Computers of the future in the past

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'Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons.' --Popular Mechanics, forecasting the relentless march of science,1949'I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.' --Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943'I have traveled the length and breadth of this country and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing is a fad that won't last out the year.' --The editor in charge of business books for Prentice Hall, 1957'But what ... is it good for?' --Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip.'There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.' --Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977'The concept is interesting and well-formed, but in order to earn better than a 'C,' the idea must be feasible.' --A Yale University management professor in response to Fred Smith's paper proposing reliable overnight delivery service. (Smith went on to found Federal Express Corp.)'If I had thought about it, I wouldn't have done the experiment. The literature was full of examples that said you can't do this.' --Spencer Silver on the work that led to the unique adhesives for 3-M 'Post-It' Notepads.And by far the best of all...'640K ought to be enough for anybody.' -- Bill Gates, 1981




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