[SunRescue] we're all just spoiled (was: re: IPC)

[BillBradfordmrbill at mrbill.net]

On Mon, Oct 23, 2000 at 04:43:32PM -0400, Dave McGuire wrote:
>   Yeah, really.
>   Except for one or two trendy things (mp3s come to mind), we are
> DOING THE SAME THING with our much faster machines today that we did
> when the IPC was new.  Sure, commercial profitware like Windoze has
> become slower and more bloated, but OUR software really hasn't.
>   Again, playing mp3s notwithstanding...why do we think we need dual
> 450MHz UltraSPARC processors to do the same work as a 25MHz SPARC used
> to do?
>   Thanks again to the wonderful world of PeeCees...we send old
> "friends" to hamfests and dumpsters because something else gets
> advertised that "GOTS MORE MEGA-HURT!"

I'm using a 200Mhz PPro box right now at home that cost me $89 with 32mb
of RAM - I added a 6.4gig HD (~50), Matrox Millenium 4mb PCI video
card ($17), and an old IDE CD-ROm drive I had laying around ($10).
The only other thing I added was another 96mb RAM, which I traded some
other parts for.  So, my total expense on this box was around $175.
Monitor?  I've got a 14" Packard Bell that does 800x600.  Keyboard and
mouse I dug out of my junk drawer.

So, instead of going out and blowing at least $500 on what some people
would call a "decent" home PC box, I spent around $200 on a PPro200
(overclocked to 233 "just because") that does the job just fine, including
Netscape, SSS, and MP3s (the only things I "need" a computer for at home).

I had a P2-500/128mb at my last job on my desk, running NT.  For all
intents and purposes, for the things I do, this box is just as fast!
It gets to a point where you dont NOTICE it anymore when you go from
300mhz to 600+ - who NEEDS their video to redraw that fast, anyway?

(Note:  Gamers, of course - but I didnt build this box to play games..)

Bill

-- 
Bill Bradford
mrbill at mrbill.net
Austin, TX