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Questions and Answers
Prior to the web, what were some of the disadvantages associated with using mainframes?
Prior to the web, what were some of the disadvantages associated with using mainframes?
Mainframes were expensive and difficult to use, requiring trained professionals.
What was the 'productivity paradox' of the 1970s regarding computers in business?
What was the 'productivity paradox' of the 1970s regarding computers in business?
Despite being designed to benefit businesses, computers did not initially lead to substantial economic growth.
What was the primary focus of firms in the 1990s concerning their servers?
What was the primary focus of firms in the 1990s concerning their servers?
Firms focused on making their servers more powerful.
Why did the Itanium processor fail to gain widespread adoption in data centers?
Why did the Itanium processor fail to gain widespread adoption in data centers?
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How did Google innovatively reduce costs associated with traditional datacenters?
How did Google innovatively reduce costs associated with traditional datacenters?
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Prior to the improvements in internet connection speed, why was video streaming difficult?
Prior to the improvements in internet connection speed, why was video streaming difficult?
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What is one way that IBM's CP/CMS operating system was unique for its time?
What is one way that IBM's CP/CMS operating system was unique for its time?
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How did Google leverage its existing infrastructure to aid YouTube’s success?
How did Google leverage its existing infrastructure to aid YouTube’s success?
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Besides the ability to watch at any time, what drew viewers towards early Netflix?
Besides the ability to watch at any time, what drew viewers towards early Netflix?
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What is a key distinction between the 'early web' and 'Web 2.0'?
What is a key distinction between the 'early web' and 'Web 2.0'?
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How did the Google File System contribute to the reliability of Google's services, despite using less reliable hardware?
How did the Google File System contribute to the reliability of Google's services, despite using less reliable hardware?
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What is the key difference in workload handling for mainframes vs. modern GPUs?
What is the key difference in workload handling for mainframes vs. modern GPUs?
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Explain why higher clock cycles were initially seen as a key performance indicator, and what shift in thinking changed that?
Explain why higher clock cycles were initially seen as a key performance indicator, and what shift in thinking changed that?
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How did MapReduce enable cost-effective keyword searches across numerous web pages?
How did MapReduce enable cost-effective keyword searches across numerous web pages?
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What was the primary purpose of CP/CMS in the 1970s, and how did it accomplish this?
What was the primary purpose of CP/CMS in the 1970s, and how did it accomplish this?
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Study Notes
Chapter 13 - Computer Becomes A Network
- The modern web connects different computing methods
- Mainframes were expensive, required trained personnel, and lacked internet access
- The web allowed untrained users access to mainframe functionalities from personal computers, reduced call center employees, and lowered costs
- A productivity paradox existed in the 1970s where computer usage didn't correlate with economic growth in the 70s
- The 1990s and 2000s saw an economic boom due to computers
- Data centers experienced a massive increase in importance during the 1990s
- Companies focused on improving server power
- Website traffic increased, leading to the construction of server farms
Why Itanium Failed
- Itanium was designed as a powerful processor but was too expensive to integrate
- The market shifted towards cheaper alternatives, like combined computer boards (Google pioneered this approach)
Cloud Computing
- Businesses previously ran expensive, complicated data centers
- Web services (such as web searching and advertising), required massive data management
- To address this, companies used cheaper computer boards and water-cooling solutions instead of expensive data servers and air-conditioning
- MapReduce, a parallel processing algorithm, allowed for efficient tasks distribution
- Cloud services lowered server costs and complexities
Processor Trends
- Faster clock cycles were preferred in the 1990s and 2000s for single-threaded applications, leading to increased energy consumption
- Intel processors, despite increased core counts, had diverse issues for consumers
- PCs remained functional for decades due to improvements in microprocessor quality
- Graphics processing units (GPUs) emerged, emphasizing parallel processing
Virtualization
- Virtualization, initially developed for time-sharing in the 1970s, mimicked user access to individual processors on shared physical resources
- Virtual machines (VMs) allowed for shared resource usage in departments, enabling independent software operation on a single server
Video Streaming
- Early video streaming was extremely challenging, even with compression technologies, and streaming in High Definition (HD) was impossible on the early internet
- Streaming quality improved due to advancements in internet speed
YouTube
- Google acquired YouTube, exploiting its infrastructure for high traffic, to monetize content
Netflix
- Netflix, initially a DVD rental service, successfully transitioned into a streaming service
Social Media
- Web 2.0 emphasized social interaction, leading to platforms like Friendster, MySpace, and Tumblr
- Facebook became a prominent social media platform by dominating competitor services
Network Computers
- P-code portable applications failed due to IBM PC's dominance, and application development for IBM hardware instead of universal hardware
- Microsoft dominance in operating systems and software in the 90s led to slower acceptance of universal coding languages
Chromebooks
- Chromebooks, utilizing the Google Chrome browser, offered low-cost, easy-to-manage computing solutions
- Chromebooks successfully challenged older solutions like Internet Explorer
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Description
Explore the evolution of computer networks in Chapter 13, where you learn how the modern web transformed access to computing resources. Understand the challenges faced by early mainframes and the impact of cloud computing in businesses. Delve into the factors that influenced the rise of servers and data centers in the 1990s and 2000s.