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Incredible Computers

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  • #1

    Incredible Computers

    It came by UPS today. Its amazing when you think about it.

    I got a lap top today: It is an HP Pavilion with a 2.66GHz P4. 512K ram. 15" Screen. 40 gig hard drive. And most amazing of all... a 54g wireless conection.

    Now I'm not trying to say "look at me" here. Rather I was thinking that so many poly posters are still in school and it just made me think of my first computer. It was an Apple IIe with a green screen and 48K memory...and it was State of the Art!. That was over 20 years ago and it cost $1700. The lap top I'm writing on and about was under $1500.

    Where will we be in 20 more years?
    "I am sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and you disagree with this administration somehow you're not patriotic. We should stand up and say we are Americans and we have a right to debate and disagree with any administration." - Hillary Clinton, 2003
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  • #2
    How about a 3.5 K (yes K!) Commodore Vic 20?
    It was a bit poor for spreadsheets as it could only display 22 colums of text (less in 'multi colour mode')

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    • #3
      Originally posted by reds4ever
      How about a 3.5 K (yes K!) Commodore Vic 20?
      It was a bit poor for spreadsheets as it could only display 22 colums of text (less in 'multi colour mode')
      I actually remember those! Even then they were considered low end though. Wow. What a distance we have come!
      "I am sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and you disagree with this administration somehow you're not patriotic. We should stand up and say we are Americans and we have a right to debate and disagree with any administration." - Hillary Clinton, 2003

      Comment

      • #4
        Originally posted by reds4ever
        How about a 3.5 K (yes K!) Commodore Vic 20?
        It was a bit poor for spreadsheets as it could only display 22 colums of text (less in 'multi colour mode')
        I doubt Plato will want to do a swap with you

        Mind you Plato, it's not that far - I mean, although the machine's are a lot better today, I reckon we still have a lot to learn in terms of writing better software and coming up with programs that solve real problems.

        20 years? I'm not even sure what I'll be using in 2!
        Some cry `Allah O Akbar` in the street. And some carry Allah in their heart.
        "The CIA does nothing, says nothing, allows nothing, unless its own interests are served. They are the biggest assembly of liars and theives this country ever put under one roof and they are an abomination" Deputy COS (Intel) US Army 1981-84

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        • #5
          Originally posted by PLATO1003


          I actually remember those! Even then they were considered low end though. Wow. What a distance we have come!
          yep they were strictly home machines, the 'Pet' was Commodores high end systems.

          we take so much for granted these days, back then it seemed more exciting, working around the hardware restrictions just to get a simple game to run really made you think

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          • #6
            First of all, you have Moore's Law, which states that the number of transistors you can put on the same area of silicon will double every 18 months (was 12 months before amendment). Mind you, this is not a rigorous scientific law, it came from empirical observations. It has been holding so far, but more and more people think that it will breakdown soon.

            Right now, ICs are created by photolithography using shortwave UV, but engineers have been pushing the borders in recent years in attempts to make smaller and smaller elements. I think the latest generation at 90nm is probably the last one, or at best, the second last one.

            If they want to make even smaller elements, they'll need to use x-ray. The only problem is we don't know how to focus x-ray.

            Another problem is heat. In fact modern CPUs are even less energy efficient than lightbulbs.

            They probably will need to go to a better material than silicon - electrons don't move very fast in silicon, but the huge advantage of the material is it will form a very good insulator (SiO2) naturally without any expensive processes.
            (\__/) 07/07/1937 - Never forget
            (='.'=) "Claims demand evidence; extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence." -- Carl Sagan
            (")_(") "Starting the fire from within."

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            • #7
              512K ram?

              you sure about this?

              and btw: my jezebel's better. jezebel's my comp. and she's mine. so she's better.
              B♭3

              Comment

              • #8
                Originally posted by Q Cubed
                512K ram?

                you sure about this?


                512MB. (Showing my age)


                my jezebel's better. jezebel's my comp. and she's mine. so she's better.
                Well, I wasn't trying to say that mine was great or anything...just how far we have come. I would never insult your girl (even if she is named jezebel )
                "I am sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and you disagree with this administration somehow you're not patriotic. We should stand up and say we are Americans and we have a right to debate and disagree with any administration." - Hillary Clinton, 2003

                Comment

                • #9
                  They probably will need to go to a better material than silicon
                  Seems like I heard a couple of years ago about a gadmium-arsenide(sp?) formula being worked on.
                  "I am sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and you disagree with this administration somehow you're not patriotic. We should stand up and say we are Americans and we have a right to debate and disagree with any administration." - Hillary Clinton, 2003

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    My first experience was with PONG.

                    Anyone else play gertrude's secrets???
                    "mono has crazy flow and can rhyme words that shouldn't, like Eminem"
                    Drake Tungsten
                    "get contacts, get a haircut, get better clothes, and lose some weight"
                    Albert Speer

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Cruddy
                      Mind you Plato, it's not that far - I mean, although the machine's are a lot better today, I reckon we still have a lot to learn in terms of writing better software and coming up with programs that solve real problems.
                      In the eventual evolution of computers I would say that you are correct...we haven't come that far. I have always felt that people solved problems, not software. If people can figure that out then we will truly have advanced!
                      "I am sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and you disagree with this administration somehow you're not patriotic. We should stand up and say we are Americans and we have a right to debate and disagree with any administration." - Hillary Clinton, 2003

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Originally posted by PLATO1003
                        Seems like I heard a couple of years ago about a gadmium-arsenide(sp?) formula being worked on.
                        I think you are talking about GaAs. It's a much better material than silicon, and is used to make very high speed components. However, you'll need to deposit an insulating layer every iteration, which makes the processes a lot more expensive and complicated.
                        (\__/) 07/07/1937 - Never forget
                        (='.'=) "Claims demand evidence; extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence." -- Carl Sagan
                        (")_(") "Starting the fire from within."

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Urban Ranger


                          I think you are talking about GaAs. It's a much better material than silicon, and is used to make very high speed components. However, you'll need to deposit an insulating layer every iteration, which makes the processes a lot more expensive and complicated.
                          That makes sense. The article had something to do with super-computers. Cost shouldn't be as much of an issue in that arena.
                          "I am sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and you disagree with this administration somehow you're not patriotic. We should stand up and say we are Americans and we have a right to debate and disagree with any administration." - Hillary Clinton, 2003

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Well, I wasn't trying to say that mine was great or anything...just how far we have come. I would never insult your girl (even if she is named jezebel )


                            well, i have to admit your new girl is faster than mine. mine's still got more ram and hd space.
                            B♭3

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by PLATO1003


                              Seems like I heard a couple of years ago about a gadmium-arsenide(sp?) formula being worked on.
                              Gallium Arsenide. Yup, spot on with the chemical formula Urban.

                              It is actually used in some components - just not in processors.
                              Some cry `Allah O Akbar` in the street. And some carry Allah in their heart.
                              "The CIA does nothing, says nothing, allows nothing, unless its own interests are served. They are the biggest assembly of liars and theives this country ever put under one roof and they are an abomination" Deputy COS (Intel) US Army 1981-84

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