The collected works of bgalakazam

R.I.P.

I stocked up pretty well, downloading and burning to DVDs mostly all the available stuff from 4.3.3 to 7.1. I might consider uploading a torrent in the distant future, should the desire arise.

The warehouse where I got my 7028 for free has been using AIX for some 15+ years. They upgrade their servers every 5 years or so, so technically they have that "support contract". Just an example of a non-enterprise company that uses IBM and AIX.

BTW, I uploaded the updates for 4.3.3 and 5L.

Also, it looks like the downloads are still accessible. I just tried and it works. I also dled some Java6 and rpm.rte packages. All I had to do is log in. This isn't to say that they won't cut off the downloads completely at some point.

I wish I had a POWER4 at least so I can do AIX 6.1 or AIX 7.1 as 5.3 is running out of service soon. Oh well.

The price is kind of a turn off. Even the 2F 10" is still $400 and very rare to find. I don't know if the 9" is worth buying as it seems too small, but it's half the price.

If only there were more non IA-32 notebooks out there...I would buy right away. PowerBooks are too old now and Yeeloong is too expensive for what it offers. I may consider a 9", but it's too tiny. I am using a X220 right now, mainly due to 9hour battery with WiFi on (and it's not a ultrabook).

I just wish all the RISC based workstations didn't die out 4 years ago. So what if Intel makes fast and powerful CPU's? With all the heavy OS's now it takes gigs just to boot up. Not to mention how sluggish your system becomes. I am using top-of-the-line CPU from 2006 and it's sluggish as hell.I am tired of the Intel monopoly on the market. And given there is little to no alternative if you want current processors it's very discouraging. I am still uneasy about ordering a Yeeloong due to the limited graphical settings. C'est la vie.

So I am looking into a 285 potentially, but I have some questions that concern me.

- Can it connect to VPN's via PPTP?
- Is there Java 6 support? (I assume it's a download from IBM)
- If I buy a version with 5L or 6.1, can I contact IBM for 7.1?
- Can it play 720p and 1080p videos?
- No Flash I assume?


I don't do any gaming or things like that, just basic browsing and compiling.

Hmm, so there is no alternative to connect to VPN? I mean if there is no VPN connectivity... not really a workstation in my world.

Any way to virtualize with PowerVM? I know POWER5 supports it.

So to sum up, there is no Flash, no way to connect to a VPN and no way to virtualize software?

Being in my twenties, I lament not having lived in the 80s and early 90s to use the SGIs and other related products. I often re-read old threads here and look at photos online with nostalgia. Currently, I have several problems with today's market.

1. I don't like the OS choice. Currently the market is pretty much Windows, OS X (wintel still) and GNU/Linux. I have a particular hate for GNU/Linux and try to avoid it outside of my work. I have never owned an Apple product and after they went to wintel, I pledged never to buy one ever. To this day my wife and I have had or used 0 iCrap products. I personally like to use FreeBSD, but the lack of software support for some major applications leave it out of the market. It took GNU/Linux 20 years to start being recognized in key consumer areas (like the gaming industry and media/design). Currently the market is set: Windows - OS X - GNU/Linux. Anything else is considered hobbyist and is very limited in a professional environment software-wise.

2. The architecture. x86 (with 64bit extension) is just overwhelming. Indeed, ARM is making progress, but it's still not enough to be an alternative. All the other RISC (basically POWER and SPARC) are used in mid to enterprise level and dropped the workstation line somewhere between 2006-2009. This is far worse than the OS problem. There really isn't an alternative here and we can only hope AMD doesn't go bankrupt as then wintel will be a full monopolist.

I do own a modern computer, which I consider selling for parts, but there is just nothing that can meet today's demands in terms of work and home use. Just a short list of the things not available (or current versions) outside of x86: Java, Flash, some codecs, GPU support, peripheral support (webcam, headphone, mouse, cell phone), etc.

Is there any hope for the future and a cure for this casualware x86 windows/mac/linux dominance? I want to get rid of (at least my home) computers, but there simply isn't an alternative. And it doesn't look like one will come (I don't consider ARM a possible success in the desktop/workstation market).

Or maybe I should just buy a Tezro, max it out, and hope for the best... still I can't find one under the $1000 range (even not maxed).

I always say, if only I could have been born 20 years earlier and catch the entire IT industry since the (relative) start...

What is one to do or hope for, besides wait another 10+ years to see the next thing out?

Just to clarify: I am a computer engineering student in uni and work in the software field. I have 0 experience with CAD, Maya, Photoshop, etc.

I do own a NVIDIA GTX 660Ti and I use it for CUDA parallel programming learning (outside my uni). However, look at this:

Supported binary drivers by NVIDIA with CUDA enabled:
Windows
OS X (x86)
GNU/Linux (x86)
FreeBSD (x86)
Solaris (x86)

CUDA toolking available for download:
Windows
OS X
GNU/Linux

... so I am still forced to use the "trio"