Repair or Replace? [Was: Repairing Timex]

From: Zane H. Healy <healyzh_at_aracnet.com>
Date: Tue Jul 18 11:45:25 2000

Tony Duell wrote:
>Something I've never understood is this :
>
>I've met many programmers, including some _very_ good ones who don't have
>any knowledge about hardware, who would be lost if given a schematic
>diagram, and who don't own any electronic test gear. But I've never met a
>serious hardware designer/hacker who can't program in at least 3
>languages, who doesn't have compilers installed on his computer, who
>doesn't have books about programming, and who doesn't know how to
>understand a source listing.

I don't know that I'm qualified to comment on this, but.... Isn't
programming included in the College courses that a hardware person would be
taking? While a Software person doesn't have any hardware courses? Not
having bothered with College I'm not sure, but I believe this is the case.

I'm *far* from competent when it comes to electronics, but I did originally
work as an Electrician before switching over to computers and Systems
Administration. I do pretty good with non-Board level hardware, and I can
do basic board level stuff, especially if I've got good enough doc's.

The main reason I do any programming is it's the only way to get the
computer to do what *I* want! This isn't to say that I *like* programming,
because I don't. However, just about any computer platform I own has at
least a couple languages that I can program it in (if nothing else there is
BASIC).


As for the original Repair/Replace question. It depends on what it is,
what I've got for documentation, how interested I am in it, and if I have
time to deal with it. Having the time to deal with it is becoming the
biggest factor.

                        Zane
| Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Adminstrator |
| healyzh_at_aracnet.com (primary) | Linux Enthusiast |
| healyzh_at_holonet.net (alternate) | Classic Computer Collector |
+----------------------------------+----------------------------+
| Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, |
| and Zane's Computer Museum. |
| http://www.aracnet.com/~healyzh/ |
Received on Tue Jul 18 2000 - 11:45:25 BST

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