The problem with faster computers is that they crash faster

Most of time the ability to recover or continue depends on the actual breakage. For example, if the handle of your coffee mug is broken, you (the human brain that all machines need to mimic) can still continue to use the mug if you don’t mind lukewarm coffee. However, if the coffee mug is shattered, then your option is pretty much limited.

There has been quite a few discussions around whether crashing is a better option than to try and recover and continue, and particularly interesting from the security perspective. A couple of links below, but there are plenty more I am sure.

http://blogs.msdn.com/larryosterman/archive/2008/05/01/resilience-is-not-necessarily-a-good-thing.aspx

http://blogs.msdn.com/jmstall/archive/2007/07/26/there-are-things-worse-than-crashing.aspx