Posts by Flocke Kroes

Re: Who will buy this clothing?

Not interested because they cannot spell. Where can I get Beatrix Kiddo's shoes?

Microsoft did not used to need to see the future

Their initial master stroke was getting a per-machine license fee for software bundled with early IBM PCs. When someone else came up with a killer app Microsoft bought a third rate competitor, pissed on it until they liked the flavour and bundled the result with their monopolyware. The vast majority of customers could not measure quality and did not see the value in buying software that worked when they could muddle through with the rubbish that came pre-installed.

For some reason Microsoft did not follow their winning strategy with phones. They tried creating the OS themselves even though writing software is not one of their core strengths (they excel at licensing it). They did not require all new PCs to come with a bundled Microsoft phone. Using a monopoly in one field to gain a monopoly in a new one is illegal because it is so effective you can pay the fines and still make a huge profit. If Microsoft had played to their strengths we would all be waiting ten minutes for our phones to boot up and would have to end calls when the virus scanner was active.

Re: Upton reckons that the 2GB version will be the most popular

My largest computer has 2GB so I expect that is plenty for many use-cases. When I buy one Pi 4 it will have 4GB in case I need it for some reason later because it will be cheaper than "upgrading". The obvious use case for 2GB is if you are buying a hundred. You might actually notice £1000 off the bill that includes boxes, PSUs, video cables and installation. If you are buying monitors, SDHC cards, keyboards, mice and installing ethernet cables too then the extra money for 4GB becomes rounding a error.

I too am surprised that 2GB is expected to be popular but Pi's often end up in places that are price sensitive. That must be a bigger market segment than we think.

It is not that hard to understand

Dave Chinner wasn't driven away. Brilliant contributors can explain why they are right and Linus is wrong. Mediocre contributors have a strong incentive to read, understand, think and test before contributing. Time wasters get a thorough scolding and hopefully do not waste other peoples' time again until they get a clue.

Have you ever been on the receiving end of a frothing-at-the-mouth swearing rant screamed so loud that they can hear it in the car park and enjoyed every second of it because you know what is going to happen when you calmly explain why the ranter has entirely misunderstood what is happening?

Re: Sweden

I would rather face charges of sexual assault in Sweden than any custodial charge in the US.

Now you got me confused

They fill row X with either zeroes (or ones), then repeatedly make pairs of connections to sshd, and by magic arrange for sshd to put its decrypted key in rows (X+1) and (X-1), thus hammering row X and possibly causing a bit to flip in X. Later they read through X looking for the bit flip. ECC should detect the flipped bit and correct it so they should read zeroes (or ones) but with a tiny delay.

Re: An SLS/Orion launch for $666M?

Oops - major typo: Six seats on Orion, launch cost $2G so it is only $333M.

Re: basic boxes

Lets face it (Libre)office, email and a browser run fine on the current generation of Raspberry Pi and HP know it but they would much rather sell something with a bigger profit margin.

Re: I'm so angry!

I ceased to be angry with Microsoft when it became possible to claim back the Microsoft tax on laptops. They are a bit like Trump - do you laugh or worry that there are people who still believe what they say.

Re: Recalcitrant doors

Ripley needed acidic blood but Charlie Croker's gang got the door off fine using only '60s tech in the Italian job.

Re: "people who "betray" Britain"

Is publishing MP's expenses treason or extremist content?

Wrong question

Will I get free delivery for my satellite with a Prime subscription?

Re: cat | tr

Watch out for PETA! If they ever here about your cat abuse there will be trouble.

Re: Are you sure real stupidity get us there

Alan Turing thought it would be difficult to make a machine that could pass a Turing test but ELIZA did just fine in the '60s because the vast majority of testers did not know how to exploit AIs' weaknesses. The key to making money from AI is not faster computers or better software but a steady supply of rich and powerful idiots. Truly we are entering the golden age of AI.

Re: WTF!

But what happens if you ask Ever IA to find "idiot"?

Re: Shortcut curious...

Never

> When is it acceptable to top post?

Re: NASA has plenty of budget

NASA gets that budget on the condition that they throw about $2B/year down the SLS toilet. One of the reasons they could not build a a rocket in a decade was because they were required to keep their old contractors in business by ordering modified space shuttle parts. NASA gets to spend a little of their budget on science and exploration and have achieved wonders with it. Imagine what they could do if the US senate did not tell them how to spend their slice of tax payers' money.

Re: drive activity

watch cat /sys/class/block/sda*/stat

Re: the thing to look out for

If you get a call from one of the suppliers about a bill the has not been paid, you should have left the month before.

Re: Tesla now, SpaceX next ?

You found a cob-web on spacex.com. The original plan was two people in a crew dragon launched on a Falcon Heavy. Falcon Heavy will never be human rated so the new plan involves about ten people on a shiny space ship.

Status metrics vary with time

For now, Falcon 9 wins on size (L=70,⌀=3.66) and reaching orbit but size will matter when Bezos launches New Glenn (L=82, ⌀=7m). Perhaps one day when the supply of pork is seriously threatened SLS will launch (L=111, ⌀=8.4+2x3.7m). Not to be out-done, Musk will answer with a Spaceship (L=118, ⌀=9m).

For now, Bezos in winning on reuse and it is hard to predict whether Bezos or Musk will put people in space first. No matter what, SLS will massively exceed everyone else combined on cost.

Re: An Alternative

Tedx talk on sortition.

I thought it was a David Nobbs reference

Linda Patterson (née Perrin) has two children: Adam and Jocasta.

Re: I have a new, great, better plan to Make something better

Actually the Trump method is to order services complain about them and not pay the bill. He has been famous for not paying contractors for decades. All twitter has to do is present a bill for Trump not to pay, Trump will think he has won and everything is sorted.

Re: External media

Possession of external storage devices has been a criminal offence for years. You are required to upload everything to a cloud via GCHQ and make it available to all businesses so you receive more relevant advertising. Next you will be trying to make notes with a pencil and paper. Quick, buy yourself an Apple pencil so you cannot accidently make that mistake.

Surprised it is not Prawo

Prawo Jazdy is the worst driver in Ireland.

Re: Christian-Jewish mono and poly theism

The Bible has plenty of references to Israelites being berated and punished for idolatry and polytheism. Christianity and Judaism have made a thorough effort to forget their polytheistic ancestry. Their god used to have a wife - Asherah, the Queen of Heaven. It was a bad break up and she got edited out of the bible but the archeological evidence remains.

Re: When Urban Myths Come True

There is a similar legend about one intensive care bed having a higher mortality rate than the others.

As for turning up early, it is an opportunity to get some of my work done before the problems arrive.

Re: Oh look

The Brits and Americans have already competed in a stupidity contest. After almost three years it is still difficult to decide who lost.