Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2006 05:27:36 -0800 (PST) From: Danial Thom <danial_thom@yahoo.com> To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: RE: Sparc vs i386 architecture Message-ID: <20060110132736.46926.qmail@web33306.mail.mud.yahoo.com> In-Reply-To: <LOBBIFDAGNMAMLGJJCKNGEEAFDAA.tedm@toybox.placo.com>
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--- Ted Mittelstaedt <tedm@toybox.placo.com> wrote: > > > >-----Original Message----- > >From: owner-freebsd-questions@freebsd.org > >[mailto:owner-freebsd-questions@freebsd.org]On > Behalf Of Gerard Seibert > >Sent: Sunday, January 08, 2006 7:02 AM > >To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org > >Subject: Re: Sparc vs i386 architecture > > > > > >Danial Thom <danial_thom@yahoo.com> > > > >> Frankly, people who spend $9000. worth of > time > >> dicking around with some old piece of junk > to > >> avoid buying a $400. computer crack me up. > :) > > > >Yes, it is amassing. I have a friend who has > spent thousands of dollars > >keeping his old car running. He could have > purchased a new one with a > >new warranty, etc. and have saved all that > money, but he refused. For > >some individuals, the challenge is the real > thrill that they crave. > > > > That is an interesting, if very inaccurate, > analogy, and as a car guy > that does my own wrenching, let me tell you > why. > > Computer gear every year gets cheaper and > faster and better. Cars > by contrast, have not improved much over the > last 20 years - unless you > count larger cupholders as an improvement - and > espically they haven't > changed at all over the last 10. Ever since > EFI and airbags became > standard on vehicles there just haven't been > any compelling or significant > improvements. In fact for many models, the > engine designs themselves > are the same as 20 years ago. For example the > 2.4 Turbo used in > the 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser went into > production in 1994, the 4 speed > computer-controlled transmission used in that > car went into production > in 1989. Many parts for that transmission in > fact are the same - how > many computers do you know that you can use a > 17 year old part in? you need to get out more, Ted, if you think cars haven't improved much in 20 years. I know you can't afford a BMW or Mercedes, but you can test drive them for free if you put on a nice suit. Drive a '95 BMW and a 2005 and you'll see there are huge differences in power, handling, brakes and a whole lot of stuff you can't see, not to mention safety. Anti-skid brakes were a joke when they first came out; now I can stop on a dime. Traction control actually works now. But computers are not comparable to cars. It might make sense to keep an old car going as a new car depreciates much more than your time is worth in the first year, and they aren't cheap. DT __________________________________________ Yahoo! DSL – Something to write home about. Just $16.99/mo. or less. dsl.yahoo.com
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