Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

50 Year Old Computer Still Going

Posted by chrisd on from the not-a-laptop dept.

The Angry Mick writes "Geek.com is running a blurb on a 50 year old CSIRAC computer that is apparently still functional, if lurking in an Australian museum. Sporting a whopping 2K of RAM and screaming along at a blistering 300 khz(!) it proves the adage that they really don't make 'em like they used to . . ." Yes, because if they did, they'd be really, really slow.

12 of 290 comments (clear)

  1. Somebody had to say it... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    "Imagine a Beowolf cluster of these"....there, I said it. I feel much better now.

  2. Has to be said by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    Imagine a Beowolf of these.

  3. sry i know its been over said as is by tokaok · · Score: -1, Redundant

    Could you just picture a beowolf cluster of those things.

  4. IN SOVIET RUSSIA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    50 year old CSIRAC computers runs YOU!

  5. Re:slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    In Soviet Russia, you keep getting screwed up.

    In Communist Russia, the weird errors keep getting you.

    This troll was brought to you by p00p. Fuck y'all! I'll be here all week.. so g'night.

  6. Re:Imagine... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    These jokes are stupid. You sir, are an ass for posting this. You think you are original? So do 100 other idiots every time something like this comes up. And just to clue you in, not only is the original Beowulf cluster joke dead, but the I'm-joking-about-Beowulf-clusters-because-it's-a-d ead-joke joke is also dead you brainless piece of shit.

  7. Re:These Beowulf "jokes" just arn't funny anymore by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    Hmm, IMO the beowulf joke may still be funny, but people should post better ones. The parent was not a lame beowulf joke, it was a lame joke at all.

  8. Re:yes yes yes by nath_o_brien · · Score: -1, Redundant

    Business Plan

    1. Point out the repetitive nature of humour on /.
    2. ???
    3. Profit!

    :)
    --
    - Welcome the coming of the New World Odour
  9. Has to be said by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    Imagine a beowolf cluster of bees.

  10. 50 years old? I think not. by rew · · Score: 1, Redundant

    To be honest, I haven't read the article, but the consensus here is that 50 years ago, technology was not in the state that "2k RAM" was an option. The same goes for 300KHz.

    Both figures would fit into "early sixties", or 40 years ago.

    Roger.

  11. not realy working.. by sjwt · · Score: -1, Redundant

    http://www.abc.net.au/science/slab/csirac/default. htm

    ***
    Sadly, it's not an option to make CSIRAC operational again today. Time has taken a toll on this fragile dinosaur.

    So what exactly would happen if anyone tried to relive the magic by switching it on?

    "A lot of its components would not stand having voltages applied to them again," says Thorne. "I think it would probably catch fire."
    ***

    though it woudl be cool to resrect it..

    --
    You have 5 Moderator Points!
    Which Helpless Linux zealot/MS basher do you want to mod down today?
  12. LIES!!! 1 KHz speed not 300Khz, and dead since '64 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    LIES!!! 1 KHz speed not 300Khz, and dead since '64

    300Khz is impossible with tubes no matter what.

    also here is a quote about its junk status.

    "Sadly, it's not an option to make CSIRAC operational again today. Time has taken a toll on this
    fragile dinosaur.

    So what exactly would happen if anyone tried to relive the magic by switching it on?

    "A lot of its components would not stand having voltages applied to them again," says Thorne. "I think it would probably catch fire.""

    This is a poor article and an erroneous submission it lists only 2 facts and both are lies.