On 13/09/2013 5:44 PM, Jim Henderson wrote:
> On Fri, 13 Sep 2013 06:20:50 +0100, Stephen wrote:
>
>> On 13/09/2013 5:43 AM, Jim Henderson wrote:
>>> But a microchip is just a tad more complex than a combustion engine,
>>> too.
>>
>> Not any more it's not. ;-)
>>
>> I used to service my own cars and bikes. Other than check the fluids all
>> I can do with the engine nowadays is check that it is still there. :-)
>
> Well, some cars have computers in them now, that's true.

Would you not consider a car's fuel control system a computer?

> But the mechanical parts are still basically the same.

Yes the bits that go roundy round are basically similar as is the 
structural nits. But how do you set up the spark plug timing on your car?

> Patrick's analogy is
> flawed because he's comparing physical items in the boot to data on a
> hard drive.  The two are so /not/ comparable it's not even funny.
>
All analogies break down at some point, eh?
The real problem is that computers are domestic appliances now. They are 
not just for geeks.
Here is another analogy or parable, whatever.
Rule number one when working with electrical equipment is disconnect it 
from the mains before opening it up. Yes?
So you can understand in a way why my boss's boss gave me a bollocking 
for working on exposed live equipment. (H&S to the forefront)
He had no answer to my question "How do I trouble shoot if it is dead?"
He went away, I powered it up, found the fault and all was well.
Mixing techie and non-techie is a very hard thing to do.

I've run out of steam, now.

-- 
Regards
     Stephen

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