[extropy-chat] new record largest prime

[spike]

> bounces at lists.extropy.org] On Behalf Of kevinfreels.com
> Subject: Re: [extropy-chat] new record largest prime
> 
> SO how long would it take to email me that number on a 56k modem?


Lets see, in binary it is nearly 26 million bits (all of 
them 1s) and a 56k modem, does that mean it can receive
56k bits per second?  Is not 56k what we used to call
(back in the Paleozoic era) 56k baud?  If so, then about 
2000 seconds.  What's that, about half an hour?  If you 
want it in decimal digits (somewhat less boring than 
half an hour of 1s zinging past) that would take about 
an hour and a half.

Wouldn't you rather settle for 2^25,964,951 - 1?

spike

Kevin I will give you a free horror story, since (I think)
you are a young man.  We (I and my fellow geezers) used to 
work on computers that scrolled text at 300 baud.  When
raging technology jumped it to 1200, we were convinced 
we couldn't read that fast, so it would be pointless for
modems to go faster.  Shreeeeeeeek!  Now of course we
get short apoplectic if our cable modems drop to much
less than a thousand times that speed.

s