Second this recommendation. Hackers was a great history of early computing. The photos in this post are especially cool as Felsenstein, Captain Crunch, and others are prominent in the book.
I first read Hackers sometime in the 6th grade (1985-ish); reading that book and others, sitting up late at night on weekends typing code and playing games, and other things on my first micro (TRS-80 Color Computer)...well, it was part of what led me here today as a software engineer, I guess.
It was great to read this piece and see faces to fit names. Some I had already seen - but some were new. These guys and their antics were an inspiration for me.
I'm going to try to get in contact with some of these guys, just to say thanks.
Also - if anyone can help, I own an Altair that is missing it's top; sadly, when I contacted the manufacturer about the case, which had been in continuous production, they said that they had stopped manufacturing it a couple years before, and threw away the plans...sigh. If anyone can get me the detailed specs on it so that I can get one custom machined - I would be extremely grateful.
It was great to read this piece and see faces to fit names. Some I had already seen - but some were new. These guys and their antics were an inspiration for me.
I'm going to try to get in contact with some of these guys, just to say thanks.
Also - if anyone can help, I own an Altair that is missing it's top; sadly, when I contacted the manufacturer about the case, which had been in continuous production, they said that they had stopped manufacturing it a couple years before, and threw away the plans...sigh. If anyone can get me the detailed specs on it so that I can get one custom machined - I would be extremely grateful.