The new minicartridge works like the large (6" by 4") 3M data cartridgebut is slightly smaller than a standard cassette. The dimensions of the new cartridge are about 3" by o!,, Only 140' of magnetic tape is used in the cartridge, compared with up to 300' in some cassettes. The recording density using the H-P drive is 800 bpi on a single track (total 115 K bytes) versus J600 bpi on 4 tracks with some cassette drives. However, the philosophy behind this new storage medium is that quality (reliability) of data storage is more important than quantity. The drive and cartridge should provide a convenient replacement for paper tape-oriented users with modest data storage requirements• for a buck or so. I haven't been there for some time, so I don't know what bargains that they may have now. The used computer market. A few years ago, I ran across an old PDP-8/s, with 4 K w o r d s and a TTY, for only $2,000. There are several companies that deal in used equipment; even one that specializes in used m i n i s . - The cost of microprocessors. A firstgeneration chip is for sale for less than $30. Second-generation chips can be had for $150. - - Low cost hobby systems. One manufacturer sells a microprocessor-based kit for $439. Over time, one could build this base up to a fullhouse 65K multi-processing monster, with all the goodies. These are just a few examples of what is available. As can be seen by the above, my price range is from about a thousand dollars on down. I have always felt that the neatest system in the world isn't worth a darn if it can't be afforded. I would like to thank RATEDATA, Portland, for the use of their Interdata 7/16 and text editor. It really improves my typing. -- Percy G. Wood Special Area Editor This column is dedicated to inexpensive computing. In it, I hope to explore ways in which a person, company or institution can get the most bang (and bits) per buck. SMALL SYSTEMS IN BUSINESS APPLICATIONS In observing the cost of computing hardware over the last few years, one can see that the price for computing power has dropped• Take the case of the pocket calculator. When they first appeared on the market, a fourfunction (add, subtract, multiply and divide) machine cost over $550. Today, you can g e t these same four functions for less than $20. The same technology is used in all other digital computing equipment, and the fierce competition almost guarantees declining prices. Looking for cheap computer gear? Here are just a few of the deals that I have seen. - Teletype ASH model 33 - $969, brand new. Long the primary (and sometimes the only) peripheral for minicomputing. Over 500,000 of these devices have been manufactured, so there are some used ones for less than the above. - Audio Phillips type cassettes for less than $200. You have to do some wiring, though. - A "TV typewriter", which sells for $200. Even though you have to supply the TV, it is an inexpensive console device. There are also fully-assembled CRT's for less than a grand. - An electronics surplus store that has punched paper tape readers for $50. They also have keyboards ($60), and lots of circuit card Editor's Note: This column is devoted to exploring the use of small systems in the business environment. One of the attractive aspects of having nonrefereed material in a Newsletter is the ability to present ideas, opinions, etc. which represent current thinking and experiences. Often this material is not as "slick" or as carefully worded as refereed work might be. Often this material represents a person "thinking out loud" so to speak. Certainly, this material could and should be controversial, i.e. it should generate comments from other people. Your comments are welcomed. Such comments will appear either here or in the Forum Section. Also, if there a r e t o p i c s which you are interested in exploring, why not open the discussion yourself? We are all here to learn. I would like to open the discussion of a topic which I am personally very interested in. I hope that many others are also interested and that s o m e h a v e come to grips with possible solutions. -4-

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