Chris's Wiki :: blog/unix/WorkstationMythology Commentshttps://utcc.utoronto.ca/~cks/space/blog/unix/WorkstationMythology?atomcommentsDWiki2010-03-12T05:10:20ZRecent comments in Chris's Wiki :: blog/unix/WorkstationMythology.By Chris Siebenmann on /blog/unix/WorkstationMythologytag:CSpace:blog/unix/WorkstationMythology:778517cfc382263aa8eae47cd142c6559b3e1aa4Chris Siebenmann<div class="wikitext"><p>I entirely agree that workstations were superior to PCs of the time up
through at least the mid 1990s (and I should have been clear about it
in the entry). I just object to the mythology that old workstations
are (were) better than even <em>today</em>'s PC hardware, or that their
hardware designs were marvels that were free of unpleasant warts (unlike
the much-derided PC architecture). Whether <a href="https://utcc.utoronto.ca/~cks/space/blog/unix/PCsAreUnixWorkstations">some people</a> like it or not, the machines of the Unix
workstation era have been surpassed since then.</p>
<p>(In retrospect my use of 'current PC architecture' in this entry was
really unclear. I knew what I meant, but I can't expect other people
to; I should have used 'today's PC architecture' or the like.)</p>
</div>2010-03-12T05:10:20ZFrom 76.113.53.58 on /blog/unix/WorkstationMythologytag:CSpace:blog/unix/WorkstationMythology:c64080a5768f497585a0ad090113c26c12112087From 76.113.53.58<div class="wikitext"><p>The biggest thing about workstations of the 80s was the RAM and address space, which allowed them to run demanding applications, which PCs simply were unable to support, no matter what. And frankly, m68k and RISCs were faster until P6-200 shipped. Graphics were better too. Sun shipped 1152x900 framebuffers when PCs had VGA. I worked on those. I think the righteous indignation about the workstation shit swept under the carpet makes you forget the basics that mattered back then.</p>
<p>BTW, Intel 82586 (with its "dead time") was the only available controller in its time, aside from things DEC made out of medium ICs. Lance etc. came later. So PCs definitely did not have any better networking. Surprisinly, Macs had crap network made from a multidrop serial, long past PCs growing Ethernet. Still, workstations were way ahead in that.</p>
</div>2010-03-11T08:45:21Z