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Stone Age


Stone Age: n., adj. 1. In computer folklore, an ill-defined period
   from ENIAC (ca. 1943) to the mid-1950s; the great age of
   electromechanical dinosaurs.  Sometimes used for the entire
   period up to 1960--61 (see Iron Age); however, it is funnier
   and more descriptive to characterize the latter period in terms of
   a `Bronze Age' era of transistor-logic, pre-ferrite-core
   machines with drum or CRT mass storage (as opposed to just mercury
   delay lines and/or relays).  See also Iron Age.  2. More
   generally, a pejorative for any crufty, ancient piece of hardware
   or software technology.  Note that this is used even by people who
   were there for the Stone Age (sense 1).