Re: How to make money fast (in science fiction)

In rec.arts.sf.science Chuk Goodin <cgoodin@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> On Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:37:16 -0500, Michael Ash <mike@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
wrote:
>>How fast it boots is basically irrelevant; the proper benchmark is the 
>>time required to go from "off" to "ready to use". Even running the
Dreaded 
>>Windows, a modern computer should be using sleep/hibernate
functionality, 
>>which will go from off to ready in a few seconds at worst.
> 
> Sorry, I am using the word "boot" here as more of a generic term -- time

> to go from "off" to "ready to use". Energy costs being what they are
these 
> days, many PC users can't afford to keep their machines on 24/7.

Right, but "off" ought to be a sleep or hibernate state these days. Energy

usage in sleep is barely any more than in off unless you physically unplug

the device.

> (And if 
> it's a Windows machine, you're gonna need to reboot it a couple of times
a 
> day anyway...)

I'm told that this is generally not the case anymore, although I'm sure it

depends on your hardware and software setup.

>>I have distinct memories of various times during my childhood where I 
>>would turn on the computer, then go hunt for snacks or something to wait

>>for it to boot. I do not do this on any kind of regular basis anymore,
and 
>>I'm sure I wouldn't if I ran Windows either.
> 
> You're probably more patient now than you were as a kid. I know my kids 
> have less tolerance for long boots than I do. :-)

I'm sure I do, but the simple fact of the matter is that I almost never 
boot my computer. (Maybe once a month, and generally because it crashes, 
making this time fall under the "unreliability" category.) When I want to 
start using it in the morning, I walk up to it, whack a key on the 
keyboard, sit in my chair, and go.

-- 
Michael Ash
Rogue Amoeba Software