Soviet Computers in the 1980s: A Review of the Hardware

摘要: Publisher Summary The chapter surveys the important Soviet civilian computer hardware produced in 1980s. It summarizes official plans for technology discusses main systems designed or manufactured computers are organized not by type of but, rather, manufacturing designing organization e.g., IBM, DEC, Apple. impact Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms (perestroika) on industry. purpose is to see what promise recent policy changes hold bringing needed improvements. copying Western design, combined with international isolation and an industrial structure that retards domestic development, production, support, effectively doomed computerdom expanding lag behind West during There were merits demerits user late available software continued fall farther their counterparts at every level, from supercomputers microcomputers. Soviet's scientific political leadership now openly recognizes problem vows resolve it, but it seems doubtful attempted solutions, which so far have been limited reorganization bureaucratic reshuffling, will be sufficient slow rate they falling behind, much less actually begin close gap.