So you're telling me that if you wanted to build a computer for such a task, you'd pay the gross premium for the small embedded solution that performs worse when you don't need the form factor benefits?
Is it just me, or does Transmeta seem to be completely dropping the ball when it comes to catering their product to their own key demographic?
It's essentially built like a normal computer motherboard, but who in their right mind is using a low power embedded solution like this for a desktop? Really, people are using Transmeta's projects for places where low power consumption and small size are key. Like home theatre PCs, car PCs, and so forth.
Transmeta needs to get smart and produce products directly targeted at these embedded solutions; not vague products which could possibly be contributed towards them. If you want to build a home theatre PC, you need to hunt around for the motherboard, CPU, etc. from a normal computer, plus the chore of getting together a remote control system, small quiet power supply, suitable case that doesn't look like a budget computer from 1996, a fancy home audio sound card, etc.. If you want a car PC, you're going to be hunting for some very specialized input devices, screens, power supplies, etc. Why isn't anybody producing proper kits for these uses?
At first I thought to myself "What's the point?" but upon reading the article, I saw a few valid ideas for such a product.
My main concern about this lies in whether or not Google's rebranded Firefox will essentially steal the Firefox project away from Mozilla. Ultimately, Google has far more popular support as a whole than Mozilla, and is well known by an audience consisting not of just computer geeks, but my IE-wielding doofus customers. I think even if the Google browser were 100% identical to Firefox, it would in the end be more successful simply because of the brand recognition.
When we look at the "browser wars" right now, our two distinct groups are IE and Firefox (and Opera, etc etc..), but division among the ranks of open source soldiers is the worst thing that could happen to us. If Google's rendition of Firefox becomes more successful than Firefox, they will in the end seize some level of control over the whole Mozilla project. If they were to do so, well.. They'd be a bunch of jerks.
IMO the best way Google could go about such a project would be to implement their new additions to the Firefox browser via XUL, with minimal changes to the core browser itself. If they leave the Firefox browser as the property of the Mozila project, they don't step on any toes, and XUL is still flexible enough that they can make all the toys they'd like. Furthermore, even if they distribute their own Google Browser Package which is essentially Firefox with the Google XUL Extensions, it would still capture their market while remaining "friends" of the open source community. I don't think I'd install a Google browser myself, but I'd consider a couple of Google extensions on Firefox.
This again ties back to a previous article about the role of XUL. Cross platform workplaces are becoming more and more common these days, and an XUL oriented work platform could certainly alleviate a lot of the stress. Imagine plugging in your PDA/Cell phone, and bing, it synchronizes with a Firefox extension, the same as you use at home, at work, etc. Or even if you used XUL extensions for instant messaging, saving synchronizing files between home and work (Gmail file system extension anybody?), basic office work.. Ultimately if Firefox wants to take a major stab at IE's market, they're going to need some clever tricks to get people to rely on it, and if you ask me, getting people to rely on the XUL platform is it.
I see what you mean. I carry a cell phone now, but when I didn't, I was finding it very annoying at how phone booths are disappearing. They're handy to have, but apparently there just isn't enough need for them anymore.
Perhaps if phone booths were integrated into other electronic devices it could effectively minimize the cost to add cell phones at regular intervals. Imagine if every intersection in a downtown city had a phonebooth that also operated as a hub for wireless connections to a citywide network. Maybe not as efficient as towers, but I'm just tossing ideas out;)
When the original MPMan came out in Korea, these little booths popped up close to 10 years ago. I think it succeeded over there, but I don't see it being a big enough market on this side of the ocean.
If you think about it, the major innovations in computer interfacing hardware have pretty much been the keyboard, the mouse, and the mouse wheel.. Not too much to it. I can't help but wonder if there's space for more to come along.
I think the iPod's new touch wheel that also tilts around is pretty snazzy. Imagine if they put one of those suckers on your laptop right next to the regular touch pad. "Turn the wheel" to scroll around, do so while pushing down on the right side to switch applications, press up or down on it to scroll a page at a time... Maybe I'm dreaming again, but I think it's a pretty versatile control system that really isn't used to its full potential.
I've built countless systems with various high and low end LCD screens with no such lag. The worst screen I've encountered had the typical old-generation ghosting, but I've never seen input lag.
I run a part time business selling computers (approx. 10 a week) and it's a rare event that I sell a computer to a private user with an operating system.
People do not enjoy using pirated copies. Especially when it's a pain in the ass or a worry, like getting service packs, etc. They do so because for them to buy legit copies of Windows would simply be too damn expensive. The cheapest I can do WinXP Home OEM edition for is around $150 Canadian, which is simply too much. Even $100 Canadian would be a stretch, frankly. Your average Joe would be satisfied buying an OS if it didn't exceed ~$75 Canadian. I'm not basing this off any direct studies, just my personal observations, but if WinXP was priced around there, I think I would sell FAR more copies.
Different demographics are all obviously different too. As a computer engineering student, I'd be surprised if any significant number of my colleagues were using legit copies of WinXP. Those who are, are usually doing so because it came with their laptops. MS will give us absurd discounts on Visual Studio, etc., but we're left to spend the big bucks on an OS?
Sure, analyzing the pricing on an OS may be a bit naive of me. But different demographics are willing to spend drastically different amounts of money on an operating system. When someone wants to buy a ~$400 system, it's hard to tell them that the OS will cost $150. Then I might turn around and build a system for someone else that costs 10x as much and they don't think twice to get me to toss it on there.
Here's an idea that's a real long shot. Suppose a motherboard manufacturer were to design a motherboard which is targeted for low end, budget users. It is somehow crippled so that it can't be used with the more expensive hardware, but it also comes with a rebate form or some sort of discount on WinXP Home. It would be a modified OS to run only on the motherboard it was shipped with or intended for use with, and the motherboard is set up so that it would be adequate for budget users but not for high end enthusiasts. It would encourage the low end users to purchase Windows instead of pirating it, and allow Microsoft to keep higher prices for the rest of the market. I see the potential flaws in my little scheme, but it's something to think about.
Is anyone else appalled by how sloppily cabled the reviewer's case was with either PSU? As a system builder who takes great pride in doing a very neat job, I'm shocked that anyone would consider themselves qualified to evaluate how neatly a PSU can tidy up the case insides, yet put together a rat's-nest monstrosity like that!
I own a Dreamcast, Xbox, PS2, and Gamecube. Out of those, frankly, the Xbox is the best to play with hardware-wise; the S type controller is practical and comfortable, the internal hard drive is handy, the graphics are great, and a modded Xbox can do so much neat stuff! I use mine to play all those SNES games I wish I'd never sold:(
However, the major limiting factor for the Xbox is the games library. Let's see, it has some decent sports games, a bunch of movie spinoffs, and that's about it.. Sony and Nintendo both have major players developing for them, and they both have tons of original titles. Xbox's Sega GT, while good, is downright inferior to Gran Turismo for PS2. There are no party games or identifying characters like Nintendo has. Xbox needs more titles which are good for parties, along the lines of Mario Party. Although I doubt I'll ever see it, I would have a blast playing "Bill Gates Party" featuring a cartoony Gates, Ballmer, and Wozniak. Come on Bill! Have a sense of humour about yourself!
Back to the hardware aspect, I built my own Xbox-USB adapters to use the Xbox controllers on my computer. Unfortunately, I can't use my USB Logitech steering wheel on the XBox; it just doesn't recognize it. I don't understand why Microsoft doesn't make them compatible; if people could buy a new system and reuse their existing controllers, that would be a major reason to pick Xbox over PS2.
I used to fix computers for friends for free just as a favour.. Then word travelled locally and I built a good reputation. People started offering me all sorts of things for computer help; free wine, beer, wine and beermaking accessories (all while I was underage), free weights (yeah, like I actually work out), cookies, dates with hot women (I never did and never will take a pity date), and eventually I became good enough at doing it that most of my offers were money. And so I registered a computer consulting business at age 16.
I soon had people asking if I could build computers for them.. or tell them what to buy.. or better yet, if they could just hand me the money and I'd do it all for them. I mostly do it for money these days, but I regularly get tips because customers are happy with my level of honesty. Most of my tips are cash (about 10% tip on a whole computer, which is pretty big.. especially considering most parts only have 13% markup!) but I am still tipped with a couple cases of beer now and then. I've had customers ask if they could set me up with their daughters, I can get into a number of local clubs for free with no line, a few local gyms, and I get discount pricing on pretty much everything I buy.
Computer skills can get you seriously networked with people. I think that's the most important part of all. My friends are always shocked at how many people I know. We'll be talking about, say... getting a car alarm installed on my friend's POS that's been stolen a million times. I know a guy who can hook us up on pricing. I know another guy who will install it for me for free. I know a woman at the insurance agency who will pull all the strings she can to see if the new alarm will lower the insurance rates. Knowing people in places will bail you out of a million and one situations.
Forget favours like beer. Networking with people is important, and computer skills can do that for you.
I'm now 20 and just finished my second year of university; I work fewer than 10 hours a week and make more money than the average bachelor degree graduate from my school. I usually don't brag, but I think that's a pretty good accomplishment.
I think your instructor is a little bit misinformed.
Kevlar fabric isn't really a lattice. It's woven from very fine strands of a plastic which is VERY strong under tension. The material also has a tremendous coefficient of friction and even when a strand is broken, it can often be held in place by being squeezed by its neighbouring strands; even under impact. Anyone who has ever handled kevlar can attest to this as the material will give you severe friction burns easily (imagine a bad papercut and carpet burn on one spot just by casually sliding your hand down a thread -- OUCH! I cringe just remembering the stuff).
A lot of the strength of kevlar comes from its weave; bulletproof applications and such have very fine weaves to prevent particles from getting between the threads. I assure you, it is VERY difficult to damage the kevlar weave badly enough that it is rendered useless. I did a university research project that involved kevlar, and I would definitely trust a battered and beaten kevlar helmet over a steel one any day.
Many chips come off of a single wafer at a time, so you're increasing the number of chips per wafer. Think of it like baking cookies. If you make 2L of batter at a time instead of 1L, you make more cookies per batch. In the end, it ends up being less work per cookie made.
I know I did. When I told my brother that they were teaching how to talk like Elvis in a university, I was greeted with only slightly more laughter than when I corrected myself.
Agreed. I still have my Team Fortress 2 poster hanging on the wall. At the bottom it says "MARCH" but for the life of my I can't remember what year. I think it was '98 or'99.
There's also a record label run by guitarist Steve Vai called Favored Nations that is built to support the artist. The artist gets almost all the profit from record sales and the artist gets total freedom in the studio. They've already picked up tons of big names like Allan Holdsworth, Marty Friedman (formerly of Megadeth), The Yardbirds, Frank Gambale, Eric Johnson, Billy Sheehan, Dweezil Zappa and lots more. It's focused mostly on really talented musicians who are great at their instruments and not so much at pop music, so they're not huge at the moment but it's good to see a label out there that is this supportive of its artists.
I was speaking with some colleagues about password security awhile ago and we were talking about how some passwords are more secure than others. One of my less-computer-adept friends was curious about the concept and I explained that some passwords are easier to crack than others because of patterns, length, etc. My password is composed of a variation on an English word with some letters replaced by similar looking symbols, and it is very long. It's an OK password, would take a while to crack, but it isn't like one of those ones that is 25 random characters. Now, my friend's name is Tom.. and somehow he decided that TOM would also make a great password. Upon telling him that longer passwords are better, he went and changed it to something 9 letters long. Of course, he forgot his new password right away and needed my help to crack his password. It took about 30 seconds of running a brute force attack to find his new password. TOMTOMTOM. I guess he didn't listen to my rant about patterns.
As for the viewing angle, that's just what I was told by a IBM electrical engineer some time ago.
And for stupid troll, get a life. It's a slashdot post. Shouldn't you be pointing out inaccurracies in Star Trek episodes or something?
Not a fair comparison
on
LCD Price Fixing?
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· Score: 5, Interesting
There are a few things that you're not considering. They are the key differences between a laptop LCD screen and a desktop LCD.
Desktop LCDs are made to have a very high brightness and high contrast ratio. Laptop LCDs are made for low power consumption, and thus don't need as powerful lighting units.
Desktop LCDs are built to have a very wide viewing angle. This uses some fancy technology and manufacturing processes that are pretty expensive to accomplish this task. Laptop LCDs are made on purpose to have a narrow viewing angle so the guy next to you on the airplan can't see your screen. A narrow viewing angle makes the LCD's requirements much cheaper to achieve.
Ahh I know what you mean. My POD sounds like total ass through any half decent amp but sounds great through my practice rig (cheap little Peavey Rage 158 I leave next to the computer).
What I meant about the digital model's inconsitensy is this. The settings in the manual are picked for a reason. A model of a '53 Bassman with the treble knob on 7 might sound really close to a real '53 Bassman with the treble on 7. But the model with the treble on 3 won't sound even remotely close to a real Bassman with the treble on 3.
If you've ever tried using a digital modeler live you know what a headache these things can be!! They respond horribly to changing environments. At one location they sound really drowned out, at another they'll sound harsh. This is normal for all amps, but in my experience it seems really exaggerated for digital modelers.
(I'm in class now, maybe I'll elaborate more later)
This stuff has been around for years and although it is getting quite good, the experienced guitarist can still pick apart a digital and analog amplifier easily. Modeling amps have a limitation where they model only one setting of any one amplifier. They only sound correct at a given setting, and don't respond well to picking dynamics the way a real tube amp does. Tube amps sound so different from day to day, depending on so many variables, and there's just nothing that can come close to emulating that yet.
I use a Line6 POD in the studio, but outside of headphone jamming and last-second recording, I would much rather plug into my Mesa Mark IV or my Rivera TBR-1SL. Digital amplifiers just don't "feel" right. They don't seem organic enough and sound overprocessed and compressed. They're getting better, and the replacement of tube amps by digital equivalents is inevitable, but that day is not today. Maybe in 5-10 years.
If you honestly cannot tell the difference between the best digital modeler and the real deal, you do not have a ear for the guitar.
Slashdot Mirror
So you're telling me that if you wanted to build a computer for such a task, you'd pay the gross premium for the small embedded solution that performs worse when you don't need the form factor benefits?
Is it just me, or does Transmeta seem to be completely dropping the ball when it comes to catering their product to their own key demographic?
It's essentially built like a normal computer motherboard, but who in their right mind is using a low power embedded solution like this for a desktop? Really, people are using Transmeta's projects for places where low power consumption and small size are key. Like home theatre PCs, car PCs, and so forth.
Transmeta needs to get smart and produce products directly targeted at these embedded solutions; not vague products which could possibly be contributed towards them. If you want to build a home theatre PC, you need to hunt around for the motherboard, CPU, etc. from a normal computer, plus the chore of getting together a remote control system, small quiet power supply, suitable case that doesn't look like a budget computer from 1996, a fancy home audio sound card, etc.. If you want a car PC, you're going to be hunting for some very specialized input devices, screens, power supplies, etc. Why isn't anybody producing proper kits for these uses?
At first I thought to myself "What's the point?" but upon reading the article, I saw a few valid ideas for such a product.
My main concern about this lies in whether or not Google's rebranded Firefox will essentially steal the Firefox project away from Mozilla. Ultimately, Google has far more popular support as a whole than Mozilla, and is well known by an audience consisting not of just computer geeks, but my IE-wielding doofus customers. I think even if the Google browser were 100% identical to Firefox, it would in the end be more successful simply because of the brand recognition.
When we look at the "browser wars" right now, our two distinct groups are IE and Firefox (and Opera, etc etc..), but division among the ranks of open source soldiers is the worst thing that could happen to us. If Google's rendition of Firefox becomes more successful than Firefox, they will in the end seize some level of control over the whole Mozilla project. If they were to do so, well.. They'd be a bunch of jerks.
IMO the best way Google could go about such a project would be to implement their new additions to the Firefox browser via XUL, with minimal changes to the core browser itself. If they leave the Firefox browser as the property of the Mozila project, they don't step on any toes, and XUL is still flexible enough that they can make all the toys they'd like. Furthermore, even if they distribute their own Google Browser Package which is essentially Firefox with the Google XUL Extensions, it would still capture their market while remaining "friends" of the open source community. I don't think I'd install a Google browser myself, but I'd consider a couple of Google extensions on Firefox.
This again ties back to a previous article about the role of XUL. Cross platform workplaces are becoming more and more common these days, and an XUL oriented work platform could certainly alleviate a lot of the stress. Imagine plugging in your PDA/Cell phone, and bing, it synchronizes with a Firefox extension, the same as you use at home, at work, etc. Or even if you used XUL extensions for instant messaging, saving synchronizing files between home and work (Gmail file system extension anybody?), basic office work.. Ultimately if Firefox wants to take a major stab at IE's market, they're going to need some clever tricks to get people to rely on it, and if you ask me, getting people to rely on the XUL platform is it.
Oops I made a typo, meant to say phone booths, not cell phones.
I see what you mean. I carry a cell phone now, but when I didn't, I was finding it very annoying at how phone booths are disappearing. They're handy to have, but apparently there just isn't enough need for them anymore.
;)
Perhaps if phone booths were integrated into other electronic devices it could effectively minimize the cost to add cell phones at regular intervals. Imagine if every intersection in a downtown city had a phonebooth that also operated as a hub for wireless connections to a citywide network. Maybe not as efficient as towers, but I'm just tossing ideas out
When the original MPMan came out in Korea, these little booths popped up close to 10 years ago. I think it succeeded over there, but I don't see it being a big enough market on this side of the ocean.
If you think about it, the major innovations in computer interfacing hardware have pretty much been the keyboard, the mouse, and the mouse wheel.. Not too much to it. I can't help but wonder if there's space for more to come along.
I think the iPod's new touch wheel that also tilts around is pretty snazzy. Imagine if they put one of those suckers on your laptop right next to the regular touch pad. "Turn the wheel" to scroll around, do so while pushing down on the right side to switch applications, press up or down on it to scroll a page at a time... Maybe I'm dreaming again, but I think it's a pretty versatile control system that really isn't used to its full potential.
I've built countless systems with various high and low end LCD screens with no such lag. The worst screen I've encountered had the typical old-generation ghosting, but I've never seen input lag.
I can't help but wonder if it's possible to write to both layers at once.
I run a part time business selling computers (approx. 10 a week) and it's a rare event that I sell a computer to a private user with an operating system.
People do not enjoy using pirated copies. Especially when it's a pain in the ass or a worry, like getting service packs, etc. They do so because for them to buy legit copies of Windows would simply be too damn expensive. The cheapest I can do WinXP Home OEM edition for is around $150 Canadian, which is simply too much. Even $100 Canadian would be a stretch, frankly. Your average Joe would be satisfied buying an OS if it didn't exceed ~$75 Canadian. I'm not basing this off any direct studies, just my personal observations, but if WinXP was priced around there, I think I would sell FAR more copies.
Different demographics are all obviously different too. As a computer engineering student, I'd be surprised if any significant number of my colleagues were using legit copies of WinXP. Those who are, are usually doing so because it came with their laptops. MS will give us absurd discounts on Visual Studio, etc., but we're left to spend the big bucks on an OS?
Sure, analyzing the pricing on an OS may be a bit naive of me. But different demographics are willing to spend drastically different amounts of money on an operating system. When someone wants to buy a ~$400 system, it's hard to tell them that the OS will cost $150. Then I might turn around and build a system for someone else that costs 10x as much and they don't think twice to get me to toss it on there.
Here's an idea that's a real long shot. Suppose a motherboard manufacturer were to design a motherboard which is targeted for low end, budget users. It is somehow crippled so that it can't be used with the more expensive hardware, but it also comes with a rebate form or some sort of discount on WinXP Home. It would be a modified OS to run only on the motherboard it was shipped with or intended for use with, and the motherboard is set up so that it would be adequate for budget users but not for high end enthusiasts. It would encourage the low end users to purchase Windows instead of pirating it, and allow Microsoft to keep higher prices for the rest of the market. I see the potential flaws in my little scheme, but it's something to think about.
Is anyone else appalled by how sloppily cabled the reviewer's case was with either PSU? As a system builder who takes great pride in doing a very neat job, I'm shocked that anyone would consider themselves qualified to evaluate how neatly a PSU can tidy up the case insides, yet put together a rat's-nest monstrosity like that!
Agreed. I have been using Xerox DocuTech for low quantity book printing (include 1-offs) for years.
I own a Dreamcast, Xbox, PS2, and Gamecube. Out of those, frankly, the Xbox is the best to play with hardware-wise; the S type controller is practical and comfortable, the internal hard drive is handy, the graphics are great, and a modded Xbox can do so much neat stuff! I use mine to play all those SNES games I wish I'd never sold :(
However, the major limiting factor for the Xbox is the games library. Let's see, it has some decent sports games, a bunch of movie spinoffs, and that's about it.. Sony and Nintendo both have major players developing for them, and they both have tons of original titles. Xbox's Sega GT, while good, is downright inferior to Gran Turismo for PS2. There are no party games or identifying characters like Nintendo has. Xbox needs more titles which are good for parties, along the lines of Mario Party. Although I doubt I'll ever see it, I would have a blast playing "Bill Gates Party" featuring a cartoony Gates, Ballmer, and Wozniak. Come on Bill! Have a sense of humour about yourself!
Back to the hardware aspect, I built my own Xbox-USB adapters to use the Xbox controllers on my computer. Unfortunately, I can't use my USB Logitech steering wheel on the XBox; it just doesn't recognize it. I don't understand why Microsoft doesn't make them compatible; if people could buy a new system and reuse their existing controllers, that would be a major reason to pick Xbox over PS2.
I used to fix computers for friends for free just as a favour.. Then word travelled locally and I built a good reputation. People started offering me all sorts of things for computer help; free wine, beer, wine and beermaking accessories (all while I was underage), free weights (yeah, like I actually work out), cookies, dates with hot women (I never did and never will take a pity date), and eventually I became good enough at doing it that most of my offers were money. And so I registered a computer consulting business at age 16.
I soon had people asking if I could build computers for them.. or tell them what to buy.. or better yet, if they could just hand me the money and I'd do it all for them. I mostly do it for money these days, but I regularly get tips because customers are happy with my level of honesty. Most of my tips are cash (about 10% tip on a whole computer, which is pretty big.. especially considering most parts only have 13% markup!) but I am still tipped with a couple cases of beer now and then. I've had customers ask if they could set me up with their daughters, I can get into a number of local clubs for free with no line, a few local gyms, and I get discount pricing on pretty much everything I buy.
Computer skills can get you seriously networked with people. I think that's the most important part of all. My friends are always shocked at how many people I know. We'll be talking about, say... getting a car alarm installed on my friend's POS that's been stolen a million times. I know a guy who can hook us up on pricing. I know another guy who will install it for me for free. I know a woman at the insurance agency who will pull all the strings she can to see if the new alarm will lower the insurance rates. Knowing people in places will bail you out of a million and one situations.
Forget favours like beer. Networking with people is important, and computer skills can do that for you.
I'm now 20 and just finished my second year of university; I work fewer than 10 hours a week and make more money than the average bachelor degree graduate from my school. I usually don't brag, but I think that's a pretty good accomplishment.
I think your instructor is a little bit misinformed.
Kevlar fabric isn't really a lattice. It's woven from very fine strands of a plastic which is VERY strong under tension. The material also has a tremendous coefficient of friction and even when a strand is broken, it can often be held in place by being squeezed by its neighbouring strands; even under impact. Anyone who has ever handled kevlar can attest to this as the material will give you severe friction burns easily (imagine a bad papercut and carpet burn on one spot just by casually sliding your hand down a thread -- OUCH! I cringe just remembering the stuff).
A lot of the strength of kevlar comes from its weave; bulletproof applications and such have very fine weaves to prevent particles from getting between the threads. I assure you, it is VERY difficult to damage the kevlar weave badly enough that it is rendered useless. I did a university research project that involved kevlar, and I would definitely trust a battered and beaten kevlar helmet over a steel one any day.
Many chips come off of a single wafer at a time, so you're increasing the number of chips per wafer. Think of it like baking cookies. If you make 2L of batter at a time instead of 1L, you make more cookies per batch. In the end, it ends up being less work per cookie made.
I know I did. When I told my brother that they were teaching how to talk like Elvis in a university, I was greeted with only slightly more laughter than when I corrected myself.
Agreed. I still have my Team Fortress 2 poster hanging on the wall. At the bottom it says "MARCH" but for the life of my I can't remember what year. I think it was '98 or'99.
There's also a record label run by guitarist Steve Vai called Favored Nations that is built to support the artist. The artist gets almost all the profit from record sales and the artist gets total freedom in the studio. They've already picked up tons of big names like Allan Holdsworth, Marty Friedman (formerly of Megadeth), The Yardbirds, Frank Gambale, Eric Johnson, Billy Sheehan, Dweezil Zappa and lots more. It's focused mostly on really talented musicians who are great at their instruments and not so much at pop music, so they're not huge at the moment but it's good to see a label out there that is this supportive of its artists.
I was speaking with some colleagues about password security awhile ago and we were talking about how some passwords are more secure than others. One of my less-computer-adept friends was curious about the concept and I explained that some passwords are easier to crack than others because of patterns, length, etc. My password is composed of a variation on an English word with some letters replaced by similar looking symbols, and it is very long. It's an OK password, would take a while to crack, but it isn't like one of those ones that is 25 random characters. Now, my friend's name is Tom.. and somehow he decided that TOM would also make a great password. Upon telling him that longer passwords are better, he went and changed it to something 9 letters long. Of course, he forgot his new password right away and needed my help to crack his password. It took about 30 seconds of running a brute force attack to find his new password. TOMTOMTOM. I guess he didn't listen to my rant about patterns.
As for the viewing angle, that's just what I was told by a IBM electrical engineer some time ago.
And for stupid troll, get a life. It's a slashdot post. Shouldn't you be pointing out inaccurracies in Star Trek episodes or something?
There are a few things that you're not considering. They are the key differences between a laptop LCD screen and a desktop LCD.
Desktop LCDs are made to have a very high brightness and high contrast ratio. Laptop LCDs are made for low power consumption, and thus don't need as powerful lighting units.
Desktop LCDs are built to have a very wide viewing angle. This uses some fancy technology and manufacturing processes that are pretty expensive to accomplish this task. Laptop LCDs are made on purpose to have a narrow viewing angle so the guy next to you on the airplan can't see your screen. A narrow viewing angle makes the LCD's requirements much cheaper to achieve.
Ahh I know what you mean. My POD sounds like total ass through any half decent amp but sounds great through my practice rig (cheap little Peavey Rage 158 I leave next to the computer).
Sorry, I wasn't clear enough.
What I meant about the digital model's inconsitensy is this. The settings in the manual are picked for a reason. A model of a '53 Bassman with the treble knob on 7 might sound really close to a real '53 Bassman with the treble on 7. But the model with the treble on 3 won't sound even remotely close to a real Bassman with the treble on 3.
If you've ever tried using a digital modeler live you know what a headache these things can be!! They respond horribly to changing environments. At one location they sound really drowned out, at another they'll sound harsh. This is normal for all amps, but in my experience it seems really exaggerated for digital modelers.
(I'm in class now, maybe I'll elaborate more later)
This stuff has been around for years and although it is getting quite good, the experienced guitarist can still pick apart a digital and analog amplifier easily. Modeling amps have a limitation where they model only one setting of any one amplifier. They only sound correct at a given setting, and don't respond well to picking dynamics the way a real tube amp does. Tube amps sound so different from day to day, depending on so many variables, and there's just nothing that can come close to emulating that yet.
I use a Line6 POD in the studio, but outside of headphone jamming and last-second recording, I would much rather plug into my Mesa Mark IV or my Rivera TBR-1SL. Digital amplifiers just don't "feel" right. They don't seem organic enough and sound overprocessed and compressed. They're getting better, and the replacement of tube amps by digital equivalents is inevitable, but that day is not today. Maybe in 5-10 years.
If you honestly cannot tell the difference between the best digital modeler and the real deal, you do not have a ear for the guitar.