Talk:Boat anchor

Split Definitions

I have made some improvements to this page, but it seems like it should be split into 2 separate definitions, one for computing and one for amateur radio. Does anyone else think this would be appropriate? Paul Mackay 05:34, 1 August 2005 (UTC)

• They relate enough to each other that I think it should remain one. If separated, the subsections are short enough that they would have to be stubs. Because the term "boat anchor" in this article is exclusively referring to the uselessness of some old equipment, both in computing and amateur radio, I think it is appropriate to keep them in the same article. --Fotinakis 06:31, 4 August 2005 (UTC)

What's this?

I don't understand this bit here:

A later meaning is a piece of hardware or software that serves no useful purpose that is kept around for political reasons. Often, everyone is secretly waiting for it to be used again, so it is no longer a derelict eyesore. In this meaning, a boat anchor is considered an example of an anti-pattern.

If the software serves no useful purpose at all, why would "everyone" be "secretly waiting" to use it again? Or is the software supposed to be good software which has been put on the back burner and become obsolete? --Saforrest 17:40, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

Well, it's probably much too late to reply to this, but just so that other people can get an idea... In my limited experience, there've been times when code that's otherwise useless is left within the source file simply because there's a percieved possibility (however slight) of needing to reuse or revert to said code. Once it's identified, everyone knows that the code doesn't do a thing, but maybe... just maybe, it'll have to be used again. At least, that's the vibe I get. Anyone who knows more about this should probably set me straight. --Anonymous, 21 January 2006

Tis sort of code is not too bad to keep if it is properly marked as depreciated, moved to the end of the file, adn/or commented out, so taht it is obvious that it is there merely as a convienient archive of functions/methods/classes

Hey guys, I have made some cosmetic wikification changes that help the article. Could someone throw in some references for the COMPUTING and SOFTWARE sections? --- LuckyLouie 06:35, 12 February 2007 (UTC)

Image copyright problem with Image:Vax11-780.jpg

The image Image:Vax11-780.jpg is used in this article under a claim of fair use, but it does not have an adequate explanation for why it meets the requirements for such images when used here. In particular, for each page the image is used on, it must have an explanation linking to that page which explains why it needs to be used on that page. Please check

• That there is a non-free use rationale on the image's description page for the use in this article.
• That this article is linked to from the image description page.

This is an automated notice by FairuseBot. For assistance on the image use policy, see Wikipedia:Media copyright questions. --04:41, 4 November 2008 (UTC)

Fair use for Boat anchor

Though the image Image:Vax11-780.jpg is subject to copyright, its use is covered by the U.S. fair use laws, and the stricter requirements of Wikipedia's non-free content policies, because:

1. It is a historically significant photo of a computing system nearly 30 years old by a defunct manufacturer.
2. It is of much lower resolution than the original. Copies made from it will be of very inferior quality.
3. The photo is only being used for informational purposes. Advertising is moot. The product can not be sold or promoted.
4. Its inclusion in the article adds significantly to the article because the photo and its historical significance are the object of discussion in the article.

- LuckyLouie (talk) 12:56, 17 December 2008 (UTC)