linux

A Brief History of CPU Clock Speeds In the last decade, the concept of a virtual machine (VM) has really come into prominence. Until roughly the mid 2000s, the benchmark of any good central processing unit (CPU) was its clock speed. Measured in Hz, clock speed represents the number of times per second that a CPU can execute a full instruction cycle. The very first computer I ever owned had an Intel Pentium processor, clocked at 60 MHz. [Read More]

I’m a big Linux junkie, this is known. I will speak highly of it until blue in the face. The critical question, dear reader, is why should you care? My previous post was highly philosophical — fond memories of childhood, seasoned lightly with a dose of paranoia and distrust of the modern panopticon. A unique flavor profile! This will be a brief primer, intended to list a few important points. [Read More]

An Origin Story I remember the first time I encountered Linux in the wild. It was a summer afternoon between my Freshman and Sophomore year in high school. I lived two blocks from a downtown shopping center, and often walked there to get out of the house. Before I got a sandwich at the barbecue place, I would stop at the bookstore and browse the magazine section. I was learning how to play guitar, and I could learn a new song by flipping through the latest issues of Guitar Player and Guitar World. [Read More]