At 06:52 AM 12/13/97 -0600, you wrote:
>        I remember reading somewhere that a few of the early tube-type
>computers of the 1950's used CRT's as ram devices.  The method for storing
>and reading the display involved bouncing electrons off the phosphor as
>described for storage tube monitors.  I believe that the devices had to be
>refreshed just like dynamic RAM every so often to keep them from fading.
>
You are absolutely correct.  The machine that I am familar with was the
IBM 701 which I first saw in 1957.  The machine cycles of the IBM mainframes,
up until the late '70, were called "I" for instruction, "E" for execution and
"ER" for execute and regen even though at that time there was no need for
a regeneration cycle.

You do bring back memories, Gene.





Gene Norris
Gnorris@earthlink.net
E. Windsor, NJ USA