On Fri 14 Feb 2020 at 14:33:54 (-0500), Gene Heskett wrote: > On Friday 14 February 2020 10:29:26 David Wright wrote: > > On Fri 14 Feb 2020 at 08:55:41 (-0600), Richard Owlett wrote: > > > On 02/14/2020 07:35 AM, Gene Heskett wrote: > > > > On Friday 14 February 2020 07:50:01 Richard Owlett wrote: > > > > > Youngsters have two foibles: > > > > > More is always better. > > > > > Glitz for its own sake. > > > > > <smile ;> > > > > > For perspective: > > > > > 1. although only in mid-70's, my parents would be in their > > > > > 12th decade. > > > > > 2. my father took a M.E. degree rather than E.E. as it gave > > > > > him more of what today would be considered a minimal BSEE > > > > > degree. 3. my first computers ran on 1 MHz 6502's. 2nd even had > > > > > 8k ram. > > > > > > > > Whereas my first was a > > > > [… snipped all the stuff about TV control rooms …] > > > > > > Do one job, do it right. I needed a clock for frame code, so I > > > > wrote one, more accurate that either std frame or drop frame. > > > > > > > > > On 02/13/2020 09:17 PM, David Wright wrote in another thread: > > > > > [ https://lists.debian.org/debian-user/2020/02/msg00611.html ] > > > > > > > > > > > If a device is small, it has to appeal to a mass market. > > > > > > > > > > *NO*! It's only required that engineering appeal to market. > > > > > E.G. In the last year there have been multiple amazing > > > > > prosthetics for children and small animals in the news. They > > > > > were possible due to advances in 3D printing. > > > > > > > > Agreed. > > > > Sorry, I didn't realise that when you were talking about a Personal > > Digital Assistant you meant a plastic finger. > > > > > > > > To do that, it has to be packed with features, whether > > > > > > or not these are "detrimental" to *your* intended use. > > > > > > > > > > No! The inclusion of cell modem and WiFi would drive per unit > > > > > cost of FCC approval through the roof. > > > > > > > > Agreed again. Folks have zero clue about the complexity of dealing > > > > with the regulatory agencies. > > > > Is this why virtually every electronic device nowadays has some form > > of connectivity, either phone, wifi or BT. > Only because it won't even be picked up and considered for purchase if it > has a power or connectivity cord supplied with it.
I agree, and that's what's causing the OP consternation. The Noughties are long gone. My MP3 player is obsolete. So are most of the components in the computers I run, all of which are either obsolete or obsolescent. The OP might be better off buying old stuff from ebay. […] > > > > > > I was surprised how much of the pinephone's functionality > > > > > > could be switched off, once I'd decoded the jargon in > > > > > > their specifications (with help). But I don't see how you > > > > > > can avoid having to compromise over the inclusion of those > > > > > > (redundant to you) functions, particularly in view of the > > > > > > extra cost of providing the flexibility to turn them off. > > > > > > > > > > If not there then *NO* need to turn off. ROFL > > > > > > > > Chuckle. > > > > > > We old fogies need to teach these youngsters. > > > > Laugh all you like, but that doesn't sell devices that still > > require wired connections to be able to use them. > > > > I think the subject line of this thread is confusing software tools > > and hardware. People are no longer happy to walk round with their > > pockets (if they have them) filled with a phone, a camera, a diary, > > a memo pad, a photo album, an MP3 player, a dictaphone, a calculator, > > a transistor radio, a street map, a paperback, a pocket chess set, > > not forgetting a newspaper tucked under their arm. > > This is also true which is why these thing are all crammed to the last > byte of their roms with functionality that as a retired old fart don't > need. I think its my business where I buy my grocery's, don't you? > > Carrying that fawncy cellphone guarantees you will be tracked, including > that stop on a quiet road to water a thirsty weed. So I buy annual time > on a dumb track phone when I'm out of pocket I've done w/o that crap > for 85 years and I don't intend to give up my privacy without first > exchanging some lead. But in the event of an accident or mechanical > failure, I can call for help. Surely any cellphone can/must be tracked if you're able to receive calls, otherwise they wouldn't know from which tower to transmit to you. What I don't know is whether they bother (from a technical standpoint rather than espionage) to track a SIM-less phone. Making contact in that case could be left until you actually try to place a call. I've forgotten which electronic items I used to hear the interference on. Cheers, David.
