[rescue] FDDI card

[Dave McGuire]

On February 25, Kenneth Dunn wrote:
> > You mean I have to explain myself instead of just mindlessly bashing
> > things?  Darn it.  Okay...here goes.
> > 
> > They're just not designed for it.
> 
> Sure.... that is why the IBM x200 and no-name Pentium III at work 
> has been up for months at a time, only coming down for software 
> upgrades. 

  If I try hard enough, I can haul lumber in a volkswagen beetle.
That doesn't automagically retroactively make it designed for that
task, nor does it make it GOOD for that task.

> > 2) They don't handle loads very gracefully.  Sure, you can sort of make up
> > for this by getting the latest & greatest 340982304983Thz processor...they
> > can do 1 thing REALLY fast, but when you start making them task swap &
> > context switch, they fall on their face.
> 
> Can't say I've noticed that happening much outside of Windows. Ok
> Linux boxes with ATA hard drives too.

  Then you haven't been paying attention.

> > 3) That whole keyboard & monitor thing.  Sun/Alpha/SGI/etc machines all
> > have BUILT-IN serial consoles.  The closest thing you can get to a true
> > serial console on a PeeCee is the PC Weasel, but all that really does is
> > emulate the monitor & keyboard...turns it into a serial stream.
> 
> If you're not accustomed to serial consoles then it is a non-issue.

  BULLSHIT.  Whether you're accustomed to serial consoles or not, if
you're managing a machine that's three thousand miles away, and you
need to get to the console, it makes NO FUCKING DIFFERENCE what you're
accustomed to.

> For small businesses and small departments PeeCee servers make
> perfect sense. 

  Boy am I glad we don't work for the same company.

> 	+ Inexpensive compared to serious server hardware

  You get what you pay for.

> 	+ more competition among vendors selling such equipment

  If you're talking about taiwanese people screaming at you as you
walk through a computer show, sure, I'll agree.  Otherwise, Sun and
SGI send out just as many begging, ass-kissing salesdroids as Compaq
and Dell.

> 	+ A much wider range of specialised hardware

  What?

> 	+ usually easy to get parts for within the 3 
> 	years they are good for

  And this is different from real computers how, exactly?

> 	+ easier to get staff/contractor to maintain them (*1)

  Yes, you can get an MCSE to run it.  Is that really a good thing?

> 	+ that software is often significantly cheaper than the Unix 
> 	alternative

  Your tie is showing.  With a small number of notable exceptions, the
very best software in the Unix world is free.  That's the way this
world works.

> 	+ almost anyone out of high school that can spell their name
> 	can be taught to operated one (*1)

  If you really want to have your business relying on some moron, be
my guest.  I'm glad nothing that's important to me relies on you and
YOUR engineering sense.

      -Dave

-- 
Dave McGuire
St. Petersburg, FL         "Less talk.  More synthohol." --Lt. Worf