23 Jan
2017
23 Jan
'17
12:25 p.m.
On Jan 23, 2017, at 2:16 PM, Chuck Guzis <cclist at
sydex.com> wrote:
On 01/23/2017 11:00 AM, Steven Maresca wrote:
I suppose it could. I would apply the term to a computer that's the fastest out there
by a fair margin, and uses innovative or distinctive bits of architecture to make it so.
A CDC 6600 clearly qualifies on that basis, as do the Cray 1 and the ILLIAC IV. I've
heard the IBM Stretch mentioned as well, I don't know it enough to comment. It seems
hard to imagine that a decimal machine could overcome the inherent disadvantages of being
decimal so successfully that it can reach supercomputer status, but in theory I suppose it
might be possible.
paul
Just wanted to share an excerpted story just sent
to me by a
colleague, regarding an IBM 7074 supplying data to Java middleware,
ultimately feeding a modern webapp stack:
http://thenewstack.io/happens-use-java-1960-ibm-mainframe/
The 7074 was referred to as a "supercomputer". Can any decimal machine
really bear that title?