27 Jan
2011
27 Jan
'11
2:26 p.m.
On 27 Jan 2011 at 20:30, Tony Duell wrote:
More seriously, from what you say, I think I would
consider it a
computer in some applications but maybe not in all. To give you
another example, is a Z80-based machine a compouter? Well, jasut
behind me is a TRS-80 Model 4 which uses the Z80 as its processor,. I
think most, if not all, of us would call that a computer/ But next to
it is an HP terminal that uses a Z80 as its controller. It is not user
programamble, it can only ever runs the firmware. So I'd probably call
that a terminal, not a computer, at least when I'm using it (when I am
repairing it, of course, I have to know how the Z80 executes code,
what the Z80 opcodes are, etc).
In fact, quite a number of "computers" (particularly
microcontrollers) are used for non-computational (and often non-
programmable) applications. (e.g. a simple timer).
Does that mean that a thing being a "computer" must also be used in
an application that requires it to act as such?
Or is a computer independent of the application and must merely be
"capable" (whatever that means) of being programmed?
--Chuck