Home Articles FAQs XREF Games Software Instant Books BBS About FOLDOC RFCs Feedback Sitemap
irt.Org

toaster

You are here: irt.org | FOLDOC | toaster

<jargon> 1. The archetypal really stupid application for an embedded microprocessor controller; often used in comments that imply that a scheme is inappropriate technology (but see elevator controller). "DWIM for an assembler? That'd be as silly as running Unix on your toaster!"

2. A very, very dumb computer. "You could run this program on any dumb toaster."

See bitty box, Get a real computer!, toy, beige toaster.

3. A Macintosh, especially the Classic Mac. Some hold that this is implied by sense 2.

4. A peripheral device. "I bought my box without toasters, but since then I've added two boards and a second disk drive".

This is not usually to be taken literally but, to show off the expansion capabilities of the Risc PC, Acorn Computers Ltd. built a seven-slice machine (which they called "the rocket-ship") and installed every imaginable peripheral. In a spare drive bay of the top slice they installed a toaster. This machine was exhibited at various shows where it attracted attention by occasionally ejecting a pizza.

[Jargon File]

(1997-07-18)

Nearby terms: to « to a first approximation « toast « toaster » toasternet » to a zeroth approximation » toggle

FOLDOC, Topics, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z, ?, ALL

©2018 Martin Webb