Power in a small package

Dear PropellerHeads: I used to be a computer programmer back in the day. My son says my Android phone, an HTC Incredible, has more power than the IBM 370 I once used. Is it possible that my tiny phone has more power than that huge IBM 370 from B.C. (before children)?

A: Just like a guy to say something that small has so much power ... but wait, maybe the HTC Incredible really is that incredible!

Let's take a look back and see just how the two compare. One thing's for sure, that IBM 370 certainly would not fit in your pocket. While not nearly as large as they once were, current mainframes still occupy about 10-12 square feet of space (http://bit.ly/q3kR3Z).

Mainframe computers have been around for a long time. In 1944, IBM built their first one, called an Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator. It could add two numbers in 1/3 of a second and could process multiplication of two numbers in six seconds. I'll admit that doesn't sound too impressive and certainly not incredible. Your HTC Incredible can do both of those things much quicker.

Before personal computers were used to interface with the mainframe, dumb terminals were used. And no, I'm not talking about the attractive young blond lady who sat at the terminal.

Dumb terminals allowed multiple users at multiple locations to use the mainframe simultaneously. They had no processing power of their own, and the screen had any color you might want so long as it was green. Your Incredible truly has an incredible array of colors available, but supports only one user at a time, unless you count the person to whom you are speaking.

So comparing that IBM 370 you programmed back in the day to your phone is a little like comparing a huge watermelon to a pomegranate seed. They are both fruit, they are both edible, but the watermelon will fill you and the pomegranate seed will leave you wanting.

Your son is correct; your phone will process an instruction slightly quicker than the IBM 370 would have. Wikipedia has a very interesting comparison of computer processing speed per second. Take a look at http://bit.ly/kGkgU more information.

But let's not confuse speed with power. Your phone is very fast and an IBM 370 could not make a phone call. But it was a workhorse of a machine which supported multiple users and multiple applications concurrently. I'd hate to have to program complex business solutions using a cell phone even if it was an incredible one.

For more information on the IBM 370, take a look at IBM's history of mainframe computers at http://bit.ly/akYDSy. If you'd like more information on your Incredible, go to http://bit.ly/ajWioY.

I doubt it will help, but you may want to give your son a tutorial on the meaning of power versus speed. Guys often confuse those. When processing power is what you need, I'd suggest the mainframe. For calling your son, I'd suggest using your Incredible!

When the PropellerHeads at Data Directions aren't busy with their IT projects, they love to answer questions on business or consumer technology. Email them to [email protected] or contact us at Data Directions Inc., 8510 Bell Creek Road, Mechanicsville, VA 23116. Visit our website at www.askthepropellerheads.com.