I have no doubt they bean counters looked at the cost and decided laptops are the way to go, but I would like to see the real logic. I guess the real advantage is they can "let" you take the laptop home and work from home with the same files and programs and only on license for your programs.

Do you use a drawing tablet or is it all mouse and keyboard?

We can work from home or at a job site. Next week I'll be on site in Yakima working on updating the clients plant background.

As far as CAD goes its all keyboard and mouse. I started years ago with a tablet and puck but those have long since become obsolete.

With one of the programs we used to design 35 mm slides for slide shows long before PowerPoint presentations I had a tablet and a pen. It was nice in that the menu choices were on the top, and it was a click of the pen to bring up a menu and then enter the text of add the graphic. At home, I had to use the number keypad and a selection might well be 5 numbers deep in a menu.

That was long before Windows. It was in DOS 3 through 6 and a program that was loaded on to of DOS. In fact, I had to reboot the computer with a special floppy and a special config.sys and auto.exe file to make output files, but I had to reboot to do other functions. Back sometime in the mid 1980s and early 90s. Back in the stone ages.

I started doing CAD late 1992 and we used a Kurta tablet with a 4 button puck. Now everything is mouse driven with pallets and menu bars.

Sounds like my mapping programs. Click an icon on the tool bar, and bring up a menu of choices, and finish the needed step.

And very expensive software that requires a subscription to me maintained, so no skipping a year's renewal. Like Microsoft Office 365 is now 24 bucks per month for my business partner and myself to use.

Yep all our CAD software is network lic based. If I don't check out a lic I need an internet connection to run the program.

We have some software that requires a special dongle to run. If the dongles is not in the USB port, you are out of luck.

Most of it now has a serial number assigned to each computer. It has to "phone home" and talk to the mother ship on the internet. Then it will run. If you upgrade to a new computer or make major changes to the computer, you need to re-register it. Of course that only happens when the deadline is looming and there is no time to mess with that, but no choice.

We used to have one piece of software that was that way but even it was on the server.

Morning all. Today begins the mess of getting the plotter and copier fixed or at least working properly.

I do miss having our plotter - inkjet printer right there in the office. I sure don't miss the maintenance on it. Now I just send a file to the service bureau and let them take care of the mess.

stijn
 

Hey Glen that picture you posted below the ref. I was just there in Spain

I have a fun Porsche weekend with the local PCA coming up.

Tomorrow morning at 9:00 I go to the dealership for free coffee and donuts, and look at their cars and the other member's cars. Then at 10:30 or so, we head off to a Hooters for a "car show" that is more looking at each cars followed by bad food. It is hard to believe that Hooters has never improved their food. I have not been since our last car show, but I bet it is just as bad.

Then on Sunday, the autocross. Gotta get rid of the unsprung weight of the tread on the tires, and the excess brake pad material.

Lots of sun screen will be used. It is possible I might get a little sweaty.

Morning all. Sounds like a lot of fun. Are you sure the boss will allow it?

He is paying for the bad food at Hooter's and even the beer! He said to consider that my bonus for the sprinkler repairs. ;)

He is smart. Feed you and gas you up (beer) gets more work done.

Yep, he keeps me fat, dumb, and happy and lets me drive the 911.

Let me know if he is hiring.

Phew. Back into AC.

The dealer's show was a fantastic turnout of 40 cars or so. Then we went to Hooter's and had 14 people.

Today at the autocross was the perfect number of drivers. We made money, and got done by 11:30 so it was hot, but not brutal. My sweat glands are flushed, and will get more flushing out tomorrow when I get to mow the yard.

One of the guys that showed up was in his 2017 911 Turbo with a bit of aftermarket stuff to make a bit more power. 820 to the wheels in full power mode. For the autocross he turned it down to just 600 and was still getting four wheels to wheel hop upon launch. His other 911 is really set up to drag racing and and the standing mile. It is just 1,200 HP at the wheels.

One of the crazed wild cones attacked my car and left a black rubber mark on the corner of the front valence, and along the rocker panel. With just some spray cleaner wax it wiped off, and the evidence is gone. The dang cone just attacked me for no reason at all! I didn't do nuthin, certainly nothing to provoke the attack. I just tried to drive past it and it threw itself at me.

I had a client call and they want a new print of a project we did a year ago. The property is a lot bigger going north and south, and it crops out to be a nice vertical print. Evidently they all look at the property in a horizontal frame of mind. So I had to set it up again only now the North arrow is pointing to the left or where west is supposed to be in a normal map.

It was making my head hurt trying to make it layout like they want. My mapping programs are all real convinced north is up towards the north pole. Whatever, they pay their bills, and I will set it up however it makes them happy. They will have a "landscape" mode print to hang on the wall, and north pointing to the accurate position, just sideways.

It is good to keep customers happy, within reason.