CS361: Operating System

Michael Mosteit - ComputerWorld 1977

Dedicated Processors

• All processors act as a single system
• Processors take two roles:
• File handling
• Application handling
• Can transfer interprocessor data at blazing speed of 2.5 million bits/sec
• Each file processor handles up to 200 megabytes of disk storage
• File and application software distributed on cassette

16 bit era not over.

• DEC introduced 32-bit VAX -11/780
• Evolutionary extension to the PDP-11
• The second computer to host UNIX
• No 32-bit commercial software had been announced.

Sorting Programs

• Entire programs were dedicated to sorting.
• Much sorting was done by hardware.

Mass storage

• 300 megabytes
• Up to 8 can be linked for a total of 1,760 megabytes.
• Each file can hold up to 230 megabytes.

Security

• People and companies only just beginning to figure out the importance of security.

NSA spying

• NSA may be spying on American citizens
• Telegram and telex messages easy to convert to machine readable format
• Phone calls hard to convert accurately

Hellman – Change the law

• Organized crime can make use of computers for encrypting and storing illegal transactions.
• What if Nixon had encrypted the tapes rather than simply stored them?
• Individuals could refuse to give the key under fifth amendment rights.
• NSA has monopoly on encryption systems (that they can break).

TI DS990

• Texas Instruments DS990 Model 4
• 100 megabytes of disk storage
• Optional printer
• Less than $30,000!!!

Perkin-Elmer Model 1100

• 12 inch screen
• ASCII display
• 24 Line display
• Only $907!!!
• Must order 75

Intel Ram

• Intel offering extended RAM boards for its SBC 80 line of computers
• 32k for $1,650
• 48k for $2,300
• 64k for $2,950

Z80 Processor

• Created for embedded systems
• First sold July 1976
• One of the most commonly used CPU families of all time.
• Licensed so widely that Zilog made less than 50% of then

Z80 Processor

• Used in the ti 83 calculator

Job Opportunities

• Top programming languages for employment:
• Cobol
• More Cobol
• Assembly
• Basic
• RPG
• Fortran
• C not widely used yet
• Pay ranges from 18k-24k