Day 20: Retrocomputing Advent Calendar – Sun SPARCstation 10 #retrocomputing #firstcomputer #electronics
🎄💾🗓️ Day 20: Retrocomputing Advent Calendar – Sun SPARCstation 10🎄💾🗓️
The SPARCstation 10, launched in 1992 by Sun Microsystems, was a workstation known for its fast performance and modular design. Based on the SPARC (Scalable Processor Architecture) architecture, specifically the Sun-4m architecture, it supported up to four processors, including SuperSPARC and hyperSPARC CPUs, which offered multiprocessing capabilities. The modular design allowed users to add components like CPUs and memory on separate boards, making upgrades easy or at least easier compared to other systems at the time.
The system’s memory was up to 512 MB, and it had 16 SIMM slots. It supported SBus expansion for peripherals. The SPARCstation 10 also used the GX and ZX framebuffer graphics accelerators, which delivered graphical performance for technical and scientific computing. Its operating system options included SunOS and Solaris, making it good for legacy and contemporary UNIX-based apps.
The SPARCstation 10 was in the “pizza box” form factor, a slim and compact design for tight spaces. Its industrial design introduced a sleek, modern appearance, part of Sun’s efforts to make its workstations visually appealing and powerful.
One of the best logos ever? Sun Microsystems’ logo was designed by Stanford University computer science professor Vaughan Pratt. The logo features an ambigram of shapes that spell out the word “SUN” in all directions.
Sun Microsystems was acquired by Oracle Corporation in 2010. Oracle integrated Sun’s technologies, including the SPARC architecture, Solaris operating system, and Java platform, into its portfolio.
Have first computer memories? Post’em up in the comments, or post yours on socialz’ and tag them #firstcomputer #retrocomputing – See you back here tomorrow!
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Python for Microcontrollers – Adafruit Daily — Python on Microcontrollers Newsletter: Open Hardware is In, New CircuitPython and Pi 5 16GB, and much more! #CircuitPython #Python #micropython @ThePSF @Raspberry_Pi
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