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Librarians Fighting to Save Moore's Law Issue

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the reference-section-referee dept.

wambaugh writes "As reported earlier, Intel is offering $10,000 for a copy of the April 19, 1965 issue of Electronics containing Moore's original article predicting 'Moore's Law.' Now it is being reported that academic science libraries are having to make sure no go-getters make off with their copies. At least one copy is already missing from the University of Illinois. Too bad Intel won't settle for a pdf."

13 of 172 comments (clear)

  1. Um... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Why doesn't Intel just buy it off some library for 'permanent loan,' like in a museum?

    Or for that matter, why not just post a copy of it, nobody will know/care that its really the one.

    Eh! FP?

    1. Re:Um... by Kwirl · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I would suppose the answer to be that they are attempting to generate publicity, while also encouraging people to look back at the roots of computing and the amazing growth since that time.

      Many companies spend millions of dollars on PR campaigns, yet here Intel has put up a reward a fraction of that size and has generated more attention than any Intel commercials I can recall seeing offhand.

      This reward is as much publicity stunt as it is a valid reward, but thats how our country works. Props to them on doing it right.

    2. Re:Um... by PopeRatzinger · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Furthermore, most old computer magazine library copies are simply too damaged at this point to be worth anything. I've had a habit of reading through old computing magazines (e.g., all the editions of Creative Computing and Byte from the late '70s) when I get the opportunity, and I've never seen an institutional copy of such magazines still in good condition.

  2. Etics? What's that? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "At least one copy is already missing from the University of Illinois. Too bad Intel won't settle for a pdf."

    Too bad some people have no ethics, or morality.

    Welcome to humanity. Hope you enjoy your stay.

  3. One stolen copy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    how is this news? Intel only wants *one* issue, so at most one copy will be stolen, the library marks erased, and exchanged for $10,000 cash. Any other attempts will be late and fall flat.

    1. Re:One stolen copy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Just because only 1 copy will be bought does not mean only one copy will be stolen. a bunch will probably be stolen as the thieves race to Intel to try to cash in. If the thieves are too late, well, it's no skin off their teeth... I mean... their copy was stolen anyways!

  4. My Theory by mfh · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Intel did this as a marketing ploy -- only. They set aside $10k for one copy of the Electronics mag, knowing all sorts of them would go missing, thus increasing the value of *their* copy, while creating quite a stir. Intel will put it up for auction since the value was increased, or they might keep it around, collecting value.

    The funny thing is... they are getting a lot of press over this, so it's a very successful advertising campaign, and for the LOW PRICE of only $10,000. Compared to some ad campaigns? That's NOTHING!

    --
    The dangers of knowledge trigger emotional distress in human beings.
  5. Re:how about taking off those shaded glasses by mattbot+5000 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    For $10K too bad the Libraries can't settle for pdfs. I'm sure libraries would gladly settle for PDFs if all it cost were $10,000. The academic publishing industry has a stranglehold on libraries like that.

  6. PDF of article by hajmola · · Score: 3, Insightful
    "Too bad Intel won't settle for a pdf"
    RTFA...and scroll.

    "Cramming More Components Onto Integrated Circuits"
    (Acrobat PDF file, 167 KB)
    Author: Gordon E. Moore
    Publication: Electronics, April 19, 1965

    ftp://download.intel.com/research/silicon/moorespa per.pdf

  7. Re:Ebay Copy For Sale by courseB · · Score: 2, Insightful

    dude a magazine is a dead tree, let it fall on the ground and grow another :)

  8. Re:WTF?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    You really don't understand, do you?

    This isn't one paper only being stolen. It is a journal of papers, perhaps many issues of a journal (if they've been bound together). Much of the information surrounding that one paper will NOT be available digitally. But it still has value.

    More importantly, Intel may have encouraged the theft of other seminal papers, as people sense a market for original copies (much the same way that first print run copies of Harry Potter books were stolen from libraries when prices skyrocketed).

    Expect to see many, many libraries losing their only copies of journals containing Watson and Crick's DNA paper, Hawking's first paper on Black Holes, Einstein's papers on brownian motion and relativity, papers on prions, satellites, transistors, etc. etc.

    Intel has done a lot of damage in their disgusting push for cheap advertising.

    To suggest otherwise is to show a lot of ignorance - which is somewhat typical of a /. reader with a UID as high as yours.

  9. Re:Moore's law by anaradad · · Score: 2, Insightful

    When picking it up, the computer told the librarian that it could not be lend out, since it was a rare item. The librarian frowned and aussumed it had to be an error. I got the magazine anyway.

    It's unlikely that was a librarian. It was probably an underpaid library clerk or student worker. Libraries rarely waste money by putting professionals to work checking out books. This is like assuming that the person who handed you a toothbrush as you left the dentist's office was a dentist.
  10. Re:Felony theft. by ebvwfbw · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Would you want to litigate that one? Yes your honor, this man stole a 1965 magazine from the library. The judge would probably stop you there and throw you out of court. The issue the month before and after are probably worth nothing, even on a good day.

    Even if the judge heard the case, you would have to prove that copy is worth more than $5,000. Good luck doing that. It would be a quick way to end your career. If the suspect is a minority, the ACLU might jump in and demonize you as well. Want to be a poster-boy for prosecuting someone over a 40 year old magazine? I bet there would even be jokes at your expense on Leno and Letterman, then the obligatory jokes about tough (stereotypical spinster) librarians. When they say "shhhhh" they MEAN "shhhh!" Better do it!