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).
![[prev]](../gif/left.gif){kind=small}
![[up]](../gif/up.gif){kind=small}
![[next]](../gif/right.gif){kind=small}