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Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 1980's, Volume 2 Reports of the Panels (1983) / Chapter Skim
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III. The Trend Toward Decentralization
Pages 307-308

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From page 307...
... That is, many computer centers are charging the same amount per computation in real dollars today that they charged ten years ago. In addition, university computer centers have been reluctant to support the video image display and hardcopy capability required for astronomical image processing (and, to a lesser extent, for astronomical theory)
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From page 308...
... Therefore, the price-performance data given above must be treated as coarse averages and may be expected to vary from application to application. Of course, university computer centers do not have the top-of-the-line vector machines, and minicomputers all by themselves (without array processors)
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Key Terms

  • university computer
  • vector machine
  • computer center
  • main memory
  • computational capability

  • centralized computer
  • typical university
  • nontechnically oriented
  • powerful commercially
  • computer facilities

  • center staffs
  • million floating
  • traditional computer
  • computer services
  • appear easy

  • capability equal
  • array processors
  • centers suffer
  • provided computer
  • word processors

  • powerful vector
  • provide support
  • nonengineering users
  • oriented users
  • centers expanded

  • array processor
  • support services
  • computer appear
  • engineering users
  • associated peripherals


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