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About this quote

What does it mean?
The speaker bought a Mac to design a next‑generation Cray supercomputer.
In plain terms
He uses a Mac to plan a future Cray.
What can you take from it?
Use the tools you have to design better machines.

Where it applies

  • conceptualizing hardware
  • software modeling

Putting it to work

  • prototype designs on a personal computer
  • leverage familiar platforms

Questions to consider

  • Can I prototype complex hardware on a simple workstation?
  • What are the limits of my current tools?

Another view

A Mac may lack the low‑level access needed for hardware design.

More from Seymour Cray

  1. Anyone can build a fast CPU. The trick is to build a fast system.

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  2. If you were plowing a field, which would you rather use?... Two strong oxen or 1024 chickens?

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  3. I talk to myself through the computer. I ask myself questions, leave things to be looked at again, things that you would do with a notepad. It turns out today …

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