sgi Archives - The Silicon Underground David L. Farquhar on technology old and new, computer security, and more Sun, 25 Nov 2018 22:58:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://kerosin.digital/rss-chimp16321610 Dinosaur hunting https://dfarq.homeip.net/dinosaur-hunting/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dinosaur-hunting Sun, 23 May 2010 01:06:01 +0000 https://dfarq.homeip.net/?p=1889 Today I slipped over to Laclede Computer Trading Company for the first time in many years. I was in search of an ISA parallel card. They're not easy to find these days, mostly because they aren't particularly useful to most people these days, but I figured if anyone would have one, it would be them.

No dice. But man, what memories.

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How to clean up your computer before you sell it https://dfarq.homeip.net/how-to-clean-up-your-computer-before-you-sell-it/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-to-clean-up-your-computer-before-you-sell-it Sun, 21 Sep 2008 01:34:21 +0000 https://dfarq.homeip.net/?p=1777 I went to a huge garage sale this morning. I walked home with a 7-year-old Dell 15" LCD monitor. What I paid for it wouldn't buy lunch for my wife and me. When I got it home and saw how well it worked, I felt guilty.

So if you're thinking of selling some computer equipment, take my tips (as someone who attends literally thousands of garage sales every year) for getting decent money for it.

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How eBay is ruining itself https://dfarq.homeip.net/how-ebay-is-ruining-itself/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-ebay-is-ruining-itself Wed, 04 Jun 2008 02:47:27 +0000 https://dfarq.homeip.net/?p=1746 A thread on one of the train forums I frequent mentioned today that the number of listings for Marx trains on eBay is down about 50% over what it was a year or so ago. Not only that, the listings are by and large the common, less interesting stuff.

Meanwhile, a debate rages on another forum I read sometimes, frequented by eBay sellers. On one side are the eBay apologists, saying they'll just change as eBay changes. On the other side, people struggling to make a profit in the ever-changing environment are finding other venues to sell their wares and finding themselves a lot happier.

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Are Google\’s corporate perks excessive? https://dfarq.homeip.net/are-googles-corporate-perks-excessive/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=are-googles-corporate-perks-excessive Mon, 15 Jan 2007 23:57:12 +0000 https://dfarq.homeip.net/?p=1595 Google's corporate perks are the subject of a Fortune magazine article. I'm going to take what I suspect is a contrarian view on this. I think Google's excessive spending on its employee perks is a good thing.

Why? Because I've seen what happens with the opposite.

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Setting up the tree and the train https://dfarq.homeip.net/setting-up-the-tree-and-the-train/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=setting-up-the-tree-and-the-train Sat, 25 Nov 2006 01:35:42 +0000 https://dfarq.homeip.net/?p=1587 Although some of the people in our neighborhood had their Christmas stuff up well in advance of Thanksgiving, my wife and I did the traditional thing, setting the tree up the day after Thanksgiving.

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Gigabit prices hit the mainstream https://dfarq.homeip.net/gigabit-prices-hit-the-mainstream/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gigabit-prices-hit-the-mainstream https://dfarq.homeip.net/gigabit-prices-hit-the-mainstream/#comments Sat, 17 Sep 2005 13:01:54 +0000 https://dfarq.homeip.net/?p=1496 So, if you haven't totally wireless-ized your computer setup yet, I've got a great excuse for you not to do it. Or at least to leave some wires hanging around for special occasions.

Cheap gigabit switches and NICs, that's what.

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How to get that dusty old train running again https://dfarq.homeip.net/how-to-get-that-dusty-old-train-running-again/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-to-get-that-dusty-old-train-running-again Sat, 27 Nov 2004 21:46:05 +0000 https://dfarq.homeip.net/?p=1371 It's the weekend after Thanksgiving. The time of year when nostalgia runs high and ancient toy trains come out of the basement or the attic and get set up again until sometime after the new year.

Well, hopefully they make it that long. Here are some tips for getting old Lionel, American Flyer, Marx, and similar trains running again.

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Beware the “flat screen” scam https://dfarq.homeip.net/beware-the-flat-screen-scam/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=beware-the-flat-screen-scam https://dfarq.homeip.net/beware-the-flat-screen-scam/#comments Sun, 28 Dec 2003 15:41:39 +0000 https://dfarq.homeip.net/?p=31 I was just pricing out some parts for the pending Compaq Presario upgrade when I remembered the latest scam--well, it's not technically a scam, but it's definitely deceptive advertising. Many stores offer a bundle with a low-end PC and a 17-inch "flat screen" for an unbelievable deal, like $499. Chances are, if you read this site, some relative of yours is going to be asking about that, if they haven't started asking already. And I'm pretty sure you know that right now $399 is a pretty good deal for a 17-inch LCD flat panel alone.

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R. Collins celebrates his birthday https://dfarq.homeip.net/r-collins-celebrates-his-birthday/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=r-collins-celebrates-his-birthday https://dfarq.homeip.net/r-collins-celebrates-his-birthday/#comments Fri, 19 Dec 2003 06:24:57 +0000 https://dfarq.homeip.net/?p=32 R. Collins Farquhar IV, aristocrat and scientist.

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My first lengthy exposure to digital photography https://dfarq.homeip.net/my-first-lengthy-exposure-to-digital-photography/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=my-first-lengthy-exposure-to-digital-photography https://dfarq.homeip.net/my-first-lengthy-exposure-to-digital-photography/#comments Sat, 30 Nov 2002 03:55:37 +0000 https://dfarq.homeip.net/?p=260 Well, I took the plunge. I've entered the world of digital photography.

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