Monday, August 30, 2004

Supercomputer Seeks Comeback. Vector supercomputers, the original giant machines for massive computing tasks, have largely been replaced in recent years by cheaper cluster models. But the vector's maker and many researchers want a comeback. By Nancy Gohring. [Wired News] The current argument for Vector based supercomputers is that for certain problems Vectors can be calculated in half the time on Vector processors. So for weather or fire predictions you can forecast in 2 hours instead of four or six hours. I guess that may be a kind of justification, that there may be some life and death situations that could be helped by calculating things in a short time period. But, it's not a strong argument for re-asserting the vector processor as the be all and end all for high end CPU engineering and high end system engineering. We shouldn't feel the need to compete unless we feel some how at a disadvantage versus Japan in the vector market. Some people just don't want to give up their old ways, their old Crays and learn new tricks. 9:34:00 PM    comment []

Sendmail searches for antispam testers. Company takes a first stab at software to authenticate the source of e-mail messages. [CNET News.com] I had no idea of SendMail working towards doing it's own version of Microsoft's own authentication scheme for SMTP. I've always known Sendmail was the mostly widely used mail sender worldwide, and hoped Microsoft didn't take centerstage and try to push its product further into the Internet. SendMail was pragmatic, analyzed what they could do with the least work, and most speed in the implementation. And by being so pragmatic the may have blunted some of Microsoft's pre-mature thunder. 9:28:07 PM    comment []

Analysis: Longhorn's loss may be some users' gain. Users and developers gain more than they lose from Microsoft's decision to add several Longhorn technologies to Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. [Computerworld News] Well the word is out WinFS goodbye, 3D Interface with 3D accelerate graphics goodbye. Now Longhorn is as has been stated all around the Internet, "the next release of Win OS". A bit of a yawn after WinXP SP2. The worst that could happen is to have it be only just the equal to SP2. With any luck they could also try to do an in depth code review and LOWER the total number of lines of code in the OS. Now that would be a strikingly unique and unexpected thing for them to do. Howzabout it Microsoft? Lower the number of lines of code, and watch you guys gain back some control over that bowl of spaghetti you call Win OS. 8:32:24 PM    comment []

Orion delivers first 'personal cluster' workstation. Deskside Linux workhorse [The Register] Sometimes The Reg does a good in depth technology piece. This one seemed a little derivative of the early morning report filed by C|Net, but it has a slightly better historical perspective on the Founders of Orion. And they cover some of the work on Green Supercomputing at LBNL. I agree with the conclusion that these guys are delivering a compelling product at the right time, and hopefully (unlike RLX) they won't founder but gain a foothold and grow and grow. Transmeta could also stand to sell a few more of its Efficieon CPUs. 8:06:54 PM    comment []

Dual Layer Reflux LaCie intros double layer DVD burners. LaCie has announced two new double layer DVD burners Tom's Hardware guide was somewhat equivocal over the value of dual layer DVDs. The arguement is that for the extra capacity it's more than three times slower to burn a Dual Layer disc. The capacity however is not three times larger, maybe 2X is a bit generous but close to the extra capacity you're talking about. At iDVD's lowest quality you would probably get 4 hours of video on one of these Dual Layer discs. That's the only value it would have right now, but I know iDVD doesn't recognize dual layer burners, because MacOS X doesn't support them natively yet. I may be upgrading my own internal DVD burner to a formerly top of the line Pioneer A107 now that Dual Layer burners are quickly holding sway in the technology public sub-conscious. 7:41:23 PM    comment []