"Computers & Automation" magazine available

[hanc...@bbs.cpcn.com]

As mentioned, bitsavers as added a collection of these magazines
dating from 1961.
http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/pdf/computersAndAutomation/

They make for fascinating reading. Some advertisments tout features
that today seem crude and inadequate. Some articles report on
technology that isn't quite ready today, such as a totally automated
parking garage (though automated parking fee collection is common,
now). Processing speeds, especially for I/O and communications, are
startlingly slow by today's standards.

One article discusses an early S/360 customer slowly converting from
1401 and 407 machines. They had some challenges because the initial
COBOL compiler was only the E level, and inadequate for them. Some of
the transitions back then likely mirror challenges facing those
transitioning from legacy mainframe to client-server.

Many issues are loaded with full page help wanted ads for IT related
jobs. Somewhat different than today's world. Reading the ads gives
some insight into the companies (many of whom no longer exist at all,
others remain in greatly changed form.)

I noticed the editor was Edmund Berkely, one of the early pioneer
users of computing equipment.