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Why We Love Wires Too
This Clip is Proof That Birds Are Secretly Composers
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ilya687
10/03/09

In reply to Why We Love Wires Too
I run wires whenever I can. If i am using my laptop anywhere near a accessible wired connection i use that. I don't walk as i surf the net so it's not an issue.
Wireless internet, for all of it's development, has a long way to go in terms of throughput and security. I work at a wireless research lab, and EVERYONE in my lab has a wired connection.
And as for batteries? They suck. fact. Except for my phone i see battery power as something to hold me over till I get to the next outlet. Sorry Tesla
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Deus_Ex
10/03/09

In reply to Why We Love Wires Too
Right now Wired energy transfer is better than wireless as research is still going on,But it's only a matter of time that wireless will reach the efficiency levels of it's wired counterparts...thn maybe it'll sound more useful to everyone

Wireless charging is way better than wired charging as u don't need to have all those different types of connectors for each n every device.
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Wwhat
10/03/09

In reply to Why We Love Wires Too
It's just a pity that now all recent quality routers with gigabit switches are WiFi ones so you pay a lot for tranceivers even when you don't plan to use wireless (much)
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wagnerrp
10/03/09

@Wwhat: Why not use your existing router, and just get a separate gigabit switch?
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Wwhat
10/04/09

@wagnerrp:
Because my internet has been upgraded to a point that my old router can't handle it any more, needs a gigabit WAN too :)
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Wheema
10/03/09

In reply to Why We Love Wires Too
Wired is better where it is possible but like anything you use the right solution for the problem. Giz is not saying Wireless sucks or has no place as some commenters here seem to think, just use it for the right reasons - don't use wireless on a desktop if the router is a ft away, don't use wires when you want something to be massively portable like a laptop.
And to those who think wires will vanish totally with wireless power are idiots as yes its convenient but it is ALWAYS going to be a lossy technology and wasting power is bad if you can avoid it. Yeah it makes things easier but not by much and I'd rather have some resources and a healthy environment than save a second dropping my phone into it's cradle rather than just on the desk.
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ohcyt
10/03/09

In reply to Why We Love Wires Too
I don't agree with your stance on wireless power: eventually, they'll be able to make the chargers thin and large and stow them away in surfaces such as desks. Then all you'd have to do to charge your 4G iPad is drop it on your desk. The devices will become smart enough to shut the charger down when necessary to prevent waste, and there you go: better charging experience simply because you don't have to think about it any more.
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Navin R Johnson
10/04/09

@ohcyt: Wireless charging will always be less efficient than wired. More of the radiated energy will always be lost than would be through a wire. But surly wireless charging will eventually more convenient.
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dogcow
10/02/09

In reply to Why We Love Wires Too
Yeah, I don't get the whole Touchstone thing-its a cute gimmick, but it adds nothing over a dock you could just drop your device into. But it got the press all gooey for 5 minutes, so maybe that was its whole idea.

At least the WildCharge thing has the potential of you just tossing all your handheld stuff onto some big plate and it all charges (theoretically).
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bennyaltuca
10/02/09

In reply to Why We Love Wires Too
i cant take my laptop to the toilet anyway.. battery been dead for almost a year :).

is wanting all my wireless devices fed by fuel cells to much to ask? i rather buy a gallon of ethanol or something like that and let my laptop run for 1+ month non stop non wires. that goes same for my cellphone and various devices. also would work awesome as a electric backup for the house :)
WE WANT FUEL CELL!!!

as to other things like wireless networks and such i agree that if your a gamer or a programmer, graphic designer and such that requires high transfer speeds with in your network you really ought to consider on going wired. but if your like the 90% of computer users (rough estimate) that only use it to mail, facebook, chat, upload and download a few movies and pictures and ocassional gamming your likely in no need of such speeds.
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oldgraygeek
10/02/09

In reply to Why We Love Wires Too
I've had customers with laptops sitting (permanently) 3 feet from their wireless router... and they have WiFi issues. I plug in their laptop, and it suddenly works.
I also have customers using WiFi for desktops, and they call me about the problems. When I get there, I rule out the obvious (2.4 GHz phones) and tell them to call an electrician to run some Cat5.
Wireless is only for things that move often, as far as I'm concerned.
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sickforska: Sworn defender of the printed word
10/02/09

In reply to Why We Love Wires Too
Gizmodo, you're right. Since you said wired was better I think I'll ditch 90% of the speakers in my house, including the poolside and underwater ones, because controlling my music from the pool is soooooooooo much easier with a 200 foot long cable. I'll probably run Ethernet out to my hammock too, since it makes more sense than 802.11n. And while I'm at it I'll run a phone line too, that way I can answer my phone outside.

Pretty much everything in my house is wireless (except for when I hook up my laptop to my TV. I like it that way.
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ss3
10/02/09

@sickforska: So... when are you expecting your first tumor? I sure hope it's benign... *crosses fingers* hehe

I have quite a few wireless devices too. Two routers and a WAP. I really do think wired is the way to go though - as long as it's practical.
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Edited by Jason Chen at 10/02/09 9:57 PM Jason Chen approved this comment ss3 was starred ss3 was unstarred

Shamoononon: I shave my legs.
10/02/09

In reply to Why We Love Wires Too
Honestly, to be more serious, sure it's better if the perfect conditions, but those don't always present themselves.

The last home I lived in had cat 5 wired throughout the place, which made it nice, but that's not typical.

The only time wifi craps out on me is if I'm far from the router which, again, is not typical. In my measly little 1000sqft apartment that I'm in now it has NEVER been a problem.

Other things I like about it:

Can't wire a place you don't own, so unless you want to trip all over the cords, it's a no go.

When my ISP craps out, there is usually somebody else near by with another service that I can 'borrow' access to.

Cabling needs upkeep and is often the fault of many 'unexplained' outages.

Anyhow, if I had to choose only one option, I wouldn't give up portability for faster porn access.

At work on the other hand, or if I ever am doing something that I really want to keep secure, I would go wired for sure.
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Barry99705 promoted this comment Edited by Shamoononon: I shave my legs. at 10/02/09 8:58 PM

Barry99705
10/05/09

@Shamoononon: I shave my legs.: The first thing I do when I move into a new place is cable it for cat5.
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Shamoononon: I shave my legs.
10/02/09

In reply to Why We Love Wires Too
Yeah, but you can't take your laptop to the toilet like I can.
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KTK1990 promoted this comment

KTK1990
10/02/09

@Shamoononon: I shave my legs.: They can. They just have to have a really long cord or move the router in the bathroom. I have a 10 foot ethernet cable and im pretty sure they make longer ones ;-)
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Edited by KTK1990 at 10/02/09 9:07 PM KTK1990 was starred KTK1990 was unstarred

Shamoononon: I shave my legs.
10/02/09

@KTK1990: Yeah, but after you get up with the seat clinging to your pants you'll trip over the cable, bonk you head against the wall, lose consciousness, fall face first into the toilet and die.

Clearly, wireless is better.
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Edited by Shamoononon: I shave my legs. at 10/02/09 9:32 PM

UniComp
09/10/09

In reply to This Clip is Proof That Birds Are Secretly Composers
PBS had a commercial years ago where birds on wires inspired a musician. This is a rip off I say!
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bagseed
09/10/09

@UniComp: i saw that too this is totally lame an unoriginal
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yogibimbi
09/10/09

@bagseed: you are totally lame and unoriginal, since about a bazillion of people here have already pointed out the link to PBS.
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deliciousburglar
09/10/09

@yogibimbi: you are totally lame and unoriginal as the pointing out of the pointing out has been done already.

(waits for self to be totally lame)
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FredicvsMaximvs promoted this comment Edited by deliciousburglar at 09/10/09 8:52 AM deliciousburglar was starred deliciousburglar was unstarred

albokay
09/09/09

In reply to This Clip is Proof That Birds Are Secretly Composers
birds are now more talented than most rappers.
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mykalt45
09/09/09

In reply to This Clip is Proof That Birds Are Secretly Composers
Major fail. If birds were really composing, they'd show a bass or treble cliff and the timing like 4/4 or 3/4 and tell us the beats per minute. Until then, it's just noise.
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Lite: killed Dumbledore promoted this comment mykalt45 was starred mykalt45 was unstarred

Lite: hates Illinois Nazis
09/09/09

@mykalt45: They only compose 4/4 time music during a crisis. Like when there's a runaway nuclear chain reaction while attempting to add bubbles to beer.
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anon
09/09/09

@mykalt45: that was a cheep shot.
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Duckspwn
09/09/09

@Lite: killed Dumbledore: What. The. Fuck.
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mykalt45
09/09/09

@Lite: killed Dumbledore: Thank you for that! If I was tripping I'd totally get it.
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bnetter12
09/09/09

In reply to This Clip is Proof That Birds Are Secretly Composers
Very interesting.
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