In article ,
Graham P Davis writes:
"The scientific rationale for the Met Office buying powerful
supercomputers to improve weather forecasts is "clear and
accepted" - Ed Davey.

But Labour MP Graham Stringer said ministers should not rush into
the move as the computers would be a "lot cheaper and better in
a few years time".


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15653374


If that logic had been followed in the past, the Met Office would still
be running an IBM 360 from the late 1960s, or possibly something even
more primitive! Ever since Colossus, computers have always been "a lot
cheaper and better in a few years time".
--
John Hall
"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism
by those who have not got it."
George Bernard Shaw

On 09/11/11 19:15, John Hall wrote:
In ,
Graham P writes:
"The scientific rationale for the Met Office buying powerful
supercomputers to improve weather forecasts is "clear and
accepted" - Ed Davey.

But Labour MP Graham Stringer said ministers should not rush into
the move as the computers would be a "lot cheaper and better in
a few years time".


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15653374


If that logic had been followed in the past, the Met Office would still
be running an IBM 360 from the late 1960s, or possibly something even
more primitive! Ever since Colossus, computers have always been "a lot
cheaper and better in a few years time".

Yes, programmers might still be feeding the KDF9 with programs on 8-hole
paper tape or perhaps popping round to Joe Lyon's to run a model on his
computer - as long as it wasn't running the accounting software. ;-)


--
Graham Davis, Bracknell, Berks. E-mail: change boy to man
LibreOffice: http://www.documentfoundation.org/
openSUSE Linux: http://www.opensuse.org/en/

"Graham P Davis" wrote in message
...
Yes, programmers might still be feeding the KDF9 with programs on 8-hole
paper tape or perhaps popping round to Joe Lyon's to run a model on his
computer - as long as it wasn't running the accounting software. ;-)

Graham, that awakens some distant memories! My late brother worked for Leo
Computers (the computer subsidiary of Joe Lyons). I remember the stories
about repairs to the machine by opening a door in the side and pushing a
trolley in loaded with spare valves! He claimed that his first ZX 81 was
much more powerful.

Phil