On another
list I am on, we were discussing why DOS is still used today
(basic answer, because its working just fine, so why upgrade).
The following questions were posed that I don't know the answer to, but
someone here might.
The questions are meaningless without clarification and/or parameters.
I was trying to leave it vague, specifically because I WANTED to elict
discussions like "Does Voyager count?". I wanted to see what the general
opinions of list members were regarding what they felt was the oldest
computer or computer system still in regular use. If I tried to clarify
it too much, then I risked people not answering because they felt it
didn't qualify (I'll be the judge of what I feel doesn't qualify for
myself, but I wanted all opinons regardless).
1: What is the
oldest computer or comptuer system still in normal
operational use
You havn't even clarified whether you mean individual machine, or design.
Individual machine: stonehenge
design: abacus
Although both are valid, I was really after an electronic computer
(although I don't care if it is digital or analog).
Actually, answers like these are why I left it vague. I hadn't even
thought about either answer, and both are fully valid. They are old
"computing" systems, still operating today. Had I clarified my question
with specific parameters, then you might not have suggested them as
possible answers.
2: What is the
oldest that is connected to the internet
Continuously connected? or just the oldest machine that is now connected?
For example: if today somebody connects a Univac, would that count?
Are you really after which machine is the oldest of those that are
connected? or are you REALLY after whgich machine has been connected
longest?
I'm just curious what the oldest someone has gotten connected to the
internet is. So someone finding a way to connect a Univac, even if it is
just for 10 minutes to see if it can be done would be acceptable to me.
This question had a 2nd part to it that asked what was the oldest that
was hosting a web site (although in rethinking my own question, I would
accept any kind of public accessable internet connected server be it web,
ftp, telnet, or whatever). So this part would imply a longer duration
connection.
BUT, you also bring up an interesting 4th question... what computer has
been connected to the internet the longest (and in addition, which one
has the longest single continious uptime of internet connection and how
long is/was that)
-chris
<http://www.mythtech.net>