Core Memory: A Visual Survey of Vintage Computers
Product Description: An unprecedented combination of computer history and striking images, Core Memory reveals modern technology's evolution through the world's most renowned computer collection, the Computer History Museum in the Silicon Valley. Vivid photos capture these historically important machines including the Eniac, Crays 1 3, Apple I and II while authoritative text profiles each, telling the stories of their innovations and peculiarities. Thirty-five machines are profiled in over 100 extraordinary color photographs, making Core Memory a surprising addition to the library of photography collectors and the ultimate geek-chic gift.
Subjects: Popular culture, History (Specific Aspects), Computers, Photography, Computer Books: General, Computer Science, General, History, Computers / History, Electronic data processing,
Fantastic, but a tease
It's absolutely wonderful to see these pioneering machines - many of which no longer exist in working form - commemorated in this way. The photography is superb, the range of machines covered is broad, the print quality is excellent.
But I find myself wanting more. More photographs of each machine, and more information. Or at very least pointers to easily obtained information - the few references given are obscure and impossibel to access outside of a large, US, academic library.
A great gift book - especially for those newbies who think that the first computer was called the IBM PC, or the Apple ][.
A wonderful trip back in time
This book is a wonderful trip back in time for those of us old enough to have lived through most of the computer age. I saw front panels and innards of computers I had programmed years ago that were almost forgotten.
If you're an old timer, this book will bring on waves of nostalgia. If you are younger, you'll get a look at how computers were made back when the parts were still big enough to see.
Highly recommended!
Goes way back
I was hoping for more of a home computing persepctive, circa the 80s. This is more commercial and we don't see the apple or c64 til the end of the book. However, the photography is superb, though it comes off as being a bit nerd fetishist.
A work of art more than a history
This book is a stunningly beautiful work of art. With well-composed shots of decades' worth of computers, it's a joy to look at.
However, the book is not anything like a comprehensive computer history. Each computer covered has just a short description, enough to give it some context. Nor are the pictures of each computer comprehensive; clearly, they've been chosen for their artistic value, not to give an overall view of the machine.
I will admit that the pictures were still enough to take me down memory lane, even if for me that starts with the Apple ][ and TRS-80. But, I didn't learn anything about those computers that I didn't already know.
So, as long as you're willing to approach this as an art photography book, I highly recommend it. If you're looking for a history of computing, this isn't it.
Great conversation piece... for geeks.
This is a great gift for the geek on your Christmas list. I'm and old computer scientist, and this book made it's round in the office among a number of engineering crew. (I know I'm an old computer geek when the second computer I programmed made page 2.
Pictures are nicely done, great conversation piece... for geeks.
