I'm back to working primarily with IBM mainframes. The shop I work in is still running code written in the 1960s, I kid you not... Much of that code is being slowly replaced (there aren't a lot of 370 assembler programmers floating around) with more modern code (database driven), but still on a mainframe. We have other types of hardware used for different functions, but the core of the business still runs on (smallish) big iron. If decades-old code is still meeting business requirements, it isn't easy to justify replacing it just because it isn't written in a "modern" language or runs on "cheap" hardware.
Back 20+ years ago, when I was bored sitting and waiting for evening jobs to finish before I could go home, I would open the side cover on the IBM System 36 I worked with at the time. The 2 drives in that machine (I believe they were about 400 Meg each) WERE entirely encased in clear plastic, so I could sit and watch the heads move in and out. Oh yeah, the platters were also more than a FOOT across, so it was rather easy to see what was going on... Nothing much to see on a 3.5" drive!
I can tell you a native 16 bit OS/2 program that used threads VERY well. Aldus PageMaker. It ran rings around the same Windows version.
I was a big OS/2 bigot. The biggest design bug in my book with the single input message queue. I gather they didn't feally fix that properly because of some backwards compatibility concerns. One messed up app would look to lock up the machine and the later work-around fixes just didn't cut it...
The registration process gives you instructions on getting 911 configured on your account. It was one of the first things I did when I got my VOIP installed. If someone dials 911 on my VOIP line it will go to my local general emergency services number. It won't get a "no 911 available" message.
There is no excuse for whoever ordered the line to not have done that.
I live in Texas and have been a happy Vonage (via Earthlink) customer for about 4 months now. When I signed up for the service, it was made very clear that 911 would not be available until doing a special registration and then it would go to my local general emeregency service number, not the regular 911 service. Looks to me to be yet another case of someone not reading anything (and we aren't talking fine print on the back of a contract here) about what they are doing.
Based on my limited research on the subject earlier, the issue SHOULD be why Vonage is denied access to the 911 network. It isn't as is they don't want to provide it.
I have been a professional programmer for 23 years. While I still really enjoy actual programming, I have never worked at, nor wanted to work at, a straight IT company. I have changed jobs a few times over the years but have worked in 2 different industries (foundry and food manufacturing/distribution). It can be far more stable (given the right company and/or industry) than straight tech and it does sound like you are beginning to see that there is more to life than just IT.
I have used and learned many new technologies over that time. Besides that, I have gained a lot of non-IT knowledge in those industries. I know of a number of other people who eventually tired of programming and IT in general and moved into the business side of the industry they were doing IT work in. It can be a very easy move as having an IT background can be a valuable asset over and above the business knowledge aquired.
It was originally a 70mm film. The "normal" scenes were displayed in a regular, smaller size while the scenes shown from a point of view of wearing the the device were shown full screen. I haven't seen that mentioned anywhere since seeing it in the theater when it was originally released...
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I'm back to working primarily with IBM mainframes. The shop I work in is still running code written in the 1960s, I kid you not... Much of that code is being slowly replaced (there aren't a lot of 370 assembler programmers floating around) with more modern code (database driven), but still on a mainframe. We have other types of hardware used for different functions, but the core of the business still runs on (smallish) big iron. If decades-old code is still meeting business requirements, it isn't easy to justify replacing it just because it isn't written in a "modern" language or runs on "cheap" hardware.
Back 20+ years ago, when I was bored sitting and waiting for evening jobs to finish before I could go home, I would open the side cover on the IBM System 36 I worked with at the time. The 2 drives in that machine (I believe they were about 400 Meg each) WERE entirely encased in clear plastic, so I could sit and watch the heads move in and out. Oh yeah, the platters were also more than a FOOT across, so it was rather easy to see what was going on... Nothing much to see on a 3.5" drive!
I can tell you a native 16 bit OS/2 program that used threads VERY well. Aldus PageMaker. It ran rings around the same Windows version.
I was a big OS/2 bigot. The biggest design bug in my book with the single input message queue. I gather they didn't feally fix that properly because of some backwards compatibility concerns. One messed up app would look to lock up the machine and the later work-around fixes just didn't cut it...
The registration process gives you instructions on getting 911 configured on your account. It was one of the first things I did when I got my VOIP installed. If someone dials 911 on my VOIP line it will go to my local general emergency services number. It won't get a "no 911 available" message. There is no excuse for whoever ordered the line to not have done that.
Based on my limited research on the subject earlier, the issue SHOULD be why Vonage is denied access to the 911 network. It isn't as is they don't want to provide it.
I have used and learned many new technologies over that time. Besides that, I have gained a lot of non-IT knowledge in those industries. I know of a number of other people who eventually tired of programming and IT in general and moved into the business side of the industry they were doing IT work in. It can be a very easy move as having an IT background can be a valuable asset over and above the business knowledge aquired.
It was originally a 70mm film. The "normal" scenes were displayed in a regular, smaller size while the scenes shown from a point of view of wearing the the device were shown full screen. I haven't seen that mentioned anywhere since seeing it in the theater when it was originally released...