Definition of a Computer (was: Totally OT, but frustrated.....

Rumor has it that Tony Duell may have mentioned these words: I always heard it defined (and seemed the most logical/sensible to me) as: "A computer is a device which can perform arithmetic _and_ logical functions without the aid of a human." Several of my earlier computing textbooks put it in this manner, explained why it was so (see below) and it's always worked for me. That said, a 4-function calculator was not a computer (if that's all the underlying hardware could handle[1]), but just about any programmable calculator was, if it had any type of control looping abilities, as that's the "logical function" aspect of the definition. This was further broken down to two types of computers: general purpose computers and special purpose computers. General purpose computers are those that can be reprogrammed for different tasks by the end user; special purpose computers are those that serve only one purpose (or set of purposes) and cannot be changed without major modifications to the device. (Think high-end thermometer computer or databank-type digital watch...) That's the way I see it, but as my father-in-law used to say, "I may just be full of condensed milk." Laterz, Roger "Merch" Merchberger [1] If the hardware itself could perform logical functions, but was programmed in such a way that the "end user device" for lack of a better term could not, then it was still considered a computer, but a "special purpose computer" as mentioned above. -- Roger "Merch" Merchberger -- SysAdmin, Iceberg Computers zmerch at 30below.com Hi! I am a .signature virus. Copy me into your .signature to join in!