Organization: Computing Center, Mississippi State University
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.words-l
Date:         Sat, 7 Nov 1992 12:29:56 CST
From:         Frank Peters <fwp@CC.MSSTATE.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Fun for all
Comments: To: words-l@uga.cc.uga.edu

In article <9211070739.AA12361@epas.utoronto.ca> "(Agnes Kruchio)"
 <kruchio@EPAS.UTORONTO.CA> says:
:
: Going through some old mail, I came accross this post.
:
: I wonder whether these computers could not have been donated to
: all-too needy third world universities, hospitals and businesses.
: Typical.

We recently retired a Unisys 1100 series mainframe so I think that I can
speak to this.

The first thing to remember about old computers is that they tend to be
BIG computers.  I have no idea how much it would have cost to ship this
thing off to Ouagadougou, UV but it would have to be several thousands
of dollars.  Even a "minicomputer" would be a few thousand.

The second thing to remember about old computers is that they don't run
DOS or VMS or UNIX and somebody has to run the thing when it gets
there.  This thing ran an OS called EXEC-8 (with wondeful mnemonic
commands like @sys$lib$*comus.clod,a).  So you'd either need to find
someone in UV who knows EXEC-8 or find someone who knows EXEC-8 who
would be willing to move to UV or find someone who knows EXEC-8 who was
willing to teach someone from UV and then hope they learned enough to
get the job done.  Either way, you are talking about a significant cost
in people travel (which, pound for pound is a LOT more expensive than
equipment travel).

The third thing to remember about old computers is that they aren't
modern.  You don't get nice graphics displays or network support or
modern programming language support or modern database software or...
well, you get the point.  An third world hospital with a donated
computer still needs a hospital administration system to run on it if
the donation is to be useful.

The fourth thing to remember about old computers is that they are
sensitive.  I sincerely doubt that this thing would have made a
transatlantic voyage in working order but lets assume that it did.  It
needs a constant 70 degrees F working environment with a minimum of
dust and a smooth power supply (we won't even get into how much power
it needs).  Providing these things in a place that can't afford to buy
their own computer seems doubtful.  And you don't want to just shut it
down when the temperature gets high.  It takes 15 minutes to shut down
and a full hour to boot up (and that hour is with some corners cut).

The final thing to remember about old computers is that they are OLD.
One component or another of this thing was down for maintenance work at
least once a week.  Line an old car or an old anything it required
constant (and skilled) attention.  Without it we would have shipped
them a computer so that they could run it for (if they are lucky) a
month or two.

With all of these things considered it would certainly be more cost
effective to buy a modern high end workstation and ship THAT instead,
and still whack the old box with a sledge.
--
Frank Peters  -  UNIX Systems Programmer  -  Mississippi State University
Internet: fwp@CC.MsState.Edu  -  Phone: (601)325-7030  -  FAX: (601)325-8921
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU