Commenters debated whether ENIAC had anything like a BIOS and more generally how early machines booted. retrac pointed out that EDSAC used an "initial orders" switch-set ROM to load a paper-tape loader and mini-assembler, and suggested reasons why machines like the PDP-11 later relied less on toggled bootloaders. jshier and HarHarVeryFunny argued ENIAC was originally not a stored-program machine but was rebuilt postwar to operate in stored-program style, with disagreement about whether its programs were truly loaded or just more conveniently configured. TheOtherHobbes and NelsonMinar chimed in with concrete hardware examples - DEC UNIBUS boot ROM cards and a CDC 6600 panel disassembly - with NelsonMinar hedging on the accuracy of his automatic disassembly.
Commenters also disagreed about historical credit and the medium of the answer. lacedeconstruct relayed Eckert/Mauchly’s claim that von Neumann appropriated their ideas, while jshier contended those claims were legally and historically unreliable and that von Neumann’s paper earned its name by authorship. Several people expressed surprise or pleasure that Alan Kay was answering on Quora (adamddev1, triyambakam, tombert), while others warned about Quora’s hit-or-miss reliability (wildzzz) and noted practical access issues or bot checks depending on ad blockers and region (octoberfranklin, Apreche, cgio, LargoLasskhyfv).
Summary generated by AI from the linked article. hn.today is not affiliated with Hacker News or Y Combinator.
Scott Bessent, once seen as a credible Treasury Secretary, has damaged his reputation by intervening in markets and making bold claims about influencing interest rates. Rising interest rates, driven by geopolitical tensions and inflation, have led to a market decline, highlighting his failed market strategies. (paulkrugman.substack.com)
The EU Kids Act aims to help children navigate the online world more safely by 2026. It is part of the European Commission's broader efforts to promote digital safety and protect young users. (commission.europa.eu)
Google, Apple, and Amazon hold more meetings with EU officials than any European companies. These meetings involve the European Parliament and European Commission. (ft.com)
AI borrowers are increasingly seeking credit in risky sectors of the US market. Lenders are cautious due to the rising risks associated with AI-driven borrowing activities. (reuters.com)
A rogue Wikipedia editor, Jagged_85, falsely credited Muslims with numerous inventions during the Islamic Golden Age, spreading exaggerated and fraudulent claims. These inaccuracies have been widely propagated, influencing both popular media and scholarly literature. (cremieux.xyz)
California has banned child marriage, requiring individuals to be at least 18 to marry, starting January 1. Governor Gavin Newsom called the law overdue, and advocate Courtney Stodden praised it as a victory. (bbc.com)
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