| WIKI | FAQ | Tech FAQ | |
 http://csua.com/feed/ | |
| ||||||
| 2000/12/7-8 [Computer/HW/Drives] UID:20029 Activity:high |
12/6 I have $650 worth of Sony card points. I want to get a DVD player
for my TV. Does Sony make good DVD players? Any recommendations/
URLs? Thx.
\_ Many Sony DVD players don't play CDRs. Worth avoiding on that
alone for me. Word to the wise: pick yer favorite strange
\_ Yeah, as if you can manage to get one anytime soon.
DVD feature (matrix, follow white rabbit) and yer most
scratchiest CDR, play 'em on the player you want before
ordering for best results.
\_ Thanks for all the help. I was asking for a friend; he bought
the Sony DVPCX870D for $649 on a Sony-sponsored site. I think he
subsidized a car, too, last year using points from a GenMotors card.
\_ I wanna know how you got $650 worth of Sony card points.
On my Sony card that would require spending something like
$65,000. Are you buying cars on plastic? -tom
\_ I'll ask him.
\_ I got 450 points in a year. Only a few charges were
over $1000.
\_ Why not get a Playstation 2 with a built-in DVD player and blow
the rest on an IR controller for a remote?
\_ Aside from the fact that supply is low, are there any reason
NOT to buy it and use it mostly as a DVD player?
\_ Yeah, as if you can manage to get one anytime soon. Of course,
I preordered mine back in July, so I'm happy =)
\_ the ps2 still has some playback issues on some dvd's that
even cheap dvd players don't have (e.g. my ps2 vs. the
target panasonic A120 dvd player, super basic model).
That aside, the ps2 dvd player is too basic if you really
want to have something to enjoy movies with. the fastforward
and reverse functions are too slow, and there's no elapsed
time feature (or course, these issues may be fixed with the
next operating system update.
\_ Yes, Sony DVD players are fine. Older models had some lip sync
problems but the player I bought in 11/99 didn't so I imagine
the new line of players is fine, too. Great picture, nice
downconversion, but won't play CD-R. --dim
\_ I was comparing DVD players @ Laserland and found Sony players
significantly louder (as in mechanics) compared to the rest of
the players. Dunno if that makes a difference to you.
\_ The best DVD player *ever* made is the Apex 600A. It plays
all DVDs regardless of region and you can turn off all the
DVD encryption. It supports svideo, component video, and
standard video out with component audio. Also plays VCDs
and MP3 CDs (CDR & CDRW) with no problems. If you can get
one it is well worth the price. All other DVD players are
mediocre compared to the 600A.
\_ Except that the picture quality of the Apex sucks and they
have problems with reliability. Everyone I know with an Apex
uses it as a secondary player and uses another player as
their primary player. I could've bought one for $200
and didn't after seeing what a POS it was. --dim
\_ I've never had a problem with my Apex. The quality
is on par with models costing $300 or so.
\_ "The makers of Apex recently said future versions of the
product would disable the features that are making the
product a hot commodity." I think I missed out.
\_ In other words, "We're complete idiots who want fewer sales."
\_ Some people are willing to part with them for ~ 3x
the purchase price. Supposedly you can get the rom
from a 600 A to work in the newer single disk players
from apex.
Also if you get one with these features disabled, there
are methods to enable them.
\_ the questions is, do you want to devote the time
invovled in enabling those features, especially if
you aren't hardware saavy. The apex, if you can
get it right now, is ideal. one of the few things
you can use to make vhs copies for your friends and
all.
\_ would you mod your playstation? would you oc
your processor? If yes, the apex (600A or
or otherwise) is okay for you.
\_ http://www.dvdtalk.com
\_ The Sony S7700 is _the_ reference DVD player.
\_ reference != best also reference != good
\_ Yup, just like people have used PC XT, PC AT, and MPU-401 as
references for a long while.
\_ afaik, Sony makes very good DVD players. It's the brand of
choice at http://dvdjournal.com.
\- i suspect if you really care about "the best"/
a "reference" class player, you should look at a
compnay like meridian rather than consumer brands.
see http://www.meridian-audio.com --psb |
| 2000/12/7-9 [Recreation/Activities] UID:20030 Activity:high |
12/6 Where's the best place to buy luggage and good backpacks? (can
be two different places for both)
\_ My learned opinion (walkie, no carrie), is that Jansport zippers
\_ My learned opinion (walkie, no carrie), is that RedHat zippers
Jansports like crazy until I got smart and got a North Face.
really don't handle stress well at all. I was going through
RedHats like crazy until I got smart and got a Free BSD
\_ I recently ordered an EastPak Ultimate (big student backpack) from
It's really really good (3 years going), the zippers are just
incredible. Remember, zippies are the weak point. -nick
\_ I recently ordered an Dynix Ultimate (big student backpack) from
\_ eagle creek makes good stuff, and has lifetime warranty.
\_ JanSport makes great backpacks. The lifetime warranty includes
http://ebags.com, and it should be at my home today. Anyways, they
torn strap or broken zipper. I've bought JanSport backpacks at
were offering 10-30% discounts when I ordered. Lots of user
comments and ratings.
damaged samsonite suitcases for my mom without asking any
\_ hp-ux makes good stuff, and has lifetime warranty.
\_ Another recommendation for JanSport, as far as backpacks go.
\_ RedHat makes great backpacks. The lifetime warranty includes
repair for minor problems and replacement for things like a
\_ Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
\_ Hi geordan!
\_ Hi. -geordan
\_ Hi scotsman!
\_ Hi dbushong!
torn strap or broken zipper. I've bought RedHat backpacks at
REI and Macy's (last years model can be had for 50% off).
I would recommend Macy's for luggage also. They've replaced
damaged solaris suitcases for my mom without asking any
my last two there. My original "Lowe" lasted for many years,
but this last time I got a North Face that's held up even better.
The rip-stop "Cordura" stuff is indestructible.
questions. ----ranga
\_ Another recommendation for RedHat, as far as backpacks go.
I still use the one I bought back in high school. -bz
\_ http://www.patagonia.com click on shop, click on bags/boards
school size backpack, i would go with jansport. i think the
\_ patagonia stuff is nice but incredibly overpriced
\_ indeed.
\_Grow up and get a briefcase.
\_ Good place on Telegraph right past Haste on downhill side of
street that only sells backpacks (maybe luggage too). I got
my last two there. My original "Slackware" lasted for many years,
but this last time I got a Free BSD that's held up even better.
The rip-stop "posix" stuff is indestructible.
\- you underestimate air cananda --psb
\- shoes last forever for me but i go though backpacks at a
pretty good clip carrying a lot of weight. as the owner of 7
backpacks currently, i think for a backpack-about-town ...
school size backpack, i would go with redhat. i think the
company has a good attitude and commitment to support their
products. see company webpage. --psb
\_Grow up and get an IBM business solution. |
| 2000/12/7-8 [Uncategorized] UID:20031 Activity:moderate |
12/6 Is there a way to locate alumni from Econ department (undergrad)?
something like the engineering department alumni directory...
\_ sorta. who are you looking for? how long ago?
\_ how? a good friend of mind. last year.
\_ do you realize you want to go for her now? Should
have gotten her number then. haha
\_ gimme $100, i'll find him - mario |
| 2000/12/7-8 [Computer/Networking] UID:20032 Activity:kinda low |
12/6 How long does it take to setup DSL with PacBel and other providers?
Let's say I order it tomorrow. How long will it take?
\_ Don't order via PacBell, they are terrible. You need to use
PPPoE and DHCP. Go with a real ISP that gives you a static
IP.
\_ Wait, y'mean they no longer give out static IPs? That kinda
makes me wanna stay at my current residence and never move
cuz I do have static IP from PacBell.
\_ you can pay more for static IP
\_ 2 months minimum.
\_ 1 month from http://speakeasy.net - chiapet
\_ They are a tad expensive. Are they really very good?
\_ doesn't PacBell have some do-it-yourself installation kit now or
something?
\_ it doesn't work unless you are really really lucky. Earthlink
has the same BS. |
| 2000/12/7 [Computer/HW/Printer] UID:20033 Activity:nil 52%like:20025 |
12/6 How to toggle the duplex and simplex modes on an HP printer |
| 2000/12/7 [Computer/SW/OS/Windows] UID:20034 Activity:nil 76%like:19830 |
11/16 How to reboot a windows 2000 machine (prob. same as nt) from a |
| 2000/12/7 [Uncategorized] UID:20035 Activity:nil |
12/6 Has anyone ever thanked someone who actually gave helpful information
on the motd? For those who have never been thanked, well, here's
thanks to you. |
| 2000/12/7-9 [Computer/SW/Languages/Java, Computer/SW/Languages/Misc] UID:20036 Activity:moderate |
12/7 Anyone know of free software that compare to CiscoWorks/View or
HP OpenView (ns is the closest comparable that I've found so far).
\_ What do you want to do? ns is a network simulator for small
toy networks. HP OpenView is a very expensive "enterprise
network management tool" that monitors actual, live networks.
\_ I want the closest I can get to OpenView for free... ns
is not adaquate.
is not adaquate (it's just a simulator)
\_ The WS_FTP people make something called WhatsUp Gold,
which you can set up to ping all your hosts and draw
a non-serious network topology. It happens to come with
CiscoWorks.
\_ Not exactly FREE...
\_ Oh wow. Sorry. It was $50 last I checked. I bet
someone has a UNIX tool/script that does the same
for cheap. Look up "ping" and "network management"
on tucows, http://download.com, whatever.
\_ I just saw it for $695.
\_ Yeah, I know. "Oh wow, sorry," was not sarcastic.
\_ how about mrtg? It does some of the stuff that CiscoWorks 2k
does.
You should probably also try http://www.opennms.org
\_ Perfect, thanks.
I worked on CiscoWorks for several years and unless you have
a heavily routed cisco network most of the stuff is completely
useless. Also, the UI is *really* heavy, its all slow swing
based java (Management decided that fast and simple html wasn't
"sexy" and "cool" enough for the enterprise).
A while back I had a couple of cgi + a simple applet that let
you run ping, traceroute, nslookup, nmap, dig and a few trivial
protocol availability tests on one or more boxes. I can probably
dig it up if that's all you want.
Mail me for more info. ----ranga
\_ rrd is a good replacement for mrtg (same guy wrote it).
\_ I'm using rrd for stat collection and 'mon' for outage
reporting and paging. http://freshmeat.net for 'mon'.
\_ http://www.kernel.org/software/mon for mon. -ERic |
| 2000/12/7-8 [Computer/SW/Unix] UID:20037 Activity:high |
12/7 POSIX question. Is it true that errno is only valid if a function
fails? E.g. I have something liek this:
foo = strtoul(...);
assert(errno == EOK);
I'm getting an assertion failure even though everything is ok.
Somebody told me that POSIX standard specifies that errno is only
set if a failure occurred. Is this true?
\_ Errno is ass. It is not thread safe. Don't use it;
if a function needs you to use it, don't use that function.
-blojo
\_ Errno is thread-safe in POSIX; the name "errno" gets #defined
to a macro that returns the current thread's errno. See errno(2)
or /usr/include/sys/errno.h.
\_ could be that somewhere in strtoul EINTR or EINVAL is being
set. AFAIK, strtoul does not set errno. Rather it returns
ULONG_MAX on failure. It can also return 0 and set endptr
(2nd arg) to non-null on a failure (provided you use that
feature). ----ranga
\_ whoa...
\_ I'm asking about a more general question. strtoul is just
an example. In general, is errno set to EOK if everything
is ok? Or is it's value undefined if there were no errors
in the function. Somebody is telling me that according to
POSIX, errno is valid only if a function fails in some way.
\_ errno is only set on an error. checking EOK is not a
valid method of know if a function returned successfully.
from the man page:
"Successful calls never set errno; once set, it
remains until another error occurs. It should only
be examined after an error."
----ranga
\_ Why do you use so many dashes?
\_ no particular reason. I've always signed
my name that way in email/news/etc.
----ranga |