The debate on what per say is a mini...

From: healyzh_at_aracnet.com <(healyzh_at_aracnet.com)>
Date: Fri Dec 15 16:41:28 2000

> On Fri, 15 Dec 2000, Chuck McManis wrote:
> > There are lots of ways to "slice" this question. I have at various time used:
> > if it runs on one 110V wall socket its a micro
> > if it takes 220 and/or three phase its a mini
> > if it takes 440 and its own voltage consditioning system its a
> > mainframe
> > Then there was
> > if the "CPU" is one chip its a micro
> > if the "CPU" is multiple chips/boards its a mini
> > if the "CPU" is multiple cabinets its a mainframe
> > Things that have never worked are speed of memory and speed of computer.
> > You might use I/O capacity versus the compute capacity, perhaps as a
> > MIPS/MEGABYTE ratio. If the value is over 5 its a micro, less than five but
> > over 1 its a mini, and under 1 and its a mainframe.
>
> Another obsolete classic:
> Micro: you can pick it up and carry it
> Mini: you need a handtruck
> Mainframe: you need a forklift and a union moving crew
>
> --
> Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin_at_xenosoft.com

I always have liked the following:

        Micro: can sit on a desk
        Mini: doesn't require special power or cooling/airconditioning
        Main: requires special power and cooling

I see the original poster apparently wants to classify all VAXen as either
Mini's or Main's. Sorry, but I've got VAXen that are a lot smaller than
some of my PC's/Mac's. OTOH, I wouldn't call my VAXstation 4000/VLC a
Micro, I'd call it a Workstation :^)

Now there is a definition that's gotten really grey, the difference between
a Micro, a PC, and a Workstation.

Let's face it, no one is going to come up with an answer that everyone
agrees with.

                        Zane



                        Zane
Received on Fri Dec 15 2000 - 16:41:28 GMT