PDP-12
| Industry | Computer hardware |
|---|---|
| Founded | May 16, 1957 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States |
| Products | PDP-12, minicomputers |
The PDP-12 (Programmed Data Processor) is a computer system created by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) in 1969, aimed at scientific and engineering sectors. As the third model in the LINC series, it was engineered mainly for use in fields such as chemistry, applied psychology, patient monitoring, and industrial testing. By integrating characteristics from both the LINC and the PDP-8, it supports software from either platform through a single central processing unit featuring two separate instruction sets and operating modes.
With a weight close to , the PDP-12 serves as a flexible laboratory computer equipped with extensive input/output capabilities, additional storage options, and control interfaces for external devices, while also functioning as a versatile general-purpose system compatible with various peripherals. Its standard setup came with two LINCtape drives, a scope display, and input/output connectors tailored for laboratory instrumentation.
The PDP-12 was supplied with an operating system centered on its display interface, accompanied by software suites designed for data collection, visualization, Fourier analysis, and mass spectrometry, thereby increasing its effectiveness for scientific investigations and industrial applications.
Operating systems
The main operating system utilized by the PDP-12 was OS/12, a variant derived from OS/8. Prior to this, two other systems were used:
- LAP6-DIAL (Display Interactive Assembly Language)
- DIAL-MS (Mass Storage; an 8K adaptation of LAP6-DIAL)
Production and training
Within the first year after release, the PDP-12 secured over 400 orders, culminating in a total production of 725 units before being phased out in 1972. Given its predominant laboratory use, DEC included a comprehensive two-week practical programming course with each unit sold. These instructional programs were conducted at DEC locations in Maynard, Massachusetts; Palo Alto, California; Reading in the United Kingdom; Cologne, Germany; and Paris, France.
See also
Further reading
- Clayton, R. (1970). Comparison of the LINC, LINC-8, and PDP-12 computers. Behavior Research Methods & Instrumentation, 2(2), 76.