First off - McWIFI was the first "joke" that poped into my head. It'll prolly be under the chicken nuggets on the menu.
Seriously though - I see why people are worried. It'll drive people to Rauchin Ronney's in droves for free wifi. And they are bound to stay there for a few hours and eat nothing but greesey food.
But I think for the most part, people who eat there don't really need a reason to go. They'll just go naturally. Problem is going to be getting people to leave - there will be no room for new customers because the guys with the laptops have been there for hours instead of scarfing down thier food in 10 minutes...
This is starting to remind me of when Airwolf was cancelled and picked up by a canadian network. It didn't last another season. I'd hate to see all this effort go to waste.
This isn't the first person to want a cheap computer that runs on Linux. You don't need the hard drive because it can run a bootable copy of Linux like the ThinkNIC did.
The ThinkNIC did have a 16MB Flash Card on an IDE controller to store minimal settings data for internet connections.
Basically when you booted the computer it loaded the previous internet settings or gave you the options for a new connection. Dynamic settings (Cable), PPPoE (DSL), Dialup and Netzero (which at the time was free). After the connection was establisbed it loaded the browser automatically.
But Knoppix, and like distros, can now automatically load a complete, fully featured, desktop. Email can be web based.
It might be everything you need.
Using conventional components could be possible, but there really is no point. Most of the "appliances" that have already been release ran in VCR sized PC cases - which would still be a good idea. Power supplies could be smaller (100Watt). There is no need for Hard drive or floppy expansion - all that is needed is a generic CDROM and USB expansion for external drives.
And its entirely possible to produce a desktop ATX motherboard with onboard components and an embedded processor and memory for dirt cheap pricing. VIA is doing it now but they are expensive. A cheaper company could bid for the contract (like PC Chips).
The great thing about this PC is that you could release new features and software packages all by upgrading the existing bootable CD. You could even make it a DVD ROM drive for increased storage.
I just hope that they don't do something stupid like throw a low speed processor in the system. Something around the 200Mhz range like the ThinkNIC would really be horrible.
Portables have been around for awhile. I am sure someone has caused a fender bender playing with thier in dash computer or side mounted laptop. Or accidently got hit by a car because they were too bust playing with a palm pilot.
I've got a Sat Pro 4340 as my main desktop machine now. Few months back the screen started to flicker so I took it in for repair. Dumped $230 worth of labour and a 15 dollar part into it for it to work for 2 months. Then the screen died completely. Instead of trying to fix it, I just attached a monitor, keyboard and mouse - and voila. Ultra quiet desktop machine. I'll use it until it dies most likely. Which shouldn;t be too far off since the battery is dead - and so is the connection for the battery to the mainboard.
It'd be gone too if it wasn't for the 20GB drive and PIII 600 proc sitting inside her.
Wine will not load applications. Error "wine: cannot find.exe" I've tried a few applications like ?MiniSoft 92 for Windows and Winamp. I've gone through the configuration a few times. I've added the drive/directories to the default path where the program is located. There were no spaces in the filenames or directories
Its entirely possible I am missing something in the config process.
In thier 3.4 release they had integrated wine (perhaps even before that, but they made it fairly obvious in 3.4), unfortunately it doesn't work. Even after countless configuration attempts it seems like a flawed addition to the distro.
If you got one of the 3 week program "trained" type of techs I feel sorry for you guys...
Every so often you might have gotten one of us real Geeks.
But even we had to deal with internal stupid issues. I remember a few times through out the 3 years I worked for Netzero when certain accounts would become unavailable for no apparent reason. The only similarity between the accounts would be what letter they started with. We'd come into work, and on the white board we'd see something like: "Accounts beginning with A, G and K are not able to connect". Oh you could ask why, but you'd never get an answer.
The release of Windows XP was no picnic either. I had to wing more then a few calls. I never saw some many people spend time on break for those first few weeks. Try explaining to people that thier old hardware doesn't work on thier brand new computer because of XP? That made people happy.
Alternatively, what about the customers who go through cell phone numbers, plans and services like there's no tommorrow?
I've gone through 5 different plans in the past 3 years (pay as you go, 1 year plan, etc). My phone got deactivated once and I had to get a new number.
This book might be horribly inaccurate at some points.
I got a chance to look at this program about a week ago when a friend installed it on my gaming PC I leave at his house.
To say the least the program has a long way to go before it can become a useful product. I admit that it has potential, but it has some issues.
Firstly, the images it produces are really choppy. It doesn't recreate the graphics of the apps in the background with enough detail. And I am not just talking about legability either. I had calc running in the background and the bottom of the application was cut off.
The next thing was the interaction in switching the applications from being into the foreground to the background. You have to click on the top of the app, just a pixel above the title bar. It, needless to say, took awhile to get the hang of it.
Another problem I had was applications that would disappear within the middle. You can zoom in and out of the 3d space, and its easy to lose an application that is in the middle. I managed to place a program in the middle of the desktop so that when I spun around you still could not find the application. One would assume I would eventually find it 180degrees around, but I didn't until I zoomed all the way out.
The last thing would have to be the fact that its not a true 3d environment. The desktop does not wrap around to the other side. When navigating all the way around, its not possible to come to a full loop.
Don't get me wrong though. I think this is quite an achievement for who designed it. And I think it deserves all the merit it can get.
I just picked up an Asus board with C-media sound built in. Absolute garbage. The audio slows down when playing high intensive games. Is that supposed to happen on a P4 1.8Ghz system? I seriously doubt it.
Is it just me, or is anyone else clutching onto thier AWE64 still?
The Jedi religion would actually have some merit because of the ideals that they upholded in the movies. But seriously, what stops people from trying to get other religions started? The Klingons from Star Trek could be seen as a quite honorable, but also quite sadistic because it involves killing random people on a daily basis. It could never function within society. And I think Jedi would have similar problems, though quite honestly they might be ridiculed. And if it gets approved, its something to use to get other seemingly weird religions approved aswell. "They did it, why can't we..."
Someone has to draw the line...
Finally Someone Understands...
on
Fragfest
·
· Score: 2
The real fun in LAN parties is not the games, the food, or the ability to tell that guy next to you, "HEY! Suck my plasma orb.
Or if you suck: "You frikken Ass-Munch!"
I can relate to the probs you had. My old laptop used to drop from games during play and thus freeze my player or caused it to self-frag... Very interesting fun.
I am actually heading out to one tonight...hopefully all the games are compatible with everyone's favourite OS, Windows XP...*snicker*
Slashdot Mirror
First off - McWIFI was the first "joke" that poped into my head. It'll prolly be under the chicken nuggets on the menu.
Seriously though - I see why people are worried. It'll drive people to Rauchin Ronney's in droves for free wifi. And they are bound to stay there for a few hours and eat nothing but greesey food.
But I think for the most part, people who eat there don't really need a reason to go. They'll just go naturally.
Problem is going to be getting people to leave - there will be no room for new customers because the guys with the laptops have been there for hours instead of scarfing down thier food in 10 minutes...
This is starting to remind me of when Airwolf was cancelled and picked up by a canadian network. It didn't last another season.
I'd hate to see all this effort go to waste.
Now the hardware can be purchased relatively cheap aswell.
a tI ds=,&webid=591137&affixedcode=WW
http://www.staples.ca/ENG/Catalog/cat_sku.asp?C
Business Depot provides a rebate through Vontage so the hardware only costs you 15 bucks in the end if you sign up with Vontage.
This isn't the first person to want a cheap computer that runs on Linux.
You don't need the hard drive because it can run a bootable copy of Linux like the ThinkNIC did.
The ThinkNIC did have a 16MB Flash Card on an IDE controller to store minimal settings data for internet connections.
Basically when you booted the computer it loaded the previous internet settings or gave you the options for a new connection. Dynamic settings (Cable), PPPoE (DSL), Dialup and Netzero (which at the time was free). After the connection was establisbed it loaded the browser automatically.
But Knoppix, and like distros, can now automatically load a complete, fully featured, desktop. Email can be web based.
It might be everything you need.
Using conventional components could be possible, but there really is no point. Most of the "appliances" that have already been release ran in VCR sized PC cases - which would still be a good idea.
Power supplies could be smaller (100Watt). There is no need for Hard drive or floppy expansion - all that is needed is a generic CDROM and USB expansion for external drives.
And its entirely possible to produce a desktop ATX motherboard with onboard components and an embedded processor and memory for dirt cheap pricing. VIA is doing it now but they are expensive. A cheaper company could bid for the contract (like PC Chips).
The great thing about this PC is that you could release new features and software packages all by upgrading the existing bootable CD. You could even make it a DVD ROM drive for increased storage.
I just hope that they don't do something stupid like throw a low speed processor in the system. Something around the 200Mhz range like the ThinkNIC would really be horrible.
Portables have been around for awhile. I am sure someone has caused a fender bender playing with thier in dash computer or side mounted laptop. Or accidently got hit by a car because they were too bust playing with a palm pilot.
I've got a Sat Pro 4340 as my main desktop machine now. Few months back the screen started to flicker so I took it in for repair. Dumped $230 worth of labour and a 15 dollar part into it for it to work for 2 months. Then the screen died completely.
Instead of trying to fix it, I just attached a monitor, keyboard and mouse - and voila. Ultra quiet desktop machine.
I'll use it until it dies most likely. Which shouldn;t be too far off since the battery is dead - and so is the connection for the battery to the mainboard.
It'd be gone too if it wasn't for the 20GB drive and PIII 600 proc sitting inside her.
The shashdot effect will take care of that camera - no problem. Instead of hit and miss....it'll just be plain offline...
He probably compiled it himself based on the setup he did.
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=sport
First two listed.
1A) Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively.
2B) A particular form of this activity.
2 - An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.
I don't believe math has any physical endurance at all. Mentally sure.
I am not putting down people who are great at mathematics, but its not a sport.
This is what I posted on the bug tracker
.exe" I've tried a few applications like ?MiniSoft 92 for Windows and Winamp. I've gone through the configuration a few times. I've added the drive/directories to the default path where the program is located. There were no spaces in the filenames or directories
Wine will not load applications. Error "wine: cannot find
Its entirely possible I am missing something in the config process.
In thier 3.4 release they had integrated wine (perhaps even before that, but they made it fairly obvious in 3.4), unfortunately it doesn't work. Even after countless configuration attempts it seems like a flawed addition to the distro.
Its something I was looking forward to aswell...
I was kind of hoping for design specs myself. Not that I would go out and build one, but I wouldn't mind a peak at the technology.
But as I read the article, the guy looks like he wants to make a few bucks from his discovery before providing info/pictures/etc..
Why else would you patent it?
Unfortunately now discontinued, Lacie came out with a similar product in the past.
? tx tCatalog=Paradise&txtCategory=&txtProductID=ZHI+85 8103
http://www.programmersparadise.com/Product.pasp
If you got one of the 3 week program "trained" type of techs I feel sorry for you guys...
Every so often you might have gotten one of us real Geeks.
But even we had to deal with internal stupid issues.
I remember a few times through out the 3 years I worked for Netzero when certain accounts would become unavailable for no apparent reason.
The only similarity between the accounts would be what letter they started with.
We'd come into work, and on the white board we'd see something like: "Accounts beginning with A, G and K are not able to connect".
Oh you could ask why, but you'd never get an answer.
The release of Windows XP was no picnic either. I had to wing more then a few calls. I never saw some many people spend time on break for those first few weeks.
Try explaining to people that thier old hardware doesn't work on thier brand new computer because of XP? That made people happy.
Alternatively, what about the customers who go through cell phone numbers, plans and services like there's no tommorrow?
I've gone through 5 different plans in the past 3 years (pay as you go, 1 year plan, etc).
My phone got deactivated once and I had to get a new number.
This book might be horribly inaccurate at some points.
It really doesn't matter.
I picked up the book recently and was disappointed by it. It really doesn't provide the indepth knowledge anyone would be looking for.
All in all I would say if you never touched electronics before, then go for this book. If not, your just gonna take it back like I did.
I got a chance to look at this program about a week ago when a friend installed it on my gaming PC I leave at his house.
To say the least the program has a long way to go before it can become a useful product. I admit that it has potential, but it has some issues.
Firstly, the images it produces are really choppy. It doesn't recreate the graphics of the apps in the background with enough detail. And I am not just talking about legability either. I had calc running in the background and the bottom of the application was cut off.
The next thing was the interaction in switching the applications from being into the foreground to the background. You have to click on the top of the app, just a pixel above the title bar. It, needless to say, took awhile to get the hang of it.
Another problem I had was applications that would disappear within the middle. You can zoom in and out of the 3d space, and its easy to lose an application that is in the middle. I managed to place a program in the middle of the desktop so that when I spun around you still could not find the application. One would assume I would eventually find it 180degrees around, but I didn't until I zoomed all the way out.
The last thing would have to be the fact that its not a true 3d environment. The desktop does not wrap around to the other side. When navigating all the way around, its not possible to come to a full loop.
Don't get me wrong though. I think this is quite an achievement for who designed it. And I think it deserves all the merit it can get.
We have one at the computer store where I work.
r ). cfmg ure.z ip
Nice machine
http://www.eurocom.com/products/showroom/T200V(
http://www.eurocom.ca/dealers/pos/T200Vconfi
Maybe it fits your needs. You can also get an external CDRW/DVDROM drives if you need an optical drive
I just picked up an Asus board with C-media sound built in. Absolute garbage.
The audio slows down when playing high intensive games. Is that supposed to happen on a P4 1.8Ghz system? I seriously doubt it.
Is it just me, or is anyone else clutching onto thier AWE64 still?
No one seems to question the purpose of the neat handle on the iMac do they?
You may have hit something here. That would be a pretty cool idea to see if anyone could save the box from being crushed.
It'd be funnier if it was a beday...
Actually since Klingons see all humans as weak, this would include everyone.
The Jedi religion would actually have some merit because of the ideals that they upholded in the movies.
But seriously, what stops people from trying to get other religions started? The Klingons from Star Trek could be seen as a quite honorable, but also quite sadistic because it involves killing random people on a daily basis.
It could never function within society.
And I think Jedi would have similar problems, though quite honestly they might be ridiculed.
And if it gets approved, its something to use to get other seemingly weird religions approved aswell.
"They did it, why can't we..."
Someone has to draw the line...
The real fun in LAN parties is not the games, the food, or the ability to tell that guy next to you, "HEY! Suck my plasma orb.
Or if you suck: "You frikken Ass-Munch!"
I can relate to the probs you had. My old laptop used to drop from games during play and thus freeze my player or caused it to self-frag...
Very interesting fun.
I am actually heading out to one tonight...hopefully all the games are compatible with everyone's favourite OS, Windows XP...*snicker*