Fair enough. For a number of years I've had to work with a client who uses Direcway, and let me tell you, latency is ridiculous when you're using satellites in geosync orbit. While I think this is a step in the right direction, some sort of protocol is going to need to be bolted on to TCP/IP when it's used in space so physical distance is taken into account more then logical network difference (every mile counts when you're talking 200,000+ miles via space, fiber etc. end to end).
Excellent point, and definitely a problem that still needs to be solved. Let me share what happened today. My Thinkpad (which has served me faithfully for 4 years) died today. The video card went, so I still have my data, but no PC. Luckily, since I've moved everything to Gmail, I simply grabbed a desktop from my basement, booted Knoppix, and was up and working again in 15 minutes. Now of course, Gmail isn't the only app I use, but I have moved as much as possible to web applications, and as this event today has shown me, it was extremely useful.
I guess that's the main problem. I shouldn't need to write complex config files for it to work. I would even PAY to have someone write a web interface similar to Keynote's Red Alert. I simply want to specify the host to monitor, the services to monitor, who to page when something breaks, and be done with it.
Ok, let's not go with anecdotes and instead go with statistics. We manage roughly 5500-5800 servers at any one time. I belive if I recall correctly we've only had a fan fail once over the course of 6 years.
As long as the heat is being dissipated properly, you can run the processor damn near close to %100 without casing wear and tear. It's solid state. It's not a drive spinning, it has no moving parts. It's just taking electricty, doing some work, and then dumping out a bunch of heat. There is no "wear and tear" as your example describes.
Assuming that a fair amount of people purchasing these are kids with well-to-do parents (not many underprivileged youth are going to be shelling out $600 + cost of games for a console), their parents are the ones paying the power bill and so would have little incentive not to keep it running 24/7 if it got them free downloads. I think Sony just stumbled their way onto a great idea.
Several different providers (.Mac, Google, etc) already do a majority of the heavy lifting, we just need to write a fairly hefty extension for Firefox to make up the difference (offline Google Docs, Mail, etc), and run the whole thing on a Knoppix disc/USB key. =)
I think in short order you'll see a device like this. It'll run Firefox (or some standard rendering engine), grab a DHCP address when plugged into a network, and have a couple of USB ports (keyboard, mouse, USB keydrive). While this won't cut it for power users, it will for your Grandmother who wants to check email (Gmail), look at pics of the grandkids (Flickr), and check her retirement account (pick your firm here). No fuss, no muss.
True. But those of us who are extremely mobile and on the run all the time can sacrifice ease of attachments and deleting for webmail. I forward all of my email to my Gmail account. It's a fantastic interface (makes me productive), it's quick (I've never seen it slugish), it's portable, and it's encrypted for when I'm on unsecure connections (https://mail.google.com). Did I mention it's free?
Just as the time came when everyone went from centralized servers to desktops, the time is coming where everything will move back to centralized servers.
Most missles don't use GPS for navigation (some of the newer ones do, but most don't). They use radar and topographic maps, as they have to assume that GPS in the area is unavailable. The missle hugs the ground to avoid anti-aircraft radar/artillery while using it's own radar to guide itself to it's destination.
Assuming it is using GPS for guidance, any military-grade receiver worth it's salt will detect bad timing data and signal that the data it's receiving is bad. It'll then switch to using inertial guidance (or some other sort of navigation system not dependent on outside sources).
Unfortunately, I did not get to see the buffalo herd, as this seminar was in the evening. My feeling always was that Fermilab and the associated research there was always valuable but underfunded. Hopefully someone will wake up and move some more money your way.
Honestly, it wouldn't be extremely difficult to patch. I present as evidence the extensive software modifications/upgrades/fixes uploaded and successfully put into place on both Mars rovers that continue to run, despite their shelf life being mere months.
I'm quite jealous that you work at Fermilab, simply due to the design of the large office space there =) I was there a couple of weeks ago for an FAA safety meeting for pilots, and it was the first time I got to visit Fermilab. I fell in love with the atrium area.
Because it's a bitch to meet US clean diesel low-sulfur standards while also cramming hybrid technology into the same chassis. I doubt the Prius would still get the SULEV (super ultra low emmision vehicle) rating with a diesel engine vs. a gas engine.
That noise you're hearing is the phone being commanded by the cell tower to increase it's transmission power to establish a call. Which phones this happens to depands on their maximum transmit power.
You've clearly stated that you're using it as a primary connection method for your home. While I feel for you (I had to use DirecWAY for quite a bit in the boonies), keep in mind that VZW's TOS states they can boot you for using it as a replacement for a wire connection (T1, cable, etc). Even using it as a backup to a landline circuit is prohibited. Network Nazis? Yes. But it's their network, and until 4G comes out, I can understand their position.
I think tht if Google knows everything about me and makes it extremely efficient for me to find the services and products I want, without forcing me to do so, that's pretty far from evil. As always, Evil is subjective.
Creating hydrogen from solar or natual gas is energy intensive. There's a higher efficiency from converting sunlight into crops into biodiesel/ethanol (depending on the crop).
How much CO2 does nuclear power put out? Not that much. And the waste can be dealt with safely. Is it a perfect solution? Not at all, but it's better then dumping hundreds of tons of CO2 in the atmosphere on a daily basis.
Slashdot Mirror
Fair enough. For a number of years I've had to work with a client who uses Direcway, and let me tell you, latency is ridiculous when you're using satellites in geosync orbit. While I think this is a step in the right direction, some sort of protocol is going to need to be bolted on to TCP/IP when it's used in space so physical distance is taken into account more then logical network difference (every mile counts when you're talking 200,000+ miles via space, fiber etc. end to end).
Your mileage may vary.
He's using them to prop a rack up I bet =)
I guess that's the main problem. I shouldn't need to write complex config files for it to work. I would even PAY to have someone write a web interface similar to Keynote's Red Alert. I simply want to specify the host to monitor, the services to monitor, who to page when something breaks, and be done with it.
Ok, let's not go with anecdotes and instead go with statistics. We manage roughly 5500-5800 servers at any one time. I belive if I recall correctly we've only had a fan fail once over the course of 6 years.
At my day job (Web Hosting), I have several severs with uptimes past the 1500 day mark. These fans haven't died yet =)
As long as the heat is being dissipated properly, you can run the processor damn near close to %100 without casing wear and tear. It's solid state. It's not a drive spinning, it has no moving parts. It's just taking electricty, doing some work, and then dumping out a bunch of heat. There is no "wear and tear" as your example describes.
Assuming that a fair amount of people purchasing these are kids with well-to-do parents (not many underprivileged youth are going to be shelling out $600 + cost of games for a console), their parents are the ones paying the power bill and so would have little incentive not to keep it running 24/7 if it got them free downloads. I think Sony just stumbled their way onto a great idea.
Or they could, ya know, just bone you and throttle your connection to some speed that doesn't cause them any problems. Did someone not read their TOS?
Several different providers (.Mac, Google, etc) already do a majority of the heavy lifting, we just need to write a fairly hefty extension for Firefox to make up the difference (offline Google Docs, Mail, etc), and run the whole thing on a Knoppix disc/USB key. =)
PATENT PENDING!
I kid, I kid
What you're describing is Roaming Profiles in Windows. It works.....sort of.
I think in short order you'll see a device like this. It'll run Firefox (or some standard rendering engine), grab a DHCP address when plugged into a network, and have a couple of USB ports (keyboard, mouse, USB keydrive). While this won't cut it for power users, it will for your Grandmother who wants to check email (Gmail), look at pics of the grandkids (Flickr), and check her retirement account (pick your firm here). No fuss, no muss.
Just as the time came when everyone went from centralized servers to desktops, the time is coming where everything will move back to centralized servers.
Assuming it is using GPS for guidance, any military-grade receiver worth it's salt will detect bad timing data and signal that the data it's receiving is bad. It'll then switch to using inertial guidance (or some other sort of navigation system not dependent on outside sources).
Unfortunately, I did not get to see the buffalo herd, as this seminar was in the evening. My feeling always was that Fermilab and the associated research there was always valuable but underfunded. Hopefully someone will wake up and move some more money your way.
Honestly, it wouldn't be extremely difficult to patch. I present as evidence the extensive software modifications/upgrades/fixes uploaded and successfully put into place on both Mars rovers that continue to run, despite their shelf life being mere months.
I'm quite jealous that you work at Fermilab, simply due to the design of the large office space there =) I was there a couple of weeks ago for an FAA safety meeting for pilots, and it was the first time I got to visit Fermilab. I fell in love with the atrium area.
Because it's a bitch to meet US clean diesel low-sulfur standards while also cramming hybrid technology into the same chassis. I doubt the Prius would still get the SULEV (super ultra low emmision vehicle) rating with a diesel engine vs. a gas engine.
That noise you're hearing is the phone being commanded by the cell tower to increase it's transmission power to establish a call. Which phones this happens to depands on their maximum transmit power.
Speed is comparable. They're not saying replace your DSL with this.
You've clearly stated that you're using it as a primary connection method for your home. While I feel for you (I had to use DirecWAY for quite a bit in the boonies), keep in mind that VZW's TOS states they can boot you for using it as a replacement for a wire connection (T1, cable, etc). Even using it as a backup to a landline circuit is prohibited. Network Nazis? Yes. But it's their network, and until 4G comes out, I can understand their position.
I think tht if Google knows everything about me and makes it extremely efficient for me to find the services and products I want, without forcing me to do so, that's pretty far from evil. As always, Evil is subjective.
Creating hydrogen from solar or natual gas is energy intensive. There's a higher efficiency from converting sunlight into crops into biodiesel/ethanol (depending on the crop).
How much CO2 does nuclear power put out? Not that much. And the waste can be dealt with safely. Is it a perfect solution? Not at all, but it's better then dumping hundreds of tons of CO2 in the atmosphere on a daily basis.