from
Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003)
killer micro
n.
[popularized by Eugene Brooks c.1990] A microprocessor-based machine
that infringes on mini, mainframe, or supercomputer performance turf.
Often heard in "No one will survive the attack of the killer micros!",
the battle cry of the downsizers.
The popularity of the phrase `attack of the killer micros' is
doubtless reinforced by the title of the movie Attack Of The Killer
Tomatoes (one of the {canonical} examples of so-bad-it's-wonderful
among hackers). This has even more {flavor} now that killer micros
have gone on the offensive not just individually (in workstations) but
in hordes (within massively parallel computers).
[2002 update: Eugene Brooks was right. Since this term first entered
the Jargon File in 1990, the minicomputer has effectively vanished,
the {mainframe} sector is in deep and apparently terminal decline, and
even the supercomputer business has contracted into a smaller niche.
It's networked killer micros as far as the eye can see. --ESR]
from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
killer micro
[Popularised by Eugene Brooks] A {microprocessor}-based
machine that infringes on mini, mainframe, or supercomputer
performance turf. Often heard in "No one will survive the
attack of the killer micros!", the battle cry of the
downsizers. Used especially of {RISC} architectures.
The popularity of the phrase "attack of the killer micros" is
doubtless reinforced by the movie title "Attack Of The Killer
Tomatoes" (one of the {canonical} examples of
so-bad-it's-wonderful among hackers). This has even more
flavour now that killer micros have gone on the offensive not
just individually (in workstations) but in hordes (within
{massively parallel computers}).
[{Jargon File}]