I really read that as gravity nipples. No, I don't know what a gravity nipple is.. maybe an inverse black hole or something. But by God, my lab would be tuned to them, that's for sure!
Doesn't work with the one site I'd like it for
on
Opera 9.0 Released
·
· Score: 1
An internal web site that works kind of slow with fire fix and IE. I try going through our single sign on web page and it can't handle it. no idea why.
I run an Arcana Evolved game, and Malhavoc releases all of it's stuff in PDF. It's been a godsend in a number of ways. I'm able to reference things just about anywhere I go, and can easily cut and paste sections out for my group in emails (for instance, to clarify rules).
However, while it has it's good parts, it also has it's bad parts. I can still reference a book pretty fast, even with search functionality. Reading ebooks is not really the most comfortable thing, so I tend to not sit down and read it cover to cover without the hard back. PDFs are not as handy for a casual read, like when you are in the bathroom.
They are good, though, and I wish that they would put the PDF on cdrom with the book when I buy.
Really, it seems like there must be something special about your dev environment to need all that. Why not just use an internet connection and connect back into your dev box at work? Check in and out code remotely using CVS, SVN, VSS, or a number of other products. Use your local solid laptop to compile, or use a virtual session back at the office.
There are a number of high speed options available to you almost everywhere now. Simply telling your travel person (secretary or other dedicated staff) that you require high speed internet access in your hotel arrangements. Normally this doesn't really change the cost of the hotel.
Your specs mention 2.5" drives.. multiple. That's going to be almost impossible to find. all the rest of your specs are a laptop (even on board video).
Unfortunately, the cost of migrating the users that will eventually use this system, between training and lost time on the job and numbers (25 is merely a pilot) would be prohibitively expensive. In addition, there will be included costs for porting the software that is used by all of the users, as well as the software that does not exist on Linux or Unix.
When you total up all those applications (MS Office/Outlook as OpenOffice will not do for our admins, in house software, etc) it is uncertain whether you are gaining any benefits by having a unix infrastructure underneath it or not. Certainly, if the unix option can fulfill our specifications (we are currently considering sunrays) we are certainly willing to consider it. However, smooth integration between unix and windows, even with citrix, is not nearly as smooth as it looked. For instance, there are many limitations for the non-windows versions of the ICA Clients. You may do a feature comparison yourself at: http://download2.citrix.com/files/client_feature.x ls or google for "citrix ica client matrix". For us, a big one to get it into these locations is USB PDA sync, which does not except for windows and linux, and multimedia acceleration, which only works on windows. Smart card support for the ICA client also only works on windows
We already have experience with much less capable boxes holding 25 user with little issue to speak of. Our current estimate on the latest Dell servers specced out for our situation would be about 50 users per machine.
We have already looked at crashing servers and are planning on using clusters of machines. Windows does have failover clustering. I am not an expert on Citrix, but I believe they have some fault tolerance as well.
I should note that outside of regularly scheduled patches, all of our terminal servers have experienced very little downtime in the last two years. I'm talking on the order of a day total per machine. A well maintained windows machine can be an extremely reliable thing. The knowledge of the admin behind it (not me, in this case, I'm much more unix oriented, having been a unix admin for a large organization for 7 years) usually improves the reliability.
It says that the VNC port has to be accessible from the internet. Normally, I don't do this. I run it so that you can only connect from localhost and ssh tunnel through. It doesn't detail if it would affect an installation like this, but I doubt it.
Thanks for the advice. However, you are correct, we are planning for this:) We're starting with the farm right off the bat, as there are numerous reasons for that.
Thanks for the advice though. It's good to know that we aren't off our rockers:)
We're starting slowly on it and only moving 25 desktops. We're limiting scope rather heavily... at my place of work, it's 'management money' to provide a desktop with basic functionality (web, office, time card, and the other stuff you need to actually be an employee). We're looking at $500 hp thin clients, which are a bit cheaper than the $1k dell desktops we get currently.
Our network infrastructure is already pretty solid. Out first server will have redundant power supplies, redundant ram, UPS, conditioned power and mirrored OS drives. Storage will be on a raid 5 array. 25 users at 80 gigs a piece is only 2T, which we cover pretty regularly with smaller arrays. Of course, they can be expanded upon. We'll be using Windows DFS so that we can add on transparently.
Certainly, it may not look cheap at first, but we're very confident that we will be able to handle all 25 clients with no issues, having quite a bit of experience with terminal services already with that number. 25x$500 savings is 12500. Our server and disks will be in the neighborhood of 8k, so we'll see some savings there. We have a special arrangement for the windows server software, and that cost is already covered.
Then we start factoring in the support costs. We generally replace desktops every 3 years. These will last at least 5. Our average desktop runs about 200W (sans monitor) and these will run more like 30W. Even with our incredibly cheap power (special arrangement with the city) we'll end up saving a not unsbstanial amount there.
Time to deal with customer will go from about half an hour to 10 minutes. If settings get messed up, reboot. If it breaks, here's a new one, here's your settings already on the server. I should mention we also have an already existing backup strategy and facility, so that will be covered automagically.
I respect him and all, and it's not like this sort of thing hasn't happened to me (the called people idiots and the like). Generally, it means that I need a break. Maybe he does too. Take the kids and the missus, go off for about a month, no computer.
While I have no idea if this is valid or not (the band has been quiet), I do listen to the album in that order. It's actually a better album, I believe, in that sequence.
See, here's where we, the nerds and IT folk, need to work with the librarians and support them.
I had the priveledge of speaking with a librarian on a plane ride one time. While not particularly tech saavy, she was quite passionate about information freedom and privacy. It hadn't even occurred to me until that point that the librarians had been working for what so many of us had believed in for a long time. They were the Googles before we had Google.
While a touch nitpicky about the exponential business, I agree with you whole heartedly that this is a pretty worthless review. I could have wrote that.
I have a fair amount of experience with it. We did some betatesting for the bestiary book that came out for it and ran an online game through OpenRPG for about 6 months. I've also run a couple of one shots.
1) there are magic items, but they are generally cursed. Like... gives you +1d6 to damage, but you berserk blindly killing everyone around you.
2) the powers of magic items are often rolled into feats.
3) you get more feats. Generally, one every other level. Some classes get more (men at arms defining ability is them getting a feat every other level in addition to the regular feat every other level.. thus they get a feat every level)
4) the skill stunt rules and attack challenge rules are very fun. they really make the system. Nothing you couldn't port over to D&D, but it would be hard to get people to do them due to general lack of skill points (the thief in IH gets 12 skill points per level vs the AD&D rogue at 8). The attack challenges would be easy to port, but no one would do them since AD&D has AC inflation (in IH, you get a base defense bonus, but suffice to say, you can lose it easily and people can then power attack you into oblivion).
5) It is very fun. It can also get old. If you want a light game, I would definitely recommend it. If you want a heavy game, it can work, but is a little harder. If there is something you have a hard time doing in AD&D (for instance, a swashbuckler or an archer type that isn't munched like crazy), IH probably has the fit for you. I felt it was particularly strong in mounted combat, ranged combat, and special maneuvers.
There were plenty of strategic blunders behind the dismal results: a misguided foray into making PC software games, expensive licensing arrangements (chiefly with Disney), and designs that puzzled rather than entertained. "We had started to make fire trucks that look like spaceships, building systems that no customer could truly appreciate," says Mads Nipper, a Lego senior vice president. "We had to clean that up."
More likely that it won't have a pvr and will just be frontrow on a mini, along with expanded content on the ITMS video selection. I can see an ipod dock. I can see an hd tuner in version 2 of this. Probably not in version 1, because they are still kinda pricey.
If they _do_ offer pvr functionality, it'll probably be tied to.Mac, enhancing that revenue stream. Assuming this is the case, I can see integrated links in the pvr schedule to "buy this episode now!" from the ITMS, to satisfy that instant gratification thing that apple has pegged. If they don't tie it into.Mac, they are gonna club their own revenue stream. Tie it to.Mac, they can sell it to those of us who are too cheap to pay for that stuff. Inevitably, some open source zealot will code up something to use a free service and automagically import it into the video folder. Most of that is already available.
If they changed the form factor seriously (I kinda doubt that) they could do a lot more with the hardware (big fast drives, for instance). I kinda doubt that this would happen. They will take the designs that they already have, add IR to the mini so you can use a remote with it, make some software tweaks, take advantage of the faster intel processors, and add a hardware encoder/tuner to the setup and call it an iTheatre (to go with Front Row). Of course, I see now after a google search that there is already a project called iTheatre for a mac mini pvr:)
I'm very happy to see the second place went to my coworkers at PNNL. I don't know about Caltech's, but PNNL was to disk as well. Impressive feats all around.
I don't want to denegrate the Caltech crew either, as I know Stephen Low and find that he's one of the nicest guys I've ever gotten to work with.
Perhaps someone else has a sense of humor, but there were these three links to "Listmania!" below this book... all three were to how-to books for gay men. One was about handballing...
DOn't you have to enter in a number off the RSA token? At our company, we have a certificate as well, but we have to enter in a PIN + number off the token. that number changes every minute and more accurately represents the thing you have than the certificate.
I suppose it's similar to some folks hacking hardware. You can buy something that does it, but you go through it for the love of the art.
And honestly, the knitted sweater is way way nicer than anything you can buy in the store. Really, having had several, I can say for certain of this. Feels nicer, wears better, is more durable (assuming you wash it correctly), is warmer.
Slashdot Mirror
I really read that as gravity nipples. No, I don't know what a gravity nipple is.. maybe an inverse black hole or something. But by God, my lab would be tuned to them, that's for sure!
An internal web site that works kind of slow with fire fix and IE. I try going through our single sign on web page and it can't handle it. no idea why.
I run an Arcana Evolved game, and Malhavoc releases all of it's stuff in PDF. It's been a godsend in a number of ways. I'm able to reference things just about anywhere I go, and can easily cut and paste sections out for my group in emails (for instance, to clarify rules).
However, while it has it's good parts, it also has it's bad parts. I can still reference a book pretty fast, even with search functionality. Reading ebooks is not really the most comfortable thing, so I tend to not sit down and read it cover to cover without the hard back. PDFs are not as handy for a casual read, like when you are in the bathroom.
They are good, though, and I wish that they would put the PDF on cdrom with the book when I buy.
They are probably looking at something like Redhat Desktop, which is pretty highly trimmed down.
Then again, it's probably about as much redhat as DSL linux is debian... fruit from the same tree, but highly tweaked.
I still can't believe they are going with gnome on it... I love gnome and all, but it's pretty slow on 128 megs
Dell, actually. at least last week you could. their b120 model, IIRC.
Really, it seems like there must be something special about your dev environment to need all that. Why not just use an internet connection and connect back into your dev box at work? Check in and out code remotely using CVS, SVN, VSS, or a number of other products. Use your local solid laptop to compile, or use a virtual session back at the office.
o ra_m9700/aurora-m_specs.aspx?SysCode=PC-LT-AURORA- M-9700&SubCode=SKU-DEFAULT#pdp-nav
There are a number of high speed options available to you almost everywhere now. Simply telling your travel person (secretary or other dedicated staff) that you require high speed internet access in your hotel arrangements. Normally this doesn't really change the cost of the hotel.
Your specs mention 2.5" drives.. multiple. That's going to be almost impossible to find. all the rest of your specs are a laptop (even on board video).
Here's one...
http://www.alienware.com/product_detail_pages/Aur
Unfortunately, the cost of migrating the users that will eventually use this system, between training and lost time on the job and numbers (25 is merely a pilot) would be prohibitively expensive. In addition, there will be included costs for porting the software that is used by all of the users, as well as the software that does not exist on Linux or Unix.
x ls
When you total up all those applications (MS Office/Outlook as OpenOffice will not do for our admins, in house software, etc) it is uncertain whether you are gaining any benefits by having a unix infrastructure underneath it or not. Certainly, if the unix option can fulfill our specifications (we are currently considering sunrays) we are certainly willing to consider it. However, smooth integration between unix and windows, even with citrix, is not nearly as smooth as it looked. For instance, there are many limitations for the non-windows versions of the ICA Clients. You may do a feature comparison yourself at:
http://download2.citrix.com/files/client_feature.
or google for "citrix ica client matrix". For us, a big one to get it into these locations is USB PDA sync, which does not except for windows and linux, and multimedia acceleration, which only works on windows. Smart card support for the ICA client also only works on windows
We already have experience with much less capable boxes holding 25 user with little issue to speak of. Our current estimate on the latest Dell servers specced out for our situation would be about 50 users per machine.
We have already looked at crashing servers and are planning on using clusters of machines. Windows does have failover clustering. I am not an expert on Citrix, but I believe they have some fault tolerance as well.
I should note that outside of regularly scheduled patches, all of our terminal servers have experienced very little downtime in the last two years. I'm talking on the order of a day total per machine. A well maintained windows machine can be an extremely reliable thing. The knowledge of the admin behind it (not me, in this case, I'm much more unix oriented, having been a unix admin for a large organization for 7 years) usually improves the reliability.
It says that the VNC port has to be accessible from the internet. Normally, I don't do this. I run it so that you can only connect from localhost and ssh tunnel through. It doesn't detail if it would affect an installation like this, but I doubt it.
Thanks for the advice. However, you are correct, we are planning for this :) We're starting with the farm right off the bat, as there are numerous reasons for that.
:)
Thanks for the advice though. It's good to know that we aren't off our rockers
I should add that there is a lot of cost savings in maintenance. Control of the user's desktop has an amazing impact on security costs.
We're starting slowly on it and only moving 25 desktops. We're limiting scope rather heavily... at my place of work, it's 'management money' to provide a desktop with basic functionality (web, office, time card, and the other stuff you need to actually be an employee). We're looking at $500 hp thin clients, which are a bit cheaper than the $1k dell desktops we get currently.
Our network infrastructure is already pretty solid. Out first server will have redundant power supplies, redundant ram, UPS, conditioned power and mirrored OS drives. Storage will be on a raid 5 array. 25 users at 80 gigs a piece is only 2T, which we cover pretty regularly with smaller arrays. Of course, they can be expanded upon. We'll be using Windows DFS so that we can add on transparently.
Certainly, it may not look cheap at first, but we're very confident that we will be able to handle all 25 clients with no issues, having quite a bit of experience with terminal services already with that number. 25x$500 savings is 12500. Our server and disks will be in the neighborhood of 8k, so we'll see some savings there. We have a special arrangement for the windows server software, and that cost is already covered.
Then we start factoring in the support costs. We generally replace desktops every 3 years. These will last at least 5. Our average desktop runs about 200W (sans monitor) and these will run more like 30W. Even with our incredibly cheap power (special arrangement with the city) we'll end up saving a not unsbstanial amount there.
Time to deal with customer will go from about half an hour to 10 minutes. If settings get messed up, reboot. If it breaks, here's a new one, here's your settings already on the server. I should mention we also have an already existing backup strategy and facility, so that will be covered automagically.
http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&n ame=ViewWeb&articleId=11367 might be it
The Tchotchke Economy
gah, i meant Linus in the subject.. jeeez
I respect him and all, and it's not like this sort of thing hasn't happened to me (the called people idiots and the like). Generally, it means that I need a break. Maybe he does too. Take the kids and the missus, go off for about a month, no computer.
This cracked me up when I saw it yesterday. Thanks for recovering your sense of humor, folks :)
THe drum line in Lateralus is a fibonacci sequence. Some folks thought that it was a clue that you should listen to the album in a different order.
http://www.bofe.org/overthinking.htm
While I have no idea if this is valid or not (the band has been quiet), I do listen to the album in that order. It's actually a better album, I believe, in that sequence.
See, here's where we, the nerds and IT folk, need to work with the librarians and support them.
I had the priveledge of speaking with a librarian on a plane ride one time. While not particularly tech saavy, she was quite passionate about information freedom and privacy. It hadn't even occurred to me until that point that the librarians had been working for what so many of us had believed in for a long time. They were the Googles before we had Google.
While a touch nitpicky about the exponential business, I agree with you whole heartedly that this is a pretty worthless review. I could have wrote that.
I have a fair amount of experience with it. We did some betatesting for the bestiary book that came out for it and ran an online game through OpenRPG for about 6 months. I've also run a couple of one shots.
1) there are magic items, but they are generally cursed. Like... gives you +1d6 to damage, but you berserk blindly killing everyone around you.
2) the powers of magic items are often rolled into feats.
3) you get more feats. Generally, one every other level. Some classes get more (men at arms defining ability is them getting a feat every other level in addition to the regular feat every other level.. thus they get a feat every level)
4) the skill stunt rules and attack challenge rules are very fun. they really make the system. Nothing you couldn't port over to D&D, but it would be hard to get people to do them due to general lack of skill points (the thief in IH gets 12 skill points per level vs the AD&D rogue at 8). The attack challenges would be easy to port, but no one would do them since AD&D has AC inflation (in IH, you get a base defense bonus, but suffice to say, you can lose it easily and people can then power attack you into oblivion).
5) It is very fun. It can also get old. If you want a light game, I would definitely recommend it. If you want a heavy game, it can work, but is a little harder. If there is something you have a hard time doing in AD&D (for instance, a swashbuckler or an archer type that isn't munched like crazy), IH probably has the fit for you. I felt it was particularly strong in mounted combat, ranged combat, and special maneuvers.
from the article:
There were plenty of strategic blunders behind the dismal results: a misguided foray into making PC software games, expensive licensing arrangements (chiefly with Disney), and designs that puzzled rather than entertained. "We had started to make fire trucks that look like spaceships, building systems that no customer could truly appreciate," says Mads Nipper, a Lego senior vice president. "We had to clean that up."
awesome!
More likely that it won't have a pvr and will just be frontrow on a mini, along with expanded content on the ITMS video selection. I can see an ipod dock. I can see an hd tuner in version 2 of this. Probably not in version 1, because they are still kinda pricey.
.Mac, enhancing that revenue stream. Assuming this is the case, I can see integrated links in the pvr schedule to "buy this episode now!" from the ITMS, to satisfy that instant gratification thing that apple has pegged. If they don't tie it into .Mac, they are gonna club their own revenue stream. Tie it to .Mac, they can sell it to those of us who are too cheap to pay for that stuff. Inevitably, some open source zealot will code up something to use a free service and automagically import it into the video folder. Most of that is already available.
:)
If they _do_ offer pvr functionality, it'll probably be tied to
If they changed the form factor seriously (I kinda doubt that) they could do a lot more with the hardware (big fast drives, for instance). I kinda doubt that this would happen. They will take the designs that they already have, add IR to the mini so you can use a remote with it, make some software tweaks, take advantage of the faster intel processors, and add a hardware encoder/tuner to the setup and call it an iTheatre (to go with Front Row). Of course, I see now after a google search that there is already a project called iTheatre for a mac mini pvr
I'm very happy to see the second place went to my coworkers at PNNL. I don't know about Caltech's, but PNNL was to disk as well. Impressive feats all around.
I don't want to denegrate the Caltech crew either, as I know Stephen Low and find that he's one of the nicest guys I've ever gotten to work with.
Perhaps someone else has a sense of humor, but there were these three links to "Listmania!" below this book... all three were to how-to books for gay men. One was about handballing...
DOn't you have to enter in a number off the RSA token? At our company, we have a certificate as well, but we have to enter in a PIN + number off the token. that number changes every minute and more accurately represents the thing you have than the certificate.
I suppose it's similar to some folks hacking hardware. You can buy something that does it, but you go through it for the love of the art.
And honestly, the knitted sweater is way way nicer than anything you can buy in the store. Really, having had several, I can say for certain of this. Feels nicer, wears better, is more durable (assuming you wash it correctly), is warmer.