As in the days of yore ...

gato
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As in the days of yore ... Dec 5, 2023 10:47:20 GMT -5

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Post by gato on Dec 5, 2023 10:47:20 GMT -5

"The computer and artificial intelligence technology giant IBM on Monday unveiled a new quantum computing chip and machine that the company says could serve as the building blocks of much larger and faster systems than traditional silicon-based computers.

Quantum computing, explained to CBS 60 Minutes on Sunday, could allow problems in physics, chemistry, engineering and medicine to be solved in minutes that would take today’s supercomputers millions of years to complete – if at all."

Kinda reminds of the cumbersome, room-sized creaking computers in the days of yore, using vacuum tubes and tree-trunk size bundles of wires, to do what was eventually reduced to a $1.99 handheld calculator.

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Taildragger
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As in the days of yore ... Dec 5, 2023 11:15:09 GMT -5

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Post by Taildragger on Dec 5, 2023 11:15:09 GMT -5

I remember the first computer I ever saw in person. It belonged to the Engineering Department at UC Berkeley where my older brother was doing graduate work. It was a "room filler" all right. Lots of spinning tape reels and punch card decks.

20+ years later, when I bought my own first personal computer (a Mac Plus with a Motorola 68000 CPU) my brother said, "remember that big computer I showed you back in about 1966? That machine you just bought is more powerful." The Mac Plus ran at 8 mHz and had 1 MB of RAM (expandable to a maximum of 4 MB). I remember how liberating it felt when I later replaced that machine with a Mac II ci (68030/25mHz processor, 4 MB of RAM expandable to 128 MB) and a "full-page" monitor. Scrolling around on that dinky Mac Plus, quarter-screen display just to see what was on a single, whole page was so aggravating.

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rickyguitar Brigadier yeah...no Posts: 4,061	As in the days of yore ... Dec 7, 2023 11:41:22 GMT -5 via mobile Home Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by rickyguitar on Dec 7, 2023 11:41:22 GMT -5 Stunning to think my (semi) smart phone is more powerful than the one used to go to the moon.

Post by gato on Dec 5, 2023 10:47:20 GMT -5

Post by Taildragger on Dec 5, 2023 11:15:09 GMT -5

Post by rickyguitar on Dec 7, 2023 11:41:22 GMT -5