CS361: Operating System

Gary Kahn - ComputerWorld 1978

IBM System/370

• popular mainframe during the late 70s
  • large-scale batch processing
• 24-bit addressing
• virtual memory
• MVS (Multiple Virtual Storage) operating system

DEC VAX-11/780

• minicomputer released in 1978
• $141,000 list price
• 32-bit addressing
• 128KB to 8MB of memory
• First computer capable of one million instructions per second
• VMS (Virtual Memory System) operating system

Microcomputers

• "Micro Field Booming"- Computerworld Nov 27, 1978
• Apple II
  • 8 bit processor, 4KB RAM
• TRS-80, Exidy Sorcerer
  • 8 bit Z80 processors, 4KB RAM
• primarily used data cassette storage, BASIC
• Floppy disk drives were another storage option
• CP/M (Control Program/Monitor) operating system
  • early disk operating system

Terminals

• DEC VT100 released

Networking and Communication

• Packet-switching
  • X.25 protocol
    • connection-oriented, used telephone networks
  • Public data networks
    • Telenet, Tymnet, Datapac, CompuServe
    • over 150 toll-free access locations in the US by the end of 1978
• First BBS in February of 1978
  • http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/CARLSON/1970s.shtml#1978

Jobs

• "Analyst Salaries at All-time High" - Computerworld Jul 3, 1978
• Systems Analysts: $18k to $30k or more
  • responsible for programming, systems design, operational flow
• Programmers: $9,051 to $18,833
• Operators: $6,151 to $11,425
  • responsible for running and maintaining mainframe systems
• Keypunch operators: $5,755 to $8,984