Trivia Question

From: vance_at_neurotica.com <(vance_at_neurotica.com)>
Date: Sun Feb 23 13:12:18 2003

On Sat, 22 Feb 2003, Tony Duell wrote:

> > If you don't want to use mere programmability as the line between a
> > calculator and a computer, then
>
> One 'working definition' that is commonly used for a (digital,
> electronic) computer is that it is user-programmable. That is to say the
> user can write a list of instructions that are then executed
> automatically.
>
> The calculators we're considering have this feature (the HP65, IIRC,
> will remember 100 'program steps' (essentially functions from the
> calculator keyboard) and will then execute them. There are unconditional
> and conditional branches, which means you can have loops). There were
> earlier non-programmable pocket calculators, but I don't class those as
> computers (even though the HP35 had the same CPU architecture as the
> HP65, and ran an intenral firmware program to make it act as a
> calculator -- it wasn't hardwaired logic. But it wasn't _user_
> programmable).

I certainly consider my TI-92+ a computer. I run unix on it.

Peace... Sridhar
Received on Sun Feb 23 2003 - 13:12:18 GMT