Re: The joy of FORTRAN

On 3/9/25 12:51 PM, Charlie Gibbs wrote:

On 2025-03-09, c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> wrote:
 

    You don't see vacuum-tube electronics much
    any more - but it still has its place and
    uses. Found a use for a little diode-resistor
    logic in a project a few years ago - easier
    and simpler than anything else (decoding
    multiple switch positions after an interrupt
    using minimal pins, a sort of 7->3 converter).

 Vacuum tubes are still popular among audiophiles.
A friend just built a small amplifier using a
12AX7 and a couple of EL84s.  Then, of course,
there are guitar amps...

   The harmonics and overmodulation response from
   tubes IS better - at least AESTHETICALLY. That's
   an important bit ... 'technically exact' and
   'sounds/looks good to HUMANS' aren't always the
   same thing.
   China still makes some audio tubes ... as does
   some plant in the Czech Republic (made BY HAND).
   Here and there, some people or old shops still
   have big boxes of tubes - many still good or
   never used. Gotta FIND 'em though - eBay sometimes
   advertises a stash.
   I've looked into 'neo-valves' ... basically
   cold cathode jobbies where the electrons spew
   from a zillion micro-etched 'points' on the
   cathode. Beyond that they're kinda ordinary
   triodes/pentodes. A merger of old tech and the
   means/methods now used to create silicon circuits.
   Oh well, nukewar or X-10 solar flare, all that
   WILL still work is the tube-based equipment  :-)