[ale] OT - Portable Drive

[Geoffrey]

Mike Harrison wrote:
>> though, my first device was a Trash-80. I understand the basic
>> principles of slide-rule function, but I've no practical experience.
> 
> My advanced chemistry teacher was a slide rule nut.
> He allowed their use in class, and if used, you only
> had to be right to 3 significant digits.
> 
> If you used a calculator, you had to be right to 7
> (not 8, he was reasonable), and yet, as people 'trusted'
> the calculator, they made mistakes and got the answers
> wrong due to cumulative error.
> 
> I used the slide rule, and often did hard manual math
> to 4 or 5 places to double check I was using it right.
> I got good grades, because I understood it was easier
> to be right at 3 significant digits.
> 
> --And to be on Linux: Am I one of the few users of 'bc' left?
> 
> What a powerful tool, especially when doing weird math.
> 
> apt-get install bc
> bc
> 128^128
> 
> Is a good example of why it's useful. Lots of display room. :)

I use 'dc'

It's that RPN stuff I like. :)

-- 
Until later, Geoffrey

Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little
temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.
  - Benjamin Franklin