dinosaur
1. Any hardware requiring raised flooring and special power. Used especially of
old minicomputers and mainframes, in contrast with newer microprocessor-based
machines.
In a famous quote from the 1988 Unix EXPO, Bill Joy compared the liquid-cooled
mainframe in the massive IBM display with a grazing dinosaur "with a truck
outside pumping its bodily fluids through it". IBM was not amused.
Compare big iron; see also dinosaurs mating.
2. [IBM] A very conservative user; a zipperhead.
[Jargon File]
Nearby terms:
dink « DinnerBell « DINO « dinosaur »
dinosaur pen » dinosaurs mating » diode
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