[2194] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Re: Low end users
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Stephen D Crocker)
Wed Jan 29 15:05:47 1992
To: scs@lokkur.dexter.mi.us (Steve Simmons)
Cc: com-priv@psi.com (Com-Priv Mailing List)
In-Reply-To: Your message of Wed, 29 Jan 92 14:06:01 -0500.
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 92 15:04:30 -0500
From: Stephen D Crocker <crocker@TIS.COM>
>> It has been my 100-percent consistent experience that distributed
>> computing costs more than centralized computing. This based on 10
>> years of being a UNIX admin and admin consultant. Distributed
>> computing *always* has a higher support cost that either
>> centralized systems or unconnected islands.
>>
>> The fact that there are tremendous benefits to distributed
>> computing don't change the issue of increased support costs.
Steve,
Increased costs compared to what? Unless the comparison you're making
is centralized computing (or islands) versus distributed computing
*for* *exactly* *the* *same* *capabability*, the comparison is apples
versus oranges. In the limit, getting rid of computers completely is
cheaper -- both captial and support -- than any form of centralized or
distributed computing system. 'Course, if we get rid of all the
computers, we won't get the job done.
It's hard to compare centralized versus distributed computing. The
measurable expenditures don't tell the whole story because the
capabilties aren't the same. You might be able to run one Cray more
cheaply than an "equivalent" number of PCs, but the utility of the PCs
might be significantly more than the single Cray. (Or, it might now,
in which case, a zillion PCs is definitely the wrong idea. It all
depends.)
Steve
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