More meaningful invention

[dukebound85]

IC Engine or transistor

I say the IC engine as without it, nit would be much harder to manufacture on a large scale and transport out

what do you think?

[r.j.s]

Yeah, I'd say the IC engine as well. I think the distances we traveled with the IC really led to the need for the transistor in some really indirect way.

[TheVendor]

Well, these (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2257287005&refurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fs.php%3Fq%3D****%2Bwinter%252C%2Bsupport%2Bglobal%2Bwarming%2 6n%3D-1%26k%3D400000000010%26sf%3Dr%26init%3Dq) guys certainly believe that it's the IC engine. Think of all that it's done for their cause! :rolleyes:

[dukebound85]

Well, these (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2257287005&refurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fs.php%3Fq%3D****%2Bwinter%252C%2Bsupport%2Bglobal%2Bwarming%2 6n%3D-1%26k%3D400000000010%26sf%3Dr%26init%3Dq) guys certainly believe that it's the IC engine. Think of all that it's done for their cause! :rolleyes:

oh man lol

[mcarnes]

Transistor. No contest. Internal combustion engines are waaay over hyped.

[Scepticalscribe]

Yeah, I'd go for the transistor as well. A marvel of miniaturization, compression and portability, whereas one might argue that the internal combustion stalled (design wise) for a long time.

Cheers

[r1ch4rd]

My vote goes for the transistor. Think of all the things it has helped to achieve.. mapping the human genome is one example.

[7on]

The transistor.

The IC Engine, if never invented, would have been replaced with an electrical one.

[DigiCatRedux]

The transistor and the evolution into Jack Kilby's "Monolithic Integrated Circuit" I think was a more meaningful invention than the internal combustion engine.
It's descendants have changed the way we view, communicate, interact and understand the world & universe - not to say the IC engine wasn't a technical achievement in its own right... but as far as progress goes, the IC engine is still used primarily as a means of propulsion for vehicles or as generators.

The Microchip however, has become a vital part of modern life - found everywhere, and its uses still being discovered and designs improved upon.

So my vote is for the Transistor - changing the way we do things since 1947.
:)

[Queso]

Transistor. Without it I'd be out of work :)

[ucfgrad93]

Transistor.

[NC MacGuy]

Another vote for transistor. Anyone remember learning vacuum tube theory?

[foidulus]

Isn't this kind of like arguing which is more delicious, hamburgers or ice cream? I mean, yes they are both foods(and in this case inventions), but one is not really a substitute for the other. We are all blessed(and/or cursed depending on your view point) to have both available to us.

[thesurgeon]

Transistor. No contest. Internal combustion engines are waaay over hyped.

I just heard that the IC is 50 years old. Yes the transistor is an important invention. And people like Jack Kilby planted the seeds for it to evolve with the IC he invented at the Texas lab in 1958.

Just a fews days back I dismantled an old 1974 Sony TV Camera. It weights 19Kg and is loaded with lots of transistors and a little ics. Would thermionic valves have created this beauty back in 1974?

Think again, what ICs have done to the camera - just look at the Sony Handycam now.

You can gawked at the internals of the 1974 Sony TV Studio Camera here ==

http://www.home-electronics-review.blogspot.com