Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!ncs.dnd.ca!jstewart
From: jstewart@ncs.dnd.ca (John Stewart)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers
Subject: Re: non-volatile core memory (was: PDP-8 hate)
Message-ID: <731@ncs.dnd.ca>
Date: 17 Jan 90 14:27:16 GMT
Reply-To: jstewart@ncs.dnd.ca (John Stewart)
Distribution: na
Organization: DREO, Ottawa, Ontario
Lines: 24


(This is a repost, not a followup, as our News software would'nt allow
it. I guess I should install cnews real soon now :-)  )

Henry Spencer wrote:
> 
> People who just tell stories about core memory are all wimps. :-)  Real
> programmers still have a machine running with it.  We do.  Actually, it's
> sort of a museum case in several ways:  it runs the last functioning card
> reader on campus!  

The company that I work for does defence work. There are some computers
kicking around here called UYK's. They are used for ship-board defence
work.

I was talking with one of the designers a few months ago (during a power
failure), and he proudly stated that one program was running on a UYK
for a couple of years. Of course, I pointed out his error, and he
replied that the UYK would continue where it left off, as it had core memory.

I guess on board ships, during battle, one does not want to have to wait
for a 1/2 hour reload if the power flickers!

John Stewart.