Muddiest Point--> It was said in class that within time, in accordance with concepts like Moore’s Law, computer CPUs could be the size of flash drives, making it possible to have computers become even smaller. My question is, why is there such a great desire to make every new technological advance smaller than its predecessor? I understand wanting to make things faster and more reliable, but do we really need computers small enough to fit in the palm of our hands? It makes me think of the SNL sketch in which Will Farrell, working at some high end retail store, pulls out a phone so small that it was barely larger than a tic-tac. Maybe it is because the computer started off being so large, but I really do not understand the desire to make everything as small as possible. (I apologize if this seems more like a rant than a question, haha)
Machtelt Garrels. “Introduction to Linux: A Hands on Guide”
-Bell Labs laboratories created a system in 1969 to deal with the problem enormous computers had due to the fact they all ran on different systems. The New system was called UNIX, which Written in the C programming language instead of in assembly code and able to recycle code.
-UNIX was originally only available in large venues, like university, for the government or for large financial
-Linus Torvalds, of the University of Helsinki, set out to create a form of UNIX for home computers in the early 1990s, called LINUX
-Today, Linux is available for the desktop and workplace market, it also runs on " ‘gadgets’ like PDA's, mobiles, shipload of embedded applications and even on experimental wristwatches”
-Depending on the user, those that were familiar with UNIX find Linux to be a great program due to its similarities to Unix, coming standard with compilers, libraries, development and debugging tools
-For those not familiar with the original UNIX, companies like RedHat, SuSE and Mandriva have worked to add graphics and make the program similar to those of MS Windows or an Apple workstation (thought the screenshot seems to look more bulky, awkward and somewhat primitive compared to the other two in my personal opinion, but of course I am very use to Windows)
-Open Source, type of Linux software, is already accepted by academic and technical people, but to expand into the workplace, must adapt to include options like the internet and continue to be as user friendly as possible
- other projects include SAMBA and Apache HTTP
-The pros of this system include, that it is free, secure and versatile, scalable, and short debugging time
-The cons include, that Linux is not very user friendly and confusing for beginners and has questions of trustworthiness
What is Mac OS X?
-writer believes there are many misconceptions when comparing Linux and Mac OS X
-site is meant as an introduction to users unfamiliar with the program( I noticed a trade make after “not that there’s anything wrong with it,” which reminds me of the Seinfeld episode)
-Writer is relatively new to Apple, as his main operating systems are Linux, Solaris, *BSD, and the Microsoft Windows
-Writer seems to come off somewhat pretentious in introduction
- Steve Jobs, along with five other former Apple employees, created NeXT Computer, Inc, in a desire to make the “perfect” research computer, the first being unveiled on October 12, 1988
-In the Fall of 1990 the first web browser was created for NeXT Computer
- Apple acquired NeXT in February, 1997, for $427 million and called the upcoming NeXT-based system Rhapsody
-Apple came out with Mac OS X in 1999
- The pieces of software that constitute Mac OS X can be grouped into logical layers
- “Open Firmware (IEEE-1275 Standard for Boot Firmware: Core Requirements and Practices) is a non-proprietary, platform (CPU and system) independent boot firmware”
-The writer provides numerous examples while explaining the booting process, including interaction and operation
- The Mac OS X kernel is called XNU, “XNU contains code based on Mach, the legendary architecture that originated as a research project at Carnegie Mellon University in the mid 1980s”
-A lot of commercial software is available for Mac OS X
-Writer has positive feelings towards Mac OS X, as he finds many things lean heavily towards Windows, shows a fondness of Linux, but ultimately one must remember there are a variety of choices to caters to the various ideals people desire for their computer and software
Mac OS X- Wikipedia
-defined as: “a line of computer operating systems developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc, the latest of which is pre-loaded on all currently shipping Macintosh computers”
-successor to Mac OS (1984-1999)
- specialized versions of Mac OS X for use on three of its consumer devices, the Apple TV, the iPhone, and the Ipod touch
- Mac OS X's core is a Unix operating system built on top of the XNU kernel, mentioned in other reading as being created at CMU
-Prominent features (that I find interesting) include: Aqua GUI, “a fluid graphical user interface with water-like elements,” Time Machine, “automatic backup technology that allows users to view and restore previous versions of files and application data,” and Dashboard, “a full-screen group of small applications that can be called up and dismissed in one keystroke.”
-There are numerous versions of the software, each upgrade named after a sleek, fast animal, i.e. Puma, Cheetah, ect.
-Mac OS X is available in 22 different languages
An Update on the Windows Roadmap
-Bill Veghte, Senior Vice President: Online Services & Windows Business Group, email to Microsoft customers regarding the extension of Windows XP support
-Impressively, 1 billion personal computers around the world run Windows
- Continued support for Windows XP will be available, and the product will still be available to purchase to satisfy costume demand (this is an obvious blow to the company that desires to move on to their new product, Windows Vista, which will be championed throughout the rest of this email)
-Security issues are being addressed in terms of Windows Vista
-a focus has been placed on compatibility, and “98 of the top 100 applications for Windows sold at retail in US in the last year in the categories of Finance, Business, System Utilities, Imaging/Graphics, Personal Productivity, and Education, are compatible with Windows Vista”
-Windows Vista is a “very significant step forward” and Microsoft will continue to improve upon the design to ensure the greatest benefits to users
-Future work, Windows 7, working title that I feel has not spunk to it, 3 years after the January 2007 general availability launch date of Windows Vista, ensuring there will be a smooth transition between the two (learning for the issues that arose between XP and Vista)
- Bill Veghte, again, thanks us for our business and “partnership”
1 comment:
I have been observing and questioning the trend towards "small" myself. It seems to be part of a societal phenomena in which we are moving in opposite directions (larger or smaller) depending on the item or use in question.
On one hand, just a few years ago, unreasonably and unnecessarily large SUV's were driven by many, despite gas prices. Sanity started to prevail as prices continued to escalate: now most people are going in the opposite direction with cars, but larger and larger tv's are becoming affordable and commonplace.
Getting back to computers and processors and everything small, I tend to believe that there is some utility involved, but so much of this is aggressive marketing. And to be fair there is marketing in the other direction: wide screen monitors and 20" "media powerhouse" laptops. If anything, it seems as if marketing is growing savvy enough to exploit every niche market possible. I personally don't understand how a fraction of an inch of processor space matters if the computer body still has plenty of empty space, but I'm sure somebody could set me straight on that...
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