Muddiest point - wk 3 readings..not meant for the laypeople

I would like to say that I really didn't get, as I may have stated several times in my reading notes, the jargon used in the article on LINUX.  I understand that it is written in C and that C is a programming language, like C++, etc.  What is the relationship between the OS and the hardware/software.  Is LINUX firmware, in that it is no hardware but also not software, either?  Is LINUX the vehicle that the software uses to deliver command info to the hardware?  Please, please would somebody explain this connection to me.  Translation is required.

Buena vista, baby

The article about the Microsoft Vista program read a little better than the other articles covering MAC OS X and Linux.  I am still a little bit fuzzy about the interactions between the OS and hard ware or do these systems only interact with the soft ware that runs on them/by them.  I will expand on it in my muddiest point piece because I need clarification.  

I guess many people were unhappy with the performance of Vista.  It seems to me, as a MAC person, that Microsoft just wanted to recreate the features that place MAC ahead of PCs, like security and better graphic/design capabilities...this last sentence will no doubt open a kettle of worms?!

MAC OS X, now we're talkin'

Ok, so this article was a little better. I still had to look up several terms but after the LINUX article, I was ready (more or less). I have used the MAC OS X, so I was sort of familiar with some of the jargon. I am pleased to say that I remembered what "firmware" was and I was all over the discussion on "booting." I am also familiar with the use of LDAP as that was how we authenticated at the library where I was once employed. Is this progress, on the road to computing/technology mavenship...God, I hope so. I did learn about the term "Open Source" which seems to me to be a fabulous way to share information and allow broader access to operating systems that are customizable...is that a word?!

Linux: Inspired by a Finn and read like it was written in Finnish??

Well, I made it through the computer hardware readings, virtually unscathed by the computer jargon therein. I even kind of understood what was going on there...just overwhelmed by all the sub-components. Then week three's readings hit me like a proverbial E-truck! Now, I am sure there are many people in our class who find this stuff second nature...great. Don't inundate me with comments such as, "I can't believe your so obtuse." I had to spend a great deal of time on the Internet following links to the numerous terms of which I was not remotely familiar. Linux sounds great, if I understood more about operating systems, in general. So bring it on, my know-it-all classmates, and let me know how I am lacking. This article totally threw me.

Wk 2 - comment #2

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Week 2, comment #1: link (verse etc.?)

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"Difference Engine No. 2"

The Computer History Museum site was absolutely fascinating. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the museum as well as touring the virtual exhibits. I was particularly fascinated by the Babbage Engine. It is interesting to ponder where we would have been now, in the Tech Age, if Babbage had actually built his machine. I am also curious to learn more about the team who built the machine.

"Discover the wonder of a future already passed." (http://www.computerhistory.org/) I found this quote from the site really compelling. The team who built this antiquated machine must have felt like time travelers, in some way. Going back in time for plans for the future, already surpassed, really...what an incredible experience.

Moore's Law and transistor proliferation.

The predictions of Gordon Moore, or Moore's Law as it is now called, really hit home with me. As I was born a few years before the article was first published and because I have witnessed first hand, the evolution of computers. When I was in high school, we had punch cards for the rather large, bulky and slow IBM (which was state of the art at the time) the school purchased. I worked in my college library where we used the amber screened computers which were only text-based. Eventually, the library where I was more recently employed used web-based programs and were incredibly fast and efficient.

Given what the Wikipedia article said about transistor trends, I can only imagine how fast computers will be 5-10 years from now. The only question that I pose is at what point do we start geting info over-load? More importantly, how does this kind of speed influence the other areas in our society. I have already seen people lose patience for having to wait a few minutes for a cup of coffee. It seems to me that since we can have info at our fingertips in an instant, we want the rest of the world to work that way as well. Is this a good thing?

Reading about computer hardware has caused my head to explode!

While I thoroughly enjoyed reading all about computer hardware, at one point, after following numerous links, I did think that my head was going to explode. I found the Wikipedia article on Computer Hardware both informative and frightening. I had never heard the term "firmware" before, so that was useful. I believe that this article was very helpful to me, and to those of use with very limited knowledge about computer components and general mechanics.

It was a bit daunting because I wondered if I would remember all of the detailed info that the article covered. Will I remember that the PCI, USB and CSI are all considered Internal Buses?! Not sure if that's possible. What about the IDE/ATA's and other Storage Controllers...it's unbelievably intimidating. Yet, I remain dedicated to the task of learning all of this...I will not let technology frighten me!!