[Beowulf] A bit OT - scientific workstations - recommendations

[John Hearns]

On Fri, 2006-03-10 at 14:47 -0500, Douglas Eadline wrote:

> 
> I have heard stories about some of the first vacuum tube computers where a
> a full time technician walked around inside the computer
> and replaced blown out tubes - between every program run. I tend to
> think this has a certain myth aspect to this story, but like all myths it
> probably has some truth to it.
> 
The original digital computer, Colossus, was staffed by Wrens who worked
stripped down to their underwear due to the heat given off by vacuum
tubes.
I can but dream some days, working behind racks of whirring Opterons on
full blast.