boat anchor

(1)

Like doorstop but more severe; implies that the offending hardware is irreversibly dead or useless. "That was a working motherboard once. One lightning strike later, instant boat anchor!"

boat anchor

(2)

A person who just takes up space.

boat anchor

(3)

Obsolete but still working hardware, especially when used of an old S100-bus hobbyist system; originally a term of annoyance, but became more and more affectionate as the hardware became more and more obsolete.

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References in periodicals archive ?

The metalcaster used to make boat anchors for a company that sells the product to Wal-Mart's marine division, but a few years ago Wal-Mart began importing from overseas.

OSCO delivers: AFS Corporate Member Osco Industries has finetuned its business to deliver quality parts with a short lead time by committing to gray iron, adding flexibility through inventory, and conservative revenue management

We unhooked the boat anchors and retrieved the first duck of our voyage.

Riding a wave

They found a white male floating with a heavy boat anchor attached to him with a rope.

Drowning investigations

makes good boat anchor. Mere existence makes God shudder.

Quotable quotes: military humour

Either keep your virus program up-to-date or pull the plug and reassign your computer to serve as a doorstop or boat anchor.

Who's snooping around your computer?

The Air Force did not want the first GATM aircraft fleet to end up a boat anchor. Actually, the KC-135 was not originally intended to be the Air Force's first GATM program.

First in fleet: KC-135 global air traffic management (GATM)

This is one warning: Be careful not to sign up for lengthy contracts for these new data networks; the marketplace is evolving quickly and the technology that seems adequate and affordable today could very well be tomorrow's boat anchor.

Cut the cord: going wireless opens a whole new way of doing things

In some areas, local laws require a diver to go down with a boat anchor to avoid disturbing marine life.

Recreational boating industry has a bright future in Cuba. (Tourism)

They found a 100-pound boat anchor in the same area yesterday, but they are not sure if it belongs to the ship.

Hull of 18th-century vessel found at World Trade Center site

Before I knew it I was in possession of the world's most expensive boat anchor, and to make things worse, I bought a flash drive with twice the memory yesterday - and it all just came flooding back.

PC gaming is in a right state; Bitz

Because the new super-computer they'd just bought, became the PC eguivalent of a boat anchor.

Bitz; your award-winning guide to the top games of the week gma Regional Games Columinst of the year

Their attention-deficit company includes the succinctly titled '101 Things Removed From the Human Body.' Billed as a 'shockumentary' series, the items it featured included an ice pick, a bag of nails, a javelin, a boat anchor, a bicycle pump-and a human body!