Washing your keyboard in the dishwasher is a *very* bad idea for several good technical reasons. The inner workings of most modern "quiet" bubble dome keyboards is usually one(1) chip, and three thin mylar membranes. The key presses down on the "bubble dome" which pushes the top membrane through a hole in the second to make contact with a land pattern on the third. If you get water between those thin mylar sheets it will not air dry for six months... if ever. Not to mention the "chip" is very sensitive. Shorting it makes it stop working, and usually destroys it. The second problem is that soap film residue from the dishwasher will cause the keytops to stick without mercy. Having said all that... there are some modern "sealed" keyboards... but they are like sealed
Timex watches... there is no guarantee, and all it takes is a "drop" of water to can the keyboard. The proper way to clean the keyboard is to disassemble it, remove the sensitive guts, and then wash the "top" and "keytops " with clean fresh water... no soap... allow to thoroughly dry... and then reassemble. Uh, no, I will never be placing my keyboard into the dishwasher... ever. Words to the wise.
Your printer analogy is not as helpful as it might be, because you are working from a misunderstanding common of those who do not use MAC OSX nor Linux. Yes, unguarded (ports open) or physical access is breached, or obscure vulnerability-- may allow someone to place a root-kit on the kernel... however, Linux nor MAC OSX are vulnerable to the common virus, trojan, worm, etc. There are several reasons for this... mostly in regard to proper kernel design. What some of us were expecting from Microsoft after five years was a kernel redesign (yes, a rework) that would allow explicit control of all ports (without third party AV), execute permissions that do not depend on filename extensions but *only* on access control lists or permission bits, and an OS kernel that is unbound from the desktop. Vista is disappointing because its just a re-wrap of the same old stuff--- it still needs a third party AV. The secret that most non *nix folks do not understand is that Linux and MAC OSX do *not* need a third party AV. [ Microsoft hopes you will not believe this of course, but it is true. ] Microsoft could have put some time and effort (say money) into building a solid kernel, instead of building eye candy and annoying confirmation dialogs.
The important thing to remember here is that Microsoft had five(5) years to make the base OS more secure [ without an AV installed ] which might make it "similar" to Mac OSX or to any distribution of Linux. In other words, without an AV installed Vista is showing *worse* than XP, and way worse than any *nix installation--- which after the much touted newer better more improved security rich Vista--- is very disappointing.
Yes, folks are taking shots at microsoft--- some of which is not fair. But common folks, after five(5) years and millions and millions of bucks they sure could have done better than this-- really. Its not Microsoft bashing--- its true and its fair.
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=29 757
The point is not whether the earth will completely cool, nor how long this might take. The point is that the earth's core is venting in part via the "ring of fire" and other cracks and volcanic activity. The natural "cooling" or transmission of core thermal energy (and gases, mostly green-house type gases) to the atmosphere has more to do with global climate shift than any other single or combined human activity; this of course smacks against the current political climate.
I cannot believe this character Coumo is picking on Dell... their service has seemed good to me (many other US companies use folks overseas who are using English as a second language) and I have never been cheated by Dell. I think this is a cheap attack from a corrupt politician trying to make a name for himself. Otherwise... I suppose only New York is having trouble with Dell? Something is fishy here.
Global warming is a measured fact... the evidence is too overwhelming to ignore it; however, the warming is NOT the result of human activity, and the entire "green-house gas" myth has about played out. The earth is cooling... by that I mean the heat at the earth's core is moving toward the surface and into space... the earth is cooling off. Heat and gas are being released (mostly under the earth's oceans) from a string of volcanic eruptions known as the "ring of fire". As heat and gas from within the earth is released into the atmosphere (heat & mostly "green-house gases") the overall climate of the earth is shifting-- it has done this many many times in cycles over long spans of time.
Firefox has grown to 25% of the total browser presence... and growing. The last time I used IE was IE5... then I switched my entire network to linux where I have been happily browsing without IEx. Firefox is fabulous, Ubuntu and SUSE are coming into their own, and Microsoft is becoming irrelevant. I personally would not be excited about IE8 if they paid me substantially to use it. It (IEx) just doesn't matter any longer.
Open document formats make sense for every sector of society--- particularly state and federal government entities. We should be appalled that Microsoft Corporation is allowed to bully greedy legislators to the detriment of the public good. Money talks. There should be limits on where and how loudly it talks. It seems that the only open format legislators understand is pandering by uncontrolled special interest lobbyists.
> I don't know a single person using Linux, and I've never seen Linux being used on any PC... ever.
Really~? Do you or anyone you know use Google... 100's of Linux servers... Do you are anyone you know use Firefox... most of the developers use Linux and most of the clients are running on Linux and many Win users are moving to Linux after having tried Firefox on Win and noticing that it does all the things that IE does without all the malware. Currently Linux market share (on the desk top) has exceeded Mac market share.
By the way... my entire business, and my entire home network are running Linux desktops and servers... not Win (1). none... not any. Winddows Free.!!
Yessss..
Mac OSX sales are not related to Vista at all. Both Win and Mac users are moving steadily towards Linux... of several flavors.
Mac OSX is built on FreeBSD (a unix like OS, similar to Linux) and as users find that Mac OSX is really just a version of FreeBSD (which runs on non proprietary hardware) Mac users will be moving to Linux... or FreeBSD.
Vista sales are not. Less than 12 percent of current Win users are going to migrate to Vista... too expensive... needs too much new hardware to run new features.
All computer users the world over are turning to Linux.... its a daily push. Mac and Win are going to steadily lose the market. With Dell coming out with preloaded Linux soon... its just a matter of time now. Linux has critical mass and Mac and Win will soon be history links.
Well, I guess they would have to beat out Micro$oft for worst company, if only because Micro$oft is the most secure company in America... they must be the most beloved too!
Lets see... looks like $ymantec is sucking up to M$ again... what crap. $ymantec wants to be the third party security hack and have its hands in M$ kernel... which is bogus from all security standpoints... so they hype up M$ as the *most* secure OS out there... GIVE ME A BREAK!
Any good software engineer will learn assembler for at least one platform (one processor) to gain both a formal understanding of how a von Neumann processor functions as well as understanding the basics of low level programming. Most business (and other) application programmers will never have to actually program using assembler; however, assembler is often required for programming microprocessor chips in advanced embedded systems, and sometimes low level driver functions are best done in assembler. Assembler is still highly relevant; however, assembler is also not used by the masses of applications programmers.
For a sophomore in high school the TI-84+ is *the* calculator. Easy to learn, nice display, easy to program, USB computer interface. The TI-83+ is also ok, however, the 84+ has more memory. The TI-84+ can be used on all standard tests (because it can be cleared) and is the calc most recommended/required by most high schools. For a chem student its a charm... has a built-in periodic table of elements application that is fantastic. And just for fun the calculator can be customized with various colored front interchangeable front panels and protective slide covers. Everyone in our family owns one (they all look different). The machine will definitely get you through high school. For later years in college you may want to supplement with one of the HP models... who knows what will be available by then. Cheers.
Slashdot Mirror
Washing your keyboard in the dishwasher is a *very* bad idea for several good technical reasons. The inner workings of most modern "quiet" bubble dome keyboards is usually one(1) chip, and three thin mylar membranes. The key presses down on the "bubble dome" which pushes the top membrane through a hole in the second to make contact with a land pattern on the third. If you get water between those thin mylar sheets it will not air dry for six months... if ever. Not to mention the "chip" is very sensitive. Shorting it makes it stop working, and usually destroys it. The second problem is that soap film residue from the dishwasher will cause the keytops to stick without mercy. Having said all that... there are some modern "sealed" keyboards... but they are like sealed Timex watches... there is no guarantee, and all it takes is a "drop" of water to can the keyboard. The proper way to clean the keyboard is to disassemble it, remove the sensitive guts, and then wash the "top" and "keytops " with clean fresh water... no soap... allow to thoroughly dry... and then reassemble. Uh, no, I will never be placing my keyboard into the dishwasher... ever. Words to the wise.
Your printer analogy is not as helpful as it might be, because you are working from a misunderstanding common of those who do not use MAC OSX nor Linux. Yes, unguarded (ports open) or physical access is breached, or obscure vulnerability-- may allow someone to place a root-kit on the kernel... however, Linux nor MAC OSX are vulnerable to the common virus, trojan, worm, etc. There are several reasons for this... mostly in regard to proper kernel design. What some of us were expecting from Microsoft after five years was a kernel redesign (yes, a rework) that would allow explicit control of all ports (without third party AV), execute permissions that do not depend on filename extensions but *only* on access control lists or permission bits, and an OS kernel that is unbound from the desktop. Vista is disappointing because its just a re-wrap of the same old stuff--- it still needs a third party AV. The secret that most non *nix folks do not understand is that Linux and MAC OSX do *not* need a third party AV. [ Microsoft hopes you will not believe this of course, but it is true. ] Microsoft could have put some time and effort (say money) into building a solid kernel, instead of building eye candy and annoying confirmation dialogs.
The important thing to remember here is that Microsoft had five(5) years to make the base OS more secure [ without an AV installed ] which might make it "similar" to Mac OSX or to any distribution of Linux. In other words, without an AV installed Vista is showing *worse* than XP, and way worse than any *nix installation--- which after the much touted newer better more improved security rich Vista--- is very disappointing. Yes, folks are taking shots at microsoft--- some of which is not fair. But common folks, after five(5) years and millions and millions of bucks they sure could have done better than this-- really. Its not Microsoft bashing--- its true and its fair.
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=29 757
The point is not whether the earth will completely cool, nor how long this might take. The point is that the earth's core is venting in part via the "ring of fire" and other cracks and volcanic activity. The natural "cooling" or transmission of core thermal energy (and gases, mostly green-house type gases) to the atmosphere has more to do with global climate shift than any other single or combined human activity; this of course smacks against the current political climate.
I cannot believe this character Coumo is picking on Dell... their service has seemed good to me (many other US companies use folks overseas who are using English as a second language) and I have never been cheated by Dell. I think this is a cheap attack from a corrupt politician trying to make a name for himself. Otherwise... I suppose only New York is having trouble with Dell? Something is fishy here.
Global warming is a measured fact... the evidence is too overwhelming to ignore it; however, the warming is NOT the result of human activity, and the entire "green-house gas" myth has about played out.
The earth is cooling... by that I mean the heat at the earth's core is moving toward the surface and into space... the earth is cooling off. Heat and gas are being released (mostly under the earth's oceans) from a string of volcanic eruptions known as the "ring of fire". As heat and gas from within the earth is released into the atmosphere (heat & mostly "green-house gases") the overall climate of the earth is shifting-- it has done this many many times in cycles over long spans of time.
Well, it looks as if Micro$oft drains our batteries, our pocketbooks, and our patience. I vote for Open Source vs Vista Drain.
Firefox has grown to 25% of the total browser presence... and growing. The last time I used IE was IE5... then I switched my entire network to linux where I have been happily browsing without IEx. Firefox is fabulous, Ubuntu and SUSE are coming into their own, and Microsoft is becoming irrelevant. I personally would not be excited about IE8 if they paid me substantially to use it. It (IEx) just doesn't matter any longer.
Open document formats make sense for every sector of society--- particularly state and federal government entities. We should be appalled that Microsoft Corporation is allowed to bully greedy legislators to the detriment of the public good. Money talks. There should be limits on where and how loudly it talks. It seems that the only open format legislators understand is pandering by uncontrolled special interest lobbyists.
> I don't know a single person using Linux, and I've never seen Linux being used on any PC... ever. Really~? Do you or anyone you know use Google... 100's of Linux servers... Do you are anyone you know use Firefox... most of the developers use Linux and most of the clients are running on Linux and many Win users are moving to Linux after having tried Firefox on Win and noticing that it does all the things that IE does without all the malware. Currently Linux market share (on the desk top) has exceeded Mac market share. By the way... my entire business, and my entire home network are running Linux desktops and servers... not Win (1). none... not any. Winddows Free.!! Yessss..
Mac OSX sales are not related to Vista at all. Both Win and Mac users are moving steadily towards Linux... of several flavors. Mac OSX is built on FreeBSD (a unix like OS, similar to Linux) and as users find that Mac OSX is really just a version of FreeBSD (which runs on non proprietary hardware) Mac users will be moving to Linux... or FreeBSD. Vista sales are not. Less than 12 percent of current Win users are going to migrate to Vista... too expensive... needs too much new hardware to run new features. All computer users the world over are turning to Linux.... its a daily push. Mac and Win are going to steadily lose the market. With Dell coming out with preloaded Linux soon... its just a matter of time now. Linux has critical mass and Mac and Win will soon be history links.
Well, I guess they would have to beat out Micro$oft for worst company, if only because Micro$oft is the most secure company in America... they must be the most beloved too!
Lets see... looks like $ymantec is sucking up to M$ again... what crap. $ymantec wants to be the third party security hack and have its hands in M$ kernel... which is bogus from all security standpoints... so they hype up M$ as the *most* secure OS out there... GIVE ME A BREAK!
... which is why their code is bloated, botched, broken, and generally vulnerable. IMO.
Any good software engineer will learn assembler for at least one platform (one processor) to gain both a formal understanding of how a von Neumann processor functions as well as understanding the basics of low level programming. Most business (and other) application programmers will never have to actually program using assembler; however, assembler is often required for programming microprocessor chips in advanced embedded systems, and sometimes low level driver functions are best done in assembler. Assembler is still highly relevant; however, assembler is also not used by the masses of applications programmers.
Well said... have abacus, will travel....
Just more evidence that California is the land of fruits and nuts.
For a sophomore in high school the TI-84+ is *the* calculator. Easy to learn, nice display, easy to program, USB computer interface. The TI-83+ is also ok, however, the 84+ has more memory. The TI-84+ can be used on all standard tests (because it can be cleared) and is the calc most recommended/required by most high schools. For a chem student its a charm... has a built-in periodic table of elements application that is fantastic. And just for fun the calculator can be customized with various colored front interchangeable front panels and protective slide covers. Everyone in our family owns one (they all look different). The machine will definitely get you through high school. For later years in college you may want to supplement with one of the HP models... who knows what will be available by then. Cheers.