Talk:IBM 608

Cost

How much did this computer cost when it was released? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Njk (talk • contribs) 02:22, 7 May 2010 (UTC)

$83,210 . Pcap ping 05:34, 7 May 2010 (UTC)

Uhh ..

How is it completely transistorised if it still used ferrite cores for memory and a plugboard? Prolly meant the first with a fully transistorised CPU and like as not that's prolly false too. 72.228.177.92 (talk) 06:23, 7 May 2010 (UTC)

Because that what transistorized computer means, according to reliable sources. It does not mean it uses no magnetic technology, or no wires, unless you can find a source taking that view. Unlike today, IBM's marketing at the time called the 608 merely a "calculator", but the ENIAC also had its programs "written" using a plug board, and it's now widely considered a computer. (The article makes it clear that the 608 did not have a stored program, unlike the 7070) I'm not sure how you'd define "transistorized" otherwise: even DRAM uses capacitors, not transistors for actual bit storage. Memory technology can be fairly different. For instance, some high-end IBM 360 models used magnetic film instead of core memory. Pcap ping 16:35, 7 May 2010 (UTC)

Actually there's also these:

• Manchester_computers#Transistor_Computer
• Harwell CADET

The Manchester one became operational in 1953, the Harwell one in 1955. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2.24.215.139 (talk) 19:39, 19 September 2014 (UTC)

IBM 608 could include the punch

The IBM 608 Transistor Calculator comprised the IBM 608 Calculator Unit and the IBM 535 Punch Unit. I guess this article should mention both IBM 608s. Not clear if the 535 Punch Unit used tubes or transistors ? - Rod57 (talk) 04:49, 11 January 2016 (UTC)

Calculator or Computer

Is the IBM 608 Turing complete? asklucas (talk) 14:32, 11 January 2016 (UTC)