My first computer I used was the TRS 80 MODEL III. I was 11 years old and knew immediately how I wanted to spend my life. We used to go after school to the special room which had computers, to play video games. Mostly a space invaders clone and a multi-user tron game.
I got board relatively quickly and wanted to know how it all worked and so started trying to make my own. I started in BASIC but found it too slow for games and progressed to Z80 machine code. Since I didn't have an assembler, I had to type the hex codes by hand. *sigh*
Looking at the specs it was ridiculous underpowered (compared to today). 16K of RAM 2MHz CPU (Zilog Z80 to those that are interested).
That was 26 years ago. I have no doubt that I will look back in 26 years time and smirk of what I had to do in 2007..
Let me know in the comments what you started on.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Friday, May 11, 2007
SteveJ answers questions
SJ answers questions at the recent shareholders meeting. I find it interesting that he said that selling Tiger as a low cost option to 3rd World countries (while everyone else would be on Leopard) was an option.
I found it disturbing about the reports that MSFT is trying to install windows on the OLPC. SJ wanted to give OSX away for that platform but they declined.
Anything that gets OSX out-there is a good thing.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Just a number..
What do you think is this number: 09-f9-11-02-9d-74-e3-5b-d8-41-56-c5-63-56-88-c0 ?
Some strange satanic chant that will bring about Armageddon? errrrrh.. no.. Well the MPAA think it just might.
You might have noticed that digg.com has *EXPLODED* with lots of stories about this number.
What is this number? Its the HD DVD encryption key is what it is. The MPAA are going after people who post it with cease and desist letters... They claim that this number is their intellectual property! huh??
Wikipedia locked out (password protected) the page with the number. Digg followed.
They initially started deleting all the stories that contained this number. This caused such an uproar, that hundreds of digg users started submitting stories over and over again. Heres a picture of the front page. After consideration they decided to tough it out and let the stories be posted.
What next? Is Microsoft going to claim they own the intellectual property of the number 7 and that you will need to remove it from your keyboard?
Pleeeeze..
Post about this number on your blog. Stop this lunancy.
Some strange satanic chant that will bring about Armageddon? errrrrh.. no.. Well the MPAA think it just might.
You might have noticed that digg.com has *EXPLODED* with lots of stories about this number.
What is this number? Its the HD DVD encryption key is what it is. The MPAA are going after people who post it with cease and desist letters... They claim that this number is their intellectual property! huh??
Wikipedia locked out (password protected) the page with the number. Digg followed.
They initially started deleting all the stories that contained this number. This caused such an uproar, that hundreds of digg users started submitting stories over and over again. Heres a picture of the front page. After consideration they decided to tough it out and let the stories be posted.
What next? Is Microsoft going to claim they own the intellectual property of the number 7 and that you will need to remove it from your keyboard?
Pleeeeze..
Post about this number on your blog. Stop this lunancy.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Eye of the beholder
Plato said "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder".
It's sometimes hard to appreciate art. People have such different tastes. Everyone has an opinion of what art is and usually more passionately, what it is NOT.
Landscape yes.. bucket of paint thrown at a canvas no. I try and be a little open minded.
I generally lean towards more contemporary art. You know like a tonne of rotting carrots strewed over a grand piano.. :)
Most people I talk to don't like it or say they "don't get it". I think thats a cop-out. People are used to passively absorbing what the TV blares out. They don't want to think. Clear your mind and see how it makes you feel.
I remember seeing an art piece once (I think in Chicago) which consisted of a sofa made of raw steak. Man did that cause a reaction! For those that do not know.. I'm a vegetarian! :)
I see art in technology, thats why I prefer apple products. You can tell that some serious creative thought has been applied. Its inspires me to do the same. It's probably why I'm so passionate about technology.
In any case, I saw this piece about paper sculptures. Yeah..yeah.. I can hear you saying 'whatever'.. but its really quite fascinating.. It obviously took a *long* time to make and I think I partially like it for that very reason. To put that much effort really shows something that I just can't quantify.
Anyhoo.. the final question that came to mind after seeing all of this was.. you guessed it.. "How many paper cuts did he get?!!" ;-)
It's sometimes hard to appreciate art. People have such different tastes. Everyone has an opinion of what art is and usually more passionately, what it is NOT.
Landscape yes.. bucket of paint thrown at a canvas no. I try and be a little open minded.
I generally lean towards more contemporary art. You know like a tonne of rotting carrots strewed over a grand piano.. :)
Most people I talk to don't like it or say they "don't get it". I think thats a cop-out. People are used to passively absorbing what the TV blares out. They don't want to think. Clear your mind and see how it makes you feel.
I remember seeing an art piece once (I think in Chicago) which consisted of a sofa made of raw steak. Man did that cause a reaction! For those that do not know.. I'm a vegetarian! :)
I see art in technology, thats why I prefer apple products. You can tell that some serious creative thought has been applied. Its inspires me to do the same. It's probably why I'm so passionate about technology.
In any case, I saw this piece about paper sculptures. Yeah..yeah.. I can hear you saying 'whatever'.. but its really quite fascinating.. It obviously took a *long* time to make and I think I partially like it for that very reason. To put that much effort really shows something that I just can't quantify.
Anyhoo.. the final question that came to mind after seeing all of this was.. you guessed it.. "How many paper cuts did he get?!!" ;-)
Remembering that I'll be dead soon..
Steve Jobs quote:
Found an interesting posting: 10 Golden Lessons From Steve Jobs.
Things to contemplate.
Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life.
Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.
Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.
Found an interesting posting: 10 Golden Lessons From Steve Jobs.
Things to contemplate.
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