ESC Computer Adapter...

[Bill Loguidice]

The original question wasn't if the ECS was a computer or not. Of course it is -- I think we can all agree on that. The question was is it a computer that you can do anything productive with. That's a whole different question than if it's a computer or not.

 

How about those arguing that it is a computer that you can do productive things with cite some real-world examples of people using it in a productive way (either now or at anytime in the past)? I.e. give actual examples of people doing something interesting, productive or valuable with it. I mean at this point it's 30 years old, so surely if it is indeed possible then there should be examples out there after that much time!

 

I'm certainly willing to keep an open mind on the topic -- but it's hard for me believe you can do anything "useful" with it, because I've never seen an example of anyone doing anything "useful" with it. Of course, "useful" is a subjective thing, but the original question specifically excludes dabbling in BASIC (so that doesn't count).

 

I mean, maybe the ECS at one time was used to run a BBS, manage a stock portfolio, keep track of the national debt, navigate the space shuttle, count how many nuclear warheads we have, or something like that, and I just don't know it

 

I just don't think it's a fair question. In theory can you do anything useful with it? Yes. Has anything useful been done with it? That's open to interpretation. I think if the first part of the question is "yes", then the rest of it doesn't matter. It can load/save data, is user programmable, has a printer, etc. I'm not sure what else you would need to qualify as "useful". The software is incidental.