A little known fact about DG is that it was not originally created to be the community-oriented site that it is today. In fact, it was originally created to be a personal trading list/tracker tool for myself. Due to the special features I had, DG was originally limited in that it could only be used by those who used Linux, rather than Windows or MacOS.
An idea was first hatched in early 2001, when a flood of new members discovered DG. These users were attempting to use incompatible operating systems, such as Windows and MacOS, in order to use Dave's Garden. In order to accomodate these new users, I scrambled to make concessions for them. Therefore, the DG that we all see today is widely crippled in order to accomodate these users. Why, the original DG almost read my own mind! Ahh, those were the days.
Well, what is the solution? We need to get everyone onto Linux.
For the past 4 years, we have been hard at work developing an entire new computing system made specifically for the purpose of using Dave's Garden, running a special flavour of Linux that we are calling "Davex". The box will retail for $399 (without monitor) and will be a computer with one purpose in life: using DG. When you boot it up, it will come up directly into a webbrowser and that's it. The webbrowser will be able to access any website, except GardenWeb and those other sites that are listed in the strictly filtered list managed by the prudes at DG Admin HQ.
Once I have converted the entire population over to Davex boxes, I will begin work at re-integrating the Linux-specific code back into Dave's Garden. Additionally, work is ongoing for the BigSensor Keyboard, which will only work on Davex boxes.
Our goal is to have the entire DG population converted by April 1st, 2007, at which time we will completely convert the site back to its August, 2000 state. Users still using Windows or MacOS will be left out in the cold.
We will begin taking orders for the box in 3 weeks. Texas residents please add 2.5% sales tax.
It's an exciting new era for DG!
Dave
