Re: Programs that didn't need to be written - ScreenSaver5250

"It saved memory. which was very scarce back then"

The first computer I ever met was a 1401.  It was the size of a double-wide refrigerator, and had 4KB.  But wait, there's more!  It had an IBM 1406 memory expansion unit containing 12KB!!   The IBM SE told me that the memory was magnetic core, hand wound, i.e. each bit was a metal ring with wires wound around it.  The 1406 was approximately a 3 foot cube.

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/computinghistory/1401/1406.jpg

There was a rumored quote from Bill Gates that may or may not be true: https://www.computerworld.com/article/2534312/the--640k--quote-won-t-go-away----but-did-gates-really-say-it-.html#:~:text=Bill%20Gates%20denies%20making%201981,RAM%20needs%2C%20despite%20popular%20legend&text=Here's%20the%20legend%3A%20at%20a,to%20be%20enough%20for%20anybody.%22




On 8/16/2022 9:24 PM, Scott Klement wrote:

Patrik,

Back in the olden days (generally, the 1980s) software was written with multiple displays to save memory.  Only one copy of the program needed to be loaded, with one activation, and one set of open database files, etc.  It saved memory. which was very scarce back then.   It was also useful when the different screens needed to share data or coordinate things between them.  For example, we had a setup where only one person could be working on an order at the same time, and by using a MRT, it could keep track of which orders were being worked on by whom.