>Thanks for this and the other remarks that, "as handwaves go, this isn't>awful."
>
>I think one of the things people don't think about with computers is>cooling. Adding in the air conditioning adds weight and space.
Indeed.
Flashback to 16 days ago...
1. The price, weight, volume, etc. isn't just for a computer. It also includes all the interfaces (whether that is a simple terminal or a complex workstation that has its own computing capabilities built in), all the network wiring, wireless antennas (if applicable), switches and routers, as well as computer itself which wouldn't be a glorified PC in an air conditioned closet, it would include an environmentally controlled server room with a fire suppression system, multiple servers, storage arrays, etc. When you think about it that way, Traveller isn't so far off as you might think, especially if you are talking about a computer network within starship that has been harden against radiation.
:-)
Also, smart phones without a wi-fi or tower connection still have a fair amount of computing power on their own, but the interface is such that they can't really be used for hardcore productivity work (it's tedious enough texting short messages over several minutes, let alone trying to write several printed pages worth of content). Still, not exactly something that you'd want calculating your next jump to another star system. That's a job for a super computer.
>
>I think one of the things people don't think about with computers is>cooling. Adding in the air conditioning adds weight and space.
Indeed.
Flashback to 16 days ago...
1. The price, weight, volume, etc. isn't just for a computer. It also includes all the interfaces (whether that is a simple terminal or a complex workstation that has its own computing capabilities built in), all the network wiring, wireless antennas (if applicable), switches and routers, as well as computer itself which wouldn't be a glorified PC in an air conditioned closet, it would include an environmentally controlled server room with a fire suppression system, multiple servers, storage arrays, etc. When you think about it that way, Traveller isn't so far off as you might think, especially if you are talking about a computer network within starship that has been harden against radiation.
:-)
Also, smart phones without a wi-fi or tower connection still have a fair amount of computing power on their own, but the interface is such that they can't really be used for hardcore productivity work (it's tedious enough texting short messages over several minutes, let alone trying to write several printed pages worth of content). Still, not exactly something that you'd want calculating your next jump to another star system. That's a job for a super computer.