Posts by markv

Oh, no one knows what goes on behind locked doors... so don't leave your UPS in there

Re: MicroVAX II Mayflower

Yes, I was heavily involved in the design of that layered approach, which also helped with response times as you zoomed in, and allowed us to write lock the minimum areas necessary, so that multi-user access for read and write was possible

Re: Ahh Pafec

I was the person who did the port from minis/workstations onto the PC, working with my boss (one of the directors), mostly in our spare time! Because we used a tightly controlled subset of Fortran IV the code compiled and ported pretty easily, with only a small library of routines which needed implementing specifically for the PC. The overlaying was a ***huge*** challenge, but we got there in the end. I still have my copies of Free PC-DOGS which was available on 5 1/4" and 3.5" floppies. The idea was to undercut AutoCAD (or low-end rival) and to provide an upgrade path to workstations and minicomputers. Pafes was a fantastic company to work for. I made friends for life there, who I am still in touch with.

Re: PAFEC memories

When we moved into Strelley Hall in the 80s, the Prime Minicomputers were installed on the ground floor, in the Library, an elegant wood-panelled room. It was very cold when we moved in, and I remember toasting bread on the open fires in our office! As we outgrew the main building, we moved into the stables block. Most of us were upstairs, but the stalls were used for "digitising" large A0 CAD drawings and maps for customers.

Although Pafec is long gone, the MD and owner is still there. The main building is used for serviced offices, and the Stables block is now a coffee shop, with small craft type shops around the courtyard. The Library is now used for regular afternoon teas. Recommended!

Re: Ahh Pafec

Me too. We also had HORSES (can't remember what that stood for).

The Palm Palm: The Derringer of smartphones

Try the Unihertz Jelly Pro - a bit smaller, Android, 4G, GPS, similar battery life, lower res camera. Gets lost in a coin pocket!

New Zealand joins the Space Race

Battery Powered

Re: The Rutherford engines are fed by electric motors

- ...and the electric motors are powered by three batteries. In the video during second stage firing, you can see 2 of the 3 batteries being ejected when they have been exhausted (just after a "hot swap" comment), to reduce the second stage mass and allow a heavier payload / higher acceleration.

The hoarder's dilemma: 'Why can't I throw anything away?'

Classic article which I missed first time round.

That bit about the boxes in the loft - that's me!

It's very easy to be in denial about being a hoarder - I guess you are a true hoarder if the rate at which you acquire stuff which "might just come in handy, one day" is greater than the rate at which you throw/recycle stuff which "OK, won't ever be used again"

Ten 3D printers for this year's modellers

Why No RepRap?

I'm very surprised you haven't included one of the latest RepRap versions in this list. With its open source approach, Reprap printable parts and ongoing enhancements, it surely qualifies?