On 10/06/2017 04:18 PM, Tom Horsley wrote: > In my experience, hardware deliberately waits till > the worst possible time to break. For instance: You've > just loaded a new operating system, and suddenly > nothing works right. Because the hardware knows > you'll be sure the new OS is the problem, it chooses > that precise moment to break. > > I have seen this happen many times. I can only > assume computer hardware is both sentient and > malevolent :-). As I understand it, the curriculum of hardware design courses require potential engineers to develop CUD (critical use detector) circuits. To show how smart they are when they hit the real world, they insert them into any hardware they design. The original concept was invented by Xerox and the early versions were only able to cause massive paper jams when you needed that report to give to your boss. This also gave rise to the adult version of the old childhood "my dog ate my homework" excuse. It has since become more sophisticated and can cause far more subtle faults. I suspect this was to get even with those who stole the public- domain PARC desktop metaphor and would sue anyone else who used it (are you listening, Apple?) The auto industry has a similar device which explains why your car always does something weird--but only when there's no mechanic around. "Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they AREN'T out to get me!" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - Rick Stevens, Systems Engineer, AllDigital ricks@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx - - AIM/Skype: therps2 ICQ: 226437340 Yahoo: origrps2 - - - - We are born naked, wet and hungry. Then things get worse. - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ users mailing list -- users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe send an email to users-leave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
