-> The concept of a mainframe is a centralized computer as a sources of
-> information, or a program that is not best ran on many different
-> computers, but on one( or a
-> Community of Computers).
Paul,
Here is the crux of our difficulty. This is NOT the idea of a mainframe
(or not exactly). Given the history of discussion on this thread, I
believe what you are really referring to is a "computer network" which
is not necessarily a mainframe, although it might possibly include one.
A mainframe, as my husband tells me, is one large, single computer with
many users using it simultaneously (as opposed to PC's which are usually
one computer per user and also as opposed to a network server--which you
are referring to--which are "central" computers that provide info and
programs to client computers through a network.).
-> Students can use a mainframes, or many mainframes to search for
-> information in research projects, or teachers can use information for
-> different courses to present to classes.
Teachers and students perform these tasks on networks, which probably
don't include a mainframe.
-> Replacing all textbooks I hope doesn't happen.(Traditional)  But when
-> science books are outdated the day they come off the press I see
-> don't see why we would want to use them instead of something like the
-> NASA home page?
I think Ron McDermott has given a very good response to this one
already.
Sheila
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