Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!lll-lcc!ames!ucbcad!ucbvax!sdcsvax!sdcc6!sdcc3!ma168a From: ma168a@sdcc3.ucsd.EDU (John Wavrik) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc Subject: Re: Mainframe vs Micro Message-ID: <3690@sdcc3.ucsd.EDU> Date: Sun, 4-Jan-87 22:19:44 EST Article-I.D.: sdcc3.3690 Posted: Sun Jan 4 22:19:44 1987 Date-Received: Mon, 5-Jan-87 04:36:27 EST References: <657@imsvax.UUCP> <1415@cit-vax.Caltech.Edu> Organization: University of California, San Diego Lines: 14 Summary: What are computers used for? Perhaps a better analogy is that the PC is to the mainframe as a yatch is to a battleship. As a UNIX user I can find out what other system users are doing at any time. I have no reason to believe the situation here is atypical: most users are editing files. I agree that a PC and a mainframe are two different types of computers -- but I argue that most of the needs of current users of mainframes could be met my PCs. Our overburdened VAXen provide an inferior environment (and slower response time) than an IBM-AT. I'd like to see tasks which could just as well be performed on a PC farmed out to these machines. I don't see mainframes as a dying breed -- I do see more and more users clogging them. PCs represent a viable alternative to the increased demand on computing services posed by the increase in the user population.