BlueLightning

Some/most of the more expensive docks from Plugable have firmware/software to increase the number of displays on a base M1 machine.  This is a hub, so I suspect it does not come with similar software.  If it does provide similar functionality, it would be a steal.  Have no need for another dock, so will not investigate further.  You are basically getting a device that connects directly to the laptop without a cable, gives you Ethernet, two lower speed USB in exchange for a lost USB-C port.  Attachment of the hub blocks most of the ports on the laptop that it replaces.  

Have not seen any docks that attach wirelessly yet.  May be a market for that with some future increase in bluetooth speeds, or an inventive transmitter that plugs in as a dongle to usb-c.  Would reduce the number of cables attached to laptop to one (power), plus a short dongle terminating in a transmitter.  

Before retirement, I spent 16 years working at a firm that had export controlled (by the US government) data on aviation components.  You would not pass a government audit without antivirus software (and more layers of protection than I care to recall).  A mac (or pc) that did not have a currently supported OS could not be on the corporate or local lan network, or in any way connected to the internet.  Visitors were restricted to a special, highly limited network connection (no ability to connect to any company/corporate servers, and limited to whitelisted sites).  Servers, minicomputers and mainframes were required to have static IP addresses, with whitelisted external connections and IP ports.  Authorized sites and port numbers for those sites was maintained by a special corporate group, with no local site access to make changes by other employees or contractors.  Any employee who attempted to circumvent security requirements was subject to immediate termination.  Any contractor who violated rules could be banned for life.  Large government and some commercial contracts could be terminated for violations.  Jail was an option in extreme cases.  I believe this factored into replacing several dozen macs with pcs at the local factory sites.  

Before the 16 year stint at a government contractor, I spent another 16 years at a mid-sized automotive supplier.  Our auditors would have thrown a fit if we did not have at least antivirus software on every desktop/laptop machine (other than ASCII terminals and UNIX CAD/CAM workstations).  This was long before ransomware became common.  

At home, I would not think of running anything other than a Chromebook without antivirus software that also protected against malware and ransomware.  I would not allow anyone who advised not to use antivirus software to work on anything other than the Chromebook.  I only consider the top 5 to 7 or so providers of antivirus software (ie, the ones that supply both mac and pc versions, and I go for the paid versions, not the free ones).  

Buffett made most of his money in the insurance business.  
He famously saved GE from bankruptcy around 2008-2009, then sold his investment at a big gain some years later.  
By the way, he bought a class of shares and class of bonds that GE employees and most others could not buy.  
I can think of several other investments he has sold after a few years (sometimes shorter).  
Early in life, he was more of a cigar butt investor (very deep value).  His first investment was around 1942.  
Buffett has never invested in MSFT, to avoid possible insider trading due to friendship with the family.  
Buffett has recently distanced himself from Bill Gates, due to recent information revealed during Gates divorce.  

Suspect TSMC (TSM) will do just fine without Buffett's investment.  
TSMC already has two foundries under construction in AZ (one should be producing chips shortly).  
Mildly concerned that both TSMC and INTC are building several plants in areas prone to drought.  
Plans exist to bomb plants in Taiwan, should China invade.  
TSMC's approach is now being imitated by INTC, which just signed a big agreement with ARM.  

INTC is spreading new foundries around the world.  
Looks like IBM is also adding to chip foundries and partnerships in US, Japan and elsewhere (also has a long-standing Canadian chip plant).  
TXN and many other chip manufacturers have expansion plans (many in areas other than computers or cell phones, such as cars and telecommunications).  

RudeBoyRudy said:

zeus423 said:

Still have my Sanyo stereo with turntable and dual cassette player from the 80's. Works great, and I'm sure it wasn't anywhere near $1000!

and how much was a home 'from the 80's'

and how much was a car 'from the 80's'


pretty sure 'iT wAsN't aNywHeRe nEaR'  today's prices.

Checking some old documents, relatives bought:
A two story house in the early 1960's for less than $15k (concrete basement, and third floor walkup stairway to full attic).  
A nice (new) 1970 Oldsmobile with AC, automatic, V8 in the 1970's for around $2k or $3k.  
A model T was $260 in 1924 (about $850 in 1909, before manufacturing ramp-ups cut costs).  
Minimum wage in 1971 was under $2/hour at the start of the year.  
Years ago, Mom told me she made 70 cents an hour (plus commission) in retail in the early 1950s.  
Federal minimum wage by year late 1930s to pre-2010s:  
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/history/chart  


I bought a nice German-made automatic turntable (non-connected dust cover) for around $250 in either 1971 or 1972.  
I bought a 1984 Ford Escort (automatic, no radio) for about $3k or $4k (new), if my memory is correct.  
Seems like cars and houses have climbed in price faster than turntables.  

StrangeDays said:

mikethemartian said:

danox said:

IBM are they still around? slowly sinking into the tech sunset.

When Apple was releasing the original Mac, IBM was inventing quantum key distribution and still to this day is one of the leaders of bleeding edge technology in the field. But since they don’t make phones in Midnight blue with cute emojis and other shiny consumer products you think they are obsolete.

Isn't much of their business standard enterprise consulting now? In my markets they're just another Accenture, SAIC, etc. These companies are billing machines -- they all say they're tech but having worked within them for a decade they're just high-tech temp workers building web apps for healthcare, government, telecom, etc. I'm sure IBM still has some R&D stuff, but I'd like to know how much of their business is that vs business consulting/billable hours.

A lot of the services part was spun-off with Kyndryl a while back.  Much of the software/consulting at IBM appears to be related to Red Hat (Linux), which they own, and to multi-cloud integration and management.  IBM is working with chip makers in Japan to bring Japan's chip manufacturing up to date (and possibly diversify their mainframe chip supply away from Samsung).  Also has new chip fab in the works (NY, I think).  Much of the design of current WinTel PCs was decided by IBM (when HPQ sales folks were still telling people to avoid WinTel, because folks would be trapped in an IBM architecture).  That's largely why most PCs still have plugged-in components (RAM and such, just like minicomputers and mainframes).  

Hum, billing machines, yes.  Sounds like Microsoft with Office 365 and Azure.  Wonder if MSFT laid off someone that caused outage a few days ago?  Congratulations on all the work you've done on this network simplification.  Oh, by the way, we can handle it from here.  This email is to inform you that you're laid off.  

We've had nearly free money (very low interest rates) for a long time that has led to questionable investment of shareholder's money.  Start-ups have been able to raise money by selling additional shares, and diluting the investment of the earlier shareholders.  Probably why so many zombie tech start ups will go belly up in the next year, as their cost of money goes up.  Google claims MSFT is selling basic cloud services at a 10% loss (if true, needs to stop).