Future Computing Trends

From: Allison J Parent <allisonp_at_world.std.com>
Date: Sat Feb 21 17:00:50 1998

<95 run? I mean, could a C64 or VAX have modern computer features?

Well, VAX is a modern computer! It was/is 32bits when intels biggest was
still 8bits. So happens that the version I use happen to be over ten
years old but new ones are still being built.

Now what features would a modern computer have that a 1986 Microvax-II/GPX
doesn't? Windows(is 1280x1024 color enough), multiuser, networking and
maybe even speed. If anything I'm still waiting for the modern X86
powered boxen to aquire some of the attributes of the VAX (they do but
only when running NT or LINUX).

Could a C64 do that... YES and NO. The video graphics included in the C64
is far more limited and the 8bit CPU would certainly impact speed but
every modern feature is doable(and likely was originally done on the likes
of C64s, trs80s, compucolor, ti99/4 Etal). There are people running web
browswers, Email and IP on 6500 based machines. The latter proves that
the answer is yes in that to the performance limits of older machines
there is much that can be done.

<BTW, what do you use the Vaxen and so on for?

Mostly editing files and pretty printing them. It doesn't eat much
more power than a PC so why not. The OS(VMS) allows 36 character file
names (18.18), versions and journaling and deep heirarchal directories.
The versions is nice when editing as foo_file.text;1 when edited becomes
foo_file.text;2 and the ;1 version is still around is needed. Great for
coding.

Allison
Received on Sat Feb 21 1998 - 17:00:50 GMT