Great slide show. I'd echo the missing Cray. Loved seeing the VAX again. Missed seeing the DEC Rainbow (early 80's?). CP/M was pretty cool and on the rainbow, I think it represented the first multiuser environment on PC hardware. No mention of DG or Stratus? I guess ya gotta draw the line somewhere ;-) Great job on this series of photos though. Loved it.

I like the idea of including the Hewlett Packard 3000 line and the Hayes SmartModem. Classic stuff. Also, if anyone has a better picture of the Compaq Deskpro 386 or the PIX 515 (as opposed to the 535), we'll swap it in and give you credit in the caption.

No CDC 6600 or Cray 1? Seymour Cray built some of the most revolutionary machines in the history of computing.

I think you missed one of the all-time great "mini" computers, one that predates the AS/400. Having working on the 360, the System/38, DEC PDP-11 and Vax (plus Wang and Data General computers), I think the Hewlett Packard 3000 line of computers is one of the most robust, user-friendly (in terms of ease of administration), and downright easiest-to-use computers out there. Discontinued in 2001, there are still many of these out there, plugging along for years with minimal intercession needed. It also was available as a tower or in a 1.6 meter rack, depending on the horsepower required for your tasks.

And, yeah, I still miss it. I commented on a list server that the HP3000 was the "Rodney Dangerfield" of business servers - it never got the respect it deserved.

The slide with the Cisco PIX shows a PIX 535, not the PIX 515 as mentioned in the caption. They both last nearly forever, though.

Dennis Hayes' packaging, inexpensive pricing, and simplicity of user commands - ATx - allowed a generation to get online.

Without this breakthrough device, there wouldn't have been bulletin boards, FIDOnet, AOL, (well OK, we could have done without that), and the Internet/Web.

Nice article. Brings back memories.


I don't agree with your pick of the IBM AT over the original PC. Yes, the AT is a more powerful box, but the original PC (and XT) changed the game in offices all over, and put Microsoft on the path to market domination.


I remember the LaserJet 4 fondly. It just works and works, with no fuss. The Apple LaserWriter introduced plain-paper laser printing to the "masses", but it's probably too expensive even then.


Not sure why you picked the Apple G3 over the original Mac. The original Mac is the game changer.


These are minor quibbles -- good article.