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).
