toaster

jargon 1. The archetypal really stupid application for an

embedded microprocessor controller; often used in comments

that imply that a scheme is inappropriate technology (but see

elevator controller). "DWIM for an assembler? That'd be

as silly as running Unix on your toaster!"

2. A very, very dumb computer. "You could run this program on

any dumb toaster."

See bitty box, Get a real computer!, toy, beigetoaster.

3. A Macintosh, especially the Classic Mac. Some hold

that this is implied by sense 2.

4. A peripheral device. "I bought my box without toasters,

but since then I've added two boards and a second disk drive".

This is not usually to be taken literally but, to show off the

expansion capabilities of the Risc PC, Acorn ComputersLtd. built a seven-slice machine (which they called "the

rocket-ship") and installed every imaginable peripheral. In a

spare drive bay of the top slice they installed a toaster.

This machine was exhibited at various shows where it attracted

attention by occasionally ejecting a pizza.

[Jargon File]

(1997-07-18)