Chaos Manor and Byte

Posted 23 Feb 2006.

Fond memories of a wonderful era

The other day I was thinking about my early time in computing and for some reason remembered the magazine Byte and Jerry Pournelle. I read Byte in the mid 80's - over twenty years ago! (make sure you live a life worth dying for) - I remember it being quite expensive in Australia so I had do without to get it. When it did arrive each month I would wait until I could go to one of my favourite coffee shops and then with good coffee one side, a German Black Forest cake or Hazelnut Torte on the other, I would sink into my world [Why do German's make such good things - like cars, bikes (BMW) and Black Forest Cake?].

I didn't release it at the time but I was having the time of my life. I lacked the self awareness or understanding about life to know how much I loved what I did - at that stage in my life I was in a job supporting computer networks which had PCs running MS-DOS and CPM - it almost seemed then that I was embarrassed to admit to myself that I loved what I was doing.

Back to the plot - Byte was not Byte without the masterful Jerry Pournelle. Jerry was (and still is as I about to explain) one of the many contributing columnists. He had a life that I envied - he would play with all this new computer gear and tell us about what worked and what didn't, what excited him and what didn't, he had names for all his machines - he wrote science fiction novels - and had time to read.

That sounded pretty much perfect 20 years ago and I guess it still does in a way - I think my expectations on life are much more ambitious now then they were then. Escalating goals and ambition certainly stretches you but it doesn't make you any happier. I could also eat cake in those days and drink coffee without it adding to me in very obvious physical way.

As I remembered all this I realised that since the web started I have never looked for Byte or Jerry on the web. Well, I'll fix that - another browser session started and a few keystrokes later and wow! Byte.com is there! and who has the poll position on the page? - Jerry Pournelle. Even better the article (21 Feb 2006) is titled Building Alexis - he is still naming his machines!

I was deeply pleased, even spiritually touched - wow he is still alive and the magazine still survives. I have a smile from one ear to another. I am amazed that I haven't done this earlier.

I haven't read the article yet - I am quite busy - also I can't just take it to one of favourite coffee shops and sip on it. I want to. No - the real reason is that I am frightened that the article may not measure up to my memories. Like a girl friend from the past - if you could meet her now, would you? Or do you to just have the memories just as they are. I don't know who said "most of what you remember never happened" so maybe I should let it be. No - I will read it - I may even print a hard copy of the article and save for a coffee shop, maybe tomorrow. Actually, I know a place that has some really good Black Forest cake and I think they sell coffee too.

For anyone of my age group that used to read Byte in that era - do you remember: The Gateway computer ads with the raccoons, the thickness of the magazine, the terrific graphics arts that came with the major articles, information on compliers and languages, the sheer joy and excitement of the beginning of the PC (and Macs).

It feels strange remembering all this - good strange. I also feel like thanking both Byte and Jerry for all the work they have done over these many years. Thank you for the excitement and the immense pleasures you have given me over the years. To you all: Thank you!

It is a good life.