Just like I learned on in college. Ours were 6502 boards with a bunch of other stuff on them, like D/A converters and space to wire up more stuff. At that time we used Mac Pluses as the interface to program and load the assembly into the boards.
These are produced specifically as teaching aids and I'm sure they are still available. We built all sorts of stuff on the boards including traffic light controllers, elevators control and robot servo controls. Fun stuff.
Not that this will deter many thefts at the moment, but as more pawn shops and criminals realize that the iPods can be tracked fairly easily, the mugging rate will decrease.
Almost every country makes it hard for you to move there permanently without a company sponsoring a visa for you. Some of the more liberal countries (socialist Europe) don't really care and you can stay as long as you want while spending money, but it's still hard to get a visa to get a job without finding the job first.
But as americans, we actually have it far, far easier than Indians. It is much more difficult for a person from India to get ANY type of Visa, even just for a short visit. Americans are used to just taking trips to wherever they like without worrying about it, but Indians face an up-hill battle to go to many countries. As an example, while I was working in Singapore (most free economy in the world), an Indian co-worker and myself needed to make a one week business trip to Hong Kong (second most free, before China took it back). I booked my flights and didn't think twice. He stood in line at the embassy to apply for a visa, waited for approval, etc. Just for a one week trip.
I have no problem with the lack of foreigners' abilities to get work visas in India without a company sponsor. It's just fair play. Indians are in a much worse situation.
It appears they are comparing desktop installations of Linux with market share of new sales of Macs. Several major flaws:
1. Having Linux installed and used occasionally should not count as an entire desktop installation if the computer is not primarily a Linux box. 2. Mac market share numbers != Mac share of installed desktops. Macs have a far longer life span (I have both PCs and Macs, each Mac lives ~4 years, each PC about 2.5). Mac share of desktop installations is actually more like 6%.
A big unknown here for me is how the extra long life-spans of Linux boxes affects these numbers. Just because I keep a couple of old P III's around doing various Linux tasks, do those count as "desktop installations"?
The built-in IPSec client only works for very simple, very standard IPSec connections (although in the IPSec world, there's no such thing as "very standard"). I've never gotten it to work connecting to any IPSec network, but my clients don't always use the most open solutions, either.
I use it for connecting to several networks and it is very good. Works with SonicWalls too, which is nice. It can be a little difficult to setup, mainly because you have to interpret the settings from whatever system they are using to select the right options in VaporSec. Took me awhile to figure out how the settings all mapped across.
I've been doing this for 5 or so years and have never had a blind spot that would hide a car. Thats a lot cheaper solution than a $500 radar system.
However, I also agree with this posters point : I'm used to parking with my new mirror position, but my wife is not. How about adding $50 to the cost of the car to make mirrors automatically move inwards a little when the car is in reverse? Thats still a lot cheaper than $500. I believe some high end luxury cars already do this.
I have to laugh when I see the Expeditions with the enormous side mirrors sticking way out, with two mirrors to get different zones. If the mirror was properly adjusted, you wouldn't need all that extra stuff.
I think Congress should have approved a national language the first time they voted on it. Then we'd all be speaking German!
Of course, I'm kidding. A national language is not needed. Businesses will continue to cater to their customers in whatever language they want to to get business. The IRS will continue to publish forms in as many languages as is needed to get people to pay up. Schools will continue to do what they have to to educate our children. Fine by me.
I've lived in a country with thee national languages and never had a problem. The US doesn't need to look any more racist and nationalist than we already do.
MythTV was my first real Linux machine
on
Build Your Own PVR
·
· Score: 1
And it really wasn't that hard. I initially tried compiling everything myself, but that was a bit much for a noob. The RedHat/Fedora install guide from Jarod just can't be beat for ease of installation.
As for stability : I've got a backend server that does my recordings and NEVER goes down. Ever. I don't even worry about it.
Wife factor : I've also got a TiVo, which is hard to beat here, but with a good remote control, MythTV isn't too bad. And she loves the commercial skipping and the weather module.
MythTV is pretty damned impressive. Impressive enough that I'm considering making it my primary PVR and moving TiVo to duty as a cartoon recorder for my kid.
Is this a threat to TiVo's income? A little, but only for those geeky enough to build a MythTV - this stuff is not for the average computer user. I think it will be a long time before TiVo comes after them, unless MythTV box builders start to take off.
Yes, the PVR-350 does have TV out. And if all you want is S-Video quality out, then this is the way to go. However, if you want DVI out (or VGA to feed into a component video converter), then you'll want the nVidia card, but then you no longer have any need for using a PVR-350 instead of the PVR-250.
I've tried setting this up for non-geek types. It works, but you will need to give them very specific step-by-step instructions for each task they'll want to perform.
Seriously, you get what you pay for. I've talked to PC companies on the phone for support before and it is painful.
I called Apple last Friday about my powerbook (white spots in the screen). I got a nice guy in Austin who had a box on the way to me in 5 minutes. He even made a joke about Walmart.
I got a 5 GB the day they were announced (well, I ordered it that day). Never had a battery problem with it, and it continues to play just fine as my backup iPod. However, the FireWire chip in it fried when I connected it to my Mac back in March. I pulled it apart and checked everything and verified that the chip was the culprit. It still works, it just will never sync again.
I bought a 15 GB to replace it, but paid more than I needed to just to get it at Best Buy and get the $40 extended warranty. I NEVER buy extended warranties, but in this case, Best Buy is crazy - for $40, I guarantee the life of my iPod to 3 years. iPods are great, but I would never put their average lifespan as that long.
Re:This is not "Grid Computing"
on
Grid Processing
·
· Score: 3, Interesting
If this really was just a grid layout of cores on a chip, then no, I would not call it grid computing.
But from looking at the diagram and rereading the article a few times, I think this goes far beyond that and approaches something that really could be called grid computing.
Instead of just being issued instructions from a central control unit, these units seem to have far more developed abilities to communicate with each other and work together. Not just for the issuing of instructions, but during execution.
I don't think you can really do any third party decoders for digital cable yet. You're pretty much stuck with what the cable company gives/rents you.
However, many of the major cable companies and TV manufacturers have petitioned the FCC to create a standard for digital cable that can be integrated into anything, including your TVs. Once this standard is pretty stable, expect to see computer cards that support it.
Yeah, the old guys can really do this, but only up to a limit. Knew a guy who was really good at distinguishing between 24, 48, 110 and 220 volts. It's not so much of grabbing the wires as brushing it lightly. You probably also don't want to be grounded or touching anything metal. Therefore, no current really runs through your body.
Of course, at a certain point, the current will be able to jump from your feet to the ground even around those nice rubber soles.
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Just like I learned on in college. Ours were 6502 boards with a bunch of other stuff on them, like D/A converters and space to wire up more stuff. At that time we used Mac Pluses as the interface to program and load the assembly into the boards.
These are produced specifically as teaching aids and I'm sure they are still available. We built all sorts of stuff on the boards including traffic light controllers, elevators control and robot servo controls. Fun stuff.
Stolen cars aren't pawned, they're chopped.
Pawn shops are typically obligated by law to report serial numbers of pawned goods to the local police (not that they always do, but...)
Not that this will deter many thefts at the moment, but as more pawn shops and criminals realize that the iPods can be tracked fairly easily, the mugging rate will decrease.
Almost every country makes it hard for you to move there permanently without a company sponsoring a visa for you. Some of the more liberal countries (socialist Europe) don't really care and you can stay as long as you want while spending money, but it's still hard to get a visa to get a job without finding the job first.
But as americans, we actually have it far, far easier than Indians. It is much more difficult for a person from India to get ANY type of Visa, even just for a short visit. Americans are used to just taking trips to wherever they like without worrying about it, but Indians face an up-hill battle to go to many countries. As an example, while I was working in Singapore (most free economy in the world), an Indian co-worker and myself needed to make a one week business trip to Hong Kong (second most free, before China took it back). I booked my flights and didn't think twice. He stood in line at the embassy to apply for a visa, waited for approval, etc. Just for a one week trip.
I have no problem with the lack of foreigners' abilities to get work visas in India without a company sponsor. It's just fair play. Indians are in a much worse situation.
It appears they are comparing desktop installations of Linux with market share of new sales of Macs. Several major flaws :
1. Having Linux installed and used occasionally should not count as an entire desktop installation if the computer is not primarily a Linux box.
2. Mac market share numbers != Mac share of installed desktops. Macs have a far longer life span (I have both PCs and Macs, each Mac lives ~4 years, each PC about 2.5). Mac share of desktop installations is actually more like 6%.
A big unknown here for me is how the extra long life-spans of Linux boxes affects these numbers. Just because I keep a couple of old P III's around doing various Linux tasks, do those count as "desktop installations"?
The built-in IPSec client only works for very simple, very standard IPSec connections (although in the IPSec world, there's no such thing as "very standard"). I've never gotten it to work connecting to any IPSec network, but my clients don't always use the most open solutions, either.
I use it for connecting to several networks and it is very good. Works with SonicWalls too, which is nice. It can be a little difficult to setup, mainly because you have to interpret the settings from whatever system they are using to select the right options in VaporSec. Took me awhile to figure out how the settings all mapped across.
I've been doing this for 5 or so years and have never had a blind spot that would hide a car. Thats a lot cheaper solution than a $500 radar system.
However, I also agree with this posters point : I'm used to parking with my new mirror position, but my wife is not. How about adding $50 to the cost of the car to make mirrors automatically move inwards a little when the car is in reverse? Thats still a lot cheaper than $500. I believe some high end luxury cars already do this.
I have to laugh when I see the Expeditions with the enormous side mirrors sticking way out, with two mirrors to get different zones. If the mirror was properly adjusted, you wouldn't need all that extra stuff.
I think Congress should have approved a national language the first time they voted on it. Then we'd all be speaking German!
Of course, I'm kidding. A national language is not needed. Businesses will continue to cater to their customers in whatever language they want to to get business. The IRS will continue to publish forms in as many languages as is needed to get people to pay up. Schools will continue to do what they have to to educate our children. Fine by me.
I've lived in a country with thee national languages and never had a problem. The US doesn't need to look any more racist and nationalist than we already do.
And it really wasn't that hard. I initially tried compiling everything myself, but that was a bit much for a noob. The RedHat/Fedora install guide from Jarod just can't be beat for ease of installation.
As for stability : I've got a backend server that does my recordings and NEVER goes down. Ever. I don't even worry about it.
Wife factor : I've also got a TiVo, which is hard to beat here, but with a good remote control, MythTV isn't too bad. And she loves the commercial skipping and the weather module.
MythTV is pretty damned impressive. Impressive enough that I'm considering making it my primary PVR and moving TiVo to duty as a cartoon recorder for my kid.
Is this a threat to TiVo's income? A little, but only for those geeky enough to build a MythTV - this stuff is not for the average computer user. I think it will be a long time before TiVo comes after them, unless MythTV box builders start to take off.
And it would be perfect.
Yes, the PVR-350 does have TV out. And if all you want is S-Video quality out, then this is the way to go. However, if you want DVI out (or VGA to feed into a component video converter), then you'll want the nVidia card, but then you no longer have any need for using a PVR-350 instead of the PVR-250.
I'm a happy owner of both a TiVo and MythTV.
I've tried setting this up for non-geek types. It works, but you will need to give them very specific step-by-step instructions for each task they'll want to perform.
Seriously, you get what you pay for. I've talked to PC companies on the phone for support before and it is painful.
I called Apple last Friday about my powerbook (white spots in the screen). I got a nice guy in Austin who had a box on the way to me in 5 minutes. He even made a joke about Walmart.
Worth a couple of extra bucks every time.
I got a 5 GB the day they were announced (well, I ordered it that day). Never had a battery problem with it, and it continues to play just fine as my backup iPod. However, the FireWire chip in it fried when I connected it to my Mac back in March. I pulled it apart and checked everything and verified that the chip was the culprit. It still works, it just will never sync again.
I bought a 15 GB to replace it, but paid more than I needed to just to get it at Best Buy and get the $40 extended warranty. I NEVER buy extended warranties, but in this case, Best Buy is crazy - for $40, I guarantee the life of my iPod to 3 years. iPods are great, but I would never put their average lifespan as that long.
If this really was just a grid layout of cores on a chip, then no, I would not call it grid computing.
But from looking at the diagram and rereading the article a few times, I think this goes far beyond that and approaches something that really could be called grid computing.
Instead of just being issued instructions from a central control unit, these units seem to have far more developed abilities to communicate with each other and work together. Not just for the issuing of instructions, but during execution.
In this case, the computer could be embedded.
Like, if it was fired from a 50mm gun and "embedded" into the side of a building.
I don't think you can really do any third party decoders for digital cable yet. You're pretty much stuck with what the cable company gives/rents you. However, many of the major cable companies and TV manufacturers have petitioned the FCC to create a standard for digital cable that can be integrated into anything, including your TVs. Once this standard is pretty stable, expect to see computer cards that support it.
Yeah, the old guys can really do this, but only up to a limit. Knew a guy who was really good at distinguishing between 24, 48, 110 and 220 volts. It's not so much of grabbing the wires as brushing it lightly. You probably also don't want to be grounded or touching anything metal. Therefore, no current really runs through your body. Of course, at a certain point, the current will be able to jump from your feet to the ground even around those nice rubber soles.