Bernie Dwyer wrote:
> I've just finished reading the Niven/Pournelle novel "Lucifer's Hammer.
>
> SPOILER FOLLOWS
>
> Briefly, the earth suffers multiple comet strikes, driving civilisation
> back almost to feudalism.
>
> It got me wondering about how to preserve electronic computing
> facilities for a time when there would be little or no service or spare
> parts. Perhaps there would not much use for a computer when one is
> struggling to grow enough food to feed yourself + family (+ sharing with
> neighbours?), but I'd sure like to have the ability to organise and
> analyse information in the future.
>
> So, take your typical intel PC (preferably 10 or more of them), or
> whatever you have handy. Hard disks will eventually die, but you still
> want to be able to start the machine and use it.
>
> How many bootable tapes/diskettes/CDs will you make (assuming you have
> time to do so)? How many copies of your favourite apps?
>
> And would it be better to verify and copy^W backup those old Lotus 1-2-3
> diskettes?
> What's the best way to preserve hardware that you might not use for some
> time, but you want to be able to use it say in 1 year, 2 years, 5 years
> (if you haven't got electric power after 5 years, I think you may as
> well forget all about it!)
>
> Personally, I'm off-grid with 1.6 kilowatts of solar panels and 1100 amp
> hours of batteries at 450 meters above sea level, about 50km from the
> coast. I *should* survive food-wise, but I probably wouldn't be able to
> fire up the home computer very often.
I have recently read of a ****table computer being marketed to the 3rd
World
for use in villages without ready access to electricity. Its batteries
can
be recharged by pedaling a stationary bike.
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