UT's Cray, Was Re: Slashdot etc.

From: Tothwolf <tothwolf_at_concentric.net>
Date: Wed Feb 27 21:51:41 2002

On Tue, 26 Feb 2002, Doc wrote:
> On Tue, 26 Feb 2002, Tothwolf wrote:
> >
> > I've already seen firsthand the mess that the Texas bill that was passed
> > for 'Data Processing Equipment' has caused.
>
> Which reminds me that I talked to one of the Regatta guys at IBM last
> week.
> In a nutshell, UT is keeping their Cray. My understanding of events
> is that they are retiring it from any departmental function, and
> recommissioning it as a "testbed".
> My sense of "between the lines" is that "testbed" could be defined as
> "University-sponsored personal perk" for the guy who's tended it these
> many years.
> I have absolutely no problem with that. :^)

Well, to me it sounds like they are keeping their Cray simply because they
can't auction it off to offset the removal and storage costs. The new
Texas state law on Data Processing Equipment mandates that such equipment
*must* be sent to TDC for 'salvage' (scrapping), and that the state agency
cannot charge TDC for the removal/storage/transport costs. I don't blame
them one bit for keeping their Cray, and they are not the only state
agency keeping their older systems due to that new law.

-Toth
Received on Wed Feb 27 2002 - 21:51:41 GMT