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]