-
Climate protests planned in around 400 towns and cities in France this month
More than 31,000 people have signed an open letter calling for stronger government action
-
Why are we seeing so many food recalls in France?
We review whether recall notices are really increasing
-
How to determine if your French property tax bill is correctly calculated
Out of 1,351 client cases they reviewed 87% were paying €260 a year on average too much
First computer for sale
ONE of only five existing Micral N machines – the world’s first microcomputer built in 1972 – is to be sold at auction.
The Micral N has special status among computer history specialists as its creator, François Gernelle, was the first to have integrated a microprocessor. At the time, computers were so large that an entire room was required to house them.
90,000 of the machines, which had no keyboard or screen and weighed eight kilos, were produced by the company Réalisation d’Etudes Electroniques.
“The Micral gave ideas to the Americans,” said Aymeric Rouillac, the auctioneer at Château d’Artigny, Indre-et-Loire.
“In 1975, the IBM 5100 arrived in people’s homes and then 1977 saw the first microcomputer designed by Steve Jobs, the Apple II. The Micral N is at the origin of this new conception of IT.” The auction starting price is €20,000.