Here’s a question- why shouldn’t you store your memory stick near your mobile phone? Our uni computers used to have a pop up to warn you that if you did, the magnetic field created would wipe all your data and leave you dissertationless. Scary stuff. Or it would be if it were true.
Ok, so the memory stick one is sort of commonly accepted as bull excrement. But there’re quite a few myths that even the most hardened techie will follow as gospel, which T3 recently set out to debunk or rebunk. The site contains a full list of twenty, but right here are the ones I was personally either shocked or gratified to find are complete fluff- or regrettably true!
– Firstly, that magnet one. Will magnets wipe your memory stick? Unless you carry round a supply of floppy discs, magnets are unlikely to affect your storage devices in any serious way. Time to get the fridge magnets back out. HOWEVER they may affect your camera’s memory card a bit more often, although another myth decreed false is that airport x ray machines wipe your photos. Still on the memory stick topic- the safely remove hardware function is only needed if you’re part way through writing files. It isn’t necessary if the device is idle.
– You have to shut down the computer properly not just hit the power button. Actually it seems you kinda do. One in ten improper shut downs risks blue screen of death-ing you. Minimal, but enough reason to do it properly. Oops…
– Although using them means less litter in the landfills rechargeable batteries are not always better than non rechargeable ones. It depends how much you use your gadgets. Rechargeables lose charge quicker, so less often used gadgets will not benefit.
– Ever think that Pong was the first video game? Apparently not. A year before ‘Computer Space’ was released. But apparently it was really hard so people seem to have blanked it out.
– Saddam Hussein was going to use PS2’s to launch missiles. Bogus- need I say more?!
– The one about the Atari cartridges buried in the New Mexico Desert is actually true though! (I’d not actually heard that one, but it’s trueness amused me…)
And, to finish, my favourite
– You absolutely, totally cannot blow up the petrol station using your mobile phone. You may get beaten if you use it to play crap music without using the headphones on the train though. I’ll personally see to it…
Read the full list at T3
Got any myths you want to mock, support or simply ask about the validity of? Stick them in the comments!