After playing with a few office supplies, I've found 2" to be pretty much undistorted (high grade 3M tape). I can't find anything bigger than 2", but I'm guessing the manufacturer is an even bigger factor than the size of the roll. Depending on what dyes they use and so forth. Note that in the article they didn't use 3M tape. I'm not sure this was due to advanced research on clarity or if it's just what they had in their cubicles. I can see 3M jumping on this and making a lower distortion tape so you could have up to a 5" roll (or larger). Using the volume of a cylinder, we see that:
capacity == pi * (r^2) * h
assuming the roll is standard (or roughly standard) 2" wide and 7" in diameter, (2" tape and 3" center)
(pi * (13^2) * 2) - (18 * pi) == (320 * pi), or 4 times the data area. A 5" roll would give you 40 GB.
That's a breakthrough IMHO because your materials cost goes up about 2 dollars per drive for a larger roll of tape, using the same hologram/laser assembly. You could also look into getting a 10" wide, 5" deep roll of tape and extending the mirror assembly, again probably about $10 additional hardware cost for several hundred GB of storage capacity.
(pi * (13^2) * 10) - (90* pi) == (1600 * pi), or 200 GB storage space. Yes, I realize that these numbers aren't truly accurate but they're somewhat close.
Factor in the cost of designing a lower distortion tape, and you're looking at the difference between a 10 GB drive and a 200 GB drive to be about $30/drive. If someone working in the R&D area at 3M is reading this, I suggest looking into a lower distortion tape. You may spawn a breakthrough in cheap drive manufacturing.
Re:Here's to you, Mrs. Robinson
on
Database Nation
·
· Score: 1
The ONLY database written completely in Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme.:-)
Being a linux guru for a few years now, I realize that as good as the OS is, it has its shortcomings as a mass-desktop solution. I have done some studies on our software where I work and I've discovered that yes, we could in theory switch all of our 500 desktops over to linux. I'd love to see that, personally. The first problem with doing something like this is support. We have people who are literally DUMB. Not Computer Illeterate, but really, honestly dumb. I would be afraid to put a linux desktop in front of them. Also, being the only technician who understands linux, I'd almost be on my own. No vendor support, very little support from our staff. Can linux survive in an enterprise environment? Absolutely. It comes down to a lack of trained technicians to support it that makes it a bit unrealistic at this point. My hopes are that someday this will change.
And privacy isn't a techie issue? Just because you've had a bad childhood experience doesn't mean that you need to cry about something that's relevant to the nerd community. Also, JonKatz had nothing to do with the posting of this story. Grow up.
As a system admin I can agree that possession of hacking tools can't POSSIBLY be a punishable offense. My computer at work has port scanners, password crackers, etc because my job requires it. If I hack into my own system using common script kiddie tools, that means I have security issues. Am I breaking the law by scanning my system for vulnerable ports that either need to be disabled or TCP_wrapped? Am I breaking the law by trying to recover someone's Wordperfect file that they password locked and forgot the password?
These are my job tools, it's that simple. These are my hammer, brushes, tape measure, etc of my computer job. According to Hopkins Police I'm now a criminal because I posess these tools and I use them regularly on my company's network. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to stab somebody with my pen. Evidently that's legal.
I agree whole-heartedly that IE5 is in every aspect superior to Netscape Communicator. I just don't like IE5 putting its fingers in places it shouldn't be.. like on my server!!! In terms of a latest and greatest web integration tool, IE5 beats Netscape. I use Netscape only for the fact that I install a browser, and I get a browser. Not a "whole new computing experience".
More or less, yes. More crap, more bugs, less browser IMHO. I'm still running 3.04 Gold as my default browser, I find it to be the most functional with the least amount of bugs. Nav 4.07 is decent but the whole Communicator series killed Netscape for me. Mozilla is in Alpha, go open source:-)
I don't remember where I found this link, it may have been posted on/. awhile back. I personally have struggled with this since I got my laptop. Whenever I go on extended out of town stayover I need internet access. The solution?
It's one of those freebie ISPs where you need to click a banner ever 15 minutes or something but they have a HUGE supply of access numbers in every state. It's COMPLETELY free. No calls to AOL to attempt to cancel, no AOL adapters to remove when you get home so you can use your normal ISP, none of that. Just an honest to goodness free ISP. God bless America:-)
"How can one make a 'Red Hat with Fixes' w/o seeing the latest Red Hat?"
Well, you need to realize that Mandrake version numbers != RH version numbers. Mandrake 6.5 was RH 6.0. Mandrake 7.0, just recently released, is RH 6.1. I'm more apt to run Mandrake just because by downloading the ISO is saves me time trying to download all those cool gadgets that I wanted anyway, like the latest RPM of XCDRoast.
I still have not downloaded Mandrake 7, but I'm curious to see it. I was ticked at RH 6.1 mainly because they took away fdisk from the installer. I'm originally of the RH 4 clan and Ilike my command line fdisk over disk druid!!
Microsoft will never make linux. If they get split up, they may port Office and IE and their app line to linux (personally, I'd LOVE to have VB for linux) but they can't make money off linux. No one is going to fork over $200 to Microsoft for support when they can ask a LUG and get better answers.
Yes, I agree that the/. effect is UoS rather than DoS. What's the difference really? There was a story posted here recently about a LEGO machine gun and now when you go to the site you get a cute little message that the site is out of service due to the/. effect. Excessive UoS becomes DoS because eventually the pipe gets so clogged that no one can get through. So in a sense they are they same problem. More packets in the stream than the pipeline can handle.
I've been following the PDA trail recently because I, like most nerds, want toys that I don't really need but if it runs linux I probably have a use for it. The Itsy is no exception. This follows an article recently posted to/. about new uses for portable devices. Things I would like to see include color LCD screens, speech recognition, large flash chips for holding digital audio (and maybe even video), a headphone jack, and possibly a GPS receiver. If I can have a small device that not only plays tetris but can record audio and video as well as play MP3s and tell me where I am, I would be a happy camper. I truly believe that the Itsy is going to take me there.
Multiple bricks in a machine gun-like configuration==total family fun
I have a legitimate use for this
on
Lego Machine Gun
·
· Score: 3
I, as a nerd, am somewhat lazy at times. I also like things that when misused turn into interesting toys. And I like PEZ. The solution? A PEZ cannon. I've been working on the concept for a few months now, and finally I have the solution. Using Mindstorms, I connect my PEZ cannon to my PC at work. Need a PEZ? How about thirty? No problem!! And with a simple keystroke (perhaps Ctrl-Alt-P) a predefined number of PEZ come screaming at my face. It's all ingenious, don't you think?
First of all, the whole idea of "wasting taxpayer money for unrelated activities" is old and unsubstantiated. The cost of wiring dorms for internet access is the same whether you're researching or downloading p0rn. The act of monitoring requires extra software and extra staff. Our e-mail system here at work is tax funded, and we KNOW that at least 30-40% is non-work related. The cost of hiring two full-time techs to monitor every transaction far outweighs the tax money lost by sending unrelated e-mail. The same principle applies to dorm internet access. It's just not worth it. People are responsible for their actions, and whether they're researching or whether they're e-mailing bomb threats it's not the university's problem.
I find it interesting that she can even compare today's dorms to the 1950s. Back then people weren't in need of computers. Going to school now almost requires having full-time computer access, especially in the dorms. If McGrath wants dorms from the 50s, the school has to follow suit. This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard.
I agree that this does sound informative... at least comment it informative. I also have to wonder that if this special coating is recyclable, is it biodegradable or something?? Sounds to me like soap and water should etch the stuff right off if it's recyclable.
You have to remember that when you buy DVDs that you're not just buying a plastic disc, you're buying a license. a DVD is just a computer program, and a player is just a specialized computer. The "software" on the DVD is a copyrighted production, and by buying the disc you're paying the license fee to own and view the software. The actual cost of the disc is probably around $1 at most, even cheaper in bulk. By selling a $3 expiring DVD, you're buying a $1 disc and paying $2 for packaging, distribution, and a 1-time license for viewing. The difference between the destructing DVD and a normal one is just that a "multi-user" license costs more.
A self-destructing DVD is just dumb. At least when I rent a DVD I know it will work until I take it back. And of course I end up with a bunch of mulit-colored coasters in the end. Just what we need, more trash. More company for the pile of AOL CDs I guess.
You have to remember that when you buy DVDs that you're not just buying a plastic disc, you're buying a license. a DVD is just a computer program, and a player is just a specialized computer. The "software" on the DVD is a copyrighted production, and by buying the disc you're paying the license fee to own and view the software. The actual cost of the disc is probably around $1 at most, even cheaper in bulk. By seeling a $3 expiring DVD, you're buying a $1 disc and paying $2 for packaging, distribution, and a 1-time license for viewing. The difference between the destructing DVD and a normal one is just that a "multi-user" license costs more.
I just filled out the application. A little long, a few things in there that probably don't need to be, but that's what I'd expect from Corel. I like the fact that mainstream apps are going linux but I have one question: WHERE THE HECK IS ADOBE???? Adobe's going to start losing market share to Corel since CorelDraw is nearly identical to Photoshop in every aspect. I'd rather stay with Adobe just because between Illistrator, Photoshop, Premier, and Acrobat they're excelling in the graphics and document corner of the market. If Adobe doesn't get moving soon CorelDraw will become the next "Photoshop for linux".
I learned some java in college, and I was somewhat impressed with the language in general. It appears to be very versatile (much like C++) and the whole idea of JIT compiling brings a new dimension to portability. I found a version of Napster on www.download.com that was written in Java but I haven't compiled it yet. What performance benefits are there in Java versus C++ or Perl??
Somehow I don't think I want @home service. Misconfiguration? Security holes? Yes, I'd like to put my NT server with all my corporate information onto @home's network. Better yet, I'll give you the keys to my house while I'm at it.
Corel linux aside, this is where Corel steps in. We've been running Wordperfect since version 4.0. Wordperfect 2000 outperforms Word in a second. We've been using Lotus since ver 2.3, but are considering switching to Quattro just for the compatibility thing with WP. As an IS tech I know the joys of working with outside vendors who use only MS Office. A struggle, yes. But it's worth the fight. Keep all your versions up to date and you can conquer Microsoft.
Actually, the linux OS would probably be free bundled with a PC. If the PC's come loaded with RedHat or Mandrake they'll probably include the manual, install CD, probably that app CD that comes with RedHat, and maybe even the bumper sticker. Since the newer versions of Red Hat have IRC clients, Netscape, X11Amp, and all those goodies you are essentially getting all the same stuff for free. Adding StarOfiice to the mix adds an interesting point. The average consumer sees Windows, Office, Encarta, and all the other addons as "freebies" from the computer manufacturer. Of course, the cost for these is probably in the $100-200 range but the consumer doesn't see that. Most consumers however will understand Microsoft products and may even choose the Microsoft PC just because they're familiar. I like the idea of having a choice when buying a PC, especially if the linux PC is less.
I find it interesting that the DOJ supposedly "denies" it, yet the only site that reports this is MSNBC. Is there any other source to back up this claim?
Slashdot Mirror
After playing with a few office supplies, I've found 2" to be pretty much undistorted (high grade 3M tape). I can't find anything bigger than 2", but I'm guessing the manufacturer is an even bigger factor than the size of the roll. Depending on what dyes they use and so forth. Note that in the article they didn't use 3M tape. I'm not sure this was due to advanced research on clarity or if it's just what they had in their cubicles. I can see 3M jumping on this and making a lower distortion tape so you could have up to a 5" roll (or larger). Using the volume of a cylinder, we see that:
capacity == pi * (r^2) * h
assuming the roll is standard (or roughly standard) 2" wide and 7" in diameter, (2" tape and 3" center)
10 GB == (pi * (7^2) * 2) - (pi * (3^2) *2)
or (98 * pi) - (18 * pi) == (80 * pi) == 10GB
(pi * (13^2) * 2) - (18 * pi) == (320 * pi), or 4 times the data area. A 5" roll would give you 40 GB.
That's a breakthrough IMHO because your materials cost goes up about 2 dollars per drive for a larger roll of tape, using the same hologram/laser assembly. You could also look into getting a 10" wide, 5" deep roll of tape and extending the mirror assembly, again probably about $10 additional hardware cost for several hundred GB of storage capacity.
(pi * (13^2) * 10) - (90* pi) == (1600 * pi), or 200 GB storage space. Yes, I realize that these numbers aren't truly accurate but they're somewhat close.
Factor in the cost of designing a lower distortion tape, and you're looking at the difference between a 10 GB drive and a 200 GB drive to be about $30/drive. If someone working in the R&D area at 3M is reading this, I suggest looking into a lower distortion tape. You may spawn a breakthrough in cheap drive manufacturing.
The ONLY database written completely in Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme. :-)
Being a linux guru for a few years now, I realize that as good as the OS is, it has its shortcomings as a mass-desktop solution. I have done some studies on our software where I work and I've discovered that yes, we could in theory switch all of our 500 desktops over to linux. I'd love to see that, personally. The first problem with doing something like this is support. We have people who are literally DUMB. Not Computer Illeterate, but really, honestly dumb. I would be afraid to put a linux desktop in front of them. Also, being the only technician who understands linux, I'd almost be on my own. No vendor support, very little support from our staff. Can linux survive in an enterprise environment? Absolutely. It comes down to a lack of trained technicians to support it that makes it a bit unrealistic at this point. My hopes are that someday this will change.
And privacy isn't a techie issue? Just because you've had a bad childhood experience doesn't mean that you need to cry about something that's relevant to the nerd community. Also, JonKatz had nothing to do with the posting of this story. Grow up.
As a system admin I can agree that possession of hacking tools can't POSSIBLY be a punishable offense. My computer at work has port scanners, password crackers, etc because my job requires it. If I hack into my own system using common script kiddie tools, that means I have security issues. Am I breaking the law by scanning my system for vulnerable ports that either need to be disabled or TCP_wrapped? Am I breaking the law by trying to recover someone's Wordperfect file that they password locked and forgot the password?
These are my job tools, it's that simple. These are my hammer, brushes, tape measure, etc of my computer job. According to Hopkins Police I'm now a criminal because I posess these tools and I use them regularly on my company's network. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to stab somebody with my pen. Evidently that's legal.
I agree whole-heartedly that IE5 is in every aspect superior to Netscape Communicator. I just don't like IE5 putting its fingers in places it shouldn't be.. like on my server!!! In terms of a latest and greatest web integration tool, IE5 beats Netscape. I use Netscape only for the fact that I install a browser, and I get a browser. Not a "whole new computing experience".
More or less, yes. More crap, more bugs, less browser IMHO. I'm still running 3.04 Gold as my default browser, I find it to be the most functional with the least amount of bugs. Nav 4.07 is decent but the whole Communicator series killed Netscape for me. Mozilla is in Alpha, go open source :-)
I don't remember where I found this link, it may have been posted on /. awhile back. I personally have struggled with this since I got my laptop. Whenever I go on extended out of town stayover I need internet access. The solution?
:-)
The Simpsons ISP!
It's one of those freebie ISPs where you need to click a banner ever 15 minutes or something but they have a HUGE supply of access numbers in every state. It's COMPLETELY free. No calls to AOL to attempt to cancel, no AOL adapters to remove when you get home so you can use your normal ISP, none of that. Just an honest to goodness free ISP. God bless America
"How can one make a 'Red Hat with Fixes' w/o seeing the latest Red Hat?"
Well, you need to realize that Mandrake version numbers != RH version numbers. Mandrake 6.5 was RH 6.0. Mandrake 7.0, just recently released, is RH 6.1. I'm more apt to run Mandrake just because by downloading the ISO is saves me time trying to download all those cool gadgets that I wanted anyway, like the latest RPM of XCDRoast.
I still have not downloaded Mandrake 7, but I'm curious to see it. I was ticked at RH 6.1 mainly because they took away fdisk from the installer. I'm originally of the RH 4 clan and Ilike my command line fdisk over disk druid!!
Microsoft will never make linux. If they get split up, they may port Office and IE and their app line to linux (personally, I'd LOVE to have VB for linux) but they can't make money off linux. No one is going to fork over $200 to Microsoft for support when they can ask a LUG and get better answers.
Yes, I agree that the /. effect is UoS rather than DoS. What's the difference really? There was a story posted here recently about a LEGO machine gun and now when you go to the site you get a cute little message that the site is out of service due to the /. effect. Excessive UoS becomes DoS because eventually the pipe gets so clogged that no one can get through. So in a sense they are they same problem. More packets in the stream than the pipeline can handle.
I've been following the PDA trail recently because I, like most nerds, want toys that I don't really need but if it runs linux I probably have a use for it. The Itsy is no exception. /. about new uses for portable devices. Things I would like to see include color LCD screens, speech recognition, large flash chips for holding digital audio (and maybe even video), a headphone jack, and possibly a GPS receiver. If I can have a small device that not only plays tetris but can record audio and video as well as play MP3s and tell me where I am, I would be a happy camper. I truly believe that the Itsy is going to take me there.
This follows an article recently posted to
Single brick==LEGO
Multiple bricks==LEGOs
Multiple bricks in a machine gun-like configuration==total family fun
I, as a nerd, am somewhat lazy at times. I also like things that when misused turn into interesting toys. And I like PEZ. The solution? A PEZ cannon. I've been working on the concept for a few months now, and finally I have the solution. Using Mindstorms, I connect my PEZ cannon to my PC at work. Need a PEZ? How about thirty? No problem!! And with a simple keystroke (perhaps Ctrl-Alt-P) a predefined number of PEZ come screaming at my face. It's all ingenious, don't you think?
First of all, the whole idea of "wasting taxpayer money for unrelated activities" is old and unsubstantiated. The cost of wiring dorms for internet access is the same whether you're researching or downloading p0rn. The act of monitoring requires extra software and extra staff. Our e-mail system here at work is tax funded, and we KNOW that at least 30-40% is non-work related. The cost of hiring two full-time techs to monitor every transaction far outweighs the tax money lost by sending unrelated e-mail. The same principle applies to dorm internet access. It's just not worth it. People are responsible for their actions, and whether they're researching or whether they're e-mailing bomb threats it's not the university's problem.
I find it interesting that she can even compare today's dorms to the 1950s. Back then people weren't in need of computers. Going to school now almost requires having full-time computer access, especially in the dorms. If McGrath wants dorms from the 50s, the school has to follow suit. This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard.
I agree that this does sound informative... at least comment it informative. I also have to wonder that if this special coating is recyclable, is it biodegradable or something?? Sounds to me like soap and water should etch the stuff right off if it's recyclable.
You have to remember that when you buy DVDs that you're not just buying a plastic disc, you're buying a license. a DVD is just a computer program, and a player is just a specialized computer. The "software" on the DVD is a copyrighted production, and by buying the disc you're paying the license fee to own and view the software. The actual cost of the disc is probably around $1 at most, even cheaper in bulk. By selling a $3 expiring DVD, you're buying a $1 disc and paying $2 for packaging, distribution, and a 1-time license for viewing. The difference between the destructing DVD and a normal one is just that a "multi-user" license costs more.
A self-destructing DVD is just dumb. At least when I rent a DVD I know it will work until I take it back. And of course I end up with a bunch of mulit-colored coasters in the end. Just what we need, more trash. More company for the pile of AOL CDs I guess.
You have to remember that when you buy DVDs that you're not just buying a plastic disc, you're buying a license. a DVD is just a computer program, and a player is just a specialized computer. The "software" on the DVD is a copyrighted production, and by buying the disc you're paying the license fee to own and view the software. The actual cost of the disc is probably around $1 at most, even cheaper in bulk. By seeling a $3 expiring DVD, you're buying a $1 disc and paying $2 for packaging, distribution, and a 1-time license for viewing. The difference between the destructing DVD and a normal one is just that a "multi-user" license costs more.
I just filled out the application. A little long, a few things in there that probably don't need to be, but that's what I'd expect from Corel. I like the fact that mainstream apps are going linux but I have one question: WHERE THE HECK IS ADOBE???? Adobe's going to start losing market share to Corel since CorelDraw is nearly identical to Photoshop in every aspect. I'd rather stay with Adobe just because between Illistrator, Photoshop, Premier, and Acrobat they're excelling in the graphics and document corner of the market. If Adobe doesn't get moving soon CorelDraw will become the next "Photoshop for linux".
I learned some java in college, and I was somewhat impressed with the language in general. It appears to be very versatile (much like C++) and the whole idea of JIT compiling brings a new dimension to portability. I found a version of Napster on www.download.com that was written in Java but I haven't compiled it yet. What performance benefits are there in Java versus C++ or Perl??
Somehow I don't think I want @home service. Misconfiguration? Security holes? Yes, I'd like to put my NT server with all my corporate information onto @home's network. Better yet, I'll give you the keys to my house while I'm at it.
Actually, I believe it was Al Gore
Yes it will. That was posted to Slahdot some time ago that either linux or *BSD was ported to it. I don't remember which.
Corel linux aside, this is where Corel steps in. We've been running Wordperfect since version 4.0. Wordperfect 2000 outperforms Word in a second. We've been using Lotus since ver 2.3, but are considering switching to Quattro just for the compatibility thing with WP. As an IS tech I know the joys of working with outside vendors who use only MS Office. A struggle, yes. But it's worth the fight. Keep all your versions up to date and you can conquer Microsoft.
Actually, the linux OS would probably be free bundled with a PC. If the PC's come loaded with RedHat or Mandrake they'll probably include the manual, install CD, probably that app CD that comes with RedHat, and maybe even the bumper sticker. Since the newer versions of Red Hat have IRC clients, Netscape, X11Amp, and all those goodies you are essentially getting all the same stuff for free. Adding StarOfiice to the mix adds an interesting point. The average consumer sees Windows, Office, Encarta, and all the other addons as "freebies" from the computer manufacturer. Of course, the cost for these is probably in the $100-200 range but the consumer doesn't see that. Most consumers however will understand Microsoft products and may even choose the Microsoft PC just because they're familiar. I like the idea of having a choice when buying a PC, especially if the linux PC is less.
I find it interesting that the DOJ supposedly "denies" it, yet the only site that reports this is MSNBC. Is there any other source to back up this claim?