Re: The joy of FORTRAN

On 3/1/25 1:43 PM, Peter Flass wrote:

c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> wrote:

On 2/28/25 11:42 PM, rbowman wrote:

On Fri, 28 Feb 2025 21:11:33 -0500, c186282 wrote:
>

Came across a 360 (model 20 ? the little one) in use by a parts
distributor about 20 years ago. Nowadays they're always emulated,
like with the Hercules system or better since I doubt you'll get
parts/service for yer ancient 360/370 now.

>
That must have been cute. RPI had a Model 30 in '66 and I thought that was
the bottom of the barrel.

>
   Checked. The Model 20 was extremely popular, but
   allegedly didn't do the entire 360 instruction set.

 It was a 16-bit machine that used the half word binary instructions from
the 360 instruction set. It did have the decimal instructions and, I
believe the SS instructions: MVC, CLC, etc. Obviously no floating point. In
theory, I guess, you could run your /20:programs on larger models, but I
doubt many people did. The I/O was completely different, and the disks were
sectorized instead of CKD.

   Well, it was INTENDED to be kinda cut-back - but
   still good enough for smaller-biz needs. And, as
   I saw, still in practical use long after everyone
   assumed they were all dead. All you need is an
   old bearded 360 guru ........

   WAS the cheapest system ... but cheap/good.  The
   model 30 was similar - but did do the whole
   instruction set.
>
   Don't remember if the one I saw was a 20 or 30 ...
   but it was still hummin' along and doing practical
   work. The corp likely got it 2nd-hand and found
   somebody who knew how to make it do its stuff.
>
   So, not a total surprise to see one still in use
   so much later on. Never be quick to , throw away
   something that WORKS.
>
   Probably all COBOL  :-)
>

 IBM got you on the maintenance. At some point it was cheaper to buy a new
370 than to keep paying maintenance on your old 360.

   Well ... business model.
   The inventor of the Schick razor would basically
   give away the razor body - knowing he would make
   it back many times over selling the razor BLADES.
   Today, you can buy a good color laser printer
   pretty damned cheap - but they NAIL you on the
   toner cartridges, and strive to make them
   hard to copy. Again, their money back many
   times over.
   IBM - kinda discounted boxes, but years and
   years of SUPPORT/MAINT.
   It's a viable, historical, biz model.