I had to disconnect power button from mobo because my room mate's cat would just shut it off, luckily I had a case whose side panel was very easy to open with a hinge, so I tied two cables near the latch and to turn it in, I'd turn the latch open the case, quickly short the cables and close the panel and latch.
Thanks for reminding me of that. Also I swear that cat knew what I did and kept trying to open the latch for a few months before giving up.
I almost did, but instead connected one pin from the reset button and one from the power button to the power header, then bridged the other two connectors making it so I have to push both to fire it up. Easy for me to operate, and he’s still not figured it out haha.
I was on Linux mint XFCE at that time and even though it had a setting to decide what to do when power button is pressed but it was broken and would reset itself every few hours.
We used to call those missile switches. Probably still do
Ed. A search on my local electronic components shop's site returned nothing on a search, but scrolling the 211 items in category "switches" found a missile switch cover (to suit toggle switches) as #86, so yes, we still do
Ed the second. Thingiverse shows many printable missile switch covers for diverse switch types
I've had that issue in several ways. Of course what you said, had an extension cord with a switch below my desk and I kept accidentally hitting that switch in the same way, lived in an apartment some years ago that had some shitty electrical work done by the previous tenant and if I had enough lamps on while my computer and screen where on and I tried to plug in my phone or turn the TV on the circuit popped, and most recently I've been playing games via cloud streaming (Shadow) and my Ethernet cable has lost the security tab thingy on both ends and I keep accidentally moving other cables so they touch the Ethernet cable and it falls out. Most of the time I can just put it back in an reconnect to the cloud computer but sometimes it just refuses to do that so the cloud computer shuts down before I'm able to get it working. Lost several hours of progress in various games throughout the past couple of years, but I never buy anything new unless it's absolutely needed so I just live with and accept it '^^
As far as I understand, it's purely marketing semantics.
The point of the 'Turbo' button is to slow the CPU down to provide compatibility with old software that was written with a fixed clockspeed, where the software would become unusably fast on newer CPUs.
Calling this a "slow" mode or "compatibility" mode wasn't very marketing-sexy however, so manufacturers just flipped it around and called the normal speed 'Turbo'.
With later systems, developers all became aware that varying CPU frequencies were a thing, and started to base their software timings on the realtime clock instead.
So in later systems there was no longer any need to have the CPU run at anything other than its maximum (normal) speed - and the turbo button simply went away.
With later systems, developers all became aware that varying CPU frequencies were a thing, and started to base their software timings on the realtime clock instead.
If only. Not sure how common it is nawadays - definitely still happening on occasion, but for example GTA: Vice City's physics get screwed up with uncapped framerate.
It never got switched off, except in some games that a slower CPU made easier (some games back then ran just as fast as the hardware could run them, expecting the computers or turn to be the state of the art) By the time of the machine in the picture unturbo wasn't enough so we used a TSR* program called goSlow to get specific performance
*Terminate, Stay Resident; a program that could run in the background
We started putting our PCs on top of the desks, because as we learned over the years, the ground is full of dust and we are now adults that have to pay for our own PC parts.
The cases got taller and the power buttons moved to the top edge (and often got smaller).
So now those under-the-desk units have their power buttons directly under the plate. Mine specifically it now more a knee- instead of a foot-job... I could press it with my finger without bending down but you have to keep traditiones alive.
I remember Macintosh computers from circa 1990. Even then Apple loved to just remove buttons because they hate buttons. Because it was so perfectly intuitive to drag a disc icon over to the fucking trash can icon in order to eject the floppy disc, they didn't have a physical eject button for the floppy drive. Helpfully, they instead put the power button right where a floppy drive eject button should have been. So I was constantly turning the computer off whenever I wanted to eject a disc.
Sometimes, when the ol' 'puter is cranky, I have to press the reset button, which is really small, and it's difficult to hit it with my toe (I have to do some tricky nail work, not for beginners), but I'll be damned if I ever reach down and use my fingers.
I don't get it why though. The one on mine feels very cheap, specially with it having a fulcrum on one side, making it not go down straight, while using the design language of something that would go down straight.
Ah yes, Microsoft installing a ton of updates without informing me first. Like I don’t have anything else to do (which is probably why I’m turning off the computer, to not go do those other things.)
Back when I still rode airplanes, I used to never shut my notebook off except when I was about to leave for a flight. Then I had the pleasure of watching Windows install 957 updates while the cab was honking outside.
I used to get little muscle spasms in my legs if I sat for too long that made them kick out and the amount of times I accidentally kicked the power button was comical.
makes sense. never thought about that from this standpoint. I had a tendency of pushing random buttons when I was a kid so that's probably why the cap.
People learned that computer cases shouldn't go on the ground, unless you want them to be a dust magnet (especially if you have a case with intakes on the bottom for the GPU).
When I was a kid, first using computers in the mid 1980s, blue LEDs were considered to be impossible to make.
So my basic bitch IBM clone only had red indicator lights.
The implication is that people who grew up with newer technology had stuff that was fancier than the stuff older generations had, which is objectively true.
I'm sorry that you didn't get the joke, and I'm sorry that I had to explain it to you.
I have moved from office use desktop to gaming laptop to gaming laptop emulated desktop (laptop connected to monitor) since then never ever used a desktop again
When I was younger I had a computer where the front fell off and stripped the wires from the button.
To turn it on and off I had to hold the wires together, felt like I was hot wiring a car every time.
Perfect prelude to playing GTA
Wasn't this built so the front wouldn't fall off?
Well, Its not very typical, I'd like to make that point.
We've towed it outside of the environment.
When I bench tested components at a PC shop, I’d use my smallest screwdriver to short the pins on the motherboard to start up the caseless computer.
Kinda the same here but one day I noticed it also worked by simply touching the case with one of the wires and that's how I did it from here.
I have a server that's a motherboard in a shelf that I stick a screwdriver into to power cycle
You Monster! Why would you power cycle a server?
As it was the style at that time
As was*
It’s also how we accidentally shut them down before saving our work
Now that’s my cat’s job. Never again will I buy a case with a top mounted power button.
I had to disconnect power button from mobo because my room mate's cat would just shut it off, luckily I had a case whose side panel was very easy to open with a hinge, so I tied two cables near the latch and to turn it in, I'd turn the latch open the case, quickly short the cables and close the panel and latch.
Thanks for reminding me of that. Also I swear that cat knew what I did and kept trying to open the latch for a few months before giving up.
Same with me but I have a toddler. Windows has a power button setting that I switched to do nothing when pressed.
I almost did, but instead connected one pin from the reset button and one from the power button to the power header, then bridged the other two connectors making it so I have to push both to fire it up. Easy for me to operate, and he’s still not figured it out haha.
That is genius, I wish I was that smart.
I was on Linux mint XFCE at that time and even though it had a setting to decide what to do when power button is pressed but it was broken and would reset itself every few hours.
She knows the power she holds.
Sounds like you need a small electrical project then!
We used to call those missile switches. Probably still do
Ed. A search on my local electronic components shop's site returned nothing on a search, but scrolling the 211 items in category "switches" found a missile switch cover (to suit toggle switches) as #86, so yes, we still do
Ed the second. Thingiverse shows many printable missile switch covers for diverse switch types
For a very long time it's been possible to set what the button is doing and it'd only cause a hard shut down if you hold it down for like 5 seconds.
The cat might manage 5 seconds, or even the 11 seconds that usually overrides any settings
I've had that issue in several ways. Of course what you said, had an extension cord with a switch below my desk and I kept accidentally hitting that switch in the same way, lived in an apartment some years ago that had some shitty electrical work done by the previous tenant and if I had enough lamps on while my computer and screen where on and I tried to plug in my phone or turn the TV on the circuit popped, and most recently I've been playing games via cloud streaming (Shadow) and my Ethernet cable has lost the security tab thingy on both ends and I keep accidentally moving other cables so they touch the Ethernet cable and it falls out. Most of the time I can just put it back in an reconnect to the cloud computer but sometimes it just refuses to do that so the cloud computer shuts down before I'm able to get it working. Lost several hours of progress in various games throughout the past couple of years, but I never buy anything new unless it's absolutely needed so I just live with and accept it '^^
ctl-alt-defeet
Kids these days with their 5% overclocks.
Back in my day we had 100% overclocks!
You might have meant it as a joke but just in case someone else isn't aware, this button actually made your CPU slower 🤓
Depends on the motherboard version. On later ones, the turbo actually worked to make your PC faster.
As far as I understand, it's purely marketing semantics.
The point of the 'Turbo' button is to slow the CPU down to provide compatibility with old software that was written with a fixed clockspeed, where the software would become unusably fast on newer CPUs.
Calling this a "slow" mode or "compatibility" mode wasn't very marketing-sexy however, so manufacturers just flipped it around and called the normal speed 'Turbo'.
With later systems, developers all became aware that varying CPU frequencies were a thing, and started to base their software timings on the realtime clock instead.
So in later systems there was no longer any need to have the CPU run at anything other than its maximum (normal) speed - and the turbo button simply went away.
...we had finally achieved permanent turbo.
"We called it Purbo. It didn't catch on."
If only. Not sure how common it is nawadays - definitely still happening on occasion, but for example GTA: Vice City's physics get screwed up with uncapped framerate.
Yeah, I didn't think anyone would get the joke if I posted a picture of a 486DX with the J20 jumper set. You have to be a greybeard to remember that.
A 486DX with the J20 jumper set! HAH!
My first thought was "hey I'm not a greybeard"
I am. I am a greybeard.
66 MILES PER HOUR!
This brings out nostalgia...
Turbo bumped my 8MHz 386 to sixteen megahertz
It never got switched off, except in some games that a slower CPU made easier (some games back then ran just as fast as the hardware could run them, expecting the computers or turn to be the state of the art) By the time of the machine in the picture unturbo wasn't enough so we used a TSR* program called goSlow to get specific performance
*Terminate, Stay Resident; a program that could run in the background
Run in the background? Look at you with your fancy multitasking OS
It was the wondrous system "DOS 6.2"
Doesn't that require Extended memory? I don't think that's going to catch on
It did, extended memory came about the same time we needed to show down the system
Still do.
Yeah, did other people's computers stop having power buttons or something?
Mine would require an impressive feet of lifting my legs above my desk
On point typo
Who said it was a typo :p
Ah I see now, they must be related to the butt:)
The word is usually spelt feat when talking about something you did. It looked more like a spelling error than wit
Power buttons used to be roughly at the center of the front panel, but now it’s either at the edges or at the top
We started putting our PCs on top of the desks, because as we learned over the years, the ground is full of dust and we are now adults that have to pay for our own PC parts.
I seem to see an easy solution there...
I switched to laptop, and have it always on.
The cases got taller and the power buttons moved to the top edge (and often got smaller).
So now those under-the-desk units have their power buttons directly under the plate. Mine specifically it now more a knee- instead of a foot-job... I could press it with my finger without bending down but you have to keep traditiones alive.
And also how you sometimes accidentally turned it off in the middle of an intense Quake 3 session.
I remember Macintosh computers from circa 1990. Even then Apple loved to just remove buttons because they hate buttons. Because it was so perfectly intuitive to drag a disc icon over to the fucking trash can icon in order to eject the floppy disc, they didn't have a physical eject button for the floppy drive. Helpfully, they instead put the power button right where a floppy drive eject button should have been. So I was constantly turning the computer off whenever I wanted to eject a disc.
They did put the power button on the keyboard though, which was pretty awesome
I remember those keyboards, if I hit that button my PC just hard crashed. Fantastic.
I set up Linux on a laptop with a particularly aggressive keyboard power button recently. I'd be at the terminal go to hit backspace and where Linux?
I still do, why should it have changed?
Button is on the top now 😔
And too small for my big ass toe
More people use laptops (or even tablets or smartphones) more of the time nowadays, so fewer people turn on their devices that way nowadays.
I still use my toes for my laptop but the people in my office are so weird about it
Yeah, that's how I do it every morning.
Sometimes, when the ol' 'puter is cranky, I have to press the reset button, which is really small, and it's difficult to hit it with my toe (I have to do some tricky nail work, not for beginners), but I'll be damned if I ever reach down and use my fingers.
mine was an actual heavy-ass switch. it felt like shutting down the power of an entire neighborhood.
And a turbo button
Yeah mine had switches on it to power all the peripherals too, and they lit up bright orange.
Made you feel something killing your pc.
That sounds so cool
Still do.
Its a matter of principle.
Hey now. Most of these people don't know about turbo....
They certainly don't know about the "magic/more magic" button....
Might have been. The way I heard it, the toggle was a button, like the turbo button.
Ah, that nice 33 -> 66 change
Has something changed?
Smaller power buttons and often on top rather than in front. Also feel like hard and clicky is more popular than soft and linear now
The real off-button is usually down at the back, on the PSU.
switch, not button
You are technically correct, the best form of correct.
I don't get it why though. The one on mine feels very cheap, specially with it having a fulcrum on one side, making it not go down straight, while using the design language of something that would go down straight.
The crap buttons are cheaper. If your product was optimised for price it will have buttons that cost the least
They're on the top because most users find that more convenient
They're clicky or linear depending on taste
The old ones were heavy, clunky, and certainly expensive
That, on top of the new boxes being more expensive.
They are just increasing their margins as much as possible.
Unfortunately, that was the only model on the market with a good enough airflow, without a glass/acrylic panel.
I really need to DIY some of this.
In 2025 I don't turn off the computer.
I remember our family computer having an actual switch instead of a button.
Still did the toe thing though, down for on and up for off.
Ah, the "it is now safe to turn off your computer" days
I wish that they'd had a startup screen that said "it's now dangerous to turn off your computer".
SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED
Ah yes, Microsoft installing a ton of updates without informing me first. Like I don’t have anything else to do (which is probably why I’m turning off the computer, to not go do those other things.)
Back when I still rode airplanes, I used to never shut my notebook off except when I was about to leave for a flight. Then I had the pleasure of watching Windows install 957 updates while the cab was honking outside.
Are you a Kids in the Hall fan?
I'm squishing your head!
Right from my body and onto your plate.
My absolute favorite though was Girl Drink Drunk.
❤️
Oh and having to type
PARKBefore doing turning it off :)
True, that's the last time I saw it!
My computer had a key. The trick was to grip it between your toes.
We used to have a power bar that every thing was connected to. Same principle applies.
Mine had the power button too high, so I would accidentally turn it off with my knee
Tarantino approves.
I guess that's why they call it "booting"
I used to get little muscle spasms in my legs if I sat for too long that made them kick out and the amount of times I accidentally kicked the power button was comical.
Not all painted toe nails though
The classy ones have white tips
The classier ones have a coke nail.
Just the big toe
mine had a button cap and dad used to joke that he bought it on black market and it originates from the nuclear missile launch button.
That button cap is important with a lot of kids around.
makes sense. never thought about that from this standpoint. I had a tendency of pushing random buttons when I was a kid so that's probably why the cap.
Power button on top sucks balls, I preferred it on the front
Much safer from cats
Oh tiny piece of cardboard save us from the demons of fur and claw
I use a tiny translucent toy turtle. It’s cute, and I can still see the LED of the power button.
I still do it bro
Hey man, as long as it’s consensual…
It's still the 2000's so I still do
I still turn my computer like that most of the time.
I can still hear/feel the gradual effect followed with the iconic "click"
And all the loud noises of the giant components used to be in such PCs 🤭
What was the big-toe-sized button for it fnot for the big to- you know what, I don't think I wanna know.
hah, i had my desktop on the "desk" cuz i was cool like that
Do people not still do this? People must still have towers, and they must have on buttons, right?
I've not built a tower in a good few years now so maybe I'm out of touch and they're all voice activated now or use DNA scanners from Gattaca idk xD
People learned that computer cases shouldn't go on the ground, unless you want them to be a dust magnet (especially if you have a case with intakes on the bottom for the GPU).
I have a tower but it's on my desk (and the button is on the top facing the ceiling) so using my foot to turn it in would be a slight issue lol
Flexibility training.
Never put your PC on the floor unless it's your company's shitty workstation tower that really needs to be replaced.
I got one of those Mac minis and the button is on the bottom!
Apple is pretty shitty at design though especially for a company so renowned for design haha.
I have a bunch of mini Linux computers too and they have mostly normal buttons but they are tiny. Probably too tiny for toes.
People tend to have laptops these days, only gamers need towers but gamers don’t want their PC to be Vacuum cleaner neither.
The convenient toe remote.
so true
This brings back memories. I’d turn on my big ass HP with my foot and its bright blue LED power button would light up the room.
Blue?
Look at Mr fancy pants over here with blue power indicators on their childhood computer.
Most of us made due with red, or if you were lucky, green.
Yellow was also an option
Yellow LEDs annoy me. Our traffic lights used to be red, amber, and green. Now they're LED amber lights have been replaced with yellow
That's fair.
All HP desktops that competed with Dell Dimensions in 2003 had a big blue led button. It was a common trope to put blue leds on everything back then. It’s nothing special. https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fc1.neweggimages.com%2Fproductimage%2Fnb640%2F83-102-233-01.jpg&f=1&ipt=4deaeb006298186c0cbf8cf25ce53b9e20547c1faaa11aead6ee846a03363867
When I was a kid, first using computers in the mid 1980s, blue LEDs were considered to be impossible to make.
So my basic bitch IBM clone only had red indicator lights.
The implication is that people who grew up with newer technology had stuff that was fancier than the stuff older generations had, which is objectively true.
I'm sorry that you didn't get the joke, and I'm sorry that I had to explain it to you.
Good luck with life, seems like you'll need it.
Who turns off the computer?
You did back then because they used way more electricity. And prior to this sleep mode didn't exist.
I prefer my PC off when I'm not using it, that way it's encrypted.
I do, because I have to pay my electricity bill. I also turn off lights and run things like laundry later at night.
I hibernate my work PC so it doesn't auto update and close all my stuff. I'd like to do that on my own at the end of the week, tyvm
Also I get to softly kick the front every morning.
According to the internet, this also works on people
The Screen Savers for your education: https://youtu.be/CJh-QhhzTKo
I did that till my i used my desktop till 2019
I don't think I've seen these words assorted in this order before.
I have moved from office use desktop to gaming laptop to gaming laptop emulated desktop (laptop connected to monitor) since then never ever used a desktop again
I still do it except its my UPS
I shut mine down by overheating it.
WHO let the dogs out !?
Why are you taking up nice clean desk space with a big generally ugly box and lots of cords? Keep things tidy that under that desk.