Spider Robinson...

[kengr]

http://www.spiderrobinson.com/carryon.htm

Comments

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[kengr]

Well, I have two "spare" copies of Deja Vu around. One is one cassette. I know where that is. The other might appeal to you if you have the gear to play it.

Would you believe reel-to-reel tape?

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[kengr]

Well, if I can dig up the reel-to-reel I can send it to you along with a cd of the content. That'd be all legal and legit and all that stuff. :-)

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[kengr]

Nope, Albums were actually released on reel-to-reel. I have both Deja Vu, and the Beatles "Sgt Pepper" album on reel-to-reel in the original boxes. I got them because some *idiot* was tossing them in the trash!!!

Dunno how common it was, but it did happen, because I've seen them.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[kengr]

I think they were likely more expensive than LPs and more for the "high end" stereo junkies.

It *had* to cost more per copy to make them.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[kengr]

the problem with reel-to-reel tape (and with cassettes, for that matter) is that it's extremely awkward to cue it to a particular selection. it's linear, not random-access.

Now picture trying to find files on a *tape* backup of a PC. When I first going involved with PC tape backups, we were using some rather nice software that would let you retreive individual files from the backup. Even from the faster-to-make "image" backups.

But after the first time I had to help someone *restore* files from an image backup, I got them to change to the slightly slower "file-by-file" backup.

You see, with a fragmented drive (as most were since this was before defrag programs) you'd have to hunt all over the tape for the pieces of a file. and then do it again for the next file. Ick.

20 meg on what looked like a standard casssette tape with a notch cut in the middle of the back. :-)

ps. Some of the low end MP3 players are linear as well. You *can* skip to nest track/previous track, but that's it.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[kengr]

Some MP3 players *are* solid state. Alas, the ones that are and allow removable memory don't take CF cards, which is what I have for my camera and a few other things.

The one I was referring to is a creative Nomad MuVo. Which is a combo MP3 player *and* "thumb drive". No displayjust an LED and a few buttons. Which is why it's sequential.

A friend gave me her 64 meg unit after she got an Ipod.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[kengr]

CF = Compact Flash. Microdrives will work on the same connector but tend to be thicker.

Then there are SD, SM, MM and a bunch of others I don't recall.

A whole bunch ion the last couple of years, we've gone from 6-in-1 readers to 12-in-1.

My Nomad has two parts. The thumb drive which is the same size & shape as most, and has six buttons, a Red/green LKED and an earphone jack, and a sort of "holder" it snaps into that has a AAA battery for powering it when used as an MP3 player.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[kengr]

Dunno about that as there are few reasons to include such functionality. But there are a few handheld computers that include a cell phone.

More common is a USB or serial cable that plugs into the phone and into your computer. With software that either comes with the cable or is downloadable, you can copy your addrerss book to the computer and edit it there. Some extra cost software will do things like let you update appointments on the phone.

And, of course, the cables let you use the phone as a modem.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

Carry On

[mistresscayenne.livejournal.com]

Carry on you wayward sunofabitch and I'll sink your horse before you eat again.

My sentiments for Bush et al.