Don't know if you're in the L.A. area, but there's a tool vendor who goes to the big computer swapmeet here (Pomona, to be exact). He's always got tons of cheap stuff from Pakistan including dental picks & mirrors. I also saw some at (believe it or not) Walmart the other day (although they were just labeled "tool picks" or something - no "dental" anywhere in sight)
You, know, I feel the same way seeing your post. I felt kinda weird putting it into the original submission but I knew it'd grab some attention.
The mirror is worth its weight in gold. I have admit, the pick has only come in handy a few times but it's small and I get a big kick pulling my "Is it safe?" shtick on anyone who's seen Marathon Man.
I work a lot with prototypes here and I can never get the hardware guys to even give me the time of day. (The sight of a coder with a soldering iron terrifies them, I guess). I'm always making my own cables, breakout boxes, and whatnot.
If it clears up the matter, I originally trained as a tech before discovering the joys of coding.
Forgot to mention in the original submission - I picked up a pair of soft sided tool bags at Home Depot this weekend for $10 (can't link into their site but the SKU is 775434). Great for storing all the stuff if you don't have too much.
No hard feelings. Your tone didn't really strike me as "snippy," even though mine probably could've met that description in my original post:). I figured posting a followup was only appropriate to acknowledge my lapse (incidentally, closing down the discussion also prevents me from getting more comments on my gaffe - I've made enough of them to know).
PS - I've added you to my 'friends.' I'm assuming you don't mind.
PPS - After reading your Bio, I have to admit that, I too have only one/. account.:]
I'm working on a Win CE project these days and have found it a pretty interesting environment to work in (and, yes, I'm a long time MS basher so I find that tough to say that). The fact is that, at least in the CE world, Internet Explorer is modular.
Platform builder comes with an application called "IESample" which is basically a frame you can tweek to roll your own version of IE. With a few hours of work, I found it pretty easy to modify the beast to match some custom requirements we had to change the page being viewed when an outside stimulus was activated. You can take a look here to see the IE interfaces exposed.
Again, this is entirely in the CE world. I can not speak to embedded XP or the desktop.
PS - Several months ago, I was in a week long CE training class. I was amazed that on the day I learned about rolling a version of IE, I clicked on the TV and saw it in the news. An MS exec was testifying in front of congress (the senate?) about how IE was not modular in any way shape or form. Then one of the committee members brought up CE. A shame the news didn't report the exec's reaction...
I'm really surprised that Wired chose to use the term "Billionare Boy's Cup", since it sounds like a reference to the notorious "Billionaires Boy Club." For those who don't recall the name, I point you here for details about mind control, investment strategies, and the grusome murders and kidnappings perpetuated by Mr. Joe Hunt and his followers.
First, the best way for this to work would be to get forty of fifty people to do this at the same time and only then after you've invited the media to swing by to watch your little protest. Doing it one person at a time is not a protest - it's simply being (as you put it) a pain in the ass.
No matter how you do this, you better select stuff you actually want. Although it's unlikely that the store manager is going to be in a position to reverse the policy on the spot, there's a fair chance (as there is with any piece of overhyped hardware) that the stupid thing will be down and the clerks will just be gathering info the old fashioned way. In either of those cases, you owe the store your patronage - the first case out of support for their stance and the second just out of courtesy for you getting in line with a cart of goods.
Re:"Suicide is the harshest form of self criticism
on
Crushing Experience
·
· Score: 2
Good point - one should never make assumptions.
"Suicide is the harshest form of self criticism"
on
Crushing Experience
·
· Score: 2
As has been pointed out, the most cost effective answer to this problem is better written instructions and/or simpler designs. But if you still want to toss technology at the problem...
Here's a thought: How 'bout suplementing the hard copy with animated instructions showing how the pieces fit, either on a website, or on a CD or even DVD included in the package? (For cost purposes, though, a flash movie on the website might be best). Understood that you're making some basic assumptions about the technical savvy of your customer (has and uses DVD/PC) but it might still have *some* utility.
Thank you for the response. I'd intended it tongue in cheek, but you've made some solid points. Despite the "gee whiz" factor of processors assisting assembly, I agree that the effort would be better spent in writting better instructions in the first place.
Here's a thought: How 'bout suplementing the hard copy with animated instructions showing how the pieces fit, either on a website, or on a CD or even DVD included in the package? (For cost purposes, though, a flash movie on the website might be best). Understood that you're making some basic assumptions about the technical savvy of your customer (has and uses DVD/PC) but it might still have *some* utility.
Hmmm... I think I'll add a new post just for that.
Good point! I hadn't considered the double meaning of "router". Now I've got this image running around in my head of a guy wearing safety goggles trimming the edge off a CD-R.
Thanks for posting on that - I really needed a laugh today.
We had my wife's eight year old nephew sleep over on Friday and Saturday nights. The heck with remote flushing - I'd like a toilet that automatically puts down the freakin' lid!
Re:PHYSICS: this is nonsense
on
Solar Surgery
·
· Score: 1
I can't talk to the physics, but on precision, I was refering to aiming the thing, not the tightness of the focus. Automating the placement of the beam (as in Lasik) allows you to do things that are a lot different than a guy weilding the beam manually. Instead of needing a highly skilled, steady surgeon to make all those cuts you can have a GP (with proper training) set up the machine, monitor the patient, and turn the crank.
In any case, it's probably moot. Lasik is the last thing anyone in a poor country is worried about.
If you're in the mood to get really depressed (and aren't we all:), dig up a copy of Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath. I never read it in school and grabbed a copy the other day at a used bookstore. I'm only halfway through it, but it makes you realize just what the Depression was like and how America would've been considered "third world" by today's standards. A very heavy read, but a great book. Depressing as Hell, though.
PS - It also has a lot to say about unions. I agree some of them have gone of the deep end, but on the whole the unions have done a great service. At the very least, they saved us from a second civil war during the Depression - union reforms got people just wages without turning them into a full fledged rebellion, "just" a range war.
Slashdot Mirror
*SIGH* There goes my karma.
Don't know if you're in the L.A. area, but there's a tool vendor who goes to the big computer swapmeet here (Pomona, to be exact). He's always got tons of cheap stuff from Pakistan including dental picks & mirrors. I also saw some at (believe it or not) Walmart the other day (although they were just labeled "tool picks" or something - no "dental" anywhere in sight)
The mirror is worth its weight in gold. I have admit, the pick has only come in handy a few times but it's small and I get a big kick pulling my "Is it safe?" shtick on anyone who's seen Marathon Man.
If it clears up the matter, I originally trained as a tech before discovering the joys of coding.
You got it - management blamed software.
Forgot to mention in the original submission - I picked up a pair of soft sided tool bags at Home Depot this weekend for $10 (can't link into their site but the SKU is 775434). Great for storing all the stuff if you don't have too much.
PS - I've added you to my 'friends.' I'm assuming you don't mind.
PPS - After reading your Bio, I have to admit that, I too have only one /. account. :]
You learn something new every day, I guess.
You learn something new every day.
Apparently not from the English department, though...
Platform builder comes with an application called "IESample" which is basically a frame you can tweek to roll your own version of IE. With a few hours of work, I found it pretty easy to modify the beast to match some custom requirements we had to change the page being viewed when an outside stimulus was activated. You can take a look here to see the IE interfaces exposed.
Again, this is entirely in the CE world. I can not speak to embedded XP or the desktop.
PS - Several months ago, I was in a week long CE training class. I was amazed that on the day I learned about rolling a version of IE, I clicked on the TV and saw it in the news. An MS exec was testifying in front of congress (the senate?) about how IE was not modular in any way shape or form. Then one of the committee members brought up CE. A shame the news didn't report the exec's reaction...
I'm really surprised that Wired chose to use the term "Billionare Boy's Cup", since it sounds like a reference to the notorious "Billionaires Boy Club." For those who don't recall the name, I point you here for details about mind control, investment strategies, and the grusome murders and kidnappings perpetuated by Mr. Joe Hunt and his followers.
No matter how you do this, you better select stuff you actually want. Although it's unlikely that the store manager is going to be in a position to reverse the policy on the spot, there's a fair chance (as there is with any piece of overhyped hardware) that the stupid thing will be down and the clerks will just be gathering info the old fashioned way. In either of those cases, you owe the store your patronage - the first case out of support for their stance and the second just out of courtesy for you getting in line with a cart of goods.
Good point - one should never make assumptions.
No, I can't recall who said it.
I mean, c'mon, the beat up Barney for Pete's sake!
Here's a thought: How 'bout suplementing the hard copy with animated instructions showing how the pieces fit, either on a website, or on a CD or even DVD included in the package? (For cost purposes, though, a flash movie on the website might be best). Understood that you're making some basic assumptions about the technical savvy of your customer (has and uses DVD/PC) but it might still have *some* utility.
Here's a thought: How 'bout suplementing the hard copy with animated instructions showing how the pieces fit, either on a website, or on a CD or even DVD included in the package? (For cost purposes, though, a flash movie on the website might be best). Understood that you're making some basic assumptions about the technical savvy of your customer (has and uses DVD/PC) but it might still have *some* utility.
Hmmm... I think I'll add a new post just for that.
Thanks for posting on that - I really needed a laugh today.
- A router built into a computer desk.
- An armchair with wireless IR/802.11 links for wireless digital headphones.
- Lamps with an IP address for a remote dimming/lighting service. (Discussed previously on
/.)
Any other ideas anyone? Anyone?If anything, wouldn't the Swedes, who brought us Ikea, have come up with this?
We had my wife's eight year old nephew sleep over on Friday and Saturday nights. The heck with remote flushing - I'd like a toilet that automatically puts down the freakin' lid!
In any case, it's probably moot. Lasik is the last thing anyone in a poor country is worried about.
PS - It also has a lot to say about unions. I agree some of them have gone of the deep end, but on the whole the unions have done a great service. At the very least, they saved us from a second civil war during the Depression - union reforms got people just wages without turning them into a full fledged rebellion, "just" a range war.
sirDude: D'ho!! You beat my long winded post. Good catch.