3 ms·

Does anyone know the history of how they coined the term "Mainframe"?

grzm 8y ago
> "The term originally referred to the large cabinets called "main frames" that housed the central processing unit and main memory of early computers." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainframe_computer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainframe_computer
- reaperducer 8y ago
  Interestingly, the term “mainframe” seems to have become exclusive to big iron only in the mid 1980’s. If you read computer magazines from the 70’s, machines that we would call desktops were very often referred to as mainframes.
  - monocasa 8y ago
    Can you give an example? My google fu is failing me at the moment.
    - reaperducer 8y ago
      See citations in the comment I posted above.
  - drfuchs 8y ago
    I respectfully disagree. In the 70’s, IBM 360s / 370s and such were “mainframes”, while PDP11s and the like were “mini computers”. As 8080 / Z80 machines started to appear, they were always “microcomputers”, eventually evolving into “desktops”, with higher-end ones “workstations”. But “mainframe” was exclusively used for big batch and time-sharing iron sitting in a “machine room” that you weren’t allowed into unless you were employed as an “operator” or the IBM serviceman doing scheduled weekly PM (preventive maintenance), during which time no jobs ran.
    - qbrass 8y ago
      The term "mainframe" was also used for the part of microcomputer cases that held the expansion cards, but they weren't referring to the computer itself. It seems to come from microcomputer hardware and accessory companies trying to throw the word "mainframe" into their ads somehow and make their stuff seem more important.
      - eesmith 8y ago
        I only knew of "mainframe" used in the fashion that drfuchs described. Out of curiosity, I did a search of archive.org looking for uses which match your description. Here are two of the matches: "Model 706 mainframe can accomodate 10 scanner plug-in cards. ... Before operating the Model 706, the appropriate scanner cards must be installed into the mainframe. Each scanner card (up to 10 cards per the Model 706 malnframe) is Installed in the appropriate vertical slot In the rear panel of the Model 706. Refer to Figure 2-1 for an overall picture of scanner card installation." https://archive.org/details/keithley_KEI_706_Instruction/page/n9?q=mainframe https://archive.org/details/keithley_KEI_706_Instruction/pag... "Peripheral cards, capable of handling words as large as 32 bits, perform operations normally requiring expensive computer mainframe expansion — display control, multiple capstan tape control and the like." https://archive.org/details/TNM_832_Data_Interface_-_ECG_Data_Products_Group_20170919_0090/page/n3?q=mainframe+expansion+card https://archive.org/details/TNM_832_Data_Interface_-_ECG_Dat... However, that isn't what reaperducer referred to when saying "the term “mainframe” seems to have become exclusive to big iron only in the mid 1980’s." Here's an MS thesis from 1971 titled 'The minicomputer : an educational tool', which makes considers the "mini-mainframe" as a distinct category. https://archive.org/details/minicomputereduc432mars/page/62 https://archive.org/details/minicomputereduc432mars/page/62 Here's how a 1974 publication titled "Role of the Minicomputer in Small Educational Institutions" characterizes minicomputers, quoting https://archive.org/details/ERIC_ED100376/page/n3 https://archive.org/details/ERIC_ED100376/page/n3 : > What is, a minicomputer? Unfortunately, the term minicomputer is used by many people with many different meanings. For the purpose of this paper, we shall characterize a minicomputer by the following two criteria. > (1) Physical size . Typically, the main components of a minicomputer (its CPU and main memory) are closer to the size of an electric typewriter than, say, a washing machine. (Not counting the power supply and racket, the CPU and memory may fit on a single printed circuit board!) > (2) Cost . Typically, the main components of a minicomputer (its CPU and main memory) can be purchased for less than $10,000 - in some cases for less than $1,000. This is clearly more like a machine we would call a desktop - how many people have washing machine-sized computers on their desktop? A 1975 report titled "Use of Minicomputer Facilities for Higher Education Instruction" helps identify that 'minicomputer' was a new computer category starting in the late 1960s, quoting https://archive.org/details/ERIC_ED112763/page/n3 https://archive.org/details/ERIC_ED112763/page/n3 : > Although each of the methods offered a level of computing suitable for some instructional use a belief was expressed in 1969 that the new "minicomputers" might be able to provide instructional computing support that even the smallest colleges could afford.
  - Steve44 8y ago
    > machines that we would call desktops were very often referred to as mainframes. I suspect you're misinterpreting what you are seeing, those adverts probably showed someone working at a keyboard and VDU screen. They aren't the computers, they are just terminals which connect to the computer. Have a look at the links below for some examples. http://www.chilton-computing.org.uk/ca/technology/ibm3032/overview.htm http://www.chilton-computing.org.uk/ca/technology/ibm3032/ov... http://electroprops.co.uk/73/Computing/1970s-DEC-VT100-VDU-computer-terminal-P2033.html http://electroprops.co.uk/73/Computing/1970s-DEC-VT100-VDU-c...

grzm 8y ago

> "The term originally referred to the large cabinets called "main frames" that housed the central processing unit and main memory of early computers." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainframe_computer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainframe_computer

reaperducer 8y ago
Interestingly, the term “mainframe” seems to have become exclusive to big iron only in the mid 1980’s. If you read computer magazines from the 70’s, machines that we would call desktops were very often referred to as mainframes.
- monocasa 8y ago
  Can you give an example? My google fu is failing me at the moment.
  - reaperducer 8y ago
    See citations in the comment I posted above.
- drfuchs 8y ago
  I respectfully disagree. In the 70’s, IBM 360s / 370s and such were “mainframes”, while PDP11s and the like were “mini computers”. As 8080 / Z80 machines started to appear, they were always “microcomputers”, eventually evolving into “desktops”, with higher-end ones “workstations”. But “mainframe” was exclusively used for big batch and time-sharing iron sitting in a “machine room” that you weren’t allowed into unless you were employed as an “operator” or the IBM serviceman doing scheduled weekly PM (preventive maintenance), during which time no jobs ran.
  - qbrass 8y ago
    The term "mainframe" was also used for the part of microcomputer cases that held the expansion cards, but they weren't referring to the computer itself. It seems to come from microcomputer hardware and accessory companies trying to throw the word "mainframe" into their ads somehow and make their stuff seem more important.
    - eesmith 8y ago
      I only knew of "mainframe" used in the fashion that drfuchs described. Out of curiosity, I did a search of archive.org looking for uses which match your description. Here are two of the matches: "Model 706 mainframe can accomodate 10 scanner plug-in cards. ... Before operating the Model 706, the appropriate scanner cards must be installed into the mainframe. Each scanner card (up to 10 cards per the Model 706 malnframe) is Installed in the appropriate vertical slot In the rear panel of the Model 706. Refer to Figure 2-1 for an overall picture of scanner card installation." https://archive.org/details/keithley_KEI_706_Instruction/page/n9?q=mainframe https://archive.org/details/keithley_KEI_706_Instruction/pag... "Peripheral cards, capable of handling words as large as 32 bits, perform operations normally requiring expensive computer mainframe expansion — display control, multiple capstan tape control and the like." https://archive.org/details/TNM_832_Data_Interface_-_ECG_Data_Products_Group_20170919_0090/page/n3?q=mainframe+expansion+card https://archive.org/details/TNM_832_Data_Interface_-_ECG_Dat... However, that isn't what reaperducer referred to when saying "the term “mainframe” seems to have become exclusive to big iron only in the mid 1980’s." Here's an MS thesis from 1971 titled 'The minicomputer : an educational tool', which makes considers the "mini-mainframe" as a distinct category. https://archive.org/details/minicomputereduc432mars/page/62 https://archive.org/details/minicomputereduc432mars/page/62 Here's how a 1974 publication titled "Role of the Minicomputer in Small Educational Institutions" characterizes minicomputers, quoting https://archive.org/details/ERIC_ED100376/page/n3 https://archive.org/details/ERIC_ED100376/page/n3 : > What is, a minicomputer? Unfortunately, the term minicomputer is used by many people with many different meanings. For the purpose of this paper, we shall characterize a minicomputer by the following two criteria. > (1) Physical size . Typically, the main components of a minicomputer (its CPU and main memory) are closer to the size of an electric typewriter than, say, a washing machine. (Not counting the power supply and racket, the CPU and memory may fit on a single printed circuit board!) > (2) Cost . Typically, the main components of a minicomputer (its CPU and main memory) can be purchased for less than $10,000 - in some cases for less than $1,000. This is clearly more like a machine we would call a desktop - how many people have washing machine-sized computers on their desktop? A 1975 report titled "Use of Minicomputer Facilities for Higher Education Instruction" helps identify that 'minicomputer' was a new computer category starting in the late 1960s, quoting https://archive.org/details/ERIC_ED112763/page/n3 https://archive.org/details/ERIC_ED112763/page/n3 : > Although each of the methods offered a level of computing suitable for some instructional use a belief was expressed in 1969 that the new "minicomputers" might be able to provide instructional computing support that even the smallest colleges could afford.
- Steve44 8y ago
  > machines that we would call desktops were very often referred to as mainframes. I suspect you're misinterpreting what you are seeing, those adverts probably showed someone working at a keyboard and VDU screen. They aren't the computers, they are just terminals which connect to the computer. Have a look at the links below for some examples. http://www.chilton-computing.org.uk/ca/technology/ibm3032/overview.htm http://www.chilton-computing.org.uk/ca/technology/ibm3032/ov... http://electroprops.co.uk/73/Computing/1970s-DEC-VT100-VDU-computer-terminal-P2033.html http://electroprops.co.uk/73/Computing/1970s-DEC-VT100-VDU-c...