To be honest, Cisco isn't really that tight on software. If you have access to their site then you can easily download software for platforms you don't even have under support.
That being said I'm pretty sure that you don't have to downgrade if you end support, you just don't get any more upgrades.
Now if SA is really a software lease then I'm suprised - leasing one's operating system seems to be a really evil idea. Leasing something like a CAD application is one thing, but the core OS is something else.
No, when Software Assurance runs out you're left with the software you originally bought, right? Say you get XP under Software Assurance - when your SA contract ends do they revoke your right to use the software?
When your SmartNet contract is up then you loose access to the TAC and software upgrades. Still sounds similar.
Is there a copy of the contract folks sign available? Something that says exactly what you're getting? The article didn't say that they were promised upgrades - they *thought* they were getting upgrades, and then it slipped. If the contract actually says "We'll have software product X ready by date Y and thus your support contract will entitle you to it" and then they slipped then I would agree. However I doubt that's the case. I would find it more likely that the gist of the contract is that you are entitled to support for your software product X between dates Y and Z. If that includes upgrades then good for you.
I'm not really in the software support realm, I support network equipment. So I'm trying to compare this to Cisco SmartNet(tm) and it makes me ask this question:
If I have support for a device (let's say it's 7x24xhr onsite replacement, which isn't real cheap) and the device does NOT fail then have I paid something for nothing? I've still had access to the TAC all this time and all the other things that come with support.
Now I know software doesn't physically break in such a way that you need a new identical replacement from the vendor, but to me this seems similar. It was possible that Microsoft was going to come out with an upgrade during this time, so you buy the contract. You also get (according to the article) access to support services.
On the one hand I know that most folks bought this for upgrade protection, but on the other hand it seems to me that support is insurance, not a gamble that you'll get something out of it. If I'm wrong please correct me.
Makes sense if you're Turbo...
on
Hack Your Car
·
· Score: 1
Chips can make a big different in cars with computer-controlled turbos. A very common example of this is the Volkswagen/Audi 1.8T engine. In the 2000 model year (when my dad bought his Passat) it was around 150hp. The next year it was 180. I'm pretty sure they didn't change the engine, just the software.
A great 1.8T chip I saw in action actually had 4 settings. There was stock (and supposedly in stock setting a computer scan wouldn't find out that the chip wasn't the original chip), an increased HP setting (taking the 1.8T from 180 to 220 or so I think), a race setting (for use with race fuel) and a "valet" setting that actually dropped almost all the boost and took the engine to somewhere around 100hp. The owner told me that on the increased boost setting it actually got better milage. What this does to the engine lifetime I have no idea.
No my engine, a VR6, wouldn't see such dramatic gains from a chip. And now that it has over 120K miles on it I wanna make sure it gets me home safely rather than getting every last bit of performance out of it...
So basically Palm is adding $40 to the price of any Cobalt PalmOS device for those of us that use Macs. Which is fine. It just makes other options more appealing. I think it's a bonehead move. If I was going to get a Treo then maybe a P900 would make more sense. But I'm sure they've got some business types telling them this will save money.
My worry is that the economists say "Oh don't worry, we'll replace those jobs." But not with anything I've remotely studied to do. A job at my current level may not be available or even practical. Most places won't let you get a second bachelors degree. And somehow I don't think a university will accept me for a chemistry masters program when I have a degree in Computer Science. Sometimes I get the feeling that to these economists going from being a skilled worker to a Deliverator is acceptable as long as I'm employed.
I used to think the reality portrayed in Snow Crash was just current trends taken to some unreal extreme. Now as I watch the destruction of the middle class I'm not so sure.
Everything I know about IT (as opposed to Software Engineering, my "real" job) I learned because I had to get a program working.
Dunno about software engineering, but I have found my CS degree very applicable to network engineering. (And I mean routing and switching, not windows admin.) A lot of the theory I learned applied very well.
And if school is the wrong answer then how are we to be "retrained"? My whole point is that the economists talk of "retraining" like what happened with manufacturing is complete BS.
Judging from your statements above, I would suggest getting the service job. Your comments do not demonstrate the attitude necessary to be a professional. I state this not as an insult but as a simple matter of fact.
I think the point you're missing is that we're not talking about a doctor updating his skills. We're not taking about programmers unwilling to learn a new languages. We're talking about saying to IT to go study chemistry since there are no more IT jobs.
Back when manufacturing was lost we said we'd retrain people and we did. But their original training might have lasted a month and cost the employee nothing. Now you're talking about training, such as a college education, that costs perhaps $30,000 (if you go to a state school) and takes 4+ years. The economists are saying we'll just retrain folks. What that means is one of two things:
1) Sorry, you get to go back to college and spend another 4 years and maybe $30K to start all over again and hope that you pick right this time.
or
2) Well we'll retrain you for something that doesn't take a college degree. Welcome to WalMart.
There is a good explination of the "Aftermarket Radio Problem" here and it even tells you how to test for it (I think your average dealer would have a voltmeter) and how to repair it if necessary.
I think rather than it being a technological issue it's more of an example of how the manufacturers will do whatever they can to try and generate more income for their mechanics and dealerships, and also how a distreputable dealer will use any excuse to avoid honoring a warranty. On the one hand they go out of their way to make it hard for anyone but the dealer to work on it, and then the dealers are assholes. That's why finding a clued mechanic is always a good idea.
I have a similar case, the DZ5-GM. I got it cuz I thought the gunmetal looked wicked (which it does), but unlike the silver it's a coating which scratches easily. So if you're going to get one I'd recommend the silver.
However, these days I mostly use a Timbuk2 bag. The reason is that you just can't carry that much stuff in the briefcase. Yes, it's greater protection (you probably could check a laptop in it, but it's a pain to deal with day-to-day (the strap was a problem for me). However, if I am going on an interview or need to make an impression, the Zero case (even with scratches) helps...unless they think you're a drug dealer.
While I would agree that "cage" drivers should be better trained I always get annoyed when I hear the motorcyclists talking about how bad we are without mentioning some of the things their friends do, like lane splitting at 50 mph and weaving through traffic like they're on the last lap at Suzuka. The only motorcycle accident I've ever seen was caused by the guy on the bike.
Now I'm sure that many motorcycle drivers are quite careful. But when they paint themselves as innocent motorists being persecuted by the dumb people in cars then I take exception...
In any other continent, you go to a cell phone store and buy phones OUTRIGHT, no plans to go with it, no contracts, you simply BUY the phone (at usually half of US MSRP price), then you call up a carrier of your choice start service.
I don't know about the rest of Europe, but on Orange in the UK they have phones that are on "Pay Monthly" and come with contracts. I suspect other providers are similiar.
And here in the US there are vendors (mostly on-line) where you can buy a GSM phone. And then you can go to T-Mobile, for example, and get a pre-paid SIM.
What I would like to see is a law forcing the carriers to unlock your locked phone either when you're committed to a contract or when you're contract is up. When I switched from Cingular to AT&T a while back I tried to get them to unlock my phone and they wouldn't. And AT&T has said that they won't unlock a phone for any reason.
(Fortunately the SonyEricsson phones are easy to unlock...)
...when something that was in a cyberpunk novel a few years back actually starts happening? This almost sounds like the "hotdesk" model from Slitscan in the book Idoru by Gibson, as well as Fedland from Snow Crash. And to me neither of those sounded like companies I'd want to work for...
This isn't the first time I've made this observation on Slashdot, either. I always thought most of the cyberpunk novels painted a worst-case view of the world, but I start to worry that they were more accurate than I'd like.
They're not necessary. As any Tom Clancy fan knows proper tradecraft can provide more than adequate privacy. So you can outlaw this for business folks but it won't stop Mr. Terrorist.
Mr. Terrorist gets a cell phone with the number 555-222-2048. He knows it could be tapped. But one day he gets a call and the person says "Oh...I was looking for 555-222-2084." "Sorry, you have a wrong number." Of course that's a pre-arranged signal, with the 2084 being agreed upon in advance.
Yes, encrypted cell phones could make it easier for terrorists, but the real dangerous ones have excellent tradecraft anyway so it doesn't really matter.
I know that MRTG has been around forever, but these days I think Cricket does a much better job of monitoring your switches and routers since it can track variables like memory and cpu usage. It can also monitor server statistics such as load, memory available, disk usage, and pretty much anything you want to gather from SNMP. I would recommend it over MRTG.
I think the thing to keep in mind that WPANs aren't dead, but who knows what the future of Bluetooth will be. WPANs are sweet, though. I've got Bluetooth in my phone, PDA, and Laptop. I can use the phone to access the Internet, sync everything wirelessly, and share information. It's pretty cool.
I've seen the news for a while that 802.11 is killing Bluetooth. I just don't get it - 802.11 is great, but when I'm out somewhere with no WAP in site I can use bluetooth to access the net through my phone just fine. Untill you've got universal wireless ethernet everywhere (and hell, we don't have wireless service everywhere for phones) then to me it's still useful.
Given the extremely limited distribution that a lot of indie films get and given how hard/expensive it is to make prints and such there is a strong chance that your average Academy voter would be unable to see one of the indie contenders in the theater. If the Academy member's cannot be sent a video or DVD then there's a strong chance they won't see the movie at all...and they probably wouldn't vote for a movie they haven't seen.
I once repsonded to this job posting and the recruiter wanted me to come in to their San Jose office and talk to them. They also wanted references. Sure, what the hell. I was told to make sure my resume was on their techie gold website. I came in, went through some dorky formulaic interview, and was sent on my way with promises that they'd be in touch. I'd been laid off recently, so I felt like I had accomplished something. This same office then used my "references" as contacts (I know, I was naive) and tried to pitch people to them and otherwise hit them up. They later screwed up with one of my references by claiming they were an authorized vendor for his company when there weren't - they had pitched a good guy, but my friend couldn't hire him.
Cut to a month later, and I am asked to come up to a recruiter in San Francisco. Before I get there they tell me about Techie Gold, and I tell them I'm already in there. When I get there the first thing I notice is that their computers are identical - the same iMacs appearing to run the same software as the place in San Jose. They run me through the SAME exact interview process (write some acronym on the resume and proceed to ask questions) and then I have to ask what their relationship to this other firm is. They say that they're both "Techie Gold Partners", whatever that means. I explain how their offices are laid out EXACTLY the same and the interview is EXACTLY the same. She repeats that they are "Techie Gold Partners". At least this time I didn't give them "references".
So I get home and do some digging around and realize that this company, Stride and Associates, is either selling headhunter franchies or operating these "companies" in the attempt to look diverse. Either way they aren't very honest about it, and aren't very good. If you talk to a company using one of those four names or who wants you to go to TechieGold to fill out your resume don't bother. They probably are just looking for "contacts" and don't really have the job anyway.
I didn't know they can just ignore the plea agreement. Won't that come in handy with terrorists? "I agreed to 1 year, your honor!" "But I don't feel like it. You get the chair!"
Everyone points to overtime and hourly workers and says how great it is, but at least in California if you make over a certain amount per hour (right around 36, I think) then you don't get paid any overtime bonuses. So if I work 45 hours a week those extra 5 hours are only paid at the regular rate, not at 1.5x. Now, to be honest, that's not that bad of a deal - at least I get compensated. If I'm paged and have to go in then I even get travel time paid.
The only thing I haven't figured out yet is the minimum number of hours per incident. For example, if I am on-call and get paged at 2am and it only takes 15 minutes of my time to fix the issue (bounce a switch, open a ticket with the telco, whatever) I think I should be able to bill more than a quarter hour - I just haven't figured out what California state law says in regards to this.
i've heard a very large number of these touchdown calls (i fly at least twice a week) and not a single one has yet been urgent enough to warrant the abuse of everyone in the vicinity
How is this abuse? I mean if the guy is yelling, maybe. But if someone is just talking on the phone while waiting for you to pull down your oversized carry on then I don't see the problem. What about talking to a companion? Is that abuse as well? If you're that uptight about people around you talking may I suggest renting a private jet?
I don't know about aerospace, but I know that even with the fancy computer simulations a lot of motorsports teams use windtunnels to test their designs. All of the biggest Formula 1 teams have them. Not being able to test in a windtunnel was supposedly one of the reasons that Jaguar (a.k.a. Ford) sucked so bad last year, and yet they certainly have the necessary computer gear. For some reason there are improvements that can only be tested in a windtunnel.
Can someone explain to me WHY I'd need a sport bucket seat to use the computer? I mean does this thing come with neon and Type R stickers? Yeah, I've got a nice force feedback wheel for playing Colin McRae 3 but I don't think it's *that* good.
Oh...and if they really want to sell then where's the fat person version? Cuz I can tell you the only way to squeeze me into something like that would inolve more Crisco than I'd care to contemplate.
Motorola phones have this interesting text input mode called T9
Oddly enough, the Nextel phones are the only Motorola phones (as far as I am aware) that use T9. T9 input is common (Nokia, SonyEricsson, and Siemens use it), but on all of their non-iDEN phones Motorola uses iTAP, their own version of the same thing. Dunno why. My v3682 as well as the v70 and all the v60 variants I have seen use iTAP.
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To be honest, Cisco isn't really that tight on software. If you have access to their site then you can easily download software for platforms you don't even have under support.
That being said I'm pretty sure that you don't have to downgrade if you end support, you just don't get any more upgrades.
Now if SA is really a software lease then I'm suprised - leasing one's operating system seems to be a really evil idea. Leasing something like a CAD application is one thing, but the core OS is something else.
No, when Software Assurance runs out you're left with the software you originally bought, right? Say you get XP under Software Assurance - when your SA contract ends do they revoke your right to use the software?
When your SmartNet contract is up then you loose access to the TAC and software upgrades. Still sounds similar.
Is there a copy of the contract folks sign available? Something that says exactly what you're getting? The article didn't say that they were promised upgrades - they *thought* they were getting upgrades, and then it slipped. If the contract actually says "We'll have software product X ready by date Y and thus your support contract will entitle you to it" and then they slipped then I would agree. However I doubt that's the case. I would find it more likely that the gist of the contract is that you are entitled to support for your software product X between dates Y and Z. If that includes upgrades then good for you.
I'm not really in the software support realm, I support network equipment. So I'm trying to compare this to Cisco SmartNet(tm) and it makes me ask this question:
If I have support for a device (let's say it's 7x24xhr onsite replacement, which isn't real cheap) and the device does NOT fail then have I paid something for nothing? I've still had access to the TAC all this time and all the other things that come with support.
Now I know software doesn't physically break in such a way that you need a new identical replacement from the vendor, but to me this seems similar. It was possible that Microsoft was going to come out with an upgrade during this time, so you buy the contract. You also get (according to the article) access to support services.
On the one hand I know that most folks bought this for upgrade protection, but on the other hand it seems to me that support is insurance, not a gamble that you'll get something out of it. If I'm wrong please correct me.
Chips can make a big different in cars with computer-controlled turbos. A very common example of this is the Volkswagen/Audi 1.8T engine. In the 2000 model year (when my dad bought his Passat) it was around 150hp. The next year it was 180. I'm pretty sure they didn't change the engine, just the software.
A great 1.8T chip I saw in action actually had 4 settings. There was stock (and supposedly in stock setting a computer scan wouldn't find out that the chip wasn't the original chip), an increased HP setting (taking the 1.8T from 180 to 220 or so I think), a race setting (for use with race fuel) and a "valet" setting that actually dropped almost all the boost and took the engine to somewhere around 100hp. The owner told me that on the increased boost setting it actually got better milage. What this does to the engine lifetime I have no idea.
No my engine, a VR6, wouldn't see such dramatic gains from a chip. And now that it has over 120K miles on it I wanna make sure it gets me home safely rather than getting every last bit of performance out of it...
So basically Palm is adding $40 to the price of any Cobalt PalmOS device for those of us that use Macs. Which is fine. It just makes other options more appealing. I think it's a bonehead move. If I was going to get a Treo then maybe a P900 would make more sense. But I'm sure they've got some business types telling them this will save money.
My worry is that the economists say "Oh don't worry, we'll replace those jobs." But not with anything I've remotely studied to do. A job at my current level may not be available or even practical. Most places won't let you get a second bachelors degree. And somehow I don't think a university will accept me for a chemistry masters program when I have a degree in Computer Science. Sometimes I get the feeling that to these economists going from being a skilled worker to a Deliverator is acceptable as long as I'm employed.
I used to think the reality portrayed in Snow Crash was just current trends taken to some unreal extreme. Now as I watch the destruction of the middle class I'm not so sure.
Everything I know about IT (as opposed to Software Engineering, my "real" job) I learned because I had to get a program working.
Dunno about software engineering, but I have found my CS degree very applicable to network engineering. (And I mean routing and switching, not windows admin.) A lot of the theory I learned applied very well.
And if school is the wrong answer then how are we to be "retrained"? My whole point is that the economists talk of "retraining" like what happened with manufacturing is complete BS.
Judging from your statements above, I would suggest getting the service job. Your comments do not demonstrate the attitude necessary to be a professional. I state this not as an insult but as a simple matter of fact.
I think the point you're missing is that we're not talking about a doctor updating his skills. We're not taking about programmers unwilling to learn a new languages. We're talking about saying to IT to go study chemistry since there are no more IT jobs.
Back when manufacturing was lost we said we'd retrain people and we did. But their original training might have lasted a month and cost the employee nothing. Now you're talking about training, such as a college education, that costs perhaps $30,000 (if you go to a state school) and takes 4+ years. The economists are saying we'll just retrain folks. What that means is one of two things:
1) Sorry, you get to go back to college and spend another 4 years and maybe $30K to start all over again and hope that you pick right this time.
or
2) Well we'll retrain you for something that doesn't take a college degree. Welcome to WalMart.
Either doens't sound too good.
There is a good explination of the "Aftermarket Radio Problem" here and it even tells you how to test for it (I think your average dealer would have a voltmeter) and how to repair it if necessary.
I think rather than it being a technological issue it's more of an example of how the manufacturers will do whatever they can to try and generate more income for their mechanics and dealerships, and also how a distreputable dealer will use any excuse to avoid honoring a warranty. On the one hand they go out of their way to make it hard for anyone but the dealer to work on it, and then the dealers are assholes. That's why finding a clued mechanic is always a good idea.
I have a similar case, the DZ5-GM. I got it cuz I thought the gunmetal looked wicked (which it does), but unlike the silver it's a coating which scratches easily. So if you're going to get one I'd recommend the silver.
However, these days I mostly use a Timbuk2 bag. The reason is that you just can't carry that much stuff in the briefcase. Yes, it's greater protection (you probably could check a laptop in it, but it's a pain to deal with day-to-day (the strap was a problem for me). However, if I am going on an interview or need to make an impression, the Zero case (even with scratches) helps...unless they think you're a drug dealer.
While I would agree that "cage" drivers should be better trained I always get annoyed when I hear the motorcyclists talking about how bad we are without mentioning some of the things their friends do, like lane splitting at 50 mph and weaving through traffic like they're on the last lap at Suzuka. The only motorcycle accident I've ever seen was caused by the guy on the bike.
Now I'm sure that many motorcycle drivers are quite careful. But when they paint themselves as innocent motorists being persecuted by the dumb people in cars then I take exception...
In any other continent, you go to a cell phone store and buy phones OUTRIGHT, no plans to go with it, no contracts, you simply BUY the phone (at usually half of US MSRP price), then you call up a carrier of your choice start service.
I don't know about the rest of Europe, but on Orange in the UK they have phones that are on "Pay Monthly" and come with contracts. I suspect other providers are similiar.
And here in the US there are vendors (mostly on-line) where you can buy a GSM phone. And then you can go to T-Mobile, for example, and get a pre-paid SIM.
What I would like to see is a law forcing the carriers to unlock your locked phone either when you're committed to a contract or when you're contract is up. When I switched from Cingular to AT&T a while back I tried to get them to unlock my phone and they wouldn't. And AT&T has said that they won't unlock a phone for any reason.
(Fortunately the SonyEricsson phones are easy to unlock...)
...when something that was in a cyberpunk novel a few years back actually starts happening? This almost sounds like the "hotdesk" model from Slitscan in the book Idoru by Gibson, as well as Fedland from Snow Crash. And to me neither of those sounded like companies I'd want to work for...
This isn't the first time I've made this observation on Slashdot, either. I always thought most of the cyberpunk novels painted a worst-case view of the world, but I start to worry that they were more accurate than I'd like.
They're not necessary. As any Tom Clancy fan knows proper tradecraft can provide more than adequate privacy. So you can outlaw this for business folks but it won't stop Mr. Terrorist.
Mr. Terrorist gets a cell phone with the number 555-222-2048. He knows it could be tapped. But one day he gets a call and the person says "Oh...I was looking for 555-222-2084." "Sorry, you have a wrong number." Of course that's a pre-arranged signal, with the 2084 being agreed upon in advance.
Yes, encrypted cell phones could make it easier for terrorists, but the real dangerous ones have excellent tradecraft anyway so it doesn't really matter.
I know that MRTG has been around forever, but these days I think Cricket does a much better job of monitoring your switches and routers since it can track variables like memory and cpu usage. It can also monitor server statistics such as load, memory available, disk usage, and pretty much anything you want to gather from SNMP. I would recommend it over MRTG.
I think the thing to keep in mind that WPANs aren't dead, but who knows what the future of Bluetooth will be. WPANs are sweet, though. I've got Bluetooth in my phone, PDA, and Laptop. I can use the phone to access the Internet, sync everything wirelessly, and share information. It's pretty cool.
I've seen the news for a while that 802.11 is killing Bluetooth. I just don't get it - 802.11 is great, but when I'm out somewhere with no WAP in site I can use bluetooth to access the net through my phone just fine. Untill you've got universal wireless ethernet everywhere (and hell, we don't have wireless service everywhere for phones) then to me it's still useful.
Given the extremely limited distribution that a lot of indie films get and given how hard/expensive it is to make prints and such there is a strong chance that your average Academy voter would be unable to see one of the indie contenders in the theater. If the Academy member's cannot be sent a video or DVD then there's a strong chance they won't see the movie at all...and they probably wouldn't vote for a movie they haven't seen.
a.k.a. TechieGold.com, a.k.a. Atlantis Partners, a.k.a. Boylston Group, a.k.a. MacArthur Associates, a.k.a. Remington International...
I once repsonded to this job posting and the recruiter wanted me to come in to their San Jose office and talk to them. They also wanted references. Sure, what the hell. I was told to make sure my resume was on their techie gold website. I came in, went through some dorky formulaic interview, and was sent on my way with promises that they'd be in touch. I'd been laid off recently, so I felt like I had accomplished something. This same office then used my "references" as contacts (I know, I was naive) and tried to pitch people to them and otherwise hit them up. They later screwed up with one of my references by claiming they were an authorized vendor for his company when there weren't - they had pitched a good guy, but my friend couldn't hire him.
Cut to a month later, and I am asked to come up to a recruiter in San Francisco. Before I get there they tell me about Techie Gold, and I tell them I'm already in there. When I get there the first thing I notice is that their computers are identical - the same iMacs appearing to run the same software as the place in San Jose. They run me through the SAME exact interview process (write some acronym on the resume and proceed to ask questions) and then I have to ask what their relationship to this other firm is. They say that they're both "Techie Gold Partners", whatever that means. I explain how their offices are laid out EXACTLY the same and the interview is EXACTLY the same. She repeats that they are "Techie Gold Partners". At least this time I didn't give them "references".
So I get home and do some digging around and realize that this company, Stride and Associates, is either selling headhunter franchies or operating these "companies" in the attempt to look diverse. Either way they aren't very honest about it, and aren't very good. If you talk to a company using one of those four names or who wants you to go to TechieGold to fill out your resume don't bother. They probably are just looking for "contacts" and don't really have the job anyway.
I didn't know they can just ignore the plea agreement. Won't that come in handy with terrorists? "I agreed to 1 year, your honor!" "But I don't feel like it. You get the chair!"
Excuse me while I move to Canada....
Everyone points to overtime and hourly workers and says how great it is, but at least in California if you make over a certain amount per hour (right around 36, I think) then you don't get paid any overtime bonuses. So if I work 45 hours a week those extra 5 hours are only paid at the regular rate, not at 1.5x. Now, to be honest, that's not that bad of a deal - at least I get compensated. If I'm paged and have to go in then I even get travel time paid.
The only thing I haven't figured out yet is the minimum number of hours per incident. For example, if I am on-call and get paged at 2am and it only takes 15 minutes of my time to fix the issue (bounce a switch, open a ticket with the telco, whatever) I think I should be able to bill more than a quarter hour - I just haven't figured out what California state law says in regards to this.
i've heard a very large number of these touchdown calls (i fly at least twice a week) and not a single one has yet been urgent enough to warrant the abuse of everyone in the vicinity
How is this abuse? I mean if the guy is yelling, maybe. But if someone is just talking on the phone while waiting for you to pull down your oversized carry on then I don't see the problem. What about talking to a companion? Is that abuse as well? If you're that uptight about people around you talking may I suggest renting a private jet?
I don't know about aerospace, but I know that even with the fancy computer simulations a lot of motorsports teams use windtunnels to test their designs. All of the biggest Formula 1 teams have them. Not being able to test in a windtunnel was supposedly one of the reasons that Jaguar (a.k.a. Ford) sucked so bad last year, and yet they certainly have the necessary computer gear. For some reason there are improvements that can only be tested in a windtunnel.
Can someone explain to me WHY I'd need a sport bucket seat to use the computer? I mean does this thing come with neon and Type R stickers? Yeah, I've got a nice force feedback wheel for playing Colin McRae 3 but I don't think it's *that* good.
Oh...and if they really want to sell then where's the fat person version? Cuz I can tell you the only way to squeeze me into something like that would inolve more Crisco than I'd care to contemplate.
Motorola phones have this interesting text input mode called T9
Oddly enough, the Nextel phones are the only Motorola phones (as far as I am aware) that use T9. T9 input is common (Nokia, SonyEricsson, and Siemens use it), but on all of their non-iDEN phones Motorola uses iTAP, their own version of the same thing. Dunno why. My v3682 as well as the v70 and all the v60 variants I have seen use iTAP.