READER INPUT
Where makers tell their tales and offer praise, brickbats, and swell ideas.
I just wanted to comment on how much I love MAKE magazine and how much I appreciate all you guys do for us. The mag is absolutely fantastic and the podcasts are my absolute favorite. Keep up the great work; your content is some of the best on the entire net.
—Andrew Montgomery
As a new subscriber, a novice maker, and a graduate student at UC Davis, I am impressed with the detail and care taken in publishing the project “Tabletop Biosphere” by Martin Brown (Volume 10, page 110). I have been working with exotic and invasive plant species to prevent and control their proliferation in both Florida and California. Let me express the appreciation of myself and my colleagues for your notation in the article reminding and educating your readers of the risks and proper disposal of any organisms they may obtain in the course of making.
—Thaddeus Hunt
Editor’s Note: Thaddeus, thanks for the kind note. Our office biosphere was “sealed” on March 31, 2007. The ghost shrimp, we are happy to report, was alive and kicking as recently as Oct. 9! That’s 6 months of biosphere goodness, and it gives us hope for successful larger-scaled biospheres in the near future.
Finally got the paid subscription to MAKE magazine. First such purchase of a magazine subscription in 20+ years ... it’s that good!
—Randy Poppe
I have recently found your magazine … it’s great. And this is from someone who has never done any type of electronic project or task as I read in your magazine. Although I work in the computer industry, I am not an engineer. I love to tinker and will continue to read your magazine until I have the courage to make one of your projects. As a manager I was not able to get my hands dirty, as it were. Keep up the good work.
My suggestion, and something I would like but cannot build, is a RAM memory checker. The cheapest one out there is around $800. There are other problems besides the price: it gives too much information, for one. The two best features of a RAM checker would be the ability to check all types — SIMMs, DIMMs, SDRAM, DDR, etc. — and the ability to Bluetooth to a printer. The simple check of the RAM would be sufficient: is the RAM OK?
MAKE LAB BIOSPHERE: Still thriving 6 months later!
Now, what I don’t know is whether someone has already done this project. Any referrals would be welcome.
—Garrett Romain
Editor’s Note: What do you say, readers? Got any ideas for Garrett? Post them at makezine.com/12/readerinput.