"Real Computers" (was Re: Trivia Question)

From: ben franchuk <bfranchuk_at_jetnet.ab.ca>
Date: Sun Feb 23 12:09:00 2003

>>> PC: no, you throw away a subsystem and get a replacement. The
>>> problem here is that any given subsystem (e.g., a video card) is
>>> only on the market for maybe two years; after that you can't get
>>> an identical replacement. Original-spec PDP-8 replacement parts
>>> were available for over 20 years.
>>
>>While not quite the same as 20 years, you *can* still get identical,
>>new, many year old 'replacement' parts for PCs. It's probably easier to
> Can you?
> What about :
{snip}

Also I expect most computers have a life span about 3 years -- look at
your typical cmos battery and More's Law. The big problem is software
and firmware that you have no source for. (99% software)
Ben.
Received on Sun Feb 23 2003 - 12:09:00 GMT