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Battery Development Off The Beaten Path
Roland Piquepaille writes "Let's face it. Our computing devices are going faster year after year. But our laptop batteries don't show the same performance improvement. They still work only for a few hours, just a little bit more than ten years ago. Several companies want to change this, according to this UPI report, 'Nanotechnology improving energy options.' For example, mPhase Technologies plans to introduce smart batteries based on millions of silicon nanotube electrodes. These nanobatteries, to be introduced before the end of 2005, will last longer than traditional ones and will be respectful of our environment. Meanwhile, Konarka Technologies wants to reduce the weight of batteries with its flexible solar-fueled nanobatteries. You'll find more details and pictures in this overview."
Forget batteries. Why the hell is my FLOPPY DRIVES still read at the speed they did back in the 386 days.
Throw some more heads on there, work some evil voodoo magic, I dont care. I would pay good money for a floppy drive that could read an entire floppy in seconds.
"When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade. Make life take the lemons back!" -- Cave Johnson
Yeah, because that USB drive will only cost me $20+ and then a USB card... another $20. How about just a FASTER DRIVE, so that I can use my still existing floppies.
"When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade. Make life take the lemons back!" -- Cave Johnson
Floppy drives $20? Maybe at your local rob-you-blind computer store. And $1 a floppy? Are you still in 4th grade in the 80's? Hell, EVEN RETAIL they only cost 22 cents a piece. And this is the EXCESSIVELY PRICED example. I KNOW I can find them for a cent a floppy.
Why must the computer I use be modern? A lot of my work involves working on old machines... where a floppy is my #1 tool in booting and diagnosing these things.
And they ARE useful for making boot disks... that right there justifies them. But what about those obscure softwares that HAVE to be installed FROM the floppy drive. How are you getting around that one?
"When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade. Make life take the lemons back!" -- Cave Johnson
I agree, that it is probably due to velocity... so increase the heads, or devise a new means to read off of the media. I mean it HAS BEEN something like 30 years since their creation. Im sure there is better technology now.
On a side note, I HAVE been seeing 2x and 4x USB floppy drives. While these dont suit my personal need, it goes to prove that its possible to increase the speed somehow.
"When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade. Make life take the lemons back!" -- Cave Johnson
"Many of us"... You DO realize thtat people use computers for things OTHER then viewing porn and playing games don't you? A good majority of the US government contracts I have gotten, the department I worked with still used pre-pentium computers with Windows 3.11. They don't change because they don't HAVE to. It works EXACTALLY how it is supposed to. I think there is ageneral misconception that a computer user means "Home gaming geek"
"When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade. Make life take the lemons back!" -- Cave Johnson