Recent content by mjia

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Dealing with 4:3 ratio resolution on 5:4 LCDs

Hum...it would appear that you are correct in that the physical size is 5:4 (I measured it). I thought I read somewhere that LCDs were subject to this distortion, and some of my videos definately looked distorted. I checked out the files' resolutions again and found that they were 5:2...I guess...
- mjia
- Post #6
- Jun 12, 2006
- Forum: Windows
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Dealing with 4:3 ratio resolution on 5:4 LCDs

Most 17" and 19" LCDs are the same shape are conventional CRTs, sporting a 4:3 aspect ratio in their physical size. The problem is that their standard resolution of 1280x1024 is actually a 5:4 ratio. The shape of the resulting pixels are actually squashed rectangles. I have frequently found...
- mjia
- Thread
- Jun 11, 2006
- Replies: 5
- Forum: Windows
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understanding probability theory... Infinite monkey theorem

This theorem is rather moot when factoring in quantum mechanics. According to the latter, eventually, the typewriter would have spontaneously pushed all the exact right keys to compose Shakespeare's works. Better yet, the typewriter and monkey are not even required, since ink will magically...
- mjia
- Post #39
- May 8, 2006
- Forum: Ask a Technical Professional
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understanding probability theory... Infinite monkey theorem

Here's an idea: Every time the next number is generated (or every so often), provide the possibility of changing the seed based on some other psedu-random decision. eg. is the time from 00:00 1/1/1970 GMT odd or even. My feeling is that their is no limit to the number of possibilities. Of...
- mjia
- Post #38
- May 8, 2006
- Forum: Ask a Technical Professional
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Earth Rotation

Regardless of it validity, "The elagant universe" is a great book and worth a read. In addition to the topics in covers concerning string theory, it also provides a good background on special and general relativity (though if you already understand these theories then it is a little redundant...
- mjia
- Post #17
- Apr 7, 2006
- Forum: Ask a Technical Professional
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Using an old video card

Thanks for all the advice. I think I will get a Matrox. Now, I've found an even cheaper Matrox (a PCI Millenium I), but its only 4 meg. According to their specs, it can support 24 bits at 1280x1024. What I don't get is that the 8 meg version says that it supports 32 bits at that resolution...
- mjia
- Post #6
- Apr 4, 2006
- Forum: Graphics Cards
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Using an old video card

Thanks for the opinion. I haven't been able to find much else for this price (not PCI ones at least). The only other chipset I can find is the TNT2...is this any better?
- mjia
- Post #4
- Apr 2, 2006
- Forum: Graphics Cards
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Using an old video card

The auction is ending soon...I hope someone knows the answer to my question... Thanks, and sorry to prod.
- mjia
- Post #2
- Apr 1, 2006
- Forum: Graphics Cards
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Using an old video card

I need to support 3 monitors on my PC. my ATI 9200 (AGP) can support 2 of them, so I need a way of supporting 1 more. I'm thinking of adding a cheap PCI video card to support it. Cost and compatibility is my main concern (I'm running XP). I'm considering the Matrox Millenium II card which i...
- mjia
- Thread
- Apr 1, 2006
- Replies: 5
- Forum: Graphics Cards
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I need a router that works with an ISP that offers wireless connection instead of DSL/Cable

A wireless bridge is the first step, but you will also need a router. The bridge will join a wired network to a wireless one, in other words, your wireless ISP will look like it is wired, but you can't just connect all your machines directly. Any decent wired router will work (a wireless router...
- mjia
- Post #3
- Mar 24, 2006
- Forum: Networking
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I want a wireless NAS with a built-in print server

Why do you need to run a NAS wirelessly? Noise? If you plan on accessing a wireless NAS device with a PC connected wirelessly, be aware that you will get terrible speeds. Wireless to wireless transfer rates are terrible because wireless APs are not able to transmit and receive simultaneously...
- mjia
- Post #7
- Feb 22, 2006
- Forum: Networking
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Wireless Router Speed Problem.

Your math is fine. btw, these calculation can also be done by googling: "3.0 Mbps in KBps" You might want to test the actual speeds your HTPC can get over wireless. The 54 Mbps the computer says it is connected at isn't really very reliable. What you can do is run a program like TTCP...
- mjia
- Post #2
- Feb 16, 2006
- Forum: Networking
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Wireless network security (convincing the switch)

I properly secured wireless network should be OK. There are so many unsecured wireless networks out there that there is little reason for a hacker to spend the time breaking into a secured one (unless they know of something specific in your network that is particularly enticing). Some ISPs...
- mjia
- Post #4
- Feb 13, 2006
- Forum: Networking
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Ideas on a NAS box

There is no definite advantage to either Linux or NT. You'd probably get better raw performance with linux, but NT is generally easier to setup (for someone who does not have experience with either OS). Existing network structure is probably the most important factor. I run a windows domain...
- mjia
- Post #20
- Feb 13, 2006
- Forum: Networking
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Ideas on a NAS box

If you run it off an older CPU like a P2, or a mobile processor (like a pentium M), cooling it will be quite easy. In other words, will be very quiet. The difference in noise over a NAS will be negligible if you choose your components carefully. In the extreme, you can even building a completely...
- mjia
- Post #15
- Feb 13, 2006
- Forum: Networking

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