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Metalworking (rec.crafts.metalworking) Discuss various aspects of working with metal, such as machining, welding, metal joining, screwing, casting, hardening/tempering, blacksmithing/forging, spinning and hammer work, sheet metal work. |
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#1
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking,sci.electronics.equipment,sci.electronics.repair,rec.radio.shortwave
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years ....do you agree?
Any that you think they overlooked? http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/2005...E0BHNlYwN0bWE- |
#2
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
While not overly popular, the mini-disc recorder/player (Sony) is one
fanatastic gadget. It would be in my top 50 for sure. |
#3
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
Too_Many_Tools wrote:
The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years ....do you agree? Any that you think they overlooked? http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/2005...E0BHNlYwN0bWE- They list the Apple Newton at #28 and indicate that it "paved the way for smaller, simpler devices like the PalmPilot", but in fact like many of the things that are hyped as being invented by Apple, the Newton was once again a rehash of someone else's product. The Casio Databank PF8000 predated the Newton by nearly a decade, I got mine in about 1985, had handwriting recognition remarkably similar to the "graffiti" that showed up in the PalmPilot much much later and a whopping 4K of memory with the extra 2K expansion pack. For those who never saw the PF8000, it is/was about 5" wide, 3" high and 1/4" thick with a 2" square or so touch pad area at the right which functioned both for handwritten text input without the need for a stylus, and also doubled as a calculator touch pad. The Databank watches came quite a bit later. For those who think the somewhat ill fated Apple Newton was a technology leader way ahead of it's time, Casio beat Apple both by a decade and with better functionality, usability and ergonomics. Pete C. |
#4
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
There was an article in the Wall Street Journal written at the time the
Newton got the ax. It pointed out that the Newton enjoyed popularity among young physicians working as interns and residents in hospitals. They were sorry to see it go. I can't comment on the Casio. Probably the same reaction. |
#5
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
"Too_Many_Tools" wrote in message oups.com... The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years ....do you agree? Any that you think they overlooked? http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/2005...E0BHNlYwN0bWE- Where is the Clapper ? Did I miss it ? |
#6
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
wrote:
There was an article in the Wall Street Journal written at the time the Newton got the ax. It pointed out that the Newton enjoyed popularity among young physicians working as interns and residents in hospitals. They were sorry to see it go. I can't comment on the Casio. Probably the same reaction. Found a link that shows the PF-8000 http://www.voidware.com/calcs/pf8000.htm http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/article..._evan_koblentz http://pocketcalculatorshow.com/calculator/index5.html One of those sites dates the PF-8000 to 1980 putting far far ahead of the Newton. Pete C. |
#7
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
I didn't see clip-in pedals or aerobars.
They rank right up near the top with me. Lewis ******* |
#8
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
Any that you think they overlooked? I doubt they polled any women - otherwise I would expect to see the BOB (Battery Operated Boyfriend). Ed |
#9
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
On 25 Dec 2005 08:28:42 -0800, "Too_Many_Tools"
put finger to keyboard and composed: The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years ....do you agree? Any that you think they overlooked? http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/2005...E0BHNlYwN0bWE- I'd have to take issue with the choice of Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer (1999). The first optical mice were available at least 15 years (?) before, albeit with a metal pad and hefty price tag. I'm still using a serial Mouse Systems mouse of that era. I also recall paying about AU$40 for a Taiwanese serial optical mouse in 1990. I can't understand why PC World believes that MS's product is "the first mainstream optical mouse". I'd also have given an award to the Casio and Sharp organisers of the early 90's. - Franc Zabkar -- Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email. |
#10
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking,sci.electronics.equipment,sci.electronics.repair,rec.radio.shortwave
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
I'd have to take issue with the choice of Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer (1999). The first optical mice were available at least 15 years (?) before, albeit with a metal pad and hefty price tag. I'm still using a serial Mouse Systems mouse of that era. I also recall paying about AU$40 for a Taiwanese serial optical mouse in 1990. I can't understand why PC World believes that MS's product is "the first mainstream optical mouse". I had one of those optical mice with the metal pad, it worked well at the time but the modern optical mice are infinitely better. They provide the advantages of optical along with those of mechanical mice for the best of both worlds. I was never fond of the Intellimouse Explorer ergonomic design, in fact I didn't like it at all, but the standard Intellimouse optical that was offered for a short time, as well as the Logitech models are quite good. |
#11
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
Too_Many_Tools wrote:
The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years ....do you agree? Any that you think they overlooked? http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/2005...E0BHNlYwN0bWE- What IMBECILE came up with this list? They are all TOYS! Let's see, the jet engine is probably just a bit too old to stay on the list. And, I guess the transistor has run off the edge, too. The integrated circuit is still less than 50 years old. Microwave oven? The internet? Solid state computers? Silicon memory technology? Disk drives? laser printers? Ink jet printers? VCRs? Lasers? CAT scanners, MRI, ultrasound? Oh, I get it! Gadgets! Not just inventions, but gadget as "useless gott-have-it junk". OK, now the list makes sense. Jon |
#12
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
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#13
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking,sci.electronics.equipment,sci.electronics.repair,rec.radio.shortwave
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
wrote in message oups.com... Any that you think they overlooked? I doubt they polled any women - otherwise I would expect to see the BOB (Battery Operated Boyfriend). Ed The list is of course limited to nerdy gadgets--"we considered only those items whose digital descendants are covered in PC World" Than again, I may have missed the vibrator issue... -Has |
#14
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking,sci.electronics.equipment,sci.electronics.repair,rec.radio.shortwave
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
The first in dash CD player should be on the list.
Also the first radar detector. I'd nominate the hp 95LX as the first pocket computer, even before the Newton. I'd also put the Timex Ironman on the list. This little simple multifunction watch is the best selling "computer" ever produced. I own three including the one I'm wearing now which is 20 years old and predates "Indiglo." 50 years is a long time. How about the Bullova Accutron "tuning fork" watch. No GPS? Surely I'd put the Garmin eTrex series on the list, or the Gecko. Bicycle computers. Leatherman multi-tools. That list is too far weighted towards audio and not broad enough in scope. |
#15
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
I vote for cordless tools Can't live wthout em
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#16
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking,sci.electronics.equipment,sci.electronics.repair,rec.radio.shortwave
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
Every House Wife's Dream "The Electric Can Opener" ~ RHF
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_appliance Followed by every other "Time Saving" and "Work Saving" Electrical Kitchen, Household and Personal Appliances : including the Vacuum Cleaner and the Washer and Dryer Plus Every Power Tool Know to Man ! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Tool READ - The List of Edison Patents http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Edison_patents The Electric Light Bulb followed by the Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) and then the Light Emitting Diode (LED) The Telegraph followed by the Telephone and then the Cellular Phone. The Phonograph Record followed by the Tape Recorder and then the Video Tape and the DVD Recorder/Players. The Radio followed by the TV Set and then Digital Cable and Satellite TV Systems The Home Computer followed by the Everything Digital ! For those Who Are Into Something - Low-Tech and No-Tech : * Solid State In-Organic - The Pet Rock ! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pet_rock * Organic - The Chia Pet ! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chia_pet http://www.cooltvproducts1.com/Categ...source=froogle |
#17
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking,sci.electronics.equipment,sci.electronics.repair,rec.radio.shortwave
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
"Barry in Wyoming" wrote in message ups.com... The first in dash CD player should be on the list. Also the first radar detector. The first radar detector was developed around 1942! Alan |
#18
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking,sci.electronics.equipment,sci.electronics.repair,rec.radio.shortwave
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
On 26 Dec 2005 06:21:45 -0800, "RHF"
wrote: Every House Wife's Dream "The Electric Can Opener" ~ RHF http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_appliance Followed by every other "Time Saving" and "Work Saving" Electrical Kitchen, Household and Personal Appliances : including the Vacuum Cleaner and the Washer and Dryer Plus Every Power Tool Know to Man ! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Tool READ - The List of Edison Patents http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Edison_patents The Electric Light Bulb followed by the Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) and then the Light Emitting Diode (LED) The Telegraph followed by the Telephone and then the Cellular Phone. The Phonograph Record followed by the Tape Recorder and then the Video Tape and the DVD Recorder/Players. The Radio followed by the TV Set and then Digital Cable and Satellite TV Systems The Home Computer followed by the Everything Digital ! For those Who Are Into Something - Low-Tech and No-Tech : * Solid State In-Organic - The Pet Rock ! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pet_rock * Organic - The Chia Pet ! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chia_pet http://www.cooltvproducts1.com/Categ...source=froogle Do you ever take a break from shooting speed? This is the best can opener ever made: http://www.ccrane.com/more-categorie...an-opener.aspx |
#19
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking,sci.electronics.equipment,sci.electronics.repair,rec.radio.shortwave
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(OT) : DaviD Asks Himself - " Do you ever take a break from shooting speed? "
DaviD Asks Himself - " Do you ever take a break from shooting speed? "
DaviD - One of America's Many Freedoms : Manual -or- Electric - The Choice Is Yours ! FWIW - My Manual Bottle Opener - Talks To Me ! ) { It's Time For A Beer ! } |
#20
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking,sci.electronics.equipment,sci.electronics.repair,rec.radio.shortwave
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
Barry in Wyoming wrote:
I'd nominate the hp 95LX as the first pocket computer, even before the Newton. I disagree. Almost twenty years before (1974) that they had the HP-65. It even had a magnetic card writer/reader for saving data or programs. ===================================== HP introduces the first minicomputer to be based on 4K dynamic random access memory chips (DRAM) instead of magnetic cores. The world's first programmable pocket calculator, the HP-65, is introduced at $795. Its programmability will later lead some to call it the world's first handheld computer. http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/abouthp/his.../hist_70s.html ==================================== I don't like the direction the company has taken. My experiences with some of their printers have soured me on the 'new' HP. I loved their products and philosophy until the end of the HP 41 era. They've turned into just another mass marketer, with all the cheap plastic trappings that accompany that mindset. . mike |
#21
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking,sci.electronics.equipment,sci.electronics.repair
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
On Mon, 26 Dec 2005 00:20:06 -0600, Jon Elson
wrote: Too_Many_Tools wrote: The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years ....do you agree? Any that you think they overlooked? http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/2005...E0BHNlYwN0bWE- What IMBECILE came up with this list? They are all TOYS! Let's see, the jet engine is probably just a bit too old to stay on the list. And, I guess the transistor has run off the edge, too. The integrated circuit is still less than 50 years old. Microwave oven? The internet? Solid state computers? Silicon memory technology? Disk drives? laser printers? Ink jet printers? VCRs? Lasers? CAT scanners, MRI, ultrasound? Oh, I get it! Gadgets! Not just inventions, but gadget as "useless gott-have-it junk". OK, now the list makes sense. Jon When the Sharper Image catloge is used as a testimoney to civilizations climb from the muck...we got problems with the culture. Gunner "Pax Americana is a philosophy. Hardly an empire. Making sure other people play nice and dont kill each other (and us) off in job lots is hardly empire building, particularly when you give them self determination under "play nice" rules. Think of it as having your older brother knock the **** out of you for torturing the cat." Gunner |
#22
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
Gunner Asch wrote:
On Mon, 26 Dec 2005 00:20:06 -0600, Jon Elson Oh, I get it! Gadgets! Not just inventions, but gadget as "useless gott-have-it junk". OK, now the list makes sense. Jon When the Sharper Image catloge is used as a testimoney to civilizations climb from the muck...we got problems with the culture. I'm not even sure most of this stuff would make it into Sharper Image's catalog! But, yeah, you're absolutely right! Jon |
#23
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
m II wrote:
I don't like the direction the company has taken. My experiences with some of their printers have soured me on the 'new' HP. I loved their products and philosophy until the end of the HP 41 era. They've turned into just another mass marketer, with all the cheap plastic trappings that accompany that mindset. . I just never could follow a mindset that expresses an equation as one enter one plus two when it's meant to be one plus one equals two -- If John McCain gets the 2008 Republican Presidential nomination, my vote for President will be a write-in for Jiang Zemin. |
#24
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
"clifto" wrote in message
... m II wrote: I don't like the direction the company has taken. My experiences with some of their printers have soured me on the 'new' HP. I loved their products and philosophy until the end of the HP 41 era. They've turned into just another mass marketer, with all the cheap plastic trappings that accompany that mindset. . I just never could follow a mindset that expresses an equation as one enter one plus two when it's meant to be one plus one equals two I have two HPs (12C and 15C) and a TI-83 Plus at my desk. When I want to get something done fast and sure, I use the HPs. When I need a graph or a table and don't mind being tedious, I use the TI. Once you get into it, you realize that RPN is about how the calculation actually *is done*, whether you do it by hand or by the computing device. Algebraic notation (the TI) is about how you *write it*, which has little to do with how it's actually done. RPN probably will fade away, but it's had a great run among scientists, engineers, and the top financial people. If your banker pulls out an HP-12C when you sit down to discuss a loan, watch out. g -- Ed Huntress |
#25
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
Ed Huntress wrote:
"clifto" wrote in message ... m II wrote: I don't like the direction the company has taken. My experiences with some of their printers have soured me on the 'new' HP. I loved their products and philosophy until the end of the HP 41 era. They've turned into just another mass marketer, with all the cheap plastic trappings that accompany that mindset. . I just never could follow a mindset that expresses an equation as one enter one plus two when it's meant to be one plus one equals two I have two HPs (12C and 15C) and a TI-83 Plus at my desk. When I want to get something done fast and sure, I use the HPs. When I need a graph or a table and don't mind being tedious, I use the TI. Once you get into it, you realize that RPN is about how the calculation actually *is done*, whether you do it by hand or by the computing device. Algebraic notation (the TI) is about how you *write it*, which has little to do with how it's actually done. RPN probably will fade away, but it's had a great run among scientists, engineers, and the top financial people. If your banker pulls out an HP-12C when you sit down to discuss a loan, watch out. g Hardly. I have RPN calculator programs that work on Windows, Linux and palm systems. I also have a couple of older HPs that still work fine. The advantage is that you don't have to write down intermediate values, which you absolutely have to do with any calculator that doesn't have either RPN or parentheses. Recent HP printers are an abomination, and they make no effort to hide that they give the printers away so they can sell you expensive cartridges designed so you have to discard expensive stuff (either laser or ink jet) rather than refill just what is depleted. The latest wars between the refill suppliers, and the serial numbered cartridge set up so you can't reuse a print cartridge, is the ultimate assault on the consumer. Buyers of those printers with such anti-consumer features ought to sue HP and other makers of such equipment. Imagine if automakers put an explosive charge in their engines, so when you hit 100,000 miles the bomb goes off and reduces your engine to scrap metal. That's what these print cartridges are trying to do on a small scale. (rant off) Jon |
#26
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
"clifto" wrote in message ... m II wrote: I don't like the direction the company has taken. My experiences with some of their printers have soured me on the 'new' HP. I loved their products and philosophy until the end of the HP 41 era. They've turned into just another mass marketer, with all the cheap plastic trappings that accompany that mindset. . I just never could follow a mindset that expresses an equation as one enter one plus two when it's meant to be one plus one equals two This is what was called "Reverse Polish Notation" for the HP calculators. It was only popular with a select group of engineers and scientists even though it did not require parenthesis for complex equations. It lost the marketing war to the more popular standard notation used by TI. Bob |
#27
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking,sci.electronics.equipment,sci.electronics.repair,rec.radio.shortwave
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
On 25 Dec 2005 08:28:42 -0800, "Too_Many_Tools"
wrote: The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years ....do you agree? I still use my Tandy 100 computer for short notes and calculations using programmes I wrote in the early 80's. When I go away it goes in the caravan for keeping fuel records etc. I also still have my Tandy Model 3, but it is stored in a cupboard in my workshop Alan in beautiful Golden Bay, Western Oz, South 32.25.42, East 115.45.44 GMT+8 VK6 YAB ICQ 6581610 to reply, change oz to au in address |
#28
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
Really fast once you get the hang of it, which happens quickly. I have
two HP15c's, an HP11c, an HP12c, and an HP41cv. |
#29
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
I just never could follow a mindset that expresses an equation as
one enter one plus two when it's meant to be one plus one equals two RPN had the advantage of unambiguous operation order (I don't think you need parenthesis) but not following convention makes it alien to most people. |
#30
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
clifto wrote this in
: I just never could follow a mindset that expresses an equation as one enter one plus two when it's meant to be one plus one equals two It's called Reverse Polish Notation (RNP), and is actually great for entering long equations and such, because you can skip out paranthesis, and stuff like that. You get things in Right Order(TM). Ok, I'll admit it takes a while to get used to, but the stack based layout is heaven. Especially if you happen to program in stack-based languages. Recently, I had a exam where my HP-48 was not allowed (not classified as a simple calculator), thus had to use some Casio POS. It was horrible. Was never sure where the calculator required () to get the right answers, simply because I was not used to think of those. I discovered that 4*5+2 is different from 4 5 2 + * So, my advise is simply to get used to RPN, and enjoy it. I'm lovin it! -- MVH, Vidar www.bitsex.net |
#31
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
It lost the war when the schools let young kids bring them to school and use them.
Once the volume got over the top - and in all homes - HP didn't have much a volume just in tech - but tech keeps buying every one they can. Martin Martin Eastburn @ home at Lions' Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net NRA LOH & Endowment Member NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder Bob Shuman wrote: "clifto" wrote in message ... m II wrote: I don't like the direction the company has taken. My experiences with some of their printers have soured me on the 'new' HP. I loved their products and philosophy until the end of the HP 41 era. They've turned into just another mass marketer, with all the cheap plastic trappings that accompany that mindset. . I just never could follow a mindset that expresses an equation as one enter one plus two when it's meant to be one plus one equals two This is what was called "Reverse Polish Notation" for the HP calculators. It was only popular with a select group of engineers and scientists even though it did not require parenthesis for complex equations. It lost the marketing war to the more popular standard notation used by TI. Bob ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==---- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---- |
#32
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
Jon Elson wrote:
Too_Many_Tools wrote: The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years ....do you agree? Any that you think they overlooked? http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/2005...E0BHNlYwN0bWE- What IMBECILE came up with this list? They are all TOYS! And variations on toys. The cell phone belongs on the list. And the PDA and the CD. Not endless variations of them though. DVD I'm not sure--it's really a growth version of the CD. VHS perhaps--it's what brought recordable video to the masses, still it's in a sense a growth version of an audio cassette. ABS--while it existed for aircraft for a long time it was Mercedes opening their ABS patents that let to its being adopted widely in the automotive industry. When was the radial-ply tire invented? The first NC machine and the first industrial robot were both demonstrated in 1955 so not sure whether to count them in "the last 50 years". Manned spaceflight isn't a "gadget" but it's certainly a major achievement. Let's see, the jet engine is probably just a bit too old to stay on the list. Yep. In service in WWII. And, I guess the transistor has run off the edge, too. The integrated circuit is still less than 50 years old. Microwave oven? The internet? Solid state computers? Silicon memory technology? Disk drives? laser printers? Ink jet printers? VCRs? Lasers? CAT scanners, MRI, ultrasound? Oh, I get it! Gadgets! Not just inventions, but gadget as "useless gott-have-it junk". OK, now the list makes sense. It really looks like something some kid composed. Jon -- --John to email, dial "usenet" and validate (was jclarke at eye bee em dot net) |
#33
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
In article ,
clifto wrote: m II wrote: I don't like the direction the company has taken. My experiences with some of their printers have soured me on the 'new' HP. I loved their products and philosophy until the end of the HP 41 era. They've turned into just another mass marketer, with all the cheap plastic trappings that accompany that mindset. . I just never could follow a mindset that expresses an equation as one enter one plus two [RPN] when it's meant to be one plus one equals two [Algebraic] There was quite the debate on the relative merits of RPN versus Algebraic entry in the engineering world 10 or 15 years ago. What settled it (at least for me) was the observation that the example RPN programs in the user guides for such things as mortgage calculation took only 2/3 the strokes as the corresponding Algebraic programs. These programs are written by expert programmers who work for the respective manufacturers, so it's a fair comparison. Aside from the technical advantage, there is the fact that people don't try to borrow my calculator a second time. But RPN is dead in the market - HP no longer makes RPN calculators, or perhaps has one holdout, soon to vanish. Actually, the 12C (financial) is still sold. Joe Gwinn, who has something like ten RPN calculators, and hopes they will last longer than he will |
#34
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
"J. Clarke" wrote:
Jon Elson wrote: Too_Many_Tools wrote: The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years ....do you agree? Any that you think they overlooked? http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/2005...E0BHNlYwN0bWE- What IMBECILE came up with this list? They are all TOYS! And variations on toys. The cell phone belongs on the list. And the PDA and the CD. Not endless variations of them though. DVD I'm not sure--it's really a growth version of the CD. VHS perhaps--it's what brought recordable video to the masses, still it's in a sense a growth version of an audio cassette. ABS--while it existed for aircraft for a long time it was Mercedes opening their ABS patents that let to its being adopted widely in the automotive industry. When was the radial-ply tire invented? The first NC machine and the first industrial robot were both demonstrated in 1955 so not sure whether to count them in "the last 50 years". Manned spaceflight isn't a "gadget" but it's certainly a major achievement. Let's see, the jet engine is probably just a bit too old to stay on the list. Yep. In service in WWII. And, I guess the transistor has run off the edge, too. The integrated circuit is still less than 50 years old. Microwave oven? The internet? Solid state computers? Silicon memory technology? Disk drives? laser printers? Ink jet printers? VCRs? Lasers? CAT scanners, MRI, ultrasound? Oh, I get it! Gadgets! Not just inventions, but gadget as "useless gott-have-it junk". OK, now the list makes sense. It really looks like something some kid composed. Jon -- --John to email, dial "usenet" and validate (was jclarke at eye bee em dot net) http://www.bellsystemmemorial.com/pdf/whitealice.pdf -- Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to prove it. Member of DAV #85. Michael A. Terrell Central Florida |
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The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
"J. Clarke" wrote:
Jon Elson wrote: Too_Many_Tools wrote: The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years ....do you agree? Any that you think they overlooked? http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/2005...E0BHNlYwN0bWE- What IMBECILE came up with this list? They are all TOYS! And variations on toys. The cell phone belongs on the list. And the PDA and the CD. Not endless variations of them though. DVD I'm not sure--it's really a growth version of the CD. VHS perhaps--it's what brought recordable video to the masses, still it's in a sense a growth version of an audio cassette. ABS--while it existed for aircraft for a long time it was Mercedes opening their ABS patents that let to its being adopted widely in the automotive industry. When was the radial-ply tire invented? The first NC machine and the first industrial robot were both demonstrated in 1955 so not sure whether to count them in "the last 50 years". Manned spaceflight isn't a "gadget" but it's certainly a major achievement. Let's see, the jet engine is probably just a bit too old to stay on the list. Yep. In service in WWII. And, I guess the transistor has run off the edge, too. The integrated circuit is still less than 50 years old. Microwave oven? The internet? Solid state computers? Silicon memory technology? Disk drives? laser printers? Ink jet printers? VCRs? Lasers? CAT scanners, MRI, ultrasound? Oh, I get it! Gadgets! Not just inventions, but gadget as "useless gott-have-it junk". OK, now the list makes sense. It really looks like something some kid composed. Jon -- --John to email, dial "usenet" and validate (was jclarke at eye bee em dot net) http://www.bellsystemmemorial.com/pdf/whitealice.pdf is interesting. it was still in use when I was stationed at Ft Greely, Ak. in the early '70s. -- Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to prove it. Member of DAV #85. Michael A. Terrell Central Florida |
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