Search results

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    Seattle ATOTers - what neighborhoods would you recommend?

    I'm moving to Seattle in a couple months with my SO, and we're really excited! I'll be at the Microsoft campus in Redmond, and my SO will be working in Bellevue. So, I was hoping for some advice on where to live! We considered living on the east side in Kirkland to optimize for commute, but I...
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    Should I be worried about this hard drive?

    So I just got this 3TB Western Digital Green drive, and some of the traces/solder pads looked somehow damaged or burnt. Should I be worried about the life of this drive? I've never seen the PCBs look like that, but it appears to function fine and has no SMART errors. (sorry for the crappy...
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    Sonata II vs Antec 300 vs Corsair 200R vs Corsair 300R vs others for HTPC/server

    I currently have my HTPC in a small case, but due to networking difficulties, I'm looking to move all my media storage to be in the same case. The current case only holds one 3.5" drive and I need to hold 3-4 drives, so I'm going to move it to a bigger case. Since this is still an HTPC, noise...
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    What tablet is right for me?

    So, right now I have a nice desktop, GS3, and a cheap, crappy laptop. I don't use my laptop much because it's heavy, slow-ish, and bulky, but I have it for when I'm traveling or need something portable. I'm looking to get a tablet, which I will use mostly for consumption, but it needs to be...
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    Is it worth upgrading my Intel 80GB X-25M G2?

    I've had one of the second gen Intel SSDs for a couple of years now and was wondering if there would be any noticeable/worthwhile improvement in upgrading to the new SSDs available. I downloaded SSD benchmark and gave it a try: So, I don't really remember how these performance numbers stack...
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    How well do older digital cameras stack up?

    So, I'm going on vacation shortly, but I don't have anything nicer than a point and shoot. My dad, however, does have an older Canon S2 IS circa 2005 that I could borrow. Although this used to be a nice camera, being something like 7 years old at this point, will the image quality be beaten by...
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    I'm about to graduate with the wrong degree (for me)

    I am about to graduate with my BSME in June, and while I am well-qualified with several internships, I am now realizing that I am about to have a degree that barely enables me to do what I really want to do. A lot of older engineers grew up in the heydays of the space age and were inspired to...
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    What are some products at home that suck/drive you crazy/could be way better?

    I'm starting a mini-design project where we reverse-engineer something that is hard or efficient to use, and then design and implement improvements or upgrades. Preferably under $30. What products make you angry or furious? And specifically, what about it?
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    Best place/way to sell old magazines?

    My parents are cleaning out their basement and want to know if they should toss a bunch of old magazines I had. These are Nintendo Power ~120-180 and PC Gamer ~120-190. I looked on eBay but most items were single old issues. Probably best to just recycle these?
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    Help me pick a location for my internship with Amazon

    So I just got an offer for an operations engineering intership this summer with Amazon, and I get to rank my preferences for location out of the below list. Many of the locations are in the midwest (where I have lived all of my life), so I would like to avoid those. So far I am thinking: 1...
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    Brainwavz M2 earphones - $36.52

    I recently decided to get myself a nice pair of IEM earphones, so I've been doing a lot of research. There's a massive thread on Head Fi reviewing tons of them, and the M2 seems to be one of the best values in the $40-80 range (usually goes for $60). One detailed review A second review (R03...
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    What is wrong with my bonsai tree?

    The guy on the left is a eugenia brush cherry, and the leaves have become dried out and shriveled up over the past few days. I water it every 1-3 days, and when I noticed this happening, I moved it to be closer to my window. Overwatering? Needs more fertilizer (I just did a couple weeks ago)...
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    ATOT mechanical engineers

    What sort of industries do ATOT MEs work in? Do you have your BS, MS, or PhD? What's your work like, and how do you like it? How did you get to where you are, and what would you recommend to a current student (junior)? I know there have been threads like this in the past, but I was looking to...
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    6870 vs GTX460 768MB vs 4850 crossfire

    I was using a 4870 512MB for a while, until I bought a slew of video cards during the holiday sales. I now have a reference HIS 6870 (currently installed), a factory overclocked Galaxy GTX460 768MB, and two 1GB 4850s on the way that I could run in crossfire. I'd like to pick one and sell the...
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    Computer continuously reboots a few seconds into POST

    Computer in signature (actually, using an Antec Trio 550W PSU at the moment) would randomly start slowing down, programs would become unresponsive, and eventually, the entire system would freeze. After several minutes it would BSOD and restart. This happened inconsistently but over a few months...
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    Calling ATOT accountants

    I have an internship this summer and have the option to be paid $6000 via either stipend or scholarship. Which option would minimize my tax profile? I already receive overage each quarter from my current scholarships, so I don't know if that would complicate it. I also made ~$9000 last quarter...
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    Looking for a 2.0/2.1 speaker set, similar to Swan M10s

    Disclaimer: I know very little about speakers. Currently I have Logitech X-530s and an X-Fi Gamer, but I would like to get "real" speakers, and I've had the Swan M10s recommended to me. I would say that my budget is <$150, but I'm flexible with that. I listen to lots of music, but...
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    Suggest an upgrade

    Got some money I feel like spending on my computer (in signature). What should I upgrade? Other relevant parts of my computer: 24", 22", 19", 19" LCDs nice mouse + keyboard Logitech X-530 speakers I'm definitely thinking about an i5 or i7, but I think a speaker upgrade would be pretty...
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    Radio for restored 66 Mustang

    My dad and I just started restomodding a 66 Mustang, and we need to pick a radio so that we can potentially make some cuts in the dash. Don't need anything especially fancy, and preferably something that won't stick out like a sore thumb. Any ideas? Any comments on the whole restoration process?
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    Disappointing 80GB X25-M G2 performance

    I've been running an 80GB X25-M as my main drive for a month now, but I just can't say I'm impressed with it. I made sure to flash the latest firmware at the time to get TRIM (which Win7 confirms is enabled), but it's not at all what I was expecting. Still takes like 90 seconds to boot to the...
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    Recommend a Verizon phone

    I don't feel like I have a lot of choices here - I currently have a Dare, which is flaky, has bad battery life, no longer vibrates, and frequently comes unlocked and dials from my pocket. I'm just sick of it, so I've been looking at phones on Craigslist (not up for an upgrade until May, and I'm...
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    Left 4 Dead 2 - $30

    http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/early-bird-sales-event?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs $30 for the PC version $40 for the Xbox 360 verison free 3-5 day shipping 5% cashback through bing if you search for dell computers
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    Anyone good at riddles/puzzles?

    "Millions of numbers hailing Like so many tiny stones If the trail begins from 37 How far to the ground shall I go?" What could this mean/be referring to? another: The beginning of my four parts stuck at the end The middle two on their own can operate Yet they are still a part of a...
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    Upgrade itch

    My current rig: E8400 @ 3.6+ GHz - ASUS P5K Deluxe - HD4870 - 4x2GB OCZ DDR2-800 - OCZ 600W - WD6400AAKS - X-Fi Gamer - Vista x64 The reason I want to upgrade is because I have a copy of Win 7 RTM (suitable for becoming my main OS, I assume) that I'd like to install and get all set up before...
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    To European ATOTers:

    I'm studying abroad in Bonn, Germany for the month of August this summer. I was going to spend a few extra days on the tail end seeing other parts of Europe. I was thinking of Paris and London, since I can't really visit their on a weekend excursion. I'd also like to see Switzerland, but that's...
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    The Werewolf Game

    Also known as Mafia. Any interest? I would moderate the first game.
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    Help me name my robot and team

    All I've got so far are Robot Mafia, Shazbot, Large Hadron Collider, and maybe Better Nate Than Lever. :sun:
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    Nuked my registry hive

    I just got done reformatting a computer and installing a bunch of software. Started overclocking it, forgot that it is never stable, and corrupted my registry hive. :( Question: If I accidentally nuked my registry hive (i.e. config.sys is corrupt and XP is unbootable), would I be better off...
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    OCZ Vertex 30GB SSD $83 AR/AC at Newegg

    Newegg has the OCZ Vertex 30GB SSD for $128 - $25 coupon (EMCLPMX37) - $20 rebate = $83 shipped. After Anand's recent article, I'm really thinking about picking one of these up, especially with this kind of deal going on. It's basically the second best SSD, behind Intel's, and arguably the...
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    Upside-down-ternet on DD-WRT

    Text I'm sure you've seen it. I have somebody using my wireless who shouldn't be using it (a friend gave him my password), and while I could easily change my password or block his MAC address, that's no fun. Any ideas on how I can mess with him? I have a DD-WRT capable router (just stock...
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    Minor update: Need suggestions for a new compact/midsize

    So here's the deal: my dad wants to unload two of our older, less reliable vehicles because he's tired of constantly having to take vehicles in for repair (we have several in our family). It's also partially because of the buyer-friendly climate, and that he wants to sell some of our investments...
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    Get your own personal 3D printer/prototyper

    RepRap Anyone ever heard of this before? Looks pretty interesting.
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    iPod Touch demands 64-bit iTunes with Vista x64

    Not sure if this would be the best forum, but here goes.... So I just got a 2nd gen iPod Touch, and installed the 64-bit version of iTunes 8.0.2. When I connect my iPod, I get the following message: I've tried removing every piece of Apple software, restarting, and reinstalling, many...
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    Is now a good time to buy a Netbook?

    I'm not sure if this has been recently covered, but I wanted to know if anything really enticing was on the horizon or really worth waiting for. I know that if you keep waiting for something better, you'll never end up with something, so I'd like to take advantage of the 30% cashback at eBay...
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    The value of a foreign language minor

    Worth it? For a future engineer? My situation is that I have 25 credits for German from testing, and I would need 20 more credits to earn a minor, 10 of which would count toward my GECs. I enjoy the language and culture, but I don't know how much of my time it's worth. Would I be better off...
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    Has there ever been a poll...

    ...where everyone has voted the same way? I don't care WHAT the result is, I just want to see how if you guys can do it. :D
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    Older luxury cars: money pits?

    My situation: I'm leaving for college in September, where I can't have a car my freshman year, and my parents are giving my '02 Accord to my recently married brother. My parents will get something to replace it; I'd really like to spend under $5000-6000, even though my parents would be...
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    What would traffic be like...

    ...if there were no semis? One scenario where they all just disappeared from the roadways, another where they were all replaced with more quick and agile vehicles. How much do they slow everyone else down because of their limited acceleration, limited speed, large size/blind spots, and...
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    Does anyone here experience runner's gut?

    i.e. having to crap after running so many minutes or so many miles, or some similar unpleasant experience.
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    Anyone here work in the automotive industry?

    What are the prospects in the automotive industry for a student going into MechE or another discipline? Are there lots of opportunities for exciting work, or would you put it another way? What advice would you have for someone looking to go into this field?