This article talks about malware problems on some International Space Station laptops and mentions A31p - I'm assuming these are Thinkpads.

Given that the last A31p models were sold almost 5 years ago, I wonder how many of the ISS laptops have shown the infamous GPU problem ?

Or did NASA buy up a big order and have swapped the units out on a regular basis? Another possibility is that they are left running 24/7 so there is little thermal cycling.

Does anyone have any contacts in NASA who may be able to provide more information ?

Computers used for official NASA business require radiation hardening to prevent degradation. The process takes time and as a result computers used in space are never state-of-the-art, they tend to several generations behind. Last I heard they were using P3m machines on the shuttle.

I believe however that astronauts are allowed to bring person laptops on board that don't have to meet the strict NASA regulations. I know I've seen a few low-end dells in photos.

i'm keeping my a31p forever!

http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/space/space_thinkpad.html

last line from above: In 2003, IBM ThinkPad A31p computers were flown to the International Space Station for in-flight testing. The A31p is scheduled to become the new ISS Portable Computer System, replacing the ThinkPad 760XD.

I just think that's a mistake. When I was using "the latest Norton AntiVirus" on my A31p it slowed the system unacceptably. I'm using AVG now (when I run Windows), which appears fine, but I wonder if it's enough protection?

BTW: What is this thermal cycling GPU problem? I don't know that I've seen it on my A31p machines.

I would assume that they use the corporate edition, which never gave me any problems on any of my machines (including an A31 and an A31p).

tbartold wrote:



You would've known had you seen it, because your GPU would've failed...

As a result of a number of heating/cooling cycles, difference in materials between the planar and the GPU itself, the latter starts detaching from the former...usually can be detected by "garbled screen" or coloured squares while booting, and a very unusual "shadow" that is formed around the mouse pointer...

For this reason alone, my "main" A31p is on 24/7/365...

Agreed on Corporate Edition, it runs reasonably well even on my ancient T20 at work...

Never cared much for Norton, used AVG 7.5 until recently and am now running Avira which is not felt at all on my "main" A31p...