Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
R
2
E
's “you don't need a hammer to crush a fly” advertising brochure,
National Computer Conference in Chicago, 1974. (Source: York
University Computer Museum.)
Micral - the Micral S (“Super”) - built around Intel's new and
more sophisticated processor, the 8080. The software library
included, among other products, the programming language
BAL
(“Business Application Language,” also called “Business-
Oriented
BASIC
Language”) written by Michel Joubert, who
was in charge of the
R
2
E
's software development. The computer
was designed to operate with a variety of peripherals: cathode-
ray tube (
CRT
) displays, printers, cassette recorders, modems,
card and paper tape readers and punches, and magnetic disk
and tape storage devices. The
R
2
E
's Micral S was shown in Chi-
cago with a keyboard and
CRT
display.
Truong argued that the computational needs of customers in
a vast number of areas would be better served, not by wired
logic systems or minicomputers, but by microprocessor-based
systems. He considered
R
2
E
Micrals, and microcomputers in
