"His PC actually got used to the field that had been generated, and as soon as we moved the machine away to put in a bigger one, my colleague's monitor didn't work right anymore, because it had adjusted to that high field," says Bostick. The error in placement of the PC was such an obvious one that "even my friend had to laugh about it," Bostick says.
Even in meticulous labs run by top scientists, neglect can cause personal computers to malfunction. Some of this is unavoidable--no matter where you place a PC, for example, some dust will accumulate in the machine. Still, many PC problems come about because of indifference, general sloppiness, and mistakes that even seasoned hackers occasionally make.
While some disasters, like Bostick's colleague's mistake, can't be overcome, at least the absent-minded can take solace in the fact that PCs are quite hearty instruments. When a steam ...
