The Quest for Stable Technology

[webmouse]

Ever notice that when a DHD and a Stargate are dug out of the rubble, they tend to work without anyone having to dig the grit out of the machinery? Try that with a buried keyboard or one with a coffee spill.

Ever notice that the computers in the SGC only crash when invaded or zapped by an alien force? Don't suppose they're using Windows

 

[PTeppic]

If you want to be REALLY scared - current American battle ships use Win-NT as the O/S for their command and control computers....

As for the gate technology - there are pretty few moving parts, and they are all nice and chunky. And presumably low tolerance, and therefore not very susceptible to buring, direct hit by the odd meteor etc...

 

[webmouse]

Well, with no unscripted computer crashes the SGC is definitely NOT using Microsoft products. Suppose they're a Linux shop?

 

[Jedispara]

P'teppic don't give me nightmares... that is scary...

and yes the SGC would have to be running Linux for it to never fail under normaly circumstances...

 

[Ko'or Oragahn]

If you want to be REALLY scared - current American battle ships use Win-NT as the O/S for their command and control computers....

[goblin voice]
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You scared me !
[/goblin voice]

Seriously, are they mad ?

 

[webmouse]

Originally posted by PTeppic
If you want to be REALLY scared - current American battle ships use Win-NT as the O/S for their command and control computers....

we're doomed

 

[System Lord Gypsy]

THis is one time I can safetly say I'm glad to be a brit. Wonder what the Royal Navy use in their ships?

Gypsy

 

[webmouse]

You may be glad to be a Brit for the moment, but then state you don't know what the Royal Navy uses for an OS. Could be the same or worse than Windows -- well, there isn't much worse, of course, is there?

<BSOD appears>
Windows for Warships has encountered a fatal error. Please abandon ship.

 

[PTeppic]

They probably use custom computing devices, rather than PCs... and therefore may not even have an O/S as we would recognise it...

 

[webmouse]

So if the US and the UK are allies, but their ships are using totally different computer systems, can those ships still send data to one another?

<BSOD appears>
Windows for Warships has encountered unfamiliar configuration.
Deny? Reboot? Destroy?

 

[PTeppic]

The hardware and even O/S make no difference to any communications, using the ships as an example. That would come down to a common protocol, in hardware and software, i.e. voltage levels and bit-patterns/speeds.

There are plenty of Windows, Mac and Linux boxes on the internet, in addition to mainframes, minis, clusters etc. And they can all communicate okay: TCP/IP etc.

 

[webmouse]

Well, that's a comfort at least