EDSAC on your desk.

From: Eric Smith <eric_at_brouhaha.com>
Date: Mon Sep 21 20:57:34 1998

Tony Duell wrote:
> Well, I doubt if a DECsystem 10 would be larger than the collection I
> already have. So I would have thought it wouldn't be impossible to run
> one personally.. Ditto for the other machines...

Yes, but as part-owner of a DECsystem 1090, I can assure you that storing
it is only a small portion of the problem. Powering it and cooling it are
very problematic. It wants around 8 KW (3-phase 220V at over 35A). And
guess what it does with all those kilowatts? It does any amazingly good
job at turning them almost entirely into heat. People have joked about
using it to heat my home in the winter, but in actuallity I'd have to keep
the air conditioner running.

Simulation may not be as exciting, but it certainly is more practical.

And besides, a simulated PDP-10 on a Pentium 2 is much faster than a real
PDP-10 :-)

Cheers,
Eric
Received on Mon Sep 21 1998 - 20:57:34 BST