[Oberon] Re (2): Re (5?): Names and numbers of releases.

[peter at easthope.ca]

From:	Liam Proven <lproven at gmail.com>
Date:	Thu, 16 Jul 2020 13:56:05 +0200
> Hardware is not a problem any more. 

Of course.  I have Debian workstations providing more performance than 
needed. Also a pair of machines, timestamped ~1996, which still run ETH 
Oberon; useful for reference.

> ... why on Earth try to run PC Oberon on a vintage RISC box? 

The SS2 is not required here for any specific task; see above.  
Nevertheless, interesting. 
* It still runs.  Has not succumbed to capacitor plague as too many  
newer toys have.  And the p.s. has not burned out.  =8~)

* Hypothetically it could easily run any Oberon including A2 natively.  
The only problem being that the software has never been developed.  =8~(

* It demonstrates the possibility of sufficient and reliable 
computation. Contrasting to the endless bombardment with "new and 
improved" systems from the "world leaders" in computing.  =8~|

> I could walk out of the house now and be home in a couple of hours 
> with a gigahertz-class PC and a screen from a junk shop.  

Same here.  Recently passed a shiny and relatively new give away 
beside a driveway.  By my return from the errand about 1.5 hr 
later it was gone.  Someone recognized some value.

A machinist doesn't spend endless hours fixing and revising a milling 
machine. A mechanic doesn't spend endless hours designing and making 
new wrenches. An electrician doesn't spend endless hours modifying and 
improving multi-meters. Similarly, a computer should be an efficient 
and effective tool.  The SS2 is a candidate, for hardware at least.  Ya hafta 
admire it.  =8~)  Just needs some decent software.  ??

Regards,                       ... P.


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Tel: +1 604 670 0140            Bcc: peter at easthope. ca