memory chips require many expensive and hazardous chemicals to manufacture like fuming sulfuric acid for dissolving the photoresist inks and hydroflouric acid for etching the circuits. These chemicals have a large environmental regulation cost associated with them that's not going to go down any time in the forseeable future and is entirely outside the control of any manufacturing process.
But that doesn't preclude a newer manufacturing process from changing things. We use those chemicals now, but it's not a requirement of the product, only the process.
Aluminum used to be one of the most expensive metals around. Not for lack of ore, but because there was no cheap way to refine it.
Ever noticed that road signs tend to be placed 1/3 or 2/3 of a mile before an exit?
This isn't just because they like confusing people; 1/3 of a mile is about 1/2 of a kilometer, so this will allow them to switch over to metric without having to move any signs.
No, but I've noticed them at a 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and 1 mile. That's why they say pithy things like "Exit 1 mile ahead on right".
350W is a ridiculously high estimate for a 19" CRT. Most run around 150W. (19" LCDs typically use a bit over 50W.) The lower electricity costs really don't match the higher purchase price of LCDs unless you pay a LOT for electricity.
0.1 KW * 24 hours * 365 days * $0.10/KWh = $88 / year
$88 saved per year if you compare both monitors constantly consuming max power. That doesn't cover the higher cost of the LCD monitor for at least 3 to 4 years. Run a power-saving mode, and you'll probably never recoup the initial cost difference in electricity savings.
And the national average for electricity is lower than that (~$0.085/KWh)
LCDs are great for several reasons, economics just isn't one of them.
I still listen to the radio, rubbish & all. I just want something to distract me from the dullness of driving and the monotony of paying attention to the road.
Now if I can just get the record companies to pay me directly and cut out the radio middleman, I'll be set.
Increases the brain drain already in full swing from the major outsourcing of programmers and other tech positions to India.
Brain drain is when the best and brightest actually leave the country to go find work elsewhere (ie: Indian doctors and scientists immigrating to the US for better money), not when work is outsourced to Indian programmers.
1.) Feed the hungry.
2.) Bring world peace.
3.) Become a viable renewable power source.
What's really ironic is that so many Linux advocates don't get that, but Bill Gates does. He's ripped into interviewers many times for asking ridiculous questions on how computers (& Windows) are going to help third world countries provide for the masses.
Food, clothing, & shelter come before Linux, OpenOffice, & cheap Internet.
Two people and a grad student, eh? So the student doesn't get any credit.
Grad students could get credit if only they were recognized as people. In the future they will probably form a political action committee with the robots and lobby for better working conditions.
Yet, the killer apps and most used services are Hotmail and MSN messaging services. Then offline, Windows Media Player is the killer app.
And the OS is pirated. Curse those blackhearted Redmond devils for making the world's most popular software and services which we've either stolen or are provided for free.
May the fleas of a thousand camels equal the number of bugs and security holes in their code!
Yeah, but when Steven Seagal shows up out for justice, Bill's gonna be on deadly ground, possibly marked for death, and we'll find out if he's really hard to kill.
I'm not sure if it's my favorite or that for the past couple of years he's the one I've been thinking about most, but I'd have to say David Swinton in the movie AI. Perhaps it's my maternal, female side coming out, but my reaction to David was very strong. David 'imprinted' his love solely to his mother - unconditionally and forever, yet there were no requirements for her to do the same for her robot child when she decided to activate his code. Usually this is the opposite - we love our children unconditionally although it's not always the reverse. To have this unilateral condition of a one-way commitment on the part of a robot, I found especially disturbing.
That character was awful (the writing, not the actor). It was such a one-dimensional (to be generous) characture of a human, the whole premise of the movie is ruined. The teddy-bear was practically a Zen master, but the "realistic" kid-bot was like a brain-damaged parrot "Mom? I luv u! HAHAHAHAHAH! Mom? Mom!"
That this is her favorite robot character pretty much convinces me her qualifications are nil.
With the internet, this dynamic does not occur; I am guessing that the vast majority of people who use library PCs for internet access could reasonably get it (or, more accurately, already have it) in some other fashion at home, but prefer the coffeehouse / social aspect of being out of the house while doing their web surfing.
Right, because everyone is a middle class citizen with a nice shiny computer sitting at home complete with broadband access. Everyone who counts anyway. Screw those underprivileged types. Why don't they just take their laptops down to Starbucks like the rest of us? Snooty lower class cows.
If only we had a wise-cracking electrician (with a really hot daughter) and his crew of oddball assistants all willing to blast off at a moment's notice in exchange for not paying taxes, then we could fix this thing in a matter of hours.
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But that doesn't preclude a newer manufacturing process from changing things. We use those chemicals now, but it's not a requirement of the product, only the process.
Aluminum used to be one of the most expensive metals around. Not for lack of ore, but because there was no cheap way to refine it.
Election-time doubly so.
So the whole honkin' thing should fit quite nicely on a CD as long as you don't need pictures too.
They work at Best Buy. It's required.
This isn't just because they like confusing people; 1/3 of a mile is about 1/2 of a kilometer, so this will allow them to switch over to metric without having to move any signs.
No, but I've noticed them at a 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and 1 mile. That's why they say pithy things like "Exit 1 mile ahead on right".
All I want for Christmas is their Swedish Chef translator.
0.1 KW * 24 hours * 365 days * $0.10/KWh = $88 / year
$88 saved per year if you compare both monitors constantly consuming max power. That doesn't cover the higher cost of the LCD monitor for at least 3 to 4 years. Run a power-saving mode, and you'll probably never recoup the initial cost difference in electricity savings.
And the national average for electricity is lower than that (~$0.085/KWh)
LCDs are great for several reasons, economics just isn't one of them.
Now if I can just get the record companies to pay me directly and cut out the radio middleman, I'll be set.
Yes, in theory. In theory! But in theory, communism works. -Homer
Except of course for the hundreds of errors, gaffs, miscues, and broken plot pieces in those two "painstakingly detailed" movies.
When economics begin (sic) to look 10 or 100 years ahead, you'll know they're REALLY just bullshitting you now.
Brain drain is when the best and brightest actually leave the country to go find work elsewhere (ie: Indian doctors and scientists immigrating to the US for better money), not when work is outsourced to Indian programmers.
Food, clothing, & shelter come before Linux, OpenOffice, & cheap Internet.
I was behind you 100% up until 'bloodless'.
Grad students could get credit if only they were recognized as people. In the future they will probably form a political action committee with the robots and lobby for better working conditions.
Now more than ever we're going to need a Chewbacca defense.
John Carmack is probably a bigger influence.
John McCormack was an Irish tenor if you believe that lying Google.
And the OS is pirated. Curse those blackhearted Redmond devils for making the world's most popular software and services which we've either stolen or are provided for free.
May the fleas of a thousand camels equal the number of bugs and security holes in their code!
Yeah, but when Steven Seagal shows up out for justice, Bill's gonna be on deadly ground, possibly marked for death, and we'll find out if he's really hard to kill.
That character was awful (the writing, not the actor). It was such a one-dimensional (to be generous) characture of a human, the whole premise of the movie is ruined. The teddy-bear was practically a Zen master, but the "realistic" kid-bot was like a brain-damaged parrot "Mom? I luv u! HAHAHAHAHAH! Mom? Mom!"
That this is her favorite robot character pretty much convinces me her qualifications are nil.
With the internet, this dynamic does not occur; I am guessing that the vast majority of people who use library PCs for internet access could reasonably get it (or, more accurately, already have it) in some other fashion at home, but prefer the coffeehouse / social aspect of being out of the house while doing their web surfing. Right, because everyone is a middle class citizen with a nice shiny computer sitting at home complete with broadband access. Everyone who counts anyway. Screw those underprivileged types. Why don't they just take their laptops down to Starbucks like the rest of us? Snooty lower class cows.
Yeah, it's a good thing you've got /. where everyone's normal. :)
If only we had a wise-cracking electrician (with a really hot daughter) and his crew of oddball assistants all willing to blast off at a moment's notice in exchange for not paying taxes, then we could fix this thing in a matter of hours.
Well why not? It was an encounter with an alien life form.
Don't worry about it. I'm sure it's your first time, and it won't happen again.