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If they have a TV, then all they need is this: Rasberry PI. $30

OK. Actually, it's a little more than that for the version that has WiFi and enough USB ports. Otherwise you would have to add a powered USB hub, which again adds to the cost.

USB Keyboard $1

Grow up.

USB Mouse $1

Grow up.

SD Card $1

Grow up.

Micro USB Cell phone charger $5

OK.

You have a fully functional Linux desktop computer.

Not until someone capable has made a significant investment of time to install and set up the OS, you haven't. Yeah, for you or me it would be no problem to fix one up, but how about for an entire class of schoolkids? And you left out an HDMI cable to attach it to the TV, and we would both be ASSUMING the kid has access to an HDMI TV which he would not have to fight the parents and siblings for to get primetime evening use for homework.

Sure you can spend more and get a better computer, but this one will get it done on the cheap.

I'm tuned in to the sentiment, but the way I realistically check prices, the total cost for all items mentioned would be pretty close to $70 rock bottom, if not more, PLUS labor, which is pretty sad when you think about it. And when you were done you would have this fragile thing dangling from wires which could easily get knocked on the floor and stepped on.

I WANT this to be viable, oh how I want it, but realistically, um ...

Umm.. where did you check, a local "rip you off" pc shop? Sigh...

The old rasberry pi is cheaper and has two usb, that's all you need. That's all I need on each of the rasberry pi's that I use for this purpose. Personally I prefer wired networking on a non portable device. Don't students get ethernet connections in their dorm rooms? Most places they do.

Let me shop for you:
Mouse: $0.37 http://www.amazon.com/JennyShop-Pastel-Turtle-Scroll-1000dpi/dp/B00FOWQ76U
Keyboard: $4.75: http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-SK-8825-104-key-USB-Keyboard/dp/B007V6YIGI I have this keyboard on one of my machines, it's fine. I did underestimate the price by $3.75 I guess.
4GB Sandisk SDHC card: $0.01 http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Micro-Flash-Memory-adapter/dp/B0018Z7Y28 I use a sandisk microsdhc with one of my pi's. This 4GB model is overkill, but it will do the job. Power adapter: $2.99 http://www.amazon.com/ReadyPlug®-Wall-Charger-Samsung-Galaxy/dp/B00NVYQWOK

If you do want that USB HUb, you'll be glad to know it's a whopping $0.20 http://www.amazon.com/White-4-Outport-480Mbps-Splitter-Adapter/dp/B012LBKR58

Sure, you could get better of everything on the list, but you don't HAVE to. If you want a computer on the cheap, you can do it with a pi, really cheap. $35.33 (with the hub) plus shipping. If you could live with used parts I think you could do even slightly better, perhaps even on the pi.

If they have a TV, then all they need is this: Rasberry PI. $30

OK. Actually, it's a little more than that for the version that has WiFi and enough USB ports. Otherwise you would have to add a powered USB hub, which again adds to the cost.

USB Keyboard $1

Grow up.

USB Mouse $1

Grow up.

SD Card $1

Grow up.

Micro USB Cell phone charger $5

OK.

You have a fully functional Linux desktop computer.

Not until someone capable has made a significant investment of time to install and set up the OS, you haven't. Yeah, for you or me it would be no problem to fix one up, but how about for an entire class of schoolkids? And you left out an HDMI cable to attach it to the TV, and we would both be ASSUMING the kid has access to an HDMI TV which he would not have to fight the parents and siblings for to get primetime evening use for homework.

Sure you can spend more and get a better computer, but this one will get it done on the cheap.

I'm tuned in to the sentiment, but the way I realistically check prices, the total cost for all items mentioned would be pretty close to $70 rock bottom, if not more, PLUS labor, which is pretty sad when you think about it. And when you were done you would have this fragile thing dangling from wires which could easily get knocked on the floor and stepped on.

I WANT this to be viable, oh how I want it, but realistically, um ...

Umm.. where did you check, a local "rip you off" pc shop? Sigh...

The old rasberry pi is cheaper and has two usb, that's all you need. That's all I need on each of the rasberry pi's that I use for this purpose. Personally I prefer wired networking on a non portable device. Don't students get ethernet connections in their dorm rooms? Most places they do.

Let me shop for you:
Mouse: $0.37 http://www.amazon.com/JennyShop-Pastel-Turtle-Scroll-1000dpi/dp/B00FOWQ76U
Keyboard: $4.75: http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-SK-8825-104-key-USB-Keyboard/dp/B007V6YIGI I have this keyboard on one of my machines, it's fine. I did underestimate the price by $3.75 I guess.
4GB Sandisk SDHC card: $0.01 http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Micro-Flash-Memory-adapter/dp/B0018Z7Y28 I use a sandisk microsdhc with one of my pi's. This 4GB model is overkill, but it will do the job. Power adapter: $2.99 http://www.amazon.com/ReadyPlug®-Wall-Charger-Samsung-Galaxy/dp/B00NVYQWOK

If you do want that USB HUb, you'll be glad to know it's a whopping $0.20 http://www.amazon.com/White-4-Outport-480Mbps-Splitter-Adapter/dp/B012LBKR58

Sure, you could get better of everything on the list, but you don't HAVE to. If you want a computer on the cheap, you can do it with a pi, really cheap. $35.33 (with the hub) plus shipping. If you could live with used parts I think you could do even slightly better, perhaps even on the pi.

If they have a TV, then all they need is this: Rasberry PI. $30

OK. Actually, it's a little more than that for the version that has WiFi and enough USB ports. Otherwise you would have to add a powered USB hub, which again adds to the cost.

USB Keyboard $1

Grow up.

USB Mouse $1

Grow up.

SD Card $1

Grow up.

Micro USB Cell phone charger $5

OK.

You have a fully functional Linux desktop computer.

Not until someone capable has made a significant investment of time to install and set up the OS, you haven't. Yeah, for you or me it would be no problem to fix one up, but how about for an entire class of schoolkids? And you left out an HDMI cable to attach it to the TV, and we would both be ASSUMING the kid has access to an HDMI TV which he would not have to fight the parents and siblings for to get primetime evening use for homework.

Sure you can spend more and get a better computer, but this one will get it done on the cheap.

I'm tuned in to the sentiment, but the way I realistically check prices, the total cost for all items mentioned would be pretty close to $70 rock bottom, if not more, PLUS labor, which is pretty sad when you think about it. And when you were done you would have this fragile thing dangling from wires which could easily get knocked on the floor and stepped on.

I WANT this to be viable, oh how I want it, but realistically, um ...

Umm.. where did you check, a local "rip you off" pc shop? Sigh...

The old rasberry pi is cheaper and has two usb, that's all you need. That's all I need on each of the rasberry pi's that I use for this purpose. Personally I prefer wired networking on a non portable device. Don't students get ethernet connections in their dorm rooms? Most places they do.

Let me shop for you:
Mouse: $0.37 http://www.amazon.com/JennyShop-Pastel-Turtle-Scroll-1000dpi/dp/B00FOWQ76U
Keyboard: $4.75: http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-SK-8825-104-key-USB-Keyboard/dp/B007V6YIGI I have this keyboard on one of my machines, it's fine. I did underestimate the price by $3.75 I guess.
4GB Sandisk SDHC card: $0.01 http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Micro-Flash-Memory-adapter/dp/B0018Z7Y28 I use a sandisk microsdhc with one of my pi's. This 4GB model is overkill, but it will do the job. Power adapter: $2.99 http://www.amazon.com/ReadyPlug®-Wall-Charger-Samsung-Galaxy/dp/B00NVYQWOK

If you do want that USB HUb, you'll be glad to know it's a whopping $0.20 http://www.amazon.com/White-4-Outport-480Mbps-Splitter-Adapter/dp/B012LBKR58

Sure, you could get better of everything on the list, but you don't HAVE to. If you want a computer on the cheap, you can do it with a pi, really cheap. $35.33 (with the hub) plus shipping. If you could live with used parts I think you could do even slightly better, perhaps even on the pi.

If they have a TV, then all they need is this: Rasberry PI. $30

OK. Actually, it's a little more than that for the version that has WiFi and enough USB ports. Otherwise you would have to add a powered USB hub, which again adds to the cost.

USB Keyboard $1

Grow up.

USB Mouse $1

Grow up.

SD Card $1

Grow up.

Micro USB Cell phone charger $5

OK.

You have a fully functional Linux desktop computer.

Not until someone capable has made a significant investment of time to install and set up the OS, you haven't. Yeah, for you or me it would be no problem to fix one up, but how about for an entire class of schoolkids? And you left out an HDMI cable to attach it to the TV, and we would both be ASSUMING the kid has access to an HDMI TV which he would not have to fight the parents and siblings for to get primetime evening use for homework.

Sure you can spend more and get a better computer, but this one will get it done on the cheap.

I'm tuned in to the sentiment, but the way I realistically check prices, the total cost for all items mentioned would be pretty close to $70 rock bottom, if not more, PLUS labor, which is pretty sad when you think about it. And when you were done you would have this fragile thing dangling from wires which could easily get knocked on the floor and stepped on.

I WANT this to be viable, oh how I want it, but realistically, um ...

Umm.. where did you check, a local "rip you off" pc shop? Sigh...

The old rasberry pi is cheaper and has two usb, that's all you need. That's all I need on each of the rasberry pi's that I use for this purpose. Personally I prefer wired networking on a non portable device. Don't students get ethernet connections in their dorm rooms? Most places they do.

Let me shop for you:
Mouse: $0.37 http://www.amazon.com/JennyShop-Pastel-Turtle-Scroll-1000dpi/dp/B00FOWQ76U
Keyboard: $4.75: http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-SK-8825-104-key-USB-Keyboard/dp/B007V6YIGI I have this keyboard on one of my machines, it's fine. I did underestimate the price by $3.75 I guess.
4GB Sandisk SDHC card: $0.01 http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Micro-Flash-Memory-adapter/dp/B0018Z7Y28 I use a sandisk microsdhc with one of my pi's. This 4GB model is overkill, but it will do the job. Power adapter: $2.99 http://www.amazon.com/ReadyPlug®-Wall-Charger-Samsung-Galaxy/dp/B00NVYQWOK

If you do want that USB HUb, you'll be glad to know it's a whopping $0.20 http://www.amazon.com/White-4-Outport-480Mbps-Splitter-Adapter/dp/B012LBKR58

Sure, you could get better of everything on the list, but you don't HAVE to. If you want a computer on the cheap, you can do it with a pi, really cheap. $35.33 (with the hub) plus shipping. If you could live with used parts I think you could do even slightly better, perhaps even on the pi.

I'm betting YOU cannot do it right either even for the very few "through the hole" mounted components you might actually find.

You'd lose that bet. I've been soldering for 25 years, since I was a teenager. I can solder thru-hole, SMT (down to 0603), and I have a hot-air rework station too.

With today's lead free solder, surface mounted devices and the expense of getting the proper equipment in place, it is nearly beyond the reasonable limits for your electronic experimenter to solder on consumer electronic equipment.

Complete and total BS; this is just like all the fools who complain that "you can't work on cars any more because there's too many electronics!". Electronics are easier than ever to work on as long as you stick with stuff that isn't too small. These days, Makerspaces are all holding soldering classes, people are buying Arduinos left and right, and you can buy a very nice Hakko temperature-controlled soldering station for about $90. Hot-air rework stations are more, but a cheap but workable Chinese model is only about $100-125. When I was young, those temperature-controlled stations cost a fortune so everyone used those shitty 25W irons. Components were a lot more delicate back then too, so it was easy to burn them without a temp-controlled iron; these days with lead-free, they've had to increase temperature tolerance a lot.

You won't have the right equipment, supplies or use the proper techniques to "do it right".

Go tell that to the people at your local Makerspace.

Yes, and a BMW i8 Concept car is just $200 on Amazon!

What's that you say? It has utterly different capabilities than something else called a "car"? Huh.

Unless you are doing research or are worried about stamp collecting, nothing in science changes that much especially considering what is remembered.

I have the Surface Pro 3 as my primary desktop system. This is the note that I sent to our computer support staff when I specced-out what I wanted:

Surface Pro 3 does indeed have a docking station (looks pretty complete):
http://www.amazon.com/Microsof...

With this device, I can replicate my current office setup:
DisplayPort 1.2 Multi-Stream Transport (MST) hub

Here’s a link for one model:
http://www.club-3d.com/index.p...

This supports two external monitors. The tablet acts as a third monitor. You can actually support two without the hub, but that would entail plugging in a connector every time I return to the office.

With an 8-GB RAM, and 512 GB storage model, I can pretty much duplicate my current laptop and docking station.
http://www.amazon.com/Microsof...

I've been rather pleased with this setup. When I go to meetings, I just grab the tablet and go. Performance is good

Not a paid shill!

I have the Surface Pro 3 as my primary desktop system. This is the note that I sent to our computer support staff when I specced-out what I wanted:

Surface Pro 3 does indeed have a docking station (looks pretty complete):
http://www.amazon.com/Microsof...

With this device, I can replicate my current office setup:
DisplayPort 1.2 Multi-Stream Transport (MST) hub

Here’s a link for one model:
http://www.club-3d.com/index.p...

This supports two external monitors. The tablet acts as a third monitor. You can actually support two without the hub, but that would entail plugging in a connector every time I return to the office.

With an 8-GB RAM, and 512 GB storage model, I can pretty much duplicate my current laptop and docking station.
http://www.amazon.com/Microsof...

I've been rather pleased with this setup. When I go to meetings, I just grab the tablet and go. Performance is good

Not a paid shill!

They provide students access to equipment at school, the op is asking for options for them to be able to work from home. For the most part $50 is going to be the very bottom, but will usually need some things added on to make them really usable, a $50 tablet is going to suck for typing reports without a USB-to-go cable and keyboard.

Something like the Stream 7 tablet at $100 (sometimes less) would be close, but fails the hdmi output they are wanting. Realistically they are looking at $75-$150 to get a decently usable general purpose type of system. The lower end requiring more assembly type of work and technical knowledge.

I think the HP Stream 7 is a very workable device, and often goes on sale for $80 or less. HDMI will become less of an issue with wireless display to SmartTVs (or cheap HDMI dongles that turn regular TVs and projectors to SmartTVs)

Reposting from yesterday's "Best Tablet?" thread:

I'm pretty happy with our HP Stream 7 that we picked up early this year. Win10 on it is fine. Win8.x wasn't as much of a pain as people would lead you to believe. The OSK is still crap, though (even after enabling the hidden full 104-key virtual keyboard), so I threw a bluetooth keyboard and also a nice mouse at it.

$20 BT keyboard http://www.amazon.com/Jelly-Co...
$30 BT mouse http://www.amazon.com/Microsof...

Runs Steam fine, much of my 2D game library works well. People have reported success getting it to boot Linux. Its main limitation is the 1GB of RAM which preempts a lot of multitasking, but for that price, you can buy one tablet for each app you want to run and line them up on your desk and walls and laugh maniacally.

The nice thing about the current proliferation of smartphones and tablets is that, unlike old power-hungry PCs, they're still pretty useful after you retire them to a life as a digital photo frame or weather station or garage door opener or baby monitor or dashcam or whatever.

They provide students access to equipment at school, the op is asking for options for them to be able to work from home. For the most part $50 is going to be the very bottom, but will usually need some things added on to make them really usable, a $50 tablet is going to suck for typing reports without a USB-to-go cable and keyboard.

Something like the Stream 7 tablet at $100 (sometimes less) would be close, but fails the hdmi output they are wanting. Realistically they are looking at $75-$150 to get a decently usable general purpose type of system. The lower end requiring more assembly type of work and technical knowledge.

I think the HP Stream 7 is a very workable device, and often goes on sale for $80 or less. HDMI will become less of an issue with wireless display to SmartTVs (or cheap HDMI dongles that turn regular TVs and projectors to SmartTVs)

Reposting from yesterday's "Best Tablet?" thread:

I'm pretty happy with our HP Stream 7 that we picked up early this year. Win10 on it is fine. Win8.x wasn't as much of a pain as people would lead you to believe. The OSK is still crap, though (even after enabling the hidden full 104-key virtual keyboard), so I threw a bluetooth keyboard and also a nice mouse at it.

$20 BT keyboard http://www.amazon.com/Jelly-Co...
$30 BT mouse http://www.amazon.com/Microsof...

Runs Steam fine, much of my 2D game library works well. People have reported success getting it to boot Linux. Its main limitation is the 1GB of RAM which preempts a lot of multitasking, but for that price, you can buy one tablet for each app you want to run and line them up on your desk and walls and laugh maniacally.

The nice thing about the current proliferation of smartphones and tablets is that, unlike old power-hungry PCs, they're still pretty useful after you retire them to a life as a digital photo frame or weather station or garage door opener or baby monitor or dashcam or whatever.

USB video card

Also available as USB 3.0 for better performance.

Yeah, no one wants to fix a $250 computer. Devolving it back into constituent parts for recycling is also devilishly difficult. If your warranty doesn't replace it, then you're screwed, and must dispose of it and buy a replacement, perhaps in that order.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/produ...

I recently purchased one of those ($349 directly from Amazon).

For $349, I got a nice 15.6" notebook with a nice 1080p display, a nice Core i3 CPU, 4GB of RAM, 500GB hard drive, DVD burner, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and it even comes with 1 year of accidental damage protection.

I did replace the 500GB hard drive with a SSD, but lord that was a PITA. You have to more or less take the whole bloody thing apart, split the case in half, take off the keyboard, etc. It is doable, but not by the average consumer.

By comparison, my last Dell notebook had a cover on the bottom where the HDD was and it was a 5 min swap.

Still, I got a lot of computer for the money, but if it ever breaks outside of the warranty, it likely will be tossed out rather than repaired, since I'll be able to get a better one for the same, or less money.

Yes, that is a shame, since it should at least be recycled. But the cost to recycle that computer properly likely exceeds the value of the raw materials that went into it.

Would something like this work?

http://www.amazon.com/COLAPAD-...

That comes the closest to being a real possibility at a workable price of anything I see on this whole page of mostly bullshit posts. Congratulations. The fundamental problem I see is, how would you attach a $7-8 keyboard? I don't see any sign that it has Bluetooth, and seems to only have micro USB, and it's not a given that it can do any more than accept a charger.

My feeling is that a Raspberry Pi is about the best option you're going to find. This is what it was designed for, after all.

Agreed, they're known systems unlike whatever one could dumpster dive (in many places you are NOT going to find computers dumpster diving) or get at goodwill...if your goodwill/resale shop even has any computers. Some don't take them in.

Yes, you need at least a power supply and a flash card to make it work. Those will cost a few dollars extra. You can live without a case for a while if you're careful with it. The mouse and keyboard are generic items that can usually be scrounged up somewhere. Then use a TV for the monitor, just like we did back in the old Atari and Commodore days.

powerlord above mentions this kit, which comes with practically everything except a Pi 2 composite cable for those who don't have a display with HDMI:

http://www.amazon.com/CanaKit-...

Then use a TV for the monitor, just like we did back in the old Atari and Commodore days.

(classic insensitive clod joke follows) I use a TV for monitor now you insensitive clod!

It's true that the Pi is a "some assembly required" system, but at least every system is the same and there are tutorial manuals available

The kit above comes with a manual. I'm tempted to pick one up myself, if only to have a little debian box.

Yes, but to do that required a normal sized computer case that you could open and swap parts in.

Lots of new computers are coming in small form factors that won't enable you to do that.

http://www.amazon.com/Intel-NU...

That one for example, you won't be able to change the Ethernet card in that.

That said, I think there's a real limitation as to what can be achieved at such low pricepoints. At about the $170 range you can have a decent screen, processor, storage, and RAM. As you go below that price point things have to be sacrificed.

I think screenless is the best way to get to the sub $100 dollar or even sub $50 range. Most people have access to a TV or monitor.
I like the zotac ci320 zbox but it's over $100 and overkill for what this person is looking for. The better solution would be some sort of hdmi dongle.
A quick amazon search turned up this: http://www.amazon.com/Androset... as well as several
mentions of "finless bob roms". Not sure if they are any good but I would think that would be a good starting point.

On a side note, I have an entire basement full of computers that are faster than most current tablets but are basically worthless.
I could probably sell them for $50-$75 each but it would likely cost me more in labor to get them up and running to a usable state and
unless it's someone local, shipping heavy computers at $20+ a pop makes it even less worth while.
If anyone has recommendations of how to do something productive with several dozen decade old computers running windows XP, let me know.

Would something like this work?

http://www.amazon.com/COLAPAD-...

1) Find old Salvation army computers and toss linux on them. This option is probably the cheapest but requires the most time sink from someone to set up.

2) Go for something like http://www.amazon.com/CanaKit-... (if you can find cheap/free monitors/keyboards/mice). If you can overcome the expense of the monitors/keyboards/mice (find cheap supply or have them donated), this is probably the best time/cost option. The number of parts are really small, and the kits can probably be pre-assembled on a sunday with volunteer labor if you are afraid putting them together might be too much for the students.

3) Otherwise, as you noted, you're in Chromebook territory. Perhaps a fundraiser/sponsorship or some way of trying to subsidize them for the whole class might bring the cost per unit down into the more affordable range for your under-privaleged students (without single them out)?

it's a well-known issue

https://www.ifixit.com/Answers...

amazon said they'd give me $15 off the purchase of a new one because it doesn't charge any more. instead i purchased the $5 repair USB port:

http://www.amazon.com/Charging...

looked through some videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

and tried it out

in the first 15 minutes, i succesfully broke a tiny plasticzif connector:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

great, nothing to see here, move along, cross your fingers it will stay with some rubber cement

then i made a hilariously inept attempt to solder tiny connections of the new USB port with a fat soldering iron and some eye glass repair magnifying glass

but lo and behold it worked. it charged! ...for half an hour. now it's dead as a door knob

here's the real issue:

i don't have the time to do this shit, and the cost of modern electronics makes the cost of new electronics compared to the time investment to attempt a repair means repair is not an option

go to repair places and the cost of a repair is also prohibitively expensive as compared to the cost of a new item

therefore: welcome to our throwaway culture

i tried. i really did

i just don't have the time or patience anymore, not to join now myself

sorry

What other software would you want to transplant to Linux, if any?

You mean besides MS Office?

Well, I use Quickbooks for accounting, I use TurboTax for my taxes, I use AmazonMusic to listen to music, etc.

Actually, let me focus on that last one for a minute...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/featu...

There is the download page for the desktop version of Amazon Music, a wonderful free app that lets you listen to both your own music (either downloaded or streaming), as well as a large collection of Prime Music, either specific songs or "stations" similar to Pandora.

They have a Windows version and a Mac version, but no Linux version.

It is a small example of the problem with Linux. Even if you find a replacement for MS Office (hard to do for a business, it really isn't the same), Quickbooks (fine if you're not invested in it already and don't have a CPA that you have to send the files to), etc.

There are many small programs that really only have a Windows version, and sometimes a Mac version. Yes, you can play your music in a web browser, but it isn't the same.

---

Linux is a nice idea, and on a techie site like this people love to talk about it, but it isn't really an option for most people because of the above.

Whenever I read about some new archeological site that is deemed to be of religious importance, I think of this wonderful piece of satire (great art too) about uncovering the remains of 1980s hotel in the year 4022:

http://www.amazon.com/Motel-My...

http://coursesa.matrix.msu.edu...

Great stuff. Especially the picture of the archaeologist demonstrating how to wear the ceremonial toilet seat, I mean head dress.

http://coursesa.matrix.msu.edu...
http://people.virginia.edu/~sf...

True sine wave UPSes do not cost $300. I also run WD green drives in my FreeNAS box with RAIDZ2 with no issue. You just have to turn off the head parking.

Personal suggestion. Get yourself a low powered atom based machine and run pfsense on it. Yes you will have a steeper learning curve but the outcome is better. Depending on what your internet connection actually is will depend on whether you need dual gigabit nics or whether you can get away with a USB ethernet dongle. There are a gazillion mini-itx atom boards with dual nics or you can buy something pre-made such as http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Fa...

You are looking at an investment of a couple of hundred all up but you will spend $100+ for a decent router anyway.

PfSense isn't too bad to learn and the default install options are pretty good. Even without a strong linux knowledge you should be up and running and happy in a couple of hours.

I'm pretty happy with the HP Stream 7, which can be had for $80 or sometimes less. Win10 on it is fine. Win8.x wasn't as much of a pain as people would lead you to believe. The OSK is crap, though (even with the hidden full keyboard), so I threw a bluetooth keyboard and mouse at it.

http://www.amazon.com/Jelly-Co...
http://www.amazon.com/Microsof...

Runs Steam fine, much of my 2D game library works well. People have reported success getting it to boot Linux. Its main limitation is the 1GB of RAM which limits multitasking, but for that price, you buy one tablet for each app you want to run and line them up on your desk and walls and laugh maniacally.

The nice thing about the proliferation of smartphones and tablet is that, unlike old power-hungry PCs, they're still pretty useful after you retire them to a life as a digital photo frame or weather station or garage door opener or baby monitor or whatever.

I'm pretty happy with the HP Stream 7, which can be had for $80 or sometimes less. Win10 on it is fine. Win8.x wasn't as much of a pain as people would lead you to believe. The OSK is crap, though (even with the hidden full keyboard), so I threw a bluetooth keyboard and mouse at it.

http://www.amazon.com/Jelly-Co...
http://www.amazon.com/Microsof...

Runs Steam fine, much of my 2D game library works well. People have reported success getting it to boot Linux. Its main limitation is the 1GB of RAM which limits multitasking, but for that price, you buy one tablet for each app you want to run and line them up on your desk and walls and laugh maniacally.

The nice thing about the proliferation of smartphones and tablet is that, unlike old power-hungry PCs, they're still pretty useful after you retire them to a life as a digital photo frame or weather station or garage door opener or baby monitor or whatever.

I want my GPS to have a screen saver that I can modify. I'd make it a bobble-head Jesus. Once, while taking a break and driving randomly around the southern part of the United States I searched high and low for a bobble-head Jesus. I could not find one. When I stopped at various Christian book stores and asked, including that giant-ass cross outside of Amarillo, TX, they looked at me as if I were a heretic. I suppose I am but a bobble-head Jesus would be most awesome.

Here you go!

So spend the extra $30 and get the Win HD instead of the JR, which also gets you a bigger screen, more storage, and a GB of RAM. Problem solved. that is the nice thing about BLU phones, they have phones at every price point from $35 to $300, so you can get as much or as little as you like. I'm quite happy with the $100 android myself, no carrier app crap, quad core with a GB of RAM and 8GB of storage and it asked when I put in my MicroSO if I wanted to save my apps to SD, hassle free.

The one you linked to is AT&T ONLY, AT&T starts buttfucking you? Grab your cheeks and spread. With the Blu you can use any carrier you want, I went from a carrier that was using AT&T towers to one using T-Mobile, no problemo. Which to me is a BIG selling feature of these phones as by shopping around you can find no contract service pretty damned cheap these days, I'm on a "pay for what you use" service now and pay between $21-$27 a month which is the cheapest I have ever seen a smartphone plan go for, if I used a GoPhone like what you linked to? My bill would double, no thx.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/produ...

Quads are damn cheap now. It doesn't have transmit capability, but it is about the same size as the drone in TFA.

If you want a cheap Windows phone? BLU makes several models and you can get the quad WinPhone with a GB of RAM for just $91 and those displays are quite nice.

I personally prefer Android myself so i picked up the BLU Studio Mini LTE with the same display and I have to say I'm VERY happy. Good screen, not a single crap app installed, KitKat was ready to download on first boot,good battery life, MicroSD slot for keeping my media, I really have zero complaints with this phone.

So I'd say the rise of the "cheap" smartphones is easy to explain...many of us don't give a shit about using phone brands as status symbols and the new so called "cheapies" do everything we want our phones to do so why would I spend 3-5 times the cost to have a big name label?

If you want a cheap Windows phone? BLU makes several models and you can get the quad WinPhone with a GB of RAM for just $91 and those displays are quite nice.

I personally prefer Android myself so i picked up the BLU Studio Mini LTE with the same display and I have to say I'm VERY happy. Good screen, not a single crap app installed, KitKat was ready to download on first boot,good battery life, MicroSD slot for keeping my media, I really have zero complaints with this phone.

So I'd say the rise of the "cheap" smartphones is easy to explain...many of us don't give a shit about using phone brands as status symbols and the new so called "cheapies" do everything we want our phones to do so why would I spend 3-5 times the cost to have a big name label?

How many people think that relational in relational databases has something to do with how tables "relate" to each other?

Far too many don't have a background in discrete math to understand what a relation is. It is alarming how many people in the field, especially those that work with relational databases, don't have even this basic math background.

Procedural programming is a mathematical model.

OOP is a mathematical model. AOP is a mathematical model.

Functional programming is a mathematical model.

Logical programming is a mathematical model.

Arrays, lists, trees, hashes, graphs are all mathematics.

Neural networks, evolutionary programming, and gasp fuzzy logic are all mathematics.

Everything in programming is mathematics. Saying that a person can be a programmer(a real one, not a copy/paste script kiddie) without a decent math foundation is like saying an actuary can do his job without a strong statistical background because of(ironically) actuarial software.

If you can't see the mathematics in programming, you are not a programmer by any rational definition.

The simple proof is that every program can be run on a Turing machine which is a mathematical model that was used to prove that a mathematical conjecture was not possible.

If you don't have at least a basic understanding of what is in this book, you are not a professional programmer.

Or if you are lazy and not too bright: http://www.amazon.com/Good-Mat...

How many people think that relational in relational databases has something to do with how tables "relate" to each other?

Far too many don't have a background in discrete math to understand what a relation is. It is alarming how many people in the field, especially those that work with relational databases, don't have even this basic math background.

Procedural programming is a mathematical model.

OOP is a mathematical model. AOP is a mathematical model.

Functional programming is a mathematical model.

Logical programming is a mathematical model.

Arrays, lists, trees, hashes, graphs are all mathematics.

Neural networks, evolutionary programming, and gasp fuzzy logic are all mathematics.

Everything in programming is mathematics. Saying that a person can be a programmer(a real one, not a copy/paste script kiddie) without a decent math foundation is like saying an actuary can do his job without a strong statistical background because of(ironically) actuarial software.

If you can't see the mathematics in programming, you are not a programmer by any rational definition.

The simple proof is that every program can be run on a Turing machine which is a mathematical model that was used to prove that a mathematical conjecture was not possible.

If you don't have at least a basic understanding of what is in this book, you are not a professional programmer.

Or if you are lazy and not too bright: http://www.amazon.com/Good-Mat...

I broke the link to the water bottle, here it is.

You could also go the extra mile and distill the water. That both kills and removes the buggers, as well as removes a heaping lot of other garbage too.

There is a largish group of people who believe that distillation somehow makes water poisonous. This is utter ignorance. Distillation makes water pure, and the body *loves* pure water.

Also, in order to avoid the peculiar range of health effects from plastic that has leeched into the water, use something like this stainless-steel water bottle. Incidentally, the distiller linked above never exposes the water to plastic.

Ok, you are welcome.

Only 11 blades to go.

Amazon and New Egg and probably like a million other places.

http://www.amazon.com/XFX-Clos...

Washing machine, you throw a load of laundry set to wash near the end of the day

You mean like this? but with more failure modes and a higher cost?

I have multiple batteries for my laptop and cell phone. Typically, what I'll do is bring as many batteries as is feasible (usually three for my laptop and four for my phone) and fish while writing software. Fishing requires very little active concentration, and it's nice to be able to write code while outside. Most of my trips are not very far from my car though.

Occasionally I'll go on backpacking trips that aren't car-accessible. I have not yet tried to work from one of these trips. I've been looking into the Goal Zero Voltage Inverter and their lightweight solar panels. If I do go this route, I'll likely start out with the solar panel + phone recharger, see how that works, and then get the more expensive voltage inverter and battery. I think it really depends on if you'll have a car available or not. If you have your car, you already have a power generator and the ability to haul heavy stuff.

I own my own software company, so as long as I'm decently responsive I can work from wherever. I kind of agree that for most people going out into nature is a way to not have to focus on those types of concerns. For me, I like being able to work from wherever in the event that I have to pack up and get out quickly.

I think I will get a portable solar cell phone charger, so I can charge my phone from wherever. I live in New Mexico, and the sun in always shining here. There are times when I forget to charge my phone enough, and I'm sitting in my car with the car running so my phone would charge. It would be nice to throw up my solar dash mat, run a wire into my glove box, and put my phone in there while I go inside someplace to do errands.

I have multiple batteries for my laptop and cell phone. Typically, what I'll do is bring as many batteries as is feasible (usually three for my laptop and four for my phone) and fish while writing software. Fishing requires very little active concentration, and it's nice to be able to write code while outside. Most of my trips are not very far from my car though.

Occasionally I'll go on backpacking trips that aren't car-accessible. I have not yet tried to work from one of these trips. I've been looking into the Goal Zero Voltage Inverter and their lightweight solar panels. If I do go this route, I'll likely start out with the solar panel + phone recharger, see how that works, and then get the more expensive voltage inverter and battery. I think it really depends on if you'll have a car available or not. If you have your car, you already have a power generator and the ability to haul heavy stuff.

I own my own software company, so as long as I'm decently responsive I can work from wherever. I kind of agree that for most people going out into nature is a way to not have to focus on those types of concerns. For me, I like being able to work from wherever in the event that I have to pack up and get out quickly.

I think I will get a portable solar cell phone charger, so I can charge my phone from wherever. I live in New Mexico, and the sun in always shining here. There are times when I forget to charge my phone enough, and I'm sitting in my car with the car running so my phone would charge. It would be nice to throw up my solar dash mat, run a wire into my glove box, and put my phone in there while I go inside someplace to do errands.

There are always multiple wars going on in numerous places in the world, constantly. Many of these are being interfered with, instigated, or supported by the US and its allies.

I've got news for you, kid.

It has always been like that and you don't need an imperial power to drive the action, all you need is a sense that you are losing ground against the other.

What Went Wrong?: The Clash Between Islam and Modernity in the Middle East, The Crisis of Islam: Holy War and Unholy Terror

There are always multiple wars going on in numerous places in the world, constantly. Many of these are being interfered with, instigated, or supported by the US and its allies.

I've got news for you, kid.

It has always been like that and you don't need an imperial power to drive the action, all you need is a sense that you are losing ground against the other.

What Went Wrong?: The Clash Between Islam and Modernity in the Middle East, The Crisis of Islam: Holy War and Unholy Terror

I have several of these type of cameras and I can certainly see a red glow coming from the IR LEDs, particularly in the dark (although they generally have a photodiode to turn the IR off during the day). It isn't a red "camera active" LED, pretty sure the only cameras that have those are the fake ones to scare potential criminals. The cameras I'm talking about (and the OP was talking about) look like this, with an array of LEDs in a ring around the camera lens.

I think you have me confused with someone else ...

> As I told you before, we're not in the days of your shitty Apple displays

1. Who said anything about Apple displays??
2. When?

> 10-bit (that's 30-bit A-RGB colorspace) 4K monitors, S-IPS, 28" for $600.

You're talk about %0.001 of users. We're not talking about 10-bit -- we're talking about the claim of 6-bit/channel monitors and wanting proof of _actual_ monitors.

Thanks for the heads up 10-bit displays are finally south of $500 though!

* http://www.amazon.com/Asus-PA2...

I'm still holding out for the "holy grail" of monitors is 10-bit, 120+ Hz refresh rate, 2560x1440, 28"+.

It's hard to get, too, seriously, it's note even on Prime.

Read "Three Felonies a Day" by Harvey Silverglate to understand the fed's rationale. The ends justify the means. After all, Capone ended up in Alcatraz for tax evasion. The book is sickening reading.

http://www.harveysilverglate.c...
http://www.threefeloniesaday.c...
http://www.amazon.com/Three-Fe...

None of this excuses the youngster's behavior.

Check out this amazon review of the fire tv version of twitch:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/custo...

There is no search which is odd considering twitch is owned by amazon.

Why cripple your own app? It works fine on the roku and roku Doesn't own twitch.

Please prove me wrong.

Seriously I would like to be able to search twitch on my fire tv.

who said anything about crippling? Silly people have this silly notion that corporations are less silly.

Who's sillier? The 'silly', or the 'silly' that 'sillies'...wait,what?

oh yeah, the Fire Phone. It had 4 cameras to... do silly things. Silly people at the top really have no freaking clue what silly people at the bottom do.

My point: statistically, attribute more to stupidity than malice.

Yes!

Agreed - a bluetooth connection is all that is really needed, with maybe the ability to act as a larger remote screen (or device mirror) for what's on the phone (for GPS and etc).

Come to think of it, I can buy an aftermarket kit that does that now... (yeah, this one is double-DIN in height, but so is my existing car stereo kit.)

So why buy a car that will have this built-in (and will become obsolete in less than 10 years) when I can just buy a kit that fits into my car now? Hell, I could bolt this under the dash of an old 1960's era car if I wanted to...

bags are cheap, and there are MANY biodegradable dog bags available (ex: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/... )

Quit being an ass and pick up after your dog!

My apartment complex has many stations that are always fully stocked with bags: BUT I actually carry and use my own because it's more convenient than using the stations.

Because of the stations it is VERY rare for there to be poop lying around... even though there are TONS of dogs here.