Antikythera: 2000 year old computer reconstructed - Page 5

Surfer · 12-21-2008, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klay

A computer is programmable, a calculator not.

Oh, for pete's sake, you are just trolling the geeks now.

A calculator has limited instructions - add, subtract, multiply, divide, m+, m-.......

A computer has limited instructions - add, subtract, rotate, compare, store, read,...........

WTF is the difference? The size?

Klay · 12-21-2008, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surfer

Oh, for pete's sake, you are just trolling the geeks now.

A calculator has limited instructions - add, subtract, multiply, divide, m+, m-.......

A computer has limited instructions - add, subtract, rotate, compare, store, read,...........

WTF is the difference? The size?

Your typical calculator isn't programmable.

Surfer · 12-21-2008, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klay

Your typical calculator isn't programmable.

What do you mean programmable?

Klay · 12-21-2008, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surfer

What do you mean programmable?

The ability to program the machine to carrry out different tasks.

Surfer · 12-21-2008, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klay

The ability to program the machine to carrry out different tasks.

Defining programing by referencing "program" is killing me here. Have you got an intern and a cigar there?

Klay · 12-21-2008, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surfer

Defining programing by referencing "program" is killing me here. Have you got an intern and a cigar there?

Would you have me say 'alter the software' instead?

Surfer · 12-21-2008, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klay

Would you have me say 'alter the software' instead?

WTF is software?

Me looking at a piece of paper with 2 + 3

typing it into a calculator is not "computing"?

typing it into excel is "computing"?

What I am saying - your "software" is very rigid. It is a strict language. Neither calulator or pentium can directly answer the question "how many pints in a keg?"

Klay · 12-21-2008, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surfer

WTF is software?

Me looking at a piece of paper with 2 + 3

typing it into a calculator is not "computing"?

typing it into excel is "computing"?

What I am saying - your "software" is very rigid. It is a strict language. Neither calulator or pentium can directly answer the question "how many pints in a keg?"

So you are in the "everything is a computer" camp? All the tools we use to calculate and compute are just machines, so there's no point in making any finer distinctions?

Software isn't rigid, it's soft. Soft+ware. You can assemble the "words" of a machine language into an infinite number of "sentences." A calculator has only one "sentence."

Surfer · 12-21-2008, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klay

So you are in the "everything is a computer" camp? All the tools we use to calculate and compute are just machines, so there's no point in making any finer distinctions?

Nope, I just believe the finer distinction includes some simpler tools.
Slide rule = computer
calculator = computer

Quote:

Software isn't rigid, it's soft. Soft+ware. You can assemble the "words" of a machine language into an infinite number of "sentences." A calculator has only one "sentence."

we have different ideas of infinite.
You type the input and instructions into a calculator. Who told you to stop typing?

Klay · 12-21-2008, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surfer

Nope, I just believe the finer distinction includes some simpler tools.
Slide rule = computer
calculator = computer

I choose to define a computer the way wiki does. I'm going to call those calculators.

Quote:

we have different ideas of infinite.
You type the input and instructions into a calculator. Who told you to stop typing?

That's an infinite amount of input. The calculator deals with it in a fixed way. A computer can deal with the input in an infinite variety of ways.

Surfer · 12-21-2008, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klay

That's an infinite amount of input. The calculator deals with it in a fixed way. A computer can deal with the input in an infinite variety of ways.

bullshit. Your computer has a limited instruction set. It is only a fancy calculator.

Klay · 12-21-2008, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surfer

bullshit. Your computer has a limited instruction set. It is only a fancy calculator.

Now we've come full circle. No, it can be programmed in an infinite variety of ways. Unlimited.

Surfer · 12-21-2008, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klay

Now we've come full circle. No, it can be programmed in an infinite variety of ways. Unlimited.

Arggggh. Your computer has a limited instruction set. limited.

Your density is infinite. Without bounds.

Your computer is limited. Not infinite.

Inane Cathode · 12-21-2008, 10:29 PM

Would this be a bad time to bring up Turing tests?

Here klay, this is a computer AND a calculator!

http://www.break.com/index/marble-based-calculator.html

Surfer · 12-21-2008, 10:30 PM

I'll compute you to death with a Sanka can. Swear to god, I've got the plastic scoop right here.

12-21-2008, 10:29 PM	#74
Inane Cathode Cheated Anion Joined: Jan 2008 Location: Arvada, CO Oddometer: 4,540	Would this be a bad time to bring up Turing tests? Here klay, this is a computer AND a calculator! http://www.break.com/index/marble-based-calculator.html __________________ _______ Pokey The Wunderbus The VEEP Project

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12-21-2008, 10:30 PM	#75
Surfer Barley Adventurer Joined: Aug 2007 Location: Silicon Valley, CA Oddometer: 943	I'll compute you to death with a Sanka can. Swear to god, I've got the plastic scoop right here.