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I've been myopic with serious astigmatism all my life, and am just getting into presbyopia. I have tried bifocals, and can't wear them for any length of time without serous eye strain - I see fine when using the appropriate sections of the lens, but after a few minutes of normal wear, my eyes start to sting. I've endured this for a week at a time in the hopes I'd adapt - no dice. Maybe a few years from now, when my corneas go completely stiff and my eye muscles give up on bending them, I could do bifocals. Right now, I'd love to try something like this, or clip-on, flip-up bifocals.

It's not RMS' fault that IBM ruined a perfectly good keyboard layout by moving the "Caps Lock" key to where Ctrl should be. But I suppose that made more sense for their COBOL userbase which was probably larger than their AIX at the time. So, you can either remap your keys or get a keyboard with the Ctrl keys in the correct location. IIRC, the Happy Hacker keyboard is set up this way as is this one: http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/linux101.html The latter has the bonus feature of using buckling spring keys.

> The article says Caps Lock may be next on the agenda; death is too good for Caps Lock.

Unicomp bought and still run the original IBM keyboard factory in the US. They've been offering a variant with a demoted-CAPSLOCK key and a bigger control key in its place for Linux heads: http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/linux101.html

This is the original buckling spring keyboard - the one with the glorious clickety-click sound as you type. They also offer the original keyboard (with the big CAPSLOCK key) too: http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/cus101usenon.html

I want to know just whose idea it was to put a CAPSLOCK key on the keyboard in the first place. I want to know the name and face of the IBM Engineer who did it. They can join MSDOS's Tim Paterson's '\' vs '/' in the Hall of Shame for the stupidest decisions with the most hurt in computing history.

> The article says Caps Lock may be next on the agenda; death is too good for Caps Lock.

Unicomp bought and still run the original IBM keyboard factory in the US. They've been offering a variant with a demoted-CAPSLOCK key and a bigger control key in its place for Linux heads: http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/linux101.html

This is the original buckling spring keyboard - the one with the glorious clickety-click sound as you type. They also offer the original keyboard (with the big CAPSLOCK key) too: http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/cus101usenon.html

I want to know just whose idea it was to put a CAPSLOCK key on the keyboard in the first place. I want to know the name and face of the IBM Engineer who did it. They can join MSDOS's Tim Paterson's '\' vs '/' in the Hall of Shame for the stupidest decisions with the most hurt in computing history.

That's a primo 80gb drive. The spinning disk equivalent is here. That's right, 147gb for $955.00. There is an HP drive at the same size for $320, but they only list the Ultra320 spec, not actual transfer rates, so I'm suspicious of it. In any case, U320 Raid controllers are $200+ as well. Double the capacity and sequential speed (NO spinning disk touches a SSD for random seeks, 2-3ms vs 0.1ms), 3-4x the price. Raid0 with two top of the line SSDs would be cheaper and less likely to fail than one of these drives, and would have the same capacity and speed. SSDs are also silent, these drives are the opposite of silent. You actually need hearing protection if you will be working near them on a day-to-day basis.

To match the performance of that 80gb drive with consumer level gear, you would need 3 decent 80gb SataII in a Raid0 configuration. Granted, that gets you a lot more capacity, but in most cases you will also need a $100 raid controller also. At $80-$100 a pop (cheapest 10krpm drive I could find, cost per gig drops as you go higher but price always rises) You are looking at between $340 and $400. You also have 4x the failure risk with no fault tolerance. A single drive goes and all the data is gone. Add to the fact that the mean time between failures is about 3-5 years on these drives, versus about 130+ years for the SSD, and your advantages start to disappear.

To take care of the reliability issues, you can certainly go with a Raid10 or Raid5 configuration - Raid5 won't cost you anything more but only provides a little fault tolerance, Raid10 will provide great fault tolerance and great speed, but also requires 6 disks minimum (don't quote me, but it's at least 4), so you're now looking at almost double the price, and probably a beefier RAID card, but maybe not.

In other words, it depends on what you use it for. For capacity, nothing beats slow spinning disc. For speed, it's cheaper to RAID up 2-3 SSD drives in a 0 config (very high MTBF of SSD justifies this, it would be suicide with conventional) than anything else you can do.

Baseball for Windows still exists. http://apba.stores.yahoo.net/basforwin.html The most recent version is 5.5 and they keep promising an upgrade but it hasn't happened yet.

May I also suggest Yahoo/IBM's OmniFind as a free as beer alternative?

Weep away, but you might be able to console yourself with one of these: http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/cus101usenon.html

From Wikipedia: In 1995, Graham and Robert Morris founded Viaweb, the first application service provider (ASP). Viaweb's software, originally written mostly in Common Lisp, allowed users to make their own Internet stores. In the summer of 1998 Viaweb was sold to Yahoo! for 455,000 shares of Yahoo! stock, valued at $49.6 million.[2] At Yahoo! the product became Yahoo! Store.

In sorting a terabyte, Hadoop beat Google's time (62 versus 68 seconds). For the petabyte sort, Google was faster (6 hours versus 16 hours). The hardware is of course different. (from Yahoo's blog and Google's blog)

Terabyte:
    Machines: Yahoo 1,407 Google 1,000
    Disks: Yahoo 5,628 Google 12,000
Petabyte:
    Machines: Yahoo 3658 Google 4000
    Disks: 14,632 Google: 48,000

Yahoo published their network specifications, but Google did not. Clearly the network speed is very relevant.

The two take away points are: Hadoop is getting faster and it is closing in on Google's performance and scalability.

Looks like it. they're all borked. Every single one of them. I said so in the title, and I only bother reading the title in Slashdot stories these days.

http://4onlineshop.stores.yahoo.net/an5insax1ram.html
The ANS9010 and 9010B suffer no such issues since they are ram-based. They also have a CF backup slot in addition to a backup battery. Very slick and a better solution for a boot drive than a typical SSD if you absolutely must have maximum speed. Pricing with RAM is comparable to an enterprise-level SSD, just roughly 1/2 to 1/4 the capacity is all.

Yes, we know the Model M and buckling spring keyboards are the best, but can Unicomp please make their web site not suck? I always point people to their web site and have to attach the disclaimer "their web site sucks, but their keyboards absolutely rock."

They have a model with a trackball. Talking about old school, I still don't understand why almost everybody all of a sudden started to use mice :) Now what I would like to see is an infrared keyboard with a big trackball right of the numpad. And a powerful slate (with top graphics card and huge HD - I don't care about weight) to go with that - such a setup would replace all my laptop and desktop needs with just two items to carry around.

http://cooldrives.stores.yahoo.net/xb2usb20enha.html

Buy Apple:

1. They have demonstrated that they will investigate and correct any serious allegations of human rights abuse at factories that create their iPod. Contracts with suppliers stipulate humane working conditions and pay. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPod#Allegations_of_worker_exploitation for a summary and additional citations.

2. They have long demonstrated a commitment to environmentally sound products and processes. See http://www.apple.com/environment/ for lots of information and time lines.

3. Their newish flat, aluminum keyboards have been called the best keyboard ever.

Buy Unicomp:
1. They make the notorious Customizer, a.k.a. IBM Model M, on the same machines the originals were built on in Kentucky in the U.S. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicomp for information about the company and http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/keyboards.html to buy the product.

BTW, if you're looking for a new Type M, made in the Kentucky, go here. There was a story on NPR recently about Unicomp and their versions of the Type M-- they're the only ones making them anymore.

http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/cu104ps2.html
http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/cus101usenon.html
nice new "original" IBM Model-Ms by Unicomp ...

http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/cu104ps2.html
http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/cus101usenon.html
nice new "original" IBM Model-Ms by Unicomp ...

I'll just shill for Unicomp, then, if that's all right with you.

BTW model M style keyboards are still produced though the rights have been sold off to a smaller company. Furthermore they now do a USB model!

http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/cus101usenon.html

Here you go.

Hint: You can plug any USB keyboard into any Mac (including MacBooks) with a USB port.

I recommend this one, which has 2 downstream USB ports on it, but YMMV.

But the mouse equivalent = http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/ibm2butmous.html

Gets next to no love? I think this is the BEST mouse for EVERY occasion (Though it seems to be best suited for matching that god awfully huge clicky keyboard).

http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/en104wh.html

you just lost $99

Today's common keyboards are very programmer-hostile.

Tell me about it. They don't even have the APL symbols on them. How lame is that?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_M_Keyboard - About the keyboards. http://shop.ebay.com/items/?_nkw=model+m+keyboard&_sacat=0&_fromfsb=&_trksid=m270.l1313&_odkw=model+m&_osacat=0 - Ebay availability http://www.clickykeyboard.com/ - Used Model M Retailer http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/keyboards.html - Unicomp Model M Keyboards (using the same machinery that made the originals)

Post Up is correct. The screwnuts who wrote this article didn't include the IBM Model M, or the Unicomp replacement - the one I'm using at the moment. Do yourself a favor, get an IBM Model M.

It looks like Google saw Yahoo crowing about winning the 1 TB sort contest using Hadoop and decided to one up them!

Let's see if Yahoo responds!

And how big is that fridge? Hotel minibar or hotel kitchen? I have seen fridges that hold 8 cans. I have seen dual door fridges that were much larger. Then there are the walk in fridges and even ones that are actualy a storehouse.

Your browser sucks. http://www.reallifecomics.com/ sets an ETag for every page.

Yes, but "ETags" have their own set of problems. And it's been my observation that if I haven't visited that site for more than a day, it has to reload _every_ _frigging_ page element. I haven't looked further into that, but figured that since there are so many web developers that don't understand caching, Greg was just one of them.

I suppose setting the "Expires" header could be even more cache-friendly

The huge advantage "Expires" has is that it allows the browser not to send any request at all.

How about an FF plugin that tells everyone were you are.

http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/en104wh.html

If you would read the book you would find that your code contains a few definite "don't do that, that is bad practice" statements (at least according to Crockford).

If we take away the fact that there are several global variables created, the most problematic thing is that the code creates "elements.length" number of functions -> memory consuming, when it is easy to avoid.

There are several videos on YDN theatre which discuss many of the subjects the reviewer mentions (these screencasts came before the book). After I watched one I ended up watching just about all of them. See and listen to http://developer.yahoo.net/blogs/theater/archives/douglas_crockford/

and you will start to understanding javascript... not just write stuff what seems to work.

If you want to see if you write "good" javascript try "jslint" written by Crockford http://www.jslint.com/ But like the site says "WARNING: JSLint may hurt your feelings."

http://developer.yahoo.net/blog/archives/2007/07/yahoo-hadoop.html

Besides, Google's search engine doesn't run on MapReduce - they use MapReduce to build the indexes. The key with Google is the GFS...

The geek sees only code.

The owner sees an RPG like Fallout - which he may want to return to somewhere down the road. He has a brand name to protect. He may even have a market.

He sees the tangible and intagible assets of his game as a whole.

iD has been generous in opening up aging game engines. But if you want to play the games that made iD's reputation you have to buy them. 3D Realms Entertainment

I just received a Unicomp Endurapro: the Customizer with an additional pointer stick. I love it!

You don't have to pay $130+shipping for Das Keyboard. You can get it from thinkgeek.com for $80+shipping. It's out of stock right now

1. It is currently on sale for $99 at Das Keyboard.

2. Have keyboard aficionados forsaken the Happy Hacker keyboard? I love the HH Lite 2: good key response and feel, better placement of the control key, and no numeric pad (so it sits nicely in my lap for wrist-resting typing).

> Why don't they sell keyboards without these stupid windows-keys?

"They" do. It's a 101-key keyboard. Here's one from Unicomp (made on the same specs and equipment as the Model M's) and you can even get it without the clicky noise, if you're a pansy.

http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/cus101usenon.html

I got one in black (not available anymore, apparently?) and it's fantastic.

Agreed. I'm typing this from a Unicomp Customizer right now. It's basically built in the old IBM Model M keyboard factory (the employees bought the division and spun it off into its own company).

The external keyboard casing is thick plastic instead of solid metal, but it's still sturdier than most computer peripherals you'll run across. And as a bonus, mine has a USB interface instead of an AT connector.

I use a Mac, so I actually wanted the Windows keys. However, I didn't want the stupid Microsoft logo on a keyboard for my Mac. For $10 extra Unicomp actually made me two replacement keycaps that say "Command" on them and provided a free blank keycap. I popped off the three Windows keys and replaced these with the new ones, and now it's just perfect.

As with the Das Keyboard, on a Mac the alt and command keys are reversed. You can easily fix this in the System Preferences -> Keyboard and Mouse settings though. In OS X Leopard, they've even added a per-keyboard mapping option so I don't have to unswap the buttons every time I take my laptop out and use the built-in keyboard.

I've also found that keeping my old Apple keyboard around has been useful, I plug it in during conference calls. Otherwise when I start clicking away on the keys everyone stops and asks what that sound is.

Overall though, this is the best keyboard I've ever owned. It's just fun to type on, and if you're sitting at a computer all day long, that's worth something. The Unicomp keyboard sells for around $70. I'm sure you could get them to send you a set of blank keycaps for a little extra money if having blank keys is important to you.

It's worth noting to that the key action is a little bit different between the Das Keyboard and the Unicomp Customizer. The Unicomp uses the exact same technology found in the legendary IBM Model M keyboards. Das Keyboard uses something else that is also supposed to be very good, but they're not exactly the same thing. I haven't personally tried both so I can't comment either way on that one. I'm sure it probably boils down to personal preference.

I don't work for them or anything like that, I'm just a guy that got tired of replacing keyboards every few months.

For reference, this is the exact keyboard I'm referring to: Unicomp Customizer 104

The Model M style buckling spring keyboards often don't have the Windows key. I have one myself. Also, someone mentioned Unicomp above, they have several keyboards that fit the bill.

Unicomp still makes the old-fashioned keyboards ... unfortunately, looking at their lists, most of the 101 and 102 key ones are PS2 or AT, not USB. They have a 'linux' model, but from the description I'm not sure if any of them are available as USB:

http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/keyboards.html

(and if you're scared of the springs -- they have quiet keyboards, too)

You should use this chance to upgrade to the Neuvo Model M.

Just sayin'.

P.s. English isn't my first language !

Your English is no doubt better than my what-ever-you-speak-originally. Depending on your original language, Unicomp also has the Customizer 102/3 keyboard with German, Italian, and Spanish layouts, as well as UK English.

P.s. English isn't my first language !

Your English is no doubt better than my what-ever-you-speak-originally. Depending on your original language, Unicomp also has the Customizer 102/3 keyboard with German, Italian, and Spanish layouts, as well as UK English.

And yes, there are models without Windoze keys. That would be requirement. And models with integrated trackpoints! Whee. And... wait for it... a Linux layout! With no Windows keys, and Ctrl where it's supposed to be (where Caps Lock is on a PC keyboard).

I still have an original loud clicker. Cost me £55 in 1999.

While the Model M is not immortal, it is as close to immortal as any keyboard or piece of computer equipment ever was.

I have a few old Model M keyboards... still running. I bought my mother a computer 15 years ago or so, and gave her a (used) Model M with it. She has went through numerous computers, and still uses that same Model M (it turned 22 years old this past February). She wont give it away, she wont sell it, she wont part with it for any reason. Her computer dies, she gets a new one, chucks the keyboard that comes with it and plugs in the Model M. Doesn't bat an eye over replacing a computer every few years... doesn't have any intention of ever replacing her Model M and expects it to outlast her next few computers (which it probably will).

Interestingly, as her's is a lot older than the Model M's and M13s I have, the click is very unique in comparison. About as loud, but more metallic/click sounding.

I used to have a few dozen of them (bought a box full of them). I had one "test" keyboard, which we tried killing... we'd walk on it (ok, that's nothing for a Model M... but we had to try), we drove over it with an Isuzu Trooper (well, the guy driving hit the gas and it shot out from under the back wheel across the parking lot... minor scratches on the bottom)... we put it in front of a city bus' rear wheels and watched as the bus edged up on it waiting for a traffic light to change, and then drove off... still worked of course. Finally, we launched it off a 3 story roof... as far outwards as we could throw it (musta went a few hundred feet horizontal, in addition to the three story drop)... picking up the keycaps and such was not fun. Though we did manage to shatter the outer case (and couldnt find a few keycaps), it still worked. We took a small torch to the plastic... weird stuff, that plastic... it's surface bubbled and browned, but we would have had to hold the torch to it for quite a long time to melt through, so we gave up.

A sledge hammer managed to damage the plastic keycap plate enough in a few areas to stop some keys from working... but then again, most people dont run over their keyboards or hit them repeatedly with sledge hammers.

We did have a few in the box we bought that had some issues... most seemed to be screwed up springs from being jammed in with so many others (fallen off keycaps and bent, damaged or missing springs).

This is being typed on my Model M13 - a youngin by Model M standards (10 years old this June). Our other Model M is 16 years old, and our other Model M13s are 12-13 years old (2 beige, one black).

My fave is the Model M13 black or Model M in olive-grey (heh - find one of those... I'm trying ever since I missed out on buying one of 6 that were on sale a few years ago).

My only problem with the M13's is that the Trackpoints seem to "die" on them (they get pegged to a corner or side of the screen... sometimes fixable by re-gluing it to the keycap plate... sometimes not). Still trying to figure out where I can get new Trackpoint sticks to fix two of them...

As a side note, from what I understand, you can still get the UniComps without the Windows key. I prefer the standard Model M/M13 layout (no extra keys).

The standard 101 key Model M clones are at:
(white) http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/cus101usenon.html
They dont seem to have the black ones for sale in 101 key layout anymore...

Funny thing is they sell their Model M clone with an optional "Enhanced" mushy switch option (ie: no clicky mechanical spring). I dont think they understand the meaning of the word enhanced.

I type 12 hours a day, every day... and will not use anything but a Model M/M13 unless absolutely necessary. Once you get used to the click (which does serve a purpose and increases typing speed), you find that you look at the keyboard or screen a lot less when typing, you make less mistakes, and you type faster. I can hit ov

Well, the Customizer's keys are easy to pop off as well... haven't you RTFA?

*looks at site URL*

Of course you haven't - what was I dr^wthinking?

As for the superfluous Windows keys - they've got that covered, too...

(Typing this on an PS/2 IBM keyboard that says it was manufactured somewhere in 98... still nice...)

np: Autechre - Tkakanren (Quaristice.Quadrange.ep.ae)

The buckling spring is what gives the keyboard a satisfying feel when typing. I'm very much not a fan of the mushy "quiet" keyboards. There's just such a satisfying feel when typing on something that feels like it could be attached to a typewriter. :)

The Model M's were the first keyboards I learned on and I was pleased as punch to find out people were still making them all these years later.

I don't know about this new version they have but the one I bought is here: http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/cus101usenon.html

Solid, durable, not likely to crap out on you. Not a slashvertisement but a testimonial.

I actually prefer Unicomp's Endurapro. Same buckling springs, but with an integrated mouse. Saves me from carpal tunnel.... well that and a reasonably ergonomic desk setup. Endurapro at work, endurapro at home :)

Unicomp also make keyboards with a 'nipple' pointing device in the middle like on Thinkpads. The Endurapro is buckling spring with pointing device and is available as USB. The only downside is that they can't ship the USB version outside the USA.

I'd like to get one but currently I have a good stock of Model Ms for my typing needs.

What I really want to use is the old PC or PC-XT keyboard - buckling spring but even heavier and better built than the Model M. However the electronics are different. I think I saw an adapter on sale for $100 somewhere but that's a bit steep.