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Comment 1986 (Score 1) 174

Back in 1986, I was working writing Commodore 64 programs for a Biology teacher at a Catholic high school. Technically, the C-64 was well past "outdated" by then, but the teacher didn't really want to have to learn new equipment. Admittedly finding an old Petspeed compiler to compile his old BASIC software helped immensely, but beyond that I was able to optimize his code to make it run multiple times faster. We had those machines doing things that made the IBM-supporters at the school board jealous.

Okay, AI run locally will require the latest and greatest hardware, or likewise video gaming and VR. Anything else is stuff we did just fine 10 years ago on then-current equipment and thus there is no reason we couldn't still do so.

Comment Don't want (Score 1) 98

Though then again, my phone isn't Android ...

I use my phone as a phone, not all that other stuff. (I have a tablet for that.) So it isn't strange for me to not use it for a week. Rebooting would actually mean using the battery more. And any limits on what time of day it does this? If it happens just before someone decides to call me (not likely obviously, but not impossible) or need to make one myself.

A better choice would be to reboot when it is charging, as you're unlikely to suddenly want it then. Or insure there's an option to disable this inconvenient feature.

Comment $800? For what? (Score 1) 87

I mean, really. I still use a flip phone - sort of. Mind you, flip phones that are 4-compatible come with some of that named junk. It has an app store, though using KaiOS. Not having an ASCII keyboard nor a touchscreen (and having a tiny screen to begin with) the apps are limited. Yes, it claims to have a web browser, though I really haven't been tempted to see how compatible it is. It does offer a media player, it even has a few games of sorts. Never looked for social media. Mind you, maps doesn't sound useful on this screen either, but turn-by-turn navigation might be okay.

But regardless, it certainly didn't cost $800

Comment Re:Google (Score 1) 25

Their description was "Legendary", I didn't see him as quite that famous. Wouldn't consider either you named as "legendary" either - yet. Maybe Gaga will get there, eventually. I don't consider rap as singing (just rhythmic poetry) - or do you consider William Shatner a singer for all those times he did songs?

Comment Google (Score 1) 25

Just a couple of days ago my tablet gave me a notification about a famous singer retiring and cancelling the rest of his tour dates - but of course left out the name in the notification. (Standard clickbait.) I clicked through and saw it was an 89-year-old guy whose name I d8d recognize but wasn't really that famous (and have since forgotten who it was).

But I'm sure you're familiar with Google searches - beneath the main results they have "People also asked ..." one of which was when did the singer die. As he was obviously still alive, I expanded that one to see what it said. It claimed he died 8 years ago following a stroke.

Comment Milkweed (Score 2) 49

Over the past couple of years at least, I've noticed our local Extension office (part of the state's Agriculture department) asking people to collect milkweed pods (and thus seeds) because monarch butterflies pupate on milkweed plants. As someone who grew up in rural America, it seemed like in the 70s farmers would have loved to kill all milkweed, so that's a bit of a change for them.

Comment Where is it? (Score 1) 54

Honestly, I get direct deposit and haven't set foot in a bank in ... well, at least 6 months. So where would I get cash? Okay, I could use a debit card at a store and request cash that way, but it isn't worth the trouble.

Comment Long time ago (Score 1) 85

When I used to deliver newspapers overnight - 20 years ago - I listened to AM. I worked for the office and would deliver different routes from week to week, some of which would take me outside the range of the local FM station. Thus it was simpler to listen to AM ... besides, none of the FM stations had live broadcasters at that time of the day, and listening to a live voice just helps keep you awake. Even if it is the "interstate trucking road show".

Comment What free market? (Score 1) 136

A free market assumes you have full information and viable alternatives. When it comes to social media, they tell you very little about how they use your data, and most alternatives are not viable - you join a particular community because that's where your friends or people you are interested in already are.

Comment Need more options (Score 1) 50

People will typically let their phone or tablet connect to their home internet, though that's a transitory connection. Then there are printers and smart TVs and BluRay players that want a WiFi connection. Do we count IoT devices?

In that sense - and presuming you mean "whatever WiFi network you use at home" and don't limit it to devices the respondent him/herself personally has control of, I'm surprised anyone could choose an option besides 15+. If you exclude phones/tablets and portable gaming devices since they aren't always connected to that network, ... no, still too many:. WiFi cameras and doorbells, weather stations, smart appliances and lights, the list goes on and on. (I'm sure there are many people who might have only 5 devices, but probably not among Slashdot respondents.)

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