Personal computing discussed

Search found 3263 matches

by SNM
Mon Nov 02, 2020 8:45 am
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: Something's different...
Replies: 1628
Views: 328115

Re: Something's different...

Ouch, I started planning a new computer build for the first time in a decade and knew where I wanted to get my reviews from. But then I discovered a distinct lack of reviews — now I know why. :(
by SNM
Fri Jul 14, 2017 4:06 pm
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: TR BBQ XIV - Official Thread (7/15/17 confirmed)
Replies: 207
Views: 33709

Re: TR BBQ XIV - Official Thread (7/15/17 confirmed)

Huh. I'll be in Holland for entirely unrelated reasons tomorrow but may have some free time. Is the address somewhere or "the end of James St by the lake" all it takes?
by SNM
Tue Feb 01, 2011 1:55 pm
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: Canadian's are getting screwed
Replies: 53
Views: 4372

Re: Canadian's are getting screwed

Seems like we should all pay for what we use. We already do that for utilities, so why not Gpbs? Because unlike power or gas, the resource isn't the individual bits, it's the size of the pipe. That argument would only make sense if the cost of putting up power lines was an order of magnitude higher...
by SNM
Wed Jan 26, 2011 11:31 pm
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: dymt reloaded
Replies: 26465
Views: 2506176

Re: dymt reloaded

I got onto the barefoot running scene and I don't think I will wear proper shoes for running ever again. My knees and muscles feel great. My calves are sore though, they need some buildup yet for any serious distance. Oh yeah, barefoot is the way to go. I'm hoping that after I build up some muscle ...
by SNM
Wed Jan 26, 2011 8:54 pm
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: dymt reloaded
Replies: 26465
Views: 2506176

Re: dymt reloaded

As a former cross-country runner, let me say this: marathoners are crazy. It's just sooo bad for most people. I'm excitedly converting to biking (after too long being lazy); my body is loving the no-impact exercise. I got patellar tendinitis the last year I ran and I think my knees really are shot i...
by SNM
Wed Jan 26, 2011 12:58 am
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: Enter our MSI GeForce GTX 560 Ti giveaway here
Replies: 1004
Views: 70189

Re: Enter our MSI GeForce GTX 560 Ti giveaway here

Yes please! I've been holding out for 6 months already. And those games look sweet too, although I dunno how they'll play on my current rig.
by SNM
Tue Jan 25, 2011 9:36 pm
Forum: Processors
Topic: Why are CPUs so parsimonious with L1 cache
Replies: 14
Views: 4088

Re: Why are CPUs so parsimonious with L1 cache

It mentions physical space constraints? What causes the constraint? Does L1 caches require more complex circuitry? And why is it so expensive? They don't use gold instead of silicon for cache :wink: Does it have more defects per area than say non cache? I keep thinking how we are coming up with 22n...
by SNM
Mon Jan 24, 2011 3:30 pm
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: ERP
Replies: 19
Views: 2345

Re: ERP

I read just a little bit about ERP on Wikipedia. It doesn't seem that bad. It sounds like your company is interfacing the wrong people with SAP, so that nobody involved in the actual process knows the measurements to be using and the material requirements involved?
by SNM
Sat Jan 22, 2011 3:56 pm
Forum: Developer's Den
Topic: Bizarre While() Behavior in Java
Replies: 21
Views: 6661

Re: Bizarre While() Behavior in Java

Veeeery interesting. I'm still a few chapters away from the multi-threading chapter of the book, but your description makes sense to me already. Oh, you gavent done threading at all yet? I'm less familiar with Jaba's threading model than I should be/used to be, but you're hitting all kinds of issue...
by SNM
Sat Jan 22, 2011 12:25 pm
Forum: Developer's Den
Topic: Bizarre While() Behavior in Java
Replies: 21
Views: 6661

Re: Bizarre While() Behavior in Java

Kurotetsu wrote:
I neglected to mention that the sequencer starts and DOES finish playing its midis (and the "la"s finish printing to screen)

Oh, how interesting. Does anybody know if the JVM caches loop lookup results or something?
by SNM
Sat Jan 22, 2011 3:44 am
Forum: Developer's Den
Topic: Bizarre While() Behavior in Java
Replies: 21
Views: 6661

Re: Bizarre While() Behavior in Java

The while loop creates what is known as a busy wait or spinwait. Since the empty while loop has nothing to complete, its execution finishes incredibly fast, so fast that it ends up starving all the other threads of CPU time the because scheduler has no opportunity to context switch it out, meaning ...
by SNM
Wed Jan 19, 2011 11:59 pm
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: What would you do? (Contract work)
Replies: 18
Views: 2429

Re: What would you do? (Contract work)

I've heard of companies that have "mandatory" 6-month contracting positions before they hire you. 6 weeks isn't that long.

But if they've had contract workers full-time for two years and you're not satisfied with your compensation, I hope you're looking elsewhere.
by SNM
Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:42 pm
Forum: Apple Sanctuary
Topic: Appke's Jobs Steps Down For Medical Leave
Replies: 9
Views: 3677

Re: Appke's Jobs Steps Down For Medical Leave

I know this is off topic, but aparantly the NY Times has been sucked into the RDF too as they claim at the end of the first paragraph that Apple is the most valuable technology company. Microsoft, Google and Cisco are all worth more than Apple. And Apple is only marginally ahead (practi ally neck a...
by SNM
Sat Jan 15, 2011 4:56 pm
Forum: Apple Sanctuary
Topic: Best cheap anti-virus for Mac?
Replies: 16
Views: 5178

Re: Best cheap anti-virus for Mac?

I've seen a few Mac antivirus programs but they all seem to be more trouble than they're worth. Because there really aren't enough Mac viruses to be interesting. I think there might be more for iOS, actually.
by SNM
Thu Jan 13, 2011 10:14 pm
Forum: Graphics
Topic: Atom for Gaming?
Replies: 5
Views: 1294

Re: Atom for Gaming?

Check out the net book reviews here; there was one in particular that looked at gaming with an Atom/Ion combo. As I recall it played Far Cry pretty badly but anything older was fine.
by SNM
Thu Jan 13, 2011 6:51 pm
Forum: Developer's Den
Topic: Looking for I/O bound compile test for benching
Replies: 13
Views: 3710

Re: Looking for I/O bound compile test for benching

1) Does the test need to run under Windows? If not, I suspect that the Linux kernel may come as close as you can get (though perhaps not, I'm no expert). Yeah, though I suspect the Linux kernel is far too big to be practical as a benchmark. It's been years since I've compiled one but I remember it ...
by SNM
Thu Jan 13, 2011 1:43 pm
Forum: Developer's Den
Topic: Looking for I/O bound compile test for benching
Replies: 13
Views: 3710

Re: Looking for I/O bound compile test for benching

Since it's been a few days with no replies: 1) Does the test need to run under Windows? If not, I suspect that the Linux kernel may come as close as you can get (though perhaps not, I'm no expert). 2) Do such compile tests actually exist? My understanding is that IO-bound compile tests are generally...
by SNM
Tue Jan 11, 2011 5:55 pm
Forum: Apple Sanctuary
Topic: iPhone on Verizon about dang time
Replies: 21
Views: 6292

Re: iPhone on Verizon about dang time

Like I said, I have a MiFi with Verizon, and the MOST i've ever pulled is 1mbit. On average its around 750-800kbit. My iPhone, on 3G, will consistantly pull over 3 and sometimes over 4mbit. Thats a HUGE difference. It goes from 'i can eek by' to 'short of gaming and HD video, this could be my every...
by SNM
Sat Jan 08, 2011 3:13 pm
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: dymt reloaded
Replies: 26465
Views: 2506176

Re: dymt reloaded

Yeah, I did fast food one summer and although I managed to survive change-giving experiences...well, I'm smarter than most people and it was a struggle to wake up my brain that much. 6-hour shifts tend to involve shutting down the brain and being as stupid as possible.
by SNM
Fri Jan 07, 2011 1:30 am
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: OMG I Am Bored!
Replies: 10
Views: 1321

Re: OMG I Am Bored!

Go to the library and borrow some books. Reading is fun and makes you smarter.
by SNM
Wed Jan 05, 2011 10:52 pm
Forum: General Hardware
Topic: PC's are finally up to console quality
Replies: 8
Views: 1731

Re: PC's are finally up to console quality

I think he means that Sandy Bridge, by itself , guarantees a minimum level of hardware approximately equal to that in a console. Valve sells a lot of games to people running on ooooold hardware with craptastic GPUs; there's a reason their games have such low system requirements and scale as well as ...
by SNM
Sun Dec 26, 2010 1:52 pm
Forum: Storage
Topic: Readyboost
Replies: 12
Views: 2469

Re: Readyboost

Hmm, I thought ReadyBoost was read/write. In any case I'm sure any improvements are a result of having a low-latency durable storage device --some applications (I'm thinking FireFox, specifically) tend to use the FS as a database with a key-value store, and ReadyBoost shines here.
by SNM
Tue Dec 21, 2010 6:50 pm
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: I'm all for the Steam sale, but...
Replies: 15
Views: 1986

Re: I'm all for the Steam sale, but...

I'm still leaning towards their servers getting a pasting. I've changed nothing this end, and I'm with a premium ISP with no traffic policies - It used to work. I'm quite sure you're right. I remember their speeds dropping significantly during their last few sales, and while it wasn't as bad as you...
by SNM
Tue Dec 21, 2010 6:48 pm
Forum: Apple Sanctuary
Topic: Mac Pro: is it worth the money?
Replies: 71
Views: 12328

Re: Mac Pro: is it worth the money?

I'm not saying that these computers aren't good for the hardware they contain, I'm pointing out that they get pushed to people who have no buisness having them, for the flippin price you better use them to their fullest. That must be why nobody here has told him to buy a Mac Pro. Or the equivalent ...
by SNM
Sun Dec 19, 2010 5:32 pm
Forum: Apple Sanctuary
Topic: Mac Pro: is it worth the money?
Replies: 71
Views: 12328

Re: Mac Pro: is it worth the money?

Pretty sure Mac Pros have ECC RAM (maybe FB-DIMMS, even? They did at one point). So your comparison isn't equivalent.

But that doesn't mean the Mac Pro is worth it either! It depends on your needs, the value you place on a unified warranty, etc.
by SNM
Sun Dec 19, 2010 3:23 pm
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: dymt reloaded
Replies: 26465
Views: 2506176

Re: dymt reloaded

Two inches out of a handle is...*guesstimates*...10%? Or ~5 large shots?
by SNM
Sat Dec 18, 2010 11:34 pm
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: dymt reloaded
Replies: 26465
Views: 2506176

Re: dymt reloaded

I saw it with my company in a midnight showing and enjoyed it a lot. I'm not sure the 3D was a very big deal, though -- it was subtle and I enjoyed it but I don't think it really added to my immersion like it did in Avatar . I agree, though: Olivia Wilde looks really good in a jumpsuit and short hai...
by SNM
Sat Dec 18, 2010 9:25 am
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: Car extended warranties...input asap?
Replies: 25
Views: 2991

Re: Car extended warranties...input asap?

The value of an extended warranty is entirely based on how much "peace of mind" you get from it and how you value that peace. I'm never buying one and my parents never have, because it's an incredible profit-maker for companies that provide them. It is, statistically, not worth the price. ...
by SNM
Fri Dec 17, 2010 12:23 pm
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: How much do YOU pay for your TV/net/phone?
Replies: 41
Views: 5029

Re: How much do YOU pay for your TV/net/phone?

Internet: $58.99/month. 10Mb/1Mb with "turbo".
Phone: ~$98. AT&T iPhone plan, 2GB cap, plus tethering.
TV: Do my Hulu Plus and Netflix subscricptions count? $28/month, streaming and 2 Blu-Ray discs.
Total: ~$185/month, or $2220/year.
by SNM
Thu Dec 16, 2010 1:34 pm
Forum: Linux, Unix, and Assorted Madness
Topic: Backdoor in OpenBSD IPSEC stack
Replies: 8
Views: 2863

Re: Backdoor in OpenBSD IPSEC stack

However conspiracy theories of this kind seem silly to me. There are far easier ways to compromise the security of internet network traffic (for an organisation with the resources of a major western government) than introducing back doors in software. I think you're missing the point here. If the F...
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