Computer stuff you probably never knew, and probably don't care to either!

Release 1.0

1. GW-BASIC stands for Gee Whiz BASIC.  So named because version 1.0
   actually worked on the 8080 processor.

2. The MZ header of .EXE files is the initials of one Mark Zbikowski,
   one of the principle architects of MS-DOS 2.0.

3. Intel didn't start with the 8086 and 8088 chips.  There was also a
   4004, 8008, 8080, and 8085 before those two.  And after the 8086 and
   8088, Intel made a 80186 and a 80188.

4. QDOS, an early operating system, stands for "Quick and Dirty Operating
   System".  This is because it was really small.

5. Apple didn't stop making the Apple computer after the Apple //C's and
   //E's and //GS's.  They also made an Apple 3 and had plans for an Apple
   4, which was possibly made.  However, the introduction of the Macintosh
   put these to rest.  Incedentaly, the C stands for Color, the E stands
   for Enhanced, and the GS stands for Graphics System(?).  The //E was
   released before the //C(?).

6. The language C evolved from a language call B, which evolved from a
   language called BCPL (Basic CPL), which evolved from CPL (Computer
   Programming Language).  Will C evolve into P, or maybe D?  Who knows.

7. Floppy disks come in many sizes.  When the PC was first being developed,
   12 inch disks were considered for a while, but were soon forgotten with
   the developement of the 5 1/4 inch disks.

8. 5 1/4 inch floppys didn't always store 360kb or 1.2Mb of data.  The
   first 3 1/2's held 160kb.  This was then raised to 180kb, then 320kb,
   then 360kb, then 1.2Mb.  3 1/2's only hold 720kb, 1.44Mb, or 2.88Mb.

9. There are many different modem speed rates.  The valid ones are:
   50, 62.5, 75, 110, 134.5, 150, 200, 300, 600, 1200, 1275, 1800, 2000,
   2400, 3600, 4800, 7200, 9600, 12000, 14400, 19200, 28800, 38400, 56000,
   57600, 78600, 115200, and 330400 baud.

10. Lot's of computer illiterates roam the earth. (Take the author of this
    list for example!)  A keyboard company has started to make keyboards
    with a key labeled "ANY".  This key is for the idiots who call tech
    support asking: "It says 'Press any key to continue...' but I can't
    find the 'ANY' key!"  The key does nothing except issue a keypress.

11. Many of the odd and interesting low ASCII characters (0 - 31) date
    back to the old Wang computers which had those exact same arrows and
    smile faces.  ASCII 7 being the beep dates back all the way to the
    beginning of TTY's when Control G was the key combination to ring
    the bell.  Notice G is the 7th letter of the alphabet.  Control Z
    (EOF, End Of File), Control H (ASCII 8, Backspace), and Control M
    (ASCII 13, Carrige Return) also go back that far.  Who knows why
    those were picked for those specific functions....

12. CP/M-86 (Control Program for Microcomputers), a operating system
    first made for the 8080 and then the 8086/8088, has since evolved
    into DR-DOS (Digital Research-DOS) 6.x.

This is only a first release.  I want to add a lot more stuff if I think
of it.  I'm sure even in this tiny thing there is probably a zillion
errors!  If you find any, please tell me so they can be fixed!  Also, if
you have something you'd like to add, tell me and I'll gladly put it in!
You'll also get your name by whatver you submit!

Anything with a (?) next to it means that I am not positive this is true.
Verification, ridicule, or help in correcting any mistakes is greatly
appreciated!

Please distribute this wherever you feel like!

This list is not to be altered in any way without the expressed approval
of Sam Etler, or a certified representative of Etler Enterprizes.

Please EMail all suggestions or comments to Sam Etler on Exec-PC or any
other BBS he is known to be on.

Release 1.0 : 6/20/93

All brand names are trademarked or copyrighted by their respectful
companies.

Copyright (c) 1993, Etler Enterprizes