Anyone remember punching cards to be fed into the mainframe reader? You spend an hour or two doing that, drop off a 2" stack of cards, come back the next day, scoop up a wad of paper, read every line, and find out you transposed a couple commands. Start over. Near the end, we were using remote terminals to key in our programming, and getting answers in mere minutes! We took our books to the RT rooms, and studied in front of the terminals while waiting. Hi-Tek!
Because a few of us up here still think computers and smokeless powder are a passing fad, we held off until the 486's came out, then got a free 286, followed by a 486 (wheeeeee!) for $250 when everyone had to have a Pentium. Current machine is a 450 Mz AMD K6 Presario. Same deal with tractors and trucks...1979 & 1987, both purchased last year.
Rather than being a hijack, I think this actually relates pretty well to the question, whether the focus on the money or the work being done. My observation with home PC's is they need most of their capacity, either in terms of storage, memory, or proccessing speed, for games & surfing. How many of us manipulate huge databases at home, or even run CAD software? It's America, and we can afford it, so we buy big PC's, vehicles, and tractors. I don't want to start a fight, but why not stop by Home Depot and pick up a two-pack of MTD's instead of a BX, and stuff the remaining 6-8 grand in the market? 'Cause we want the orange one! Have at it, then, and no apologies. S'all relative with material things. My 27hp 4wd tractor cost $6500 with FEL and bush hog. It's bigger but cost about half, or less - I don't even know - than a BX.
As I've said in other posts, I got some real close scrutiny when looking at tractors, by the oddest inquisitors (say that 5X real fast). I've never piloted a sled bigger than 440cc ('cept for that one time in the 70's with the home made race sled test in the field.....never did find that belt). My inquisitors won't swing a leg over anything with less than 700cc. Walking through the parking lot to my '86 Pontiac ($550 with 30k miles 8 years ago), I pass by a cool $50-90k worth of pickups, depending on who I am relieving or vice versa, and that's usually just 3 vehicles. Then there's the Harleys, the four wheelers, the boats (sea-rototillers or rag flappers), and what about our houses?
I told the guys at work to think of it as my toy - that put an end to the hand-wringing. Guess I don't need to track usage or justify expense with a toy.
My philosphy is to stay a few years behind the pack, stick with proven technology, and scoop up the deals. I focus on bang for the buck and not just the bang. No thanks to Rbargeron and Rat, I'm currently having the sweats for
L4850-5450 Kubotas. One of the main attractions is the strength and power for the price - and I'm only on 4 acres (bordering 200 which I also help on). It's a nice sickness, comparatively, and we don't want to be cured.
How many of you tried to say "oddest inquisitors" real fast?
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
