The Seymour Cray Era: A Review of Supercomputing's Genesis
Boelie Elzen and Donald MacKenzie's "The Seymour Cray Era of Supercomputers: From Fast Machines to Fast Codes" chronicles the roughly three-decade reign of Seymour Cray in the supercomputing world. The book details the development of key supercomputer models, the technical choices and compromises involved, and the evolving market landscape, culminating in SGI's acquisition of Cray's assets and the shift towards massively parallel processing. It highlights the early divergence between business and scientific computing, showcasing Cray's challenge to IBM's dominance with the CDC 6600. The narrative explores technological risks, the crucial role of software support, and the diverse applications of supercomputers across various industries. While lacking in personal anecdotes and aesthetic considerations, the book offers valuable insights into the history of scientific computing, computer architecture, and high-value/low-volume business strategies.
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