[Info-vax] Unix on A DEC Vax?

[Bob Koehler]

In article <jfeMs.106257$Yp1.91080 at en-nntp-13.dc1.easynews.com>, lederman at Encompasserve.org (B. Z. Lederman) writes:
> 
> Although this certainly falls into the "tin foil hat" category,
> using a PDP-1 instead of a newer computer is not absolutely,
> entirely crazy.  The PDP-1 implemented at least some of it's
> logic using braided core, and all of it's memory was core. This
> is much more resistant to radiation than semiconductors, and you
> don't get the random bit-flips from alpha particles or cosmic
> rays.  And I believe it could be equipped with more memory and
> storage than the computers that were used in the space shuttle.
> 
> (I can't wait to see how long it takes for this to start
> circulating in the UFO kooks forums.  But you can look up the
> specifications if you don't believe me; PDP-1s really did use
> magnetic core logic.)

   Your are a LOT closer to the truth than you may realize, but the
   core was swapped out for CMOS a few years ago, and the architecture
   just _resembles_ an 18 bit implementation of an early PDP.

   But putting in an address extension to get to all that memory
   is something DEC did to the -11, not the -8.