I fixed up a users computer who demanded an upgrade by defragging, removing unnecessary startup apps, and putting a pIII faceplate on the tower. He thanked me for months for the "new pc."
No objective data here, but I firmly believe most users won't know the difference.
I can tell what processor and clock from how fast SETI runs, but most users can't. And don't run SETI.
If my electronics were 10% more efficient I would save at least 5% on my power bill.
Gas everything, I do laundry rarely using an efficient front-loader, my fridge barely gets opened.
I have between 5 and 10 computers running usually, plus an unholy number of other electronic devices. Heck, I've thought about combining my wall-warts with a homemade DC distribution rig (maybe combined with battery backup and solar assist) just because I have 30 or more wall warts plugged in usually. When I need an outlet I struggle through the nest until I find an unused wall transformer
Your point is true for the typical American house, but we're talking on Slashdot.
Watching the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News fight then sorta merge (while remaining separate, long story) I noticed how important comics are. There are readers who switch newspapers and whine loudly when a single frickin comic (which I invariably don't even like) changes papers.
Comics are about as popular in our lunchroom as sports or the main section, and my first impression of both papers was based on which comics they had.
I often feel like a fool after reading the comics and not being amused even once, but I still read it every time I come across the paper.
I hear you about not wanting to screw up your credit.
Medical bills are bankruptcy-proof and will stick around for life (just like student loans)
It sounds like you've researched what is available, but please (if you haven't) double check for yourself. There are often unadvertised programs based on income. As a student I am sure you qualify for most of these.
It is frustrating that in so many parts of the country so many people have no healthcare and wind up in ER, with an unpayable bill 10X or more what earlier care would have cost.
Here in Denver there is fairly good gov't-paid healthcare.
When I was laid off during the tech bust I went to Denver General and had fair-to-good care for a $5/visit $5/prescription charge. When I took a low-paying job my copays went up to $20. Now that I'm back at a high-paying job I don't qualify for anything but rack-rate, but I can afford health insurance.
Works pretty well, based solely on income. I know not everywhere has such things, but I'm consistently surprised by students & low-income friends who don't know about it.
I don't know what to make of your immigrant comment, I'm not aware of any programs that are only open to immigrants. Our hospital spends a lot of money on emergency-room care that is never paid for, and a lot of this is immigrants.
I guess I'm just not used to a situation where they can't buy the "problem" outright or spend a few billion developing an oddly similar solution.
I like seeing MS not get what they want, but I feel lots better when it is Google, HP, or Sun. If Big Oil or Pharma were dishing it out I'd feel similarly conflicted.
Now I'm rooting for a 4-way deathmatch between **IA, MS, Big Oil, and Big Pharma.
I know! Software for DRM on genetically-engineered nanobots vat-raised to extract crude oil!
I have an older off-brand dvd player that locks up if you try to do a "not allowed" function.
If I press menu or ff during the FBI warning, it displays an anti-symbol and will not accept any further keypresses. Or front-panel buttons. Even power. I actually have to UNPLUG the mofo (which resets everything)
The sole merchant I've seen enforce this policy is the US Postal Service.
They must have been audited or something because for several months they had large posters explaining the policy.
They state that "SEE ID" is not acceptable. A helpful clerk told me to rub "SEE ID" off my card and sign it. I showed him my ID and he accepted the transaction. When I asked about this he told me it was Visa/MC policy not USPS policy.
In the late 70s I bought a Magnavox Odyssey at a garage sale for $1
It had colored sheets to tape (!) to your TV to play different games. It didn't come with all the cards, but as far as I could tell it didn't have many features.
We'd play pong with manual scoring, roulette where you twiddle the dials and argue over which color the dot was on.
When a Perkin-Elmer part is needed (say a 3vdc motor - less than a buck) their price is generally between 100x and 1000x generic price.
We all bitch about it but there isn't really any other option for the manufacturer. They sell a few thousand Gas Chromatographs a year, worldwide. There is no economy of scale. It's not like cellphones or harddrives or whatnot where there are factories spewing hundreds of millions a year.
We are using lab equipment from the 70s, 80s, and one or two things from the 90s. Nothing newer. I don't want the manufacturers to go out of business because nobody here knows how to keep everything running and there are parts difficult to source sucb as GC injectors etc.
We definitely aren't keeping them in business buying new equipment, so when they want $400 for a $2 bit of glass it almost seems fair.
Slashdot Mirror
No objective data here, but I firmly believe most users won't know the difference.
I can tell what processor and clock from how fast SETI runs, but most users can't. And don't run SETI.
Damn corporate security policies!
Works on sneakers!
Gas everything, I do laundry rarely using an efficient front-loader, my fridge barely gets opened.
I have between 5 and 10 computers running usually, plus an unholy number of other electronic devices. Heck, I've thought about combining my wall-warts with a homemade DC distribution rig (maybe combined with battery backup and solar assist) just because I have 30 or more wall warts plugged in usually. When I need an outlet I struggle through the nest until I find an unused wall transformer
Your point is true for the typical American house, but we're talking on Slashdot.
Or Magnetbox.
There are readers who switch newspapers and whine loudly when a single frickin comic (which I invariably don't even like) changes papers.
Comics are about as popular in our lunchroom as sports or the main section, and my first impression of both papers was based on which comics they had.
I often feel like a fool after reading the comics and not being amused even once, but I still read it every time I come across the paper.
I sure don't want my music collection to become obsolete instantly if I forget to pay a bill.
I think I'll always choose portable players that will play whatever I tell them to with no fuss.
Except for its awful interface I really like my lexar mp3 player. I put in a thumbdrive with mp3s and it plays them.
I have mp3s of vinyl and cassettes that are out of print, so no device that discriminates against mp3s will ever get my money.
Medical bills are bankruptcy-proof and will stick around for life (just like student loans)
It sounds like you've researched what is available, but please (if you haven't) double check for yourself. There are often unadvertised programs based on income. As a student I am sure you qualify for most of these.
It is frustrating that in so many parts of the country so many people have no healthcare and wind up in ER, with an unpayable bill 10X or more what earlier care would have cost.
When I was laid off during the tech bust I went to Denver General and had fair-to-good care for a $5/visit $5/prescription charge. When I took a low-paying job my copays went up to $20. Now that I'm back at a high-paying job I don't qualify for anything but rack-rate, but I can afford health insurance.
Works pretty well, based solely on income. I know not everywhere has such things, but I'm consistently surprised by students & low-income friends who don't know about it.
I don't know what to make of your immigrant comment, I'm not aware of any programs that are only open to immigrants. Our hospital spends a lot of money on emergency-room care that is never paid for, and a lot of this is immigrants.
You're right that foaminess sells. It sure doesn't make sense to me.
I like seeing MS not get what they want, but I feel lots better when it is Google, HP, or Sun.
If Big Oil or Pharma were dishing it out I'd feel similarly conflicted.
Now I'm rooting for a 4-way deathmatch between **IA, MS, Big Oil, and Big Pharma.
I know! Software for DRM on genetically-engineered nanobots vat-raised to extract crude oil!
If I press menu or ff during the FBI warning, it displays an anti-symbol and will not accept any further keypresses. Or front-panel buttons. Even power. I actually have to UNPLUG the mofo (which resets everything)
Needless to say, I only did that a few times!
I'm not sure how to feel about this situation.
Always seemed interesting that the experts on copy-protection didn't bother using it.
obRussiaJoke
--
What's "O.B." gum or something?
When a metal key is lost (which happens quite a bit) they have to rekey the door. Expensive.
When a criminal/cheapskate makes a copy of a metal key, nobody knows. Dangerous.
With the cards, you can make a copy of a card but it will only work until they reset the door. When you check out.
If you don't check out on time, your key stops working.
So, the cards are more secure and cheaper than metal keys.
I do get a nostalgic rush when given a "real" key though. The "Dude Rancher" in billings, montana gave me a metal key and I loved that place.
The brandin' iron design carpet might have had something to do with that though!
Kinda fun film.
Nobody seems to care much.
http://www.ci.boulder.co.us/openspace/nature/pdog_ plague.htm
Maybe I could sell prairie dogs on ebay to dim terrorists, been looking to supplement my income.
They must have been audited or something because for several months they had large posters explaining the policy.
They state that "SEE ID" is not acceptable. A helpful clerk told me to rub "SEE ID" off my card and sign it. I showed him my ID and he accepted the transaction. When I asked about this he told me it was Visa/MC policy not USPS policy.
This is not likely to be any easier for science
Proving once again that involving corporations in any way, shape, or form is the surest way to fail it.
Bacteria used to convert grain to plastic
I will take the bus or maybe just push against a wall VERY hard.
It had colored sheets to tape (!) to your TV to play different games. It didn't come with all the cards, but as far as I could tell it didn't have many features.
We'd play pong with manual scoring, roulette where you twiddle the dials and argue over which color the dot was on.
Amazingly enough, I look back fondly on this.
I'm not going to look for an emulator though.
...
OK, Here
When a Perkin-Elmer part is needed (say a 3vdc motor - less than a buck) their price is generally between 100x and 1000x generic price.
We all bitch about it but there isn't really any other option for the manufacturer. They sell a few thousand Gas Chromatographs a year, worldwide. There is no economy of scale. It's not like cellphones or harddrives or whatnot where there are factories spewing hundreds of millions a year.
We are using lab equipment from the 70s, 80s, and one or two things from the 90s. Nothing newer. I don't want the manufacturers to go out of business because nobody here knows how to keep everything running and there are parts difficult to source sucb as GC injectors etc.
We definitely aren't keeping them in business buying new equipment, so when they want $400 for a $2 bit of glass it almost seems fair.
It is very different from the consumer market.