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Comment: Re:Because that worked so well for Apple? (Score 0) 216

by ackthpt (#44043883) Attached to: Microsoft To Start Dumping Surface RT To Schools For $199

This is because there is no market for graphing calculators outside of what the school requires.

This is why a Ti-83 still costs $100 even though it could be replaced by a $50 china tablet or something even cheaper.

Show me a tablet that will run for about 2 years on a set of AAA cells.

Comment: Re:Huh? (Score 1) 216

by ackthpt (#44043873) Attached to: Microsoft To Start Dumping Surface RT To Schools For $199

Wait a second. I had an Apple ][, and it came with Integer Basic on the ROM. You had to run floating point Basic off a cassette tape (it was a while before I got a floppy disk) but Integer Basic was built in.

Ah, the Red Book... ALL of the monitor code to read. Small enough that you could actually understand what was going on. Those were the days.

They had the lab ones monkeyed up, so you needed a boot disk so you could launch Integer Basic. I think it was supposed to be some sort of educational software, but not many people used them for it, most we like me and brought in a boot disk to get around it and start in on coding.

Comment: Re:No (Score 1) 216

by ackthpt (#44043541) Attached to: Microsoft To Start Dumping Surface RT To Schools For $199

Yep.

At $49, I might buy one. At $199, I still expect to get something for my money. I discovered this recently when I bought a Chromebook on a whim. It was back in the box and returned in a few days. I thought I wouldn't care if it was just a toy at that price but I was wrong. I spent another $105 to get a quad-core 17.3" laptop and installed Chrome on it. Gives me the Chrome experience in addition to being able to do all kinds of other stuff.

Yeah, but this isn't offered to you, it's to schools. Schools will buy them, because they'll think they are getting a big fat deal. Then IT people in schools will point out what a pain they are to do anything with, but with enough tar or mortar could be used to patch holes in the roof.

Comment: Re:Huh? (Score 1) 216

by ackthpt (#44043415) Attached to: Microsoft To Start Dumping Surface RT To Schools For $199

How would this remind people of Apple in the 80s? The Apple II was not a dud product being price dumped to clear inventory.

The RT is a stinker. Dump the Pro and maybe we'll talk. <_<

I remember the Apple ][ computers showing up in school and thinking it was going to be real cool, until I found I had to get my own dubious copy of Integer Basic to boot from so I could have some fun with them :D

Comment: Re:There goes another Swiss Army knife (Score 1) 298

by ackthpt (#43919501) Attached to: TSA Decides Against Allowing Small Knives On Aircraft

Nothing like getting to where you are flying and by reflex reaching for that Swiss Army Knife I always carry, because something needs a little tweak.

But by all means, let's continue to behave like a bunch of frightened lemmings.

this also ends my plans for Ackthpt's Small Knives And Pointy Objects Emporium in airports from coast to coast.

Comment: Re:Stumped my ass (Score 5, Funny) 397

by ackthpt (#43917869) Attached to: Keyless Remote Entry For Cars May Have Been Cracked

Haven't we seen proof of concept hacks of these kinds for a while?

Also, "adding to the mystery", also my ass. Different keyfobs work with different algorithms and protocols. Someone's hacked a particular subset of them.

Maybe the car is sentient, hates the current own and wants to be stolen.

System going down at 5 this afternoon to install scheduler bug.

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