[OT] Altair

[Joe]

Am 30.08.2016 um 17:52 schrieb D'Arcy J.M. Cain:
> On Tue, 30 Aug 2016 15:56:07 +0200
> Joe <test at joepgen.com> wrote:
>> Am 30.08.2016 um 13:01 schrieb D'Arcy J.M. Cain:
>>> On Mon, 29 Aug 2016 21:21:05 -0700
>>> Larry Hudson via Python-list <python-list at python.org> wrote:
>>>> I remember it well.  It's what I used to initially learn C.  I'm a
>>>> completely self-taught, hobby programmer.  Been around since the
>>>> MITS Altair.  How many remember that beast??
>>>
>>> Remember it and still have it in the basement.
>>>
>> I read a lot about the Altair in Byte in those days, but never had a
>> chance to touch it. Wasn't it horrible expensive?
>
> I can't remember what is was going for but I bought mine used for
> $1,000.  It had a number of add-ons including a keyboard and floppy
> drives.  The power supply was also beefed up.
>
> It also had a replacement bezel.  It seems that the original Altair's
> silk screened front panel was crappy and rubbed off easily.  Some
> company sold one but it says "Cycloid" instead of "Altair" on it.
>

I think the first BASIC Interpreter ever sold by Gates & Friend was for 
this machine? How did you use your floppy drives on this machine 
(Open-Write-Close)?