Then again... Windows XP and 2000 users are a good market, they need that extra capacity to back up all those worms and viruses they are spreading amongst themseleves...:-/
And it looks like they don't think much of Macs or Linux at the moment... Don't think many/.ers will be buying it in it's present configuration.
Which computers does it work with? With Macs? With Linux?
You can remotely access your photos and files from any Internet-connected PC, including Mac's. Currently only computers that run Windows 2000 or Windows XP are supported for Mirra Backup and Restore within your home network. We're considering support for Macintosh, Windows 98 and Linux. Please let us know at sales@ispiri.com if you would purchase a Mirra to use with those computers.
Look on the Contiki site for 'the final ethernet' cartridge link - there are plans there, of course it would mean a redesign of the cartridge board but it is possible!
To use the SuperCPU with RR-Net you have to disable the Retro Replay ROM (at least on the NTSC version, don't know about PAL) To do that you set the jumper to 'Flash Mode'. Just doing the 'disable' from the retro replay menu won't do it BTW.
Maybe as people this combination more they will work on Patches for better SCPU compatibility.
I was referring to the RAM memory, which the 64 has 64k of but not all of it is readily accessible (do to it being 'underneath' control chips and the like.) Even when you swap out what chips you can you can't get at all of the 64k of RAM. With the ROMs it does add another 16k to the total IIRC.
You could have also copied over the ROMs on the K-Mart display and then POKED in some changes, like the keyboard decode table or make the error messages extra rude, etc. (Never did that myself, I was more the BASIC deomo programmer on those store displays).
I've have this (RRnet w/Contiki) since AmiWest (july), very nice! Contiki is still getting some bugs out, but for a no-frills text browser it works great. I connect via ethernet to my dial-up router. Can surf about any site, even do Google searches. So far I have only played with the browsing but even with that I'm impressed, even with it's limits it sure runs slick.
I would compare the stock 64 speed with it to about a 600 baud terminal connection (not bad for 1mghz displaying in hi-res mode), easy enough to read without stopping the stream (there is no buffer in the web browser, sice contiki uses a lot of the 64's 58k or so of accessible memory.)
With the C64 20 mghz accellerator, SuperCPU (by CMD - now offered by Commodore Key,) the speed matches a modern PC - albeit a slower one.
To sum it up, given the tight memory and small amount of hardware needed now - it sure opens up opportunities for some low-end internet projects. (even grander ones when people with RAM expansions start developing for it) I hope one day someone makes a Commodore C/G BBS and C64 Telenet Client using them or maybe a internet variation of the old Commodore Q-Link network (Q-Link was AOL before they became AOL).
Also with the eventual release of the ultra-cool reconfigurable computer - the C-One (which can use the RR-Net card) and Jeri Ellsworth's (she created the C-One) work on an Apple II interface which I believe also has similar capabilities - you are proably going to hear about a lot more 8-bitters on the internet with their little computers.:-)
But realistically I am hoping 'The Final Ethernet' card (which is just the Ethernet adapter interfaced to the 64) gets developed though, using the Retro Replay Utility Cartridge as an intemediary ads a buch of $$ to the price (I'm a Commodore fanatic, I had to buy one, not everyone would like those prices though.)
As far as how do you tell if you justifierd your grant...
Most grants have to include an objective as well as a summary of how the objective can be verified and progress measured. I would figure for a software project grant you would either work out a concrete specification of data and structure (such as a standardized system to base future developments and cross-platform data compatibility guidelines) or base system with a realitically obtainable (and usable) featureset.
Apps for DTP and other 'pretty printing' things are getting better but printing is one of the weak points of linux (try to find a database & front end that will do programatic graphics output to a printer -pre-loaded forms- and you are looking at at least three apps the DBengine [my/postgreSQL], the programmable script [say python] and the graphics environment [tkinter and/or ??]. Even Access and VBasic weenies have all of that that works well together in one app (I use FoxBase/+ mac and I have all that without the mess of all the different environemnts).
I'm considering Linux, but the rough edges are still a little too rough just yet, I hope maybe in a year for it and us to be more ready.
As for forced upogrades, Doin't think you will be immune to that with Linux, some neww kernel will come out and some other app will depend on something from it, the new kernel and/or app doesn't ruin on old hardware A so you have to upgrade to B. Wether it's free or not makes no difference.
Whe I was first reading about Linux you could get by and do just about everything with an old pentium system with about 32 megs of RAM, is that true now? No.
Current UPC barcodes use only digits 0-9 so they are only 10^12 in range, which is a lot smaller than 2^64, or for that matter 2^96.
My question is whether they are still stripes or use 2D coding (I am assuming 2D, unless they use compressed printing and or improved 'variable width' scanning units).
Barcodes are a series of wide and thin transitions (or heights as in postnet) which in certain combinations of multiples of transitions represent numbers. The stripes themselves may either be static representation of each character (code 3 of 9) or more complex representations (like interleaved 2 of 5) but in general they are binary, even 2D codes are also mainly binary in design either on or off but in a grid or hexgrid format.
That brings them under the purview of the proposed rule, which includes computer networks as "substitute communications systems" -- subject to a 9.17 percent state tax, plus local option taxes.
In Orange County, the local tax typically runs between 5.5 percent and 6.5 percent. That would bring the total tax to between 14-15 percent.
So what sort of local network projects are they going to supplement with a LAN tax? Taxes are generally related to what they are taxing (gas tax for roads and/or pollution, Smoking Tax for Anti Smoking, Communications tax for infrastructure, etc.) So if the isolated LANs are considered "substitute communications systems" what will the government provide to "LAN tax" payers that improve or better regulate their LANs???
And I thought it was black for black wire.. um which is the positive one... and um.. the red wire... not positive, the other one... was for red tape...
All that hardware stuff confuses me, why can't we just edit it in some sort of debugger?
I go to frys for cheap readily available stuff, not for technical knowledge/support.
Yes, I have bought two of those PCs, thaey are currently branded under the "Great Quality" brand. I would review them as 'good enough for under $250'.
I have removed Thiz from both systewms (the configuration of the first system didn't/couldn't configure to the video of the box, and the second was better, but I want something with a more well known name behind the distro.) they now sit as either Win 98 or Mandrake PCs. They are no speed demons they use GigaPro (aka Cyrix) C3 processors which aren't very efficient and also are 686 wannabes (but aren't).
Like I mentioned befor the first one I got a couple years back was $250, the most recent one was under $200. I don't buy at that discount and expect the staff to have any skills except ringing up the price properly. In fact I rarly ask sales staff for any assistance or opinion as I find it is usually either driven by minimum-wage ignorance or commission driven opinions.
I get my real answers usually from the newsgroups and places like Slashdot.
Changing drive configurations - I recently went from DVD, CDRW, 3.5" to just CDRW, 3.5" and 5.25" Can't figure out how to get linux/kde to adjust to the change, windows or mac would just adjust on the fly and the missing drives would disappear, not the case on Mandrake 9.0.
Setting up linux with a Cyrix GigaPro C3 was interesting/non-intuitive (C3 tells linux it's 686 compatible and it isn't).
Font Sizes, and interface consitency, the size, usability/readability variations on any screen are everywhere, really annoying.
The other annoyances are lack of features like a good graphics module (for screens AND printing) for languages.
Text and graphics (bitmap and vector/object) support in the clipboard and apps (yeah, I'm a Mac user, spoiled to the core:-)
More english terms and less slang and better descriptions. ('Less' is 'More', but what is More??)
Well.. We're not yet saying 'your breaking the law...' but we suggest you should consult a lawyer before you use the internet without our 'internet use license'.
"... every license paid is another 15 minutes of legal fees to sue the heck out of your competitors. Thanks for your support."
Later in the message...
"...we have taken to liberty to include your name and address in our 'preferred customer' list for special offers and exclusive deals from our companion agencies in Nigeria and small non-governed islands off the coast of third world countries."
I use NIMH in my digital Camera (an older Olympus D-460) and they are great. I keep two sets in my camera bag, the NIMH and a standard high-quality alkaline set, Normally I use the NIMHs till they are low (which can be several days of moderate camera usage) and then swap in the standard batteries and continue till I can get the NIMHs recharged. Recharging takes a few hours but once charged they are ready for hours more work. With this the 'normal' batteries last for a few months of occasional use.
If you are using them on something you depend on (camera, camcorder, etc.) It would be prudent to have a set of high-quality standard cells for backup like I do.
NICADs historically develop a memory problem and may not hold much of a charge later on (not that they hold much in the first place from my experience). NICAD technology may be different now, so choose your rechargable batteries sensibly.
As my father-in-law says, "there's no job that should be beneath you."
Yes, doing the grunt work is good for wisdom and can help in solving problems in life, but if you want to aspire to more just don't fall into depending on it.
There was a janitor whose last name is Hoover who got rich from putting a hose, fan blower and a bag together.
That exemplifies someone with skills that go beyond his profession and uses them to do better at his job and work it info something more lucrative (mainly it was to make his job easier.), which I applaud but how many big invention opportunities will one possibly have troubleshooting someone's Windows 98 installation on their Dell? Not very many I assure you.
I'm not "high and mighty" I just personally had got stuck only doing stuff like that and had to figure out where I had went wrong. What I'm sayinging is if you do go to something not suited for your skills and dreams, just don't give-in, keep trying and remember what you want to be.
All you will become doing that is a glorified hi-tech Janitor - you stop creating things and just clean up others messes (Microsofts, the user's or some previous consultant's.)
I've done it, it sucks. Sure it may pay good at times but what are YOU really accomplishing by doing it? - Learning the tricks to Windows Troubleshooting? - Installing x program for the XXXth time? - Learning the hard way how bad computer xxx is or program yyy is?
What you are doing is mucking around cleaning up after someone else with a "real job," that's what. Not much better then saying "Would you like some fries with that?" If you know you are better than that, you should not lower yourself into it too deeply (if at all) and get trapped!
Slashdot Mirror
Then again... Windows XP and 2000 users are a good market, they need that extra capacity to back up all those worms and viruses they are spreading amongst themseleves... :-/
Which computers does it work with? With Macs? With Linux?
You can remotely access your photos and files from any Internet-connected PC, including Mac's. Currently only computers that run Windows 2000 or Windows XP are supported for Mirra Backup and Restore within your home network. We're considering support for Macintosh, Windows 98 and Linux. Please let us know at sales@ispiri.com if you would purchase a Mirra to use with those computers.
RJ45 socket
8 little wires in it
plugs into my 10BaseT hub...
Maybe I'm missing something by owning one.... :-/
LOAD"CONTIKI",8
(wait about a minute for the file to load if no fast loader)
RUN
(set IP Addresses from Contiki menu with Net config if not done already before)
Use RUN option from the Contiki Menu
Enter www.prg - press return.
Once loaded enter a website address, cursor over to GO and press return. (use return to stop mid stream. Cursor over to links and/or fields. etc.
Here's the link for your grampa: Girls of 64.
Look on the Contiki site for 'the final ethernet' cartridge link - there are plans there, of course it would mean a redesign of the cartridge board but it is possible!
IIRC there is work on a RR-Net 'emulation' for VICE, but I think it's still in the alpha stages.
Maybe as people this combination more they will work on Patches for better SCPU compatibility.
I was referring to the RAM memory, which the 64 has 64k of but not all of it is readily accessible (do to it being 'underneath' control chips and the like.) Even when you swap out what chips you can you can't get at all of the 64k of RAM. With the ROMs it does add another 16k to the total IIRC. You could have also copied over the ROMs on the K-Mart display and then POKED in some changes, like the keyboard decode table or make the error messages extra rude, etc. (Never did that myself, I was more the BASIC deomo programmer on those store displays).
Actually the column with is 36 characters.
I would compare the stock 64 speed with it to about a 600 baud terminal connection (not bad for 1mghz displaying in hi-res mode), easy enough to read without stopping the stream (there is no buffer in the web browser, sice contiki uses a lot of the 64's 58k or so of accessible memory.)
With the C64 20 mghz accellerator, SuperCPU (by CMD - now offered by Commodore Key,) the speed matches a modern PC - albeit a slower one.
To sum it up, given the tight memory and small amount of hardware needed now - it sure opens up opportunities for some low-end internet projects. (even grander ones when people with RAM expansions start developing for it) I hope one day someone makes a Commodore C/G BBS and C64 Telenet Client using them or maybe a internet variation of the old Commodore Q-Link network (Q-Link was AOL before they became AOL).
Also with the eventual release of the ultra-cool reconfigurable computer - the C-One (which can use the RR-Net card) and Jeri Ellsworth's (she created the C-One) work on an Apple II interface which I believe also has similar capabilities - you are proably going to hear about a lot more 8-bitters on the internet with their little computers. :-)
But realistically I am hoping 'The Final Ethernet' card (which is just the Ethernet adapter interfaced to the 64) gets developed though, using the Retro Replay Utility Cartridge as an intemediary ads a buch of $$ to the price (I'm a Commodore fanatic, I had to buy one, not everyone would like those prices though.)
Most grants have to include an objective as well as a summary of how the objective can be verified and progress measured. I would figure for a software project grant you would either work out a concrete specification of data and structure (such as a standardized system to base future developments and cross-platform data compatibility guidelines) or base system with a realitically obtainable (and usable) featureset.
Apps for DTP and other 'pretty printing' things are getting better but printing is one of the weak points of linux (try to find a database & front end that will do programatic graphics output to a printer -pre-loaded forms- and you are looking at at least three apps the DBengine [my/postgreSQL], the programmable script [say python] and the graphics environment [tkinter and/or ??]. Even Access and VBasic weenies have all of that that works well together in one app (I use FoxBase/+ mac and I have all that without the mess of all the different environemnts).
I'm considering Linux, but the rough edges are still a little too rough just yet, I hope maybe in a year for it and us to be more ready.
As for forced upogrades, Doin't think you will be immune to that with Linux, some neww kernel will come out and some other app will depend on something from it, the new kernel and/or app doesn't ruin on old hardware A so you have to upgrade to B. Wether it's free or not makes no difference.
Whe I was first reading about Linux you could get by and do just about everything with an old pentium system with about 32 megs of RAM, is that true now? No.
Current UPC barcodes use only digits 0-9 so they are only 10^12 in range, which is a lot smaller than 2^64, or for that matter 2^96.
My question is whether they are still stripes or use 2D coding (I am assuming 2D, unless they use compressed printing and or improved 'variable width' scanning units).
Barcodes are a series of wide and thin transitions (or heights as in postnet) which in certain combinations of multiples of transitions represent numbers. The stripes themselves may either be static representation of each character (code 3 of 9) or more complex representations (like interleaved 2 of 5) but in general they are binary, even 2D codes are also mainly binary in design either on or off but in a grid or hexgrid format.
In Orange County, the local tax typically runs between 5.5 percent and 6.5 percent. That would bring the total tax to between 14-15 percent.
So what sort of local network projects are they going to supplement with a LAN tax? Taxes are generally related to what they are taxing (gas tax for roads and/or pollution, Smoking Tax for Anti Smoking, Communications tax for infrastructure, etc.) So if the isolated LANs are considered "substitute communications systems" what will the government provide to "LAN tax" payers that improve or better regulate their LANs???
All that hardware stuff confuses me, why can't we just edit it in some sort of debugger?
(shuffle, shuffle shuffle)
It also sounds like it (XGamestation) is positioned as a 'razor' and will take the profit back by selling 'blades'....
Either way, it sounds good (a configurable multi-game unit platform) but I'm more interested in the C-One myself.
I go to frys for cheap readily available stuff, not for technical knowledge/support.
Yes, I have bought two of those PCs, thaey are currently branded under the "Great Quality" brand. I would review them as 'good enough for under $250'.
I have removed Thiz from both systewms (the configuration of the first system didn't/couldn't configure to the video of the box, and the second was better, but I want something with a more well known name behind the distro.) they now sit as either Win 98 or Mandrake PCs. They are no speed demons they use GigaPro (aka Cyrix) C3 processors which aren't very efficient and also are 686 wannabes (but aren't).
Like I mentioned befor the first one I got a couple years back was $250, the most recent one was under $200. I don't buy at that discount and expect the staff to have any skills except ringing up the price properly. In fact I rarly ask sales staff for any assistance or opinion as I find it is usually either driven by minimum-wage ignorance or commission driven opinions.
I get my real answers usually from the newsgroups and places like Slashdot.
Changing drive configurations - I recently went from DVD, CDRW, 3.5" to just CDRW, 3.5" and 5.25"
:-)
Can't figure out how to get linux/kde to adjust to the change, windows or mac would just adjust on the fly and the missing drives would disappear, not the case on Mandrake 9.0.
Setting up linux with a Cyrix GigaPro C3 was interesting/non-intuitive (C3 tells linux it's 686 compatible and it isn't).
Font Sizes, and interface consitency, the size, usability/readability variations on any screen are everywhere, really annoying.
The other annoyances are lack of features like a good graphics module (for screens AND printing) for languages.
Text and graphics (bitmap and vector/object) support in the clipboard and apps (yeah, I'm a Mac user, spoiled to the core
More english terms and less slang and better descriptions. ('Less' is 'More', but what is More??)
Better manual program, like QuickHelp on the Mac.
and the confirmation letter reads in part...
"... every license paid is another 15 minutes of legal fees to sue the heck out of your competitors. Thanks for your support."
Later in the message...
"...we have taken to liberty to include your name and address in our 'preferred customer' list for special offers and exclusive deals from our companion agencies in Nigeria and small non-governed islands off the coast of third world countries."
I use NIMH in my digital Camera (an older Olympus D-460) and they are great. I keep two sets in my camera bag, the NIMH and a standard high-quality alkaline set, Normally I use the NIMHs till they are low (which can be several days of moderate camera usage) and then swap in the standard batteries and continue till I can get the NIMHs recharged. Recharging takes a few hours but once charged they are ready for hours more work. With this the 'normal' batteries last for a few months of occasional use.
If you are using them on something you depend on (camera, camcorder, etc.) It would be prudent to have a set of high-quality standard cells for backup like I do.
NICADs historically develop a memory problem and may not hold much of a charge later on (not that they hold much in the first place from my experience). NICAD technology may be different now, so choose your rechargable batteries sensibly.
Hi, I'm from the F.U.D. er.. I mean U.S.A.!
Yes, doing the grunt work is good for wisdom and can help in solving problems in life, but if you want to aspire to more just don't fall into depending on it.
There was a janitor whose last name is Hoover who got rich from putting a hose, fan blower and a bag together.
That exemplifies someone with skills that go beyond his profession and uses them to do better at his job and work it info something more lucrative (mainly it was to make his job easier.), which I applaud but how many big invention opportunities will one possibly have troubleshooting someone's Windows 98 installation on their Dell? Not very many I assure you.
I'm not "high and mighty" I just personally had got stuck only doing stuff like that and had to figure out where I had went wrong. What I'm sayinging is if you do go to something not suited for your skills and dreams, just don't give-in, keep trying and remember what you want to be.
All you will become doing that is a glorified hi-tech Janitor - you stop creating things and just clean up others messes (Microsofts, the user's or some previous consultant's.)
I've done it, it sucks. Sure it may pay good at times but what are YOU really accomplishing by doing it?
- Learning the tricks to Windows Troubleshooting?
- Installing x program for the XXXth time?
- Learning the hard way how bad computer xxx is or program yyy is?
What you are doing is mucking around cleaning up after someone else with a "real job," that's what. Not much better then saying "Would you like some fries with that?" If you know you are better than that, you should not lower yourself into it too deeply (if at all) and get trapped!