The Top Ten Off Switches

Dan Jimbokla submitted a story that normally i would pass over, but I actually oddly enjoyed it. "CNET.co.uk has a truly funny and read-worthy article up about the top ten off switches. One of my favorite switches from the piece is #4 — The illuminated toggle switch: "This switch isn't designed for high-drain uses, typically it can only provide a maximum of 20 amps at 12 volts. That will make it suitable for a number of exciting uses though, and what it lacks in power handling, it makes up for in practicality. This switch will illuminate when the device it controls is turned on, and go off when the device is deactivated. This is logical and practical, and that has earned this switch a place in our hearts. What's more, it's far from expensive and there are even a choice of colors.""

Comments

Toggle FTW!

[stoolpigeon]

Toggle switches rule period. Batman used toggle switches in the batmobile. Fighter pilots flick toggle switches in the movies before they blow up bad guys. The Millenium Falcon probably had a couple hundred thousand toggle switches. Cool electric guitars? They've got a toggle switch. When I built my first model rocket launcher - I think it had 3 toggle switches. A good solid 'click' of the old toggle is just the thing - all other switches pale in comparison. Even the big red button.

Re:Toggle FTW!

[CaseyB]

The only thing better than a regular toggle switch is a toggle switch with a flip-up protective cover. It says "You had better be damn sure of what you're doing before you toggle me. You need executive orders to flip me, and those orders must have been confirmed with the one-time codeword. Lives are at stake, here."

Re:Toggle FTW!

[The_Wilschon]

My favorite kind of switch is the magic kind.

Re:Toggle FTW!

[Kong the Medium]

I watched "Ratatouille" on the weekend. The Prelude was a little gem by Pixar called "Lifted". Not to spoil anything, but this little film featured a toogle switch board with ca. 1000x50 toogle switches, all unlabeled!. The poor sod, who had to operate them got a little bit frustrated. And his superior handled this board as Glen Gould did his piano keys.

Re:Toggle FTW!

[q-the-impaler]

I am not young enough to know everything.
    - Oscar Wilde

Re:FIST!!!

[stoolpigeon]

Apparently I threw the off switch on your attempt. Or did I throw the on switch to your failure? Don't give up though skippy - you'll get there one day.

Top Ten Turn-offs?

[djasbestos]

Usually that's a lead-in to some bullshit dating article...too bad toggle switches don't apply in that field!

That could also be dangerous, as many slashdotters would begin to be able to understand the opposite sex.

Re:Top Ten Turn-offs?

[eln]

I don't know, I'm pretty sure talking about toggle switches on a date would be a pretty big turn off. If you find a girl that isn't turned off by it, you should marry her immediately.

Re:Top Ten Turn-offs?

[Anonymous Coward]

You must be new here...
This is slashdot... if you find any girl, you should marry her immediately.

Pessimistic

[Sockatume]

I prefer to think of them as "on" switches. Err, except the ones which actually are off-only. Obviously.

Slashdot = Biggest Off Switch

[alcmaeon]

Given that the article appears to be already slashdotted, it appears this website is really the biggest, baddest off switch around.

Lighted switch?

[russotto]

An even more useful switch is one which lights up when the device it is controlling is off, and goes dark when it is on. But the #1 switch should be the Frankenstein-style knife switch. Nothing says fun like exposed very-high-current conductors.

Re:Glass half empty?

[faloi]

I believe we're no longer allowed to refer to them as "kill" switches, there's an obvious implication of violence. We have to refer to them as unpower switches.

Thankfully I'm not serious...yet.

Re:In the era of managed shutdown...

[gazbo]

Windows 95 was released over a decade ago. That should help to give you a bound on when the start/shutdown "joke" ceased to be funny or original.

Maybe you should branch into other areas of observational comedy: I hear Alanis Morissette has a song about things being ironic that is ripe for parody by a man of your talents.

Re:Slashdotted?

[Tteddo]

Wow! That brought me back to nuke school!
SCRAM Safety Control Rod Axe Man

Re:Do relays count?

[LM741N]

No I mean vacuum relay. But the hydrogen thyratron is the fastest (as I'm being entered into the no-fly list)

Re:controls logic

[zippthorne]

Obviously, he's management. Notice how he thinks that "closed" means "off."

Re:controls logic

[darthflo]

This may just be me, but I'd rather use an antigravitational switch for that. Locking the magnet to "on" might crush whomever's between magnet and load while "off" would crush the person underneath it. Hovering seems the best alternative to me.

Re:Slashdotted?

[Fear the Clam]

SCRAM - Get off my lawn, you kids!

Re:Confusing Switches

[Rob the Bold]

Ah, but if you see it as a circle and a horizontal line instead of a numerals 0 and 1, then that logic doesn't work.

Please rotate user 90 degrees.

History Eraser Button

[ukemike]

The best off button EVER:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhzvCyhkg8c

See this button?
DON'T TOUCH IT!
It's the History Eraser Button you fool !
--so what'll happen ?
That's just it! We don't know.
Maybe something bad...maybe something good
I guess we'll never know.
Cause you're going to guard it.
You won't touch it, will you?

[narrator]
Oh, how long can trusty Cadet Stimpy hold out?
How can he possibly resist the diabolical urge to push the button that could erase his very existence?
Will his tortured mind give in to it's uncontrollable desires?
Can he withstand the temptation to push the button, that even now, beckons him ever closer?
Will he succumb to the maddening urge to eradicate history, at the mere push of a single button?
The beautiful shiny button.
The jolly candy-like button.
Will he hold out, folks?
Can he hold out?