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Template:Early computer characteristics

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Defining characteristics of some early digital computers of the 1940s (In the history of computing hardware)
NameFirst operationalNumeral systemComputing mechanismProgrammingTuring complete
Zuse Z3 (Germany)May 1941BinaryElectro-mechanicalProgram-controlled by punched film stockYes (1998)
Atanasoff–Berry Computer (US)mid-1941BinaryElectronicNot programmable—single purposeNo
Colossus (UK)January 1944BinaryElectronicProgram-controlled by patch cables and switchesNo
Harvard Mark I – IBM ASCC (US)1944DecimalElectro-mechanicalProgram-controlled by 24-channel punched paper tape (but no conditional branch)No
ENIAC (US)November 1945DecimalElectronicProgram-controlled by patch cables and switchesYes
Manchester Small-Scale Experimental Machine (UK)June 1948BinaryElectronicStored-program in Williams cathode ray tube memoryYes
Modified ENIAC (US)September 1948DecimalElectronicProgram-controlled by patch cables and switches plus a primitive read-only stored programming mechanism using the Function Tables as program ROMYes
EDSAC (UK)May 1949BinaryElectronicStored-program in mercury delay line memoryYes
Manchester Mark 1 (UK)October 1949BinaryElectronicStored-program in Williams cathode ray tube memory and magnetic drum memoryYes
CSIRAC (Australia)November 1949BinaryElectronicStored-program in mercury delay line memoryYes