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S1E11 - The Path Out of Lincoln Lab - TX-0/2, LINC, and the PDP-1
April 07, 2025 · 11 min
Episode Notes

TX-0 (Transistorized Experimental Computer Zero):

Wikipedia: TX-0 A comprehensive overview of the TX-0, highlighting its development, architecture, and significance in computing history. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TX-0 Tom's Hardware+3gunkies.org+3Encyclopedia Britannica+3

MIT's RLE Technical Report 627: TX-0 Computer History An in-depth historical account of the TX-0's design and construction at MIT's Lincoln Laboratory in 1956. https://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/1721.1/4132/RLE-TR-627-42827671.pdf TX-2 Project+16DSpace+16Encyclopedia Britannica+16

Computer History Museum: MIT TX-0 Computer Details about the TX-0's role as a test bed for large-scale transistorized computing and its influence on subsequent computer designs. https://www.computerhistory.org/pdp-1/2e1b209cb40237b91228cdf26a60e3f8/ Wikipedia – Die freie Enzyklopädie+2CHM+2CHM+2

The Computer Pioneers: The TX-0 An archival article discussing the TX-0's construction, operational history, and its significance in the evolution of computing. https://ethw.org/Archives:The_Computer_Pioneers:_The_TX-0

TX-2:

Britannica: TX-2 An overview of the TX-2 computer, emphasizing its programmable capabilities and contributions to early computing developments. https://www.britannica.com/technology/TX-2 CHM+11Encyclopedia Britannica+11gunkies.org+11

The Lincoln TX-2 Computer Development A detailed paper on the development of the TX-2 at MIT's Lincoln Laboratory, discussing its design and technological advancements. https://cs.furman.edu/~tallen/csc475/materials/clarkTX-2.pdf TX-2 Project+14Encyclopedia Britannica+14History of Information+14

MIT Lincoln Laboratory: The TX-2 Computer and Sketchpad Explores the TX-2's role in the creation of Sketchpad, a pioneering computer-aided design program, and its impact on interactive computing. https://www.ll.mit.edu/media/6536 CHM

TX-2 Project A resource dedicated to re-creating and documenting the TX-2 computer, including technical manuals and historical insights. https://tx-2.github.io/ TX-2 Project

LINC (Laboratory Instrument Computer):

Office of NIH History: Laboratory Instrument Computer (LINC) A narrative on the development of the LINC, detailing its conception at MIT's Lincoln Laboratory and its influence on biomedical research computing. https://history.nih.gov/display/history/Laboratory+Instrument+Computer hnf.de+18The Henry Ford+18NIH History Office+18

DigiBarn Computer Museum: LINC History, Restoration and 45 Year Retrospective An extensive retrospective on the LINC, covering its history, restoration efforts, and its place as a precursor to personal computing. https://www.digibarn.com/stories/linc/ digibarn.com

Computer History Museum: LINC Computer Highlights the LINC's design tailored for scientific laboratories, featuring built-in analog-to-digital converters and an oscilloscope for data display. https://www.computerhistory.org/revolution/minicomputers/11/334/1920 ETHW+9CHM+9The Henry Ford+9

National Museum of American History: Minicomputer, Classic LINC Computer (DEC) Provides insights into the LINC's introduction as a small computer with a 12-bit word length, intended for individual researchers. https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_334861 gunkies.org+2