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From: jcz@sas.UUCP (John Carl Zeigler)
Newsgroups: comp.arch
Subject: Re: Applications for consuming processor power
Message-ID: <171@sas.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 6-Jul-87 10:03:38 EDT
Article-I.D.: sas.171
Posted: Mon Jul  6 10:03:38 1987
Date-Received: Tue, 7-Jul-87 05:02:36 EDT
References: <8222@amdahl.amdahl.com> <8866@bu-cs.BU.EDU>
Organization: SAS Institute Inc.,Cary NC,25712
Lines: 28
Summary: Some need MegaMIPS . . .


Here are two pragmatic reasons why high powered processors ( mips * 10eX )
are indeed necessary, and do have a larger niche than weather forcasting:

	1.   Software performance tuning is expensive.   If you can
	     get 'acceptable' performance with a fixed cost processor, then
	     you don't need those expensive performance gurus. 
	     "Who cares if we're only using 75% of the machine?  My nroff
	      is done by the time I hit return !!!!!"

	2.   User interface.   This is an expanded version of the graphics
	     argument.   Many business and other 'volume' applications
	     are becoming more complex internally to provide less complexity
	     and better communications to the user.  If want to present
	     something visually to the user, or audially, or in a tabular
	     form that allows them to make their next move very quickly,
	     (I'm not talking 'bout hunt and peck menus here . . )
	     AND perform the complex sequence of calculations they specified
	     in a decent amount of time,
	     then you need more processing power than is currently available.

As fast machines become smaller and cheaper, these two considerations will
affect a lot of purchase decisions.
-- 
--jcz
John Carl Zeigler
SAS Institute Inc.
Cary, NC  27511           (919) 467-8000        ...!mcnc!rti!sas!jcz