Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site intelca.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!harpo!ihnp4!zehntel!hplabs!intelca!kds From: kds@intelca.UUCP (Ken Shoemaker) Newsgroups: net.micro,net.research,net.cse Subject: Re: should universities explore the cutting edge? Message-ID: <235@intelca.UUCP> Date: Wed, 21-Mar-84 16:27:30 EST Article-I.D.: intelca.235 Posted: Wed Mar 21 16:27:30 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 23-Mar-84 08:40:50 EST References: <3501@utcsrgv.UUCP> <10@sask.UUCP> <143@hercules.UUCP> <2751@brl-vgr.ARPA> Organization: Intel, Santa Clara, Ca. Lines: 30 Hey, this is a really great discussion, make me laugh, "state of the art?" What do you mean? As computer science goes, I would scarcely say that the 68000 or the 16000 is "state of the art." I have heard it said that they are great implementations of architectural thinking that has been around since the 60s. Just because it is in a microprocessor does not make it state of the art in an architectural sense. When I think of state of the art, I think of parallel architectures that solve old problems in new ways, not just higher integration implementations of the same old thing. Of course if you are talking about semiconductor technology....... And another thing.....someone (excuse me, I didn't pay any attention to who) mentioned that he wanted to know whether someone with experience with a VAX was more employable than someone who used a 68000 running Unix or an IBM/PC running Unix. I notice that he didn't include the VAX running Unix (was it just an oversight?) BUT I would think that given these three as options, it could really scarcely make much difference, the real differentiation is how they are used, and what you want to do with your life! If you want to be a site manager of a large site, then perhaps working with the VAX as a system administrator/ operator type might help, but if you want to do things like compiler/ application development, or even real world type work, then really you are using the computer for practice. And the line really should be drawn between lumping the VAX on one side, and the 68000/PC on the other, not putting the VAX with the 68000...not that I'm trying to defend the PC, but lets be real in terms of differences in the systems.....hey, this was fun, can we do it again sometime? -- Ken Shoemaker, Intel, Santa Clara, Ca. {pur-ee,hplabs,ucbvax!amd70,ogcvax!omsvax}!intelca!kds