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Subject: Re: Questions

Author: John Coffey

Date: 12:11:30 10/18/98

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On October 18, 1998 at 12:13:34, Alessio Iacovoni wrote:

>1) Shouldn't computer strenght it rather be measured on "average" entry-level
>computers.. i.e. the ones actually used by the majority of people?

Entry level is a moving target.  What may be high end now might be much
more common 6 months from now.  If you test on an "average" machine now
then your results will be worthless in 6 months.


>
>2) Also.. do programs benefit in the same way from higher speed and increased
>hash tables? If not, tests would not be comparable, therefore useless.
>

If some programs benefit more from Hash tables then this indicates a better
written program.  Memory prices are so low now that you could get 256M and
not break the bank.  It used to be the most expensive component on the mahcine
but not any longer.


>3) Why are books used in tests? Shouldn't a top level computer program be
>capable of doing at least decently in the opening phase *without* resorting to
>it's book? If the answer is no.. then it could be easily beaten by even
>lower-performing computers by having it systematically go out of book. Or am I
>wrong?

The computer's opening book is very much a component of its skill, just as a
human player's book is a component of his skill.

John Coffey



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