Linux can give kids an edge (NewsForge)

Posted Sep 18, 2004 17:03 UTC (Sat) by blayne (guest, #19468)
Parent article: Linux can give kids an edge (NewsForge)

Sinclairs? Commodores? Amigas? You guys are tech-weanies. My first computer was the Cosmac Elf. 256 BYTES of RAM. Yes, a quarter of a KB. Hex pad input, two digit hex LED display, one LED output device. Programmed in machine language. I'd have killed for an assembler. Now THOSE were the days.

I also had to run two miles to school in seven minutes every morning, in the dark, in snow that was hub deep on a ferris wheel, and it was uphill. When I ran home every evening to do 14 hours of chores, it was uphill too.

But you can't tell that to kids these days, with their fancy powerful computers.

Linux can give kids an edge (NewsForge)

Posted Sep 19, 2004 1:58 UTC (Sun) by njbees (guest, #24811) [Link] (2 responses)

I have two RCA VIPs the brother (sister?) to the Cosmac Elf. :-) I wish I could find replacement 1802 uP for them. They were neat little computers to play with at the time.

Also still have a working 16K(!) Sinclair ZX-81 repackaged with a usable "full-size" keyboard.

Ah, the days of "real" computers. Toggle switches and LEDs. None of these
LCD monitor and GB hard drives. pshaw. Kids don't no how good they have it!
:-)

Linux can give kids an edge (NewsForge)

Posted Sep 20, 2004 4:05 UTC (Mon) by frazier (guest, #3060) [Link]

I had both the ZX-80 and the Timex Sinclair 1000.

These new-fangled x86 computers that don't flicker are a way better deal!

Even with my tiny hands at the time (I was a child), that stock keyboard was nasty.

Linux can give kids an edge (NewsForge)

Posted Sep 20, 2004 16:01 UTC (Mon) by XERC (guest, #14626) [Link]

I wish I could find replacement 1802 uP for them.

Have You ever considered an FPGA as a replacement? The new Spartan 3 starter kit has 200k-Gates chip with the board, VHDL Compiler and a Simulator license, etc. all for approximately 100$.

Linux can give kids an edge (NewsForge)

Posted Sep 19, 2004 3:27 UTC (Sun) by leonscape (guest, #12261) [Link]

I suddenly feel like I'm in a Monty Pythom sketch... :)

Linux can give kids an edge (NewsForge)

Posted Sep 20, 2004 15:55 UTC (Mon) by XERC (guest, #14626) [Link] (1 responses)

...I also had to run two miles to school in seven minutes ...

Can You really run with a speed of approximately 20 miles per hour? That's about 36km/h, which seems to be apt for a pretty fit cyclist, but not to an average runner.

Linux can give kids an edge (NewsForge)

Posted Sep 21, 2004 18:03 UTC (Tue) by hathawsh (guest, #11289) [Link]

A four minute mile is a very remarkable achievement. :-)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/section/0,,13849,00.html