Taxonomy of DEC consoles: Difference between revisions

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This is a loose classification of the visual design languages of various DEC [[console]] panels.
==PDP-1 style==
==PDP-1 style==


Characteristics: angled sides, a horizontal bend in the lower part.
Characteristics: angled sides, a horizontal bend in the lower part.


* PDP-1
* [[PDP-1]]
* PDP-4
* [[PDP-4]]


==PDP-5 style==
==PDP-5 style==
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Characteristics: flat metal panel, toggle switches, some conical.
Characteristics: flat metal panel, toggle switches, some conical.


* PDP-5
* [[PDP-5]]
* PDP-6
* [[PDP-6]]
* PDP-7
* [[PDP-7]]


==PDP-8 style==
==PDP-8 style==
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Characteristics: flat dark panel, paddle switches.
Characteristics: flat dark panel, paddle switches.


* PDP-8, /E, /S, ...
* [[PDP-8]], [[PDP-8/E|/E]], [[PDP-8/S|/S]], ...
* LINC-8
* [[LINC-8]]
* PDP-9
* [[PDP-9]]
* PDP-11/20, ...
* [[PDP-11/20]], ...


==PDP-10 style==
==PDP-10 style==
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Characteristics: angled case, "washing machine" switches.
Characteristics: angled case, "washing machine" switches.


* PDP-9/L
* [[PDP-9|PDP-9/L]]
* PDP-10
* [[PDP-10]]
* PDP-12
* [[PDP-12]]
* PDP-15
* [[PDP-15]]


==KI10 style==
==KI10 style==


Characteristics: push buttons, the epitome of DEC blinkenlights.
Characteristics: push buttons, the epitome of DEC [[Blinkenlights|blinkenlights]].


* DECsystem-1070
* [[KI10|DECsystem-1070]]


==PDP-11/45 style==
==PDP-11/45 style==
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Characteristics: flat dark panel, not sure what to call these switches.
Characteristics: flat dark panel, not sure what to call these switches.


* PDP-11/45, /40, /70, ...
* [[PDP-11/45]], [[PDP-11/40|/40]], [[PDP-11/70|/70]], ...


==ODT style==
==ODT style==
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Characteristics: an affront to real computers.
Characteristics: an affront to real computers.


* PDP-8/A
* [[PDP-8/A]]
* PDP-11/04, /34, /60, ...
* [[PDP-11/04]], [[PDP-11/34|/34]], [[PDP-11/60|/60]], ...


==Replaced by a mini==
==Replaced by a mini==


* KL10
Characteristics: the console is a [[minicomputer]].
 
* [[KL10|DECsystem-1080]], -109x


==Dishonourable mentions==
==Dishonourable mentions==


* PDP-11/03
Characteristics: there is no console, just very few [[indicator light]]s.
* VAX
 
* DECSYSTEM-2020
* [[PDP-11/03]]
* [[VAX]]
* [[KS10|DECSYSTEM-2020|]]

Revision as of 07:13, 11 August 2023

This is a loose classification of the visual design languages of various DEC console panels.

PDP-1 style

Characteristics: angled sides, a horizontal bend in the lower part.

PDP-5 style

Characteristics: flat metal panel, toggle switches, some conical.

PDP-8 style

Characteristics: flat dark panel, paddle switches.

PDP-10 style

Characteristics: angled case, "washing machine" switches.

KI10 style

Characteristics: push buttons, the epitome of DEC blinkenlights.

PDP-11/45 style

Characteristics: flat dark panel, not sure what to call these switches.

ODT style

Characteristics: an affront to real computers.

Replaced by a mini

Characteristics: the console is a minicomputer.

Dishonourable mentions

Characteristics: there is no console, just very few indicator lights.