incrediBILL - 10:17 pm on Nov 21, 2012 (gmt 0)

I've actually worked with these old tech devices and I find it amazing that people managed to build functional computers with hot glowing tubes (valves) stuffed with lots of wires.

I knew a lady that worked on one of those kinds of computers and she said she spent all day repairing those circuits. What's even harder to fathom is that it was this technology that was used to create the space program.

<shudders>

they are like really small florescent light bulbs

Not really since they're VACUUM TUBES and fluorescent tubes are filled with gas which makes them fluoresce. One is for lighting and the other is for electronic circuitry. Huge difference.

Interesting tidbit that a TV picture tube (CRT) was actually used as an experimental RAM device when they discovered that the video scan could not only set the state of the phosphor on the screen but return it's current status.