Day 16 : Grumpy Git Returns 12
Hello people, here we are again in the domain of the dark. The tech world tyrant on the edge of complete misery. Delving into the underbelly of the twisted world of mediocrity so you don't have to.
It's a dirty job but someone has to negotiate the mire... So on the chopping block today...
The Grumpy Git Top 5 of Chocolate Teapots.
Chocolate Teapots in technology are machines that regardless of whether the machine still works. They have been abandoned by even the most technical.
5. PDAs of any form
Palm Pilots, Apple Newton and all of the Psion range. Yes I now this blog has been looking at the Psion 5 but to be honest I really don't believe anything is currently being developed for these machines.
Sure they are available to buy but software is archaic and I doubt anyone is actively developing software. Even the Linux community who were working on stuff abandoned their projects.
4. The NeXT Cube & NeXT Slabs
Now I will not deny the NeXT machines were amazing looking machines. I can see why people like them but I'm afraid that NeXTStep and OpenStep are long gone regarding current software.
You can definitely see where a lot of the Mac OS X came from but still development for these machines is long gone.
3. Sun Micro SPARC Stations
Sun were the kings of CAD system in the eighties and nineties but although you can still get them. They really are pretty useless.unfortunately.
Sure Solaris can still be downloaded but even Sun (Oracle) have abandoned SPARC platforms. They won't stop you downloading the software but don't expect any support.
Even the Linux community have abandoned SPARC when Debian decides your platform is being marginalised you know the machine is effectively dead. It seems playing with the SUN is not as easy as once was.
2. SGI Machines
Yep as much as I like the look of Irix. As nice as the SGI machines look aesthetically with models such as the Indigo, Indigo II and Tezro. Thing is these machines had a lot of custom hardware so finding it will either cost you an arm and a leg, then even if you can get the hardware finding drivers is equally as difficult.
Like a lot of these machines software is very limited and to be honest while you can find some software its not exactly a large catalogue as these were marketed as pretty specialist graphics machines.
As such as they were nice to look at they are definitely in Chocolate Teapot Territory
1. DEC Alpha systems
This one does pain me as the DEC Alpha was a processor I always wanted to run. Obviously now they are becoming rarer every day and prices escalate every time I check.
Obviously DEC Alpha systems were primarily servers involved as data systems and graphics work. However even if you get the hardware which is tough. Finding Alpha software is not simple at all.
You may be able to run Windows software and using the multiple pass hardware conversion system you will eventually convert to Alpha level software. I've heard this conversion system once done is incredibly fast but to be honest I have never seen it in action so I only have the speculation of such.
Would I love to get my hands on a 21364 system. Yes I would. Is it a Chocolate Teapot most definitely
What Chocolate Teapot Technology would you like to get hold of..
