-----Original
Message-----
From: cctalk-bounces at
classiccmp.org
[mailto:cctalk-bounces at
classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of William Donzelli
Sent: 19 February 2012 20:22
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: NASA unplugs last mainframe
While your point is valid, if you had the
facilities to
keep and run 'NASA's last mainframe' it'd be a
pretty cool
collector's piece down the line, especially if you could get
some kind of paperwork to prove it's heritage. I am such a
sentimental old romantic (at 31) sometimes ;)
I do not think this machine really is all that historic - if any.
NASA's computation is far better suited to run on other architectures,
and has been for a very long time. I think this z9 probably was
hanging on simply because someone could not let go.
I would says its not even a "Mainframe" in the classical sense of the word,
in the same way that a 16-way Intel or Sparc box running Herculesm, or even
a P370 or P390 isn't a "Mainframe" either. What it realy is I don'y
know.