Re: [Freedos-user] they could change to freedos :P
You can buy 44 pin laptop (made in China) cf adapters on Amazom for less than $5. The DOS image can be made using GHOST 2001 or xcopy loaded onto a floppy. Most laptop hardrives are easy to remove, DELL uses a removable drawer. Copy the hardrive using the floppy then pop out the hardrive and replace it with the chip. I find 4 gigs good for DOS. Use 2 FAT 16 partitions or for FREEDOS 1 FAT 32. Used 4 gig chips useily sell for $10 to $15 on Amazon. I leave the screws out of my laptop so that I can replace the chip quickly - 30 second about. A little slower than floppy. cheers DS On Wed, 28 May 2014 13:23:23 -0400 dmccunney writes: > On Wed, May 28, 2014 at 10:55 AM, Dale E Sterner > wrote: > > If they ran DOS on a CF chip; they could pull out the chip DOS > included > > and send it it in. > > Smaller than a flopppy and less easily damaged by magnets.. > > You just won't let that notion go. > > They would have to *have* DOS and the application software on a CF > chip, and install a chip in each machine used. This has the expense > of getting the chips, and the skilled labor involved in loading the > image on the chips and equipping the machines to be used with the > chips. Then you have the question for getting the data off the chip, > because you *don't* want to have to open the machine and pull the > chip > to do it. > > This operation used ancient laptops available for next to nothing, > with no hard drive and only a floppy. Floppies were dirt cheap, and > it was quick and simple to duplicate as many copies of the program > diskette and data diskette as needed. There were used for a 5 day > period, because the convention runs from Thursday through Monday. > Damage by magnet was not a concern, as the equipment was all used at > a > registration area set up in the convention center that all Worldcon > attendees went to to pick up their badges and other con material (if > they had pre-registered), or fill out a form and pay for a > membership > at the door. When registration was not operating, the laptops and > floppies were in a storage area, > > And because each laptop had a data disk with its own copy of the > registration database, there were multiple backups by the nature of > the process. At the end of the convention, the final cpoy of the > registration database was transferred to a server for conversion to > other formats and archival storage. > > What you suggest would simply have been more trouble than it was > worth. > _ > Dennis > https://plus.google.com/u/0/105128793974319004519 > > - - > Time is money. Stop wasting it! Get your web API in 5 minutes. > www.restlet.com/download > http://p.sf.net/sfu/restlet > ___ > Freedos-user mailing list > Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user > > Free* Money For Seniors > 14 Benefits Most Seniors Didnât Know They Had > http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3165/53879a97272681a967c26mp01duc > ** >From Dale Sterner - MS organic chemistry http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jo00975a052 *** -- Time is money. Stop wasting it! Get your web API in 5 minutes. www.restlet.com/download http://p.sf.net/sfu/restlet___ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
Re: [Freedos-user] they could change to freedos :P
My costs are based on my knowledge of building a server from scratch using www.jdr.com as a basis. -- -chris Computer Consultant & Repair Tech Digitalatoll Solutions Group (Tawhaki Software) http://digitalatoll.com/ http://tawakisoft.com/ Cell: 916-612-6904 Webpages, Email hosting, Cloud FTP Hosting, and Custom programming On Thu, May 29, 2014 at 7:26 AM, wrote: > First, the response was in reference to a MS NT setup, that would > require commercial licensing fees that could easily run into hundreds > or even thousands of dollars, unless the idea was to try and get away > with operating an unlicensed setup and hope not to get sued. Of > course, a knowledgeable person could do it with open source software > as well. That just wasn't what was described. > > Second, the setup required a "php-based web interface to a database", > which would require a knowledgeable person to configure for the needs > of the convention. If that skill wasn't freely available to the > convention organizers, then they would have to pay for that work. > > The hardware is minor. A satisfactory server-based system could > probably be put together with hardware currently considered "obsolete" > by industry standards for even less then you quoted. It is the cost of > legal use and skilled labor that could easily push it to 100x the cost > of the original setup described. Assuming that the organizers did all > the setup themselves, they probably didn't spend anything. Probably > sprang for some new floppy disks would be about it. > > On 5/28/14, Christopher Evans wrote: > > 100x the cost? what the cost of a server ? 400. a couple of surplus > > laptops at 200 a wifi router for 150 = 750 estimate > > > > -- > > -chris > > Computer Consultant & Repair Tech > > Digitalatoll Solutions Group (Tawhaki Software) > > http://digitalatoll.com/ > > http://tawakisoft.com/ > > Cell: 916-612-6904 > > Webpages, Email hosting, Cloud FTP Hosting, and Custom programming > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On Wed, May 28, 2014 at 7:09 AM, wrote: > > > >> A far superior arrangement for probably 100x the cost. Perhaps the > >> convention organizers preferred to spend that money on things that > >> were more meaningful to the convention attendees. Or maybe they just > >> wanted to keep the money for themselves? Who knows? > >> > >> > >> On 5/27/14, Christopher Evans wrote: > >> > I would have implemented WinNT networked laptops running a php > >> registration > >> > signin/signup form in a browser that communicates with central > >> > database. > >> > and allow badge printing by network printer. > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > -- > >> > -chris > >> > Computer Consultant & Repair Tech > >> > Digitalatoll Solutions Group (Tawhaki Software) > >> > http://digitalatoll.com/ > >> > http://tawakisoft.com/ > >> > Cell: 916-612-6904 > >> > Webpages, Email hosting, Cloud FTP Hosting, and Custom programming > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > On Tue, May 27, 2014 at 8:14 PM, dmccunney > >> > wrote: > >> > > >> >> On Tue, May 27, 2014 at 6:45 PM, Matej Horvat > >> >> wrote: > >> >> > >> >> > So the fact that DOS was used is completely irrelevant, though it > is > >> >> > nice > >> >> > to know it's being used. :) > >> >> > >> >> DOS pops up in odd places. In 2006, I attended LACon IV, the 54th > >> >> annual World Science Fiction Convention, held that year in Los > >> >> Angeles, CA. The Worldcon attracts about 5,000 attendees. > >> >> Registration for the event was handled in DOS. They had a batch of > >> >> ancient laptops with a 3.5" floppy drive but no HD. They booted from > >> >> a DOS floppy, and ran DBase III. Once DBase was running, they > swapped > >> >> in a data disk where registration info was stored as people > >> >> registered. When registration got busy, they added more registrars > >> >> and handed out more old laptops. Once an hour or so, they'd do a > >> >> synchronization operation so everyone had a current copy of the > >> >> database. The registration head who set up the system had been a > >> >> programmer at Ashton-Tate back when, and "wrote some of the more > >> >> annoying stuff in DBase III". > >> >> > >> >> I was tickled. Most such conventions use networked PCs with the > >> >> database residing on a backend server, or perhaps terminals connected > >> >> to a multi-user server running Linux. This dispensed with servers, > >> >> networks, and current PCs, using only ancient recycled hardware and > >> >> MS-DOS era software. It did the job while eliminating several levels > >> >> of complexity and cost. I told the guy who set it all up that it was > >> >> a perfectly valid approach, and one I would not have thought of. I > >> >> was impressed, and said so. > >> >> __ > >> >> Dennis > >> >> https://plus.google.com/u/0/105128793974319004519 > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> > -- > >> >> Time is money. Stop wasting it! Get your web API
Re: [Freedos-user] they could change to freedos :P
First, the response was in reference to a MS NT setup, that would require commercial licensing fees that could easily run into hundreds or even thousands of dollars, unless the idea was to try and get away with operating an unlicensed setup and hope not to get sued. Of course, a knowledgeable person could do it with open source software as well. That just wasn't what was described. Second, the setup required a "php-based web interface to a database", which would require a knowledgeable person to configure for the needs of the convention. If that skill wasn't freely available to the convention organizers, then they would have to pay for that work. The hardware is minor. A satisfactory server-based system could probably be put together with hardware currently considered "obsolete" by industry standards for even less then you quoted. It is the cost of legal use and skilled labor that could easily push it to 100x the cost of the original setup described. Assuming that the organizers did all the setup themselves, they probably didn't spend anything. Probably sprang for some new floppy disks would be about it. On 5/28/14, Christopher Evans wrote: > 100x the cost? what the cost of a server ? 400. a couple of surplus > laptops at 200 a wifi router for 150 = 750 estimate > > -- > -chris > Computer Consultant & Repair Tech > Digitalatoll Solutions Group (Tawhaki Software) > http://digitalatoll.com/ > http://tawakisoft.com/ > Cell: 916-612-6904 > Webpages, Email hosting, Cloud FTP Hosting, and Custom programming > > > > > > > On Wed, May 28, 2014 at 7:09 AM, wrote: > >> A far superior arrangement for probably 100x the cost. Perhaps the >> convention organizers preferred to spend that money on things that >> were more meaningful to the convention attendees. Or maybe they just >> wanted to keep the money for themselves? Who knows? >> >> >> On 5/27/14, Christopher Evans wrote: >> > I would have implemented WinNT networked laptops running a php >> registration >> > signin/signup form in a browser that communicates with central >> > database. >> > and allow badge printing by network printer. >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > -- >> > -chris >> > Computer Consultant & Repair Tech >> > Digitalatoll Solutions Group (Tawhaki Software) >> > http://digitalatoll.com/ >> > http://tawakisoft.com/ >> > Cell: 916-612-6904 >> > Webpages, Email hosting, Cloud FTP Hosting, and Custom programming >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > On Tue, May 27, 2014 at 8:14 PM, dmccunney >> > wrote: >> > >> >> On Tue, May 27, 2014 at 6:45 PM, Matej Horvat >> >> wrote: >> >> >> >> > So the fact that DOS was used is completely irrelevant, though it is >> >> > nice >> >> > to know it's being used. :) >> >> >> >> DOS pops up in odd places. In 2006, I attended LACon IV, the 54th >> >> annual World Science Fiction Convention, held that year in Los >> >> Angeles, CA. The Worldcon attracts about 5,000 attendees. >> >> Registration for the event was handled in DOS. They had a batch of >> >> ancient laptops with a 3.5" floppy drive but no HD. They booted from >> >> a DOS floppy, and ran DBase III. Once DBase was running, they swapped >> >> in a data disk where registration info was stored as people >> >> registered. When registration got busy, they added more registrars >> >> and handed out more old laptops. Once an hour or so, they'd do a >> >> synchronization operation so everyone had a current copy of the >> >> database. The registration head who set up the system had been a >> >> programmer at Ashton-Tate back when, and "wrote some of the more >> >> annoying stuff in DBase III". >> >> >> >> I was tickled. Most such conventions use networked PCs with the >> >> database residing on a backend server, or perhaps terminals connected >> >> to a multi-user server running Linux. This dispensed with servers, >> >> networks, and current PCs, using only ancient recycled hardware and >> >> MS-DOS era software. It did the job while eliminating several levels >> >> of complexity and cost. I told the guy who set it all up that it was >> >> a perfectly valid approach, and one I would not have thought of. I >> >> was impressed, and said so. >> >> __ >> >> Dennis >> >> https://plus.google.com/u/0/105128793974319004519 >> >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> >> Time is money. Stop wasting it! Get your web API in 5 minutes. >> >> www.restlet.com/download >> >> http://p.sf.net/sfu/restlet >> >> ___ >> >> Freedos-user mailing list >> >> Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net >> >> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user >> >> >> > >> >> >> -- >> Time is money. Stop wasting it! Get your web API in 5 minutes. >> www.restlet.com/download >> http://p.sf.net/sfu/restlet >> ___ >> Freedos-user mailing list >> Freedos-user@lists.sour
Re: [Freedos-user] they could change to freedos :P
100x the cost? what the cost of a server ? 400. a couple of surplus laptops at 200 a wifi router for 150 = 750 estimate -- -chris Computer Consultant & Repair Tech Digitalatoll Solutions Group (Tawhaki Software) http://digitalatoll.com/ http://tawakisoft.com/ Cell: 916-612-6904 Webpages, Email hosting, Cloud FTP Hosting, and Custom programming On Wed, May 28, 2014 at 7:09 AM, wrote: > A far superior arrangement for probably 100x the cost. Perhaps the > convention organizers preferred to spend that money on things that > were more meaningful to the convention attendees. Or maybe they just > wanted to keep the money for themselves? Who knows? > > > On 5/27/14, Christopher Evans wrote: > > I would have implemented WinNT networked laptops running a php > registration > > signin/signup form in a browser that communicates with central database. > > and allow badge printing by network printer. > > > > > > > > > > -- > > -chris > > Computer Consultant & Repair Tech > > Digitalatoll Solutions Group (Tawhaki Software) > > http://digitalatoll.com/ > > http://tawakisoft.com/ > > Cell: 916-612-6904 > > Webpages, Email hosting, Cloud FTP Hosting, and Custom programming > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On Tue, May 27, 2014 at 8:14 PM, dmccunney > > wrote: > > > >> On Tue, May 27, 2014 at 6:45 PM, Matej Horvat > >> wrote: > >> > >> > So the fact that DOS was used is completely irrelevant, though it is > >> > nice > >> > to know it's being used. :) > >> > >> DOS pops up in odd places. In 2006, I attended LACon IV, the 54th > >> annual World Science Fiction Convention, held that year in Los > >> Angeles, CA. The Worldcon attracts about 5,000 attendees. > >> Registration for the event was handled in DOS. They had a batch of > >> ancient laptops with a 3.5" floppy drive but no HD. They booted from > >> a DOS floppy, and ran DBase III. Once DBase was running, they swapped > >> in a data disk where registration info was stored as people > >> registered. When registration got busy, they added more registrars > >> and handed out more old laptops. Once an hour or so, they'd do a > >> synchronization operation so everyone had a current copy of the > >> database. The registration head who set up the system had been a > >> programmer at Ashton-Tate back when, and "wrote some of the more > >> annoying stuff in DBase III". > >> > >> I was tickled. Most such conventions use networked PCs with the > >> database residing on a backend server, or perhaps terminals connected > >> to a multi-user server running Linux. This dispensed with servers, > >> networks, and current PCs, using only ancient recycled hardware and > >> MS-DOS era software. It did the job while eliminating several levels > >> of complexity and cost. I told the guy who set it all up that it was > >> a perfectly valid approach, and one I would not have thought of. I > >> was impressed, and said so. > >> __ > >> Dennis > >> https://plus.google.com/u/0/105128793974319004519 > >> > >> > >> > -- > >> Time is money. Stop wasting it! Get your web API in 5 minutes. > >> www.restlet.com/download > >> http://p.sf.net/sfu/restlet > >> ___ > >> Freedos-user mailing list > >> Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net > >> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user > >> > > > > > -- > Time is money. Stop wasting it! Get your web API in 5 minutes. > www.restlet.com/download > http://p.sf.net/sfu/restlet > ___ > Freedos-user mailing list > Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user > -- Time is money. Stop wasting it! Get your web API in 5 minutes. www.restlet.com/download http://p.sf.net/sfu/restlet___ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
Re: [Freedos-user] they could change to freedos :P
On Wed, May 28, 2014 at 10:55 AM, Dale E Sterner wrote: > If they ran DOS on a CF chip; they could pull out the chip DOS included > and send it it in. > Smaller than a flopppy and less easily damaged by magnets.. You just won't let that notion go. They would have to *have* DOS and the application software on a CF chip, and install a chip in each machine used. This has the expense of getting the chips, and the skilled labor involved in loading the image on the chips and equipping the machines to be used with the chips. Then you have the question for getting the data off the chip, because you *don't* want to have to open the machine and pull the chip to do it. This operation used ancient laptops available for next to nothing, with no hard drive and only a floppy. Floppies were dirt cheap, and it was quick and simple to duplicate as many copies of the program diskette and data diskette as needed. There were used for a 5 day period, because the convention runs from Thursday through Monday. Damage by magnet was not a concern, as the equipment was all used at a registration area set up in the convention center that all Worldcon attendees went to to pick up their badges and other con material (if they had pre-registered), or fill out a form and pay for a membership at the door. When registration was not operating, the laptops and floppies were in a storage area, And because each laptop had a data disk with its own copy of the registration database, there were multiple backups by the nature of the process. At the end of the convention, the final cpoy of the registration database was transferred to a server for conversion to other formats and archival storage. What you suggest would simply have been more trouble than it was worth. _ Dennis https://plus.google.com/u/0/105128793974319004519 -- Time is money. Stop wasting it! Get your web API in 5 minutes. www.restlet.com/download http://p.sf.net/sfu/restlet ___ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
Re: [Freedos-user] they could change to freedos :P
On Wed, May 28, 2014 at 10:09 AM, wrote: > A far superior arrangement for probably 100x the cost. Perhaps the > convention organizers preferred to spend that money on things that > were more meaningful to the convention attendees. Or maybe they just > wanted to keep the money for themselves? Who knows? *I* know, because I work on such things. SF conventions like the one I mentioned are put on by sponsoring groups that are 501c3 tax exempt non-profit corporations. They are hobbyist efforts put on by unpaid volunteers. People working on the convention are reimbursed for expenses they incurred on behalf of the convention. If the convention generates sufficient revenue to pay the bills, those who worked on it may get their membership fee refunded. (Not all SF conventions do well enough to manage that.) LACon IV's organizers chose to allocate convention funds to other areas, and found an effective solution for reducing what would have to be spent for the convention registration function. __ Dennis https://plus.google.com/u/0/105128793974319004519 -- Time is money. Stop wasting it! Get your web API in 5 minutes. www.restlet.com/download http://p.sf.net/sfu/restlet ___ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
Re: [Freedos-user] they could change to freedos :P
If they ran DOS on a CF chip; they could pull out the chip DOS included and send it it in. Smaller than a flopppy and less easily damaged by magnets.. cheers DS On Tue, 27 May 2014 23:14:18 -0400 dmccunney writes: > On Tue, May 27, 2014 at 6:45 PM, Matej Horvat > wrote: > > > So the fact that DOS was used is completely irrelevant, though it > is nice > > to know it's being used. :) > > DOS pops up in odd places. In 2006, I attended LACon IV, the 54th > annual World Science Fiction Convention, held that year in Los > Angeles, CA. The Worldcon attracts about 5,000 attendees. > Registration for the event was handled in DOS. They had a batch of > ancient laptops with a 3.5" floppy drive but no HD. They booted > from > a DOS floppy, and ran DBase III. Once DBase was running, they > swapped > in a data disk where registration info was stored as people > registered. When registration got busy, they added more registrars > and handed out more old laptops. Once an hour or so, they'd do a > synchronization operation so everyone had a current copy of the > database. The registration head who set up the system had been a > programmer at Ashton-Tate back when, and "wrote some of the more > annoying stuff in DBase III". > > I was tickled. Most such conventions use networked PCs with the > database residing on a backend server, or perhaps terminals > connected > to a multi-user server running Linux. This dispensed with servers, > networks, and current PCs, using only ancient recycled hardware and > MS-DOS era software. It did the job while eliminating several > levels > of complexity and cost. I told the guy who set it all up that it > was > a perfectly valid approach, and one I would not have thought of. I > was impressed, and said so. > __ > Dennis > https://plus.google.com/u/0/105128793974319004519 > > - - > Time is money. Stop wasting it! Get your web API in 5 minutes. > www.restlet.com/download > http://p.sf.net/sfu/restlet > ___ > Freedos-user mailing list > Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user > > Invest in oil stocks? > Oil, Oil, Oil...is the place to be! > http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3165/5385f55cf20b2755c2a2cmp01duc > ** >From Dale Sterner - MS organic chemistry http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jo00975a052 *** -- Time is money. Stop wasting it! Get your web API in 5 minutes. www.restlet.com/download http://p.sf.net/sfu/restlet ___ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
Re: [Freedos-user] they could change to freedos :P
A far superior arrangement for probably 100x the cost. Perhaps the convention organizers preferred to spend that money on things that were more meaningful to the convention attendees. Or maybe they just wanted to keep the money for themselves? Who knows? On 5/27/14, Christopher Evans wrote: > I would have implemented WinNT networked laptops running a php registration > signin/signup form in a browser that communicates with central database. > and allow badge printing by network printer. > > > > > -- > -chris > Computer Consultant & Repair Tech > Digitalatoll Solutions Group (Tawhaki Software) > http://digitalatoll.com/ > http://tawakisoft.com/ > Cell: 916-612-6904 > Webpages, Email hosting, Cloud FTP Hosting, and Custom programming > > > > > > > On Tue, May 27, 2014 at 8:14 PM, dmccunney > wrote: > >> On Tue, May 27, 2014 at 6:45 PM, Matej Horvat >> wrote: >> >> > So the fact that DOS was used is completely irrelevant, though it is >> > nice >> > to know it's being used. :) >> >> DOS pops up in odd places. In 2006, I attended LACon IV, the 54th >> annual World Science Fiction Convention, held that year in Los >> Angeles, CA. The Worldcon attracts about 5,000 attendees. >> Registration for the event was handled in DOS. They had a batch of >> ancient laptops with a 3.5" floppy drive but no HD. They booted from >> a DOS floppy, and ran DBase III. Once DBase was running, they swapped >> in a data disk where registration info was stored as people >> registered. When registration got busy, they added more registrars >> and handed out more old laptops. Once an hour or so, they'd do a >> synchronization operation so everyone had a current copy of the >> database. The registration head who set up the system had been a >> programmer at Ashton-Tate back when, and "wrote some of the more >> annoying stuff in DBase III". >> >> I was tickled. Most such conventions use networked PCs with the >> database residing on a backend server, or perhaps terminals connected >> to a multi-user server running Linux. This dispensed with servers, >> networks, and current PCs, using only ancient recycled hardware and >> MS-DOS era software. It did the job while eliminating several levels >> of complexity and cost. I told the guy who set it all up that it was >> a perfectly valid approach, and one I would not have thought of. I >> was impressed, and said so. >> __ >> Dennis >> https://plus.google.com/u/0/105128793974319004519 >> >> >> -- >> Time is money. Stop wasting it! Get your web API in 5 minutes. >> www.restlet.com/download >> http://p.sf.net/sfu/restlet >> ___ >> Freedos-user mailing list >> Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net >> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user >> > -- Time is money. Stop wasting it! Get your web API in 5 minutes. www.restlet.com/download http://p.sf.net/sfu/restlet ___ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
Re: [Freedos-user] they could change to freedos :P
I would have implemented WinNT networked laptops running a php registration signin/signup form in a browser that communicates with central database. and allow badge printing by network printer. -- -chris Computer Consultant & Repair Tech Digitalatoll Solutions Group (Tawhaki Software) http://digitalatoll.com/ http://tawakisoft.com/ Cell: 916-612-6904 Webpages, Email hosting, Cloud FTP Hosting, and Custom programming On Tue, May 27, 2014 at 8:14 PM, dmccunney wrote: > On Tue, May 27, 2014 at 6:45 PM, Matej Horvat > wrote: > > > So the fact that DOS was used is completely irrelevant, though it is nice > > to know it's being used. :) > > DOS pops up in odd places. In 2006, I attended LACon IV, the 54th > annual World Science Fiction Convention, held that year in Los > Angeles, CA. The Worldcon attracts about 5,000 attendees. > Registration for the event was handled in DOS. They had a batch of > ancient laptops with a 3.5" floppy drive but no HD. They booted from > a DOS floppy, and ran DBase III. Once DBase was running, they swapped > in a data disk where registration info was stored as people > registered. When registration got busy, they added more registrars > and handed out more old laptops. Once an hour or so, they'd do a > synchronization operation so everyone had a current copy of the > database. The registration head who set up the system had been a > programmer at Ashton-Tate back when, and "wrote some of the more > annoying stuff in DBase III". > > I was tickled. Most such conventions use networked PCs with the > database residing on a backend server, or perhaps terminals connected > to a multi-user server running Linux. This dispensed with servers, > networks, and current PCs, using only ancient recycled hardware and > MS-DOS era software. It did the job while eliminating several levels > of complexity and cost. I told the guy who set it all up that it was > a perfectly valid approach, and one I would not have thought of. I > was impressed, and said so. > __ > Dennis > https://plus.google.com/u/0/105128793974319004519 > > > -- > Time is money. Stop wasting it! Get your web API in 5 minutes. > www.restlet.com/download > http://p.sf.net/sfu/restlet > ___ > Freedos-user mailing list > Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user > -- Time is money. Stop wasting it! Get your web API in 5 minutes. www.restlet.com/download http://p.sf.net/sfu/restlet___ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
Re: [Freedos-user] they could change to freedos :P
On Tue, May 27, 2014 at 6:45 PM, Matej Horvat wrote: > So the fact that DOS was used is completely irrelevant, though it is nice > to know it's being used. :) DOS pops up in odd places. In 2006, I attended LACon IV, the 54th annual World Science Fiction Convention, held that year in Los Angeles, CA. The Worldcon attracts about 5,000 attendees. Registration for the event was handled in DOS. They had a batch of ancient laptops with a 3.5" floppy drive but no HD. They booted from a DOS floppy, and ran DBase III. Once DBase was running, they swapped in a data disk where registration info was stored as people registered. When registration got busy, they added more registrars and handed out more old laptops. Once an hour or so, they'd do a synchronization operation so everyone had a current copy of the database. The registration head who set up the system had been a programmer at Ashton-Tate back when, and "wrote some of the more annoying stuff in DBase III". I was tickled. Most such conventions use networked PCs with the database residing on a backend server, or perhaps terminals connected to a multi-user server running Linux. This dispensed with servers, networks, and current PCs, using only ancient recycled hardware and MS-DOS era software. It did the job while eliminating several levels of complexity and cost. I told the guy who set it all up that it was a perfectly valid approach, and one I would not have thought of. I was impressed, and said so. __ Dennis https://plus.google.com/u/0/105128793974319004519 -- Time is money. Stop wasting it! Get your web API in 5 minutes. www.restlet.com/download http://p.sf.net/sfu/restlet ___ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
Re: [Freedos-user] they could change to freedos :P
If you read the actual article, it was not a problem in DOS or the software running on it, but later on: "After the elections are over the results are loaded on a 3.5-inch floppy disk and shipped to the canton headquarters where the disks are fed into another computer that adds up the votes before sending the results to the ministry. It was there that the problem occurred, the spokesman said, adding that the votes that ended up on the disks were correct." So the fact that DOS was used is completely irrelevant, though it is nice to know it's being used. :) -- The best possible search technologies are now affordable for all companies. Download your FREE open source Enterprise Search Engine today! Our experts will assist you in its installation for $59/mo, no commitment. Test it for FREE on our Cloud platform anytime! http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/clk?id=145328191&iu=/4140/ostg.clktrk ___ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
