Re: [cobalt-users] [Qube 2] Restore CD

[Jeff Lasman <jblists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Zeffie wrote:

> I'm concerend that some process somewhere hiding away will sneak up and do
> something bad.  I do miss my simple old i386 linux system :(

I know what you mean; I find the RaQs limiting in many respects as
well.  But that's because I am (and you are, too) a power user.  For
non-power users, the RaQs are fine.  And for hosting companies to be
able to scale up to lots of hosting clients with no overhead (since
clients can manage their RaQ-based accounts themselves) and no
development time/costs for their own web-based administration, it's good
too.  In fact it was for companies such as HiWay that the Raq was
designed.  Not for you and I at all, I'm sure.

I know several companies who do completely turnkey automated hosting
with their RaQs; they hardly ever even look at them, except to turn on a
new account.

> > I'm currently evaluating NetMax, but find that (a) it requires 8080 and
> > a PC-bios, and (b) it has plenty of it's own problems.  Do call them and
> 
> Hey I have several IBM PC's and XT clones :)  I might even be able to find
> that 8087!

We both know I really meant i386, right <vbg>?  Sorry about that!

> Thanks, I'm thinking more about not owning and renting instead.  maybe dell
> or rackspace.  dell is expensive though.  And I would hate to have a
> webserver with just a i386 product inside.  I like the reduced instruction
> set most of all.

Renting and leasing are two different things.  We've rented machines (no
I'm not trying to rent or sell you anything; I'm actually expensive,
since I include a high-level of handholding) and will continue to do so
in the future, though I'm not sure if we'll rent any more RaQs; the
investment is a bit higher than that involved in renting a generic
i386.  Leasing, for most of us, is just a long-term way of buying.

My ex-partner called me yesterday for some suggestions on renting out
systems.  He's going to be leasing them from Dell and renting them out. 
He's only got a T-1 connection, and I really think the Dells are going
to be too high-priced by the time he's done.

What I'm thinking seriously of doing is building inexpensive i386 boxes,
putting NetMax on 'em, and renting them out starting at $100/month.  NO,
I'm NOT trying to sell you anything; just giving you a business model to
consider.

There are some inexpensive small systems on the market sold as barebones
in the $150 range including ethernet on board; I'm planning on buying
one tomorrow at the Pomona swap meet and giving it a try.

Jeff
-- 
Jeff Lasman <jblists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
nobaloney.net
P. O. Box 52672
Riverside, CA  92517
voice: (909) 787-8589  *  fax: (909) 782-0205