I solved the cost problem... I hand wired a machine a little at a time, took about 1 year. 4k of static ram, Z-80A processor, switches on the front panel and leds to display. Yes, the big cost was the Z-80A at ~$400 but the rest were mainly 74xx chips which were cheap in Bay Area at the time. Then added Hex Display and Hex Keyboard, Then add Video and Keyboard. Finally a 555 timer to change single stepping switch into a "gas petal" - let it run faster or slower as needed to debug.

2 years later bought a Timex/Sinclar with 16k module for about 1/2 the price.

But had wiring was a good way to learn and understand the computer as well as ports and singaling between the chips. It helped when I wrote my first and last C program for IBM PC (not even an XT) to handle communications between two async ports at 9600 baud.

Then again the smalest computer I built was 4bit computer with 256 bytes of memory. All from about 30 74xx chips and another 555 timer.

Good Times.

You missed the "high-tech" solution I did for mine... Folded paper into a "roll" and taped it to the memory module between the computer and module bodies. Add tesion to connection - so no wiggle.

I have freind who worked on Artifcal Heart Admin application. You now to keep inventory of devices. FDA had to do full code review and audit of that software. Got him to leave the gig in less than 3 months.

When Lucifer's Hammer hits, this beacon will help light up the dark for our children's children!

Power over ethernet or USB3 device port (ie slave to another computer) would make these type of machines MUCH better, because the stand alone power supply is no longer needed. Think of BEOWULF cluster that was here on /. The cool think there was a different way of connecting power to each of the 32 RPi. But that was also two more power supplies to power them. If the RPi could have gotten POE, then switch he used could have been upgraded and all RPi powered just by being connected. Think of those CISCO phones on your desk. Thats how they work.

I also would like monitors to offer a USB port with enough power to run these machines (USB). Just like the in-line amps for HD antennas these days, Use the USB port on the back of the TV to power themselves.

My current RPi has Plugable USB 2.0 4 port w/ BC 1.1 Charging Hub. I use one port to power RPi and the other 3 ports to extend the USB of RPi. It can even power a hard drive connected to hub. But it looks like WART on back of RPi taking away the small size with lots of wires going in and out. Not clean looking.

This movie and part of prior failed at basic science.
1) The ship is not a gaint beer factory with volumes of empty useless space between things. If you have leak there are no comaptments to stop the leak. See Titanic.
2) Build stairs to stairs to stairs show ship was not designed for use, but for only a movie.
3) Items inside of ship without power falling in planet's gravity well. Do not fall faster! You will not be runninng on the walls or sliding as it you are on a slide.

On another note...
1) A prefect human would have good teath.
2) An Asian 1990s charcter is not a white english guy.
3) Charcter of strong controled though - does not run in croward, does not fight stupily after controled battling, basicly being to opposite of his character.

Lastly...
The Golden Gate Bridge does not go east and west, nor is visual in fine detail from transamerica building! At least the real Start Trek gets that right.

A few years ago I was talking with a Prof at Univ of Memphis and he was talking about starting a program, because FedEx was in looking to to help. They were looking for better quality control. I do not know if it was started, since I have moved 3 years ago away from area.

In my past, though, the best QA person was a gentalman that had a degree in Anthropology. He could find bugs that no one could find, by taking every single keystroke and option. Plus he had great stories to tell of different locations around the world.

Had a Comp/Sci professor who wrote BARDIAC (~1977), same as CARDIAC but with punch cards. It ran on DataPoint 2000 which was the 8008 instruction set run on decreate componants. Nothing like using elumation software on an elumation computer!

Will have to play with excel sheet, relive OLD times!

Hugo Award winners are always a good start. "Rite of Passage " is to me a good teen book. I gave it to my daughters.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Award_for_Best_Novel

See: "Hide/Show Transcript" under the image that may or may not be there.

I good see the hardware/software is flexable - even in these days of walled gardens.

My wife just got me a TP adapter, so I now have a net project to look forward too.

Those steel cables were not in the way during the crash. Look carefully, the crash went thought a gate in the fence (hence no cables). The gate allowed the nose of the car to be sheared off upon hitting the pole closest to finish line. Luckly dropping the enigne at the foot of stands tangled with the fencing, but allowing for tires and othe junk to go into the stands.

Why brick them? Just making using them useless. Every connection to network: WiFi or Cell, just opens a FaceTime connection, so the police can direct comunate with the current holder. So clean records.