5 Oct
2001
5 Oct
'01
11:56 a.m.
When I was taking a Digital Electronics course in the early 80s at a major
Toronto tech-school, we were being taught about computers by showing the
interaction of discrete components using an ET3400 and the Heathkit
course. There was a big debate in the faculty regarding it's usefulness in the
"modern" tech world and many were urging that students should simply be
taught fault-finding and card-swapping, We know who won that debate.
The IBM tech manuals are a good example. Just carry a bunch of FRU
replacement modules. People like Tony are few and far between.
Lawrence
On 05-Oct-2001 Iggy Drougge wrote:
Reply to:
lgwalker(a)mts.net
I agree that we're living in a strange world
where replacing the entire
card is much easier than just getting the damaged component.
Especially if you figure in the cost of labour need to find what is
broken... but then you are talking about doing it yourself.
It's usually cheaper for me to cut up some
pre-made "PC" cable and
solder the right connectors onto it than to buy all the materials at
the shop. It seems as though the average Taiwanese worker is so cheap,
he/she's gives only a negative increase to the price of the final
product. =/
Or supply and demand. How many people solder db9 connectors? Compare
that to how many people want mouse "extenders".
-Philip