[mdlug] Amusing ad from the past

[Michael Rudas]

--- Jeff Hanson wrote:
> --- Michael Rudas wrote:
>> --- Raymond Ingles wrote:
>>> <http://scienceblogs.com/strangerfruit/2009/01/youre_trying_to_divide_by_zero.php>

>> In the same vein, here's a Remington Rand (RR) "newsreel" promo clip
>> from about 5 years earlier--an interesting hardware comparison:
>> "Remington-Rand Presents: UNIVAC"
>> <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2fURxbdIZs>

>> I just wonder how computers and computing would be different now if
>> Eckert & Mauchley had NOT been put out of business (forced to sell
>> UNIVAC to RR) by the HUAC/McCarthy hearings fallout...

> Think we would be still using mercury-based storage?
Every time I see one of those, I think "hat box for a porcupine."

Actually, what I had in mind was this: according to Ted Nelson, Eckert
& Mauchly were in the process of negotiating with a horse-racing track
to create a computerized tote-board when the HUAC stuff went down--but
Remington Rand wanted no part of THAT market.  It might have been
cool... and it MIGHT have meant an entirely different direction for
modern computing.

~~ Michael Rudas
    My home page: http://MRudas.2Ya.com
    My blog: http://FaveSoft.blogspot.com