I wouldn't.
Last time I checked on the SETI@home project (is that what they are calling
it?) it didn't seem as fun as GIMPS.
Large Downloads - Apparently you have to download large datasets (several
megs?) to search. The datasets consist of radio signal recordings from
outer space. A 7 digit number to check is much less bandwidth.
Limited User Information - The tester is not given much information about
the results of his search. Apparently the techniques used returned many
false positives. The client informs the server of a possible match. The
data is then examined more closely by a more powerful computer. The tester
is not informed of the possible matches. SETI@home doesn't want every
false-positive to end up in a newspaper article somewhere.
Bad Odds - I've tested over 100 exponents using 13 years of cpu time.
Based on the odds given by Prime95, I've had a 1 in 400 chance of finding a
prime so far. I think the odds of finding ET will be magnitudes greater.
The one thing going for the SETI project is that finding ET will much more
important than finding the next prime number. I feel that most people will
think that SETI is "cooler" than GIMPS.
-----Original Message-----
From: Pete <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Mersenne List <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Wednesday, November 18, 1998 7:23 PM
Subject: Mersenne: Extra terrestrial life
>I heard that a group astronomers intend to use a similar technique to GIMPS
>to analyse radio wave data received from outer space to check for
>extra-terrestrial intelligence. Currently only 100 computers are involved
>but they intend to recruit as many as possible (via the internet) if
initial
>tests are successful. Would anyone consider quitting GIMPS to go in search
>of ET ?
>
>Pete
>
