Which of the following was a weakness of the ENIAC?

Prepare for the KAMSC Sophomore Computer Science Test. Boost your knowledge with flashcards and comprehensive multiple-choice questions. Ace your exam with detailed explanations for each answer!

The choice of primitive memory capabilities as a weakness of the ENIAC is accurate due to its design and technological limitations at the time. ENIAC, which stands for Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer, was one of the earliest electronic general-purpose computers, and it utilized external plugboards for programming and rudimentary binary storage methods.

Although it was revolutionary for its time, ENIAC's memory was primarily made up of vacuum tubes and magnetic drum storage techniques that were relatively slow and limited in capacity compared to modern standards. This affected how much data the system could handle at once and how quickly it could access that data. Programs had to be meticulously crafted and were quite lengthy because of this limited memory, often requiring programming in a very low-level and manual fashion, which adds to the complexity of use.

In contrast, while high power consumption, limited calculation speed, and complex programming requirements were indeed challenges faced by ENIAC, its most notable limitation was the outdated memory capacity and methods for storing and retrieving information, which constrained its overall effectiveness and usability. This distinction highlights the importance of memory capabilities in computer architecture and their evolution over time.

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