[02:41] party time? [02:46] chat night ! [02:46] I finally made it [02:46] had to remember the GHOST command [02:47] ah [02:47] oops it says I'm TommyT1 -- I should be TommyT. I'm going to try again... [02:48] OK I'm back [02:48] welcome back [02:49] what's happenin? [02:49] I haven't been here much in months... I think I was here a week or two ago when kwadroke and I were the only ones [02:49] I think it was a couple weeks ago [02:50] when you were telling me about those $35 PCs [02:50] did you talk to them at Luyet? [02:50] which I got a few of them [02:50] yes [02:50] my only complaint was they were picky about RAM [02:51] it took a couple of tries before I found sticks that would take them to 1GB [02:52] I don't need much for what I'm doing [02:52] I probably don't need much but nowadays 1GB seems like the minimum if you're running much recent software [02:53] yeah [02:53] Are these old PCs? [02:53] I'd like to get a GB in each [02:53] The one I bought was Dell Optiplex something... I think it was made in 2003 or 2004 [02:54] I think these are GX-250's [02:54] Ah, just making sure you didn't find something like the Pi but with upgradeable RAM. [02:55] that would be cool [02:56] like to get some when they become available again [02:56] I used to get PCs out of the trash and refurb them and give them to kids but, I haven't found one in years. [02:59] I ordered a couple of sticks from a vendor off of Amazon, and found that each worked individually, but when I put both in, the machine only saw one of them. (Declared one "bad.") [02:59] SO I found a vendor on eBay who listed some as being compatible... "Dell Optiplex GX240 Dell 4300s 1GB KIT PC133 SDRAM LOW-DENSITY NON-ECC MEMORY [02:59] and these worked. [03:00] the "low density" is apparently the key [03:01] will have to remember that [03:02] I read the wikipedia page about RAM to try to understand the "low density" thing and am not completely sure [03:02] apparently most cheapo ram is "high density" [03:02] not really sure of the difference [03:02] it's been too long [03:07] any one get any of the Raspberry Pis? [03:07] I bought the cheapo machine hoping to use it to convert some old VHS tapes to video files, either for burning to DVD or memory sticks or whatever. [03:08] I read something about the Pi but not much [03:10] I just checked the web site and there's a posting about "high demand." The web store is down... [03:10] is there a US source or are they all shipped from the UK? [03:11] there's suposed to be 2 sources [03:11] in the US [03:14] I really like the idea of the Pi -- I am curious how well it works in practice. [03:14] it's only 700mhz [03:15] with 512mb ram max [03:15] or 256mb [03:19] I used to think 700mhz was plenty... but since it has hdmi on it you wonder if it has the throughput to do decent video [03:20] it would certainly run basic applications [03:21] Raspberry PI? [03:22] http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cts=1331695335991&ved=0CFUQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.raspberrypi.org%2F&ei=5g5gT4-0BsTsgge_pryjCA&usg=AFQjCNEBMoebclm0Gk0LCZIStJbF04U1cQ&sig2=NXCUBq59QG1a8WuoPklrCQ [03:22] http://www.raspberrypi.org/ [03:22] better link [03:23] $35 arm computer [03:23] I was just looking in their forum... apparently the orders have completely overwhelmed their vendor [03:23] yeah [03:23] took down their servers [03:24] oh, I was on a waiting list but will have to wait until I get back from Denver. I think I want to replace the big sled server with that. [03:25] It only has one ethernet jack, correct? [03:26] I may be wrong but I think one model has ethernet one just has usb? [03:26] yes [03:26] or do both have ethernet? [03:26] one has ethernet & 1 just has USB [03:26] I'd need two ethernet, [03:26] yeah I don't think you'll make a router out of it unless you use usb-->ethernet [03:27] the FAQ says they can't do gigabit ethernet because of the bandwidth of the USB [03:27] you could get the ethernet version and add a usb ethernet [03:28] I think the forums are funny because folks are getting excited about getting XP running using "double QEMU" ... which sounds like hell squared [03:28] Yea, but then what about storage? I use the crap out of my 2650 for temp file storage. Also, some sshtunnel stuff going on there, but I think that wouldn't take much space. I'd have to find a very reliable USB hub for ethernet dongle and USB hdd [03:29] at least a powered one [03:29] yeah only a pretty small drive can be powered off the thing at 5v [03:29] I bet Firmz could machine a baseplate and housing. [03:30] is Firmz like Boltz ? [03:30] a local shop? [03:31] Do you think I could DD my current 2650 drive over to a RasPI drive and it still boot. It took two weekends to get that router/firewall set back up. [03:31] Firmwarez, a mutual friend of mine and Kwad [03:31] Firmz is a person [03:31] Ah [03:42] a few days ago I was reading a biography of Sir Clive Sinclair, and it pointed out how much more popular his little computers were in the UK than they were in the US [03:42] There's a huge market there for little machines to tinker with [03:42] much more popular. I had a couple of Timex Sinclairs [03:42] My family had one, but really quickly I started pointing out how well the case would make a doorstop [03:43] it didn't get used much [03:43] For some reason my father thought his IBM PC Jr. was a worthy successor [03:44] He actually used that one quite a bit [03:45] I built a bunch of the Sinclair watches in the 1970s, and had one of the first calculators ... I ordered the kit and they sent a built one [03:45] I probably still have it... [03:46] I remember explaining RPN to folks... then the TI-30 came out. [03:47] although it was HUGE compared to the Sinclair it had more buttons and was algebraic [03:47] or whatever you call it when you use an = button [03:47] my sinclairs had membrane keyboards [03:47] was a pain to type on [03:48] yes the TI/Sinclair had those awful buttons [03:48] I used to sell Atari 400s which was only slightly better [03:48] the Atari had raised areas around each button [03:49] The worst part about the Sinclair was the memory expansion pack that would lose connection easily [03:49] like when you were typing in a long program [03:49] I had that problem too [03:50] think I taped & zip tied mine [03:52] I figured I was cursed ... the first time I touched any computer it crashed [03:52] starting with a TRS-80 in 1977 [03:53] Whoever had written the "lunar lander" game didn't do any range checking [03:56] lol [03:57] ok gents, off to bed - g'night [03:57] gnite [04:00] about that time for me too [04:01] I'm still pretending to work on my taxes [04:01] but I oughta go in a bit [04:18] I'm out. Cyas later [05:14] I guess I;m a night owl. [05:15] *I'm [05:15] apparently I am too... still pretending to work on taxes [05:15] but it's hard to keep my mind on it [05:50] that's it for me [05:51] no more night owl [20:10] anyone linux-admins in the little rock area looking for a full time gig?