MITS: Rockets, Calculators, and Personal Computers

kristianp wrote: post #4

> 1976 at the West Coast Computer Faire. According to wikipedia, the first "Faire" was in 1977 (where the Apple II was demonstrated). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Coast_Computer_Faire

The first conference proceedings were published in 1976 which might be where this is coming from.

https://www.abebooks.com/first-edition/First-West-Coast-Comp...

Re: MITS: Rockets, Calculators, and Personal Computers

#6

Post by ricksunny » Thu, Jul 16, 2026, 6:28 AM UTC

Forrest M. Mims III wrote a series of electronics hobbyist booklets. Thanks to an engineer older brother (who could actually comprehend the details of these books while I couldn’t) I grew up with these books around the house (among many other technical books - viz. same brother). I had no idea that Mims had been with USAF at Kirtland. (nor that Microsoft’s first office was Albuquerque). If this is all described in Mountain View’s Computer History Museum, I missed it.

Re: MITS: Rockets, Calculators, and Personal Computers

#7

Post by kristianp » Fri, Jul 17, 2026, 12:28 AM UTC

IanCal wrote: post #5

kristianp wrote: post #4

> 1976 at the West Coast Computer Faire. According to wikipedia, the first "Faire" was in 1977 (where the Apple II was demonstrated). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Coast_Computer_Faire

The first conference proceedings were published in 1976 which might be where this is coming from. https://www.abebooks.com/first-edition/First-West-Coast-Comp...

The image of the cover says 1977, I'd say the date is an error.

Re: MITS: Rockets, Calculators, and Personal Computers

#8

Post by IanCal » Fri, Jul 17, 2026, 6:50 PM UTC

kristianp wrote: post #7

IanCal wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The first conference proceedings were published in 1976 which might be where this is coming from. https://www.abebooks.com/first-edition/First-West-Coast-Comp...

The image of the cover says 1977, I'd say the date is an error.

That’s the date of the conference. The proceedings appear to have been published the year before.

Re: MITS: Rockets, Calculators, and Personal Computers

#9

Post by BirAdam » Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 1:19 AM UTC

IanCal wrote: post #8

kristianp wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The image of the cover says 1977, I'd say the date is an error.

That’s the date of the conference. The proceedings appear to have been published the year before.

It is, indeed, an error. I will correct the record.