In 1998, Ask Ars was an early feature of the newly launched Ars Technica. Now, as then, it’s all about your questions and our community’s answers. Each week, we’ll dig into our question bag, provide ...

Lured by the prospect of high-salary, high-status jobs, college students are rushing in record numbers to study computer science. Now, if only they could get a seat in class. On campuses across the ...

This mini-series of articles describes how to build a computer’s CPU (central processing unit) out of relays. “Y” in English sounds like “guay” in Spanish (my mother tongue), a colloquial expression ...

In a very real sense, the Internet, this marvelous worldwide digital communications network that you’re using right now, was created because one man was annoyed at having too many computer terminals ...

If you own a modern computer, it is probably several times faster than the one that landed the first lunar module on the moon. Modern personal computers consist of many components that work together ...

The quest for speed is not new. “Captain,” the old lady said excitedly, “I will give you some of my lard to use if you will beat that riverboat in the race.” Other than boiler explosions and extensive ...

The fictional form of the mental steps doctrine is inapplicable to digital computers and computer-implemented inventions for several reasons. First, prior to the widespread usage of the general ...

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. If you've ever set foot in a Costco warehouse, it can feel like a microcosm of just about everything you could conceivably buy in bulk. Much ...

For pioneering computer scientist Donald Knuth, good coding is synonymous with beautiful expression. Donald Knuth is a computer scientist who came of age with his field. During the nascent years of ...

Should you buy second-hand computer parts? Best answer: You should consider buying used PC components if you're seeking a bargain and understand that the said parts may not work as good as shiny new ...