Not to be picky, but I get 20 Mbps up, 5 Mbps down through FiOS. Back when I had a Time Warner cable modem, I think I remember going above 10 Mbps sometimes.
I know what you mean, though, there's much faster connections to be had elsewhere in the world.
I would agree with this. I use Gmail for an @gmail.com address, and I really like the interface. However, I do enjoy the control I get having my own mail server. I am really the only regular user of Email, and can work fine with a Squirrelmail Web interface and encrypted POP.
I do have to say, though, that having Gmail around will hopefully attract people who would otherwise use a misconfigured mail server and thus possibly cut back on spam overall.
Well, as you start to scale the system up, less efficient cells means that you need more of them to get a particular output power. On a large system more cells means more panels (or bigger ones), which means more infrastructure to support them. This includes mounting racks, and just available space.
Now, this isn't really an issue for most residential applications, where having less $/watt is probably more important. But, for a larger commercial system the extra costs can add up.
At least then he can shut it down gracefully, maybe with a script that does so a few minutes after the DC power disappears. In this case it probably won't be used for something mission critical, so it wouldn't be practical to keep the server going through a whole power failure anyway.
Just a thought, but what about doing this for zombie machines? I think an idea like that has been brought up here on Slashdot before, like if your machine is not up to date patch-wise you get booted or restricted to say Windows Updates. But what about actively going after people who fail to maintain their computer to the point that it harms others?
Well, truthfully I guess it wouldn't be right in either case. It could still be abused. But given the choice I would rather have a rule that would hopefully cut down on the size of the botnets.
It could work for most smaller businesses I would think, but it is a great idea if you just want to throw your Email on your Web page (even though you should obscure it like many do here on/., chances are it'll get on some spam list somewhere).
Well, this would be an interesting theft magnet. On the other hand, if you could set up the GPS with a script that would call home to a Web server with a location whenever it was able to get on wifi, it make recovery a bit easier.
Of course, it's not much help if the thing gets gutted, and it requires the computer to be powered up, but it could be an interesting idea.
Going off grid really becomes cost effective when the grid is far from you anyway. If you live out in the boonies it's probably cheaper to use an off-grid photovoltaic/wind/microhydro (that latter one of you're lucky) than to bring the grid in or even use a generator.
If he's on grid a grid-interactive system is the way to go, with no batteries involved. You basically just use the grid as a big battery. (This has been covered on Slashdot before, yes its not quite the same as you're still relying on the grid, but you still offset the power you use to whatever extent your system can.)
I'm not sure what your coworker was thinking of with the system, but at the moment yes economic payback is not too hot. However, that may change as electric rates rise. Also, energy payback of panels tends to be around 4 years (or less, depending on the technology).
Ubuntu does more right than any other Linux distribution ever has. For the desktop, definitely. I personally am not sure I prefer the server version to, say, normal Debian, but on the desktop it is well done.
Hmm, I had some issues with not only the desktop freezing (machine was fine but keyboard/mouse wouldn't do anything) but also with the network dropping out (it would just quit when transferring a huge file). I solved the problem by adding noapic to the kernel boot parameter. (You can just do this in Grub.) Not sure if this helps, but it might be worth a try.
Disclaimer, I just use it. I am not otherwise involved with this company. The company has grid-tie stuff if you decide you really want it. I don't recommend it except for larger installations. This company has done a great job meeting the market. Their grid tie units are the first that I know of that operate instead of shutting down in the event of a blackout. They solved the number 1 problem with grid tie stuff.. blackouts. http://www.partsonsale.com/outbackgridtie.html Other companies have similar products too (I think Trace, now Xantrex, was the first to do something like that), but I've heard some good things about the OutBack products.
Miniature Christmas lights are still generally wired in series. The bulbs tend to have little shunt filaments that short them if one bulb goes out (in theory). I think LEDs tend to fail as shorts anyway, so one can still go out and keep a string lit.
For low voltage though you're not going to have many in series anyway (depending on the voltage).
A 12 volt system is a good choice for smaller loads, like a couple lights, an answering machine, maybe even a single board computer running as a Web server. With not too much current wire loss isn't too bad. Plus, a lot of things run off of low voltage DC anyway, so using an inverter to step battery voltage to 120 VAC (or whatever voltage it is for those outside the US) and then back down in a wall cube is a waste compared to running right off a batter or through a DC-DC converter (depending on the converter of course).
Now, when getting into a setup that might power part of your home you could still use a 12 volt system, but you'll be feeling the wire loss more. In that case it becomes easier to use an inverter for most loads, and step the DC side voltage up to 24 or 48 volts. For the occasional DC load you can again use a DC-DC converter (so at night your inverter can go into sleep mode and not have to supply the five watts needed for say your Linksys router).
I agree, right tool for the job. The Gimp is installed by default on most distros, making it great for a quick job like adding a caption to a picture or something. Sure, some people like the interface, others don't. But a lot of people I've known have been able to figure it out, and it's great for them for small tasks.
Now yes, there are a lot of things for which you need PS. If Google wants to help PS users make the switch to Linux while improving Wine in the process, I too am for it.
The entire Creative Suite would be nice too, but I'm not sure it's going to happen unless either Wine makes some big advances (to handle things like Premiere smoothly) or Adobe decides to have a change of heart.
Actually, on that note, to see those programs ported we could try to contact Adobe. I mean, they might do something if enough people bother them, though there's a chance it's happening already.
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I'd rather have fish and seafood than algae slime, thank you very much.
I'd like fish too, but what about delicious slime?Not to be picky, but I get 20 Mbps up, 5 Mbps down through FiOS. Back when I had a Time Warner cable modem, I think I remember going above 10 Mbps sometimes.
I know what you mean, though, there's much faster connections to be had elsewhere in the world.
Just don't turn on SSH and set all your passwords to 'password'.
I would agree with this. I use Gmail for an @gmail.com address, and I really like the interface. However, I do enjoy the control I get having my own mail server. I am really the only regular user of Email, and can work fine with a Squirrelmail Web interface and encrypted POP.
I do have to say, though, that having Gmail around will hopefully attract people who would otherwise use a misconfigured mail server and thus possibly cut back on spam overall.
That would explain the dupes.
That's true of any cat, actually.
On the other hand, check this out.
Well, as you start to scale the system up, less efficient cells means that you need more of them to get a particular output power. On a large system more cells means more panels (or bigger ones), which means more infrastructure to support them. This includes mounting racks, and just available space.
Now, this isn't really an issue for most residential applications, where having less $/watt is probably more important. But, for a larger commercial system the extra costs can add up.
At least then he can shut it down gracefully, maybe with a script that does so a few minutes after the DC power disappears. In this case it probably won't be used for something mission critical, so it wouldn't be practical to keep the server going through a whole power failure anyway.
That's actually not a bad idea. He could use Distributed Multihead.
...To try to get Vista running on one of them.
Then again setting yourself on fire would probably be a much more pleasant experience.
Dear Intelligent, Competent, and Caring People,
Please consider running for office and giving us more options than shills, shysters, and despots.
Thanks
Just a thought, but what about doing this for zombie machines? I think an idea like that has been brought up here on Slashdot before, like if your machine is not up to date patch-wise you get booted or restricted to say Windows Updates. But what about actively going after people who fail to maintain their computer to the point that it harms others?
Well, truthfully I guess it wouldn't be right in either case. It could still be abused. But given the choice I would rather have a rule that would hopefully cut down on the size of the botnets.
It could work for most smaller businesses I would think, but it is a great idea if you just want to throw your Email on your Web page (even though you should obscure it like many do here on /., chances are it'll get on some spam list somewhere).
Well, this would be an interesting theft magnet. On the other hand, if you could set up the GPS with a script that would call home to a Web server with a location whenever it was able to get on wifi, it make recovery a bit easier.
Of course, it's not much help if the thing gets gutted, and it requires the computer to be powered up, but it could be an interesting idea.
Going off grid really becomes cost effective when the grid is far from you anyway. If you live out in the boonies it's probably cheaper to use an off-grid photovoltaic/wind/microhydro (that latter one of you're lucky) than to bring the grid in or even use a generator.
If he's on grid a grid-interactive system is the way to go, with no batteries involved. You basically just use the grid as a big battery. (This has been covered on Slashdot before, yes its not quite the same as you're still relying on the grid, but you still offset the power you use to whatever extent your system can.)
I'm not sure what your coworker was thinking of with the system, but at the moment yes economic payback is not too hot. However, that may change as electric rates rise. Also, energy payback of panels tends to be around 4 years (or less, depending on the technology).
Hmm, I had some issues with not only the desktop freezing (machine was fine but keyboard/mouse wouldn't do anything) but also with the network dropping out (it would just quit when transferring a huge file). I solved the problem by adding noapic to the kernel boot parameter. (You can just do this in Grub.) Not sure if this helps, but it might be worth a try.
It's also nice to have battery backup when the grid goes down.
http://www.partsonsale.com/outbackgridtie.html Other companies have similar products too (I think Trace, now Xantrex, was the first to do something like that), but I've heard some good things about the OutBack products.
Miniature Christmas lights are still generally wired in series. The bulbs tend to have little shunt filaments that short them if one bulb goes out (in theory). I think LEDs tend to fail as shorts anyway, so one can still go out and keep a string lit.
For low voltage though you're not going to have many in series anyway (depending on the voltage).
One more thing: Don't forget to fuse. (Well, this goes for high or low voltage; overcurrent protection should go without saying.)
Also, don't forget about Home Power. I've been a subscriber for years, it's a great resource.
A 12 volt system is a good choice for smaller loads, like a couple lights, an answering machine, maybe even a single board computer running as a Web server. With not too much current wire loss isn't too bad. Plus, a lot of things run off of low voltage DC anyway, so using an inverter to step battery voltage to 120 VAC (or whatever voltage it is for those outside the US) and then back down in a wall cube is a waste compared to running right off a batter or through a DC-DC converter (depending on the converter of course).
Now, when getting into a setup that might power part of your home you could still use a 12 volt system, but you'll be feeling the wire loss more. In that case it becomes easier to use an inverter for most loads, and step the DC side voltage up to 24 or 48 volts. For the occasional DC load you can again use a DC-DC converter (so at night your inverter can go into sleep mode and not have to supply the five watts needed for say your Linksys router).
What about some sort of dancing? Ballroom, maybe?
I agree, right tool for the job. The Gimp is installed by default on most distros, making it great for a quick job like adding a caption to a picture or something. Sure, some people like the interface, others don't. But a lot of people I've known have been able to figure it out, and it's great for them for small tasks.
Now yes, there are a lot of things for which you need PS. If Google wants to help PS users make the switch to Linux while improving Wine in the process, I too am for it.
The entire Creative Suite would be nice too, but I'm not sure it's going to happen unless either Wine makes some big advances (to handle things like Premiere smoothly) or Adobe decides to have a change of heart.
Actually, on that note, to see those programs ported we could try to contact Adobe. I mean, they might do something if enough people bother them, though there's a chance it's happening already.