For Windows every machine (compute node) would need a individual license. I have 200 GRID machines, 400 SMPs of linux clusters, plus a 20ish linux machines. (each with hundreds of users/applications). And the software is FREE on most of these (no license required). So for EVERY linux cluster that does not have SuSE SLES or RedHat ES/AS, it is not counted, since there are no dollars required.
It should be the number of SMPs installed (so clusters count on a per-node basis) and not dollars wasted by companies. I grant sometimes it is needed, but the majority is just lack of knowledge in companies. (like purchasing windows to run filesharing versus samba, or email or MS SQL server/MS Access instead of Oracle/MySql/Postgres).
And really a LARGE SMP should count for more computing power and productivity than a toy PC that was called a 'server'. IBM Pseries or HP etc..
We have had about 47 at Cray to replace Irix desktops. (also a few servers)
At Princeton Geophysics we have a linux cluster (70 DUAL CPU machines, and 8 or so misc. machines).
And about 7 desktop machines.
I have installed a few at noncomputer literate types
in homes. The biggest issue is that either hardware, peripherals or software is not working/supported on linux. ReaderRabbit, Digital Cameras, scanners, printers. That is hard for novice users. But the desktop has not been a problem.
NOTE: These are all RedHat running GNOME desktop and it has been very easy and user friendly to noncomputer literate.
I was not trying to pick on you, just clarify
that out of the 500+ kits I have used to teach
kids over the past 6+ years, I have had no problems (besides a occasional kids soldering
mistake).
My only point is the kits are extremely reliable
and are very much complete.
Also Solarbotics offers e-mail and phone support
to help you debug problems.
I am sorry you had problems, but the the confusion
I had with your message versus what you now clarified is from the below portions.
If you want to build another I would be happy to help you out.. just let me know.. (my URL is listed above).
Mark
Actually you claimed:
"It seemed to claim to be a complete robot kit;
however, when I got done with it, it was a solar
cell & a motor."
Then you
"Worse, it claimed to be able to charge up and then go; the idea being that you set it in a brighly lit room,....
I am confident that have this confused with another company. I ordered Solarbotics first
kit in 1994, and it was a complete solar power
robot with a charge circuit. It would charge from
indirect light (although over much longer time).
I don't know of any beginner kit they have sold
without the BEAM charge circuit.
There is a Yahoo (previously egroup).
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/beam
I should mention that ever since I built my first
solar powered device I have been involved in BEAM
(as time allowed). It is a excellent way to get
started in electronics, mechanics and robotics.
Also CPUs (computers) are not discouraged. The goal is to do research and to use the best parts
for what they are best at. CPUs are better at things like path planning and basically 'human goals' for a robot. BEAM typically does better in applications that are not predictable like walking over complex enviroments and through dynamic enviroments. The same circuits can also be used for very basic stimuli-responses like following or avoiding light or a apply another sensor.
Mark
Note that the Linux box was configured to only use 960MB of the 4GBs of memory. (also note that this was a SMP test also some specific RAID device). Also they were testing SAMBA.
So in otherwords, they incorrectly configured the machine to only use less than 1/3rd of the machines memory.
I am a little concerned of specific RAID devices also. And I personally turn off SAMBA, since I don't support MS products (which I would consider potential security issues). (No offense to the SAMBA folks).
Those were just the main obvious concerns and/or misconfigurations.
I called multiple PC makers, to see if they would sell me a PC without MS installed nor charged for.
I think that would be a nice category.. (I cannot return what I refuse to purchase). But It may help alert PC makers, that some refuse to purchase. Also the number of machines affected.. Like for clusters being purchased, I have them go to places that do not charge for MS, since they save $100-$400 per machine, which really adds up on 64+ dual cpu systems.
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For Windows every machine (compute node) would need a individual license.
I have 200 GRID machines, 400 SMPs of linux clusters, plus a 20ish linux
machines. (each with hundreds of users/applications). And the software
is FREE on most of these (no license required). So for EVERY linux cluster
that does not have SuSE SLES or RedHat ES/AS, it is not counted, since
there are no dollars required.
It should be the number of SMPs installed (so clusters count on a per-node
basis) and not dollars wasted by companies. I grant sometimes it is needed,
but the majority is just lack of knowledge in companies. (like purchasing
windows to run filesharing versus samba, or email or MS SQL server/MS Access
instead of Oracle/MySql/Postgres).
And really a LARGE SMP should count for more computing power and productivity
than a toy PC that was called a 'server'. IBM Pseries or HP etc..
Mark
We have had about 47 at Cray to replace Irix desktops. (also a few servers)
At Princeton Geophysics we have a linux cluster (70 DUAL CPU machines, and 8 or so misc. machines).
And about 7 desktop machines.
I have installed a few at noncomputer literate types
in homes. The biggest issue is that either hardware, peripherals or software is not working/supported on linux. ReaderRabbit, Digital Cameras, scanners, printers. That is hard for novice users. But the desktop has not been a problem.
NOTE: These are all RedHat running GNOME desktop and it has been very easy and user friendly to noncomputer literate.
Mark
I was not trying to pick on you, just clarify that out of the 500+ kits I have used to teach kids over the past 6+ years, I have had no problems (besides a occasional kids soldering mistake). My only point is the kits are extremely reliable and are very much complete. Also Solarbotics offers e-mail and phone support to help you debug problems. I am sorry you had problems, but the the confusion I had with your message versus what you now clarified is from the below portions. If you want to build another I would be happy to help you out.. just let me know.. (my URL is listed above). Mark Actually you claimed: "It seemed to claim to be a complete robot kit; however, when I got done with it, it was a solar cell & a motor." Then you "Worse, it claimed to be able to charge up and then go; the idea being that you set it in a brighly lit room, ....
I am confident that have this confused with another company. I ordered Solarbotics first kit in 1994, and it was a complete solar power robot with a charge circuit. It would charge from indirect light (although over much longer time). I don't know of any beginner kit they have sold without the BEAM charge circuit. There is a Yahoo (previously egroup). http://groups.yahoo.com/group/beam I should mention that ever since I built my first solar powered device I have been involved in BEAM (as time allowed). It is a excellent way to get started in electronics, mechanics and robotics. Also CPUs (computers) are not discouraged. The goal is to do research and to use the best parts for what they are best at. CPUs are better at things like path planning and basically 'human goals' for a robot. BEAM typically does better in applications that are not predictable like walking over complex enviroments and through dynamic enviroments. The same circuits can also be used for very basic stimuli-responses like following or avoiding light or a apply another sensor. Mark
Note that the Linux box was configured to only
use 960MB of the 4GBs of memory. (also note
that this was a SMP test also some specific
RAID device). Also they were testing SAMBA.
So in otherwords, they incorrectly configured
the machine to only use less than 1/3rd of
the machines memory.
I am a little concerned of specific RAID devices
also. And I personally turn off SAMBA, since
I don't support MS products (which I would consider potential security issues). (No offense
to the SAMBA folks).
Those were just the main obvious concerns and/or
misconfigurations.
Mark
I called multiple PC makers, to see if they
would sell me a PC without MS installed nor
charged for.
I think that would be a nice category..
(I cannot return what I refuse to purchase).
But It may help alert PC makers, that some
refuse to purchase. Also the number of machines
affected.. Like for clusters being purchased,
I have them go to places that do not charge for
MS, since they save $100-$400 per machine, which
really adds up on 64+ dual cpu systems.
Mark