BKWHYCAC.RVW   960110
 
"Why Computers Are Computers", David Rutland, 1995, 1-885391-05-6, U$24.95
%A   David Rutland
%C   PO Box 1084C, Philomath, OR   97370
%D   1995
%G   1-885391-05-6
%I   Wren Publishers
%O   U$24.95 +1-503-929-4498, fax: +1-503-757-0693, wren@peak.org
%P   218
%T   "Why Computers Are Computers: The SWAC and the PC"
 
In the two decades prior to the middle of this century, dozens of individuals
and groups conceived and built dozens of computing machines.  Mechanical and
electric, analog and digital, they all contributed to the design of the
computers we know today.  The author of this book worked on the design and
construction of the control circuitry for the "Standards Western Automatic
Computer", funded and operated by the National Bureau of Standards in the late
forties.
 
Reading the promotional material for the book it would seem that the SWAC is
central to the text.  In actuality, the author has put together a fairly good
overview of much of the work that was being done at the time, with some added
emphasis and insider info on the SWAC.  Rutland, though, has an obvious bias in
place, and does try to place the SWAC on the first rung of the evolutionary
computer ladder.  While his point may be contended, he has, at least, done a
thorough job of research.  He does acknowledge the claims of other researchers
and pioneers, even if he does try to explain them away.
 
The book is not primarily technical.  The stories and personalities are given
pride of place, as should be the case with popular histories.  Rutland's
writing is generally readable, but sometimes ragged, disjointed and only barely
grammatical, making it difficult to follow some of the timelines.  In addition,
his attempts to explain computing concepts in lay terms often fail completely,
further restricting his arguments about the importance of difficult
architectures.
 
Still, as long as it isn't taken as gospel, this is a good introduction to the
glory days of computer development.
 
copyright Robert M. Slade, 1996   BKWHYCAC.RVW   960110

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