On Mon, 22 Apr 2002, Trei, Peter wrote:
> The defining difference between the two is that if you know the > algorithm and seed, the output of a PRNG can be reproduced, > at a different time, place. or both. There are circumstances in > which this is very much a desired quality. Actually you left something out, the PRNG by definition must have a modulus of repetition. At some point it starts the sequence over. In general, this is -never- a desired quality and is the primary distinction between the cost-utility of PRNG's versus RNG's. And on another statement by somebody about hardware v software RNG's: If you can't develop a RNG in software (ie you'd be in a state of sin), what makes you think you can do it using -only- digital gates in hardware? You can't. -- ____________________________________________________________________ The law is applied philosophy and a philosphical system is only as valid as its first principles. James Patrick Kelly - "Wildlife" [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.ssz.com [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.open-forge.org --------------------------------------------------------------------