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Simplicity
A mainframe is good for intensive I/O tasks. It CAN handle 10000 concurrent users. Databases that move large amounts of data around do well on a mainframe.

A UNIX server is good for intensive (CPU) processing tasks. If you want to do FFT's all day long (like SETI!), then UNIX is your machine!

If you have a task that goes against the strengths of the platform, it will struggle! This was the historical problem with so-called "client/server" - people would try to fit a mainframe solution onto a UNIX solution - and it wouldn't work so well. This killed client/server, but also created recognition for the UNIX machine's greater computational power.

Of course you have to look at price/performance ratios since IBM mainframes cost a few million apiece - is the greater I/O capabilities offset by the costs? That is something that YOU need to decide for yourself.

Talking about computer hardware and computing advances in the same breath should give you asthma! Just as Bill Clinton kept saying "Its the economy, stupid" - in computing IT'S THE SOFTWARE, STUPID! Configure your hardware as you will, but in the end your ability to get the job done rests with software.
Posted by: Roger Ramjet   Posted on: 09/19/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Simplicity  Roger Ramjet | 09/19/05
Right about software, wrong on I/O  murph_z ZDNet Moderator | 09/19/05
Network computing as a piece of the puzzle.  JonathonDoe | 09/19/05
Looking forward to it  rapson | 09/19/05
I'm with you Carl.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/19/05
There has to be a balance  rapson | 09/19/05
Yes, within limits...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/19/05
Sorry, I dropped the explanation  murph_z ZDNet Moderator | 09/19/05
Remind me again  Chad_z | 09/19/05
Adaptive policy is necessary  IT_User | 09/19/05
desktops and thin clients, really the same to me...  pesky_z | 09/19/05
Right on!  murph_z ZDNet Moderator | 09/19/05
Afraid not...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/19/05
And cost is what brought it back  IT_User | 09/19/05
No, it's a very, vry long ways from being back.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/19/05
Very?  IT_User | 09/19/05
I agree...to a point  Chad Strunk | 09/19/05
You state the very reason users hate the idea.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/19/05
Then they came crying  IT_User | 09/19/05
Although this can change  crocd | 09/19/05
It does  IT_User | 09/19/05
The real solution, invest and educate usrs.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/19/05
Educate users as techs?  IT_User | 09/19/05
You're right, IT departments are troublesome.  Anton Philidor | 09/20/05
its a school....  pesky_z | 09/19/05
Confusing the subject  Chad Strunk | 09/19/05
Nothing has changed  balsover | 09/19/05
And we are expected to believe this lie  zzz1234567890 | 09/19/05
Got to apologize for the title of my previous blog (up 1 node)  zzz1234567890 | 09/20/05
The article author is still in denial . . .  CobraA1 | 09/19/05

What do you think?

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