With increasing power costs I have to find ways to conserve more energy to keep from paying through the nose for electricity. My father says that my power bill, even after all of the rate increases Seattle City Light wants to implement, is still less than his in Connecticut. Ouch.
Using as much electricity is a good way to bring down the power grid (if everybody did it) and keep those Californians from getting any, but it'll cost you, and me.
Actually, I did buy a power inverter for my PowerBook, but only so that passengers can use the computer for longer than 2 hours when watching DVDs.
Still, I could do that, although my PowerBook draws only about 50 watts at most.
--Bernie
Re:My Generation's "Kennedy was Shot" moment
on
The Challenger
·
· Score: 1
I was 7 years old, and in the second grade. We had combined 2 classes that day to watch Where the Red Fern Grows, and half-way through the teacher came on and told us what had happened. She hooked up a cable feed to the TV and the entire class watched in silent horror to see what had happened.
Nothing could have a more profound affect on my young life at the time. It was unbelievable.
I was given an old (ca.1993) MessagePad 100. It's amazing to me what this thing can do, even now. I had to replace the backup battery (dead) and got a 2MB Newton flash card for storage expansion (and a plug for the card slot).
Now I've got a Keyspan USB to PDA adapter and I can use Newton Connection Kit to keep the Newton synchronized. It really is an impressive device, and even though it's running NewtonOS 1.3, its handwriting recognition isn't bad at all. It takes a while to teach the Newt how you write, but it understands me now.
And, "ink" notes is something I find indispensable. Apple nixed a good thing. They could have shrunk the Newton down and captured a larger market had certain forces not been so blind.
I've thought about getting a Palm, but Graffiti annoys me, and the Newton is all I need right now.
My HS band teacher was an arrogant, pompus bastard, but he motivated our music program to perfection. While our sports teams faultered and floundered, our bands (Wind Ensemble, Marching/Concert/Stage Bands) were winning awards and praise from the community and school.
Some of us were motivated out of fear, but we knew that just making him proud and happy was worth all of the trouble. Everybody that had him as a conductor owes him something.
Even though my involvement in music since HS is much less, I still strive for perfection and excellence in much that I do. He always asked 110% of us and he got it.
One phrase from him sums up his philosophy:
"Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect."
I have a Pioneer DV-525 DVD player, and then for a receiver I have a Pioneer VSX-D607S receiver. The receiver was $300, but I got it off of eBay for about $220, and it does Dolby Digital. I wish it had DTS and S-Video in, but I can live without both.
Speaker set up is all-Polk Audio. I have 4 RT15s for Left, Right, Left Surround, and Right Surround. Each pair cost $200, so $400 total for those 4 speakers. For a center channel, I opted for the Polk CS245, which sounds a lot better than the next lower model (can't remember the number off-hand); I bought it for $250. By far, the most expensive speaker was the sub, and I bought a Polk PSW140, which has a 190-watt amp, and a 10" downfiring driver. It sits there pretty in the corner just waiting to attack. It was $450.
Total speaker price was $1100. It's not a big system, but it can get loud, and because it's all of the same manufacturer, the tonal characteristics all match up, and it's sounds even.
So as you can see, I spent $1320 for a decent sounding apartment system.
What's missing? Support for my CD burner would be nice.
Don't you fret. Jobs said that as soon as they can develop and test them, plugins for the most popular burners will be available for download from Apple's site for iTunes.
MHz may be meaningless to geeks, but geeks don't make up the bulk of the buying public.
MHz *is* important, and it's often a deciding factor. People go into a store, see an iBook for $1600 with a 350MHz G3 or a Pentium III 500/600 for about the same price. They're going to choose which they think gives them more for their money.
You can spout technical terms at them, but they'll either not get it, or they'll yawn, walk away, and go get the Pentium notebook. The ones that do get it are very intelligent people, though:-)
So, Apple needs to find a way to get Motorola and IBM on the stick making slightly faster processors, especially for desktop machines, because power requirements there don't really matter.
While a nice idea, it's causing problems for those credit card sized-CDs and I don't really want to see them implemented on the PowerBook. My other concern is the extra power (albeit slight) that it takes to load and eject a CD from a slot-loading rig.
I'm pretty sure that a G4 is going to use a bit more power, so Apple's got its work cut out to make the batteries as long lasting as my 500MHz G3 PowerBook.
Only time will tell. I really hope something comes out soon. Apple's getting their ass handed to them in the MHz wars.
Use the Priceline gas card. I managed to knock about 10 cents/gallon off my gas bills. Of course, when I'm driving my '95 Jetta GL (which gets about 30mpg on the freeway) that may not seem like such a big deal.
However, for the jerks that have SUVs, this might help. But, so would not talking on their cellphone while driving into my lane (I've had that happen far too many times).
I like the idea of the Insight. I just wish it were a little bigger for big guys like myself.
Consider a teenager doing a seemingly innocent search for a summer job using the search term "teen jobs".
Tested on Google, the 4th site down has porn on it. Tested on Lycos, almost halfway down the page is "free teen blow jobs" and then the rest of the results down the page are just as bad. Similar results on Excite!
It's amazing how obscure terms will return porn. And that's just what the porn sites want. I still think a special top-level domain is the best idea for porn. How about playboy.porn?
If they had a corrupted filesystem, why couldn't it be possible to store a small charge in a battery? Then, when you pull the plug (as it were) linux would realize this and use the charge in the battery to quickly and safely shut itself down?
Seems like a good way to handle things to me. I have no idea what the cost would be like, though.
This is resoundingly like the analog vs. digital debate in the pro audio world. And, most people in the audio world realize that, while analog provides a warmer, richer sound, digital's got the greatest ease of use and best longevity.
With advances like higher bit-rate, higher sampling rate, etc., digital is becoming the successor to analog audio.
I don't see any difference in this discussion. Sure, right now digital projection technologies suck. The image quality doesn't quite live up to what everybody wants, but I can't wait for the day when I can go to a digital theater and see a picutre that has NO scratches, no green lines running down the middle of the screen for minutes on end, or pops and cracks in the audio track because some idiot projectionist decided to cover up the audio track with splicing tape.
And, everything in sync! For instance, DTS is an audio format that runs on CD-ROM and is sync'ed with a track on the film print. Unfortunately, if there's a problem with the sync track on the film, DTS loses its sync. And, don't get me started about problems with Dolby Digital. It sucked watching Waterworld with only the left audio tracks working because the Dolby Digital audio track (which is located in between the sprocket holes) was scratched.
And, has anybody ever experienced a celluloid fire while the film's in the projector? Not a pretty experience, and the audience certainly doesn't like the time it takes to cut the affected frames out of the print. (Sure, the film makes a nice decoration, but that's beside the point.)
So, eventually digital WILL compete with normal film, and one day it'll be better. Now, if there was only something I could do about the people talking behind me though every movie I go to;-)
Always been a big fan of the K6 family in spite of its performance shortcomings. Hell, K6/200 at work, K6-2/400 at home and soon to be another K6-2/400 running my Webserver.
Damn fine processor for the price. Heck, those 400s are down to $70 now with a fan. Hard to beat that price/performance ratio.
C'mon....8 hours....please! I have a $100 Panasonic unit that does 24 hours of AA battery time with the anti-shock turned on. For the amount of music you're getting, I'd almost expect more battery efficiency.
In other news, nice idea. I've been thinking about this for a long time. Hope it works out for them and more companies realize this is a viable solution. Hopefully they'll create some good documentation for burning those CDs, or partner with a CD-burner company and co-develop a kit.
I've been using the Radium version of FhG's codec for quite some time with Windows. If you can find it, you'll find that it does a pretty damn good job at 160kilobits/sec, which is where I'd recommend you encode everything. Anything higher will give you better results, but 128 will sound a little tinny.
My true test of an mp3 encoder/codec is one that can accurately handle cymbals, hi-hats, and tinny sounds without the sort of flanging sound that plagues MP3.
Slashdot Mirror
Funny.
With increasing power costs I have to find ways to conserve more energy to keep from paying through the nose for electricity. My father says that my power bill, even after all of the rate increases Seattle City Light wants to implement, is still less than his in Connecticut. Ouch.
Using as much electricity is a good way to bring down the power grid (if everybody did it) and keep those Californians from getting any, but it'll cost you, and me.
--Bernie
Actually, I did buy a power inverter for my PowerBook, but only so that passengers can use the computer for longer than 2 hours when watching DVDs.
Still, I could do that, although my PowerBook draws only about 50 watts at most.
--Bernie
I was 7 years old, and in the second grade. We had combined 2 classes that day to watch Where the Red Fern Grows, and half-way through the teacher came on and told us what had happened. She hooked up a cable feed to the TV and the entire class watched in silent horror to see what had happened.
Nothing could have a more profound affect on my young life at the time. It was unbelievable.
--Bernie
A more in-depth recount of what happened to me that day.
Good comments...
I was given an old (ca.1993) MessagePad 100. It's amazing to me what this thing can do, even now. I had to replace the backup battery (dead) and got a 2MB Newton flash card for storage expansion (and a plug for the card slot).
Now I've got a Keyspan USB to PDA adapter and I can use Newton Connection Kit to keep the Newton synchronized. It really is an impressive device, and even though it's running NewtonOS 1.3, its handwriting recognition isn't bad at all. It takes a while to teach the Newt how you write, but it understands me now.
And, "ink" notes is something I find indispensable. Apple nixed a good thing. They could have shrunk the Newton down and captured a larger market had certain forces not been so blind.
I've thought about getting a Palm, but Graffiti annoys me, and the Newton is all I need right now.
--Bernie
As long as they aren't superimposing a Pringles logo on the football or anything else when they're showing the replay, I'll be happy.
Oh, wait, I hope I didn't just give them an idea. Oh boy.
--Bernie
My HS band teacher was an arrogant, pompus bastard, but he motivated our music program to perfection. While our sports teams faultered and floundered, our bands (Wind Ensemble, Marching/Concert/Stage Bands) were winning awards and praise from the community and school.
Some of us were motivated out of fear, but we knew that just making him proud and happy was worth all of the trouble. Everybody that had him as a conductor owes him something.
Even though my involvement in music since HS is much less, I still strive for perfection and excellence in much that I do. He always asked 110% of us and he got it.
One phrase from him sums up his philosophy:
"Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect."
--Bernie
I have a Pioneer DV-525 DVD player, and then for a receiver I have a Pioneer VSX-D607S receiver. The receiver was $300, but I got it off of eBay for about $220, and it does Dolby Digital. I wish it had DTS and S-Video in, but I can live without both.
Speaker set up is all-Polk Audio. I have 4 RT15s for Left, Right, Left Surround, and Right Surround. Each pair cost $200, so $400 total for those 4 speakers. For a center channel, I opted for the Polk CS245, which sounds a lot better than the next lower model (can't remember the number off-hand); I bought it for $250. By far, the most expensive speaker was the sub, and I bought a Polk PSW140, which has a 190-watt amp, and a 10" downfiring driver. It sits there pretty in the corner just waiting to attack. It was $450.
Total speaker price was $1100. It's not a big system, but it can get loud, and because it's all of the same manufacturer, the tonal characteristics all match up, and it's sounds even.
So as you can see, I spent $1320 for a decent sounding apartment system.
--Bernie
What's missing? Support for my CD burner would be nice.
Don't you fret. Jobs said that as soon as they can develop and test them, plugins for the most popular burners will be available for download from Apple's site for iTunes.
--Bernie
I'm slowly but surely starting to think that Bush is going to win, and that doesn't make me happy.
But, what makes me more unhappy is how outdated the electoral college is. Its time has passed and it's time we get rid of it.
--Bernie
MHz may be meaningless to geeks, but geeks don't make up the bulk of the buying public.
:-)
MHz *is* important, and it's often a deciding factor. People go into a store, see an iBook for $1600 with a 350MHz G3 or a Pentium III 500/600 for about the same price. They're going to choose which they think gives them more for their money.
You can spout technical terms at them, but they'll either not get it, or they'll yawn, walk away, and go get the Pentium notebook. The ones that do get it are very intelligent people, though
So, Apple needs to find a way to get Motorola and IBM on the stick making slightly faster processors, especially for desktop machines, because power requirements there don't really matter.
I know they'll figure it out eventually.
--Bernie
While a nice idea, it's causing problems for those credit card sized-CDs and I don't really want to see them implemented on the PowerBook. My other concern is the extra power (albeit slight) that it takes to load and eject a CD from a slot-loading rig.
I'm pretty sure that a G4 is going to use a bit more power, so Apple's got its work cut out to make the batteries as long lasting as my 500MHz G3 PowerBook.
Only time will tell. I really hope something comes out soon. Apple's getting their ass handed to them in the MHz wars.
--Bernie
Use the Priceline gas card. I managed to knock about 10 cents/gallon off my gas bills. Of course, when I'm driving my '95 Jetta GL (which gets about 30mpg on the freeway) that may not seem like such a big deal.
However, for the jerks that have SUVs, this might help. But, so would not talking on their cellphone while driving into my lane (I've had that happen far too many times).
I like the idea of the Insight. I just wish it were a little bigger for big guys like myself.
--Bernie
What about using Squid as a http accelerator for those images? It would probably help.
--Bernie
The thing I love about Sony is that not only does it make the players that play the movies we love, but it also makes the movies! Weeeooo hoo!
--Bernie
Consider a teenager doing a seemingly innocent search for a summer job using the search term "teen jobs".
Tested on Google, the 4th site down has porn on it. Tested on Lycos, almost halfway down the page is "free teen blow jobs" and then the rest of the results down the page are just as bad. Similar results on Excite!
It's amazing how obscure terms will return porn. And that's just what the porn sites want. I still think a special top-level domain is the best idea for porn. How about playboy.porn?
--Bernie
Episode one was also mixed into DTS and Dolby Digital, 2 formats that are easily put onto DVD.
It's a cryin' shame he had to do this. I think he's making a HUGE mistake.
--Bernie
If they had a corrupted filesystem, why couldn't it be possible to store a small charge in a battery? Then, when you pull the plug (as it were) linux would realize this and use the charge in the battery to quickly and safely shut itself down?
Seems like a good way to handle things to me. I have no idea what the cost would be like, though.
--Bernie
The site is in Italian, for those who didn't realize it already.
By the way, pretty sweet looking phone. Sure like to have it to replace this crappy phone on my desk.
--Bernie
This is resoundingly like the analog vs. digital debate in the pro audio world. And, most people in the audio world realize that, while analog provides a warmer, richer sound, digital's got the greatest ease of use and best longevity.
;-)
With advances like higher bit-rate, higher sampling rate, etc., digital is becoming the successor to analog audio.
I don't see any difference in this discussion. Sure, right now digital projection technologies suck. The image quality doesn't quite live up to what everybody wants, but I can't wait for the day when I can go to a digital theater and see a picutre that has NO scratches, no green lines running down the middle of the screen for minutes on end, or pops and cracks in the audio track because some idiot projectionist decided to cover up the audio track with splicing tape.
And, everything in sync! For instance, DTS is an audio format that runs on CD-ROM and is sync'ed with a track on the film print. Unfortunately, if there's a problem with the sync track on the film, DTS loses its sync. And, don't get me started about problems with Dolby Digital. It sucked watching Waterworld with only the left audio tracks working because the Dolby Digital audio track (which is located in between the sprocket holes) was scratched.
And, has anybody ever experienced a celluloid fire while the film's in the projector? Not a pretty experience, and the audience certainly doesn't like the time it takes to cut the affected frames out of the print. (Sure, the film makes a nice decoration, but that's beside the point.)
So, eventually digital WILL compete with normal film, and one day it'll be better. Now, if there was only something I could do about the people talking behind me though every movie I go to
--Bernie
They're always trying to steal 'me lucky charms.
--Bernie
Better than having an iMac 6100DV, 6250DV, 6500DV, a Power iMac 9600, blah blah blah.
Yes, it's much more simpler. Customers want simplicity, but they also want a choice. Apple's doing a good job at providing that.
It's about time that the iMac got DVD.
Why is the company called Sony? What does it mean in Japanese? Is there a translation for it or what?
Heck, if I were him, I would have called it Morita.
--Bernie
Always been a big fan of the K6 family in spite of its performance shortcomings. Hell, K6/200 at work, K6-2/400 at home and soon to be another K6-2/400 running my Webserver.
Damn fine processor for the price. Heck, those 400s are down to $70 now with a fan. Hard to beat that price/performance ratio.
--Bernie
C'mon....8 hours....please! I have a $100 Panasonic unit that does 24 hours of AA battery time with the anti-shock turned on. For the amount of music you're getting, I'd almost expect more battery efficiency.
In other news, nice idea. I've been thinking about this for a long time. Hope it works out for them and more companies realize this is a viable solution. Hopefully they'll create some good documentation for burning those CDs, or partner with a CD-burner company and co-develop a kit.
--Bernie
I've been using the Radium version of FhG's codec for quite some time with Windows. If you can find it, you'll find that it does a pretty damn good job at 160kilobits/sec, which is where I'd recommend you encode everything. Anything higher will give you better results, but 128 will sound a little tinny.
My true test of an mp3 encoder/codec is one that can accurately handle cymbals, hi-hats, and tinny sounds without the sort of flanging sound that plagues MP3.