Had I known about that infernal bandicoot in 1996, I'd've had a PSX long ago. I picked up a copy of Crash3 on a curious whim after I got my PS2, and loved it. Now I have the entire Crash mainline
Now, with my PS2, I have Tricky, GTA3, a copy of namco museum (I'm an arcade junkie from the Atari days), and Crash thanks to PSX compatability.
I fear that I may have all the fun games for the PS2 at this moment. Nothing recently has turned my head.:o(
Fortunately, I still have a huge space in PSX-land (and DC-land and Genesis-land) to explore for fun games.
You are incorrect about the "water cooling" of the Dreamcast. My Dreamcast (purchased May 2001) has a small and noisy fan in the right-front corner. It's air-cooled. I'd like to see pics of any water-cooled DCs:o)
There's a big aluminum plate sandwiched between the GD reader/PSU and the mainboard which acts as a heatsink for the PowerVR2 and SH4 living beneath.
I do agree that the GD reader mech is noisy all by itself, but most of the ambient noise comes from that small fan.
The short-lived Twiggy drives (seen in early prototypes of Macintosh, as well) had the following characteristics:
GCR recording (as opposed to MFM)
8 zones of recording (the spindle speed was adjusted depending on what track it was on, much like a CD reader)
47 tracks, 2 sides
2 heads 180deg opposite each other
62.5TPI
While on a normal 2-head drive one could read the fastest by switching sides before stepping, on the Twiggy, one would've been better off reading one side, then switching heads and reading the other way. While one head was at the innermost track, the other was at the outermost track. Very oddball design.
Email discussing the specifics of the 8 zones, and other technical info.
BTW, anyone owning an old Mac or any Apple][ series outfitted with a 3.5" drive has a similar setup. 5 zones, but definitely directly-opposing heads and not this nonstandard setup. I think the 5zone drives finally got the axe when Jobs decided to not include a floppy with iMac.
The PS2 network adapter came in its own package when I got my Linux kit. All it is is a network card with the connections for a hard drive,
On cursory examination, one can use any old hard drive; the connectors are standard. The hard drive is a rebadged Maxtor 3.5" job with special rails to lock it inside the PS2 chassis.
I'll have to test this theory out this weekend, but I see no reason it won't work, unless Sony altered the firmware for the hard drive
My thought was about all those SH3 and ARM-powered PocketPC devices. I can make a hefty wager that there'd be quite a few pissed-off ipaq owners out there. . .
a) Stability: My Duron 800 has been just fine since I bought it in December 2000 (wishes for a freaking heat spreader notwithstanding)
b) Speed: For me, the Duron works fine. No "gaming," no "multimedia." It runs MAME and xmms dandy, as well as encodes my CDs to mp3 in a reasonable timeframe
c) Value: Haven't had to play hand-me-down since I got the Duron, so what's wrong with me?
d) Noise: Not very much -- my older K6 fans make more noise
In responce to 2), if you want a "real" computer, you might want to abandon the x86 arch outright, and go with something SPARC or MIPS based. Depends on what you want to do and how you qualify a given box as a "real" computer, however.
For me, my Duron, being the biggest box I own (and I have like 7 computers), qualifies as "real" for me.
I left a Sportster on the line for a week (no computer required -- just override DTR and configure accordingly), and most of my telemarketer woes suddenly ceased to be.
When you hang up, tho, I'd suggest giving them an error message. 503 Get FUBAR would suffice. The point is, if their software gives a shit, they WON'T be contacting your server again, as you told them the message bounced.
Unless you're an SP, this is basically true. We enlisteds stay on the flight line and fix the planes that the officers break.:o)
And of course, if you're in Support as opposed to Operations, we enlisteds get to send our officers to fight for funding (so the wing commander and his buddies manning the groups on a given base can get better computers, connectivity, email, etc...)
Failing to win one of these battles costs a lot. I dunno if any heads rolled, but shortly before I got out, we had a certain Exchange server whose mail store was on a software "RAID." This post office was special because everyone at the head shed was on it. Suffice to say, when a drive failed, and there was no backup (no money for that either), 700 lusers including all the top brass lost 67% of their mail.
I spent 15hr trying to get it back. The next day, we at least had approval for the backup (after the barn had blown away, yes. sure.)
While I'm rambling, I thought the fake game names were quite funny.
One day, I got so annoyed with a certain telemarketer leaving the line open after he got my voicemail, that I strapped an old Sportster modem to auto-answer on the first ring.
I set the modem up, and plugged it into my phone line.
I left it like that. For a week.
The number of crap calls was drastically reduced. If they increase again, I'll just repeat.
Rate caps are programmed in at the DSLAM, in most cases. No amount of twiddling the CPE will get those removed.
The interfaces for various CPE are different, but similarly limited -- some accept tftp config files, but many are hard-programmed from the ISP/CLEC. About the only thing that can be changed is the VPI/VCI that your ATM end talks on, and you'll be kinda in a world of hurt if you alter that.
I would've jumped off the nearest bridge the moment my father's back was turned if he had tabs on me 100% of the time (and thus, would beat me mightily for -every- little thing I did).
I'll never have kids partly because of him, and partly because of crap like this. And mostly because I know I won't be an effective parent.
I'd hate to have to be responsible for nightly backups of 1.3PB of stuff. . .
I'd need my own army of STK9710s and associated servers, and a big phat backup network to do it.:o)
Not allowed to modify? Does this mean no kernel recompile?
The "Software" refers to the proprietary stuff on the first platter. The kernel and everything else is referred to by this EULA as "Third Party Software," so unless you somehow derive from the runtime or the system docs, you can use the licenses that the software normally comes with (in this case, the GPL)
Not that I disagree with you, or anything, but the main rub I have is the "sports" thing. I tried (and ended up hating) childhood classics like baseball and football. Any sport usually involved me being called a loser, or some crap like that. I'd've had no problem playing sports if everyone just treated it as a fun game.
Video games can call you a "loser" and you can laugh, because it's funny that the computer flat-out says "YOU LOST"
I grew up with the Atari 2600, and even tho I could play for hours on end, I didn't want to. Rogue family members saw to it that I was outside while they were inside.
I didn't have the hardware as a kid, but now that I'm grown up, I have a genesis, a DC, a PS2, a IIgs, and a IIe, as well as emulated hardware on my laptop (an NES and a 2600 would complete the collection). So, I'm making up for it.
Oh... and "beautiful summer day" is subjective. I'd think that "beautiful and "summer" would hold true in the north (or in the south if you're in the other hemisphere)... definitely not near the equator and/or in humid areas. That was the main reason I wanted to stay inside.
But if I wanted kids, or somehow get conned into having offspring, I'd definitely make them go outside. I'd trust them to have sufficient imagination to think of things to do. I did when I was a kid and faced with the "go outside; I don't care what you do" thing from Mom.
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Unfortunately, that logic will be followed -every- time by some people to get whatever they want, despite the cost or practicality.
I'm about halfway thru this thread, and the more I read, the more I feel right in my decision to just not try to get hitched.
I'm betting the farm that that's because Sun writes the drivers.
The OBP programmers need to optimize their little FORTH-based framebuffer code for the console... the scroll speed is VERY slow.
Had I known about that infernal bandicoot in 1996, I'd've had a PSX long ago. I picked up a copy of Crash3 on a curious whim after I got my PS2, and loved it. Now I have the entire Crash mainline
:o(
Now, with my PS2, I have Tricky, GTA3, a copy of namco museum (I'm an arcade junkie from the Atari days), and Crash thanks to PSX compatability.
I fear that I may have all the fun games for the PS2 at this moment. Nothing recently has turned my head.
Fortunately, I still have a huge space in PSX-land (and DC-land and Genesis-land) to explore for fun games.
You are incorrect about the "water cooling" of the Dreamcast. My Dreamcast (purchased May 2001) has a small and noisy fan in the right-front corner. It's air-cooled. I'd like to see pics of any water-cooled DCs :o)
There's a big aluminum plate sandwiched between the GD reader/PSU and the mainboard which acts as a heatsink for the PowerVR2 and SH4 living beneath.
I do agree that the GD reader mech is noisy all by itself, but most of the ambient noise comes from that small fan.
- GCR recording (as opposed to MFM)
- 8 zones of recording (the spindle speed was adjusted depending on what track it was on, much like a CD reader)
- 47 tracks, 2 sides
- 2 heads 180deg opposite each other
- 62.5TPI
While on a normal 2-head drive one could read the fastest by switching sides before stepping, on the Twiggy, one would've been better off reading one side, then switching heads and reading the other way. While one head was at the innermost track, the other was at the outermost track. Very oddball design.Email discussing the specifics of the 8 zones, and other technical info.
BTW, anyone owning an old Mac or any Apple][ series outfitted with a 3.5" drive has a similar setup. 5 zones, but definitely directly-opposing heads and not this nonstandard setup. I think the 5zone drives finally got the axe when Jobs decided to not include a floppy with iMac.
In addition, I can turn the "Location" feature off, which disables the GPS when not in an emergency. The "Location" feature is enabled by default.
On cursory examination, one can use any old hard drive; the connectors are standard. The hard drive is a rebadged Maxtor 3.5" job with special rails to lock it inside the PS2 chassis.
I'll have to test this theory out this weekend, but I see no reason it won't work, unless Sony altered the firmware for the hard drive
Not true, as turning on one flag would resurrect said code. See Figure 6.
For normal users, however, yes... the code was as good as gone. It -is- still there, tho.
My thought was about all those SH3 and ARM-powered PocketPC devices. I can make a hefty wager that there'd be quite a few pissed-off ipaq owners out there. . .
a) Stability: My Duron 800 has been just fine since I bought it in December 2000 (wishes for a freaking heat spreader notwithstanding)
b) Speed: For me, the Duron works fine. No "gaming," no "multimedia." It runs MAME and xmms dandy, as well as encodes my CDs to mp3 in a reasonable timeframe
c) Value: Haven't had to play hand-me-down since I got the Duron, so what's wrong with me?
d) Noise: Not very much -- my older K6 fans make more noise
In responce to 2), if you want a "real" computer, you might want to abandon the x86 arch outright, and go with something SPARC or MIPS based. Depends on what you want to do and how you qualify a given box as a "real" computer, however.
For me, my Duron, being the biggest box I own (and I have like 7 computers), qualifies as "real" for me.
Bunch of failing loser companies, aren't they?
Oh shit! My money! I'd better withdraw it all right now! That is, if someone hasn't gotten there first...
(Using BOA online banking and never had a problem with it :o)
I left a Sportster on the line for a week (no computer required -- just override DTR and configure accordingly), and most of my telemarketer woes suddenly ceased to be.
When you hang up, tho, I'd suggest giving them an error message. 503 Get FUBAR would suffice. The point is, if their software gives a shit, they WON'T be contacting your server again, as you told them the message bounced.
For one, I wouldn't've said a word when I got caught -- not to the feds, not to MY lawyer, not to anyone. Right to remain silent, and all. :o)
(Of course, it would be argued that that's stupid, as well.)
And of course, if you're in Support as opposed to Operations, we enlisteds get to send our officers to fight for funding (so the wing commander and his buddies manning the groups on a given base can get better computers, connectivity, email, etc...)
Failing to win one of these battles costs a lot. I dunno if any heads rolled, but shortly before I got out, we had a certain Exchange server whose mail store was on a software "RAID." This post office was special because everyone at the head shed was on it. Suffice to say, when a drive failed, and there was no backup (no money for that either), 700 lusers including all the top brass lost 67% of their mail.
I spent 15hr trying to get it back. The next day, we at least had approval for the backup (after the barn had blown away, yes. sure.)
While I'm rambling, I thought the fake game names were quite funny.
(9yr in USAF, btw)
My private CVS repository, my rules, my code. If it ever gets more than my eyeballs, I can spend the time to clean it up. :o)
(I have the distinct (dis?)advantage of not being a programmer by occupation, btw)
Maybe all spammers live in CA? :o)
One day, I got so annoyed with a certain telemarketer leaving the line open after he got my voicemail, that I strapped an old Sportster modem to auto-answer on the first ring.
I set the modem up, and plugged it into my phone line.
I left it like that. For a week.
The number of crap calls was drastically reduced. If they increase again, I'll just repeat.
Now, where's MO's opt-out list at? Hrrrmm
kc.rr.com, btw
The interfaces for various CPE are different, but similarly limited -- some accept tftp config files, but many are hard-programmed from the ISP/CLEC. About the only thing that can be changed is the VPI/VCI that your ATM end talks on, and you'll be kinda in a world of hurt if you alter that.
I would've jumped off the nearest bridge the moment my father's back was turned if he had tabs on me 100% of the time (and thus, would beat me mightily for -every- little thing I did).
I'll never have kids partly because of him, and partly because of crap like this. And mostly because I know I won't be an effective parent.
I'd hate to have to be responsible for nightly backups of 1.3PB of stuff. . . I'd need my own army of STK9710s and associated servers, and a big phat backup network to do it. :o)
The "Software" refers to the proprietary stuff on the first platter. The kernel and everything else is referred to by this EULA as "Third Party Software," so unless you somehow derive from the runtime or the system docs, you can use the licenses that the software normally comes with (in this case, the GPL)
So go right ahead and make menuconfig
Hated the humidity, and the hurricanes... and the lack of snow. And the lack of decent network connectivity (I abused a dynamic dialup)
Ironic I move to The Middle of Nowhere, MO, and the weather is just as lousy. Time to find a mostly-cold place with jobs. :o)
And I'm a good 10yr older than you.
Not that I disagree with you, or anything, but the main rub I have is the "sports" thing. I tried (and ended up hating) childhood classics like baseball and football. Any sport usually involved me being called a loser, or some crap like that. I'd've had no problem playing sports if everyone just treated it as a fun game.
Video games can call you a "loser" and you can laugh, because it's funny that the computer flat-out says "YOU LOST"
I grew up with the Atari 2600, and even tho I could play for hours on end, I didn't want to. Rogue family members saw to it that I was outside while they were inside.
I didn't have the hardware as a kid, but now that I'm grown up, I have a genesis, a DC, a PS2, a IIgs, and a IIe, as well as emulated hardware on my laptop (an NES and a 2600 would complete the collection). So, I'm making up for it.
Oh... and "beautiful summer day" is subjective. I'd think that "beautiful and "summer" would hold true in the north (or in the south if you're in the other hemisphere)... definitely not near the equator and/or in humid areas. That was the main reason I wanted to stay inside.
But if I wanted kids, or somehow get conned into having offspring, I'd definitely make them go outside. I'd trust them to have sufficient imagination to think of things to do. I did when I was a kid and faced with the "go outside; I don't care what you do" thing from Mom.