A retrospective on DEC’s PDP line examines how these minicomputers carved out a cheaper, more accessible niche than batch-oriented mainframes. Readers recall programming on PDP-10s and note that the “Programmable Data Processor” name may have helped DEC sidestep procurement rules that treated “computers” as high-scrutiny mainframes. The discussion also highlights preservation work, including browser-based PDP-7 emulators running early UNIX, PIXIE CAD software, games, and newly built Forth systems.