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The Joker Behind the Signetics 25120 Write-Only Memory Chip Hoax

Posted by Soulskill on from the things-the-USPTO-would-totally-issue-a-patent-for dept.

New submitter st1lett0 writes: Now and in years past, electronic engineers and hobbyists alike have enjoyed the classic 1972 April Fool's joke by Signetics of the Signetics 25120 Write-Only Memory chip. Now it seems that the previously anonymous practical joker has identified himself and stepped forward with new information to correct and complete the story.

5 of 100 comments (clear)

  1. Joke? They're real! by 91degrees · · Score: 5, Funny

    These days used for cheap knock-off memory sticks.

    1. Re:Joke? They're real! by smittyoneeach · · Score: 3, Funny

      Whereas modern legislation is of the Write Once, Read & Think Heaven's Leaving Everyone Short Shrifted (WORTHLESS) variety.

      --
      Get thee glass eyes, and, like a scurvy politician, seem to see things thou dost not.--King Lear
  2. 1N000 by Anne+Thwacks · · Score: 4, Funny
    I used to have a whole box of 1N000 smoke-emitting-diodes.

    They are easily recognised by the colour code "three black bands on a black background".

    They are normally used to supply the "magic smoke" required by electronic systems to operate at full power, but I believe there are other uses.

    I had a data sheet for a Motorola WOM as well - I believe from about the same date.

    --
    Sent from my ASR33 using ASCII
  3. Write-only languages by quenda · · Score: 4, Funny

    Unlike WOM, write-only languages are all too real.
    I can't even read my own PERL scripts if they are more than a week old.

  4. That's not a joke! by putaro · · Score: 5, Funny

    How do you think /dev/null is implemented?