Posted on 06/23/2004 12:17:13 AM PDT by Swordmaker
Mac Ping - New supercomputer news.
AS always if you want to be included on the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.
If for some strange reason you want off... do the same.
And Apple is touting this as big news....why?
No flaming needed, I have nothing against Apples or their users. It just seems that the only thing that makes this an Apple is its use of the Apple OS.
Obviously no one ever informed you "market share" is THE standard in comparative evaluation for computing platforms.
Get back to us when they find a good virus that will run on a Mac...
... roughly analogous to "high speed" being the only thing that makes a car "fast."
You want they should have Keebler elves built'em?
I'm not sure I'd trust "Yellow Dog Linux."
Uh,
Apple box
Apple Mother Board
Apple Operating System
Apple utlitility software for clusters
Apple Design
I suppose that when the third most powerful computer network in the world, surpassed only by two multi-multi-million dollar purpose-built machines, is built up of your off-the-shelf machines, that is somewhat newsworthy. Or it seems so to me.
It just seems that the only thing that makes this an Apple is its use of the Apple OS.
I just don't know what to make of this statement.
What makes any computer the computer it is?
First, the processor. This one uses the G5 chip made by IBM. So what? It is fast and reliable. Could Apple build their computer around a different processor? Sure, but so what? I don't get your point.
Second, the rest of the hardware. This also helps define what makes a Mac, but generally it is off the shelf stuff from various OEM hard drive, memory, DVD-R drive manufacturers and so on. So what? Again, I don't get your point.
Third, we have the operating system. In this case it is OSX 10.3 probably. You say that this is the only thing that makes it an Apple. That's not entirely true, but it is true that the Mac OS is the crown jewel of the Apple, as it is far and away the most stable, fast, easy and versatile OS out there.
But even if the machine is running Linux or UNIX or some other operating system, it will still be a hard working, beautifully made, reliable Mac.
And I still don't quite get your point.
"First, the processor. This one uses the G5 chip made by IBM. So what? It is fast and reliable. Could Apple build their computer around a different processor? Sure, but so what? I don't get your point."
"And I still don't quite get your point."
You're a MAC user...aren't ya?
Relax, my post was not a slam on MAC's. They are fine computers and do well what they do. My point was simply that is an article extolling the wonders of this fine 'MAC' computer system, and at its heart is an IBM processor. Also, many other computers named in the article look like they are faster, better units.
Hey...I'm not a geek, my computer knowledge is relatively basic. To me they are tools to be used. I don't care how/why they work, just that they do what I want done. I get mine custom built by a local shop out of name brand parts and built to my spec's.
So please, don't get offended by my post.
Please see my post to John Valentine.
Apple was a partner in the original PowerPC collective with IBM and Motorola and was therefore part designer of the architecture. Apple is also a partner in the Hypertransport consortium that designed the bus architecture, and it designed the motherboard. It also designed the 1U rack unit to be easily manageable and manage heat more efficiently so you can stack a full 42 in a rack without worrying about heat problems.
So why should I, a Mac user, be concerned that a Mac supercomputer will eventually become the fastest computer in the world? I make my living fixing problems on PC's - problems that just don't exist on Macs. If Macs should ever achieve more than 10% market share, many PC consultants will lose significant business, while many others will go out of business. I want Apple to continue to be successful, so I can have a stable platform for my own personal use, but that doesn't mean that I want to see my own business put at risk, when many other people start using it, too.
In other words, do as I say, not as I do. Use a PC. I need the work.
This is probably more power than I need for my e-mail and Freeping.
Actually this article does not mention the XGrid software that Apple ships which makes it much easier to parallelize programs, thus allowing you to actually take advantage of the hardware's performance.
add me to your ping list. I've had a few macs since I bought my first 128 Kbyte machine in 1984. (I still keep the mother board on my garage wall.)
I'd buy a Mac, but I'm not gay.
Macs suck.
I cannot stand Mac computers... I've had terrible experiences with iMacs. Give me a windows PC any day.
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