Re: 3 computing events

[Toby Thain via cctalk]

On 2018-01-27 8:16 PM, Murray McCullough via cctalk wrote:
> Three ‘computing’ events are happening:
> 
> 
> 
> 1)  The i-Pad ...
> 
> 
> 
> 2)  Bitcoin mining – The energy usage is extreme because of GPUs. Was
> 16-bit computer era, employing the 80287, such an energy hog?

It's extreme because proof-of-work is required, and so the more machines
you have doing the work (= the more energy expended), the quicker you
can mint fantasy money. (Using GPUs actually does much _more_ work per
Watt than other means, so they can't be blamed for this waste.)

We usually try to _minimise_ the work in everything else we do with
computers... and designs requiring proof-of-work don't seem sustainable.

> 
> 
> 
> 3)  INTEL doesn’t seem to have been hurt by Meltdown & Specture
> financially- speaking. 

Its CEO sure wasn't, personally.

--Toby



> Had excellent earnings and profits for the last
> quarter but ‘may’ change this quarter. However, INTEL marches on going from
> 4004 to 7980XE. AMD was/in the picture but financially-wise…
> 
> 
> 
> Happy computing all!
> 
> 
> 
> Murray  J
> 

3 computing events

[Murray McCullough via cctalk]

Three ‘computing’ events are happening:



1)  The i-Pad was introduced by S. Jobs 8 yrs. ago and defined a ‘new’
computing paradigm for the masses. The reason I mention this event is
because a young friend(20 yrs. old) said “That’s ancient computing!” What
is one to make of classic-computing then?



2)  Bitcoin mining – The energy usage is extreme because of GPUs. Was
16-bit computer era, employing the 80287, such an energy hog?



3)  INTEL doesn’t seem to have been hurt by Meltdown & Specture
financially- speaking. Had excellent earnings and profits for the last
quarter but ‘may’ change this quarter. However, INTEL marches on going from
4004 to 7980XE. AMD was/in the picture but financially-wise…



Happy computing all!



Murray  J