Thread

Mac laptops score 3 out of 4 at NASA

MacNN PowerPC 19 posts Jan 4, 2004 to Jan 5, 2004

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#1 Sun, 4 Jan 2004 - 06:46 MacNN

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html

:-)

Michael

#2 Sun, 4 Jan 2004 - 10:11 MacNN

heh. nice.

#3 Sun, 4 Jan 2004 - 10:28 MacNN

Quote:

Originally posted by mmurray:
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html

:-)

Michael

Excellent hardware/software = excellent mission

nexus5

#4 Sun, 4 Jan 2004 - 11:52 MacNN

I was at some NASA HQ in Washington D.C once and I saw rooms full of Macs but not one winblows machine.

#5 Sun, 4 Jan 2004 - 15:12 MacNN

Quote:

Originally posted by mmurray:
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html

:-)

Michael

In case anyone is wondering what I was talking about that link *used* to point to a page showing some people at JPL with laptops on desks and 4 of the 5 where Mac's.

It now shows some pictures of Mars.

Michael

#6 Sun, 4 Jan 2004 - 17:12 MacNN

The page still does, go down a little bit to "Features".

I saw some footage on CNN showing the other tables at JPL and they didn't look good for Macs...saw a bunch of LCD's that weren't Apple. Could be they have G4/G5's down there with non-Apple LCD's..

Quote:

Originally posted by mmurray:
In case anyone is wondering what I was talking about that link *used* to point to a page showing some people at JPL with laptops on desks and 4 of the 5 where Mac's.

It now shows some pictures of Mars.

Michael

#7 Sun, 4 Jan 2004 - 17:16 MacNN

Quote:

Originally posted by Phat Bastard:
I saw some footage on CNN showing the other tables at JPL and they didn't look good for Macs...saw a bunch of LCD's that weren't Apple. Could be they have G4/G5's down there with non-Apple LCD's..

No, those are all Sun workstations.

#8 Sun, 4 Jan 2004 - 19:59 MacNN

One of the guys at NASA actually still uses his MessagePad 2100 at work everyday. Course, it's not connected to anything mission critical.

#9 Sun, 4 Jan 2004 - 21:46 MacNN

Just watching the live feed on NASA TV you can see lots of Powerbooks and quite a few Apple displays (I think).

kman

#10 Sun, 4 Jan 2004 - 21:51 MacNN

OT--Anyone watch the landing? How did they get those update tones so rapidly? It seemed like they only took 10-20 seconds from the actual events, but I thought mars was about 5 light minutes away.

kman

#11 Sun, 4 Jan 2004 - 23:35 MacNN

Yeah, I've noticed quite a few Mac laptops watching NASA TV. Already spotted four powerbooks (one or two 17", I believe) and one graphite clamshell iBook. Hmmph. Damn Mac nerds.

#12 Mon, 5 Jan 2004 - 07:59 MacNN

Quote:

Originally posted by kman42:
OT--Anyone watch the landing? How did they get those update tones so rapidly? It seemed like they only took 10-20 seconds from the actual events, but I thought mars was about 5 light minutes away.

kman

At the moment (the closest it's been in about 60 thousand years, hence all the missions to Mars) it's only about 56 million km away. Saying that - thats still about 3 light minutes away... hmm...

#13 Mon, 5 Jan 2004 - 09:57 MacNN

It was faked just like the moon landings. There is a soundstage in N. Hollywood with a bunch of red dirt.

#14 Mon, 5 Jan 2004 - 10:10 MacNN

Quote:

Originally posted by Black Book:
At the moment (the closest it's been in about 60 thousand years, hence all the missions to Mars) it's only about 56 million km away. Saying that - thats still about 3 light minutes away... hmm...

I didn't watch it myself but maybe they were sending out commands asynchronously?

#15 Mon, 5 Jan 2004 - 10:11 MacNN

I watched the PBS show NOVA last evening "Mars: Dead or Alive." Proudly I saw some PowerBooks being used.

#16 Mon, 5 Jan 2004 - 10:28 MacNN

yup, great program last night.

and, don't forget to tune in for tuesday's episode...first full color images will be aired.

#17 Mon, 5 Jan 2004 - 10:33 MacNN

Yes, I am planning to watch also. Until they announced it last night I thought that the program on Tuesday was just a rerun. It should be awesome to see some of the live updates.

#18 Mon, 5 Jan 2004 - 10:39 MacNN

yup, as far as i know, the show will contain live updates. looking right now at pbs.org to find out more. but they said it, and you confirmed what i heard. so, it must be true!

#19 Mon, 5 Jan 2004 - 10:47 MacNN

k, here is the deal. rebroadcast of the show from sunday night, but with added updates (live?). i'll watch anyway.