Servers are a lot different from your home machine, any old hardware can do
quite nicely for a server because you are running without the GUI (Graphical
User Interface) which uses the large majority of the processor. eCommerce
sites can benefit from a fast server since they run a lot of server-side
scripts.

Investing in the pipeline is more expedient, which is a monthly fixed
expense.

-- Gnarlie's Applescript page
http://Gnarlodious.com/Mac/AppleScript/Page.html

Entity developtrust spoke thus:

> Tom,
> I have one suggestion for Tom and the list.
>
> Because hardware is so affordable now I think it will be a good investment
> to get a P4 - 3.4. At my computer builder a 2.4 chip costs $130 and a 3.4
> costs $485. As I see it the difference of $355 is an investment in the
> future and I'll bet someone on the list can even get these chips for even
> less.
>
> I would be wiling to be one of the people who contributes to an upgraded
> chip. How many of us would be willing to support the fastest chip possible?
> The more of us that contribute to an upgrade the less it will be each of our
> pledges to help get this new system to be the best state of the art NOW and
> that will benefit us all.
>
> My own computer has a P4- 2.4 and it is fast. A friend got the 2.8 and his
> computer is noticeable faster (to me) so I think the 3.4 would make our
> archive searches lightning faster.
>
> William
>
>
>> Hey folks,
>>
>> Been a lot of conversation about the list, the new list-master, $$ and
>> whatnot. Here's the straight deal:
>>
>> The Vanagon server is moving to a new location sometime in mid-to-late
>> September. Jim Arnott, who has been keeper of the "spare" list for years,
>> has agreed to give our server (Gerry) a new home in a very good place. He
> is
>> also willing to take over the duties of list-Mom... so be sure to treat
> him
>> nice!
>>
>> Before the move, I am going to upgrade the hardware and operating system
>> that Gerry runs on. That will give Jim an easy ride for a while as he
> comes
>> up to speed on ListServ operation.
>>
>> The server the list owns now was bought in 2001, and is slow by today's
>> standards. We will be going from a P3-800 to a P4-2.4. This should help
>> speed up the archive searches. I think there is close to enough $$ in the
>> Vanagon account to pay for both right now. So hold off on sending any more
>> $$, if we come up short we can pass the hat.
>>
>> As to why I never asked for $$, for one thing, we simply haven't needed
> it.
>> The server has been rock solid since 2001, and the software has performed
>> well.
>>
>> Also - My thought is that it would be right to use donations to pay for
>> connectivity. Hardware, software and replacement server parts, sure...but
>> not the connectivity. Another aspect is that I never wanted to manage the
>> $$. That's like a job, y'know!
>>
>> The simple fact of the matter is that I am in a different place in my life
>> now, and I don't have $$ to keep my fast connectivity or the time requried
>> to properly manage the list.
>>
>> I've enjoyed being Gerry's host, it's just time for me to be another
>> slightly demented list member. :)
>>
>> Thanks,
>> TomC
>>