A single connector, perhaps... but when it comes to choosing a common name Apple don't have the best trackrecord. (Though in the latter example forgiveness is easy; 802.11 hardly rolls off one's tongue.)
In their defence, Apple do appear to do this mainly where there isn't an easily remembered name in common usage already. On a personal note, though, it does warm my cockles to hear people talking about memory sticks yet hardly ever meaning Memory Sticks.
Thanks for throwing your two cents in but regrettably I think you missed the point. The OP argues that the usual cause of failure is the mechano-optical system, by which I assumed he/she meant the laser positioning system. In my experience it's been the laser diode in most cases.
I'm quite aware of how much an optical drive costs, having bought a fair few to replace faulty ones, but I'm interested in how they fail. That's why I care. No-one mentioned cost before you came along.
In write-capable drives the first thing to go was the facility to write. In the two DVD-ROM drives I was able to extend - for a time - their lifespans with some tinkering with a little pot
I've had my fair share of optical devices fail, apparently with age. Perhaps it's down to the way in which they were used (sequential rather than random access) but in every case it's been the laser diode wearing out. Symptoms are usually a failure to write first, followed by a failure to read DVD media. I've never held on to one long enough for it to reject CDs, pressed or otherwise. Affected models are two Panasonics (including one slimline slot-loader), one Creative (re-badged I expect), one Pioneer, two Lite-Ons and most recently the one in my 360, which I think may have been a BenQ.
But, as it's been said, the plural of anecdote is not data.
Worked for me, and apparently the Mythbusters' judges could tell the difference*. Perhaps you underestimate how truly bad some cheap vodkas are.
*But then again, while at least one ranked them correctly the MB team couldn't find any chemical differences, so either judges or MBs are full of it. Or both.
I've got two words for you, just two words: slow cooker. Yes, I realise that they're only good for casseroles, soups and the like, but you can also come home to braised beef that melts in the mouth and if you like curry you'll love one of these gizmos (lamb works particularly well). A timer comes in very handy for things that need less cooking.
I'm also single and have little trouble cooking, subsisting as I do on slow-cooked fare, salads, stir-fry and other quickly-prepared meals. Another piece of advice I'd like to share is that you will probably find a lot of good recipes in so-called student cook books: they're packed full of meal ideas meant for people who have little time to cook. In fact, my book was the most useful thing I bought in my university years, next to a jug type water filter, which dramatically improves the quality of cheap vodka.
There's nothing wrong with having articles about this stuff, but writers should be clear on where they are in the range between "theoretical chemistry indicates this molecule would be insanely great" and "the product is shipping in volume".
You have to admit, though, that it's at least more exciting than the latest display tech of the week.
Yeah, it was Iyonix using the XScale that I was thinking of. Still, it's nice to see people still talking about them, like BeBoxes. Pity about Phoebe, though.
I came here just to post this. It's not that ARM is ever coming to the desktop; it's already been and gone. By the way, am I mistaken in thinking some of the later RISC PCs used Intel ARM processors?
It's also nice to see that someone still thinks back fondly to Archimedes machines as I do.
Ok, I know that the original design required making it out of brass and steel and whatnot making it big and expensive. But if I had one of those new (cheap) 3D printers, could I make a (smaller?) scale version out of whatever plastics or resins those printers use? Or are the tolerances too demanding?
If you used resin RP machines I'd expect you'd have trouble with the tolerances even with a full-scale replica. Make it smaller and the problem just gets worse.
Would the job be made a lot easier if I "cheated" by using electric motors judiciously placed instead of the (possibly) steam powered original?
No, the prime mover you use isn't all that important. Babbage chose steam because there weren't any suitable electric motors back then
Now THAT would be one heck of a weekend project!
Even with RP it'd take a lot longer than a weekend!
(Failing that, I heard they were going to make a computer simulation of it first to "test" it. It would be great if they could use some commonly used engineering program like Pro-E or Solid Works and build the model in that. Then we could all play with it!*)
SW wouldn't do because it's primarily for static simulations. You could use SW motion but physically simulating each part is overkill; it'd be quicker to create a bespoke simulator that doesn't bother to use FEA
P.P.S. I guess some day some nano-technologist will make this thing out with each individual component being just a few ATOMS.
I suspect even with nanoasembly this would still be a curiosity. Drexler's rod logic sounds a lot simpler to implement, though IANAE (expert).
Speaking of sales, I wonder how long it will be before - or indeed if - the book gets Blaired*... will it be before or after Assange himself goes on a 'potholing holiday'?
Taking all bets!
*Disclaimer: I have no firm opinion on the legality or morality of Assange's actions, but what happened there really did appeal to my love of whimsy.
I think you missed my point. Wherever I've seen SLM used for metals it involved a large amount of fine powder, parts of which were melted with a laser or some such, hence the name. I was saying that having the powder there for melting would be difficult if not impossible when you have liquid concrete being sprayed into it.
3D printing with metals - that I've seen - isn't like plastics or concrete where you directly deposit the material layer by layer with a nozzle. Instead the feedstock is all around the part you're making and has to be be kept very dry.
I've never been very good at explaining things, so take a look at a diagram. For all the other replies that say SLM metal is inferior to cast or forged steel, I know this but I was replying to the parent who simply wondered if it could be done. I'm trying to say that it would be very difficult to do; not that it would be a good idea if it was possible.
Slashdot Mirror
A single connector, perhaps... but when it comes to choosing a common name Apple don't have the best track record. (Though in the latter example forgiveness is easy; 802.11 hardly rolls off one's tongue.)
In their defence, Apple do appear to do this mainly where there isn't an easily remembered name in common usage already. On a personal note, though, it does warm my cockles to hear people talking about memory sticks yet hardly ever meaning Memory Sticks.
Hopefully the software will be made by Microsoft.
Pfft! Everyone knows that the finest kill-bots come with Lotus Notes!
Thanks for throwing your two cents in but regrettably I think you missed the point. The OP argues that the usual cause of failure is the mechano-optical system, by which I assumed he/she meant the laser positioning system. In my experience it's been the laser diode in most cases.
I'm quite aware of how much an optical drive costs, having bought a fair few to replace faulty ones, but I'm interested in how they fail. That's why I care. No-one mentioned cost before you came along.
In write-capable drives the first thing to go was the facility to write. In the two DVD-ROM drives I was able to extend - for a time - their lifespans with some tinkering with a little pot
I've had my fair share of optical devices fail, apparently with age. Perhaps it's down to the way in which they were used (sequential rather than random access) but in every case it's been the laser diode wearing out. Symptoms are usually a failure to write first, followed by a failure to read DVD media. I've never held on to one long enough for it to reject CDs, pressed or otherwise. Affected models are two Panasonics (including one slimline slot-loader), one Creative (re-badged I expect), one Pioneer, two Lite-Ons and most recently the one in my 360, which I think may have been a BenQ.
But, as it's been said, the plural of anecdote is not data.
Except the German ones, natürlich.
"Whatcha want for this 5 volt, 2,000 amp power supply?"
I've got a Higgs boson somewhere you can have for it, but I'll be damned if I can find it.
Ah, when I read it back I couldn't figure out how to pronounce it. That makes much more sense.
I love it when someone who actually knows something post on slashdot!
Hear, hear!
It's like Christmas, but apparently somewhat less frequent.
I'm waiting for people to wise up, stop taking the bait and feeding the trolls.
Internet vigilanteism seems infinitely more probable, sadly.
Gute Nacht süeßer Prinz
Just testing. Somehow I didn't expect that to work.
It worries me that we have had smart people working on ways to brand things like this... But yet we are no nearer to cures for AIDS or MS...
Three stories further down on the front page.
Worked for me, and apparently the Mythbusters' judges could tell the difference*. Perhaps you underestimate how truly bad some cheap vodkas are.
*But then again, while at least one ranked them correctly the MB team couldn't find any chemical differences, so either judges or MBs are full of it. Or both.
I've got two words for you, just two words: slow cooker. Yes, I realise that they're only good for casseroles, soups and the like, but you can also come home to braised beef that melts in the mouth and if you like curry you'll love one of these gizmos (lamb works particularly well). A timer comes in very handy for things that need less cooking.
I'm also single and have little trouble cooking, subsisting as I do on slow-cooked fare, salads, stir-fry and other quickly-prepared meals. Another piece of advice I'd like to share is that you will probably find a lot of good recipes in so-called student cook books: they're packed full of meal ideas meant for people who have little time to cook. In fact, my book was the most useful thing I bought in my university years, next to a jug type water filter, which dramatically improves the quality of cheap vodka.
I'm treating your sig as a confession.
The Gard are on their way.
There's nothing wrong with having articles about this stuff, but writers should be clear on where they are in the range between "theoretical chemistry indicates this molecule would be insanely great" and "the product is shipping in volume".
You have to admit, though, that it's at least more exciting than the latest display tech of the week.
Yeah, it was Iyonix using the XScale that I was thinking of. Still, it's nice to see people still talking about them, like BeBoxes. Pity about Phoebe, though.
I came here just to post this. It's not that ARM is ever coming to the desktop; it's already been and gone. By the way, am I mistaken in thinking some of the later RISC PCs used Intel ARM processors?
It's also nice to see that someone still thinks back fondly to Archimedes machines as I do.
Ok, I know that the original design required making it out of brass and steel and whatnot making it big and expensive. But if I had one of those new (cheap) 3D printers, could I make a (smaller?) scale version out of whatever plastics or resins those printers use? Or are the tolerances too demanding?
If you used resin RP machines I'd expect you'd have trouble with the tolerances even with a full-scale replica. Make it smaller and the problem just gets worse.
Would the job be made a lot easier if I "cheated" by using electric motors judiciously placed instead of the (possibly) steam powered original?
No, the prime mover you use isn't all that important. Babbage chose steam because there weren't any suitable electric motors back then
Now THAT would be one heck of a weekend project!
Even with RP it'd take a lot longer than a weekend!
(Failing that, I heard they were going to make a computer simulation of it first to "test" it. It would be great if they could use some commonly used engineering program like Pro-E or Solid Works and build the model in that. Then we could all play with it!*)
SW wouldn't do because it's primarily for static simulations. You could use SW motion but physically simulating each part is overkill; it'd be quicker to create a bespoke simulator that doesn't bother to use FEA
P.P.S. I guess some day some nano-technologist will make this thing out with each individual component being just a few ATOMS.
I suspect even with nanoasembly this would still be a curiosity. Drexler's rod logic sounds a lot simpler to implement, though IANAE (expert).
The 1800s are the 19th century, how did this not get edited?
The same reason stuff like this gets posted.
I didn't care before, but I'm starting to dislike this timothy fellow now.
Don't blame the person who submitted the question.
Blame the person who posted it.
Or blame no-one and JFGI.
Maybe fancy things like don't work on /.?
He supposedly spent his advance on legal fees.
Hilarious.
Speaking of sales, I wonder how long it will be before - or indeed if - the book gets Blaired*... will it be before or after Assange himself goes on a 'potholing holiday'?
Taking all bets!
*Disclaimer: I have no firm opinion on the legality or morality of Assange's actions, but what happened there really did appeal to my love of whimsy.
I think you missed my point. Wherever I've seen SLM used for metals it involved a large amount of fine powder, parts of which were melted with a laser or some such, hence the name. I was saying that having the powder there for melting would be difficult if not impossible when you have liquid concrete being sprayed into it.
3D printing with metals - that I've seen - isn't like plastics or concrete where you directly deposit the material layer by layer with a nozzle. Instead the feedstock is all around the part you're making and has to be be kept very dry.
I've never been very good at explaining things, so take a look at a diagram. For all the other replies that say SLM metal is inferior to cast or forged steel, I know this but I was replying to the parent who simply wondered if it could be done. I'm trying to say that it would be very difficult to do; not that it would be a good idea if it was possible.