Comparison Of Important Tools, On both sides of the Space race Options

[tty]

I never actually used a key punch, but the first mainframe I worked with (an IBM 7074) used Hollerith cards, and I've written untold thousands of 80-character lines for punching by some other poor devil.

I fully agree with Bruce, I can't understand how anyone can use a calculator without enough mental arithmetic to at least understand what he is doing, and noticing if the result is completely wrong, but maybe the younger generation never punches the wrong key...

tty

[mchan]

I have used slide rules and card punches briefly. Don't miss them at all.

I still use my HP RPN calculator. Some of these fetch very high prices on Ebay. E.g., an HP-42S in mint condition goes for over $300. The original retail price was $120. HP still makes RPN calculators, but they don't have the solid feel of some of the older models.

[Bob Shaw]

It's not just US education that has a problem with numeracy - so too does the UK. I think, though, that there were always many people who were barely numerate, but that they were forced to learn simple skills by both school and their environment. These days calculators are ubiquitous, and when they are not to hand even educated folk crumble...

In the UK we suffer from Value Added Tax at 17.5%, which I generally work out in my head if I need to get a general idea of a real price (many of the goods I purchase are priced ex-VAT). I shudder whenever somebody reaches for a caculator, especially when I've got the cash already in my hand. As for making change...

I may have to move to Yorkshire at this rate. Luxury, that's what it'd be, bloody luxury...

Bob Shaw