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My wife worked for Thinking Machines back then. I remember that they'd asked Cray to loan them a supercomputer for the film because that's the computer used in
by pivo 2mo ago
My wife worked for Thinking Machines back then. I remember that they'd asked Cray to loan them a supercomputer for the film because that's the computer used in the book. Cray brushed them off, so they turned to Thinking Machines who were happy to do it.
To thank them, the producers rented a theater in Cambridge, MA to screen the film just for Thinking Machines and I was also able to attend. By far the biggest reactions from the audience that night were when the CM-5 was shown for the first time and then when the young actress says, "It's a Unix system. I know this"
- dmurvihill 2mo agoLove that theatre
- laidoffamazon 2mo agoThat’s amazing! I live next to their former office. Do you know which theater they rented out?
- pivo 2mo agoIt was a long time ago so I can't say for certain, but she and I both remember it being the Kendall Sq. cinema.
- Hizonner 2mo agoThe line at my workplace was "It's a Unix system... WE'RE SCREWED!"
- dhosek 2mo ago“It’s a Unix system. I know this.” was definitely the line from the movie most quoted in online spaces in the 90s.
- cortesoft 2mo agoI still quote this line at work all the time. Basically whenever anyone asks me if I know how to do something on the computer
- kraquepype 2mo agoI wonder how many sysadmin or adjacent careers that scene helped to foster. As a kid JP was a favorite of mine, and eventually I got into Linux as an older teen. That sequence cemented Unix as this mythical thing in my mind and I knew I had to know more. I eventually got to work on AIX in my first sysadmin role which was great. I leaned more into Linux, but it had a positive effect on my IT career.
- avhception 2mo agoIt definitely resonated with me as a kid, and I've had this fascination for the Unices of yore ever since!
- fabiensanglard 2mo agoThis is such a cool anecdote. I have added it to the page!