When I read "sig other" I didn't quite understand and went looking at your sig and everyone else's in the thread before I realized it was an abbreviation.
Both Agere and 3Com have drivers available that they've written.
I don't know the quality of either, but from what I hear, Agere's drivers are good for linux. I know they are for other operating systems.
If you have an extra linux box, adding a wireless NIC to it basically converts it into a high-end access point. Something that would cost about $1000 if purchased seperately.
WinWiFi would have the same problems as winmodems. Initial glitches, etc. and incompatibility with other operating systems.
If other hw manufacturers do it good ones like Lucent will be forced to just to keep price competitive.
Vendors make one chipset and stuff it into every wireless device they sell. Tear apart an access point or airport and see what they're using for a wireless card.
Apple, actually, sells a large amount of WiFi compatible chips. There's no way Lucent is about to give up hardware copatibility. Especially since the wireless chipsets they use in their PC cards are the exact same as those in their embedded devices (RG/APs).
This whole post deserves a +5 for the term "monkeyed countries" alone. If more slashdot comments contained the term monkeyed countries the world (or at least the slashdot corner of it) would be a better place.
Another thing that OEMs do with these types of notebooks is to comb through the system looking for gotchas. Many times the manufacturer/designer will send them a design and they will make a few tweaks to make sure the system doesn't have quality issues and make it more supportable. For example, Quanta might use 110 screws in their system with 10 different types of screws. The OEM will look for where they can get rid of screws and where those screws can be the same size. This makes the system easier for onsite technicians to take apart and put back together. If you really want to see a marvel of engineering, look at the ultralight portable systems. They manage to stuff so much into such a small packagee. The Dell Latitude C400 is a little bigger than most, but it will dock in the C series docks that all the other Latitude C series systems use.
I have a hard enough time explaining wireless networking and TCP/IP type stuff to people at my own company (which is involved in technical stuff) that I'm not going to even try explaining stuff to Bubba. Our industry is trying as fast as it can to do better and better stuff so I can forgive them for their/our products being a little confusing to the confusable.
My job consists of testing new portable systems that won't be sold for months. I get to rip them apart, use them, and just have a lot of fun. I also get to be the wired and wireless networking guy. I wouldn't want to work anywhere else.
Actually, you won't buy another Packard Bell because they're out of business. NEC bought them and then killed the name. Packard Bell was always a joke but I have to admit, they made the best first computer possible. Everyone who bought a second computer knew exactly what they wanted: Anything as long as it's not a Packard Bell.
The command was probably scanreg/restore or something like that. It means that if the problem went away and then came back that you were probably reinstalling a piece of software that was actually causing the problem.
Computer companies can't really afford to hire a bunch of people who could actually figure out the problem and fix it, so they train stuff that takes care of all the big hitters and cross their fingers and hope the third-party program that probably caused your problem doesn't get reinstalled. Also, when they ask what you've installed do you tell them every single application? Do you fess up about the warezed copy of Photoshop? Do you admit that you tried to install Oilchange or some such shit and that it failed? Probably not.
That's funny because I couldn't place him. I kept trying to figure it out and it was driving me crazy! Now that you mention who he is, though, it's obvious.
Luckily enough, I don't have the preconcieved notions you came in with. I haven't read any of the books. If the movie manages to get the plot across, though, it would serve as a great introduction to the books which are really a better medium for symbolism, languages, fine details, etc. I think the movie was just great and as soon as I see the final of the three I'll go back and read all the books a few times to get the full experience.
There are countries that put much more emphasis than we do on the noise level of their computers. Japan especially is sensitive to the noise their systems make.
Other than that, though, they're more efficient. Isn't that reason enough?
In every support type organizaion (rather it is grassroots or corporate there are different levels of people:
There are the people who are just learning themselves. They usually give wrong answers and learn as they go. If they're smart, they learn quickly and move up. If they aren't, they keep giving those wrong answers.
There are the people who know quite a bit but haven't lost touch with the part of them that didn't know anything at one time. They give great answers and are willing to learn as they go also. They are in danger of becoming the next type of person.
There are the people who know a whole lot but have lost touch with the beginners. They forgot how to leave the land of the tech gods and enter basicland to talk to the little people. They say things like "Yeah, just release and renew the IP address and see if the DNS server is set right". These people are easily frustrated and frustrate those around them.
There are the people who know a lot (a whole lot) and remember or have retaught themselves to talk to the denizens of basicland in their language. They RTFM and understand it and are willing to explain it in simple monosyballic words to the luddites. They are universally loved and adored by all.
I know by experience that I am one of the last class. It's my job to be. I wrote the Gedit help file a while back just because it's what I can do. When one of the techs at my company says a customer can't get on the internet I tell them step-by-step what to do rather than present large overviews of the process. This is a skill that we all should try to learn.
I personally hope the '74 Nova isn't on the list because that's the exact make and model of my car. They'll have to use the EMP gun on me because the only computer in my car is my laptop! Seriously, though, the best cars to hack are older ones. There's nothing like a built Chevy 350, a 4-barrel carb, shaved door handles, no catalytic converter, etc. (or course, this isn't exactly describing my car, but it's not completely impossible.
Slashdot Mirror
When I read "sig other" I didn't quite understand and went looking at your sig and everyone else's in the thread before I realized it was an abbreviation.
Living in a Faraday cage can lower your wireless range. Just knock holes in the walls and build a bunch of Windows from room to room. ;-)
Both Agere and 3Com have drivers available that they've written.
I don't know the quality of either, but from what I hear, Agere's drivers are good for linux. I know they are for other operating systems.
You forgot to mention Mini-PCI cards which are about the size of a processor.
If you have an extra linux box, adding a wireless NIC to it basically converts it into a high-end access point. Something that would cost about $1000 if purchased seperately.
Apple, actually, sells a large amount of WiFi compatible chips. There's no way Lucent is about to give up hardware copatibility. Especially since the wireless chipsets they use in their PC cards are the exact same as those in their embedded devices (RG/APs).
This whole post deserves a +5 for the term "monkeyed countries" alone.
If more slashdot comments contained the term monkeyed countries the world (or at least the slashdot corner of it) would be a better place.
Another thing that OEMs do with these types of notebooks is to comb through the system looking for gotchas. Many times the manufacturer/designer will send them a design and they will make a few tweaks to make sure the system doesn't have quality issues and make it more supportable.
For example, Quanta might use 110 screws in their system with 10 different types of screws. The OEM will look for where they can get rid of screws and where those screws can be the same size. This makes the system easier for onsite technicians to take apart and put back together.
If you really want to see a marvel of engineering, look at the ultralight portable systems. They manage to stuff so much into such a small packagee. The Dell Latitude C400 is a little bigger than most, but it will dock in the C series docks that all the other Latitude C series systems use.
I have a hard enough time explaining wireless networking and TCP/IP type stuff to people at my own company (which is involved in technical stuff) that I'm not going to even try explaining stuff to Bubba. Our industry is trying as fast as it can to do better and better stuff so I can forgive them for their/our products being a little confusing to the confusable.
Mine are now saying "Donkey punch the monkey" since I performed that search.
Examples here
My job consists of testing new portable systems that won't be sold for months. I get to rip them apart, use them, and just have a lot of fun. I also get to be the wired and wireless networking guy. I wouldn't want to work anywhere else.
Actually, you won't buy another Packard Bell because they're out of business. NEC bought them and then killed the name. Packard Bell was always a joke but I have to admit, they made the best first computer possible. Everyone who bought a second computer knew exactly what they wanted:
Anything as long as it's not a Packard Bell.
The command was probably scanreg /restore or something like that. It means that if the problem went away and then came back that you were probably reinstalling a piece of software that was actually causing the problem.
Computer companies can't really afford to hire a bunch of people who could actually figure out the problem and fix it, so they train stuff that takes care of all the big hitters and cross their fingers and hope the third-party program that probably caused your problem doesn't get reinstalled.
Also, when they ask what you've installed do you tell them every single application? Do you fess up about the warezed copy of Photoshop? Do you admit that you tried to install Oilchange or some such shit and that it failed? Probably not.
Think of it this way: Outlook is to Outlook Express as Microsoft Office is to Microsoft Works.
This may be on the SAT so be ready for it.
You wish what might be the case?
Maybe there's a reason for the unwritten rule against posting. Taco, maybe you ought to draw a picture next time. You seem at least passable at that.
Actually, he's saying that authors don't post comments but once in a blue moon.
That's funny because I couldn't place him. I kept trying to figure it out and it was driving me crazy! Now that you mention who he is, though, it's obvious.
Luckily enough, I don't have the preconcieved notions you came in with. I haven't read any of the books. If the movie manages to get the plot across, though, it would serve as a great introduction to the books which are really a better medium for symbolism, languages, fine details, etc. I think the movie was just great and as soon as I see the final of the three I'll go back and read all the books a few times to get the full experience.
There are countries that put much more emphasis than we do on the noise level of their computers. Japan especially is sensitive to the noise their systems make.
Other than that, though, they're more efficient. Isn't that reason enough?
I know by experience that I am one of the last class. It's my job to be. I wrote the Gedit help file a while back just because it's what I can do. When one of the techs at my company says a customer can't get on the internet I tell them step-by-step what to do rather than present large overviews of the process. This is a skill that we all should try to learn.
I have that CD and recognized the car right away. Funnily enough, I was just wondering what kind of car that was the other day.
I personally hope the '74 Nova isn't on the list because that's the exact make and model of my car. They'll have to use the EMP gun on me because the only computer in my car is my laptop!
Seriously, though, the best cars to hack are older ones. There's nothing like a built Chevy 350, a 4-barrel carb, shaved door handles, no catalytic converter, etc. (or course, this isn't exactly describing my car, but it's not completely impossible.