Everybody should have some insight on the work of great computer science personalities. I used to spend at least two days in my "Theory of  Languages" lectures telling my listeners about the works of Turing, Godel, Church, Hilbert et al... Proving people how limited computers and programs are, and how so much bigger the theory behind them can "glimpse" is simply fascinating .... and at the same time, decepting.... That Church-Turing Thesis is so powerful, and at the same time so "devastating" regarding what our beloved Rigs can do for us... Well... 

 

At least I can still look forward for LR, LM, etc... to come up with even more great algorithms for simulating the physics of flight :-)  LM found a nice way to make them available by repeatable / unlimited download, while LR is still tied to the relocatable material support of their software, although I've heard about their intentions to partner with Steam!

 

I completely agree - I think it's an absolute tragedy that most people haven't even heard of Turing, let alone the influence he has had on the modern world. It's as significant as e=mc^2 in my opinion.

 

It really is a hugely interesting subject area - I still have difficulty bridging the technological/complexity leap between basic boolean transistor logic, and fully fledged simulators. Despite having a good understanding of it on a fundamental level, sometimes it doesn't feel intuitively comfortable to realise how almost everything in the world can be replicated with complex combinations of microscopic on/off switches!

Everybody should have some insight on the work of great computer science personalities. I used to spend at least two days in my "Theory of  Languages" lectures telling my listeners about the works of Turing, Godel, Church, Hilbert et al... Proving people how limited computers and programs are, and how so much bigger the theory behind them can "glimpse" is simply fascinating .... and at the same time, decepting.... That Church-Turing Thesis is so powerful, and at the same time so "devastating" regarding what our beloved Rigs can do for us... Well... 

 

At least I can still look forward for LR, LM, etc... to come up with even more great algorithms for simulating the physics of flight :-)  LM found a nice way to make them available by repeatable / unlimited download, while LR is still tied to the relocatable material support of their software, although I've heard about their intentions to partner with Steam!

 

Sorry Jcomm I only just read the second part of your post - if you're interested in mathematics and flight/astrophysics I expect you've heard of Kerbal Space Program? If not, don't let the cartoony appearance put you off. If you don't use the in game tools, you can perform all the calculations for flight and space travel yourself. I'm no expert, but I've heard the space physics are very good (except for the fact they don't incorporate n-body simulation so if you're into langrange points you'll be disappointed!).

In a nutshell - you lost the discs. If the only way to reinstall is to have the discs you are responsible for getting the discs.

Wanted to post to say a massive thank you to not only the people in this thread, but to Laminar Research who have offered to send me all of the disks as I showed them a bank statement with my purchase on it. Amazing customer service!

Wow wasn't expecting that. Cool

Wanted to post to say a massive thank you to not only the people in this thread, but to Laminar Research who have offered to send me all of the disks as I showed them a bank statement with my purchase on it. Amazing customer service!

 

That is great to know!  Congratulations Luke!  And also a big thumbs up to LR's Customer Service!

As I read a post that begins "If you were a..." I despair.

 

Software licences are to avoid selling the software. The intellectual and abstract nature of the software is valueless with without a medium to communicate it from buyer to seller.

 

Whatever Austin may code on his own is valueless with a medium to show what's in his head.

 

Similarly, Your example of code is useless without a specific medium to communicate it from reader to writer 

Also, your Steam library needs a medium to communicate to your computer, to add it to your hard-disk, and ultimately to load into your RAM before you can use it.

 

 

Software licences are to avoid selling the software. The intellectual and abstract nature of the software is valueless with without a medium to communicate it from buyer to seller.

 

Cheech and Chong meet Laurel and Hardy

You come across as one of those people that desperately require the last word, mgh, so I'll let you have it and offer no further rebuttal.

 

To all others, thanks again! Can't wait to get back into simming.

 

Luke

You come across as one of those people that desperately require the last word, mgh, so I'll let you have it and offer no further rebuttal.

Or you can't offer a rebuttal?

My lord you're aggressive. Here we go:

 

I can't offer a rebuttal, you are absolutely correct. My training as a software engineer and computer scientist has clearly gone to waste. Let me reiterate, you are absolutely correct and I am absolutely wrong.

 

Now please, let this thread die