Digital Equipment Corporation
Andrej Trebar
August:
Ken Olsen and Harlan Anderson found Digital
Equipment Corporation and set up shop in an
old woolen mill in Maynard, Massachusetts.
Laboratory modules were intended to sit on an
engineer's workbench or be mounted in a
scientist's equipment rack. To simplify the
construction of logic systems, the modules were
connected by simple cords with banana plugs.
1957
1959
1961
The MILL
1963
1965
1967
1969
Laboratory
modules
February:
Digital's second product, Systems Modules, goes on the market.
July:
By the end of its first fiscal year, Digital sells $94,000 worth of laboratory
and systems modules and has 60 employees.
1957
1959
1961
The MILL
1963
1965
1967
1969
Laboratory
modules
From a Digital technical report dated March 1960:
"DEC1500 series memory testers -- complete systems for testing coincident current
core memories under simulated computer conditions. DEC memory testers will test
planes up to 64 by 64 with several patterns of information quickly and completely in
a single operation."
The 3000 series Laboratory Modules ran at 500 kHz. The 4000 series Systems
Modules ran at 1 MHz and were principal components in the PDP-4 and PDP-5.
Shown here are the modules in place in a PDP-4.
A young hardware engineer named Ben Gurley was hired to design DIGITAL's first
computer. Three and a half months later, the prototype Programmed Data
Processor-1 (PDP-1) was complete. In December, the prototype was demonstrated
at the Eastern Joint Computer Conference in Boston.
1957
1959
Memory
test
1961
1963
1965
1967
PDP 1
1969
PDP 4
DIGITAL's 5000 and 6000 series modules were made possible by the arrival of a
new series of transistors. This second generation of modules ran at 10 MHz,
compared to the first generation modules which ran at 5 MHz.
The Logic Handbook was an early project of Barbera Stephenson, the first woman
hired as an engineer at DIGITAL. The Logic Handbook was the first in a long series
of handbooks that worked both as textbooks and promotional tools. DIGITAL sent
them to every customer and handed them out at trade shows.
From a technical bulletin on the PDP-1, dated March 1960: "...a compact, solid state
general purpose computer with an internal instruction execution rate of 100,000 to
200,000 operations per second. PDP-1 is a single address, single construction,
stored program machine with a word length of 18-bits operating in parallel on 1's
complement binary numbers."
1957
1959
1961
5000 and
6000
Series
modules
1963
1965
1967
1969
The Logic
Handbook
PDP 1
The PDP-4 was aimed at applications with not many calculations, but rather the
single manipulation of input and output, such as controlling a bakery or fleet of
elevators. "As computers [like the PDP-4] become smaller and less expensive,"
said Bell, "they will take over some special system types...then the computer
becomes a 'module' of the system."
DECUS evolved because engineers needed a forum to share information and
computer programs for DIGITAL's first computer, the PDP-1. Founded on the
idea of open exchange of information between user and manufacturer, DECUS
has grown to be one of the largest users' groups in the computer industry, with
a total membership of about 100,000 and 23 chapters worldwide. The DECUS
logo is a stylized version of the PDP-1 "TYPE 30" point scope.
1957
1959
PDP 4
1961
1963
1965
1967
1969
DECUS
Similar in structure to the PDP-1, the PDP-4 used slower memory and different
packaging to achieve a lower price of $65,000. Approximately 54 PDP-4s were sold
in application areas as diverse as nuclear physics, production and stock control.
The PDP-1 operating system's timesharing ability made interactive access to
computers economically viable by allowing various users to share the computer
simultaneously. Shown here is the PDP-1 installation at BBN.
Bell based the PDP-5 on a 12-bit digital controller (the DC-12) that DIGITAL had
designed in 1961 but never built. Bell specified the instruction set in the fall of
1962. Design work was continued by Edson deCastro in early 1963. Shown here
is the 7th PDP-5 built.
1957
1959
PDP-4
1961
1963
1965
1967
1969
PDP-1
Operating
system
PDP-5
The 8000 series modules, also known as VHF modules, ran at 30 MHz. The
modules were used to build high performance systems. The technology developed
in the VHF modules was used in the timesharing capabilities of the PDP-6. Shown
here is a PDP-6 during testing.
The PDP-5 was innovative in replacing the radial structure of earlier designs with
an I/O bus. By allowing peripheral equipment to be added incrementally -- rather
than preallocating space, wiring and cable drivers -- the I/O bus design lowered
the base costs of the system and simplified the configuring of machines in the
field.
In March, DIGITAL opened its first European sales and service office with three
people in Munich, Germany. At the same time, the first Canadian sales office
opened with two people in Ottawa.
1957
1959
PDP-6
1961
1963
1965
1967
1969
PDP-5
Service
engineers
Flip Chip modules were built of discrete transistors, diodes, resistors and capacitors.
The series was designed so that backplanes could be wire-wrapped automatically,
reducing costs and increasing production line throughput. Flip Chips became the
basis for the PDP-8.
Tops 10 was developed from a 6-K word monitor for the PDP-6. It included user files
and I/O device independence, a command control program and multiprocessing
capabilities. Here an operator programs a PDP-6 using papertape.
A successor to the PDP-4, the PDP-7 used smaller, more conventional system units
and was well received in laboratory and data acquisition applications. The machine
featured DIGITAL's first mass-storage based operating system (DECsys for
DECtape). Ultimately, 120 PDP-7s were produced and sold.
By 1971, Digital was the largest consumer of magnetic core memories other than IBM.
Digital built its own magnetic core manufacturing business and by the mid-1970s was
producing 30 billion magnetic cores per year.
1957
1959
Flip Chip
1961
1963
1965
1967
1969
PDP-6 Tops 10
PDP-7
Magnetic
Core
memory
The PDP-7A, a second version of the PDP-7, used the newly annouced R series Flip
Chip modules. The machine pictured was built for Concord Control Corporation.
PDP-8 Specifications
Word Length: 12 Bits
Speed: 1.5 micro- second cycle time
Primary memory: 4K 12-bit word core memory
Secondary memory: 32K maximum
Instruction set: 3-bit op code, 1 indirect bit; 8 bits of address
Input/Output: teletype (ASR-33) includes paper-tape reader and punch
Power: 780 watts
Price: $18,000
The PDP-6 was operated and programmed from Boston using a 12,000 mile, 5 hole
telex code. It proved very difficult to generate a control C in 5 hole code.
1957
1959
PDP-7A
1961
1963
1965
1967
1969
PDP-8
PDP-6
Remote
operation
The PDP-9 featured a speed increase of approximately twice that of the PDP-7. The
PDP-9 was also one of the first small or medium scale computers to have a
keyboard monitor system based on DIGITAL's own small magnetic tape units
(DECtape).
The size of a file-cabinet drawer, the PDP-8/S model's cost reduction came from
implementing the PDP-8 instruction set serially.
The LINC-8 was based on a previous design from Lincoln Labs to penetrate the
emerging biomedical computer market. The computer incorporated both the LINC
(Laboratory Instrument Computer) processor and the PDP-8 processor unit.
1957
1959
PDP-9
1961
1963
1965
1967
1969
PDP-8/S
LINC-8
The 36-bit PDP-10 was program-compatible with the PDP-6 and approximately twice
as powerful. Designed to perform conversational timesharing, batch-processing and
real-time operations equally well and simultaneously, the PDP-10 achieved great
popularity with the commercial timesharing utilities, university computer centers and
research laboratories.
The new, noise-immune K series Flip Chip module line was used for control
applications in industrial computers. By 1975, DIGITAL produced approximately 200
different types of K series modules.
M series modules were used in the first redesign of the PDP-8, called the PDP-8/I,
and were used in the first PDP-11 (PDP-11/20), the second PDP-10 processor (KI10)
and the PDP-8/E. M series modules were DIGITAL's first logic cards to use integrated
circuits.
1957
1959
PDP-10
1961
1963
1965
1967
1969
K series
Flip Chip
M series
modules
The PDP-8/I was more expandable (and expensive) than the PDP-8/S. Introduced at
the same time was the PDP-8/L, a smaller OEM version of the 8/I. (The PDP-8/I is
pictured.)
PDP-8 based EDUsystems, using the BASIC language developed at Dartmouth
College, brought computers into elementary and secondary schools. EDUsystems
were designed to start small and expand as the school's computing requirements
increased.
The TYPESET-8 hardware and software package originally sold with the classic
PDP-8 as its CPU and functioned as a computerized typesetting system for use in
hot metal and photo composition typesetting.
1957
1959
PDP-8/I
1961
1963
1965
1967
1969
EDU
systems
TYPESET-8
The PDP-14:
K series modules were used to develop noise-immune I/O units for this completely
new, solid state controller that controlled operations by solving Boolean equations.
Applications in the relay-logic marketplace included an automatic racking and
stacking system, control of machine tools and sequencing.
The PDP-12 was used in applications such as chemistry, applied psychology,
patient monitoring and industrial testing. The machine incorporated the PDP-8/I and
LINC-8 instruction sets, making it compatible with LINC-8 software. In addition to a
display-based operating system, software packages were included for data
acquisition and display, Fourier analysis and spectrometry.
The PDP-15 was DIGITAL's last 18-bit computer system and the only one
implemented with integrated circuits. The new machine was faster and less expensive
than its predecessors and had the added sophistication of a separate I/O processor
To the CPU. Over 400 of these machines were ordered in the first eight months of
production.
1957
1959
PDP-14
1961
1963
1965
1967
1969
PDP-12
PDP-15
Revenues US $Millions
Vir:
16,000
Fortune 500 Database, www.fortune.com; Innosight analysis
12,000
CAGR 1974-1981
CAGR 1981-1989
CAGR 1989-1997:
37%
20%
3%
8,000
4,000
Apple II introduced:
1977
Compaq buys DEC:
1998
IBM PC introduced:
1981
0
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996 1998
1970
Revenues US $Millions
Vir:
16,000
Fortune 500 Database, www.fortune.com; Innosight analysis
12,000
CAGR 1974-1981
CAGR 1981-1989
CAGR 1989-1997:
37%
20%
3%
8,000
4,000
Apple II introduced:
1977
Compaq buys DEC:
1998
IBM PC introduced:
1981
0
1970
1972
1974
PDP-8/E
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
PDP-11/20
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
VT 05
1996 1998
1971
Revenues US $Millions
Vir:
16,000
Fortune 500 Database, www.fortune.com; Innosight analysis
12,000
CAGR 1974-1981
CAGR 1981-1989
CAGR 1989-1997:
37%
20%
3%
8,000
4,000
Apple II introduced:
1977
Compaq buys DEC:
1998
IBM PC introduced:
1981
0
1970
1972
CSI
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
PDP-11/45
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
RSTS11
1996 1998
1972
Revenues US $Millions
Vir:
16,000
Fortune 500 Database, www.fortune.com; Innosight analysis
12,000
CAGR 1974-1981
CAGR 1981-1989
CAGR 1989-1997:
37%
20%
3%
8,000
4,000
Apple II introduced:
1977
Compaq buys DEC:
1998
IBM PC introduced:
1981
0
1970
1972
1974
1976
PDP-11/40
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
PDP-11/05
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996 1998
1973
Revenues US $Millions
Vir:
16,000
Fortune 500 Database, www.fortune.com; Innosight analysis
12,000
CAGR 1974-1981
CAGR 1981-1989
CAGR 1989-1997:
37%
20%
3%
8,000
4,000
Apple II introduced:
1977
Compaq buys DEC:
1998
IBM PC introduced:
1981
0
1970
1972
1974
RSX-11D
1976
1978
1980
1982
RT-11
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
DEC Data
Communications
Message Protocol
1996 1998
1974
Revenues US $Millions
Vir:
16,000
Fortune 500 Database, www.fortune.com; Innosight analysis
12,000
CAGR 1974-1981
CAGR 1981-1989
CAGR 1989-1997:
37%
20%
3%
8,000
4,000
Apple II introduced:
1977
Compaq buys DEC:
1998
IBM PC introduced:
1981
0
1970
1972
1974
RSX-11M
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
LA 36
DECwriter II
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996 1998
MPS
DEC LSI
microporcessor
1975
Revenues US $Millions
Vir:
16,000
Fortune 500 Database, www.fortune.com; Innosight analysis
12,000
CAGR 1974-1981
CAGR 1981-1989
CAGR 1989-1997:
37%
20%
3%
8,000
4,000
Apple II introduced:
1977
Compaq buys DEC:
1998
IBM PC introduced:
1981
0
1970
1972
LSI-11
1974
1976
1978
1980
PDP 11/34
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
VAX 11/780
commitee
1992
1994
1996 1998
VT52
1976
Revenues US $Millions
Vir:
16,000
Fortune 500 Database, www.fortune.com; Innosight analysis
12,000
CAGR 1974-1981
CAGR 1981-1989
CAGR 1989-1997:
37%
20%
3%
8,000
4,000
Apple II introduced:
1977
Compaq buys DEC:
1998
IBM PC introduced:
1981
0
1970
1972
WPS-8
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
DECSYSTEM-20
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996 1998
1977
Revenues US $Millions
Vir:
16,000
Fortune 500 Database, www.fortune.com; Innosight analysis
12,000
CAGR 1974-1981
CAGR 1981-1989
CAGR 1989-1997:
37%
20%
3%
8,000
4,000
Apple II introduced:
1977
Compaq buys DEC:
1998
IBM PC introduced:
1981
0
1970
1972
PDP-11/60
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
DECSTATION
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
VAX11/780
1996 1998
1978
Revenues US $Millions
Vir:
16,000
Fortune 500 Database, www.fortune.com; Innosight analysis
12,000
CAGR 1974-1981
CAGR 1981-1989
CAGR 1989-1997:
37%
20%
3%
8,000
4,000
Apple II introduced:
1977
Compaq buys DEC:
1998
IBM PC introduced:
1981
0
1970
1972
VMS 1.0
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
VT-100
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996 1998
1979
Revenues US $Millions
Vir:
16,000
Fortune 500 Database, www.fortune.com; Innosight analysis
12,000
CAGR 1974-1981
CAGR 1981-1989
CAGR 1989-1997:
37%
20%
3%
8,000
4,000
Apple II introduced:
1977
Compaq buys DEC:
1998
IBM PC introduced:
1981
0
1970
1972
LSI 11
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
PDP-11/23
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
PDP-11/44
1996 1998
1980
Revenues US $Millions
Vir:
16,000
Fortune 500 Database, www.fortune.com; Innosight analysis
12,000
CAGR 1974-1981
CAGR 1981-1989
CAGR 1989-1997:
37%
20%
3%
8,000
4,000
Apple II introduced:
1977
Compaq buys DEC:
1998
IBM PC introduced:
1981
0
1970
1972
DECnet
1974
1976
1978
1980
ETHERNET
1982
1984
1986
1988
VAX11-750
1990
1992
1994
1996 1998
1981
Revenues US $Millions
Vir:
16,000
Fortune 500 Database, www.fortune.com; Innosight analysis
12,000
CAGR 1974-1981
CAGR 1981-1989
CAGR 1989-1997:
37%
20%
3%
8,000
4,000
Apple II introduced:
1977
Compaq buys DEC:
1998
IBM PC introduced:
1981
0
1970
1972
PDP 11-24
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
VT125
1984
1986
1988
1990
DECmate
1992
1994
1996 1998
1982
Revenues US $Millions
Vir:
16,000
Fortune 500 Database, www.fortune.com; Innosight analysis
12,000
CAGR 1974-1981
CAGR 1981-1989
CAGR 1989-1997:
37%
20%
3%
8,000
4,000
Apple II introduced:
1977
Compaq buys DEC:
1998
IBM PC introduced:
1981
0
1970
1972
VAX11-730
1974
1976
1978
Prof
300
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
ALL in 1
1992
1994
1996 1998
1983
Revenues US $Millions
Vir:
16,000
Fortune 500 Database, www.fortune.com; Innosight analysis
12,000
CAGR 1974-1981
CAGR 1981-1989
CAGR 1989-1997:
37%
20%
3%
8,000
4,000
Apple II introduced:
1977
Compaq buys DEC:
1998
IBM PC introduced:
1981
0
1970
1972
LSI-11/73
J-11
1974
1976
1978
1980
VAX
cluster
1982
1984
1986
SW
delivery
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996 1998
1984
Revenues US $Millions
Vir:
16,000
Fortune 500 Database, www.fortune.com; Innosight analysis
12,000
CAGR 1974-1981
CAGR 1981-1989
CAGR 1989-1997:
37%
20%
3%
8,000
4,000
Apple II introduced:
1977
Compaq buys DEC:
1998
IBM PC introduced:
1981
0
1970
1972
VAX11/785
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
VAX
8600
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
VAX station
1996 1998
1985
Revenues US $Millions
Vir:
16,000
Fortune 500 Database, www.fortune.com; Innosight analysis
12,000
CAGR 1974-1981
CAGR 1981-1989
CAGR 1989-1997:
37%
20%
3%
8,000
4,000
Apple II introduced:
1977
Compaq buys DEC:
1998
IBM PC introduced:
1981
0
1970
1972
Micro VAXII
1974
1976
1978
1980
VAX
Chip
set
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
PDP 11/83
1994
1996 1998
1986
Revenues US $Millions
Vir:
16,000
Fortune 500 Database, www.fortune.com; Innosight analysis
12,000
CAGR 1974-1981
CAGR 1981-1989
CAGR 1989-1997:
37%
20%
3%
8,000
4,000
Apple II introduced:
1977
Compaq buys DEC:
1998
IBM PC introduced:
1981
0
1970
1972
Firewall
1974
1976
1978
1980
VAX
8800
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
VAXmate
1992
1994
1996 1998
1987
Revenues US $Millions
Vir:
16,000
Fortune 500 Database, www.fortune.com; Innosight analysis
12,000
CAGR 1974-1981
CAGR 1981-1989
CAGR 1989-1997:
37%
20%
3%
8,000
4,000
Apple II introduced:
1977
Compaq buys DEC:
1998
IBM PC introduced:
1981
0
1970
VAX
8974
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
VAX
Station
2000
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
Micro
VAX
3600
1992
1994
1996 1998
1988
Revenues US $Millions
Vir:
16,000
Fortune 500 Database, www.fortune.com; Innosight analysis
12,000
CAGR 1974-1981
CAGR 1981-1989
CAGR 1989-1997:
37%
20%
3%
8,000
4,000
Apple II introduced:
1977
Compaq buys DEC:
1998
IBM PC introduced:
1981
0
1970
VAX
6200
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
VMS5.0
1982
1984
1986
1988
Digital
Storage
System
Interconnect
1990
1992
1994
CVAX
1996 1998
1989
Revenues US $Millions
Vir:
16,000
Fortune 500 Database, www.fortune.com; Innosight analysis
12,000
CAGR 1974-1981
CAGR 1981-1989
CAGR 1989-1997:
37%
20%
3%
8,000
4,000
Apple II introduced:
1977
Compaq buys DEC:
1998
IBM PC introduced:
1981
0
1970
1972
DEC
Station
3100
1974
1976
1978
VAX
6300
1980
1982
1984
Rigel
Chip
set
1986
1988
1990
1992
VAX
9000
1994
1996 1998
1990
Revenues US $Millions
Vir:
16,000
Fortune 500 Database, www.fortune.com; Innosight analysis
12,000
CAGR 1974-1981
CAGR 1981-1989
CAGR 1989-1997:
37%
20%
3%
8,000
4,000
Apple II introduced:
1977
Compaq buys DEC:
1998
IBM PC introduced:
1981
0
1970
VAXft
3000
1972
1974
1976
1978
PDP
11/93
11/94
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
VAX
6500
1992
1994
1996 1998
1991
Revenues US $Millions
Vir:
16,000
Fortune 500 Database, www.fortune.com; Innosight analysis
12,000
CAGR 1974-1981
CAGR 1981-1989
CAGR 1989-1997:
37%
20%
3%
8,000
4,000
Apple II introduced:
1977
Compaq buys DEC:
1998
IBM PC introduced:
1981
0
1970
EZ51
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
VAX
6600
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
Digital
Microsoft
1992
1994
1996 1998
1992
Revenues US $Millions
Vir:
16,000
Fortune 500 Database, www.fortune.com; Innosight analysis
12,000
CAGR 1974-1981
CAGR 1981-1989
CAGR 1989-1997:
37%
20%
3%
8,000
4,000
Apple II introduced:
1977
Compaq buys DEC:
1998
IBM PC introduced:
1981
0
1970
Aplha
1972
1974
1976
1978
VAX
7000
1980
1982
1984
DEC
pclp
1986
1988
1990
1992
Alpha
family
1994
1996 1998
1993
Revenues US $Millions
Vir:
16,000
Fortune 500 Database, www.fortune.com; Innosight analysis
12,000
CAGR 1974-1981
CAGR 1981-1989
CAGR 1989-1997:
37%
20%
3%
8,000
4,000
Apple II introduced:
1977
Compaq buys DEC:
1998
IBM PC introduced:
1981
0
1970
1972
Storage
works
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
Services
www
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
Windows
NT for
Alpha
1994
1996 1998
1994
Revenues US $Millions
Vir:
16,000
Fortune 500 Database, www.fortune.com; Innosight analysis
12,000
CAGR 1974-1981
CAGR 1981-1989
CAGR 1989-1997:
37%
20%
3%
8,000
4,000
Apple II introduced:
1977
Compaq buys DEC:
1998
IBM PC introduced:
1981
0
1970
1972
Digital
2100 ASP
server
1974
1976
1978
Alpha
21164
1980
1982
1984
1986
Celebris
1988
1990
1992
1994
Venturis
1996 1998
1995
Revenues US $Millions
Vir:
16,000
Fortune 500 Database, www.fortune.com; Innosight analysis
12,000
CAGR 1974-1981
CAGR 1981-1989
CAGR 1989-1997:
37%
20%
3%
8,000
4,000
Apple II introduced:
1977
Compaq buys DEC:
1998
IBM PC introduced:
1981
0
1970
Alpha
server
8400
1972
1974
1976
1978
DEC
Switch
900
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
Digital
&
Microsoft
1990
1992
1994
Altavista
1996 1998
1996
Revenues US $Millions
Vir:
16,000
Fortune 500 Database, www.fortune.com; Innosight analysis
12,000
CAGR 1974-1981
CAGR 1981-1989
CAGR 1989-1997:
37%
20%
3%
8,000
4,000
Apple II introduced:
1977
Compaq buys DEC:
1998
IBM PC introduced:
1981
0
1970
1972
Prioris
ZX5133MP
server
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
SA110
StrongARM
1986
1988
1990
1992
Prioris
HX6000
1994
1996 1998
1997
Revenues US $Millions
Vir:
16,000
Fortune 500 Database, www.fortune.com; Innosight analysis
12,000
CAGR 1974-1981
CAGR 1981-1989
CAGR 1989-1997:
37%
20%
3%
8,000
4,000
Apple II introduced:
1977
Compaq buys DEC:
1998
IBM PC introduced:
1981
0
1970
9GB
Disk
drive
1972
1974
1976
1978
Customer
support
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
Milicent
1990
1992
1994
1996 1998
1998
Revenues US $Millions
Vir:
16,000
Fortune 500 Database, www.fortune.com; Innosight analysis
12,000
CAGR 1974-1981
CAGR 1981-1989
CAGR 1989-1997:
37%
20%
3%
8,000
4,000
Apple II introduced:
1977
Compaq buys DEC:
1998
IBM PC introduced:
1981
0
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996 1998