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1576
Living Room / Re: Are You Ready to Switch to GNU/Linux?
« Last post by Edvard on January 10, 2011, 10:50 AM »
RMS has been working on this concept for a very long time, since the '70's if I recall correctly.
Also, "free beer" would make sense if he was in college at the time...  :-\
1577
Living Room / Re: Are You Ready to Switch to GNU/Linux?
« Last post by Edvard on January 10, 2011, 10:01 AM »
Yes, that is the definition straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak.
I think "free beer" would be better referenced as "something of value that is given away" when speaking of software.
If you brought a six-pack of beer to your neighbor, saying "Here, I thought you might like some!", he'd most likely appreciate the gesture.
So, straight freeware would be free in that sense.
It has value, it does something useful for the user, but it doesn't cost anything.
The whole concept of "free as in free speech" as Richard Stallman envisions it has more to do with the state of mind of a programmer, researcher or hacker.
He wants to be able to learn and share what is learned with others in order to improve the computer-scientist ecosystem.
Freeware isn't free in that sense because while you're free to use it, you don't have the freedom to learn from it, improve it, or fix it's bugs if you have the ability.

$0.02
1578
Living Room / Re: Are You Ready to Switch to GNU/Linux?
« Last post by Edvard on January 09, 2011, 10:16 PM »
I can  :mad: :mad: :mad:
1579
Living Room / Re: What is a good desktop stapler?
« Last post by Edvard on January 07, 2011, 03:25 AM »
Swingline 444 or 747 are classics and work well.
Buy two and return the one doesn't tack 20 pages on the first try.
Bostitch is good, but I don't know any model names.
The ones with a cast metal base and/or arm are usually better.

Also, do not underestimate the value of quality staples; I AM SERIOUS.
A good 50% of all stapler problems I ever had were from cheap staples.
The staples should be chisel-tipped and SHARP.
Avoid wimpy "wire" staples (leave that to copiers), cheap 'no-name' and house brands.
Swingline 'Premium' S.F.4 is a good all-around choice.

If you routinely have to staple documents of 30-100 pages, get the Etona cartridge staplers, they seem flimsy at first (plastic, bleah), but they work surprisingly well.

If you're ready for something different, I cannot recommend the Rapid "Classic 1" plier-style staplers enough.
Buy 'em here:
http://www.johnsonstapler.com
and you can get great service on them as well (they ARE worth repairing...).

Holy crap, I just realized what a stapler geek I am... hold me up I'm feeling dizzy...  :redface:
1580
Why not something like Python or Ruby?
Sure, it's not going to cross over easily from your previous knowledge of Basic, but it fits the bill for easy-to-learn with just enough power to get things done.

Also, at risk of finding myself within critical ballistic trajectory of kinetically impelled mephitic S. Lycopersicum fruiting bodies, let me suggest something more advanced but along the lines of what you asked for: A community-based and maintained programming language...

D
http://www.digitalmars.com/d/index.html
D is a systems programming language. Its focus is on combining the power and high performance of C and C++ with the programmer productivity of modern languages like Ruby and Python. Special attention is given to the needs of quality assurance, documentation, management, portability and reliability.

The D language is statically typed and compiles directly to machine code. It’s multiparadigm, supporting many programming styles: imperative, object oriented, and metaprogramming. It’s a member of the C syntax family, and its appearance is very similar to that of C++.

Although virtually unknown except for a few folks who appreciate what it's trying to do, it fits your idea of a language somewhere between "Those from academia with radical new paradigms and those from large corporations with a focus on RAD and the web."
A steeper learning curve than your beloved VB of course, but HEY; while we're being different and all, why not give it a look-see?
1581
Living Room / Re: Anti-Necrospamming
« Last post by Edvard on January 06, 2011, 12:46 PM »
TOTALLY off-the-wall idea, but I'm all for leaving threads indefinitely 'revivable' whether there's a warning or not, so this is just a mental exercise:

Instead of getting all uptight about "Thread Necromancy", make it a special event so those who have the propensity can work it out of their system.
Lock old threads except for a day or a week or two for a semi-annual (or just plain once-in-a-while) "Thread Resurrection Day/Week".
It could be similar to some forum's "Zero Reply Day" (where you pick a post with zero replies and... um... reply) except instead of encouraging everybody to pick a post with no replies, go the very earliest page in your favorite channel and browse posts until you find one that you have relevant information to contribute.
Then everybody will get the entertainment of "OMG - I totally forgot about that thread; thanks for the update!", thread necros get their jollies out and maybe it will inspire others to contribute even more new info/thoughts.

As for spammers, I'm all for a SMF mod that includes a short-barrelled shotgun loaded with rock salt.
Spam is NOT a coding snack...
1582
General Software Discussion / Re: How to choose the best Linux distro for laptops
« Last post by Edvard on January 04, 2011, 02:31 AM »
Actually, I've been looking very closely at some low-mid-range laptops for my ferry commute.
Looking at $600 limit doesn't leave me very much, but Dell and Toshiba seem to be offering the most at that price.
Most modern laptops can handle Xubuntu  :-* pretty well, so it's not about distro.

I will say that Slitaz was pretty darn smooth on an old Dell Inspiron 7500, which clocked in at 400 MHz and 256MB RAM, and Puppy did OK too, though neither of them ran the wireless reliably.

I'll still be building desktops until they just don't make them anymore, as well... :Thmbsup:
1583
Living Room / Re: Are You Ready to Switch to GNU/Linux?
« Last post by Edvard on January 03, 2011, 09:57 PM »
@ mahesh2k:
Fair points; I think you've made your case a bit better this time around.
That first reply was a bit snarky, in my opinion, and sounded more like a backhand than answers.

I'm in full agreement that it is, at the very least, rude to ask a commercial developer (small or large) to release their hard-fought work for free.
You have every right to charge what you think is a fair price for your work, and anybody who has issue with that is not worth your time.
Good point also about the rise of subscription/service model of modern software.
So much stuff is moving to "the cloud" that subscription appears to be the ONLY way to profit, sadly.

[edit: cut out yet another long-winded answer]

Once again, I fully support you in your efforts and I hope you do well.
Developing for Windows has obviously provided for you and I'm sure will continue to in the future.
Just PLEASE don't offhandedly dismiss Linux as a potential market.
If it is at all possible, jump in now while there is still time or you WILL be surpassed by those who will.
It has happened to me personally (in a different industry), and I regret it.
1584
Living Room / Re: iPhone Alarms Don't Work
« Last post by Edvard on January 03, 2011, 09:46 AM »
Well..."Time be time - but there be good and bad," as Bob Market said.

Wonder how de ganja is holding up over in Cupertino? :P

"It's all like just like relative man..." :D

Naw, they just let Jeff Goldblum at the code AND the peppermint schnapps last year:
http://www.youtube.c.../watch?v=dQmK1CnwOUI
 ;D ;D
1585
Living Room / Re: Are You Ready to Switch to GNU/Linux?
« Last post by Edvard on January 01, 2011, 11:24 PM »
Good points well made.
Despite the sparring, I'm beginning to believe you and I are rowing the same direction, albeit on different boats.
You're welcome aboard any time, skipper.  ;)

And with any luck, I may be able to get you to give me some money~!   :D :P

I'm actually looking forward to it!  ;D
Hell, it might even be the first Mono app I install on purpose...

(please forgive the Mono-paranoia, others have enumerated reasons far more abundantly and eloquently than I can. Suffice it to say I will avoid it until it is unavoidable, which it soon may be...)
1586
Living Room / Re: Are You Ready to Switch to GNU/Linux?
« Last post by Edvard on January 01, 2011, 07:13 PM »
RE: Linux games.

I am going to stand on this point until a hole wears in my foot, so please bear with me.  ;)

1- I am not and never have suggesting somebody develop solely for Linux with commercial ventures in mind.
All the cases I've quoted and claims I've made are coming from a cross-platform mentality.
So, OF COURSE you're going to get your bread and butter from Windows customers, sheer numbers make that argument for you, it would be more than stupid to think otherwise.
My point is that if you can get bread and butter with a little jam on the side for minimal extra investment, why would you NOT do it?
I know, I know, time is money, and there's this great joke about Linux being "free" if your time is worth nothing...
Yes, it'll take time to get familiar with another operating system, but many people have already done that developing cross-platform for Mac, and once you learn a programming language, the battle is half won.
I know it doesn't universally apply to every application, but in many cases it has been proven to work, and the more this happens, the quicker the myth dies and everyone benefits.

2- Small shops vs. big devs.
Every case I've linked to are to game production houses that are arguably not all that big.
Can anyone argue that 2DBoy is bigger than Adobe, or Frictional Games better staffed than Intuit?
No! Yet they are the ones ACTUALLY MAKING MONEY from cross-platform development.
This is not an argument of $1 from 1,000,000 people vs. $100 from 100 people, this is being able to charge $1.50 if you invite 10,000 more people to the party (1% of 1,000,000 is 10,000... just sayin').
You say the data is bad because there aren't that many Linux games, but you're forgetting one point; they're not selling to Linux users per se, they're selling to GAMERS, and gaming is a fairly saturated market yet it consistently sees more commerce than even Hollywood.
The fact that people purchasing games to run on Linux even makes a BLIP in the radar is beyond amazing.

BOTTOM LINE -
If somebody doesn't WANT to develop cross-platform or even just not for Linux (I see a LOT more PC-Mac versions than PC-Mac-Linux), that's perfectly fine.
It would be nice to just be told the truth, rather than rapidly-disappearing myths of revenue lost on development to a non-paying miniscule market share.
What software company (yes, even small developers) HASN'T lost money on development costs before catching stride?
Pull up your pants, look Linux users in the eye and say "I don't like you people and you are not worth my time".
We will go elsewhere, and Elsewhere stands to make a tidy profit off of us, I can assure you...
1587
Living Room / Re: So, when you're working, do you...
« Last post by Edvard on January 01, 2011, 08:35 AM »
Ditto.
I've got printouts and notebooks FULL of electronic schematics I'm constantly referring to and tweaking before they ever go into the computer for simulation or design.

To answer the OP, when at home I simply enjoy the dull whine of the case fans.
Music is too distracting, until I'm at work where other people are often more distracting than the music.
Funny thing though, I talk to my immediate co-worker often throughout the day with no distractions at all.
I find him very pleasant to talk to and the conversation is often entertaining, intellectually stimulating, or both, so even when concentrating I don't mind low-level interaction.
Besides, because we do the same job, communication is often essential.
However, there's this OTHER guy...
 :-\

O.T.

;D
1588
Living Room / Re: Are You Ready to Switch to GNU/Linux?
« Last post by Edvard on January 01, 2011, 07:37 AM »
I hate these lists precisely because of the controversy they engender, the snarky remarks, the outlandish claims, the smug retorts, the arguments that go on and on and on and on...

Use Windows if it works for you.
Use Linux if it works for you.
Use both if it suits you.

Both have their merits and their drawbacks; deal with it, live with your choice, leave well enough alone, and don't feed the trolls.

That said, I apologize in advance, but I just can't let this go (and I'm not calling mahesh2k a troll, either :P)...

1. You’re Tired of Paying for Software
No. Tired of being a freebie-sucker and i want to support myself and other develoeprs.
I'm a "freebie-sucker" because my income doesn't allow me to purchase software for which I find acceptable freeware alternatives?
Jeez, first you call me a cheapskate, and now this...
2. You’re Tired of Upgrading Hardware
So that keeps me from playing upcoming games ? no thanks. i'll update hardware frequently and play games instead of pretending to live frugal life just for the sake of lazyness. :D
I'm lazy because I can't afford the latest whiz-bang constantly slung at me by game magazine advertisements?
This has NOTHING to do with my personal motivation level and EVERYTHING to do with the fact that I can run a modern operating system on hardware that doesn't require a new line of credit every 6 months.
I can even play games.
 :o
3. You’re Tired of Malware
There are no malware for chrome and firefox irrespective of platform ? ;)
Yeah, this dead horse has been beaten to a bloody pulp already.
Malware is not inherently Windows fault, it's the fault of the malware purveyors being aware of their market and how to exploit it.
Linux users are not completely immune to (for example) Flash and Java exploits that harvest data, but there are 90-99% more Windows machines with much more delicious data stored in the same place on every machine, which makes them an irresistable target.
Sorry.
4. You’ve Seen One Too Many Patch Tuesdays
There are no patches in linux software ? i wonder why gcc and other supported libs are updated frequently on every software package when synaptic finds out.
Hehe... I have to agree I don't see the point here.
Updates happen quite frequently in any repository-based distribution, and they happen any day of the week.
*shrug*
5. You Don’t Have the Time
linux increases amount of time i spent on it to sort things out. Don't tell me linux saves time.
single drive multiple(countless) folders (linux)thinking saves time ? or multiple drives and multiple folders (windows way)save time and are easy to sort out ? ;)
What does the structure of a filesystem and disk mount points have to do with the amount of your available free time?
If you're talking about setting up system parameters and application preferences that you're unfamiliar with, fine, yes, that's going to take some time.
Windows requires babysitting as well, most people are just much more familiar with the environment and the process, which translates to "faster".
OK, sure, I'll admit that at for a long while the filesystem baffled me and I spent a lot of time in the early years trying to "sort things out" before I finally learned why it is the way it is.
BUT... once I figured that out, I discovered that ~90% of the time there is no real reason to muck about with the root filesystem, so I made myself cozy in /home/edvard and occasionally /opt and I'm doing much better.
Incidentally, the same goes for Windows; it took me just as many years to figure out that the less time I spent in C:\windows\system32 and more in C:\Documents and Settings\edvard the happier I was.
BTW, in Linux you can set up multiple drives in more ways than I even know how, and I've actually found it WAY more flexible than Windows.
Just sayin'...
6. You Like Speed
for what ? games? let's face it. It's not profitable to write games for linux and so the speed is useless when it comes to linux gaming.
Dude, you've thrown this gauntlet down before and I've thrown it right back at you but you obviously didn't catch it.
There are MANY legitimate reasons why NOT to write games for Linux, but it HAS NOW BEEN PROVEN that profit (or lack thereof) is NOT one of them.
http://www.hemispher...3/linux-the-numbers/
http://jeffhoogland....for-linux-games.html
Besides, WTF does this point have to do with game profitability?
This one can be demonstrated by the fact that right now I'm typing this post in Xubuntu on a single-core 64-bit 4GB RAM machine that consistently outperforms the quad-core 6GB RAM machine running Windows XP that I am forced to wrestle with at work.
Betcha the games are faster, too.
7. You Like Sharing
share what ? music ? illegal stuff ? :coughs:
What.
Ever.  
:-\
Windows users were sharing MP3s and cracked software before Linux even had a decent desktop.
Your insinuation is illogical at best and malicious at worst.
What is referred to is the fact that when I'm done installing the latest Linux, I can hand the CD to my friend and he can also install it without worrying about licenses, validations, activations and so forth, which I could NEVER do (legally) with Windows.
That's just the nature of the game, no more, no less.
8. You Don’t Actually Love Internet Explorer
Never used it ever since 2007. Firefox and opera is beating that child of MS for long time already.
Agreed.
And Opera even has a Linux version  :D
9. You Want to Be in Control
I'm in control.
I'm sure you are, especially if you're a half-decent system administrator, which I'm assuming is true.
Personally, I've never felt more in control of a computer than the day I fully grasped the implications of running Linux instead of Windows.
It's not just GUI vs. command line, it's not about dealing with registry corruption, fiddly permissions, malware/viruses/etc, it's not a question of hating Microsoft or Apple or Adobe or any of that nonsense.
It's something quite nebulous and intangible that only comes with the experience of being a long-time Linux user, the moment you know you'll never turn back, that moment...
I'm sorry, I can't go on...
Inspirational music just started playing in my head and it must now stop.  
:P
10. You’re One of a Kind
Writing scripts on command line to do simple tasks when 2 clicks can do job ? No, i'm not unique then. :D
Hehe... Yeah, this one is kind of subjective.
Just because one runs Linux doesn't make one any more or less unique.
Hell, a few choice DC apps and a new desktop wallpaper and my Windows machine at work can be pretty darn unique. ;p
BTW - depending on the task at hand, a few "scripts on command line" can take your 2 clicks to the mat any time.
Seriously, keep count of how many mouse clicks and menu options you have to go through to do an average administration task.
I bet it's more than you realize, but since you're more familiar with the process, you experience it as "easier".
Since getting familiar with common tasks in Linux that require command line operations, I've found that to be much easier and more powerful.
It's all in the familiarity...

Mahesh, I fully support you in your efforts to develop software intended to provide superior functionality for an equitable price that will hopefully provide for as much of your livelihood as possible.
I understand that most often such an endeavor requires developing for and with Windows, and freeware/open source simply cannot promise to put food on the table; nobody can argue that.
However, I cannot stand by the perception that developing for Linux with commercial intent is inherently a losing proposition because "Linux users will not pay for software".
It is a flat myth that has been proven false many times over, and the sooner this misconception is put to death, the better off both worlds will be.

In fact, why not do as others have and just try developing a commercial software project that is cross-platform; something that fills a need for Linux users as well as Windows and Mac.
Something that either has no Linux software equivalent or is sufficiently advanced to render existing software patently inferior by comparison.
See if you don't profit more than you foresaw, even if it is only a small percentage compared to Windows sales (Linux is, after all, only 1-5% of desktop market share, right?).

Prove me wrong.
I DARE you...
1589
Living Room / Re: Happy New Year & NANY Deadline Day!
« Last post by Edvard on January 01, 2011, 04:11 AM »
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
:greenclp: :greenclp: :greenclp:
 :beerchug: :harhar:



1590
Living Room / Re: Cute jokes' thread
« Last post by Edvard on December 28, 2010, 09:38 AM »


(snort, chuckle, guffaw, fall over backward in chair...)
1591
Living Room / Re: complete 180 on mouse preference - what's the best cheap mouse?
« Last post by Edvard on December 28, 2010, 09:17 AM »
...
40, could you explain a little the specific advantages of using a trackball like you mentioned?  i tried it out a while back, but I couldn't understand how it made anything faster or easier or anything.  What am I missing?

The ultimate justification for a trackball:
Doing this with a mouse just doesn't $#@!ing cut it, man...
http://www.youtube.c.../watch?v=KZPPL3hX3Kk

 8) 8) 8)
1592
General Software Discussion / Re: What is next best thing to FARR for Linux?
« Last post by Edvard on December 27, 2010, 07:19 AM »
Anything with the word "Terminal" in it...
;D ;D ;D

(once you learn how Linux works, you'll get it...)
1593
I used to work with a lady who did VHS -> DVD conversions as a side business.
She SWORE by Sonic (I think it was MyDVD or ReelDVD...).

I've had pretty good results using DVDStyler on Linux.
Windows version, not so much, but it may work for you...
http://www.dvdstyler.org/


1594
Living Room / Re: Five Reasons Why People Hate Apple
« Last post by Edvard on December 05, 2010, 07:01 AM »
...
But you know what?  None of the other companies have made any tablets nearly as nice as this one.  Do it already!  But it's going to be hard to compete with that build quality and that screen with the great multi-touch responsiveness.
...
Try poking around here:
http://androidpads.com
Some of these (particularly the Archos, which also sells a 9" Windows version) have been getting very good reviews about the touch response but all of them seem to have beaten Apple to the price line.
I'm not saying ANY of these are going to be the iPad killer, no not in the near (and maybe not-so-near) future anyways, but it's a darn good start...
1595
A fairly lively article at technewsworld reveals a few key arguments:
http://www.technewsw...com/story/71328.html
'Do It Once and Leave It Built-In'

"The kernel patch groups processes by owning TTY. The bash shell change groups them by session," wrote Slashdot blogger Anonymous Coward, citing an explanation (for subscribers) on LWN.

Alternatively: "The differences between the change to the kernel and the shell script are basically two: one, they apparently have slightly different algorithms for choosing how to group the processes," brion wrote.

"That's not due to it being in-kernel vs out-of-kernel, though -- that's just because they are slightly different," brion added. "Both can be implemented in both ways, and both work with the same actual implementation mechanism -- simply one works from userspace through the interfaces and one's built-in to the kernel."

Auto-tuning behavior "that's built in will probably be the most reliable, easiest, and best-performing way to do this, rather than requiring every Linux distribution to ensure that they're running the same extra scripts and keeping the userspace stuff in sync," brion concluded. "Do it once and leave it built-in to the kernel."

And again: "One requires a kernel patch. One uses functionality *already present in the kernel* to do the same thing," chimed in spun. "Testing reveals the one that doesn't require a kernel patch is more responsive. You tell me which is best."
1596
I was hoping you'd chime in, I figured you'd know a lot more about this stuff than I do.  :-[

RE: server vs. desktop:
To clarify, 'Desktop' means to me a graphical environment with applications launched by clicking a mouse on a menu item or icon, etc.
'Server' would then mean a text environment with mostly services and utilities typically launched from script or typing commands in a TTY (virtual login terminal) of which Linux normally reserves 7.
More could be said about that, but I wish to be brief...

According to Lennart's ranting comments, since the kernel patch only groups things per a given TTY, typical desktop applications wouldn't benefit directly because their origin is a graphical environment in userspace and therefore wouldn't be bound to any TTY-based 'cgroup'.
His alternate method does it's mojo in userspace and not bound by TTY.
Tests by somebody (I can't remember who now) showed that the alternate method increased perceived desktop performance at least as well as the kernel patch, and evenput forth numbers numbers to back it up.

That said, I can see how the kernel patch would help perceived (hehe, I said it again...) desktop performance because background processes in a typical desktop environment are normally started pre-X11 in the startup process, (therefore bound to TTY's and herded into their cgroups) thus leaving computing power left over for the graphical interface.
Also, isn't it true that X11 is itself bound to TTY8, so it wouldn't exactly be left out of the party, right?

You are correct about the "visibility" versus "silent magic" discussion. :-\
Apparently, Mr. Poettering's argument lies with his opinion that a userspace implementation will benefit typical desktop users better, and the numbers appear to bear that out.
Linus likes the 'silent magic' of the kernel option because it "just works", i.e. it benefits everybody; from server admin to kernel hacker to Joe Desktop, and all it takes is to have it available in the kernel as a routine function of the scheduler.

MY question would be could these two methods be employed concurrently, (in other words, would there be any conflicts which would make performance even worse)?
If so, would it work by separating kernelspace and userspace "cgrouping"?

Like you said, we need plain english (or your preferred language pack  :P ) descriptions of what exactly is happening.
1597
@housetier: No hack-fu required, just follow the directions, reboot, and you should be good.
@f0dder: Thanks, I'll give that a shot next time I'm in the mood for self-torture ;)

OK, I think I figured out what's going on with these contraptions but I may be (more or less, completely) wrong.

I don't understand why this makes a difference, but what the kernel patch does is group tasks per tty and kill the group when there are no more tasks (I think...).
The result is overall performance increase (as seen in the Phoronix video), but it's mostly useful for servers and kernel developers ;) as it's function is tied to the tty's.

The userspace hack does kinda the same thing (they both make heavy use of cgroups to do their magic), but deploys it in userspace and so directly affects desktop performance.

It doesn't make anything faster per se, it just redistributes resources when the system is under heavy load from some resource-hogging program (updatedb, ferinstance  :mad:) so you can still get work done while said program flails away in the background.

Some questions I still have:
1- What happens when the script hack and the kernel patch are used at the same time?
2- Does this affect the expected performance of a realtime kernel, where you want certain things to take the limelight (which is why you're running a realtime kernel in the first place).
3- Will this help with the problem of stuttering during heavy disk I/O?

More tests, Igor!!
1598
The alternate.
To this day, I have not been able to successfully compile a kernel (this too I shall conquer, but not today), and all the pre-compiled ones are for Ubuntu 10.10 (I'm running 9.04) so a few userspace scripts works better.
Besides, reading some of the post/riposte between Linus and Lennart got me real curious.
http://lkml.org/lkml/2010/11/16/392

Like I said, I'm right now running the fastest box I've ever owned so speed is a bit of a relative term.
Later I'm going to test it on a lower powered box (32-bit XP1600 with 1G RAM) and see how it flies.
1599
After suffering with hand-me-down systems for so long, a laggy Linux desktop didn't surprise me any more, but since I moved on to a decent 64-bit system (albeit a few years old) I don't notice it so much.
I saw this last week sometime and got pretty excited for some of the older boxes in my house, then I saw the numbers that Lennart Poettering put up for the alternative patch and knew I HAD to try it.

It seems to be doing something...
For the record, this is a 64-bit single-core Desktop with 4 Megs RAM, 250Gb HD, and a Radeon HD 2600XT with ATI Catalyst drivers running on Xubuntu 9.10.
I opened a Vmware Player session running Mint with 1Meg of memory, a bunch of miscellaneous apps just to take up the memory, Thunderbird, Firefox open with ~15 tabs, didn't notice any slowdowns and switching between tabs was normal.

Then I thought I'd really kick it in the pants and run Glxgears and the Unigine Sanctuary demo in benchmark mode simultaneously.
Glxgears showed between 600-1000 fps while Unigine maintained between 14-20 (ick).
Firefox still opened websites just fine and switching to other windows was just as snappy as ever.

Then I opened the Amnesia:Dark Descent demo.
Suddenly glxgears went down between 300-500 fps and A:DD was crawling.
Unigine Sanctuary never broke a sweat though, maintaining its measly 14-20 fps the whole time.
I couldn't go opening websites while A:DD was running, so couldn't test that.

Probably a horrible method for testing, but I think it's doing what it says on the tin.
1600
I think Steve Ballmer would make a really good "deeply psychotic inside, sickenly sweet outside" character in a horror/thriller movie.
Sometimes I can imagine him wholesale replacing John Lithgow in 'Buckaroo Banzai' yelling "INSTALL MY OVERTHRUSTER!!!".

If you can't see it, imagine a wildly gesticulating Mr. Lithgow in Dr. Emilio Lizardo character shouting "INSTALL MY OFFICE SUITE!!!" while pacing a stage with a Powerpoint screen in the background...
 ;D
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