The Geek Forum
Main Forums => Homework Help => Topic started by: Parabola949 on October 25, 2008, 12:08:00 PM
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My instructor posed this question to me, and I'm having a little trouble getting a good answer. Most pages that I find that seem to be related are about 15 pages long full of a lot of side info that I don't need. Perhaps someone can offer some insight, maybe a good site to look at? I don't just want someone to answer it for me, because then how will I learn. I just need a little direction.... Anyways, here is the discussion board question.
Most computers today follow a simple architecture (stored program) that has been around for dozens of years. What is this architecture called? Why? What's another and why is it different?
Now I did find something about a Von Neumann architecture, but nothing that will help me define it. Anyone?
Thanks much
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Are you looking for information on CPU, motherboard, assembly language, OS, what?
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Well before he changed the question on me, it was "Computers use an architecture (input, process, store, output) which is called....?" Or something along those lines. Let me put my instructor this way, here is the discussion board for the first module:
1st PC?
After doing some internet research, discuss what and when was the first "real" personal computer created and who (company, organization, etc.) created it? (Hint: It wasn't the IBM PC!)
Michael ******10/16/08 02:39
Re:1st PC?
Technically there were a few computers between '72 and '74 based on the 8008 microprocessor, however the Altair 8800, using the 8080 processor, was more than likely the first publicly known and popular PC.
Justin ******
10/20/08 06:04
His reply was that this wasn't really a PC, as it had no input except switches and no output except lights.
Re:Re:1st PC?
True, in which case for a PC which had a screen and keyboard, there was the Commodore Pet, developed in 1976.
Justin ******
10/21/08 07:44
His reply to this was that the PET was actually more of a toy, and to find something with usable software and networking abilities.
Re:1st PC?
what do you mean by networking.... able to connect to each other, or internet / arpanet, and i take it you mean after the first IBM? I thought you were meaning before the IBM... please advise
Justin ******
10/21/08 04:27
Re:Re:1st PC?
The first computer I can find with a modem listed as one of it's parts was the Osborne I, from Osborne Computers in 1981
Justin ******
10/21/08 05:18
Re:Re:Re:1st PC?
Have you ever heard of PARC? Look up what Xerox did in the '70's.
Michael ******
10/21/08 07:56
Re:Re:Re:Re:1st PC?
I knew about the Alto and how Xerox invented the GUI. Didn't realize that's what you were looking for. '73 is when it was first made, but there were several times that management rejected ideas to market it.
Justin ******
Basically what I'm getting at is it is hard to figure out what he wants for an answer. However, I cannot stand to have anything less than 100 for a grade lol.
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Compile all those answers you got together into a "history of"; tell/show him what you've found so far, and ask him to please be more specific as to what he wants you to "focus" on. He'll know you're not trying to be lazy about it since you already have many answers. Surely he'll clarify; or he's a really suckass amateurfessor.
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I mean; there's no way WE can know what he wants for an answer.
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Compile all those answers you got together into a "history of"; tell/show him what you've found so far, and ask him to please be more specific as to what he wants you to "focus" on. He'll know you're not trying to be lazy about it since you already have many answers. Surely he'll clarify; or he's a really suckass amateurfessor.
I think somewhere a miscommunication has occured lol. The post before of our "conversation" was just as an example of how he posts his questions. My original post in this thread contains the question I need help with. The Alto was actually the correct answer on that one, although I have no idea why. The Alto wasn't even marketed for years.
I'm really just looking for a helpful link to help me answer that question, but anything provided that might help will be greatly appreciated.
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I'm pretty sure I know what answer you're looking for.
Think processor architecture and how it has evolved since, say, the Intel 8088 up through Pentium, and then to the AMD Athlons of a couple of years ago.
All of those processors have a couple of digits in common, and I think that's what you're looking for.
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Found the answer, turned in, and received grade...
Answer were the Von Neumann and Harvard architectures.. Never would have guessed it... I love wikipedia lol.
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Your teacher was okay with you using Wikipedia as your main source? Your teacher is a schmuck!
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Your teacher is a schmuck!
[citation needed]
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[citation needed]
AHAHAHAHA!
If it's common knowledge then you don't need a citation.
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Just want to say thanks for the effort and time consumed in reading this post by the way. :-P