nickdalzell
Extreme Android User
Some of those reel jobs had a vacuum column for tape tension which was probably fun for techs lol
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Computer memory lane
- Thread starter zuben el genub
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Speed Daemon
Android Expert
IMO you're not a true geek unless you've used some old bit of "storage as art" at least once in your career. The 3.5" HDD with the cover removed is all too common; the older and more obscure, the better.
At one place where I worked, you knew how long someone was in IT by the size of the disk platters hanging on their walls. Needless to say, the guys with the platters that were too big and heavy to put on the wall won.
Speed Daemon
Android Expert
I got into IT late enough that the one place I worked at that still had its own mainframe had already phased out 9-track tapes. One guy had a "miniature" tape reader that fit on top of his desk, and that was about it.
When I was in grade school, we used discarded computer tapes to record B/W video onto our then-modern EIAJ open reel videotape recorder. Or at least that's the story I was told. "Our school district is so poor that..."
When I got into broadcast TV and worked at a station that had serious dropout and head clog problems, I suggested buying a tape cleaner to my superiors, and they just looked at me like I was talking about little green men.
saptech
Android Expert
I got into the IT field late also. I started working for a large local bank in 1990 and it was a mainframe shop. I started off in the report distribution area, then the printer room/fiche room, then finally into the console room.IMO you're not a true geek unless you've used some old bit of "storage as art" at least once in your career. The 3.5" HDD with the cover removed is all too common; the older and more obscure, the better.
At one place where I worked, you knew how long someone was in IT by the size of the disk platters hanging on their walls. Needless to say, the guys with the platters that were too big and heavy to put on the wall won.
You should have seen our Christmas tree in the IT dept. It was decorated with nothing but computer related stuff. The form-feed paper trimmings, old floppy disk, micro-fiche film, anything computer related.
A true geek's tree!
Speed Daemon
Android Expert
Ha!!! I never thought of Hollerith cards as storage media. I suppose it could be done, although I'd hate to be in charge of the card library.
When I was designing PA systems I took some computer programming classes, and had the dubious distinction of writing code and JCL on Hollerith cards, using those gigantic old IBM card punches. That's what motivated me to go to college and study engineering -- I figured that it had to be easier than programming with punch cards! :laugh: Boy was I wrong.
Bob Maxey
Android Expert
You worked at USR? Thanks for the great *nix compatible modems!
PyroSporker
Android Expert
Totally reminded me of this:
XKCD: What If? #31 - FedEx Bandwidth
Sneakernet, I've always loved that one.
Great quote too: "Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full of tapes hurtling down the highway.
—Andrew Tanenbaum, 1981"
For your visual enjoyment, here is a MULE (Equus mulus; Datum variety) wearing sneakers
Great site! 
Bob Maxey
Android Expert
You worked at USR? Thanks for the great *nix compatible modems!
Started at Megahertz (we invented the X-Jack, Yea) then USR bought us. We were sold by USR to 3Com and then 3Com sold us to Manufacturing Services Limited.
Built Palm Pilots as well. Yea, Go Palm!