The Sigma Era:
Sigmas and SDS/XDS
Various pictures related to Sigmas and SDS/XDS. I remember early versions
of the CPU reference manual had a photo of a system that was allegedly
made of small models, not the real thing. Later versions had a photo that
most people agreed was the real thing. In order to shoot some of their
photos, SDS/XDS would occasionally clear out their expansive lobby and
wheel in a system, since they didn't have any other uncluttered areas
that were photogenic.
A (real) Sigma 7 picture from the reference manual
Control panel (from reference manual)
SDS usually had interesting advertisements. Here are a few from
old issues of CACM.
David H. Owens, who helped write the Fortran compiler and its entertaining
manuals, relates he and other technical people as SDS were outraged by the
"crazy" ad. He wrote a strong letter to the SDS management but
it would appear to have made little difference.
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