24 Nov
2004
24 Nov
'04
9:48 a.m.
On Wed, 24 Nov 2004, Tony Duell wrote:
A handful of buffer chips (or discretes) is a lot
simpler, cheaper, more
reliable, and easier to obtain than a laptop. I do object to this modern
idea of _having_ to use a computer for everything.
Really?
My neighbors often discard computers, although admittedly rarely laptops.
They HARDLY EVER discard a handful of buffer chips (or discretes).
Therefore, the computer is cheaper and easier to obtain than components.
'Course I could get components by taking apart the discarded computers,
but I seem to recall that you didn't approve of rendering working machines
inoperable to get parts.
The other day I bought some simple electronic kits for
flashing
Newtonsday [1] decorations produced by Velleman. I was impressed that not
only were there no custom chips, there were no chips at all. They were
based on 2-transistor astable multivibrators.
[1] Christmas to the rest of you, I guess.
Couldn't you flash the lights using a discarded computer?
Remember that 25 DEC == 31 OCT, which is the day of an American
rowdy holiday just before your Guy Fawke's day.
--
Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin(a)xenosoft.com