You'll notice from the link: http://www.moller.com/skycar/technology/ that the 4 engines used are turbo/supercharged Rotary type Wankel engines, like those used in a Mazda RX-7 and RX-8 (2002 model).
They are cheaper, and readily available.
The Wankel engine uses 3 cycles/revolution for power, and it's rotation instead of up/down motion of traditional IC engines makes it more fuel efficient. http://www.howstuffworks.com/rotary-engine.htm.
To Paraphrase "K" from Men in Black: People, individually are smart. People, as a group are dumb and panicky.
Call the DCMA "communist". Shout it from the highest building. Get a few respectable people who understand how bad the DCMA is, someone who the huddled masses can relate to, and they'll believe it. Former Prez Jimmy Carter for example.
It's isn't a communist law (just the opposite - good for business, screws the people), but every red-necked red blooded American who hears the word "DCMA = Commie" will be against it.
Imagine a future where PCs are shipped in sealed cases...What if you had no other choice?
No. I will always have a choice.
Now, let me ask you: do you want to take that 386/33 and mod it up?
If that's what I have to do, then I will.
Ultimately, we all love to customize in some way. What better way than to build a PC that's a reflection of your own ultimate computer?
Most things I own are that way. My computer. My car. My home. I hack them from the original specs to make them fit the job I want.
I don't have one car to go grocery shopping, one car to go to work, and one car for a drive in the country. Similarly, I don't have one computer to surf p0rn, one computer to game and one computer for werd processing.
I've only purchased 2 computers in my life that were pre-built, and nethier of them stayed true to thier factory specs much longer than it took me to get them out of the box and take their lid off. Pre-built and sealed computers are great for the technically challenged, who probabally would never open the hood to look inside anyway. For me, not a chance.
I don't think the Dell's, IBM's or Compaq's are that dim, they will never go to a sealed factory unit only line of product. If they do, where will that leave companies like ASUS and GigaByte?
Why jump out of a perfectly good balloon anyway? It's not on fire, it's not going to crash...why get out?
Not to mention the fact that she doesn't have silica tiles like the shuttle, if she starts to glow upon re-entry at mach 1.5, that would be a "Bad Thing"(tm).
If you implement a boot password, it's permanant. You can change the password, but you cannot power up the machine without it.
And forget about flashing the BIOS, clearing the CMOS or any other means of bypassing it. The only way is to replace both the motherboard and HDD. The M/B also stores some info on the HDD, so it can't be used in another laptop.
If you want to get another M/B, you have to give the serial # of the machine. If it's reported stolen to IBM, it will be forewarded to the authorities. If you try to re-use the drive, no-go. In short, brick wall.
No, for sites like ZD, I tend to block all banners now. I block all banners on all sites that don't originate at the site I'm browsing. Except for a few that I choose to support for their good content. Mozilla works real well for that. So does browsing in text only mode.
I expect bias in most everything today. I haven't yet seen bias on AP, UP, BBC or Clairinet, but it will happen.
At least I expect the bias. But they do run some really good articles, mostly on overclocking or in-depth on hardware. Plus ARS has it's own dicussion forum - not too bad ethier!
There are lots of sites out there that provide news. The Associated Press has a long rich history of providing "the facts" which they rigorously check. For local news, I check places like Canadian Online Explorer , The National Post or The Globe and Mail. While I admit some of these have some bias, being controlled by large corporations, they still have a long rich tradition. The Globe and Mail for example is over 100 years old.
For discussions, I check K5 or Rootprompt. And Slashdot. But it's tough to have a discussion here anymore.
I'm sorry to say, but Slashdot, while I check it regularly, is starting to have too high a signal-to-noise ratio. Not enough "discussion" too much "babooey to natalie portman's beowulf cluster of hot grits and penis bird on toast."
It's safer to stay off the main page if I want some interesting discussion. As well, I don't tolerate mistakes in my profession. No matter what I do, I like it to be as perfect as humanly possible. While I know mistakes happen, there have been far too many here, adding to the signal-to-noise ratio, and reducing my faith in accurate articles.
I get my news elsewhere, but I still come back, hoping the old days will return.
To tell you the truth, the so-called 'geek' community, as it is showcased on Slashdot, comes across as one of the most close-minded, hypocritical bunch whose sole interest is looking out for their own narrow-minded view of their dysfunctional world. I don't blame you for wanting out of that.
I don't think you can call this crowd 'geeks' anymore. And yes, they are the most opinionated, narrow minded whiny children anywhere.
Slashdot has become a popularity contest. I read it, but I'm tired of not being able to check it every 1/2 hour, because I work. And if I don't check it that often, and I might have some insight that I think would be of use, if it doesn't make it in the first 150 - 200 posts, it won't get read. So why bother?
Sad to see Sig go, but I can relate. I don't always agree, but I've never mod'd on that basis. Hope to see you on # or K5 soon.
since you'll likely make more money on the manufacturing end of that technology.
Just as a little aside, Rambus doesn't manufacture anything. Nothing. They hold intellectual properties on most forms of RAM (due to that nasty JEDEC business), but they only control the ability to manufacture their ideas.
Slashdot Mirror
(before you flame: I am not the one who posted that comment, I just couldn't resist the similarity to my own ID...)
Rick? Rick O'Shea? He died?
What a shame. Such an nice guy too. I guess his brother in law, Patty O'Furniture will deliver the eulogy.
But seriously..anyone for a city wide game of Unreal Tournament?
They are cheaper, and readily available.
The Wankel engine uses 3 cycles/revolution for power, and it's rotation instead of up/down motion of traditional IC engines makes it more fuel efficient. http://www.howstuffworks.com/rotary-engine.htm.
To Paraphrase "K" from Men in Black: People, individually are smart. People, as a group are dumb and panicky. Call the DCMA "communist". Shout it from the highest building. Get a few respectable people who understand how bad the DCMA is, someone who the huddled masses can relate to, and they'll believe it. Former Prez Jimmy Carter for example. It's isn't a communist law (just the opposite - good for business, screws the people), but every red-necked red blooded American who hears the word "DCMA = Commie" will be against it.
Cosmonaut?
No. I will always have a choice.
Now, let me ask you: do you want to take that 386/33 and mod it up?
If that's what I have to do, then I will.
Ultimately, we all love to customize in some way. What better way than to build a PC that's a reflection of your own ultimate computer?
Most things I own are that way. My computer. My car. My home. I hack them from the original specs to make them fit the job I want.
I don't have one car to go grocery shopping, one car to go to work, and one car for a drive in the country. Similarly, I don't have one computer to surf p0rn, one computer to game and one computer for werd processing.
I've only purchased 2 computers in my life that were pre-built, and nethier of them stayed true to thier factory specs much longer than it took me to get them out of the box and take their lid off. Pre-built and sealed computers are great for the technically challenged, who probabally would never open the hood to look inside anyway. For me, not a chance.
I don't think the Dell's, IBM's or Compaq's are that dim, they will never go to a sealed factory unit only line of product. If they do, where will that leave companies like ASUS and GigaByte?
Oh, wait, that was an annoying message on /.
Reminds me of the old guy on the Simpsons -
*zap* "I can see!"
*zap* "Ahhh well, Easy come, easy go."
It didn't. 8-)
Why jump out of a perfectly good balloon anyway? It's not on fire, it's not going to crash...why get out?
Not to mention the fact that she doesn't have silica tiles like the shuttle, if she starts to glow upon re-entry at mach 1.5, that would be a "Bad Thing"(tm).
If you implement a boot password, it's permanant. You can change the password, but you cannot power up the machine without it.
And forget about flashing the BIOS, clearing the CMOS or any other means of bypassing it. The only way is to replace both the motherboard and HDD. The M/B also stores some info on the HDD, so it can't be used in another laptop.
If you want to get another M/B, you have to give the serial # of the machine. If it's reported stolen to IBM, it will be forewarded to the authorities. If you try to re-use the drive, no-go. In short, brick wall.
But never lose your power on password!!
How'd I do that? Profiles are your friend!
I did mean *LOW* SNR. Thanks for pointing that out. Just proving to the world that I am human...
I expect bias in most everything today. I haven't yet seen bias on AP, UP, BBC or Clairinet, but it will happen.
At least I expect the bias. But they do run some really good articles, mostly on overclocking or in-depth on hardware. Plus ARS has it's own dicussion forum - not too bad ethier!
For tech news, I check BBC Tech News, Ace's Hardware, Tom's Hardware , or ARS Technicia. ZDNet has become way to sensational and biased. And all the crappy banners! More like The National Enquirer of geekdom.
For discussions, I check K5 or Rootprompt. And Slashdot. But it's tough to have a discussion here anymore.
I'm sorry to say, but Slashdot, while I check it regularly, is starting to have too high a signal-to-noise ratio. Not enough "discussion" too much "babooey to natalie portman's beowulf cluster of hot grits and penis bird on toast."
It's safer to stay off the main page if I want some interesting discussion. As well, I don't tolerate mistakes in my profession. No matter what I do, I like it to be as perfect as humanly possible. While I know mistakes happen, there have been far too many here, adding to the signal-to-noise ratio, and reducing my faith in accurate articles.
I get my news elsewhere, but I still come back, hoping the old days will return.
Or was that an acid flashback again :-(
The modern theme looks like it comes from Aqua or TNG!
Hopefully it'll let me post this article properly! M17 had some problems posting to K5 and here, for me anyway...
Highlander? "There can be only one.." Swordplay for the other immortal's quickening...HELLO!?!
And being 'confronted' by two beautiful women is number 3 on my life's fantasy list!;-)
So are you two going to start a sword fight now? ;-)
I don't think you can call this crowd 'geeks' anymore. And yes, they are the most opinionated, narrow minded whiny children anywhere.
Slashdot has become a popularity contest. I read it, but I'm tired of not being able to check it every 1/2 hour, because I work. And if I don't check it that often, and I might have some insight that I think would be of use, if it doesn't make it in the first 150 - 200 posts, it won't get read. So why bother?
Sad to see Sig go, but I can relate. I don't always agree, but I've never mod'd on that basis. Hope to see you on # or K5 soon.
Just as a little aside, Rambus doesn't manufacture anything. Nothing. They hold intellectual properties on most forms of RAM (due to that nasty JEDEC business), but they only control the ability to manufacture their ideas.
These are real 3D printers. Milling machines! They cut/scan Glass, metal, wood, clay etc.