On Sat, 6 Mar 2010 06:39:37 -0800 (PST), wrote:

On Mar 5, 10:11Â*pm, wrote:

Like I said, there are a lot of "smart switches" in the canbus system
- but although they may use"microprocessors" they are not computers.

Tell us, how is a microprocessor (any microprocessor) *not* a computer?

A "computer" CAN include a microprocessor, but does not need to.


Neither krw nor I ever said that a computer needs to include a
microprocessor. The reverse is what krw claimed, which is to say that
a system that includes a microprocessor is a computer. Unless
perhaps the microprocessor is being used as a doorstop. For the
microprocessor to be of any use, it needs to be executing a program
and capable of some kind of input/output. At that point it is a
computer. It could be a very simple program only taking in some
serial data, figuring out what the data is telling it to do, then
activating the appropriate output. But that is just a simpler
version of what your PC is doing.




Google KURTA for a very good example of a strictly mechanical
"computer"
The earliest electronic computers also did not use a microprocessor,
or even a central processing unit (CPU).


I'd also point out that today, virtually all current computers do
contain a microprocessor or microcontroller. Certainly evey one in
today's cars do. So, why the trip down memory lane? For the record,
I did google KURTA and KURTA mechanical computer and came up with
zippo.

Sorry - my mistake - google CURTA - AKA Peppermill rallye computer.