The world's first functional program-controlled Turing-complete computer, the Z3 was made in 1941 by Konrad Zuse
(the program was stored on a punched tape).
The machine - Z3 - was completed in his small workshop in Berlin (Kreuzberg) in 1941
And was the first free programmable computer with a binary floating point and switching system, which really worked.

The z23 is nearly 20 years later, still it is pretty old school.
According to wikipedia, z23 had tech data pretty close to the z22.
I.e. the z22 had a 8192 word drum storage, used punch-cards as bulk memory, had 600 tubes working as flip flops and operated at a 3kHz frequency.
Programming the 1961 z23 must have been a nightmare. Still, it was considered easier going than previous first generations computers.


October 2009

www.simonlaub.net

Pics from visit to the Computer Museum, Mountain View, CA. - Visible Storage display items.