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User: itof500

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Comments · 66

  1. Re:Free Hardware on Home Server Or VPS? One Family's Math · · Score: 1

    Yes. I replaced a home fixed IP address at $75/month for a VSP at $20/month. I didn't even think about the electricity.

  2. Re:Intel the Problem on Microsoft Surface Pro Reviews Arrive · · Score: 1

    They should at least open up the software installation. That would allow legacy programs to be run with just a recompile, or perhaps a port to java/C#. This idea of not being able to install unapproved programs that Apple started is for the birds.

  3. Corporations are people with rights. Why not us?

  4. The elderly on Ask Slashdot: Using a Tablet As a Sole Computing Device? · · Score: 1

    We got my 89 yr old mother an iPad a few years ago and it was a huge success. I believe she used it for 80% of her computing. Quicken was the big lacking functionality. What she really liked was not having to sit at the desk to play Scrabble with my brothers in California.

  5. Re:DOA.. on Apple CEO Likens Surface To Car That Flies, Floats · · Score: 5, Informative

    Interestingly it appears that Microsoft was quite complementary about the iPad during its presentation.
    http://www.anandtech.com/show/6385/microsoft-surface-review

      A Different Perspective

    A week ago, I sat in an auditorium and listened to Steve Sinofsky talk about the tablet market. He talked about how the iPad was a great device, and a logical extension of the iPhone. Give iOS a bigger screen and all of the sudden you could do some things better on this new device. He talked about Android tablets, and Google’s learning process there, going from a phone OS on a tablet to eventually building Holo and creating a tablet-specific experience. He had nothing but good things to say about both competitors. I couldn’t tell just how sincere he was being, I don’t know Mr. Sinofsky all that well, but his thoughts were genuine, his analysis spot-on. Both Apple and Google tablets were good, in their own ways. What Steve said next didn’t really resonate with me until I had spent a few days with Surface. He called Surface and Windows RT Microsoft’s “perspective” on tablets. I don’t know if he even specifically called it a tablet, what stuck out was his emphasis on perspective.

  6. Re:Captain Obvious on Electric Car Environmental Impact: Power Source Matters · · Score: 5, Informative

    Do the math;
    With regard to climate change/CO2 production it matters a great deal where the energy comes from.

    Here in central Indiana our electricity comes from coal fired power plants down on the Ohio river. Each kW-h of electricity produces 1.88 libs of CO2 (ref Duke Energy mailings). The EPA rates the Nissan Leaf as using 34 kW-h to go 100 miles (ref http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Leaf). So, doing the math going 100 miles through the Indiana countryside in the Nissan Leaf produces about 64 pounds of CO2.

    How does that compare to burning gasoline? Burning that gallon of gas produces 20 lbs of CO2 (ref http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/co2.shtml), so the 64 lbs of CO2 for the electricity to drive the LEAF 100 miles is equivalent to 3.2 gallons of gasoline. That figures out to 31 miles per gallon.

    Nissan LEAF -> 31 miles per gallon.

    YMMV

  7. Re:2 different factors on White House Finalizes 54.5 MPG Fuel Efficiency Standard · · Score: 1

    The cost of gas and the amount consumed are two different issues. If you need gas to travel to and from work, you have no choice but to spend the money.

    Actually, you can move closer to work or public transportation and solve this conundrum.

  8. Re:"Savings" on White House Finalizes 54.5 MPG Fuel Efficiency Standard · · Score: 1

    i realize that the law, and so this discussion, needs to use the EPA figures so that we are comparing like to like (apples to apples). I'd just like to say that our new 2012 Prius C substantially beats its EPA city figure of 53 MPG. We've yet to see a tank/substantial trip under 60 MPG. It just points out that a change in the EPA test cycle could make the 2025 goal a lot easier for the automakers to reach.

    Of course, we drive prudently so YMMV.

  9. make tmp noexec on Ask Slashdot: Security Digests For the Home Network Admin? · · Score: 1

    I set up /tmp on a separate partition and added the noexec and nosuid tags.

  10. Re:Hyperbole on Have Bad Cars Gone Extinct? · · Score: 1

    Actually, one thing they have fixed across the board is rust. Here in the midwest snow and salt on the roads are car killers. I had a 1974 Ford Galaxy what was unsafe with rust by 1980. Compare that with our most recent cars (1986 Subaru and 1987 Jetta - both bought new) that went 12-13 years and 150K miles each without a hint of rust.

  11. Re:ask a mechanic on Have Bad Cars Gone Extinct? · · Score: 1

    The mid-late 90's Jetta TDI's were awesome. Sure hope my 2010 is as good.

  12. Re:Perspective on The iPhone Is a Nightmare For Carriers · · Score: 1

    Rather like T-mobile, for instance.

  13. Re:the specs and benchies are a YAWN on Intel-Powered Smartphones Arriving Soon · · Score: 1

    The only way ARM will overtake x86 is if smartphones overtake traditional computers. There just isn't a reason strong enough to motivate people to switch to ARM.
    ===
    Can you say a 1 lb laptop with 10 hours of plug free operation? (e.g. an iPad2). That is a pretty sweet, mobile package.

    Duke out

  14. Re:Yes! on Are Programmers Ruining the Design of eBooks? · · Score: 1

    Or, the GUI tools aren't that bad, but the change the goddam things every couple months. The file managers, window behaviors, drag-and-drop behaviorss, where the links are located, the menu layouts...it all changes, even within the same distro, over a time span of years. Compare that to XP which has been the same for 10+ years. So when I use Linux, I use the command line a lot...at least they don't change that (too much).
    ==
    Amen

  15. Re:I blame Norquist on Debt Reduction Super Committee Fails To Agree · · Score: 2

    Actually, the top rate is not 45% but 35%. And, importantly, this is a marginal tax rate. i.e. a dude making a cool $1,000,000 / year after deductions and loopholes will pay the same 10% rate for the first $8500 as you and me. The next bracket is $8500 - 34,500 where the rate is 15%, 34,500 - 83,600 is 25%. etc... The dude will only pay the top rate for any income he reports over $380,000.

    The issue of dividend income has been covered elsewhere in this thread.

  16. Re:So on IEA Warns of Irreversible Climate Change In 5 Years · · Score: 1

    The tube.

  17. Re:Nice distro but they messed up the desktop on Ubuntu Turns 7 · · Score: 1

    Yes. I'm an old Common Desktop Environment guy from the Dec Alpha days. I always configure my desktop to look like that. Unity is very different. I understand the utility of the side/vertical icons for the common wide screen monitors many of us use. However, I don't understand the fiat that we cannot configure it how we want.

    So, yes. Looking for another home os. How is Fedora these days?

    Duke out

  18. Re:This is what easy over safe design gets ya on New BIOS Exploiting Rootkit Discovered · · Score: 1

    Raises hand.

    Admittedly, it was awhile back to solve a network card incompatibility. Then there was another to enable the 4th DIMM slot (an ASUS motherboard. Never bought another from them).

    Duke out

  19. Re:x86? on Intel, Google Team To Optimize Android For Smartphones · · Score: 1

    Yes. It would be great to see Intel's awesome process technology applied to an ARM, low power design. What a shame they want to stay with x86.

    Duke out

  20. Re:It won't work here on SignalGuru Helps Drivers Avoid Red Lights · · Score: 1

    Actually, 'timer only' traffic lights are pretty straight-forward to predict, and so minimize stopping by adjusting your speed of approach. The trigger systems are much more difficult as they are random depending on the cross traffic. As few people adjust their speeds to the timing of traffic lights, the trigger system is a net benefit. For those of us trying to time the lights they are rather frustrating.

  21. Re:You can do that right now on SignalGuru Helps Drivers Avoid Red Lights · · Score: 1

    Automatic transmission used to have options for downshifting. I seem to recall it was D, 1, and 2 on the transmission selector. Haven't driven an automatic in decades, so things may have changed.

  22. push pin vs back pane design on Sandy Bridge-E CPUs Too Hot For Intel? · · Score: 1

    I've been building systems for a few years, and I much prefer the back pane design in the 2nd market coolers to the push-pin of the stock HSF unit. I find it easier to install firmly, and much easier to deal with if I want to upgrade the CPU in an existing unit.

    Duke out

  23. Re:Well shit on Terry Pratchett Considers Assisted Suicide · · Score: 1

    Much as I love this man, that was the funniest thing I've read in a long time.

  24. move the server on Ask Slashdot: Do I Give IT a Login On Our Dept. Server? · · Score: 1

    Given your desire to have a calendar server to arrange call schedules and the difficulty with the hospital IT and/or Federal regulations, just move the server. Get a fixed IP at home and set up the server in your basement. Give all your colleagues appropriate logins. Neither IT nor the Feds will care.

    Problem solved.

    duke out

  25. Apple on Testing Mobile Phones For Controlling Space Missions · · Score: 1

    And it is not going to be an iPhone.