I rather than a prototype machine from IBM and acted as project coordinator in charge of the installation and training. The IBM factor. Roddy Osborn, the GE manager who chose Remington Rand's novel computer, took a lot of flak for not buying from trusty IBM, which was the dominant vendor in the tabulating machine market. A five-man maintenance crew was on hand at all times to pull faulty vacuum tubes and make other repairs. The maintenance people may have had the computer more than we had it all week.
Sales hype vs. reality.
Many demonstrations of the new machine were also rigged because the system always seemed to break down at inopportune times, speakers said. Operators learned to keep a good copy of the output tape on top of the printer, ready for use if the live version was headed for failure. Demonstrations would make the computer nervous. Computerworld Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Computerworld Inc. is prohibited.