computer A transistorised version of the
IBM 709 which was
a very popular high end computer in the early 1960s. The 7090
supported many others. It was later upgraded to the
IBM7094, and a scaled down version, the IBM 7040 was also
introduced.
IBM 7090s controlled the Mercury and Gemini space flights, the
Balistic Missile Early Warning System (until well into the
The 7090 was not good at unit record I/O, so in small
large configurations (such as a 7090/94) a 7040/44 would be
directly coupled and dedicated to handling printers and
cardreaders. (See the film Dr Strangelove).
(1999-01-19)