So, I'm going to a conference ... - Page 2

Bitman · 02-14-2005, 07:59 PM

Buh?
http://www.compusa.com/products/prod...ay%5Fprice%7C0

wolf · 02-15-2005, 12:47 AM

It's like this ... I called up the hotel, and asked which I needed ... an ethernet card or a usb port. The lady at the desk said (and was probably wrong) "you can use either. We have all the cables in the room."

I decided to go with the USB because that's how my home internet is hooked up, and the device (if I can get the damn thing functioning) would therefore work someplace other than at this conference site.

Brian, I'm not sure what my time availability is going to be ... the conference runs through the week, and there are evening events scheduled as well (private showing of Ladder 49 whoo hoo!! and something called the "Eustress Fun Fest". There is also a chichi Frank Sinatra Impersonator Piano Bar Italian restauarant that we always go to when we are in Charm City for this particular conference ... I don't know if that's going to be our activity for wednesday or saturday. There are folks from all over the world that I get to see at this thing once every other year, and I will hopefully spend some time drinking with the australians.

Troubleshooter · 02-15-2005, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

It's like this ... I called up the hotel, and asked which I needed ... an ethernet card or a usb port. The lady at the desk said (and was probably wrong) "you can use either. We have all the cables in the room."

Ah, so you're a victim of collateral damage from an I-d-10-t error.

Bitman · 02-15-2005, 01:40 PM

I dunno about the 10t error, she may be right. But USB is still flakytech, even with a good OS and PC. Wired ethernet is about the safest, most standard comm tech there is. Besides, with USB ethernet you've got double the work -- get the USB working, then get the ethernet working through USB. With an ethernet card, it's one card, one low-level driver, then you're working with Microsoft's standard TCP drivers, which everyone already knows.

On top of that, even an old laptop can achieve a large percentage of a fast 100 Mb wire through the PCMCIA port. USB has a hard time hitting 10 Mb.

Troubleshooter · 02-15-2005, 01:47 PM

I know.

My point was that the person who told her what she needed might not have had a clue. She works the front desk of hotel, not tech support.

wolf · 02-15-2005, 10:02 PM

I am at the hotel, and with a minimum of help with a nice man from the Engineering department, I have a loaner ethernet card ... the hotel is prepared for this eventuality, it seems.

I'll be taking the USB dog (which never did install properly) back to the damn compUSA at the earliest possible opportunity when I get home.

I may get one of those $20 cards, though, in case the home system craps out.

tw · 02-17-2005, 04:50 PM

USB is for connecting short distances (typically less than 10 feet) to adjacent peripherals. It is slower but provides local flexibility.

Ethernet is for networking (typically to a communication device up to 100 meters - 300 feet - away).

USB is for talking to an adjacent device. Ethernet is for talking to the world. Yes, each can also be used for the other's function. USB can talk to the world and Ethernet can talk to local devices. But it is better to use each for what it is really intended.

USB is not a good alternative to networking. USB can encounter complications if used in the Windows 98 domain.

BTW, they were called 'plug fests'. The USB consortium would sponsor a 'plug fest' where peripheral manufacturers would come and test their USB peripherals in computers also using other USB devices. This is how the USB consortium eliminated problems that were so common in the days of Windows 98.

BigV · 02-17-2005, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Troubleshooter

Ah, so you're a victim of collateral damage from an I-d-10-t error.

Hahahaha... yepper. Instead of PEBCAK she found the PEBPAK. Too bad.

02-15-2005, 12:47 AM	#17
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	It's like this ... I called up the hotel, and asked which I needed ... an ethernet card or a usb port. The lady at the desk said (and was probably wrong) "you can use either. We have all the cables in the room." I decided to go with the USB because that's how my home internet is hooked up, and the device (if I can get the damn thing functioning) would therefore work someplace other than at this conference site. Brian, I'm not sure what my time availability is going to be ... the conference runs through the week, and there are evening events scheduled as well (private showing of Ladder 49 whoo hoo!! and something called the "Eustress Fun Fest". There is also a chichi Frank Sinatra Impersonator Piano Bar Italian restauarant that we always go to when we are in Charm City for this particular conference ... I don't know if that's going to be our activity for wednesday or saturday. There are folks from all over the world that I get to see at this thing once every other year, and I will hopefully spend some time drinking with the australians. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

02-15-2005, 01:47 PM	#20
Troubleshooter The urban Jane Goodall Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,012	I know. My point was that the person who told her what she needed might not have had a clue. She works the front desk of hotel, not tech support. __________________ I have gained this from philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law. - Aristotle

02-15-2005, 10:02 PM	#21
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	I am at the hotel, and with a minimum of help with a nice man from the Engineering department, I have a loaner ethernet card ... the hotel is prepared for this eventuality, it seems. I'll be taking the USB dog (which never did install properly) back to the damn compUSA at the earliest possible opportunity when I get home. I may get one of those $20 cards, though, in case the home system craps out. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

02-14-2005, 07:59 PM	#16
Bitman cellar smellar Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: californy, baby! Posts: 403	Buh? http://www.compusa.com/products/prod...ay%5Fprice%7C0

02-15-2005, 01:40 PM	#19
Bitman cellar smellar Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: californy, baby! Posts: 403	I dunno about the 10t error, she may be right. But USB is still flakytech, even with a good OS and PC. Wired ethernet is about the safest, most standard comm tech there is. Besides, with USB ethernet you've got double the work -- get the USB working, then get the ethernet working through USB. With an ethernet card, it's one card, one low-level driver, then you're working with Microsoft's standard TCP drivers, which everyone already knows. On top of that, even an old laptop can achieve a large percentage of a fast 100 Mb wire through the PCMCIA port. USB has a hard time hitting 10 Mb.

02-17-2005, 04:50 PM	#22
tw Read? I only know how to write. Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 11,933	USB is for connecting short distances (typically less than 10 feet) to adjacent peripherals. It is slower but provides local flexibility. Ethernet is for networking (typically to a communication device up to 100 meters - 300 feet - away). USB is for talking to an adjacent device. Ethernet is for talking to the world. Yes, each can also be used for the other's function. USB can talk to the world and Ethernet can talk to local devices. But it is better to use each for what it is really intended. USB is not a good alternative to networking. USB can encounter complications if used in the Windows 98 domain. BTW, they were called 'plug fests'. The USB consortium would sponsor a 'plug fest' where peripheral manufacturers would come and test their USB peripherals in computers also using other USB devices. This is how the USB consortium eliminated problems that were so common in the days of Windows 98.

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