Discussion:
What's in a name?
Add Reply
David Lesher
2024-12-14 00:28:47 UTC
Reply
Permalink
re: The Last Question:
(circa 1956)

Has anyone else noted "Multivac" vs. Multics,
and "Microvac" vs. Microvax....
--
A host is a host from coast to ***@panix.com
& no one will talk to a host that's close..........................
Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433
is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433
Lawrence D'Oliveiro
2024-12-14 01:28:16 UTC
Reply
Permalink
Post by David Lesher
(circa 1956)
Has anyone else noted "Multivac" vs. Multics,
and "Microvac" vs. Microvax....
“-ac” was a popular suffix for naming computers back when they were huge,
room-filling one-of-a-kind constructions. I mentioned “ENIAC”, “ILLIAC”
and “MANIAC” elsewhere -- was that in this group?

There was no Vax computer at that point. “MULTIVAC” was clearly a play on
“UNIVAC”. Like Intel’s later “Multibus” was a play on DEC’s “Unibus”.

As the saying went, “E Plurum, Unibus”.
Rich Alderson
2024-12-15 02:08:46 UTC
Reply
Permalink
Post by David Lesher
(circa 1956)
Has anyone else noted "Multivac" vs. Multics,
and "Microvac" vs. Microvax....
"-ac" was a popular suffix for naming computers back when they were huge,
room-filling one-of-a-kind constructions. I mentioned "ENIAC", "ILLIAC"
and "MANIAC" elsewhere -- was that in this group?
There was no Vax computer at that point. "MULTIVAC" was clearly a play on
"UNIVAC". Like Intel's later 'Multibus' was a play on DEC's "Unibus".
In fact, Asimov himself stated in many places that he misunderstood the name
"UNIVAC" as "UNI-VAC" rather than "UNIV-AC", referring to the number of VACUUM
TUBES used (valves, to the Rightpondians). His fictional "MULTIVAC" was the
result.
As the saying went, "E Plurum, Unibus".
Which is a stupid thing to say, since "plurum" is not a possible form in Latin,
and _ex_ (of which "e" is the preconsonantal form) governs the ablative case,
rather than the neuter nominative/accusative singular or the genitive plural
(the only possible readings for the form if it existed).
--
Rich Alderson ***@alderson.users.panix.com
Audendum est, et veritas investiganda; quam etiamsi non assequamur,
omnino tamen proprius, quam nunc sumus, ad eam perveniemus.
--Galen
Charlie Gibbs
2024-12-15 04:07:41 UTC
Reply
Permalink
Post by Rich Alderson
As the saying went, "E Plurum, Unibus".
Which is a stupid thing to say, since "plurum" is not a possible form
in Latin, and _ex_ (of which "e" is the preconsonantal form) governs
the ablative case, rather than the neuter nominative/accusative singular
or the genitive plural (the only possible readings for the form if it
existed).
Romanes eunt domus
--
/~\ Charlie Gibbs | Growth for the sake of
\ / <***@kltpzyxm.invalid> | growth is the ideology
X I'm really at ac.dekanfrus | of the cancer cell.
/ \ if you read it the right way. | -- Edward Abbey
Lawrence D'Oliveiro
2024-12-15 04:18:33 UTC
Reply
Permalink
Post by Charlie Gibbs
Romanes eunt domus
He’s not a Latin grammar nazi, he’s just a naughty boy.

Loading...