On Tue, 04 Dec 2007 23:13:55 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

My first computer had a paper tape reader and I had to cold start boot
strap it.

The first computer I ever programmed was like that:

Summer of 1967, Control Data 160A, 4K 12 bit words, as big as a large
desk, cost approx $80K, paper tape in, paper tape out, environmental
requirements: 72 degrees F +/- 2 degrees, 50% humidity +/- 10%. We
copied the cold boot tape onto metalic mylar to keep it from wearing
out quite as fast.

Bear in mind that $80K then was like $500K now. Surprisingly enough
we actually got some useful work out of the machine and I launched my
entire adult career with it.