Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site persci.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!harvard!talcott!panda!genrad!decvax!tektronix!uw-beaver!tikal!cholula!persci!bill From: bill@persci.UUCP Newsgroups: net.arch,net.micro,net.jokes Subject: Re: Is this serious? (Computer/Logical Inertia) Message-ID: <322@persci.UUCP> Date: Mon, 5-Aug-85 11:40:37 EDT Article-I.D.: persci.322 Posted: Mon Aug 5 11:40:37 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 10-Aug-85 04:41:37 EDT References: <2264@amdcad.UUCP> Reply-To: bill@persci.UUCP (William Swan) Organization: Personal Scientific, Woodinville WA Lines: 48 Keywords: foolishness Xref: linus net.arch:1450 net.micro:10119 net.jokes:11573 >[line eater...] >Following is an excerpt from an old Apple user's group newsletter >[...] > POTENTIAL PROBLEM > by Jerry W. Fewel > > I need to take this opportunity to write a serious article on a >subject that is of grave concern to us all. The computer stores that >sell computers do not normally give their customers this information, >but it is something in which all Apple owners should be aware. This is >a problem that is indicative of all processors. This is the computer >problem of program inertia. >[...] At this speed, over 800,000 instructions are being performed >every second. It only takes about 3 seconds to build up the maximum >amount of inertia. This is called program inertia and you can safely >believe that this is a tremendous amount of stored energy. >[...] This is the main reason that manufactures have removed the >control panels from the home processors. It was found that every time >the halt switch was pressed the small processors would overrun from >between 3 to 5 instructions. This is like running as fast as you can, >and trying to stop in one step (without running into a wall). > Halting any computer is a tremendous strain on the memory chips >(because of the extreme timing changes). and the power supply (because >ofthe excess surge current). >[...] This leaves only the strain on the memory and we all have to >contend with this problem manaully. It is better not to power down the >Apple while running a program because programs reside in memory. It >will be much better to do a "CALL-151" first. This will put you in the >monitor which resides in ROM. The ROMs in the Apple are especially >designed to withstand the strain caused by the program inertia more >than the memories. >[...] For more information on computer inertia, you might want to >contact [name deleted]. He is connected with a local repair >representative in this area and is fully aware of the hardware problem >that can be caused. Sort of reminds me of something I saw in Datamation, I think, about a decade or so back, probably in the April issue: ...(program)... 100 STOP ;Stop program STOP STOP GOTO 100 ;In case still skidding.. Try it out! -- William Swan {ihnp4,decvax,allegra,...}!uw-beaver!tikal!persci!bill