Try searching the web for "PCI expansion chassis" one example is Magma but there are plenty of others. Basically you get a PC or rackmount case with a PCI backplane (containing about 6-10 slots) installed. A PCI to PCI bridge card connects your PC with the expansion chassis. These are especially nice because you can orient the expansion chassis facing forward where you can easily reach the connectors. Or the chassis can be placed a dozen feet away from the PC in a rackmount enclosule with your other equipment. Not cheap, but a popular solution for people in your situation.
Actually.. I noticed the apples/oranges comparison and figured most of/.'s readers would too (maybe I was an optimist). What's interesting is that both the article and Gartner seem to be making the argument that their findings prove the IDG study wrong.
I can tell you our office doesn't purchase servers to run linux. Instead linux is running on all the early pentium machines that Windows 2k won't, and quite well at that.
I don't think its that bad. After all, the EFF thinks it has enough merit to support it. The problem here is that the RIAA threatened.. but after the threats had their desired effect (and the paper was pulled) RIAA backpedaled in the face of public opinion and stated they had no intention of suing Felton. Why? because Felton's case is even stronger than 2600's and could set a bad (for the RIAA) precendent.
Here the DMCA is clearly limiting a form of speech (scholarly study) that is generally regarded as protected. In the 2600 case they are having a tough time claiming that DeCCS, since it wasn't originally intended as a tool of study. Instead its computer code designed for the express purpose of bypassing an "content protection system" and is in clear violation of the DMCA while being questionable protected speech
This is also a nice chance to spotlight corporate "bullying" where the threat of a lawsuit can be used to silence critics, regardless of whether the threat has any merits.
Yes the SBC owned Baby Bells have been making a big deal about "Project Pronto". The system will put DSLAMs out in neighborhood cabinets and shorten the copper between the customer and the DSLAM. This will open up DSL to a much larger subscriber based (including me, my copper pair is about 20,000 feet long).
As with most Telco ideas this one is mostly non-competitive in nature. The neighborhood cabinets don't have enough space for competing DSL providers to install equipment ( a tech said the cabinet had 25 units (standard 19" rack?) of space.. and a DSLAM uses 21 of those.) So the competing DSL providers won't be able to access those customers until a tiny 1 unit DSLAM ships, and even then there is no guarentee the neighborhood cabinet qualifies as a CO under open access provisions. Of course.. most of the alternative providers are already dead.
Note the text: Therefore, we strongly advise that each new PC that will be running a Microsoft Operating System be pre-installed with an OEM version of the Operating System.
So if the PC is not going to be running Windows, MS doesn't care. A major shift from MS's naked PC "if it doesn't have an OS, the user is going to pirate a MS OS" policy.
<I>But Microsoft's lawyers have repeatedly argued -- correctly -- that Navigator isn't an operating system, and that Netscape had neither interest in nor means to supplant Windows. </I>
--snip--
<I>Was Microsoft really supposed to sit back and allow competitors to dominate this critical market, surely threatening Windows in the process?</I>
This seems to be a common argument, and one that makes little sense. If Netscape isn't a replacement for Windows, why would Windows be threatened by not including a browser?
Microsoft did need to have a browser of their own to compete with netscape. This was a fair competition AS A SEPERATE PRODUCT. Giving it away for free or less than the cost to produce it is dumping (an illegal trade act). Bundling it with a monopoly product is tying, either of these were non-competitive and inappropriate.
You don't always have to prove what MS did was harmful to consumers, especially in the act of dumping (Of course, most of the time companies get away with dumping, study the history of Japenese TV sales in the US for more info).
I built a box to hold a 20x20 AV matrix switch (purchased surplus from BGMicro.com two years ago) and a small linux pc to control it. I just used a standard ATX formfactor desktop case. Its about the same size as standard A/V components, and now that its painted black it blends in nicely. I replaced the standard 3/4sq label with an IR window and hid a LIRC ( http://www.lirc.org ) receiver module behind it for IR remote control. A backlit LCDProc display in one of the drive bays gives out status information. The only thing I would recommend is not connecting the LEDs on the front panel.. on most cases they are way to bright and end up looking tacky.
If you have basic electronics skills there is sample code on the web for the lightweight PIC16F84 series micro controllers. All you need to do is grab some example code for sending to the pc and receiving from the keyboard and stick a lookup table in the middle. Burn this to a PIC using one of the free programmers, plans also on the web. Might be a fun project to introduce yourself to programming micros and basic electronics. Total cost would be about US$30, plus some free time.
HAM radio has always been at the forefront of technology but its missing the boat today. First off there is no "killer app" left. None of my friends are licensed.. and few want to spend the effort required. Its easier to use CB and cell.
That having been said there is a huge demand for wireless internet access. If an informal network of TCP/IP gateways could be built (perhaps hosted by people with cable/DSL access) and a simple high speed (at least 56k better would be 110k) portable packet radio. Probably spread spectrum in the 1.2GHZ or 2GHZ amatuer bands. A device like this would almost have to be built commercially but if standards could be developed competition could lower the cost. This system could be free to use with no per packet charges and would do wonders for making the wireless net avaailable for everyone.
The FCC would have to clarify the "commercial use" rules. Currently if you do not profit from the transaction it shouldn't be illegal to use Amatuer Radio. (ie ordering a pizza over the radio is not technically illegal but a delivery driver using it to call back for directions would be) However this ruling is fuzzy and many HAMs are uncomfortable with any commercial use.
Then there is the encryption aspect.... any attempts to scramble the communication is illegal. Scratch https.. but is ICQ illegal (since the program internally scrambles data)?
Wireless internet access could easily be the next killer app for HAM radio... but can it be done?
What netpliance should do is be upfront about the cost to produce these things. Is it less than $99 as some rumors have stated.. is it $239 like their SEC filing? Or is it $500 like there penalty fee. Most people understand that retail sales adds another 30% to the cost. Be honest with the pricing.. and offer to sell the units at a fair price and a lot of people will jump for it. Price sells...
Some of the other OEM's might want to take note of this demand.. as another/. article noted.. the hunger is there for wireless webpads.. how about removing the stand and adding a 802.11 card? As the IMac proved.. the best way to compete in today's market is to be different.
>However this is readily cleaned up with >catalytic converter, just as for petrol engines
Not true.. in petrol engines the mixture is run rich which results in lower cylinder temps and faster burns which reduce the NOx emmission. The catalytic converter "burns" the excess hydrocarbons. No one has yet invented an effective catalyst for NOx. (Honda claims to have one.. but last I heard they could not scale it to full production) Once a good NOx catalyst is available it will allow the use of "lean burn" technologies which can greatly increase the efficently of petrol engines.
That having been said 90% of the pollution caused by autos is caused by the worst 10% on the road (Mostly early 80s late 70s era cars ) Tougher enviornmental standards that force these cars off the road would do wonders but these cars are also owned by people least able to afford to replace them. A social problem that won't prove easy to solve.
A US based high school robotics design competition already exists. The idea is to make engineering, math and science as popular as any physical sport. Students team with volunteer engineers from sponsor companies to build a robot designed for that years competition. National finals are held at Epcot Center in Orlando Florida. More info on the website USFirst.org
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Try searching the web for "PCI expansion chassis" one example is Magma but there are plenty of others. Basically you get a PC or rackmount case with a PCI backplane (containing about 6-10 slots) installed. A PCI to PCI bridge card connects your PC with the expansion chassis. These are especially nice because you can orient the expansion chassis facing forward where you can easily reach the connectors. Or the chassis can be placed a dozen feet away from the PC in a rackmount enclosule with your other equipment. Not cheap, but a popular solution for people in your situation.
Actually.. I noticed the apples/oranges comparison and figured most of /.'s readers would too (maybe I was an optimist). What's interesting is that both the article and Gartner seem to be making the argument that their findings prove the IDG study wrong.
I can tell you our office doesn't purchase servers to run linux. Instead linux is running on all the early pentium machines that Windows 2k won't, and quite well at that.
I don't think its that bad. After all, the EFF thinks it has enough merit to support it. The problem here is that the RIAA threatened.. but after the threats had their desired effect (and the paper was pulled) RIAA backpedaled in the face of public opinion and stated they had no intention of suing Felton. Why? because Felton's case is even stronger than 2600's and could set a bad (for the RIAA) precendent.
Here the DMCA is clearly limiting a form of speech (scholarly study) that is generally regarded as protected. In the 2600 case they are having a tough time claiming that DeCCS, since it wasn't originally intended as a tool of study. Instead its computer code designed for the express purpose of bypassing an "content protection system" and is in clear violation of the DMCA while being questionable protected speech
This is also a nice chance to spotlight corporate "bullying" where the threat of a lawsuit can be used to silence critics, regardless of whether the threat has any merits.
Yes the SBC owned Baby Bells have been making a big deal about "Project Pronto". The system will put DSLAMs out in neighborhood cabinets and shorten the copper between the customer and the DSLAM. This will open up DSL to a much larger subscriber based (including me, my copper pair is about 20,000 feet long).
As with most Telco ideas this one is mostly non-competitive in nature. The neighborhood cabinets don't have enough space for competing DSL providers to install equipment ( a tech said the cabinet had 25 units (standard 19" rack?) of space.. and a DSLAM uses 21 of those.) So the competing DSL providers won't be able to access those customers until a tiny 1 unit DSLAM ships, and even then there is no guarentee the neighborhood cabinet qualifies as a CO under open access provisions. Of course.. most of the alternative providers are already dead.
Note the text:
Therefore, we strongly advise that each new PC that will be running a Microsoft Operating System be pre-installed with an OEM version of the Operating System.
So if the PC is not going to be running Windows, MS doesn't care. A major shift from MS's naked PC "if it doesn't have an OS, the user is going to pirate a MS OS" policy.
<I>But Microsoft's lawyers have repeatedly argued -- correctly -- that Navigator isn't an operating system, and that Netscape had neither interest in nor means to supplant Windows. </I>
--snip--
<I>Was Microsoft really supposed to sit back and allow competitors to dominate this critical market, surely threatening Windows in the process?</I>
This seems to be a common argument, and one that makes little sense. If Netscape isn't a replacement for Windows, why would Windows be threatened by not including a browser?
Microsoft did need to have a browser of their own to compete with netscape. This was a fair competition AS A SEPERATE PRODUCT. Giving it away for free or less than the cost to produce it is dumping (an illegal trade act). Bundling it with a monopoly product is tying, either of these were non-competitive and inappropriate.
You don't always have to prove what MS did was harmful to consumers, especially in the act of dumping (Of course, most of the time companies get away with dumping, study the history of Japenese TV sales in the US for more info).
I built a box to hold a 20x20 AV matrix switch (purchased surplus from BGMicro.com two years ago) and a small linux pc to control it. I just used a standard ATX formfactor desktop case. Its about the same size as standard A/V components, and now that its painted black it blends in nicely. I replaced the standard 3/4sq label with an IR window and hid a LIRC ( http://www.lirc.org ) receiver module behind it for IR remote control. A backlit LCDProc display in one of the drive bays gives out status information. The only thing I would recommend is not connecting the LEDs on the front panel.. on most cases they are way to bright and end up looking tacky.
If you have basic electronics skills there is sample code on the web for the lightweight PIC16F84 series micro controllers. All you need to do is grab some example code for sending to the pc and receiving from the keyboard and stick a lookup table in the middle. Burn this to a PIC using one of the free programmers, plans also on the web. Might be a fun project to introduce yourself to programming micros and basic electronics. Total cost would be about US$30, plus some free time.
Here is a PC keyboard to RS232 converter to get you started.
MarkHAM radio has always been at the forefront of technology but its missing the boat today. First off there is no "killer app" left. None of my friends are licensed.. and few want to spend the effort required. Its easier to use CB and cell.
That having been said there is a huge demand for wireless internet access. If an informal network of TCP/IP gateways could be built (perhaps hosted by people with cable/DSL access) and a simple high speed (at least 56k better would be 110k) portable packet radio. Probably spread spectrum in the 1.2GHZ or 2GHZ amatuer bands. A device like this would almost have to be built commercially but if standards could be developed competition could lower the cost. This system could be free to use with no per packet charges and would do wonders for making the wireless net avaailable for everyone.
The FCC would have to clarify the "commercial use" rules. Currently if you do not profit from the transaction it shouldn't be illegal to use Amatuer Radio. (ie ordering a pizza over the radio is not technically illegal but a delivery driver using it to call back for directions would be) However this ruling is fuzzy and many HAMs are uncomfortable with any commercial use.
Then there is the encryption aspect.... any attempts to scramble the communication is illegal. Scratch https.. but is ICQ illegal (since the program internally scrambles data)?
Wireless internet access could easily be the next killer app for HAM radio... but can it be done?
What netpliance should do is be upfront about the cost to produce these things. Is it less than $99 as some rumors have stated.. is it $239 like their SEC filing? Or is it $500 like there penalty fee. Most people understand that retail sales adds another 30% to the cost. Be honest with the pricing.. and offer to sell the units at a fair price and a lot of people will jump for it. Price sells...
/. article noted.. the hunger is there for wireless webpads.. how about removing the stand and adding a 802.11 card?
Some of the other OEM's might want to take note of this demand.. as another
As the IMac proved.. the best way to compete in today's market is to be different.
>However this is readily cleaned up with
>catalytic converter, just as for petrol engines
Not true.. in petrol engines the mixture is run rich which results in lower cylinder temps and faster burns which reduce the NOx emmission. The catalytic converter "burns" the excess hydrocarbons. No one has yet invented an effective catalyst for NOx. (Honda claims to have one.. but last I heard they could not scale it to full production) Once a good NOx catalyst is available it will allow the use of "lean burn" technologies which can greatly increase the efficently of petrol engines.
That having been said 90% of the pollution caused by autos is caused by the worst 10% on the road (Mostly early 80s late 70s era cars ) Tougher enviornmental standards that force these cars off the road would do wonders but these cars are also owned by people least able to afford to replace them. A social problem that won't prove easy to solve.
A US based high school robotics design competition already exists. The idea is to make engineering, math and science as popular as any physical sport. Students team with volunteer engineers from sponsor companies to build a robot designed for that years competition. National finals are held at Epcot Center in Orlando Florida. More info on the website USFirst.org