The Glorious Twelfth

Just as it does every year, a card from my Mum has dropped through the letter up reminding me that another year has gone by since I quit my job to run my start-up Coraider Services full time. Today is the tenth anniversary of that world historic day and, by a weird coincidence, also the twenty fifth anniversary of IBM's announcement of their first PC; an event that to all intents and purposes created Coraider's market.

Here's the spec of the original IBM 5150:

Processor: 4.7MHz Intel 8088
Co-Processor: Optional 8087 math coprocessor
RAM: 16K - 640K
ROM: 64KB
OS: MS-DOS 1.0, CP/M-86
Standard storage device: Cassette tape
Floppy drive: Optional
I/O ports: Five internal 8-bit ISA slots, monitor, Centronics, cassette
Peripherals: 5, 10, and 20MB hard disks
Display: 12"
Base price: Around $1,565 (around $3,500 in 2006 figures)

I know it is a commonplace observation but the increase in power and capacity of the machines since then is truly amazing and developments like this year's dual core processors seem to indicate that it is still not slowing down.

I've also found out that August 12th is the start of the open season for grouse shooting in the United Kingdom. Perhaps Paul and I should try and bag a brace on this day next year.