Interrupts in Early Computers: PDP-1 vs. TX-2

Exploring how interrupts revolutionized computing efficiency, this chapter delves into the handling of keyboard inputs with and without interrupts, showcasing the significance of interrupt systems in early computers like the PDP-1 and the TX-2 machines. It contrasts the capabilities of the PDP-1 and the TX-2, highlighting the PDP-1's simplicity, data shuffling tricks, and user-friendly design enabled by interrupts. Reflecting on the commercialization of the PDP-1 and its pioneering role in computing history, the chapter underlines its impact on early hackers, text editor development, and time-sharing experiments.