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The pun about "Area 5150" is int includes "area 51" (a US military base where, besides new weapons testing, according to conspiracy theories, aliens may also be
by jll29 4y ago
The pun about "Area 5150" is int includes "area 51" (a US military base where, besides new weapons testing, according to conspiracy theories, aliens may also be investigated or kept - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_51 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_51) and "IBM 5150" combined.
The pun about "8088 MPH" is the "Intel 8088" was used an "MPH" obviously stands for "miles per hour", a rather fast pace.
In some sense, the audience for these demos is small, because to be truly appreciative of the technical skill of the demo coders, you probably should have programmed the IBM PC (and its various graphics modes) in assembler.
- moosedev 4y ago> The pun about "8088 MPH" is the "Intel 8088" was used an "MPH" obviously stands for "miles per hour", a rather fast pace. It’s also a Back To The Future (1985) reference! (The Delorean had to reach 88mph in order to time travel.) It captures the “new demo for a 1980s computer” situation on several levels.
- sp332 4y ago88 MPH is a Back to the Future reference. "When this baby hits 88mph, you're gonna see some serious shit!" And there's a Delorean in the "we don't need sprites" section.
- aliqot 4y agoIt's sad that they got rid of the enhanced timekeeping functionality in the move from 5100 to the (as I understand it, inferior) IBM 5150 model, which ships chrono-locked from factory to the present time at all times. Bummer!
- jjtheblunt 4y agoI think 5150 is also a penal code in California.
- EarlKing 4y agoMore precisely it refers to the California Welfare and Institutions Code, Section 5150[1], regarding the procedures for involuntary psychiatric holds. I doubt IBM was aware of the connection at the time, but it's definitely fitting. :D [1] https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=WIC§ionNum=5150 https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySectio...