Hi Nick, That's a challenge I can't resist. At least we're not upside down ;-) Let's see... it'd be about '76 or '77 Ever seen the Digital PDP8 word processor? A vt55 terminal, dual 8 inch floppies, a whopping 8 (or was it 16?) MB of RAM. Or the Digital PDP 11/34 with the switch front panel, where you toggled in the boot code in octal? Them was real computers :-) regards, Rick Ulrich Mack Volante Systems ________________________________ From: thin-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx on behalf of Nick Smith Sent: Sat 24/06/2006 1:11 To: thin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [THIN] Re: OT: Microsoft Certified Architect Program Pah! Just remembered that my first computer (As opposed to Mum's) was one we built as a science project. Soldered the switches on, had little metal copper plates running as circuits, and small laboratory light-bulbs to give feedback to the user. The switches were binary ones and we had two rows of four I think. This enabled us to flick switches to 0 or 1 and then the logic of the circuits was such that the lights lit up to show the addition of the two rows. I presume we could only add to 30 altogether. So in terms of the Yorkshireman competition; No RAM No External Storage No Machine code No silicon whatsoever And a CPU (OK bundle of badly-wired switches) that was about 2 feet by 6 inches. Beat tha', you Southern p*nsies. Probably 78 or 79. Nick From: David Finch [mailto:david.finch@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: 23 June 2006 12:15 To: thin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [THIN] Re: OT: Microsoft Certified Architect Program OK, with my pedantic hat on, the certification is only given "Unlike other IT certifications, this credential was built and is granted by industry architects, as candidates must pass a rigorous review board with previously certified architects." So how did the FIRST architect get certified? J And to enter the "Four Yorkshiremen" competition Lookshury! My first system was a Microbee (Australian) Z80 with 32K RAM and a cassette tape....that was about 1983 I think....It had BASIC, but I used it to teach myself Assembler programming The first system I actually worked on with a Hard Drive had a 5Meg Disk Platter that was nearly 2 foot across, and used tapes for long term storage. That was in about 1986. And my mum and dad used to dance on our graves and sing Hallelujah! But tell that to the kids of today and they won't believe you ________________________________ From: thin-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:thin-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Steve Snyder Sent: Wednesday, 21 June 2006 1:07 PM To: thin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [THIN] OT: Microsoft Certified Architect Program No doubt Brian and Douglas will be the first two! :) http://www.microsoft.com/architecture/default.aspx?pid=share.certification ##################################################################################### This e-mail, including all attachments, may be confidential or privileged. Confidentiality or privilege is not waived or lost because this e-mail has been sent to you in error. If you are not the intended recipient any use, disclosure or copying of this e-mail is prohibited. If you have received it in error please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of this e-mail and any attachments. All liability for direct and indirect loss arising from this e-mail and any attachments is hereby disclaimed to the extent permitted by law. #####################################################################################