Giles: I'm sure we're all perfectly safe. Dawn: We're safe. Right. And Spike built a robot Buffy to play checkers with. Tara: It sounded convincing when I thought it.

'Dirty Girls'


Buffistechnology 3: "Press Some Buttons, See What Happens."

Got a question about technology? Ask it here. Discussion of hardware, software, TiVos, multi-region DVDs, Windows, Macs, LINUX, hand-helds, iPods, anything tech related. Better than any helpdesk!


tommyrot - Apr 08, 2009 7:16:57 am PDT #9677 of 25501
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.

Robots that make things. Hot. Want.

Oh yeah, I've wanted one of those for ages. Currently the only affordable way of getting one is making a kit (which is what ita's link is).

Hmmm... $750 is pretty cheap, even for a kit. I'm gonna have to seriously consider this one.

Maybe b.org should just get one. Then we can have the Buffista Fabrication Lab. Just think of all the tiaras and steampunk rayguns and whatnot we could make....


tiggy - Apr 08, 2009 7:17:52 am PDT #9678 of 25501
I do believe in killing the messenger, you know why? Because it sends a message. ~ Damon Salvatore

is the parent company Cyberdyne? no John Henry for me, thanks!


§ ita § - Apr 08, 2009 7:21:35 am PDT #9679 of 25501
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

Can it make a copy of itself?

From here:

This machine is what the RepRap community calls a 'RepStrap' machine, meaning it can be used to print out a 'real' RepRap machine. With this machine you can print out additional 3D printers to build you stuff. Awesome!


§ ita § - Apr 08, 2009 7:23:05 am PDT #9680 of 25501
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

Sample prints.


Ailleann - Apr 08, 2009 7:24:10 am PDT #9681 of 25501
vanguard of the socialist Hollywood liberal homosexualist agenda

Robots that can make things = bad! Did no one watch Stargate?

Wait, don't answer that...


Dana - Apr 09, 2009 10:32:56 am PDT #9682 of 25501
I'm terrifically busy with my ennui.

On the offhand chance that anyone has an idea, we're trying to diagnose a problem with our computer.

Desktop, five years old. Problem started with a crash when trying to wake from hibernation.

1) One of the two disks that make up the RAID array claims to have a problem on bootup, but it boots into the OS just fine, and scans say it has no problem. I'm guessing it's something that went funky when the machine crashed.

2) We've got serious video artifacts on the screen. They're present from the second the computer boots, so it's not a Windows thing.

3) Computer sometimes spontaneously reboots. Doesn't appear to be an overheating issue -- we've opened the case and cleaned it, and it's running with the case open.

I've tested the memory (2GB) and it's fine. My best guess is that the motherboard is starting to fail. Any opinions?


Gudanov - Apr 09, 2009 10:44:01 am PDT #9683 of 25501
Coding and Sleeping

Sounds like motherboard, CPU, or power supply. Have you tried clearing CMOS with a jumper?


Dana - Apr 09, 2009 10:52:37 am PDT #9684 of 25501
I'm terrifically busy with my ennui.

No. Are you suggesting that something's weird with the BIOS? We've checked the settings.


Gudanov - Apr 09, 2009 10:58:22 am PDT #9685 of 25501
Coding and Sleeping

Sometimes it can get corrupted and it won't show up in the settings. There is usually a jumper on the motherboard you can set to wipe out the CMOS. The manual to the motherboard or computer will probably tell you how to do it. Unplugging and removing the motherboard battery for, I dunno 10 minutes or so to be safe, will also do the job.

Not saying it will fix your problems, but it's worth a shot. I have had it clear up weird problems in the past.


Dana - Apr 09, 2009 11:03:37 am PDT #9686 of 25501
I'm terrifically busy with my ennui.

Hrm. I've got the manual for the motherboard. I'll suggest it to husband when he comes home. We have had weird things happen to the BIOS on crashes before, so it's worth a try.

Thanks.