'Once every few years, when a new technology emerges, a section of our industry is placed in a state of transition, and the survival of companies in the affected segment may depend on how quickly they can learn about, and adopt, the new technology.'
So wrote Jim Knott, a director of distributors Rapid Recall, in the December 3rd 1975 edition of Electronics Weekly.
'The introduction of the microcomputer is just one such event', wrote Knott, 'however, since the microprocessor has almost universal application , a much larger section of the electronics industry than usual is involved, in addition to general engineering , data processing and many other allied industries.'
'In about two years time the transition will be over', reckoned Knott, 'and microcomputers, with their associated bits and pieces will be treated as not very exciting components.'
One wonders what the producers of Power PC, Pentium, the Transputer, ARM, Alpha, Cell, SPARC, MIPs et al would make of that 'not very exciting standard components' jibe..
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