Grid promises next leap in computing power - third wave in the evolution of the cyberworld

Charlotte Observer ^ | 09/19/03 | ROBERT S. BOYD

[ctlpdad]

so I guess I will hold off on updating my IBM 386 (with super vga monitor!) at home for a while.

[Licensed-To-Carry]

If the Grid is here, can the Matrix be far behind?

[martin_fierro]

Grid computing will "put us into a new realm - a new way of doing science," said Daniel Atkins, chairman of a National Science Foundation committee that's pressing for a drastic enhancement of the nation's "cyberinfrastructure" to help the Grid grow.

Until AOL knocks you offline. <|:/~

[Vinnie_Vidi_Vici]

Now comes the Grid, a third wave in the evolution of the cyberworld that promises to give users access to unprecedented computing power, services and data no matter where they are located.

Just Peachy, with our luck the 4th wave will be "The Matrix"

[Normal4me]

Where is my flying car?

[martin_fierro]

You're hi-tech.

I'm still on this 8088 (512K RAM, 2x 360K floppies) with amber monochrome screen and 1200 baud modem.

<|:)~

[ClearCase_guy]

On the one hand, I like to see advances in the field. On the other hand, most people use their computer for word-processing, reading email, and surfing the web. They don't need the power of a supercomputer.

But maybe games will get even better. Yeah, let's spend billions of dollars so that young men can play wicked kewl computah games!

[martin_fierro]

LOL!

One of the best lines Avery Brooks ever delivered.

[r9etb]

Just an observation -- if hackers can take things down now, just imagine what they can do when they have direct access to all of the computational power of this grid.

[ctlpdad]

As a kid, I used to lug around hand trucks full of the punch cards when he rented cpu time on saturdays & sundays. I was psyched when IBM came out with the 5110, which used the 11" floppy's.

Even better was the 8088's because for his product demo's I could carry 3 small packages instead of the 1 huge all-in-one machine. besides, formatting disks took 1 or 2 minute, compared to the 10-60 minutes on the 5110.

BTW, you sure do run nice graphics, etc. for an 8088, what kind of fuel do you put in it?

[dfwgator]

Hawk suggested five industries where grid computing will have an early impact: Financial services, such as investment risk analysis. Medicine, for cancer research and new drug discovery Energy, for oil exploration Manufacturing, for complex mechanical design. Entertainment, for the creation of artful digital characters.

BS!! Everybody knows where the first impact will be, the improved ability to download porn.

[martin_fierro]

BTW, you sure do run nice graphics, etc. for an 8088, what kind of fuel do you put in it?

Oh, this newfangled MS-DOS 3 is surprisingly robust. <|:)~

[dead]

I have a peddle-power, Gilligan's Island-style generator running my Vic 20, with an Etch-a-Sketch for a monitor.

And I use an actual dead mouse as a mouse.

[martin_fierro]

... and the "Tech Caveman Award" goes to ... DEAD!

[martin_fierro]

Actually, I'll see your Etch-a-Sketch and raise you a Flintstones-style trained monkey with chisel and stone pad.

[dead]

LOL! Those things are really slow.

[Luke Skyfreeper]

Where is my flying car?

Right here:

[Stars N Stripes]

Man, that's really old tech. You need to get an Amiga A500, you can even ad an external HD. And the graphics... man.

[Physicist]

Vaporware. We've been seeing pictures of that same mock-up for 15 years.