[R] choosing systems

gordon.harrington@uni.edu gordon.harrington at uni.edu
Mon Jan 11 19:59:32 CET 1999


After many helpful suggestions from many including Brian Ripley, Peter
Dalgaard, Martin Maechler, Douglas Bates, and Tristan Savatier--it is clearly
time to upgrade my system from  SPARC-10 Solaris 2.4. Rational choice of
configuration should be based on intended application and perhaps the fact it
is my pension, not my university, which now finances my research.

My most demanding applications are R, Xlispstat, S(ancient vanilla 2.0) and my
own ad hoc f77 (and ratfor) programs. I do Monte Carlo multivariate models of
quantitative multigenic phenomena with significant genetic-environmental
interactions and compare the results both numerically and graphically with
data-banked empirical data. On my present system an optimized fortran run takes
about three days. 

Suggestions keep pointing me toward an Intel box with a PC disc partition for
those kinds of occasional uses and  with linux or(perhaps and) Intel-Solaris
for the  primary usage. Other than for the substantial disc storage needs to be
ported, I have little idea of optimum configuration.for these systems in terms
of memory or other hardware elements. Cost seems to dictate IDE. Look and feel
might give an edge to Solaris but linux offers a wider base of user experience
to tap.

I would appreciate any suggestions from those with experience with comparable
application needs.

gordon

 

Gordon M. Harrington		Mail:	3720 Village Place, #6308
Professor Emeritus			Waterloo, IA 50702-5848
University of Northern Iowa 	Phone:	319-291-8535
gordon.harrington at uni.edu	Fax:	319-291-8324

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