I started with X10 because of it's incremental scalability and carrier-signal-through-the-house wiring, but eventually outgrew the reception. (for those not washed, X10 communicates from a sentral controller, there is a limit to the distance and how much line noise there is between the devices). Then I began to replace the X10 units with INSTEON (which is mesh networking) and it is a beautiful thing. Controlled with a Mac Mini running Indigo, I have voice, wall switch, and iPhone control of individual lights, lighting moods, HVAC, security, pet feeding, litter box (yes, both input AND output covered!) even the computers themselves. Too much to go into on all of the intelligence the system controls based on weather, occupancy, etc, but it's very very cool. Cannot complain. What really does it for me on this system is the easy incremental scalability. Just add more as I need them - window curtains next. Oh, and it halved my electric bill.
Cough... yeah, right. I've lost so much faith in MS's ability to develop anything really new and interesting, I'm actually wondering if I had faith in the first place. Well, ok, maybe once in 1985.
Though I'm not looking forward to buying a Quadro FX just to minimize a window. Tad sarcastic.
Had a pure X10 system, moving to Insteon where I can.
This article may be Slashvertising, but I do have to admit that Insteon works as advertised, and is much easier to integrate (no address assigning - all modules are hard-addressed)
Also, never, never had any spurious signals, like I sometimes get with X-10
-Well, that's a convenient definition, but I suspect they've had the Windows version ready for a while now - they've had the coding positions filled for about two months.
They are probably waiting for the "Pilot" (the Mac version) to complete (probably 6-months timeframe), then the suits will make the adjustments and go-ahead decision then. It will happen, but it's a beaurocratic, not technical issue.
They just want to be sure that they will make their money and not get ripped off.
The very proprietary nature of WMA files and the associated DRM has allowed Buy to roll out their service, but then, it is only half-baked.
The Sawtooth G4 PowerMac was classified by the US Government as a supercomputer in September 1999.
This was based on the definition that the machine operated at a minimum threshold at, or higher than 1GFLOPs.
The Sawtooth operated at 1.1GFLOPs idle and hitting 4GFLOPs at peak.
This served Apple a mixed blessing as they were able to market it as the first consumer supercomputer within the US, but by that same definition, couldn't export it overseas.
The petitioned to have the minimum threshold raised to allow export.
Well, funny you ask. It took me two years to find it
Very astute - Intel wouldn't scream about it, as you'll see...
As we all know clock cycles no longer correlate to a 1:1 calculation:Clock Cycle ratio as Intel would have us believe.
That raio is now greater than a 1:1. And here they are as measured by maximun output:
(do you're own math:))
Pentium III: 3.2 FLOPs/Clock cycle
Pentium IV: 1.8 FLOPs/Clock Cycle
PPC G4: 7.45 FLOPs/Clock Cycle
Bear in mind these figures are Microprocessor only, and dated fall 2001 - though they haven't changed much.
(kinda explains that PIII to PIV falloff in performance huh?)
The wattage of the G3 is going to be hard to beat.
Remember, this chip is the same thing in the desktop models,
and still consumes only about 10w on the high side.
This is why you get those 6+ battery hours out of the iBooks,
and why the last generation of G3-based CRT iMacs had no fans.
I think I read somewhere that the desktop P4 is something like 75+ watts.
This is why Intel needs to reengineer for the notebooks.
That and I personally don't like catching my pant on fire:)
Brain hurt?
Dr. Gumby: "It will will have to come out!"
Mr. Gumby: "What?! All of it?"
Dr. Gumby: "No, only bits and pieces of it."
Mr. Gumby: "Oh. All right!"
Anyone ever notice tha anthing that goes slightly wrong anyhere near them, is never their fault?
"This PR person we hired, and allowed space on our website, did all of this on her own - and we shall punish!" - so says Mr. Ballmer as he whips out the fabled, Bill-Invented (Yes, they actually did invent something) Microsoft "Black" Notebook with Windows 2000.5 Monopoly Enforcement Edition (Windows MEE) with the exclusive Point-And-Smite interface called "Squish".
But I digress. It's interesting how nothing is their fault - an example is could be scan disk after a hard reboot "If Windows was properly shut down..."
I can't tell you how many times I've yelled at that accusitory phrase with a variation of: "If you run like a PROPER OS, I wouldn't have to 'salute' you into this dammit!"
Slashdot Mirror
I started with X10 because of it's incremental scalability and carrier-signal-through-the-house wiring, but eventually outgrew the reception. (for those not washed, X10 communicates from a sentral controller, there is a limit to the distance and how much line noise there is between the devices). Then I began to replace the X10 units with INSTEON (which is mesh networking) and it is a beautiful thing. Controlled with a Mac Mini running Indigo, I have voice, wall switch, and iPhone control of individual lights, lighting moods, HVAC, security, pet feeding, litter box (yes, both input AND output covered!) even the computers themselves. Too much to go into on all of the intelligence the system controls based on weather, occupancy, etc, but it's very very cool. Cannot complain. What really does it for me on this system is the easy incremental scalability. Just add more as I need them - window curtains next. Oh, and it halved my electric bill.
There's a DRM scheme that isn't proprietary?
Well gee, even if it were true, I'd still be forced to run SQL Server on frickin' Windows!
Cough... yeah, right. I've lost so much faith in MS's ability to develop anything really new and interesting, I'm actually wondering if I had faith in the first place. Well, ok, maybe once in 1985.
Though I'm not looking forward to buying a Quadro FX just to minimize a window. Tad sarcastic.
[+] troll, stupid, dvorak, ie, idiot
This article may be Slashvertising, but I do have to admit that Insteon works as advertised, and is much easier to integrate (no address assigning - all modules are hard-addressed)
Also, never, never had any spurious signals, like I sometimes get with X-10
Apple licensed the name from Viacom Consumer Products, owner of the rights of the little cartoon mouse - they're covered.
THANK you!
Clarity is so refreshing.
Nothing relaxes my bowels more than reading Slashdot.
Thanks fellas.
Isn't this also called "Consulting"?
-Well, that's a convenient definition, but I suspect they've had the Windows version ready for a while now - they've had the coding positions filled for about two months.
They are probably waiting for the "Pilot" (the Mac version) to complete (probably 6-months timeframe), then the suits will make the adjustments and go-ahead decision then. It will happen, but it's a beaurocratic, not technical issue.
They just want to be sure that they will make their money and not get ripped off.
The very proprietary nature of WMA files and the associated DRM has allowed Buy to roll out their service, but then, it is only half-baked.
Hmm to be expected.
The suits at the majors aren't ready for an iTunes and it's simplicity/freedom for Windows yet (that why we don't have one yet).
So we'll have to deal with wannabes with heavier DRM and proprietary WMA files for a little while longer.
Or we can stay with KaZaA...
-Bugs?!?
If anything OS X dosen't have enough!
Sets a bad example.
Go ants go!
-Wrong! There is no spoon!
-Check your facts and history
The Sawtooth G4 PowerMac was classified by the US Government as a supercomputer in September 1999.
This was based on the definition that the machine operated at a minimum threshold at, or higher than 1GFLOPs.
The Sawtooth operated at 1.1GFLOPs idle and hitting 4GFLOPs at peak.
This served Apple a mixed blessing as they were able to market it as the first consumer supercomputer within the US, but by that same definition, couldn't export it overseas.
The petitioned to have the minimum threshold raised to allow export.
Well, funny you ask. It took me two years to find it
:))
Very astute - Intel wouldn't scream about it, as you'll see...
As we all know clock cycles no longer correlate to a 1:1 calculation:Clock Cycle ratio as Intel would have us believe.
That raio is now greater than a 1:1. And here they are as measured by maximun output:
(do you're own math
Pentium III: 3.2 FLOPs/Clock cycle
Pentium IV: 1.8 FLOPs/Clock Cycle
PPC G4: 7.45 FLOPs/Clock Cycle
Bear in mind these figures are Microprocessor only, and dated fall 2001
- though they haven't changed much.
(kinda explains that PIII to PIV falloff in performance huh?)
The wattage of the G3 is going to be hard to beat.
:)
Remember, this chip is the same thing in the desktop models,
and still consumes only about 10w on the high side.
This is why you get those 6+ battery hours out of the iBooks,
and why the last generation of G3-based CRT iMacs had no fans.
I think I read somewhere that the desktop P4 is something like 75+ watts.
This is why Intel needs to reengineer for the notebooks.
That and I personally don't like catching my pant on fire
POW
Eight minutes to full Slashdotting!
Woo-Hoo!
Brain hurt? Dr. Gumby: "It will will have to come out!"
Mr. Gumby: "What?! All of it?"
Dr. Gumby: "No, only bits and pieces of it."
Mr. Gumby: "Oh. All right!"
Dear God.
Please tell me Microsoft will have NOTHING to do with this.
Think of the security issues! The hacking! The crashing!
Ooo. Gives new meaning to the term 'Psychocrash.'
It's PLOW KING!
Oh, wait. Wrong medium, no Homer...
DOH!
Anyone ever notice tha anthing that goes slightly wrong anyhere near them, is never their fault? "This PR person we hired, and allowed space on our website, did all of this on her own - and we shall punish!" - so says Mr. Ballmer as he whips out the fabled, Bill-Invented (Yes, they actually did invent something) Microsoft "Black" Notebook with Windows 2000.5 Monopoly Enforcement Edition (Windows MEE) with the exclusive Point-And-Smite interface called "Squish". But I digress. It's interesting how nothing is their fault - an example is could be scan disk after a hard reboot "If Windows was properly shut down..." I can't tell you how many times I've yelled at that accusitory phrase with a variation of: "If you run like a PROPER OS, I wouldn't have to 'salute' you into this dammit!"
Oh, good. THAT's what this funk is that I've been feeling. And here I've been worried it's the West Nile Virus.