 A Tektronix 4014 computer terminal. The support pedestal contained interface electronics. | |
| Manufacturer | Tektronix |
|---|---|
| Type | Computer terminal |
| Release date | 1972 |
| Display | Storage tube |
| Input | Computer keyboard |
| Connectivity | RS-232, current loop, other proprietary protocols |
The Tektronix 4010 series was a family of text-and-graphics computer terminals based on storage-tube technology created by Tektronix. Several members of the family were introduced during the 1970s, the best known being the 11-inch 4010 and 19-inch 4014, along with the less popular 25-inch 4016. They were widely used in the computer-aided design market in the 1970s and early 1980s.
The 4000 series were much less expensive than earlier graphics terminals, such as the IBM 2250, because no additional electronics were needed to maintain the display on the storage-tube screen; images drawn to the screen remained there until deliberately erased. This eliminated the need for computer memory to store the images, which was expensive in the 1970s.
The display series remained popular until the introduction of inexpensive graphics workstations in the 1980s. These new graphics workstations used raster displays and dedicated screen buffers that became more affordable as solid-state memory chips became markedly cheaper.