Justin Richards <justin.richards <at> gmail.com> writes:

> In Telstra they would calibrate the laptops.  This practice has now stopp=
ed

Demented union type state monopoly 'institutions' are excused from any logi=
c
or reasonable behavior by definition. It is a waste of time to even discuss
this.

Calibration of instruments can be done informally in house if one set of
periodically externally calibrated instruments can be kept aside only to
serve as a secondary standard. It is not a problem to buy a voltage standar=
d
better than 1ppm and trust it after having it run for a few weeks, but to
really know what is going on, buy three... You know the old saying "if you
go to sea, take one clock or three". I have seen cal. labels put on battery
compartments before, and worse, one can complain to the calibration shop an=
d
they can 'move' the label for you sometimes.

I was recently bitten by the clock issue, since I had weird drift between a
known good quartz clock, a project (to be calibrated) using 32kHz xtal, and
NTP computer based clock. It took 3 weeks to sort out which one was doing
what since each was drifting in serious and unexpected ways which are not
supposed to happen and in the interim I was sort of grumpyer than usual and
ranting frequently.

Speaking of laptop calibration, laptop hinges could use calibration. They
are not created equal, I have seen hinges which lasted almost 20 years and
others which last 2 months with care. Surely there must be a way to make
consistent hinges after so many years of trying? The design 'life' should b=
e
clear enough. About 4 actuations per day, 7 days a week. It adds up fast.
Seeing what's inside some of these, I am surprized they last 2 months.
Ironically, the good ones usually have stamped thicks steel brackets and
spot welded hinge axles instead of the 'high tech' crazy molded metal and
plastic weak ones. I am willing to bet the steel is cheaper than the mold.

--=20
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