That's still digital; it's just not binary. The difference is that it's still quantized - there are just multiple threshold voltages corresponding to each possible value. Many digital computers encoded more than 1 bit per wire.
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That's still digital; it's just not binary. The difference is that it's still quantized - there are just multiple threshold voltages corresponding to each possible value. Many digital computers encoded more than 1 bit per wire.
A very large portion (the majority?) of the general public doesn't care about processing power or I/O options. They only care whether something runs their most commonly used computer applications. For many, the iPhone and iPad have all the computer software they want, either built-in (internet browser, email client, media player), or among the near 300K in the App store (from spreadsheets, databases, photo editors, etc. to games and fart sounds, et.al.)
Move to an older segment of the general public who doesn't do the above, and the term "computer" also brings up memories of big machines with lots of blinken lights and spinning tape drives... your laptop PC need not apply.
It doesn't care about absolute technical specifications, agreed - rather the opportunity to do what it wants (which depends on expectations which depends somewhat on marketing). This implies that the processor and interface must deliver a certain perceived quality/performance.
"Runs" in the sense that it includes a suitable interface for sustained productive usage, I hope. I could create an interface consisting of one switch and one LED to, say, the Intel DH55HC setup I'm using now. Then I could pack it up in one big soldered case with nothing but power connection and a little cut-out for the switch/LED. In theory it could be just about used to run any computer application. In practice I'm not going to get away with selling this device as a "computer".
And yet hardly anyone uses just an iPhone for Internet access / photo editing / et.al. (sic) / whatever you think it is most people "only" need.
Just took a quick look through it. Glad to see a slightly more representative sample there!
Each of your rather vague assertions, assumptions, and attempts to exclude iPhone4's status of 'computer,' has been effectively rebutted.
In accordance:
"Ya, the screen is way too small..."
The A8 1GHz processor, with 512MB RAM, and High-Res display, are more than sufficient.
Being that an iPhone is capable of, with admirable speed, no less:
Surfing the web
Reading, writing, editing email
Downloading, streaming, and watching movies
Word Processing
File Databasing
Creating Presentations
Building Spreadsheets
Editing HD video
Wireless Printing
Drawing
Rendering 3D Graphics
Rendering 3D Games
Rendering pages for virtual books
Running apps for controlling other computers and devices
Application switching and multi-tasking
Writing and running web apps using Javascript
BT, Wi-Fi, interfacing with peripherals
USB connection via adapter
Much, much more.......
The iPhone, despite your imposed parameters, is, undeniably, a computer.
Affirmative, it is.
Apple may have convinced you to lower your expectations, but - as the other thread confirms - not everyone's been so RDFed.
Reminds me of the HP-71/75, but you missed the argument to go along with it. Also where's the picture of my HP 50G? The ARM9 is clocked to whip my Acorn Risc PC 600 from back in the days when ARMs were used in real computers
"Ya, the screen is way too small..."
.
This is still going on ? Sheesh. Well let's see, I've got a computer here. It costs around 2,500,000$. Now, I would go physically sit in front of it, except there's no screen or keyboard attached to it.
It can't do the following from your list :
Surfing the web
Downloading, streaming, and watching movies
Word Processing
Creating Presentations
Building Spreadsheets
Editing HD video
Wireless Printing
Drawing
Rendering 3D Graphics
Rendering 3D Games
Rendering pages for virtual books
BT, Wi-Fi, interfacing with peripherals
USB connection via adapter
Why can't it do those things ? Simple, there's no software available on it to do it and in the case of all the graphics stuff, well, it has no graphics hardware at all.
Yet it is still a computer. Very much so indeed. It's an IBM mainframe. None of those things you listed are what makes a computer a computer.
Stop arguing with Veri, the guy is just trying to get attention and farm responses. You are literally feeding him. I bet he lives under a bridge too (if you still don't get it... please... go buy a doll with long wacky colored hair for an extra hint). He knows perfectly what is and isn't a computer and is just laughing at all the responses he's getting.
OOI, which IBM mainframe and which operating system? I know of no current IBM mainframe system which can't do at least one of the things on your list out of the box. And I'd be curious to know which IBM OS is so locked down that I don't have the freedom to run my or third party apps without IBM's blessing.
It hardly seems fair to others that only you are allowed to respond to me (or however you perceive me).