It has been a tremendously long day but luckily it is winding down quickly.
I've been testing hard drives since 8:30AM and I'm still no where near completion. Although testing the Raptors and most of the newer drives goes quite quickly, since I've decided to include some older drives for comparison's sake benchmarking them takes forever. For example, I threw in the Western Digital Expert 205BA, an old test bed hard drive of ours from a few years ago, and it took from around 8:30AM until around 1 or 2PM (I lost track of time) to finish testing just that one drive. The IBM 75GXP took almost half the time to complete the same tests, and a newer 7200RPM 8MB cache drive takes significantly less time. The results will be well worth it however, it may just take longer than anticipated.
It snowed here in New Haven on Sunday, and when I say it snowed I mean it snowed hard - unlike what I'm used to in Raleigh. We needed to run some errands so I got to put those snow driving skills to the test. I have concluded that driving in the snow is how everyone should learn how to pull themselves out of a sticky situation. There's no better simulator for a 300ft skidpad than some empty, snowy roads; just make sure that you're keeping well below the speed limit.
Actually I have a huge issue with "driver's education" here in the States; in order for me to get my license I had to drive down a road, take a left, take another left, make a three point turn and come back to my starting place. I don't know about you, but most of the accidents I've seen haven't been because someone screwed up a three point turn on a deserted road. Where are the parallel parking tests? I didn't even have to learn how to parallel park during driver's ed, no wonder so many people have issues parallel parking. What about high speed lane change tests? How to properly take a corner? And don't get me started on braking; I've heard from too many people that they don't know what ABS feels like, and from those without ABS I've heard just as many not know how to prevent their wheels from locking up.
I refuse to believe that speeding and cell phones are the cause of all of our accidents, poor driving habits have to be a big contributor (being distracted does fall into that category).
That's my rant for the night, I've got a handful of drives remaining, but chances are that I won't be able to finish with them until tomorrow.
I'll talk to you all later, have a great night. As for me, Vinney gets back in around 45 minutes (poor gal has been in one class for around 10 hours, there's law school for ya) and hopefully we'll be off to get some dinner. Seeing as how neither of us have eaten since this morning, I'm pretty sure she's starving...I know I am.
Take care.
I've been testing hard drives since 8:30AM and I'm still no where near completion. Although testing the Raptors and most of the newer drives goes quite quickly, since I've decided to include some older drives for comparison's sake benchmarking them takes forever. For example, I threw in the Western Digital Expert 205BA, an old test bed hard drive of ours from a few years ago, and it took from around 8:30AM until around 1 or 2PM (I lost track of time) to finish testing just that one drive. The IBM 75GXP took almost half the time to complete the same tests, and a newer 7200RPM 8MB cache drive takes significantly less time. The results will be well worth it however, it may just take longer than anticipated.
It snowed here in New Haven on Sunday, and when I say it snowed I mean it snowed hard - unlike what I'm used to in Raleigh. We needed to run some errands so I got to put those snow driving skills to the test. I have concluded that driving in the snow is how everyone should learn how to pull themselves out of a sticky situation. There's no better simulator for a 300ft skidpad than some empty, snowy roads; just make sure that you're keeping well below the speed limit.
Actually I have a huge issue with "driver's education" here in the States; in order for me to get my license I had to drive down a road, take a left, take another left, make a three point turn and come back to my starting place. I don't know about you, but most of the accidents I've seen haven't been because someone screwed up a three point turn on a deserted road. Where are the parallel parking tests? I didn't even have to learn how to parallel park during driver's ed, no wonder so many people have issues parallel parking. What about high speed lane change tests? How to properly take a corner? And don't get me started on braking; I've heard from too many people that they don't know what ABS feels like, and from those without ABS I've heard just as many not know how to prevent their wheels from locking up.
I refuse to believe that speeding and cell phones are the cause of all of our accidents, poor driving habits have to be a big contributor (being distracted does fall into that category).
That's my rant for the night, I've got a handful of drives remaining, but chances are that I won't be able to finish with them until tomorrow.
I'll talk to you all later, have a great night. As for me, Vinney gets back in around 45 minutes (poor gal has been in one class for around 10 hours, there's law school for ya) and hopefully we'll be off to get some dinner. Seeing as how neither of us have eaten since this morning, I'm pretty sure she's starving...I know I am.
Take care.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
11 Comments
View All Comments
Matt Bhame - Wednesday, December 17, 2003 - link
Noise: VERY important. I'd like a dB rating ~3-7" from HDD alone, and from 3-7' away from case while running...perhaps noting lowest and highest noise registered as we all know pegging a HDD a LOT louder than it just idling.Driving Habits: I use my cell in my car - quite regularly too - and use a headset 100% of the time, just like my seatbelt. I also have my cell phone's menus memorized completely. Now, admittedly, I have, about 3 times, become distracted thru my cell phone use - I don't deny it at all. However, if you ask my wife how distracted I get just be having a conversation with her she'll tell you at least once per car ride I do something stupid! :) Therefore I conclude that wives are more dangerous than cell phones. ;)
License: Hey Anand - we're Americans - we're too stupid to do it the right way. ;) Anyways, every state has their own crazy flaws although testing in both Georgia and Pennsylvania myself, I found PA's far superior. Parallel was mandatory in PA when I went. PA and GA has slightly different laws in intersections as well. There's more leeway given in GA than in PA which personally spells T-R-O-U-B-L-E if you ask me. Such as it's lawful to U-Turn in an undedicated line (ie what's normally a straight-only lane but has neither such markings nor a "No U-Turn" sign) and I have many times seen Yield signs posted for people making right-hand turns at lights which I find quite retarded too.
I need to shut up before I really start whining!
BTW, Raleigh's annual snow accumulation isn't even worth mentioning to some people. ;-)
DG - Wednesday, December 17, 2003 - link
oh yeah, Anand if possible can you add in some sort of subjective comments regarding noise?DG - Wednesday, December 17, 2003 - link
*for indicating when you really need to- for NOT indicating when you really need to
DG - Wednesday, December 17, 2003 - link
'sein, now you also have a "hazard perception" test as part of the theory. You watch a video (theory test is done on a PC) as if you were driving, and have to click when you see a potential hazard happening - some are reasonably obvious like a car pulling out in front of you, kid not looking when crossing from behind parked car etc, but some are not so obvious and you have to be quick. Repetitively clicking when there is no hazard fails you that mark. Hazard perception part of the theory test gets quite a high failure rate.Not only can you get a major fault (fail) for indicating when you really need to, you might get a minor fault (3 in any category = fail, over 14 in total = fail) if you indicate even quite slightly too early or late (e.g. if you indicate too early it might look like you might be pulling over, or if late you dont give sufficient time for cars to react).
A significant part of it though is how well you actually drive. Examiners tend to verge on the side of leniency for possible minor faults if your driving is generally very good, and can be harsh if you basically suck. I'm pretty sure this is intentional as it works very well considering the nature of driving. You also get to keep a copy of your marking sheet, and the examiner (usually anyway) will discuss with you how you did etc.
If you pass your test in an automatic car, you are only liscenced to drive an automatic. Only if you take it with a normal manual can you drive both.
I think it's so harsh because it was always a bit tough, but they've harmonised the driving tests with Europe, which basically means they've taken all the toughest parts from each country's tests.
Insurance is still ridiculously expensive, especially until you reach 24 (presuambly due to risk statistics).
'sein - Wednesday, December 17, 2003 - link
In the UK, our driving tests are fairly difficult. First you've got to complete a driving theory test which is a 35 question touch-screen multiple choice affair. Get more than 5 questions wrong, and its back to the books and then rebook another test in the next available slot (inevitably a few months time). They are not easy questions either. This costs about 30GBP every time.Then, once you've done that and you've taken some lessons (first you need a provisional licence, about 25GBP, then an average of about ~40 or so hours with an instructor at 15GBP an hour for a cheap guy).
When you're ready to take your test, its about 65GBP in fees, plus 30GBP for the car as you normally need to allow 2hrs. The test itself is 50mins long (iirc) and they test *everything*. If you do not indicate once when you should, you fail. If you drive 2MPH over the limit, you fail. If you drive 10MPH under the limit on a clear road, you fail. You get the idea. Its extremely harsh, you need to drive perfectly. On a hill start, if you move backwards 5cm before moving off, you'll get a mark. Positioning, looking in your mirrors, its all crucial - and difficult when you're trying to get through a London suburb in rush hour. Don't forget, only ~5% of people drive Automatics here.
I failed 3 times before passing with 2 minors. Some of my friends failed even more, and a couple of them have given up.
And then, once you have finally passed, you'll end up getting a 1000cc tin can which costs 1000GBP to insure (no, i'm not kidding), 5GBP to drive in Central London, 75p a Litre in petrol ('gas')... don't get me started.
ravedave - Wednesday, December 17, 2003 - link
lame comment #4...Thansk for the slow drive test Anand. I don't think many peopel realize what a diff HD's make in a system.
Anonymous - Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - link
women*Anonymous - Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - link
Woman can't drive....they need "expanded" driving exams. :), I race cars on drag strips, and when driving a normal subaru on the road, in 20 years all the accidents I almost got in were woman and their faults.alex_behrens - Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - link
In addition to my previous comment, living in Minnesota and being around snow my whole life I've grown used to it. Our drivers license system requires a permit for 6 months before being able to take the actual exam, and during that period you must be accomponied by an adult driver. My instructor took me out on snowy days just to get the practice. Once you learn to manage it, it can actually be quite fun, especially with a rear-wheel drive vehicle, but that's a different story. :) Good luck to all those learning to drive in the snow, or experiencing it for the first time.alex_behrens - Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - link
My drivers test, in Minnesota, was much more complex and included one-way streets, proper lane changing, parallel parking and most road components, except highway driving. Minnesota needs to implement that, as we are reknown for poor merging skills. However, our driving tests vary and many are in a "real world" situation on city streets.