2011-02-17
Explanation
This comic contrasts the stereotypical attitudes of a computer scientist versus a computer engineer when confronted with an alien computer. The computer scientist approaches the alien technology with academic reverence and existential dread, noting that the architecture is "entirely foreign" and that there is "much to learn" and "much to fear." This reflects the theoretical mindset of someone concerned with understanding fundamental principles and potential implications.
The computer engineer, by contrast, has a purely practical and playful response: he has already gotten the classic 1993 video game Doom to run on the alien machine. This is a well-known joke in engineering and tech culture, where getting Doom to run on unusual or unexpected hardware (pregnancy tests, ATMs, thermostats, etc.) is a long-standing hobby and point of pride. The comic humorously captures the divide between theoretical worry and hands-on tinkering.