*sigh* [insert mini-rant here]

[drfish]

I am already using my modem with them right now. I guess I just don't know how it really works or how a speed change can require new hardware when I'm already DOCSIS 3.0 ready.

[jss21382]

Each modem has a custom provisioning file, if you don't have one of their supported ones you'll end up using the default provisioning, that may not use all of the channel bonding, frequencies, etc.

[Captain Ned]

Each modem has a custom provisioning file, if you don't have one of their supported ones you'll end up using the default provisioning, that may not use all of the channel bonding, frequencies, etc.

Usually can't go wrong with Motorola modems as most (if not all) cable ISPs support the things.

[just brew it!]

In the "things that are currently pissing me off" category:

- Web sites that don't tag their articles with a date. I'd really like to know if the information I'm reading is current, or from 2 years ago!

- The current state of desktop GUIs. Windows 8 is a clumsy compromise between tablet and desktop; Unity is a step (albeit a lesser one) in the same direction as Windows 8; GNOME Foundation has ditched the mature, functional, and flexible GNOME 2 for the half-baked, "we know what's best for you... trust us!" GNOME 3; and KDE seems more interested in providing cutesy bells and whistles than in addressing significant usability issues and bugs.

- Owning old cars. I think we're approaching the crossover point where the cost of repairs will exceed what it would cost for new car payments.

- Property taxes (and the rise thereof).

[tanker27]

- Owning old cars. I think we're approaching the crossover point where the cost of repairs will exceed what it would cost for new car payments.

I have recently thought about this. And it looks like as time moves forward and as cars are getting more and more computerized/ complicated the cost will crossover and then only few mechanics with the right tools can fix it. e.g. the dealerships. Thus keeping you in a perpetual car note cycle. I guess thats why leasing is so popular.

I also tend to think that there are a lot of people who settle on this perpetual payment cycle and think of it as any other monthly bill. I guess the real question is, "Are cars assets once paid off?". To me there are only a handful of cars that would be considered assets, most of them sports cars.

[ludi]

- Owning old cars. I think we're approaching the crossover point where the cost of repairs will exceed what it would cost for new car payments.

My dad finally hit the point of (a) I'm too old to be spending every weekend in the garage and (b) I've saved up enough money, it's time to spend some of it again. Within 18 months, two 15-20yo cars were replaced with two new Toyotas.

[jss21382]

Most newer cars don't require that much as far as repairs if you've maintained them. Especially if you compare it to a new car payment and insurance to go with it.

Let's assume that you've researched what to buy, and bought a reliable car with low cost of ownership. The costs should end up something like this:

Oil change and tire rotation every 6k $40
air filter, alignment, trans service, brake flush, power steering flush every 30k $340
Brake pads and rotors front and rear every 50k or so $600
Major maintenance(100k service, coolant, timing belt, etc) $700

So, assuming people drive 12k a year, which is the assumption most leases are based on.

First year costs are roughly $100 bucks if you throw in a pair of wiper blades.
Second year, roughly the same.
Third year you're probably near $450
Fourth year you're back down to around S100
Fifth year is going to be rough You have a 60k, brakes, and a set of tires. You're likely going to be spending $1600+
Sixth year, you're back to $100 again.
Seventh year, if you have a timing belt vehicle, you're going to be in for the 7 year 105k maintenace, probably putting you at $800, otherwise you're still at around $100
Eighth year, you likely need brakes and tires, a little sooner due to added wear on the brake and suspension components, also 90k service, $1600+
Ninth year, you're in for the 100k service if you didn't already do it at 7 years. So, either $800 or $100
Tenth year, Yay you made it to 120k, $450
Eleventh year, time for brakes and tires again, $1200
Twelfth year, $100
Thirteenth year, congrats, you hit 150k $450.

So, assuming you bought a reliable vehicle that doesn't really brake as long as you maintain it, you'll have 7k in maintenance costs over the 13 years, or roughly 500 a year, some years will be way more expensive than others, but over the long term its almost always more cost effective to keep a vehicle. Especially when compared to 500 a month for a new vehicle, it's not such a bad deal.

No, they're not assets, pretty much anything that rolls or floats depreciates too fast to really be an asset. Even sports cars, when you figure in how long you have to keep them to have a positive return on the investment it's a stretch.

[just brew it!]

There's always going to be *some* unexpected maintenance that comes up. Some minor, some more expensive. A battery here... new alternator there... a worn wheel bearing or two... maybe one of your power windows stops working unexpectedly. It adds up, especially when you're maintaining multiple older vehicles. (We currently have 3, ranging in age from 10 to 15.)

[tanker27]

Let's assume that you've researched what to buy, and bought a reliable car with low cost of ownership.

What is your definition of this because I guarantee this means different things to various people.

[jss21382]

It's not really all that subjective. People like consumer reports do studies and release the information all the time, it's readily available for anyone purchasing a car. I work for Chrysler and repair them all day long, the only thing they produce that's even close to the reliability I demand is the Grand Cherokee, maybe once they figure out the issues with the pentastar engine I'll buy one. I personally own an 06 altima with 140k on it, the only thing that's been done to the vehicle is tires and 1 set of brake pads, plus oil changes. Try getting that same experience out of 90% of the cars produced and you'll be disappointed. From a reliability and cost of ownership standpoint generally each manufacturer has 1-2 models that are there, everything else is lacking. The problem is most people do little to no research before they step in the dealership. And end up driving off with a stylish expensive to own vehicle.

[jss21382]

There's always going to be *some* unexpected maintenance that comes up. Some minor, some more expensive. A battery here... new alternator there... a worn wheel bearing or two... maybe one of your power windows stops working unexpectedly. It adds up, especially when you're maintaining multiple older vehicles. (We currently have 3, ranging in age from 10 to 15.)

That's true, let's assume your maintenance costs after 10 years double to 1k a year per car or even triple to 1500 a year, you're still a long way away from making a car payment and the related insurance costs with that number. But, at that age the body starts falling apart, especially where you're living, which is more fatal than mechanical failures.

[MarkD]

Ugly design, just took off on me and installed over the top of Fedora 16 without giving me a chance to repartition or even tell me what it was going to do. At least I'm not stuck with Gnome 3. I did have a backup of my data. I make mistakes, but I don't make them twice.

[just brew it!]

Ugly design, just took off on me and installed over the top of Fedora 16 without giving me a chance to repartition or even tell me what it was going to do. At least I'm not stuck with Gnome 3. I did have a backup of my data. I make mistakes, but I don't make them twice.

Lots of complaints going around regarding Fedora 18 (especially the installer). Here's a somewhat humorous (and none too flattering) mini-review: http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/fedora-18-kde.html

[ryko]

i can't stand how the new thing for some websites (cough, cough...newegg, amazon, and buy.com, etc...) is to require you to put an item into your cart and then credit card info and then almost complete your order so that you can view the final price of an item. then you have to cancel the order at the very final step or close out your shopping cart tab/browser...all for trying to find the best deal. it seems to be mostly for tvs but sometimes other stuff too. you can, of course, enter in fake credentials since you won't actually complete the order, but it ends up being 3-4 more steps to see a final price. try browsing through 20-30 tvs this way and it gets really old really quick. you basically have to write down the price and model number and make a spreadsheet to compare things properly. and i am not talking about the other more common "add to cart for price" on newegg that pops up a little box with the final price viewable in just one extra click. while annoying, it is not nearly as bad as the "checkout to see price" thing.

oh and that brings me to newegg's new smart search tool for searching through tvs. they have these sliders that you can choose options with and they suck. they reset constantly and don't remember selections between the different options from only seconds before. for example, go here for LED tvs...http://www.newegg.com/LED-TV/SubCategory/ID-798

on the left hand side, under "narrow results/advanced tab" use the resolution slider to select 1080p. then use the drop down menu above the listings and choose lowest price....it resets and doesn't remember your selection of 1080p from seconds before! what is the point of the stupid sliders then? the previous advanced search tab with all drop down menus worked perfectly and quickly so that you could drill down to your required options. the sliders suck and and are worthless!!! to top it off the sliders have been around for over a year now and they have always been useless. how they ever managed to make it past QA testing is beyond me. worse yet is that the sliders seem to be spreading to more component categories too...the motherboard category is still unblemished by them thankfully but who knows for how long.

[drfish]

OMG, yes, all the new sliders on NewEgg. PITA.

[tanker27]

Getting cheated out of about 6-7 oz of Coffee in a large coffee cup!