[inforoots] Portable (Was: GRiD and the IEEE 488 GPIB)

[Michael Hart]

"Portable" versus "Luggable" versus Tractor-Trailers


This all begs the question quite thoroughly.

To real people "portable" means something they can move themselves,
without tractor-trailers [even if only one of them], without engines,
pulleys, leverage enhancers of any variety, etc.

Doesn't anyone remember the difference between "portable" & "luggable?"

I wonder how many of us have a few semi's in the driveway ready to go.

Perhaps portable for for Clark Kent, but not for the rest of us.


Thanks!!!

Give the world eBooks in 2006!!!

Michael S. Hart
Founder
Project Gutenberg




On Sun, 19 Feb 2006, John C Green Jr wrote:

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> I believe the Sylvania MOBIDIC was the largest of the US Army's
> late '50s vintage portable FIELDATA computers.  It was housed in
> two tractor-trailers.
>
> http://www.wordiq.com/definition/MOBIDIC
> http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Fieldata
>
> 2001 CHM Fellow Jean Sammet worked on the MOBIDIC software effort:
>
> http://www.computerhistory.org/events/hall_of_fellows/sammet/
>
> Early in my career I worked at Litcom, a division of Litton
> Industries.  One of our products was a portable Loran C Navigation
> Transmitter.  It was basically a 100KW radio station.  It fit in
> three 40' tractor-trailers.
>
> The army considers equipment to be portable if it has hooks on the
> top of the 19" RETMA racks.  The ARPAnet IMP was portable.
>
> Regards,
> John Green
>
>> Sigh.  The question is not "Wheels".  The IBM 650, an earlier
>> computer, also had wheels (on each of its three components) --
>> it was not a portable computer.
>> 
>> The IBM 610 was designed to be portable - to be easily moved
>> about by its users, from office to office, for individuals use
>> as required.  It was not "carry by one hand" portable.  It was
>> not "take home on bicycle" portable.   It was not
>> a-lot-of-other-qualifications portable.
>> 
>> But "portable" -- without qualifications -- it was.
>> 
>> dick w
>
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