Re: Pre-Xy

["Steve Crutchfield" SCRUTCH@xxxxxxxx]

I started using XyWrite II back in the early 1980's. I've stuck with it all these years, and now use NotaBene extensively for academic writing.

My first experience with word processing was when I used a Texas Instruments Silent 700 terminal
attached to a mainframe computer over a 300 baud phone line. The TI 700 came with "bubble
memory" that allowed me to store 250 lines of text. I used the line-at-a-time editor to
manually input raw text and formatting codes (which sort of looked like wordstar's infamous
"dot" commands), and then uploaded the text to the mainframe via dialup. I then ran
program on the mainframe to process the text and print it out. It would take about 30-40 minutes to
receive my printout, and then I'd start the editing/revising/formatting task all over again.

Somehow, I managed to produce a 249 page Ph.D. dissertation that way.

The TI 700 terminal I used is now on exhibit a the Smithsonian here in Washington, DC as a relic of
ancient computer technology. We've come a long way!

Steve Crutchfield

Deputy Director for Staff Analysis and Communications
USDA Economic Research Service
1800 M Street NW Room 2164N
Washington, DC, 20036
(202) 694 5406
scrutch@xxxxxxxx

Visit the ERS Wesbsite: http://www.ers.usda.gov