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This is your computer on DSL. This is your computer on cable.

:-) Those numbers are bogus, however I concur: I have had great throughput, very few outages (though admittingly they are very annoying because the internet is such a critical part of my life now), and the value is absolutely amazing. I'm really perplexed at the dislike of @Home/cable on Slashdot and I'm prone to thinking that it's the pick-on-the-big-guys syndrome that is so rampant. Of course there are people who've had bad experiences (come on it costs $40 CDN / month! Are people expecting a huge line of net techs ready to rush to your house?), just as there are people who's Honda makes a knocking noise, etc.

This is your computer on DSL. This is your computer on cable.

:-) Those numbers are bogus, however I concur: I have had great throughput, very few outages (though admittingly they are very annoying because the internet is such a critical part of my life now), and the value is absolutely amazing. I'm really perplexed at the dislike of @Home/cable on Slashdot and I'm prone to thinking that it's the pick-on-the-big-guys syndrome that is so rampant. Of course there are people who've had bad experiences (come on it costs $40 CDN / month! Are people expecting a huge line of net techs ready to rush to your house?), just as there are people who's Honda makes a knocking noise, etc.

Sorry, here is the link.

For a better article on factors driving the relative failure of bluetooth and sucess of 802.11b, read Bye-bye, Bluetooth by Bill Gurley (of Benchmark and Above The Crowd fame) courtesy news.com.

While I think Gurley makes some good points about the relative cost economies (Bluetooth doesn't seem to have an advantage) and the power of server connected applications versus localized networks, I wouldn't dismiss local device networking so fast. There's a lot of potential for cell phone to fixed point communication, cell/laptop transfer, vehicle networking, etc. that passive RF can't handle. For all of its good points, 802.11b is very difficult to get broad coverage with and GPRS/2.5G cellular technology is probably more economical if the cellular providers could ever come up with a good data pricing model.

Regards, RJS

Has it occurred to you that th e y not only seriously harm readability, but that they are also totally fucking worthless since people will just keep using the same tricks that already work for obscuring [goatse.cx] links?

Damn you are dumb.

Don't take my word about hazardous hotfixes. Do your own google search on "hotfix causes problems" and see for yourself. I imagine server admins who got burned by a recent broken hotfix, or at least read the June 8 CNET article about it, didn't want to be guinea pigs for MSFT's newest fixes.

It's splitting hairs to point out that this is an Index Server hole, not an IIS hole. Sure, and there was a mid-1990s hole that wasn't an Apache hole. It was a hole in a CGI script that happened to be part of the default Apache distribution. But let's not split hairs: it was effectively an Apache hole. This is effectively an IIS hole.

The difference is that the CGI script was just for debugging, whereas Index Server performs a very important web-site function that would be missed if turned off.

If you feel this is still an unfair comparison because Apache doesn't ship with a search engine, feel free to point out any remote exploits in SWISH or other popular free-software search engines. If you find any, be sure to say when they occurred. Good luck!

that probably now regrets not selling to them for $125 million when he could

You bet your sweet ass he does!

$125 million (when he owned more of the company, I'll bet) or $11 million... hmmm, which would I choose?

"The Standard" just went bust.

We do have a friend or two in high places.

The "it's inevitable" argument is the one used by socialists when they're trying to disarm opponents. Odd to see it being used here, both because of the context and because it's been so thoroughly discredited.

Even if the control freaks can overcome the technical obsticals, the only way they can get sustainable legal support (anyone wanna bet on the DMCA being around in full force in 5 years?) is by convincing the voting public that they want the restrictions, and while that's relatively easy for the pollution-control devices the TR author cites, it's a lot harder to come up with a compelling argument for 'net controls. The odds against figuring out both the technical and legal sides are in freedom's favor.

You will still be able to record MP3 at 56bitrate, but of course WMA will be the default install. WMA will be defaulted to copy-protection, but can be removed with a checkbox (until the next version, methinks).

In any case, I switched to WMA a while back in a fit of MP3 fury -- but then after ripping 5 cds I realized that there was no Linux player. So now I use Ogg, Ogg, and more Ogg. 10GB and counting.

Borg or lost for words?
I wonder if he'll still be getting burned by IBM engineers in 2020?

http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-6849250.html? tag=mn_hd

For the paranoid out there, here's the plain URL:

http://video.cnet.com/cgi-bin/visearch?user=cnet_n ews&template=playhiasf.html&query=*&squery=+ClipID :0++VideoAsset:t080901_1130&inputField=&ccstart=15 015&ccend=99533&videoID=t080901_1130&value=default &which=1&old=yes&override=http://video.cnet.com:80 /cnet_news/template/override_config.js&overrideChe ck=no

Look no further then: "Code Red soda bubbling away"

Talking about rebooting - check this news.com video out.

Everybody but Bill Gates thinks it's pretty funny :)

Here's the link, for the lazy. ;-)

here is the story.

here is the story.

From http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-200-5756218.html, linked in the slashdot story:

The programming blueprints, or source code, for the kernel--the heart of Linux--is included on the DVD, Sony said. But the source code for a proprietary "runtime environment" that lets games play on the system is not.

I know its slashdot, but I can't believe being a blind, mad, and paranoid GPL zealot will still score you +5.

"Rambus revealed during the Infineon trial that it charges royalties of 3.5 percent on DDR SDRAM and 0.75 percent on SDRAM. "
Seems a little extreme, eh? What a waste of time patents can be...

Ironically, Windows is probably required to view this but here is a C|NET video clip of an IBM engineer ripping on Bill Gates right in front of him.

My favorite part is the little geek "high five" to the coworker next to him. Looks like they planned this.

This was reported by Reuters (as seen on CNET) on August 3rd, and pretty much on every news web site I read (except that I'm too lazy to hunt down the links).

I just thought that folks might want to know that /. is simply republishing week-old Reuters dispatches, and pretending that it's breaking news.

You are right, and CNet has posted a correction here.

Whatever...

Review: here

This is not a MSNBC story. It's a CNET authored story-- the original of which is here. It is inaccurate and short sighted to continue to give credit to a Microsoft owned network, but even more so in this particular case, where a conflict of interest might reasonably be suspected.

Paul writes, "Whether Netscape 6.1 can rally the Netscape faithful remains to be seen. While Netscape 6 encountered first delays and then scathing reviews, Microsoft assembled an overwhelming lead in the browser market."

You know Paul, that sounds strangely familiar. Those that forget history are "doomed" to repeat it. To add a little integrity to your article, you might also point out that the same was true in reverse when Microsoft started out with MSIE: Their first versions received scathing reviews (was usually LAUGHED at), while Netscape
assembled an overwhelming lead in the browser market.

There's a CNet story on the same news piece here: http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-6808673.html? tag=mainstry

Hooked up to my computer is a device which shoots ions onto a curved piece of glass. When I stop passing electrons to this device, and place a piece paper on it, the paper is pulled to it. Like gravity. My new energy source. I have documented my ion device in more detail here.

They know that if they can roll out XP and .NET before the district court can stop them it will be too late.

So it's completely predictable that they would have taken this step (and others) to try to delay the courts.

What I hadn't heard predicted, though, is that they also may ship XP next month! "Microsoft could send PC makers the final--or gold--code for Windows XP as early as Aug. 15 ... [and] would allow PC makers to sell systems with Windows XP installed in September."

Anything to beat the clock and dodge the bullet.

• AP on yahoo daily news
• C-Net News.com
• CBS Marketwatch

First off, you ping by downloading MacPing or WhatRoute.

Secondly, if you had to "constantly" rebuild desktops and delete preference files and reinstall the OS, you either had some amazingly clueless users, or must have been pretty worthless as a Mac support tech. Having to reinstall the Mac OS on any machine I ever took care of was considered "worst case." The Macs (including servers) at my last job hummed along so well, if they hadn't also had PCs there I probably would've gotten laid off because I had nothing to do.

IME, there are only two things you need to support Macs effectively-- a copy of Norton Utilities, and a book, preferably a thick one, to read between support calls.

~Philly

First off, you ping by downloading MacPing or WhatRoute.

Secondly, if you had to "constantly" rebuild desktops and delete preference files and reinstall the OS, you either had some amazingly clueless users, or must have been pretty worthless as a Mac support tech. Having to reinstall the Mac OS on any machine I ever took care of was considered "worst case." The Macs (including servers) at my last job hummed along so well, if they hadn't also had PCs there I probably would've gotten laid off because I had nothing to do.

IME, there are only two things you need to support Macs effectively-- a copy of Norton Utilities, and a book, preferably a thick one, to read between support calls.

~Philly

In 1997, Symantec partnered with Ziff Davis in launching the HealthyPC.com web site. It was a subscription service that allowed customers access to Norton Antivirus, a subset of Norton Utilities, and the then newly developed LiveUpdate product. I did web design for that launch.

The way the service worked is that the apps were downloaded and installed on the client side, but they could only be activated by a launch script from the server side, so a user had to log in to the HealthyPC.com subscriber area in order to use the tools.

Here are some pages that reference HealthyPC.com and pretty clearly show dates from 1997 (according to News.com, McAfee applied for the patent in 1998):

http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-318512.html
http://cypherpunks.venona.com/date/1997/04/msg0024 1.html
http://www8.zdnet.com/pcmag/insites/sod/sd970310.h tm
http://www.quantum.org/members/issues/1097/7875.ht m

Before that, there was a site offering similar services that was called TuneUp.com, but it ended up going through a few acquisitions before finally ending up as part of Symantec.

The only thing I've found to compare with it is the Acer TravelMate 610TXVi. It also has a slightly larger screen and hard drive than the iBook. A comparable iBook is about $100 less than the base TravelMate. However, the Acer name doesn't exactly inspire confidence for me. CNet recommends both as Editor's Choice models.

I'm curious as to whether anyone's had any experience (good or bad) with recent Acer models? Have they shaped up, or are they still low-quality bargain bin fodder?

Your wish is granted! FTC is investigating the Musicnet/Pressplay Douoploly as you read this.

The labels are starting to ask Why are we paying this Rosen woman a 1.1 million dollar salary? First the EU Investigation in June, this Boucher/Cannon bill, and now a FTC investigation. Not to mention that the FTC Finding of Price Fixing, or the 28 states lawsuit over the price fixing

The early adopters, who want the absolute best, regardless of cost, will pay a premium.

Those who want to wait a while will get a price break as newer processors come to market.

Those who are on a budget buy the really cheap units that are flooding the channel.

It's called economics. Specifically, a little thing called 'supply and demand'. ;-)

One thing has changed, though : AMD has driven prices down across the board by having a credible alternative to Celeron/PIII. That's called competition. That's also simple Economics.

So, what was the point of this article again? :-)

In other news, Intel just got slapped by analysts for preparing another price war with AMD : this time over P4 market share. Looks like 50% reductions in the P4 1.8Ghz are on the cards for September....they wouldn't be doing that if AMD wasn't around.

It seems Code Red not only duplicates itself, but duplicates articles that talk about it!! ..
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-6786199.html? tag=mn_hd
http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/internet/08/05/code.r ed.ap/index.html
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,45845, 00.html

and Ofcourse...
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/08/05/162022 0&mode=thread
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/08/05/043321 9&mode=thread

Sorry that link should have been to the FAQ referenced in the article. The FAQ's old (July 31), but the basics still apply.

From the article:

The FBI has dismissed using any hack-back tactic as well. "It is not something that we could consider," said spokeswoman Debbie Weierman. "It would basically be viewed as an unauthorized intrusion."

It's not clear from the article whether such an 'unauthorized intrusion' by a private citizen would be illegal, but it might be worth thinking about before you go riding out to do battle with the Red Worm.

That's odd... i saw a completely opposite reaction for some particularly annoying "features".

Taken from an article strangely linked to by someone trying to criticize Microsoft's removal of Java:

In a news conference, Sun executives said they were able to use Microsoft as a distribution tool to get Java into the hands of users when the software was in its infancy. Then Sun's lawsuit froze Microsoft's plans to modify Java for its own benefit, and Java became established in the meantime.

"I don't think we gave away anything. They're writing a check for $20 million. They're continuing to distribute an outdated version of the technology, but they can't use it for .Net," Sueltz said. "All in all, it's a very good day for Sun."

Sounds like Sun got exactly what they wanted, and it looks like just another attack on Microsoft because they're successful. They shouldn't include IE and should force users to do a big download to get a browser, but at the same time they should include Java (despite being restricted to using an ancient version, a "right" which Sun can revoke at any time) to save the user from doing a download. Wahhh!

Sun got an injunction to stop Microsoft distributing Java

This is blatently false -- it is you who is the fool or the liar. Microsoft has a seven year licence for their existing version of Java, and will continue to distribute it in the exact same way it was packaged in IE 4.01, IE 5.0, and IE 5.5 (downloaded as needed). Now stop spreading flamebait-ridden FUD.

But Cringely's real point is that Microsoft is a very powerful company with a long history of turning its own technical shortcomings into market strengths. Microsoft's PR machine is incredibly effective - witness the FUD that kicks into high gear any time MS announces anything.

It's also instructional to remember a few Microsoft projects that didn't go off as planned. Ever wonder why journalists never bring up those failed efforts, or points to the millions of wasted dollars MS has spent over the years on vaporware?

Remember how Microsoft Bob was going to "personalize" the computing experience? Well, it failed not once, but twice!. Remember how Chrome was going to "revolutionize the industry," according to the drooling press?

Because Microsoft is the 800-lb. gorilla of the software world, even when they fail, they get the benefit of the doubt. It comes with the territory. Also, because the Microsoft culture is fantatical about continuous improvement, they have a long history of sucking hard at v1, sucking at v2, becoming fairly usable at v3, and taking over the market by v4 and beyond.

Microsoft has been doing this long enough to realize an opportunity when they see one. Cringely is reminding us that unlike all of you Slashdot readers out there, Microsoft is driven not by desire to build cool, useful technology, but by the desire to control marketshare. That's the be-all, end-all of their existence.

So whether Cringely is correct about raw sockets or the demise of TCP/IP doesn't really matter. Almost every company that has gone toe-to-toe against Microsoft in a market segment has failed because they continually underestimate and miscalculate Microsoft's strengths (IBM, Novell, Apple, WordPerfect, Lotus).

Microsoft has an overarching vision of the computer marketplace that is far more evolved than any of their competitors, with the possible exception of Sun.

Microsoft remains unconcerned with business ethics, is unafraid of censure by the government, and wouldn't hesitate to use the ubiquitous of their own flawed products as an excuse to move the foundation of the Internet to a proprietary framework.

Microsoft doesn't give a shit about the history of the Internet and the spirit in which it was created. They don't give a shit about letting everyone in.

If Microsoft believes they can make the Internet a proprietary environment that they can control, they will work relentlessly toward that end.

I knew something this would happen. Y'all can bitch about Dell all you want (no, I didn't know that you could get Red Hat desktops or laptops, either), or about people being able to install it themselves, or whatever, but the fact is that this is a minor PR disaster for Linux and for Open Source.

I think the worse part is that the comments from Dell ("the productivity suites just aren't there"..."the biggest growth is on the server") are totally true. Sure, we all think that KOffice and Star Office are just grand, but the average consumer sure doesn't think so.

Hooray to Sun for their recent Gnome recent UI testing, and kudos to KDE and Jono Bacon for their new (less-formalized) UI testing via the KDE Usability Project. Let's hope that the result of this is Dell picking up Linux again in six months.

But in the meantime, let's not fool ourselves: this is bad.

-Waldo

--
All your .sig are belong to us!

Yes! In fact, they did it multiple times!

• The first time
• The second and third times

If there is one place where you don't want to be faking a demo it's in a court of law. If this doesn't show Microsoft's hubris, I don't know what does.

Fixed

Links

(Preview looked good... what's going on there?)

http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-6728520.html

I was thinking the same thing too, but then I thought where we'll be getting them MP3's from in the future if record companies successfully implement copy-protection technologies onto CDs to prevent us from ripping them? I guess that's why I still love and prefer vinyl to CDs.

You won't have to worry about it if you're an Adelphia customer... if they find you using KaZaa, they'll cut you off anyway and you won't have to worry about pop-up ads.