On Wed, 24 Nov 2004, Tony Duell wrote:
> A handful of buffer chips (or discretes) is a lot simpler, cheaper, more
> reliable, and easier to obtain than a laptop. I do object to this modern
> idea of _having_ to use a computer for everything.
Really?
My neighbors often discard computers, although admittedly rarely laptops.
They HARDLY EVER discard a handful of buffer chips (or discretes).
Therefore, the computer is cheaper and easier to obtain than components.
'Course I could get components by taking apart the discarded computers,
but I seem to recall that you didn't approve of rendering working machines
inoperable to get parts.
> The other day I bought some simple electronic kits for flashing
> Newtonsday [1] decorations produced by Velleman. I was impressed that not
> only were there no custom chips, there were no chips at all. They were
> based on 2-transistor astable multivibrators.
> [1] Christmas to the rest of you, I guess.
Couldn't you flash the lights using a discarded computer?
Remember that 25 DEC == 31 OCT, which is the day of an American
rowdy holiday just before your Guy Fawke's day.
--
Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin_at_xenosoft.com
Received on Wed Nov 24 2004 - 17:48:39 GMT