IBM's 360 and Early 370 Systems (History of Computing)

What a terrific book. I was surprised to find this book so readable given the technical nature of some of the material covered.The book is a great mix of technical detail and information about the IBM'ers involved in the creation of these systems.A must for those interested in the history of computing.

This book presents a detailed look at the origins and development of one of the most widely-known processor families. It details (among many other things) progression of magnetic core memory, including a series of technological developments that kept it moving forward with the market's ever-increasing demand for speed and capacity.I got this book for a few specific facts regarding these early mainframes, which I'm happy to say it provided. But, having spent a fair few decades in computing the historical details drew me in as well. I've read only a few chapters so far, but I'm enjoying its engaging and thoroughly-researched style. I'm interested, too, by the comparisons between technical decisions of half-a-century back vs the ones being made today. It's surprising (but probably shouldn't be) how many of those issues still matter today.I'm generally not one to love history for its own sake, and I can't say this perspective will really change my life. The few facts I wanted will help a personal project and I find some of the progressions interesting. Still, I can't think of any decisions I make these days that I'll make differently after reading this. And, if you're not already well-versed in computing, you might not find enough familiar context to offer an entry point.-- wiredweird

It is my fading memory of main frame code that keeps this from s 5 star. The computer was eventually my best effort. Now so many decades later the PC revolution was unable to connect to Classified forms. Video made the limits on copying diminish the value of innovation.

The authors do a great job at explaining how modern computing was born (through IBM mostly) and how System 360 was really the first complete computer line. It's fairly easy to read for the most part (i.e. it's not boring!).I found the coverage of the software side of things to be a bit light, when you consider how much of a problem it was (the hardware was on time/budget, the software wasn't!).Still a great book, very interesting, extremely well documented and well written.

A must read and reference book for historians of commercial computing, full of facts and detailed information not available anywhere else.

As the 1960's began, IBM found themselves with eight incompatible computer product lines, which they were each trying to support with software development. They came up with the idea of replacing all of those systems with a new line of five upward compatible computers, which would span the market. This was to stretch from the very cheapest, low power machines, all the way to the top.It was a gargantuan undertaking and it was also a "bet the company" risk. Fortune magazine called the decision "the most crucial and portentous--as well as perhaps the riskiest--business judgment of recent times."The effort to simultaneously design and manufacture five new computer systems and support them with software turned into the biggest struggle the company had ever faced. Before it was over, CEO Tom Watson would lament, "We somehow have an organization that destroys more men than it produces..."But that only indicates the candor, honesty and introspection that this book represents, for in the end, they all came through with flying colors, delivering amazing close to predictions. This was in spite of having pioneered numerous advances like microcoded CPUs, cache memory, time sharing technologies and automated hybrid integrated circuit manufacturing, along the way.This book works well as a follow-on to another by some of the same authors, the spellbinding book, "IBM's Early Computers". While "IBM's 360..." doesn't cover quite as exciting a period as the earlier work, it certainly delivers its share of amazing stories. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Classic book about a revolutionary technology