Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with advantage

Looking for a new cable.

ricochet biscuit — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 12:42:32 -0800

Looking for a replacement data sync/charge cable for an HTC Advantage X7501. I have misplaced the the data sync cable from such a machine. Can anyone tell me if the replacement, the X7510, uses the same amperage (and thus, if the cables will be compatible)?

As well, I'd be grateful if you could recommend a good source from which to acquire a replacement cable (for the 7501, or the 7510 if that will work). If online, I would need someone who ships to Canada; if anyone knows a good bricks-and-mortar store in Eastern Canada, I will be in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Halifax in the next couple of weeks.

Advantages of vision defects?

paradoxflow — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:34:56 -0800

Evolutionary advantages of far-sightedness and partial color blindness? I've read that partial color blindness can improve night vision and the ability to spot certain forms of camouflage, however I haven't been able to find much about the mechanism behind this. I'm looking for anecdotes or articles about this, or about any other advantages that color blindness or far-sightedness might confer (if any), either from an evolutionary standpoint, or in modern life.

Confused about comparative advantage, specialisation and trade.

obiwanwasabi — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:22:28 -0800

EconomicsNewbieFilter: I'm confused about absolute advantage, comparative advantage and specialisation. Particular example inside. I'm doing a Master of Management, which means I have to cram for microeconomics. Hah, I thought - I remember all of this from high school - scarcity, supply, demand, elasticity, PPCs. Then I hit Chapter 2 of Frank and Bernanke's Principles of Microeconomics and groan - frickin' advantage and specialisation.

So I learn about the difference between absolute and comparative advantage. I see that just because somebody has an absolute advantage for producing two goods doesn't mean they can't benefit from specialisation and trade. Specialisation good. Trade good. Everybody wins. So far, all OK.

At the end of the chapter there's an exercise:

Ted can wax a car in 20 minutes or wash a car in 60 minutes. Dan can wax a car in 15 minutes or wash a car in 45 minutes. Who has an absolute advantage in washing cars? What is each man's opportunity cost of washing a car? Who has a comparative advantage in washing cars? Can Ted and Dan benefit from specialisation and trade? Explain.

I figure that Dan has an absolute advantage in washing cars (and waxing, too). Each man has the same opportunity cost for washing a car - three wax jobs. This would seem to mean that neither has a comparative advantage in washing cars, and this in turn would seem to imply that there's no benefit for Ted and Dan to specialise and trade.

Up until now, though, the text has given a pretty consistent message that specialisation and trade are always a good thing, so I think I've missed something. I've compared their PPCs (Ted's lies entirely within the 'inefficient' zone of Dan's - but doesn't this just mean Dan has an absolute advantage for waxing and washing?) and checked what would happen if each specialised in waxing or washing over a 6-hour day then traded (they get more washes but less waxes, or vice versa).

Where have I gone wrong?

May I transfer an XP Genuine Advantage Kit install?

Dave 9 — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:13:03 -0800

A Dell PC was originally equipped with Windows ME. Somebody later installed, instead, an unauthorized copy of XP. The machine was given to me, and I legitimated the XP install by paying Microsoft for a "Genuine Advantage Kit." Will Microsoft let me use that kit's CD to install XP on a different machine (perhaps an Apple) if I get rid of the first machine? Thanks.

Why have some (but not all) of my Bluetooth speed dials stopped working?

timpollard — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 02:21:52 -0800

Why have some (but not all) of my Bluetooth speed dials stopped working? I’ve been happily using the excellent LG HBM-700 Style-I Bluetooth headset with my HTC X7500 Athena/Advantage for some time now, as the HTC is a wonderful PDA but a bit unwieldy to use as a phone . However since upgrading the HTC to their official new WM6 ROM, I’ve not been able to use the Bluetooth headset keypad to dial out using Speed Dial except (and this is the weird thing) for Speed Dial #1, which by default goes to my voicemail.

Does anyone have *any* idea why just the one speed dial would work and none of the others since I upgraded?

Another Flea Question

Shane — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 21:45:38 -0800

When fleas can't nibble on your cats ('cuz you've treated the felines with Advantage or something), what do tehy live on? Fur? Cat food? They should just starve. But they say that if you don't sweep them daily you don't get rid of them... I have four cats. One got outside and brought fleas back in. HELP! Fleas are hell. Especially in a messy house. Do I have to do one massive (impossible) cleaning and sweeping!? Or one room per day?

So I read the AskMe posts and I hear Borax is good and fairly harmless to put down on the rug, mattress, etc and then sweep up.

Right?

Also, tomorrow I'm (hopefully) getting some Advantage (even though it's made by Bayer!) to get rid of the itchy beasts off my cats.

BUT MY HOUSE IS A MESS! There's no way I can clean it all at once. I'm just dealing with cleaning one room at a time, maybe one per day over the next few days, recycling piles of accumulated papers, moving my entire computer station and all the wires and components and sweeping up all the massive dust-bunnies (where most of the fleas seem to be spawning), etc.

Will this kill the fleas? 'Cuz, ya know, they hatch continually.

If the fleas can't get on my cats 'cuz of the Advantage, and I sweep the house over the course of a few days (re-sweeping everything each day as I go), will I get 'em all?

Or do I have to do one massive (impossible) cleaning and sweeping!?

I feel itchy just thinking about this.

Thanks.

Looking for an advantage...

Mrs. Smith — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 17:03:13 -0800

Does your placement during the job inverview process make a difference? If you have a choice as to when you will schedule your interview, is it better to go first, so the interviewer is comparing all those who follow to you...or is it better to go toward the end, so you can leave the most recent impression when the individual goes to make a decision?

Do you think there is a strategy to this, providing that all other things are equal? Could going first or last help/hurt you just because of where you fall in the interviews?

Is there a best time of the day to interview or a better day of the week?

Having A Mentor That Can Give You What You Want - Fair?

divabat — Sat, 15 Apr 2006 20:36:57 -0800

How appropriate is it to consider someone your mentor, when you're hoping he'll grant you with something major in the future? Is this taking advantage of him and the mentorship? Or am I just being paranoid? I was a student on a study-abroad tour last year and got along very well with the Program Manager (the head of the travelling staff). We talked often about anything and everything, he helped me out when I hit snags, we worked together on some projects, and we basically clicked.

He's currently working in a higher capacity at the same organization (a nonprofit that organizes global education programs, like my tour) and we've been in touch. He's helped me out with a couple of projects, and I've volunteered with them for a while.

He's a very nice and caring person; he really looks out for you. He's also very world-wise and has great perspectives on things. He has a great personality too (very charming and charismatic) and is very open to anything. Indeed, he is the perfect example of what I'm looking for in a mentor.

There is one snag though: I would really love to work in the same nonprofit one day. And he's the one in charge of new hires.

I did actually apply for a job with them recently but got turned down; he gave me some great insight into my strengths and weaknesses and encouraged me to work harder and try again, so that's all good. The people who get hired for these things are usually alumni, and the office is familiar with everyone else anyway, so there's no danger of "oh, you only got in because you know the guy." Everyone knows each other.

The thing is though, I'm a bit apprehensive about continuing a mentor-like relationship with him because I would still like to get a job with them someday soon and I don't want that to influence his decision too much (favouritism).

I'm not planning on bombarding him with questions every day; more like regular correspondence, talking about our lines of work, and also asking for advice if need be. But I don't want this to end up like "oh, you got a head start" - I'd rather get the job because I earned it, not because I managed to charm him to my side.

Am I just being silly? We're from two different cultural backgrounds (I'm Asian he's American) so that might account for the perspective difference. Or could this be a case of taking advantage? "Oh I'll get him to be my mentor so I'll have a closer relationship to him and he'd favour me" thing?

please excuse the confusingness. i'm trying to explain this the best I can! thank you.

What's the evolutionary advantage of shyness

ykjay — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 08:53:00 -0800

What is the evolutionary advantage of shyness, particularly in early girls' adolescence? As the father of two young girls whose parents are both shy, I am concerned about how they will fare when they get to the 11-15 year-old stage with all the peer pressure and social pressures they're certain to encounter. I started wondering why it's such a common trait across cultures. Maybe understanding it can help to mitigate its effects when the time comes.

So, how has being shy helped in evolutionary terms?

What if it CAN buy happiness?

ChrisR — Sat, 20 Aug 2005 07:10:34 -0800

What do rich people have that we don't? To be more specific, what are the little inconveniences that the middle class/lower class/middle-rich/foo/bar have to deal with, but when you have enough money you can get around easily. I don't mean the obvious ones, I mean things like showers that you have to fiddle with to get the temperature, or razor burn. Also, how can you emulate this sort of thing on the beer budget that I must live with?

Canine flea/tick preventative treatment?

jerseygirl — Mon, 24 May 2004 09:06:23 -0800

Canine flea/tick preventative treatment? I have a rough and tumble pup (18 pounds, 18 months old). He's quite an outdoor companion, and I find ourselves walking more wooded trails this year. I expect fleas, and especially ticks, are going to be a concern this summer. I am staying completely away from Hartz in all shapes and forms. I am very open to the idea of natural/herbal/homeopathic flea and tick preventatives as long as they work well. I am also interested if anyone has any experiences with Frontline or Advantage. Whatever the treatment, it would have to withstand bathing, as he is groomed professionally once a month and usually is rinsed down or bathed at home once a week (depending on how much mud he gets into). I will consult with the vet before going ahead with anything, obviously, but would really appreciate any of your personal feedback.