Computer Memory is now 4,000,000,000,000 time larger then 49 years ago

info click

The Intel 1702A EPROM  (1971) has only 256 bytes of memory - today the USB Flash drive has 1 Terabyte of memory --- that is  an  incredible  4,000,000,000,000 times more memory.  This is a number so large I just can not sort it out in my mind. 

1000 GB or 1 Terabyte
Flash Drive. It would take
125.000,000,000 C2708 chips
to have this much memory!!!!

Moore's law seems to be working after 56 years. Gordon Moore made the observation and prediction in 1965 that the density of components on a silicon chip would double every 2 years. 

The USB Flash drive to the left has 1 Terabyte of memory.

That is 1000 Gigabytes.

It would take 125,000,000,000 of the Intel C-2708 Chips to equal this amount of memory.  A really big change in 56 years of technology.  This 1 Terabyte USB flash drive cost $39.00. 

Please note the Intel C-2708 has 125 times more memory than the Intel 1702 EPROM at the top of page. 

Help wanted 

 A project to make presentation displays for 
 2708 EPROM memory chips and a little history.

Intel C-2708 EPROM
memory chips.

I have 359 of these really nice Intel 2708 EPROM chips purchased in 1987. These chips are all nice white ceramic with gold pins and gold tops. They are part of my 45 years of collecting microcomputer memorabilia. 

What I want to do is make a presentation case/display for use as example of this early microcomputer and memory technology.  

Curious about EPROM memories - take a look here at a my blog post about the very first EPROM -  the Intel 1702A - Get an idea of  how and why they were used. "CLICK"

Intel C2708 EPROM 

A Smart display/presentation case is easily  possible.

A small Raspberry pie microcomputer can be included to provide many photos/videos and text that could be picked up on a smart phone using Bluetooth/WiFi connection. The unit could be connected to the internet with WiFi and linked to selected information on line about the history of microcomputers.

The use of these EPROMs is nice because the quartz window allowing a view of the IC chip. You should know the window was not put there for you to look into the IC - the window allows the memory to be erased by exposing the chip to UV light.

Photo of the 2708 EPROM
silicon chip that is viewed through
the quartz window on the IC.

It would be very nice to include a way to see into the window on the 2708 and get some idea what the actual silicon chip looks like. This could be a magnifying glass or maybe a photo of the chip would be best. Of course with the smart part of the presentation case just a view of the proper web site may be best way to obtain  more information.

Bottom side of 2708 EPROM
showing date code of 1977 &
made in Malaysia.

All my IC 2708 chips have a 1977 date code time of manufacture.

More information about EPROM memories - here is my video of the 1702 the very first EPROM chip. You will find this interesting. 

Summary of project:

To build and market a beautiful small  presentation case about microcomputer technology - most  likely out of wood that could be on the desk or appropriate space on the wall. The unit could be just a nice piece on the desk of those who have an interest in microcomputer history or are currently involved in the technology.  It would be a great conversation piece with the smart technology to bone up on the history of microelectronic technology and a real piece of history included - the Intel 2708 EPROM. 

Contact Information"CLICK"                                                              

David Larsen
 Blog Author

"by David Larsen"  Chantilly Farm owner, Computer Historian, and amateur radio operator -KK4WW   & N4USA .  I work out of one of the Tiny Homes at Chantilly Farm. A great place to work if you like the to be out in nature. I am 81 and ready to sell Chantilly Farm - I have a few more  projects I would like to do - if you have an interest to know more give me a call. 540 392 2392

EPROM Antique Memory Chip -- Intel C-2708

info click

Help needed with Antique Memory Chip 

 A project to make presentation displays for 
 2708 EPROM memory chips and a little history.

Intel C-2708 EPROM
memory chips.

I have 359 of these really nice Intel 2708 EPROM chips purchased in 1987. This chips are all nice white ceramic with gold pins and gold tops. They are part of my 45 years of collecting microcomputer memorabilia. 

What I want to do is make a presentation case/display for use as example of this early microcomputer and memory technology.  

Curious about EPROM memories - take a look here at a my blog post about the very first EPROM -  the Intel 1702A - Get an idea of  how and why they were used. "CLICK"

Moore's Law - see bottom of blog.

Intel C-2708 EPROM 

A Smart display/presentation case is easily  possible.

A small pic microcomputer can be included to provide many photos/videos and text that could be picked up on a smart phone using Bluetooth/WiFi connection. The unit could be connected to the internet with WiFi and linked to selected information on line about the history of microcomputers.

The use of these EPROMs is nice because the quartz window allowing a view of the IC chip. You should know the window was not put there for you to look into the IC - the window allows the memory to be erased by exposing the chip to UV light.

Photo of the 2708 EPROM
silicon chip that is viewed through
the quartz window on the IC.

It would be very nice to include a way to see into the window on the 2708 and get some idea what the actual silicon chip looks like. This could be a magnifying glass or maybe a photo of the chip would be best. Of course with the smart part of the presentation case just a view of the proper web site may be best way to obtain  more information.

Bottom side of 2708 EPROM
showing date code of 1977 &
made in Malaysia.

All my IC chips have a 1977 date code of manufacture.

More information about EPROM memories - here is my video of the 1702 the very first EPROM chip. You will find this interesting. 

Summary of project:

To build and market a beautiful small  presentation case about microcomputer technology - most  likely out of wood that could be on the desk or appropriate space on the wall. The unit could be just a nice piece on the desk of those who have an interest in microcomputer history or are currently involved in the technology.  It would be a great conversation piece with the smart technology to bone up on the history of microelectronic technology and a real piece of history included - the Intel 2708 EPROM. 

Contact Information"CLICK"

                                                                   Moore's Law

1000 GB or 1 Terabyte
Flash Drive. It would take
125.000,000,000 C2708 chips
to have this much memory!!!!

Moore's law seems to be working after 56 years. Gordon Moore made the observation and prediction in 1965 that the density of components on a silicon chip would double every 2 years. 


The USB Flash drive to the left is a 1 Terabyte of memory.
That is 1000 Gigabytes.

It would take 125,000,000,000 of the Intel C-2708 Chips to equal this amount of memory.  A really big change in 56 years of technology.  This 1 Terabyte USB flash drive cost $39.00.

David Larsen
 Blog Author

"by David Larsen"  Chantilly Farm owner, Computer Historian, and amateur radio operator -KK4WW   & N4USA .  I work out of one of the Tiny Homes at Chantilly Farm. A great place to work if you like the to be out in nature. I am 81 and ready to sell Chantilly Farm - I have a few more  projects I would like to do - if you have an interest to know more give me a call. 540 392 2392

PDP-8 Minicomputer Interfacing - How to connect your PDP-8 to the outside world 1972

Heath Schlumberger logo

Heath / Schlumberger computer interface brings the inside of your PDP-8 computer outside to the real world - 1972.        This was the advertising byline for the interface unit.
                                           
Click photo to enlarge -

Heath Schlumberger EU-801E PDP-8 Interface

 The Heath/Schlumberger interface unit brings all the address/data bus and control signals to the outside world in the instrument you see to the left of the PDP-8 computer in the photo. I have found very little information on the web about this unit.

Here is the interface connected to a PDP-8L minicomputer with a graduate student testing the operation.



 I was a consultant for the Heath/Schlumberger company on this project - Here is the short story of this adventure.

 Dr. Howard Malmstadt at the University of Illinois was a pioneer in the teaching electronic instrumentation to who people who were not engineers but were scientist and technicians needing to know about electronics and electronic measurements. Howard  did this work in the early 1960's with the help of Dr. Chris Enke at Princeton University.  Dr. Malmstadt named this teaching technique and equipment "Electronics for Scientist".  The course work consisted of a text books and a equipment in a teaching station.

I was fortunate in 1967 to attend 4 week workshop"Electronics for Scientist" at the University of Illinois taught by Dr. Howard Malmstadt.  Professor Malmstadt invited me back to be an assistant for his workshops for the next 4 Summers. Working with Dr. Malmstadt during this time developed into an invitation to consult with the Heath Schlumberger company in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Professor Malmstadt and Professor Chris Enke were working with the Heath Schlumberger company on the  interface package for the PDP-8 minicomputer.This device was the EU-801E. It simplified the teaching of computer interfacing/automated instrumentation and designing projects using PDP-8 minicomputers.

While writing this blog I was able to make contact with Chas Gilmore the Engineering Manager for this product at Heath Schlumberger.  Chas had some interesting information about the development of the EU-801E.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Chas Gilmore - Here is a synopsis of what I remember of the EU-800 saga--Dave may well be able to add more. Way back when, I worked with Dave Larsen when he was consulting on the EU-800 Series. He was at Blacksburg--Virginia Tech at the time if I remember correctly. I was the design engineer on the EU-805,
When I got to Heath in 1966 that system was in its very beginnings and the design was mostly discrete components (jam packed cards) and was pretty impractical. They then decided to use RTL but still struggled with cards, especially for the instrument which were really too complex. I found digital integrated circuits intriguing as can be and started doing investigation in that area on my own. That was when I found this new technology called TTL. So, just for grins I took some of the functional blocks, they had designed (one card was a decade counter and it drove a second card that had latches and Nixie tube decoder/drivers--again all discrete) and redesigned it in TTL. That reduced the design to a single card and not a lot of parts. I took it to the project engineer who scoffed at the design. That got my back up so I took it to the department Chief Engineer--our common boss. He was intrigued and arranged a meeting with Malmstadt and Enke. They were also very intrigued--and liked using the latest technology. The net result was the other guy was relieved of project responsibility and I became the project engineer--and the whole project went to TTL. We also boosted the speed of the counter from 2 - 3 MHz to 12.5 MHz (a truly blinding speed!!).
I still have manuals for these products but no longer have either an EU-805 nor an EU-801.
The EU-801-E came along later as a companion to the recently introduced PDP-8L--a PDP-8 computer available for just under $10,000. What a breakthrough. By then I was the Engineering Manager for the department. This extension of the EU-800 series came along after the EU-805 and EU-801 had been on the market for a couple of years. Unfortunately, none of it sold terribly well and it didn't take long for Jimmy Lee (who had been brought in to head up the Scientific Instruments Department and was my boss) started to push for non-EU products (all of the EU-series were related to the Malmstadt/Enke Electronics for Scientists systems which were created as laboratory hardware which supported experiments for the Malmstadt/Enke textbooks.) I don't remember exactly when Dave became associated with the project but it may well have been in conjunction with the EU-801-E.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Advertisement Heath Schlumberger EU-801E

Here is an advertisement for the PDP-8 Heath/Schlumberger interface equipment in the June 1972 issue of the Analytical Chemistry  journal.

This is about the only item I can find online about this Heath/Schlumberger product.

I have one of the interface units in my museum warehouse and this is the buffer amplifier used to connect the PDP-8 interface signal to the the interface  trainer.

Card to access all the PDP-8 I/O signals

The computer signals from the buffer box come out to this interface card giving you access to the computer address and data bus plus control signals. 

Heath Schlumberger Digital Trainer

The interface card above plugs into this unit for power and wiring your custom interface.

Heath Schlumberger EU-801E PDP-8 Interface

Here is a view of the interface unit wired to a PDP-8L with a custom interface being tested.






I found more photos of the PDP-8 interface system see album

David Larsen

These units never became widely used - I would estimate that only a few hundred were sold. It was just to complicated for most people to consider making their own custom interface to a minicomputer. 

This is me using one of the interface units teaching about minicomputer interfacing.


Professor Dessy and I taught a number of workshop using this equipment until the microcomputers made the PDP-8 minicomputer obsolete.  Teaching these workshops away from home was a real challenge - we packed the PDP-8 in a crate with the other equipment and sent it ahead for the workshop. This must have been a least 400 lbs of equipment.  We went as far as San Francisco for one program and in the early 70's. This was the start of my 22 years of teaching various Computer Interfacing and Instrumentation workshops in many parts of the world including the old Soviet Union.

Heath Malstadt teaching station

My experience with Dr. Malmstadt helped develop my teaching technique used for  31 years as a faculty member at Virginia Tech. I used his books and equipment as part of my courses in "Electronic Instrumentation".

 Here is advertisement of Professor Malmstadt's teaching station sold by Heath Schlumberger 1963.







I owe Dr. Malmstadt a lot of gratitude for all the help he gave me in my early years of teaching. Howard was one of the most kind and humble professors I have known. He was just a great and wonderful person.


Take a look here  about Dr. Howard Malmstadt's work at the University of Illinois. Dr. Malmstadt passed away July 7, 2003.

David G Larsen

John Simkiss visited the museum on Friday September 4th and picked up

his Altair 8800 computer. The computer has been restored to full working condition and is low serial # 414. We had a great day talking about the history of microcomputers and visiting the museum & warehouse.

"by David Larsen" KK4WW Computer Collector / Historian         
            Join museum on Twitter   Join museum on FB

Soviet home built computer arrives at the Bugbook Computer Museum

info click

Ukraine flag

I received an offer June 25th from  Oleg (Amateur Radio Operator UR8LV in Kharkiv,Ukraine) to send me a home built Soviet Computer from the 80's. I have several Soviet microcomputers in our collection but was intrigued by Oleg's offer and severel emails later the computer was on the way.
The computer arrived just 8 days later here in Floyd, Virginia. Oleg did an amazing job of shipping and getting the package here in such short time.

I have posted some of the emails at the end of this blog and you may find them interesting to read.

Click on photo's to enlarge

Soviet Microcomputer Package

Here are some photograph's  of the Soviet microcomputer.

The package was in good condition upon arriving in Floyd, VA.

 I don't know much about this computer but hope some of the readers will help identify the computer. It is most likely a Sinclair clone.
Video of this computer "CLICK"

Soviet Microcomputer

Nice packaging for this computer - made in late 80's.

Soviet Microcomputer

The one board Soviet microcomputer.

Soviet 8080 clone microprocessor

CPU is Soviet 8080 clone microprocessor.







Click on photo's to enlarge

Soviet EPROM

Soviet EPROM or POROM ( Program once ROM).

RAM Memory chips.

RAM Memory chips.

Soviet military parts in computer

Soviet military parts in computer.

Soviet Microcomputer Keyboard

Soviet Microcomputer Keyboard.


I had some interesting times visiting and teaching in the Soviet Union. See blog "CLICK"




--------------------------------------

Raspberry pi 2 computer 

Here is the computer we are sending to Oleg.

Raspberry Pi 2 , Touch display,Wifi USB, power supply.

My wife sent the Raspberry out today 7-21-15. I hope it gets to Oleg as fast as the computer he sent to me. 



--------------------------------------
Email June 2015 - David's is Red and Oleg's is Blue.
Hello, David.

My name is Oleg (UR8LV, ex EM1LV).  I"m from Ukraine, Kharkiv.

Do you have interest to home made computers of 1988-1989 as component of history? :)

One of my client want to sale interesting model called "Leningrad-2" for chipest money. 

Comps not working for corrosion of board, but looks well around. 

Not so good inside home made case, but all interesting moment are ready to enjoing: Soviet military chips with gold, capacitors with tantalum, military wires with PTFT. And home made board. 

I remember that time as well: a lot of radioenthusiast had made personal Sinklair...

Well, tell me know about your interest, please.

Hi Oleg - Thank you - what price and how would we get the computer here to the states?  Dave KK4WW

If disassembled into parts and sold for gold and tantalum, then give about 25 usd.

And, shipping in USA by airmail (via Ukrainian post) should be 17 usd.

Totally: 42 usd.

It seems, not so high price. :)

But, i'm not looking for money. This is not my business :)

Ready make a radioamateurs change to Raspberry Pi 2 with TFT screen (of course, not so modern for high price- something like 4").

How about that?

Hi Oleg - the price is fine - My concern is will the computer really show up at my address?? the Ukraine post does not seem to reliable?? 73 dave

Good morning/good evening, David :)

Give me your address, i am ready to send parcell today or tomorrow with track-code. 

Our post is working well for reliable price, i work as manager of Kharkiv regional amateur radio society and sent QSL"s all around world without lossless.

73 Oleg

Hi Oleg - Thank you - I will get some funds to you when the computer arrives - I will be looking for the "Sinclair in Russia " story and hope you will allow me to post it on my blog 

Welcome, Dave.

I'm not very good at English. I hope that you understand the basic idea.

Sinclair history in the Soviet Union is very well described here on this page.

http://old.computerra.ru/vision/606586/ 

In short, the first clone of Sinclair made in Lviv (Ukraine) in 1984 in one of the secret research institutes.

There are the names of these men: Edward A. Marchenko, Yuri D. Dobush, Evgeny Natopta, Oleg Starostenko.

Then, the scheme improved in Leningrad (Russia), Rostov (Russia), Moscow (Russia), Kharkov (Ukraine).

It was a real boooom. I think that in the USSR, Sinclair have made several millions since 84 till 90

The main problem has been in detail. They can not be bought, and they just stole those who worked in military factories. There was a lot of plants.

In one city-my Kharkiv- it was located 15 electronics factories.

In early 2015, I thought of Sinclair. Just was nostalgia. And I tried to buy a sample. When a person is brought to me, I'm just stunned: chip gold, palladium and capacitors tantalum wire with Teflon. This is the whole history of the Soviet military radio in one product! A case has been made lovingly homemade. This, too, reflects the desire of our people to science.

I do not need this machine, and I was ready to disassemble parts and to return the money, but the thought of your museum and thought it was a fine specimen for you.

And it's a beautiful monument to the Soviet idiocy, when, instead of the right people pans, pots, microwave ovens, washing machines, computers, all the forces rushed to war production. In the late 80's just started the hunger ...

That's the story.

Hi Oleg - Thank you for the story -it is most interesting.   What do you mean by this part at the end??

By the way, parcell now on custom in Kiev ----  who or what is parcell ??

I need to find out how to translated the web page from Russian to English.

I visited Lviv many times from 1990 to 2005.  Have many friends there - Helen Goncharsky just spent 4 weeks with us from Lviv. Helen and her husband, Victor hosted all our meetings in Lviv for the past 25 years.

73 dave

Good morning, Dave.

In 90-s in the Soviet Union was a real hunger, but the industry continued to produce military products.

Were coupons for food and essentials things. You may see form of coupons on sugar, vodka, salt, meat e.t.c. in 1986-1993 

Soviet coupons for food   

The people looked a new and designed the first computers even in such terrible conditions.

I know Victor and Helen very well: US5WE and UR5WA. :) 

It seems, they know English much better me and may help translate article. 

Another way is Google translator on-line. 

Parcel is parcel post with track code RC610549694UA. 

You have to get package a week or two.

Oleg

Hi  Oleg - The computer arrived in fine condition.  That was really fast.  How do I send you the funds ? I have your address from the package if I send the funds there.  I will be doing a blog about this good experience with you and the computer soon.

It was very generous of you to go to this effort to send the computer to me and I really thank you for sending it to me.

73 Dave

-------------------------------------------------------

David Larsen

L-R Roger Cain KI6FYF
Carol Milazzo  KPMD4

Obtaining the Soviet microcomputer has been a very pleasant surprise.  I have been writing this blog for several years and this work has many interesting offers. I have sure made a lot of new retro computer friends and many museum curators. I have also had many out of town visitors and a number from other countries that have made the trip just to visit me and the museum. Just this past week Carol Milazzo KP4MD and Roger Cain KI6FYF from California made a special trip to the museum.

Radio Contact N4USA Dave made with KP4MD - Carol was in Puerto Rico operating 17 meters SSB , 3 foot magnetic loop antenna and 12 watts of power. KP4MD 55 and N4USA 57 signal reports.

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

"HEADING to the CLOUD" - "Virginia Tech Pamplin College of Business."

info click

Photographs taken in the "Bugbook Microcomputer Museum" published in the  "Virginia Tech Business, magazine of the Pamplin College of Business" article
     "HEADING to the CLOUD".       

  Click on image to enlarge

Cover of Spring 2015 issue

Dr. Terry R. Rakes, Professor of Business & Director Center for Business Intelligence & Analytic's and Logan Wallace, Senior University Photographer at Virginia Tech worked several hours in the museum taking photographs for the Spring 2015 issue. The session  (3/30/15) was an interesting photo shoot -  

See photo session  here "CLICK"

"Heading up to the Cloud" Virginia Tech BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Dr. Terry Rakes next to 1977 PET computer in the museum. We did not have the Cloud in the museum. The publisher did nice work enhancing the photo.



Two of the many photograph's by Logan were used in the publication.





Click photo to enlarge

Dr. Terry Rakes (L) and David Larsen (R) 

Dr. Terry Rakes (L) and David Larsen (R) museum curator discussing the Apple-1 clone computer display.

You can see why I like this photo with me  - This was very generous of the publisher to use this photo.

Photo credits Logan Wallace - Thank you.



Here is the full article as published.
click on image to enlarge 

The article "HEADING to the CLOUD" is very interesting.  Here is the full story and you can read it by clicking on the image.

"Heading up to the Cloud" Virginia Tech BUSINESS MAGAZINE

The information in this blog is from the  "Virginia Tech Business, magazine of the Pamplin College of Business." Thank you for the nice credit line about the museum in the article.

A big thank you to Sookhan Ho at Virginia Tech  for helping select our museum, making all the photo arrangements and giving permission to use this information. 

David Larsen

The use of these photo's in 45,000 copies of the College of Business publication is great PR for the museum. All of the curators and staff at he museum are very grateful to the VT Pamplin College of Business for selecting our museum as background for the these photos.  A big thank you to Dr. Terry Rakes and Logan Wallace for making the trip over to little town of Floyd, Virginia and our museum.  

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