Linked by Joshua Boyles on Mon 9th Jun 2003 16:45 UTC
This entire article is written as a proposal to a coprporation for a new, very unique computing system. Please offer criticism and suggestions to improve the system, and tell me whether you think it could work. What exactly is the "Edge Computing System" And more importantly, why would I want to go to the trouble of developing it? The Edge Computing System is just that, an entire system, not just a new type of computer or new software suite. The Edge is the means by which you can have your personal computer with you at all times.
Permalink for comment
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
Sounds like switching from the von Neumann architecture to the Harvard Architechure. The big problem being what if you want to use some kind of new application that isn't included in the standard Edge Computing disc, suddenly you have to switch right back to the von Neumann architecture for the extra flexability it provides. Your dumping alot of flexability for a minor improvement that doesn't matter most of the time. How often do you actually move between machines, really? At home never. At work very very rarely. Even the sales people going presentations to clients spend more time in the office, on one machine, than in other peoples offices pitching.
Nor can you rely on the OSS movement as your edge computing workstation will be acting much more like a Network Computer style dump terminal, the only real difference is the OS will be booting from a DVD (worse than a dumb terminal as it'll be harder to upgrade and maintain), and your data will be carried with you on the Flash card. Not a hackers (in the classical sence of hacker) machine, so they simply won't use it and you waon't e able to build a big enough comunity to make it take off.