PDP-12

The PDP-12 (Programmed Data Processor) was created by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) in 1969 and was marketed specifically for science and engineering.[1] It was the third in the LINC family and its main uses were for applications in chemistry, applied psychology, patient monitoring and industrial testing.[2] It is the combination of the LINC computer and the PDP-8 and can run programs for either computer.[3] It features a single central processor with two distinct operating modes, each with its own instruction set that allows it to run both computers' programs.[4] PDP-12 Basic System weighed about 600 pounds (270 kg).[5]

PDP-12
PDP-12
ManufacturerDigital Equipment Corporation
Product familyProgrammed Data Processor
Release date1969 (1969)
Discontinued1972 (1972)
Units sold725
Operating systemOS/8, DIALPS, LAP6W
Memory4k 12-bit words; can be expanded to 32K
PlatformDEC 12-bit
PredecessorPDP-8 and LINC

Because it is the combination of two different computers it is very versatile. It can be a laboratory-oriented machine[6] with several facilities for I/O, auxiliary storage, and control and sensing for external equipment or a general purpose computer with a flexible I/O capability that can support multiple peripheral devices.[4] The basic package came with dual LINCtape drives, a scope display and I/O ports for interfacing with external laboratory equipment and peripherals.[7] In addition to a display-based OS other software packages were included for data acquisition and display, Fourier analysis and mass spectrometry.[2]

Operating systems

Although an OS/8 variant named OS/12 was the predominant PDP-12 operating system,[8] there were two prior ones:

  • LAP6-DIAL (Display Interactive Assembly Language)
  • DIAL-MS (Mass Storage; this is an 8K version of LAP6-DIAL)

Production and training

Less than a year after its introduction the PDP-12 already had over 400 orders placed[2] and in total 725 units were manufactured before being discontinued in 1972.[7]

Since it was used as laboratory equipment DEC offered a two-week "hands-on" programming course with the purchase of the computer. Classes were held at the main plant in Maynard, Massachusetts or in Palo Alto, California in the US, and also available in Reading in the United Kingdom, Cologne in Germany or Paris, France.[9]

References
  1. "Exhibits - Living Computer Museum". www.livingcomputermuseum.org. Archived from the original on 2016-02-05. Retrieved 5 July 2016.see Mini-Computer section and press see more, then press see more again
  2. Digital Equipment Corporation. "Nineteen Fifty-Seven to the Present" (PDF). Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  3. ed, Raúl Rojas (2001). Encyclopedia of computers and computer history. Chicago [u.a.]: Fitzroy Dearborn. ISBN 1579582354.
  4. PDP-12 Users Manual. Maynard, Massachusetts: Digital Equipment Corporation. 1969.
  5. "PDP-12 Maintenance Manual Volume 2 Installation and Maintenance" (PDF). www.bitsavers.org (3rd ed.). 1972. pp. 1-5–1-6, 1-9 (18-19, 22). DEC-12-HR2B-D. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  6. LINC = Laboratory INstrumentation Computer
  7. "The PDP-12". www.cca.org.
  8. "The Digital Equipment Corporation PDP-8 : Frequently Asked Questions".
  9. Digital Equipment Corporation (1972). Software Package and Services (PDF). Maynard, Massachusetts: DEC.

Further reading
  • Clayton, R. (1970). Comparison of the LINC, LINC-8, and PDP-12 computers. Behavior Research Methods & Instrumentation, 2(2), 76.
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