qjkxbmwvz

I feel old...when I was learning how to run Linux I started with an old 386 (maybe 486?) my dad wasn't using. I think it had 32MB RAM, which was fancy for those machines.

We had dial up at the time, so only one machine could be on the Internet. So, I set up a modem on the x86, plugged into an Ethernet hub (switch?), and learned enough ipchains (this was before iptables) to share a connection. It also ran Samba, an AFP server, and probably FTP and HTTP (just for local access)

but it worked for filesharing.

It could also run MP3 streaming software which amused me because the machine itself was too slow to decode MP3 (but that's not necessary to stream).

I just wish we'd have neither inflation nor deflation.

Some tech has followed this pattern. For example: entry level Mac laptop in ~2000 was the iBook, priced at $1599 ($3k+ in today's dollars). The current entry level Mac laptop (M4 Air) starts at $999

cheaper in absolute dollars, and way cheaper in relative dollars.

(Macs are just an example since Apple doesn't have a very extensive product list, so there's only one "entry level" laptop to choose from. And yes it's fair to ask if the relative specs have just gotten worse, but I think this is also the opposite

the iBook was iirc criticized as being underpowered, whereas the M4 Air is afaik well regarded.)

I am the Walrus?

Missed opportunity to replace "dozen" with 11 ;)

Interesting, TIL

thanks!

Books has become e-books.

To some extent

but have you been to a hip bookstore recently? They exist, and are very much alive.

~~Cashless requires power all the way from PoS to wherever the servers live.~~

Edit: see below

It makes for a mean cappuccino, and is environmentally much, much lower impact.

My comment from another thread: https://startrek.website/comment/16491624

tl;dr: tiny production, would be astonished if they got $6k out of it, and that's not counting time, props, transportation, etc.

Compensation for engineers in the Bay area will average much higher than $200k, and that's not counting benefits (medical, etc.). So cost to the company will be way higher than 200k/employee.

For a project that has hardware, there will be large expenses associated with that

custom silicon has huge setup costs, for example.

You mentioned ham radio

definitely fun! It's a process to get into it though, as you need to study/pass an exam, and then you need a radio. Radios range from cheap ($25 or so) in the VHF/UHF ("walkie talkie"-style) to more expensive for an HF rig ($1000 range for 100W HF). If you want to get into low power ("QRP") it can be much cheaper. You also need a fair amount of space for a good antenna setup...

There are tons of different communication modes, some without a computer and, like you mentioned, some that use computers. wsjtx and fldigi are popular programs.

Good luck!

D'oh, I'm a doofus

it's search that I was thinking of (apt-cache search, not apt-get search).