Toys V. Tools

SQLServerCentral is supported by Red Gate Software Ltd.

Popular Topics

Home

Members

Calendar

Who's On

Home » SQLServerCentral.com » Editorials » Toys V. Tools

15 posts, Page 1 of 2

1 2 »»

Toys V. Tools

Rate Topic

Display Mode

Topic Options

Author

Message

SQLRNNR

Posted Thursday, February 03, 2011 9:24 PM

SSCoach

Group: General Forum Members
Last Login: Today @ 5:03 PM
Points: 18,853, Visits: 12,438

Comments posted to this topic are about the item Toys V. Tools

Jason AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
I have given a name to my pain...
MCM SQL Server 2008

SQL RNNR

Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw
Posting Data Etiquette - Jeff Moden
Hidden RBAR - Jeff Moden
VLFs and the Tran Log - Kimberly Tripp

Post #1058498

Knut Boehnert

Posted Friday, February 04, 2011 1:43 AM

Right there with Babe

Group: General Forum Members
Last Login: Today @ 3:53 AM
Points: 768, Visits: 280

Definitely T-SQL itself!
For no other reason that you can draw Mandelbrot with it.
(http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/Stupid-Coding-Tricks-The-TSQL-Madlebrot.aspx)

Post #1058551

Geoff Gunson

Posted Friday, February 04, 2011 1:47 AM

SSC-Enthusiastic

Group: General Forum Members
Last Login: Monday, January 21, 2013 5:53 AM
Points: 165, Visits: 76

Google is most definitely both, and sometimes its main logo is the toy.

Post #1058555

majorbloodnock

Posted Friday, February 04, 2011 4:24 AM

Ten Centuries

Group: General Forum Members
Last Login: Tuesday, June 04, 2013 10:52 AM
Points: 1,043, Visits: 2,945

Interesting discussion. I would say a tool is an aid to solve a problem, whilst a toy provides its own justification for use. For instance, if you buy an iPhone because you want one, then come up with ways to use it afterwards, it's basically just a toy. However, if you're always on the move and need to be able to make phone calls, do your email and retrieve information from the Web whilst you're travelling, the iPhone may well be an efficient tool.

I think almost anything whose use could be seen as enjoyable can end up alternating between being a tool and a toy. At certain regular times each day, our kitchen is basically a family fuel distribution centre, but come the weekend it may well end up as a playground instead. Similar distinctions can be made for my PC, my car, my bike and so on. If you're using something for the pleasure of using it, it's a toy. If you're using it to help you achieve a necessary end, it's a tool.

IMHO, of course.....

Semper in excretia, sumus solum profundum variat

Post #1058615

TravisDBA

Posted Friday, February 04, 2011 7:42 AM

Ten Centuries

Group: General Forum Members
Last Login: Wednesday, June 12, 2013 10:46 AM
Points: 1,290, Visits: 3,001

First off, children are not allowed in my office room at my home, period. But with that said, I think toys and tools are interchangeable. For example, my Corvette is definitely a useful tool, it gets me to and fro, but it is also most definitely my favorite toy too. BigGrin

My iPhone is a very useful tool with alot of extended functionality, but is also just great to play around with too. I can think of several more examples where tools and toys are definitely interchangeable, but you get the idea. Wink

"Technology is a weird thing. It brings you great gifts with one hand, and it stabs you in the back with the other. ... BigGrin

Post #1058756

GSquared

Posted Friday, February 04, 2011 8:09 AM

SSCoach

Group: General Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 1:45 PM
Points: 15,442, Visits: 9,572

I think of life in terms of it being a game, so pretty much everything is a toy to me. Even such dangerous tools as tablesaws and nuclear bombs have their (limited) entertainment value.

(Think of the fireworks display you could do if you could reasonably expect to survive a series of nearby nuclear explosions! Maybe on the moon or something like that!)

- Gus "GSquared", RSVP, OODA, MAP, NMVP, FAQ, SAT, SQL, DNA, RNA, UOI, IOU, AM, PM, AD, BC, BCE, USA, UN, CF, ROFL, LOL, ETC
Property of The Thread

"Nobody knows the age of the human race, but everyone agrees it's old enough to know better." - Anon

Post #1058776

Alan Vogan

Posted Friday, February 04, 2011 8:27 AM

Ten Centuries

Group: General Forum Members
Last Login: Thursday, May 02, 2013 10:44 AM
Points: 1,079, Visits: 513

If only the Tardis on my desk was actually more than a USB port and I could time travel about the universe. It's not really a toy, but it sort of hides the fact that it is just a tool. My surfboard is a ...? I need to exercise and surfing (or just paddling) get my cardio up, and most the time it's fun. If it's fun, does it necessarily make it a toy? I consider the computer a tool but my kids definitely think of it as a toy. Maybe it's just your state of mind. TGIF!

Post #1058789

majorbloodnock

Posted Friday, February 04, 2011 8:47 AM

Ten Centuries

Group: General Forum Members
Last Login: Tuesday, June 04, 2013 10:52 AM
Points: 1,043, Visits: 2,945

Alan Vogan (2/4/2011)

....If it's fun, does it necessarily make it a toy?...

To my mind, no. I think it's just emphasis. If you're using the surfboard for exercise and fun is a spin-off benefit, it's a tool. If you're using it for fun and the health aspects are a spin-off benefit, it's a toy.

IMHO, of course...

TGIF!

Seconded.

Semper in excretia, sumus solum profundum variat

Post #1058805

T_Peters

Posted Friday, February 04, 2011 9:16 AM

Right there with Babe

Group: General Forum Members
Last Login: Friday, June 14, 2013 12:29 PM
Points: 729, Visits: 1,103

I recently won an iPad. It has some nice SQL monitoring tools as well as email and Citrix so it works great as a tool. It also has Angry Birds, Worms, Pandora and guitar amp modeling so it's a great toy, just ask my kids. There's also my bikes. They are tools in that I commute to work year round, get groceries and haul lumber on them, but they're also a great source of fun and entertainment. Tool and toy are not mutually exclusive and many things fit happily as both.

Since it's Friday do you think I can get away using things as toys instead of tools at work today? Like surfing the web on my work computer instead of working on those SSIS packages Hehe

Tim

Post #1058825

Bob Abernethy

Posted Friday, February 04, 2011 12:35 PM

SSC-Enthusiastic

Group: General Forum Members
Last Login: Today @ 12:11 PM
Points: 149, Visits: 881

This reminds me of the saying "The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys."

BigGrin

Post #1058959

« Prev Topic | Next Topic »

15 posts, Page 1 of 2

1 2 »»

Permissions