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View Full Version : Dr. Henry Edward Roberts ... RIP


oldsoundguy
April 2nd, 2010, 07:35 PM
For the kiddies that think computers grew on trees:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8600493.stm

This is the guy that kick started the personal PC (and MS is not the ONLY PC)

May he rest in peace and thank you.
TheNerdAL
April 2nd, 2010, 07:36 PM
May he rest in peace as well.
Phrea
April 2nd, 2010, 08:51 PM
Just read about it, it's sad.
RIP my good man, and thanks !

Seen a few documentaries about him, the Altair, etc.
Old_Grey_Wolf
April 2nd, 2010, 09:13 PM
Dr. Roberts was one of those people that opened the door for us to have home computers.

The 8080 microprocessor was intended to be used in peripherals; such as, "smart terminals", connected to mainframes. It wasn't intended to be a computer in itself.

Dr. Roberts proposed using it as a computer, and made the Altair 8800.

I was an engineer at the time. Many people thought the idea was ridiculous, it would never work, and who would use it anyway.

RIP, Dr. Roberts