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From: kilgallen@eisner.decus.org (Larry Kilgallen)
Subject: Re: floating point problem
Date: 1997/03/16
Message-ID: <1997Mar16.113256.1@eisner>#1/1
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Date: 1997-03-16T00:00:00+00:00
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In article <dewar.858438733@merv>, dewar@merv.cs.nyu.edu (Robert Dewar) writes:
> <<Agreed with new machines.  However, there are tons of older 386 and
> 486SX machines floating around out there still being used without the
> floating point unit.>>
> 
> Sure there are tons of such machines, but for serious development work,
> which is what GNAT is intended for, it is silly to use an ancient 386

That is too bad.  I had hoped GNAT might be useful for deployment.
Just to make sure we are on the same wavelength, my concern is
entirely with what happens at runtime with generated programs.
For running the compiler I can buy (actually already have) some
appropriate machines.

> or 486SX when for under $600 you can get a brand new machine that will
> do the job so much better. (look around, you will find many good deals
> on new PC's that are under the power curve -- I bought a 50MHz DX2 486
> with 2X CD ROM, 8 megs memory, lots of junk installed software, a few
> months ago (actually probably a year ago now) for $399, you can do
> better today.

But it is really tough to sell software to people if you tell them they
have to spend 40x the software price to buy a new computer.

Larry Kilgallen