Update and new computer

[Micah K Yoder <LYoder@cyberis.net>]

Hi people...  sorry I've been quiet for far too long.

Anyway, as I told Aaron last week when he asked where I was, I was just
kind of wondering if it made sense for me to be involved with this any
more, and it just sort of seems like no.  You can correct me though.
:-)  Basically, I feel like I've just gotten out of the loop way too
much, which I regret, and have quite a bit of catching up on things to
do to be significant.  Although I was finally understanding the way the
object stuff was working... and that's a good thing. :-)  But other than
that......  Also my free time has been more limited in the last coupole
months than in the previous year, and that will probably be the case for
a while.  Finally, I've been really wanting to get more experience in
developing something other than Web apps -- C++ and that sort of thing,
and coming up with an interesting project to implement.  Of course, who
knows when time for THAT will come....   So, I'm not opposed to working
with LKB any more, just not sure if it makes sense.  What do you all
think?  :-)

RE: the new computer thread.  I'm also planning to get a new computer
soon, so I've done some thinking along those lines myself.  Looks like
the choice of a G400 Max and SB Live are good ones - I'm planning to get
those as well.  My system specs as I currently see them:
 - Athlon 700 with a VIA KX-133 chipset - probably the Tyan board since
it has 6 PCI slots
 - 256 or 512MB RAM
 - 2 IBM hard drives - not decided between IDE or SCSI.  I *really* want
SCSI and can afford it, but am not 100% sure it's worth the extra money
 - SB Live.  Anyone know if there's a difference, under Linux, between
the Value and the more expensive models?
 - G400Max 32MB.  There will apparently be a dualhead driver in the next
version of X, so I'm thinking of getting the dualhead.  But some reports
say the second head isn't good for much but displaying videos.  If so
who cares.  Anyone know the truth?  Will I be able to display two
desktops under X with the thing?
 - CD-ROM burner.  Not sure IDE or SCSI.  I'd like to go SCSI all the
way, but I hear that putting SCSI HDs and other things on the same bus
makes everything slower.  That would suck.  I think the only good
solution is an Adaptec 3940 card, but those cost more....
 - external scanner.  Haven't decided between USB or SCSI.  Apparently a
USB model will be supported in kernel 2.4
 - video capture.  looks like the Hauppage cards will be OK.  Can just
about any of them save .AVI or MPEG files under Linux, or will some of
them only display to the screen?  My main goal is converting 8mm
videotapes to video files.  Any specific recommendations here would be
appreciated.

So if that gives you any ideas Aaron... :-)

Also my company is moving me to Vancouver, WA in a month or two.  Can't
wait!  Apparently they finally figured out that programmers shouldn't be
kept in the middle of nowhere. :-)  Might even give me a chance for a
social life again.  Scary thought....

Later,
Micah