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yann64andClaude Opus 5.5 b274874139 All machines linked to their forum thread (full comment import)
1,289 discussions, 9,527 archived comments; pages no longer carry the comments themselves.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01YDRjtmAiNpo5mK5N3d7QwZ
2026-10-13 17:26:43 +02:00

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---
title: IMLAC PDS-1
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Professional Computer
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1970'
params:
name: PDS-1
image: /media/museum/photos/imlac_pds-1d_2s.jpg
company: /companies/imlac
company_name: IMLAC
specs:
- label: NAME
value: PDS-1
- label: MANUFACTURER
value: Imlac
- label: TYPE
value: Professional Computer
- label: ORIGIN
value: U.S.A.
- label: YEAR
value: '1970'
- label: END OF PRODUCTION
value: Unknown
- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
value: Unknown
- label: KEYBOARD
value: Full-stroke keyboard
- label: CPU
value: Unknown
- label: SPEED
value: Unknown
- label: CO-PROCESSOR
value: Unknown
- label: RAM
value: 4096 16-bit words
- label: VRAM
value: Unknown
- label: ROM
value: Unknown
- label: GRAPHIC MODES
value: vector display
- label: COLORS
value: green and black
- label: SOUND
value: Unknown
- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
value: Unknown
- label: I/O PORTS
value: Unknown
- label: OS
value: Unknown
- label: POWER SUPPLY
value: Unknown
- label: PERIPHERALS
value: Unknown
- label: PRICE
value: Unknown
tabs:
- photos
- software
- links
- docs
forum_thread: 1260
photos:
- title: IMLAC PDS-1D
subtitle: ''
text: Thanks to [www.ubanproductions.com](http://www.ubanproductions.com/imlac.html) for this picture
image: /media/museum/photos/imlac_pds-1d_2.jpg
links:
- title: history-computer.com
url: http://history-computer.com/ModernComputer/Personal/Imlac.html
text: Here's another very good link, includes a link to the actual original manual to the machine
- title: http://www.blinkenlights.com
url: http://www.blinkenlights.com/classiccmp/imlac/
text: Some information there
- title: http://www.ubanproductions.com
url: http://www.ubanproductions.com/imlac.html
text: Detailed information with many pictures
docs:
- title: IMLAC PDS-1 TECHNICAL MANUAL
url: http://history-computer.com/Library/PDS-1_Technical_Manual.pdf
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/pds-1_technical_manual.jpg
text: |-
[**IMLAC PDS-1 TECHNICAL MANUAL**](http://history-computer.com/Library/PDS-1_Technical_Manual.pdf)written by IMLAC
 compiled/archived by history-computer.com\
 type of document : PDF\
 size : 3 Mb\
 source : [history-computer.com](http://history-computer.com)
**... READ THE ONLINE VERSION BY CLICKING BELOW :**
software:
- /software/maze-war
oc_id: 1295
source:
url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230608081642/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1295
date: '2023-06-08'
---
The Imlac PDS-1 is a graphical minicomputer made by Imlac Corporation (founded in 1968) of Needham, Massachusetts. The PDS-1 debuted in 1970 and is considered to be the predecessor of all later graphical minicomputers and modern computer workstations. The PDS-1 had a built-in display list processor and 4096 16-bit words of core RAM. The PDS-1 used a vector display processor for displaying vector graphics as opposed to the raster graphics of modern computer displays. The PDS-1 was often used with another flagship Imlac product, a typesetting program called CES.
The PDS-1 was used in many pioneering computer applications. The FRESS hypertext system had enhanced capability and usability if accessed from a PDS-1 system; the user could make hyperlinks with a light pen and create them simply with a couple of keystrokes. Multi-window editing on FRESS was also possible when using the PDS-1.
The PDS-1 also had the capability to run remote graphical programs such as those that ran on the Stanford AI Lab's main computer. The PDS-1 was also able to run Mazewar, the first online multiplayer computer game. The PDS-1 connected to a host PDP-10 computer (located at MIT) running ITS over Arpanet and the Mazewar program. Up to 8 players running PDS-1 minicomputers or other terminals could access MIT's Mazewar host. The PDS-1 was also important during the early days of Arpanet when network graphics protocols were under consideration.
*Source: [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imlac_PDS-1)*