I suspect that the answer to the question is "both". Hubble has provided stunning information over the years, and - quite frankly - it kicks b*tt! But its old, and NASA can no doubt do better now.
What I would like to see is a detailed summary cost breakdown (un-spun by the politicos) and ongoing sustaining costs for the thing, as well as the schedule-of-use (i.e. who's using it and how much and for what). This info is probably available, but hard to find.
Then I'll decide if I/we can afford my/our "feelings" about Hubble, nice as they are.
IMO you are correct that Intel/Microchip/AMD aren't going to change their processes without a damned good reason. But PC parts and logic circuits aren't the only thing transistors go into.
How about the RF modulators/demodulators in all cell-phones, the RF amps in same, the special-purpose chips, regulators, detectors, buffers, amplifiers, etc that mfgrs still crank out by the butt-load, etc?
Personally, I'd really get off on an op-amp designed around these puppies! Imagine the gain-bandwidth product (eff-sub-Tee)!
You might check out the details of the Casini/Huygens probe (US mothership/UK Titan probe daughtership), telemetry transmission of the Mars Rovers via the EU Mars Surveyor(?), and others. This (sharing of resources) has been going on for a while. Oh, yeah...and the space station. Seems everyone has a piece of that puppy.
"This is essentially the judge saying to the press, "Look, if the whole world...yadda yadda...it's impossible to guarantee it won't come out, but Canadian journalists typically respect it." "
Press? Journalists?
I thought bloggers weren't included in these catagories?
You say "you assume that people are, generally, stupid, uninformed and/or not able/willing to check facts..."
First: But what if (as is OFTEN the case) people are looking up something because they DON'T know? I know thats why I use an encyclopedia. Isn't that what its for?
Second: Wp is confirmably biased - just try "correcting" factual inaccuracies in a political reference. I have tried. With backup statements, direct quotes, etc. They definitely have an agenda.
Of course, I don't use Wp and never have, for precisely that reason.
Facts aren't negotiable, nor are they reached by concensus. Nor are they "fair". They simply ARE.
The HP kill-the-cart.-after-one-year ploy bit a buddy of mine last year. Supposedly, the install date is burned into the cartridge chip when it is first used. Lexmark is rumoured to do the same thing. Changing the PC date won't work after the fact.
My friend was furious as his cart. was still half full and (was) perfectly functional the day before. He called HP and chewed a$$ mightily, to no avail. Neither one of us will ever buy a HP product again.
It was my understanding that the Lexmark lawsuite was peripherally in response to a 3rd party cartridge that had this feature bypassed or removed. Also - hacks do exist. Removing the offending system date calls from the driver (I think) is supposed to work.
"White House press secretary Scott McClellan said (James D.) Guckert (his real name)did not have a regular White House press pass but was cleared on a day-by-day basis to attend briefings and used his real name."
(parenthetic comments mine)
...that nowhere in the article is it explicitly stated just *who* supposedly instructed these scientists to fiddle with their data, conclusions, etc? Scientists were mentioned, the Fed was mentioned, the Game & WL folks were mentioned, and assertions of interferance were mentioned, but there is not one sentence explicitly linking them together. That brings to mind the old addage: "Consider the source".
First - I spent the better part of 20 years designing military and aerospace switching power supplies and systems. Admittedly these toys were commercial products, but I think I'm qualified to say the following:
a) purely resistive loads are a poor model for PC load characteristics, as are purely constant-current loads. But the CC load is a tougher test.
b) transient line and load response (or lack thereof) can preclude operation at the steady-stete levels tested.
c) I just skimmed the article as it was loading strange, but I didn't note any specific cross-regulation tests. These types of tests may yield poorer performance measurements. They almost always do.
d) Testing to see if a PS will run at full load is not the same as seeing if it will START under FL. I didn't notice these tests. Likewise Starting at low or hi input is tougher that running at same.
e) we ps designers had an expression: Power supplies are like assholes - everyone has one and everyone thinks they're an expert. The former is true (some folks have two:) )- the latter is seldom accurate.
Yes - and even before they fuse they can start dropping non-trivial amounts of supply V, increasing V ripple at the point-of-use, and lowering operating margins and reliability.
But splitting a heat source (the chip) into two or more separately packaged chunks can lower the separate die temperatures. This can be a good thing.
While there's lots of really, really good ideas here, I could add one more comment.
If your shop PC craps out in 2-3 years (due to the hostile environment, or whatever), what are you going to do? Probably the same thing you'd do if it didn't crap out -- upgrade. Most folks I know usually upgrade their #1 system (the one in your house) every 2-3 years anyway, so just move the hand-me-downs into the (shop) #2 system, clean the li'l puppy up while you're at it, and your good to go for another 2-3 years.
Unless you're going into the shop-made furniture business, the dust/dirt probably won't kill it in that time frame.
Slashdot Mirror
I suspect that the answer to the question is "both". Hubble has provided stunning information over the years, and - quite frankly - it kicks b*tt! But its old, and NASA can no doubt do better now.
What I would like to see is a detailed summary cost breakdown (un-spun by the politicos) and ongoing sustaining costs for the thing, as well as the schedule-of-use (i.e. who's using it and how much and for what). This info is probably available, but hard to find.
Then I'll decide if I/we can afford my/our "feelings" about Hubble, nice as they are.
IMO you are correct that Intel/Microchip/AMD aren't going to change their processes without a damned good reason. But PC parts and logic circuits aren't the only thing transistors go into.
How about the RF modulators/demodulators in all cell-phones, the RF amps in same, the special-purpose chips, regulators, detectors, buffers, amplifiers, etc that mfgrs still crank out by the butt-load, etc?
Personally, I'd really get off on an op-amp designed around these puppies! Imagine the gain-bandwidth product (eff-sub-Tee)!
You might check out the details of the Casini/Huygens probe (US mothership/UK Titan probe daughtership), telemetry transmission of the Mars Rovers via the EU Mars Surveyor(?), and others. This (sharing of resources) has been going on for a while. Oh, yeah...and the space station. Seems everyone has a piece of that puppy.
Good idea though.
...or no bites.
"This is essentially the judge saying to the press, "Look, if the whole world...yadda yadda...it's impossible to guarantee it won't come out, but Canadian journalists typically respect it." "
Press? Journalists?
I thought bloggers weren't included in these catagories?
"Wonder if there's anywhere it is legal to sell your politicans."
Ours in the US have been for sale for centuries.
David Benioff?
My heart soars like a brick.
" being able to build anything we want ourselves."
Seen Forbidden Planet? Bad idea.
You say "you assume that people are, generally, stupid, uninformed and/or not able/willing to check facts..."
First:
But what if (as is OFTEN the case) people are looking up something because they DON'T know? I know thats why I use an encyclopedia. Isn't that what its for?
Second:
Wp is confirmably biased - just try "correcting" factual inaccuracies in a political reference. I have tried. With backup statements, direct quotes, etc. They definitely have an agenda.
Of course, I don't use Wp and never have, for precisely that reason.
Facts aren't negotiable, nor are they reached by concensus. Nor are they "fair". They simply ARE.
"If I were to make my own MP3 silent tune of exactly the same length and put it online, would I be infringing their copyright?"
The Law is silent on this issue.
The HP kill-the-cart.-after-one-year ploy bit a buddy of mine last year. Supposedly, the install date is burned into the cartridge chip when it is first used. Lexmark is rumoured to do the same thing. Changing the PC date won't work after the fact.
My friend was furious as his cart. was still half full and (was) perfectly functional the day before. He called HP and chewed a$$ mightily, to no avail. Neither one of us will ever buy a HP product again.
It was my understanding that the Lexmark lawsuite was peripherally in response to a 3rd party cartridge that had this feature bypassed or removed. Also - hacks do exist. Removing the offending system date calls from the driver (I think) is supposed to work.
I suggest you RTFA.
I did - expecting to read exactly what you expressed. I was pleasantly surprised.
... Encoding in the 70Kg food cartridge will automatically expire in 60 days - necessitating the purchase of additional Tasty-Gates(tm) cat food.
Since his real name was used, I would imagine that it was *that* name that was vett'ed.
Previous response falsifies this assertion. There is no assertion anywhere that McClellan himself was even personally aware of the guy.
As opposed to the uber-liberal MSM "plants" that attend every day? Lighten up and take your meds.
Actually, according to the WH:
"White House press secretary Scott McClellan said (James D.) Guckert (his real name)did not have a regular White House press pass but was cleared on a day-by-day basis to attend briefings and used his real name."
(parenthetic comments mine)
...that nowhere in the article is it explicitly stated just *who* supposedly instructed these scientists to fiddle with their data, conclusions, etc? Scientists were mentioned, the Fed was mentioned, the Game & WL folks were mentioned, and assertions of interferance were mentioned, but there is not one sentence explicitly linking them together. That brings to mind the old addage: "Consider the source".
PFC usually means Power Factor Corrector.
First - I spent the better part of 20 years designing military and aerospace switching power supplies and systems. Admittedly these toys were commercial products, but I think I'm qualified to say the following:
:) )- the latter is seldom accurate.
a) purely resistive loads are a poor model for PC load characteristics, as are purely constant-current loads. But the CC load is a tougher test.
b) transient line and load response (or lack thereof) can preclude operation at the steady-stete levels tested.
c) I just skimmed the article as it was loading strange, but I didn't note any specific cross-regulation tests. These types of tests may yield poorer performance measurements. They almost always do.
d) Testing to see if a PS will run at full load is not the same as seeing if it will START under FL. I didn't notice these tests. Likewise Starting at low or hi input is tougher that running at same.
e) we ps designers had an expression: Power supplies are like assholes - everyone has one and everyone thinks they're an expert. The former is true (some folks have two
OK - flame away. I'm gonna go eat lunch.
Did you refund your friend's tickets?
Wow. Your WC must be really big. I'm impressed.
...don't mince words. Tell us how you *really* feel. We can take it.
Yes - and even before they fuse they can start dropping non-trivial amounts of supply V, increasing V ripple at the point-of-use, and lowering operating margins and reliability.
But splitting a heat source (the chip) into two or more separately packaged chunks can lower the separate die temperatures. This can be a good thing.
...you insensitive clods. :)
While there's lots of really, really good ideas here, I could add one more comment.
If your shop PC craps out in 2-3 years (due to the hostile environment, or whatever), what are you going to do? Probably the same thing you'd do if it didn't crap out -- upgrade. Most folks I know usually upgrade their #1 system (the one in your house) every 2-3 years anyway, so just move the hand-me-downs into the (shop) #2 system, clean the li'l puppy up while you're at it, and your good to go for another 2-3 years.
Unless you're going into the shop-made furniture business, the dust/dirt probably won't kill it in that time frame.
A) Brass has (historically) been made from both copper/zinc and copper/tin,
B) Copper usually has trace amounts of tin in it,
C) Zinc grows whiskers too.