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IBM 7496 Executive Workstation

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing May 18, 2022August 22, 2022

The IBM 7496 Executive Workstation is a rare IBM computer from the late 1980s. It gained some measure of fame in the early 2020s, when vintage technology Youtubers got their hands on them and rebuilt them. Their success, or lack thereof in one case, helped elevate this machine in enthusiasts’ minds.

The IBM 7496 Executive Workstation is some kind of a purpose built PC, derived from the PS/2 Model 30. About a dozen examples turned up in the inventory of Computer Reset, a now legendary Dallas-based warehouse of computers dating back to the 1980s that was liquidated from 2019-2022.

What solder mask is

Dave Farquhar Hardware May 17, 2022April 23, 2022

Solder mask is a protective polymer coating applied to printed circuit boards that serves multiple purposes. Besides being an aid in the PCB manufacturing process, it also serves a reliability purpose.

Why S traps are illegal in drains

Dave Farquhar DIY May 16, 2022May 7, 2022

Are s traps illegal? Why? You may have heard S traps are illegal, without explanation. Or maybe you’ve wondered why you have to make a P trap under your drain when an S trap would be easier. Here’s why S traps are illegal in drains.

S traps are illegal because they cause a health and a safety hazard. But the conditions under whether you have to replace them do vary.
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What is Delrin?

Dave Farquhar Toy trains May 12, 2022March 26, 2023

Perhaps the most lasting legacy of Model Products Corporation on the history of Lionel trains was its use of a material called Delrin. And their competitors, including Marx and K-Line, quickly started using it too. But what is Delrin, and why was it better than the tried and true stuff Lionel Corporation used?

Delrin is a trademark of DuPont, a type of plastic called Polyoxymethylene POM. You can injection mold parts with it like other plastics such as styrene or ABS, but it is slippery and self-lubricating.

Are electric lawn mowers quiet?

Dave Farquhar DIY May 11, 2022April 30, 2022

Proponents of electric lawn mowers talk about the sound they make as an advantage. But are electric lawn mowers quiet for real, or is it just marketing talk?

Can dogs spell?

Dave Farquhar Dogs May 10, 2022April 30, 2022

Dogs can learn somewhere between 50 and 250 words or phrases. So that means humans will sometimes speak in code to avoid getting a dog excited. One of the most common forms of code is spelling the words. That works until dogs learn the spelling of those words. Wait. Dogs can spell?

Is Windows XP obsolete or is it retro?

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing May 9, 2022April 30, 2022

Windows XP is hard to classify. I still remember when it was brand new, and technologically it’s closer to today’s versions of Windows than it is to Windows 98. To my kids, it’s ancient history. But what should we call it? Is Windows XP obsolete? Or is it retrro?

Whatever you call it, it shouldn’t be your everyday operating system anymore. I’ve talked before about what to do if you are still running XP and need something else to migrate to.

How soon is too soon to get another dog? It depends

Dave Farquhar Dogs May 5, 2022April 30, 2022

How soon is too soon to get another dog? Unfortunately I have experience in this area. But most dog owners do. And the amount of time I’ve waited varied. Here’s why.

Qualys duplicate assets

Dave Farquhar security May 4, 2022April 30, 2022

One of the most frequent problems people ask me about when doing a health check on their vulnerability management program is duplicate assets in Qualys. If you simply run the tool with the defaults, it is definitely possible to end up with duplicate assets. But with a few configuration changes, you can mostly eliminate this problem.

Why electric lawn mowers are better than gas

Dave Farquhar DIY May 3, 2022November 15, 2022

Over the course of two decades of home ownership, I’ve gone through several gas mowers. In 2021, after my friends bought electric mowers and raved about them, I decided to buy one myself. So are electric lawn mowers better than gas? Let’s look at the pros and cons.