Discussion of large systems

[Tony Duell]

> 
> On Tue, 2006-10-31 at 19:54 -0700, Richard wrote:
> 
> 
> >     Does anyone have enough tape drives that they can do the
> >     multi-drive merge/sort tape algorithms described in Knuth's
> >     Art of Computer Programming?
> 
> 
>     That would be six, I believe.  But, why?  Just to say one did it?
> In today's world, the way to implement the same algorithm would be to
> use disk files; MUCH faster.  With a TERABYTE of screaming fast disk

Am I reading the classic computers list or the modern PCs list?

The reason for implementing said algorithm (assuming I'm reading the 
former) is (a) 'beause it's there' and (b) 'To preserve computer hardware, 
software _and operating practices_ as far as possible' (as the 
constitution for one old computer group I'm a mmeber of says in the 
constitution) [emphasis mine].

-tony