Random Comments

[Bo D]

Quantum computer kit announced – Save over $10,000,000!

Stim Inc. released stunning news today, April 1st, of their HAL 8800 quantum computer kit. This is the first quantum computer (QC) available to the general public, as well as the first QC kit. The base price is an unbelievably low $397! (plus shipping & handling)



The HAL 8800 uses the newly announced Lentil 8080 8-qubit processor. The 8080, while not quite as fast as commercial models, runs at two quantum state collapses per second (QSCPS), which is more than enough for hobbyist use. The machine can be overclocked however: liquid nitrogen cooling will increase speed to 20 QSCPS, as well as reduce the number of cycles needed to reach a high degree of confidence in one's results, while simply placing the computer in your freezer will typically raise the speed to 3.7 QSCPS (4.6 QSCPS for a deep-freeze).

Stim expects a vibrant user community and ecosystem to form around the HAL 8800, which should lead to innovative hardware and software developments. Already available are a Holotype HSR-33 user console, a 4TB 450fs RAM board, Nanosoft 4TB BASIC, and a cassette interface. Expansion boards use the Q-100 bus. The base HAL model can be programmed using either the toggle switch front-panel, or the high-level "HAL eye" interface, which makes the system very user-friendly, even for those with no QC experience.

[Locutus]

[libby]

Quantum computer kit announced – Save over $10,000,000!

Stim Inc. released stunning news today, April 1st, of their HAL 8800 quantum computer kit. This is the first quantum computer (QC) available to the general public, as well as the first QC kit. The base price is an unbelievably low $397! (plus shipping & handling)



The HAL 8800 uses the newly announced Lentil 8080 8-qubit processor. The 8080, while not quite as fast as commercial models, runs at two quantum state collapses per second (QSCPS), which is more than enough for hobbyist use. The machine can be overclocked however: liquid nitrogen cooling will increase speed to 20 QSCPS, as well as reduce the number of cycles needed to reach a high degree of confidence in one's results, while simply placing the computer in your freezer will typically raise the speed to 3.7 QSCPS (4.6 QSCPS for a deep-freeze).

Stim expects a vibrant user community and ecosystem to form around the HAL 8800, which should lead to innovative hardware and software developments. Already available are a Holotype HSR-33 user console, a 4TB 450fs RAM board, Nanosoft 4TB BASIC, and a cassette interface. Expansion boards use the Q-100 bus. The base HAL model can be programmed using either the toggle switch front-panel, or the high-level "HAL eye" interface, which makes the system very user-friendly, even for those with no QC experience.

"makes the system very user-friendly, even for those with no QC experience."
Uh ... I like to know how things work -- from the bottom up, inside out -- and every time I read something with the word "quantum" in it, I think of this:

Making Waves

I think it is safe to say that no one understands quantum mechanics. Do not keep saying to yourself, if you can possibly avoid it, "But how can it be like that?" because you will go down the drain into a blind alley from which nobody has yet escaped. Nobody knows how it can be like that.

-- Richard Feyman  as quoted in The Cosmic Code by Heinz R. Pagels

[duke jupiter]

Ole' Duke sez "keep it simple"


Best regards,
Duke (a simple kind of man) Jupiter

ps simple in many ways for sure 

[Purplelady1040]

Just like seat belts - and drugs, sex, prostitution, etc. -, helmets should be a personal decision.

Those decisions are based on the simple concept of rights which proceed from that question of "do you own yourself?"

No, I do not own a motorcycle but I do respect and admire those who do ride them.

[Bo D]

"makes the system very user-friendly, even for those with no QC experience."
Uh ... I like to know how things work -- from the bottom up, inside out -- and every time I read something with the word "quantum" in it, I think of this:

Making Waves

I think it is safe to say that no one understands quantum mechanics. Do not keep saying to yourself, if you can possibly avoid it, "But how can it be like that?" because you will go down the drain into a blind alley from which nobody has yet escaped. Nobody knows how it can be like that.

-- Richard Feyman  as quoted in The Cosmic Code by Heinz R. Pagels

Sorry, Libby. That was my April Fools post for the day (and not a very good one at that.) I guess very few people would catch on that that was the HAL computer from the movie '2001: A Space Odyssey.'

The rest of the text in the article was written to make it sound like it was a recent technology breakthrough.

[Locutus]

The joke wasn't lost on me Bo D. 

[Bo D]

The joke wasn't lost on me Bo D. 

Yeah, but you're a tech geek like me. 

[libby]

   Seriously, you got me.

[Bo D]

  Seriously, you got me.

[Palehorse]

The joke wasn't lost on me Bo D. 

Nor I. I thought so highly of it I didn't dare comment and spoil the fun.

[duke jupiter]

Sorry, Libby. That was my April Fools post for the day (and not a very good one at that.) I guess very few people would catch on that that was the HAL computer from the movie '2001: A Space Odyssey.'

The rest of the text in the article was written to make it sound like it was a recent technology breakthrough.

My previous reply sez it all.



Best regards,

Duke (simpleton) Jupiter

[Y]

Sorry, Libby. That was my April Fools post for the day (and not a very good one at that.) I guess very few people would catch on that that was the HAL computer from the movie '2001: A Space Odyssey.'

The rest of the text in the article was written to make it sound like it was a recent technology breakthrough.

You can't slide 'HAL' past us old folks, Bo!   

...BUT, it's possible to slide a philosophical question about 'rights' past certain people! 

Just like seat belts - and drugs, sex, prostitution, etc. -, helmets should be a personal decision.

Those decisions are based on the simple concept of rights which proceed from that question of "do you own yourself?"

No, I do not own a motorcycle but I do respect and admire those who do ride them.

[Bo D]

You can't slide 'HAL' past us old folks, Bo!   

Well, the joke is on you old folks too. Now think about it - what was the model number of the HAL in '2001'?

[Y]

How is 'HAL 9000' a joke on us old folks?

Now remember, BO, you and I are either the same age or damn close...

...and my first computer was Xerox 8088.