An exciting effect is the possibility of new algorithms to take advantage of this different set of performance characteristics (and vindication of neglected, ma

An exciting effect is the possibility of new algorithms to take advantage of this different set of performance characteristics (and vindication of neglected, maligned crackpot schemes). There are avenues that intelligent people simply don't explore, because they wouldn't help solve the problems they face, given the fundamental nature of hardware. For example "So disks are not random access any more?" asked of Jim Gray in the fascinating "A Conversation with Jim Gray" ACM, June 2003 http://www.acmqueue.org/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=43 http://www.acmqueue.org/modules.php?name=Content&pa=show... But when fundamental nature of hardware changes...