if it only manipulates numeric data, it is a calculator. It must be able to search, rearrange look up, compare, and display characters. I would have thought that to be obvious. I don'care if it has 99 terabites of high speed memory and does fourier transforms in minus 0 seconds, if it cannot give a text description of the answer, it is a calculator.
Also something about arbritray branches to any location (ok, any executable location if something has separate code and data memory). <pre>--Carey</pre> > On 05/26/2024 3:01 PM CDT Chuck Guzis via cctalk <cctalk@classiccmp.org> > wrote: > > > On 5/26/24 11:11, ben via cctalk wrote: > > On 2024-05-26 10:56 a.m., Fred Cisin via cctalk wrote: > > > I did use a CP/M machine once, but the 8" drive was a bit sticky. > > You rap the drive to get it unstuck, but if you rap it too hard > > the machine would reset. > > Fred, just forget it. We belong to a bygone era and there's no sense in > trying to explain things to the younger folk. > > However, perhaps someone can tell me why an HP-41 or TI SR-52 isn't a > "personal computer"... > > --Chuck
