You allowed this twittering twatapuss onto your pages?!

Subject: Letters are becoming my favourite

Normally I hold a firm disdain for the random opinions of random people whose only qualifications are an email address, at best. Today, I'm in a mood of participation.

On the topic of Lee, the reader who wrote regarding "DAAMIT In Trouble": I, too, am stuck in the ghost-town that is the S939 upgrade path. I bought in to an Athlon64 3700+, which I've pushed to 2.75GHz, with 1GB of DDR400. The upgrade path I had been looking toward has turned into a dream deferred; Moving to dual core, an X2 4400+ or 4600+, and adding a gig of RAM. Now these chips have literally disappeared from stock, everywhere. DAAMIT could make a killing if they somehow found a warehouse full of X2 S939's. They must have thought that DDR2 was as much of a "must have" as dual core. Now Intel is waiting with open arms (upgrade paths) and cheap chips as the pendulum swings back their way.

You know you're a hardware enthusiast when you read that a CPU manufacturer is announcing a new socket structure and it feels like a stab to the heart.

On the topic of Jorge, who apparently just read his first Inq article: The Inq serves itself and only itself.

Maybe he really thinks Chipzilla is a universal term. Somewhere deep in AMD camp, I'm sure it is.

Axion

Subject: M-type keyboard

Hi Mike,

absolutely agree with your love for this baby. But you can do even better han that: Have a look at http://www.getdigital.de/index/0x119/lng/2

Best regards,
Wolfram

Subject: The problems with Vista laid bare

haha. who allowed this twittering twatapuss of l.ron macjobs to tout the sanctity of the unix/xerox thieving elite vermin? here we go...pages of "sect love"...oh yes, "father steve" did it first...oh god...

M. O'Reilly

Subject: M-type keyboard

I use an M-type keyboard on my PC, but am switching to a mac. It turns out that your article's timing is fortuitous, as I just ordered a USB variant of an M-type complete with the 104-key layout (windows/mac option keys) *today*.

These are NEW buckle-spring keyboards.. http://www.pckeyboard.com/

A

Subject: IBM Keyboard

Hello Mike I'm a big fan of your site and your articles of power pc user. Your website is my homepage and I read it daily. I just wanted to write and tell you that I too use an older IBM clicky type of keyboard. There is a company which has the patent rights to produce the old IBM clicky type of keyboards in the US and they are pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/keyboards.html.

They sell new IBM clicky type keyboards. Just thought I would let you know. It has to be at least the $59 customizer 101 or more expensive to be the clicky type. Thanks,

Steve

Subject: Vista, Bittorrent & "Warez"

These tools can be used illegal purposes.

Do NOT make the mistake in tarring those of us who use them within the law with the same as those that don't.

To do so is just ignorant. TH

Subject: Photos from cebit on your main page

Oh yes, i knew that it was coming, the famous torrent of photos featuring hot girls and geeks with no girlfriends.

Sincerely,
Mark

Subject: amd killed 939 too early."

Your letter from another reader is exactly true. It appears that the internal differences between am2 and 939 weren't alot. Products such as the 4800 were released far too close togehter for them to be significantly different. Releasing am2 server a good purpose as a "starter" platform that will almost flow through to am2+ and then am3.

What they totally screwed up on was not overlapping 939 with am2+ whoch they havn't even released yet! 754 lasted far too long as well.

Amd pushed so many people to c2d through a lack of performance, and no relaistic upgrade path. Given a cheaper alernative to a 6000+ 939 that i could put into my exising system, i wouoldn't be with an intel chip now.

But forcing you to change platform exposed amd's existing customers to a new option; PLATFORM CHANGE. and this is why most enthusiasts and gamers have gone to c2d. And this is why fx70>74 is a total waste of time. and when AMD do finally release their new chippery that will hopefully keep pace, the market will have somewhat been satisfied with existing c2d chips. Meanwhile, people like myself who got "exposed" and forced to c2d will probably be looking am3 or beyond before we need to upgrade again.

Nice one AMD. Really smart move....

Jones

Subject: IBM keyboard makes writing a delight

Hello Mike:

You've hit on one of the technology artifacts I'll probably be holding onto until the end. My computer may be a new(ish) Athlon 64, but my keyboard is a good old IBM Model M. By comparison newer keyboards are too small and light. I find them moving around as I clatter away. I like the clickety-clickety sounds as I type, knowing when I've connected with each key. With the newer keyboards and their "soft" feel I usually end up with letters starting to disappear as I type, my fingers pressing the keys, but not enough to make contact. With the IBM, you know when you've hit it. And after over five years of playing games, writing letters to the editor, and even spilling the occasional drink, it still works and functions like new. I only wish I could find an entire computer as reliable as this keyboard.

Sincerely,
Scott Peterson

Subject: That Shahzad is a Twonk

Perhaps "Null" should actually try understanding my letter before commenting on it and making himself look like a "Twonk" with his cluelessness.

I never said I blamed anything. I merely pointed out that a person (me) who plays these games alot does infact have a higher chance of getting into an accident than one who does not - All other things being equal.

Of course you would have to be a complete "Twonk" to believe that a person who plays these games doesn't have even a slightly higher chance of being in an accident.

So then... "Null", are you said "Twonk"? ;)

Answer on a postcard to "The Letterman"

Your Loving Friend, Shahzad.

Subject: Vista March Patch

The irony was wasted.

Yes, MS has patched Vista to work better with various softwares commonly used for downloading illegal music, videos etc. To point out that this conflicts with Vista's DRM is totally in error.

First of all some people do use torrents to transfer legitimate files!

Secondly, Despite all the anti-Vista DRM hype, Vista does nothing at all to prevent you from playing with any of your ill gotten booty ... except for the encrypted HD formats.

You can still play all the non-HD downloaded music and movies you want, your library of stolen property is safe.

And with the hacker scum out there working hard to ensure that no blu-ray or HDDVD goes un-hacked, if you are criminally inclined you really aren't limited at all.

There's nothing to see here, carry on.

Ken

Subject: Response to mail about: Rumours persist Apple developing AMD hardware

I was reading a few of the letters you posted about developers only writing for windows because it holds such a large part of the market, and while this is part of the reason i don't believe it is he whole reason or even the major reason. It could have something to do with the fact that whatever portion of the market Apple and even *inx as a whole have, they collectivly posess the video power of a single 8800GTX and the entire lot are crushed by a overclocked SLI setup. Now, knowing thats a "slight" exageration, honestly most Apple machines at best compete with PC's running 3 generation old video cards and Mac fan's happily pay top dollar for these setups so Mac doesnt change that, while *nix users usually start out finding that the OS itself is less demanding and will run great on a Voodoo card.. the original one. Who would write games for that market? The processing power is usually there, even for the *nix crowd who do compiling and such but have barely enough video power to play online games like pogo.

Windows on the other hand has requirements for Vista demanding higher end graphics. Heck, my 7900gto cost more than my whole Ubuntu rig and I just reviewed a Macbook Pro and could ever so slightly detect the video weakness on even simple things with its underclocked x1600. So we cant blame game makers for not making games to run on machines that weren't built to play them. Apple at least should supply their nice shiny expensive machines with top end 3rd generation video power, and not the 7300 turds. I was going to get a mac having had a Power Mac in the past, but couldnt get around that fact. I'll stick to building my own and pay myself a nice check for doing so.

Regards,
Rob a.k.a Nandro

Subject: Tax on Cars Letters

Shintai is a moron if he thinks limitting cars to one per household will provide any kind of universal polution relief. If I could afford a second car it would be an econo-box. Since I can't, I'm limited to driving my work van for everything, even a simple trip to the post office.

A second car would allow me to reduce my carbon footprint.

Tom Strom

Subject: Microsoft updates Vista for games and warez

who hired the new "l337-twats" which to wit produce these l337 revelations? oops, forgot. mikey sould out...

MO

Subject: You sir are a winker

May clamorous thunder descent from these clear sunny Portuguese skies right into my eyeballs if I can grasp any reason why you get published at the Inquirer.

To loose a dude that had something to say but could not write it in proper English (like Fudo) in order to unleashon us the complete opposite makes no goddamn sense.

Stick to reading, Andy, PLEASE.

Elsapon

Subject: IBM Keyboard

Guess I should have confessed a few weeks ago when The Inq was running stories about those using old kit. I'm writing this using the original 84-key keyboard which came with my IBM 5170-039 (original AT barebones model) 22 years ago. I just can't give it up. It has the best key action of any keyboard I've ever used. I also have two Model M keyboards, one with the flat oval IBM logo as used with the PS/2 line and another 101-key with the square logo like those used on the later AT models which came, however, with a detachable PS/2 cable. The key action on those is not quite as crisp as the 84-key but it's still much better than the mushy or rubbery action on most modern cheap keyboards.

IBM spun off their keyboard division at the same time as Lexmark. The spinoff was still in business last time I checked a few years ago but had much lower volumes than when a part of IBM. They were manufacturing new keyboards, some they claim with the same folding spring keys as the Model M.

They also had a huge inventory of unsold older models at reasonable prices comparable to your UK supplier. Will look them up if it's of interest.

A visitor recently wanted to check something on the web and I gladly offered the use of my PC. He did a double take when he saw my old keyboard and touched it very gingerly, apparently not knowing quite what to expect. He seemed a little uncomfortable using it, probably not old enough to know what how a real keyboard is supposed to work. Come to think of it, I always liked the old IBM Selectric II which had a very similar key action to the 84-key but not so fond of the Selectric III since it was possible to type well ahead of the print ball which was always disconcerting.

All the best.

Dale

Subject: ancient components

Hey Mike,

I thought i'd contribute to the "ancient" hardware-gallery. Well, mine are not THAT old, but the hardware that has stayed with me the longest are definetly my itouch keyboard (with all the 2001 hightech like handrest and multimedia keys - which are both usefull for me) and the crt. they're both working fine, although the monitor seems to have develeloped a slight afterglow and the keys are polished to a mirror finish - the smooth sound an pressure point they once produced can still be felt and heard at the number block, especially the "+" and "enter" keys (talk about least used keys...) - but although polished, there is no sign of vanishing characters, tribute to laser inscription i guess.

on top of that, i had to open it twice and clean the whole thing, because is spilled some sugar and flavor enriched water in there. And by some i mean a lot. It came back to life and it was possible to press one instead of three keys at a time again. I guess it's time to get a new keyboard.

greetz

PS: Considering my update-cycle of 6+ years for a keyboard, that business must be the one you want to be in the least. Not much money in there, unless you put some lcds und 20 freely programmable extra keys on it and call it h4rdc0re g4m0r 4ccess0!re.

Subject: The IBM Model M

I recently bought an IBM model M keyboard from an online retailer specializing in the things. My Saitek Gaming keyboard (mark 1) was starting to look like it had been through the garbage processing machines at the dump. I have fond memories of bashing on them in the computer lab as a child, and of very loud computer class sessions when I was a wee lad. Not only are they noisy when you use them (which I love) but they never die. I went for the model M-5 (seen here http://www.clickykeyboard.com/2005/1370478/1370478-006.jpg). It cost much more than the regular model M, but the integrated trackball gives me something to use when I forget to charge my cordless MX1000. Plus I know it will probably outlast me, and if parts fail you can actually replace them (unheard of today).

I wish we could go back to the days when keyboards lasted forever- Its not like there have been huge advances in the past 18 years in keyboard design.

Most of the changes have been poor tradeoffs which make them less expensive but nastier to type on and less reliable. Maybe out of these new green computing trends the practice of the 2-year (or less!) throwaway keyboard will die in favor of the old quality designs... but I doubt it.

Roger

Subject: Vsta and DRM

Hi, I'm getting sick and tired of all this "Vista is all about DRM" stuff. Could you please be specific and tell me, and your other readers, what you mean with this? Latest Vista+DRM rant was "if Vista has to be riddled with a DRM infection"

Regards,
Jarle Nygård

Subject: IBM Keyboards

It is with pride that I tell you that I am still using an IBM keyboard (specifically KB 7993) It was made in 99 and its quality is such that the keys have not faded at all.

Even though it went through a BA, MA and a Phd. + 3 books. Unfortunately there is no windows XP driver for it and with the loss of the driver so went the functionality of hte extra keys which allowed direct control of media player and four custom keys to be freely assigned to applications.

May I say that despite not taking much care with it, its still 100% working with all original keys. My friends can't get keyboards to survive two years & mine is approaching a decade.

I'd bother getting my camera but I doubt anyone really wants to see my keyboard that much.

w00tseaker

P.S.
Keep doing whatever it is that you do to make Inq... (cue drum roll) the INQUIRER.

Subject: Keyboards

So true about old keyboards. I still use a keyboard from my dad's Packard Bell 386sx or dx. Something so old the 5 1/4 discs were the craze back then. But the keys are still VERY responsive, a touch typer's dream. Also there isn't a windows key so good for gaming too ;) However it is fairly loud these days and you could probably hear me type from down the street.

^_^

Ernest