Cogs can think.

I think my 6-7 year-old x86 finally kicked the bucket. A few years ago, I was able to extend his life thanks to the ide=nodma boot parameter, which somehow allowed the faulty IDE controller to still install Linux, albeit grudgingly. Windows never complained, it just ran and chugged along fine.

Until a few days ago. I started getting blue screens (page faults in non-paged area, to be precise) completely at random, not linked to any specific action or application. I didn’t add any new drivers or applications to the system - in fact, I am very strict about what goes and doesn’t go on my Windows installations. I install a selective set of applications, applications I’ve been using for ages, that I require for OSNews, but mostly for Focus Shift; my scanner only works properly on Windows, and Paint.NET only runs on Windows reliably.

I did a thorough RAM check (I let it run 23 times), but it didn’t find anything. The drive in the machine is brand new. Those are the two key elements that can cause page faults in the non-paged area. Just to be certain, I’m running memtest86 right now. My guess, however, is that the IDE controller finally decided to end it FOR REALSIES this time, seeing the ide=nodma trick doesn’t work anymore either.

So, I’m kind of in trouble now. I already lost an OSNews story and a Focus Shift comic to the page fault errors, and I’m not keen on continuing to run through this minefield. I guess this means postponing Focus Shift (again) for a while until I come up with a solution.

I love that machine like a member of the family, for god’s sake. I have spent an insane amount of money on the thing in total, and I hate to see it go down like this.

256 Bit should be enough for everyone.

Literally.

I’ve fallen in love. With the Eee PC 900. That made me think.

An Eee 900 configured with a Fiona background.

That’s eternal happiness RIGHT THERE.

Seriously, keyboard people? Want free advice?

Make keys that read ‘ok’, ‘cool’, and ‘OMFG UR SUCH AN IDIOT!!!!’.

Would make IRC so much easier.

I’d like to make a plea, emanating from deep within my heart.

There is no web 2.0. There is no web 3.0. These imply there has been a web 1.0, and that 2.0 is incompatible with 1.0. This is nonsensical. Proponents of the meaningless term say that ‘web 2.0′ is all about user supplied content, which in itself shows a complete lack of understanding of what the web actually is. The web has always been about user supplied content.

You know, a printing press for everyone, and more of that dreamy nonsense.

The web, as it is today, is no different from the web ten years ago. The users of the web supply it with content, and the content suppliers of the web also use it. That has been the damn essence of the web from day one - even The Man himself agrees with me. Blogs, wikis, those things supposedly web 2.0 are just new means to the same old web’s end: publish information. They make it easier. They do not change it, nor do they add any new elements. They just allowed people without experience with html/etc. to publish on the web. That’s all.

Teh internets is still the same. They just use more gradients now.

The best email ever sent, in the history of email. Ever and ever. No one will ever top this.

Would everyone in the room who maintain a complete, working operating system please raise their hands?

would everyone who is forced to co-opt or recommend other people’s operating systems… because their own is unfinished… please go away and write some code or something?

thank you very much

If you don’t get any of this, don’t worry, it means you have a life.

It’s sold. The Cube is no longer in my possession. I really didn’t like parting with it, but as a parting gift (besides the 300 EUR, that is), consider the following conversation with the buyer.

“I have to say though, the Cube is an American Cube, so it has an American power plug. I’m giving you an adapter with it, though, and of course, you can replace the American power cord with a Dutch one.”

“No problem. It’s replacing an American Cube as well. My NeXTcube browser was starting to annoy me, old and all.”

The guy was using a NeXTcube as his main computer. I can assure you, my Cube is in good hands.

Can anybody tell me what the hell is wrong with Firefox lately? It crashes a few times a day, at completely random websites. In addition, my scrollbars are all black.

I’m running 2.0.0.9, but the problems started on previous versions. Is Firefox’ quality control lacking or something?

Apple chief executive Steve Jobs is reportedly “very interested” in a world where people share their WiFi connections in return for free access to other wireless hotspots in their communities, and recently met with the founder of upstart provider FON, whose business aims might just dovetail with the iPhone maker.

I fully agree with Jobs. I have my own wireless network, of course, and it’s completely open. No pass phrases, no WPA, nothing. If you happen to walk by with a WiFi enabled device, you are free to join my network and use it to browse the internet. I really don’t care. Of course, I live in East Bumblefcuk and nobody ever visits this god forsaken outpost of human civilisation, but it’s the principle that counts.

I believe in the ubiquity of internet access, and so should you. So open up your wireless network (secure your own PCs well, of course), and allow passers by to use it.

For cookies.

I have a Dell Inspiron 6000. It’s a gift from OSNews’ owner, David Adams. It’s 18 months old now.

And it’s a complete and utter disaster, from a quality point of view. The screen hinges are broken. The paint is chipping off everywhere, even though the laptop never leaves my apartment. Keys on the keyboard are coming off. The battery started losing its strength within a few months, and since about 8 months, it’s been dead completely. And now, the power adapter is broken. Dead. Useless.

Conclusion: I have a dead laptop, and buying a new battery and adapter is all I can do - a total of 180 EUR. I don’t think I’ll be spending such an amount of money on this laptop.