Not a history of computing per se, but bios of some pretty interesting players is:
"Out of Their Minds: The Lives and Discoveries of 15 Great Computer Scientists" A really good read.
Here's how I ended up as a SysAdmin:
Graduated with a BA in English, and worked at my alma mater essentially a secretary, but became responsible for all the PCs, anything computer related in that office. Then took a job as a Computer Operator, still at alma mater. Being a computer operator *sucks*, but you get exposed to many different OS-es and tons of hardware. You also get to know all the admins and managers, and if they know you're intelligent and can learn new stuff they can be pretty cool and teach you stuff you wouldn't necessarily need for the operator job. Had a cool boss who let me do things other operators wouldn't normally do, then got promoted by her to an Analyst position - basically prepping all the new hardware that came in, dealing with nitty gritties of backups, swapping failed hardware, working special projects, etc. Unix Admin position became available in another group, and because the admins & managers knew me, knew I was capable and smart and had a clue, they hired me and let me learn as I went. Took about 6 mos. till I felt entirely comfortable in the job, but I got there. Been doing this 3 years now and still dig it. *Many* of the admins here (*nix and otherwise) started as operators - like I said above, its a crappy job, but its a really good way to expose yourself to everything that lives in the machine room and to get to know the people you need to know to get your next position.
My husband and I were recently sent back home from a visit with his folks with several boxes of Lego from his childhood. We spent the next several nights "playing lego" together - what fun, and what memories! I think he's going to get some Lego kits for his next birthday!
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Not a history of computing per se, but bios of some pretty interesting players is: "Out of Their Minds: The Lives and Discoveries of 15 Great Computer Scientists" A really good read.
Just wanted to point out for those who might want to read it that Carl Sagan wrote Contact, not Asimov. Wonderful book.
Here's how I ended up as a SysAdmin:
Graduated with a BA in English, and worked at my alma mater essentially a secretary, but became responsible for all the PCs, anything computer related in that office. Then took a job as a Computer Operator, still at alma mater. Being a computer operator *sucks*, but you get exposed to many different OS-es and tons of hardware. You also get to know all the admins and managers, and if they know you're intelligent and can learn new stuff they can be pretty cool and teach you stuff you wouldn't necessarily need for the operator job. Had a cool boss who let me do things other operators wouldn't normally do, then got promoted by her to an Analyst position - basically prepping all the new hardware that came in, dealing with nitty gritties of backups, swapping failed hardware, working special projects, etc. Unix Admin position became available in another group, and because the admins & managers knew me, knew I was capable and smart and had a clue, they hired me and let me learn as I went. Took about 6 mos. till I felt entirely comfortable in the job, but I got there. Been doing this 3 years now and still dig it. *Many* of the admins here (*nix and otherwise) started as operators - like I said above, its a crappy job, but its a really good way to expose yourself to everything that lives in the machine room and to get to know the people you need to know to get your next position.
You can check the discussion/vote progress here:
http://clerkweb.house.gov/floor/current.htm
Looks like its splitting along party lines, at least as far as I could decipher?
My husband and I were recently sent back home from a visit with his folks with several boxes of Lego from his childhood. We spent the next several nights "playing lego" together - what fun, and what memories! I think he's going to get some Lego kits for his next birthday!