Eventual fate of our machines

From: Ward Donald Griffiths III <gram_at_cnct.com>
Date: Wed Oct 7 22:34:21 1998

CLASSICCMP_at_trailing-edge.com wrote:
>
> >Has there been any discussion about the eventual fate of our collections
> >after we are gone?
>
> Well, some supersymmetric (SUSY) theories of grand unification predict
> that protons will eventually decay. Current experiments put the mean life
> of the proton at well over 10^40 years, so I'm not too worried myself.

Yeah, Tim, but computers are made of more than single protons (so
far). The half-life of molecules (and the frinstance computer cases
made out of them) is a lot less -- not counting the magnetic charges
in storage media. Most collectors don't _quite_ think about eternity
for the machines, but a few generations might be nice. (I _do_ think
about eternity, since I'm not handicapped by religious assumptions of
mortality -- plus I don't collect "rare" pieces anyhow).
-- 
Ward Griffiths <mailto:gram_at_cnct.com> <http://www.cnct.com/home/gram/>
When I was crossing the border into Canada, they asked me if I had any
firearms with me.  I said "Well, what do you need?"  --  Steven Wright
Received on Wed Oct 07 1998 - 22:34:21 BST

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