Mainframes and Early Supercomputers

Question 1

What were the names and history of the early super computers (reasons for its development, approximate time, major players involved)?

Answer 1

aweg

Question 2

What were the general appearance and technical specifications of the early super computers?

Answer 2

awegweg

Question 3

What was IBM’s transition from selling calculating devices to computers and how they came to dominate the large computer market (and by how much)?

Answer 3

wegewg

Question 4

What were the Speed rankings of the early super computers?

Answer 4

ego

Question 5

For the NORC what was – What was the motivation behind its development – What was its significance

Answer 5

awegweg

Question 6

For the IBM 701 – What was its purpose/use

– What benefits came from its creation

Answer 6

WEGWEGE

Question 7

For the Stretch what were:

• The motivations behind its development
• What technical improvements were part of the design
• Some of the uses for this machine and its successor machines
• The impact of this machine

Answer 7

segseg

Question 8

For the LARC
– Who was its creator and intended customer/user
– Some of the uses for this machine and its successor machines
– The impact of this machine

Answer 8

geg

Question 9

For the Ferranti Atlas:
– Who was the intended customer/user
– What were some of its peer machines
– The impact of this machine

Answer 9

sgsgeeg

Question 10

IBM System/360
– Motivations for its design
– Benefits and consequences of the design/market approach – How the clone market came into being
– Who were some of the clone makers

Answer 10

awegweag

Question 11

IBM System/370
– The motivations for the new computer line
– Impact of its release

Answer 11

awegf

Question 12

Who were the major computer manufacturers in the 1950s - 1970s

Answer 12

aewgewg

Question 13

Seymour Cray and the Cray computers

– The history behind the formation of this company – Impact on the computer market

Answer 13

alfalfa