that VIC POOR was a technical expert and had no idea at the time about the business plan to raise capital and to develop a desk-top computer so hence the myth about the Pillsbury chicken farm.

Datapoint 2200 early design drawing

Enclosed is a copy of the design illustration I produced that was used to raise the development capital in early 1969, a full six months before Vic knew what we were up to. (We needed funding first before we could hire anyone or begin development). You will note the set of register switches on the front of the PDP-8 Minicomputer unit.

PDP- 8 minicomputer

I was looking at this enclosed photo of a PDP-8 as reference to assure our potential investors it would be a desk-top computer (Personal Computer). We realized we didn’t need the switches so we eliminated them in the final design.

Datapoint 1970 annual report

Also included is our 1970 annual report (year ended July 26,1970) cover and page that clearly states that the Datapoint 2200 would include “a general purpose digital computer”.

Description of Datapoint 2200 as computer

 I have also included several pages of the 1971 Annual Report (Year ended July 1971).

The only explanation I have for Vic’s surprise at the Pillsbury epiphany of observing someone using the Datapoint 2200 as it was originally intended and described in the business plan is that he never read the business plan, preliminary specification, or the 1970 Annual report.

No disrespect intended as Vic and his team did a fantastic job.

Patent - Jack Frassanito as co-inventor
Datapoint 2200

I have first hand knowledge as I designed, co-invented, patented the Datapoint 2200 and co-authored the business plan and wrote both enclosed Annual reports.

Thank you for your continued interest in the Datapoint story,

Jack Frassanito
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More photographs furnished by Jack.

Datapoint Corporate Headquarters in San Antonio, Texas.

Datapoint brochure.

Book cover - "The Lost story of the Texans who invented the Personal Computer Revolution"

By Lamont Wood.

Great story and a good read. I have read this book 2 times and enjoyed it both times.
Get the Book Here "CLICK"

Jack Frassanito as co-inventor
Datapoint 2200

Jack Frassanito as co-inventor Datapoint 2200 - Datapoint vs Apple-1 and Apple-2









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David Larsen

Thank you Jack for sending this information. It is always fascinating to hear from the pioneers in the computer field. Dave

.^{"by David Larsen"  KK4WW Computer Collector Historian}   
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