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Cebit 2004 Coverage

Koen writes "March the 18th, Teamhardware.com visited Cebit 2004, the largest IT fair in Europe. We made tons of pictures and gathered a lot of information. Topics of discussion: Intel, nVidia, ATI, XFX, Abit, Epox, Shuttle, DFI and more." Espectr0 writes "BBC News has an article with pictures of the new gadgets being shown at Cebit 2004. Some of them are: 3D screens, heads-up displays, all-in-one USB memory sticks and portable video players!"

112 comments

  1. New Technologies? by jg21 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I wonder if it's true that we've reached a technology plateau or were there fundamental new technologies on show. Anyone?

    1. Re:New Technologies? by MoonFog · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Most of the latest technologies are derivates of older ones. 3D screes, mobile phones with cameras etc etc. I guess it all comes down to how you define fundamental. Most of the gadgets are either as said derivatives or new places for old technology, for example a portable tv with hard-drive.

    2. Re:New Technologies? by ThogScully · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It sounds like you've got really high expectations for "new technology" or what qualifies as new. Given that, consider the last 5 great things you consider "new technology" and aks yourself how often they come out. Is it so unreasonable that there isn't an announcement every year about a new technology that you consider new?
      -N

      --
      I've nothing to say here...
    3. Re:New Technologies? by dealsites · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Yeah, the goods are just getting better. You can always improve an item by adding features, but I'l like to see some real new inventions/gadgets. TIVOs were pretty hot at first, now they got competition and HTPCs being built with free software. Wireless will be the latest thing to get integrated into everything. Wireless DVD players, home phones, hand-helds, etc. Soon if an electronic item doesn't have wireless it won't be able to compete.

      --
      Check here for the best price on tech gear. Sundays are crazy with all the new store offers.

    4. Re:New Technologies? by NeoThermic · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Remember, one can never say that we've made everything as its the unexpected inventions that change our world.
      Remember the quote from the patent office in 1899, something along the lines of 'Everything that can be invented has been invented'?

      Look at what we have now, 105 years after that quote. Also to those who never thought SMS would take over.

      There is only such thing as a percivable technology plateau. Everything that we see around us seems to be the end all. We can't see why we would realistly need 32 TB of ram for instance. But just leave it a good 5 years, and I'm sure that someone out there will say 'I need more than 32TB for running this'.

      Fundamental new technologies are being invented as we type and read this, we just don't know about them yet. Once its released, it has the oppertunity to change it all. Think about the AT -> ATX standerd.. and the new one [PTX?]. Once released, it should change everything.

      Who knows... mabey in 15 years time, rather than watch our character on the screen run around the UT world with a gun shooting at the other people, we will be immersed in this game, made so real its impossible to tell the diffrence.

      Who knows... that just might require 32 TB of ram...

      NeoThermic

      --
      Use my link above, or to view my server, NeoThermic.com
    5. Re:New Technologies? by jg21 · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Well there's an intriguing technology timeline that BT in the UK released for example, which for 2004 alone comes up with some pretty imaginative possibilities - it continues through to 2040 btw. Just wondered what at CeBIT comes close to any of these hypothetical inflection points that's all.

    6. Re:New Technologies? by jellomizer · · Score: 4, Insightful

      What were you expecting, the holodeck or something like that. Heck when the lightbulb was made I am sure people went. Why do we need this, our gas lamps work perfectly fine. Or when the car was first invented, wow thats kinda cool but our horses are still better. Technology and most any other types of advancements like art, music, etc... Are a process of derivation of one idea to the next. Lets find a way to take a picture, (the Camera), Lets find a way to make pictures move (the movie camera), Lets find a way to make the pictures in color (color film), Lets find a way to send pictures across radio frequencies, (TV), Ok now lets make that color (Color TV), Now lets find a way people can record their own movies for TV (The Camcorder), Lets make it smaller and cheaper, Now lets find a good way people can distribute their own movies (VCR), Lets make them cheaper, Lets improve the image quality on the screen (HDTV), Lets improve the ability of the VCR (TiVo),...

      Each step in the process in not a major change and people can usually take or leave the technology for a while to let it mature and having the other devices to give it extra value. Heck they said the same that you did back in the late 1800's that science and technology is about to plateau. But don't be suprised that you will show your grandkids your Old Apple G5 3Ghz or ultra small 64ghz laptop system and they call it an old, slow, big piece of junk, the way that we see the old mainframes today.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    7. Re:New Technologies? by GlasWolf · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I completely agree that the majority of the new gadgets and gizmos are either refinements or the merging of two technologies, but I'm surprised you put 3D screens in that category. It's a technology that could eventually drive a fundamental change in how we interface with computers - calling it derivative is a little unfair IMO.

    8. Re:New Technologies? by MoonFog · · Score: 1

      Yes, it can drive a fundamental change, but right now it isn't one imho. Right now you more or less use the same tv's and stuff for that. Fundamental change would be something like a hologram. That's 3D. Making a "regular" tv look like 3D (cause it sure as hell isn't REAL 3D) is not a fundamental change in my opinion.

    9. Re:New Technologies? by Espectr0 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Remember when your OS came in 5 1/4 disks?

      And now, some of then come in DVD?

      It's scary. Software programs will get so big that to a point humans won't be able to develop them.

      Now, a decent game takes near 3 years to develop, when those old commander keen games were done in 3 months

    10. Re:New Technologies? by Froggert · · Score: 2, Interesting

      As someone who works with portable technology all day, the next great technological leap in this area that I see is going to be making devices and technologies work together with better software.

      This, of course, has been promised for many years, but we've finally got a lot of the technology base required to make it seamless. On the way to a soccer game with two coworkers, I can now receive my office email on my smartphone, check the traffic conditions and decide which route to take.

      In a year or two (or three), I'd expect that new cars would automatically detect that I've got a bluetooth phone, and use a standardized api to communicate back and forth. If a phone call comes in, the radio will turn itself down, and if I pull over to answer it, the radio will function as a speakerphone. What about if I have location services on my phone (and these are coming), and a GPRS net connection? I should be able to use voice command to tell the phone to download directions from here to X, and then playback those directions over the radio.

      My cellphone already tracks my location, what if that also functioned like instant messaging apps, and let me know when one of my friends was online and somewhere nearby? I'm headed to the gym, and so are Bob and Sue. Open a quick push to talk session, and ask them if they want to meet up by the weight bench?

      I head home, and now my cellphone functions as a remote control for all the bluetooth enabled components in my stereo and it also recognizes that I'm home, and automatically sets up call forwarding to my home number, which is voice over ip based. I want to watch a movie stored on my pc, but that should be transparent to me, because it's all wirelessly connected.

      It's pretty easy to go on forever with scenarios like these, all of which are possible today, but only with custom written software. In a few years, this should all be happening automatically, or with a few clicks and button presses.

      --
      What, me worry?
    11. Re:New Technologies? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I found the 3D printer rather interresting.
      (yes, it can mesh out real world objects, mad in some
      funny plastic looking material.)

    12. Re:New Technologies? by BeerCat · · Score: 1

      In a year or two (or three), I'd expect that new cars would automatically detect that I've got a bluetooth phone, and use a standardized api to communicate back and forth. If a phone call comes in, the radio will turn itself down, and if I pull over to answer it, the radio will function as a speakerphone. What about if I have location services on my phone (and these are coming), and a GPRS net connection? I should be able to use voice command to tell the phone to download directions from here to X, and then playback those directions over the radio.

      The problem is not that someone won't integrate it into a car, the problem is that it won't be done well. To give an example: when I get a hire car, I usually set up 6 radio stations that I can flip between before starting the journey. On most cars, it is the same as it has been for the past 10-15 years. On some, though, the multi-function display means that not only is setting up radio stations a pain, but changing from one to the other is also a pain, as you have to press the multi-function for "radio", then press the correct radio station before the display reverts back to the default.
      The possibility for completely screwing up the interface to make downloading the directions easy, rather than menu>sub-menu>sub-sub-menu>choose option (while not driving off the raod) is too high to be comfortable.

      --
      "She's furniture with a pulse"
    13. Re:New Technologies? by BeerCat · · Score: 1

      Fundamental change would be something like a hologram.

      Like this?

      --
      "She's furniture with a pulse"
    14. Re:New Technologies? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, there's no more technology to be had.

      aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahahahahahahahah

    15. Re:New Technologies? by Trejkaz · · Score: 2, Funny

      But perhaps more importantly, were Infinium Labs there to show off a real Phantom? :-/

      --
      Karma: It's all a bunch of tree-huggin' hippy crap!
    16. Re:New Technologies? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Think about the AT -> ATX standerd.. and the new one [PTX?].

      Otherwise a good post, but the new form factor is not "PTX", it's "BTX" after "Backward Technology", the long-awaited follow-up to "Advanced Technology". You see, everything is backward in a BTX motherboard and case: the cards go in upside down compared to ATX, the mobo is British-esquely on the right-hand side, the CPU goes low and to the front near the air intake (to properly heat up the rest of the system in cold winter nights), and rumor has it that the 5.25" drives are placed on rear of the chassis for no reason whatsoever.

      That's what I *heard*.

    17. Re:New Technologies? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There was something quite interesting. Frauenhofer (the invetors of MP3) presented an internet service, where you can hum or whistle a song. It is then converted to MIDI and sent to your mobile phone, where it can be used as a ring tone. On their stand I could whistle a song, enter my mobile phone number in a browser window and a few seconds later I've got a short message with the ring tone.

      Because huming and whistling is free of charge, they don't have to pay fees to the music industry - even when you whistle a popular song. You can also share your creation with other people.

      The consequences are clear. In the not so far future the music industry will use its power to enfoce a law that makes humming and whislting illegal.

  2. Wonderful by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'm no troll, buy maybe a bit off topic.

    It's wonderful how the consumer technology market is always ahead.
    But about the technology to help save humanity(eco, stupidity, famin.. etc)!

    I know that people rarely think about these kind of things, let alone do something about it, cuz we have better things to do, but one day all these things that we push to the side will bite us when we least expect it.

    If you don't believe me, just wait and see!

    1. Re:Wonderful by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful
      You can't fight stupidity. A stupid human will still remain one, even if he has a machine doing all the thinking for him.

      Famine is pretty much caused by there being too damn many of us. It's hard to fight this, as well (mass murders aren't a solution).

      As for ecological problems, no technology by itself isn't enough. A drastic change in mentality is also required -- one that would make people understand that this planet is not for us alone. That we need all those other species as well. That even though we're different from other animals in many ways, we are not the "crown" of the nature, we don't rule it -- we're a part of it.

      And yes, this is going to be the hardest part.

    2. Re:Wonderful by MisanthropicProgram · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Unfortunately, a disaster has to occur for the majority of people to take notice. For example, until the environmental issues start to cause disasters, like sea levels rising and flooding NY City, nobody will really take the threat seriously. Yes, there are some S. Pacific islands starting to feel the effects, but until it becomes worse, very few people will care. By then, I'm afraid, it'll be too late. :(

    3. Re:Wonderful by Justice8096 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Hmm... if famine was truly caused by there being too many of us, then there is no reason for dieting, and no one would complain about Genetically Engineered crops, or organically grown crops. Everyone would be equally hungry. Oh, and there would be no subsidies for farmers not to grow crops.
      One day, famine may be due to overpopulation. Right now, it is due to politics or isolation of a population. Or both. Honestly, human life isn't that important to us. Neither is animal life.
      Put it all into perspective - let's say that we learn to dampen our effect on this planet - will this stop the next ice age? Will this stop the ice caps from significantly melting? Will this stop the next asteroid or comet from causing a massive extinction event? And if any of those things happen, won't we still have massive extinctions?
      What we can do is buy time for ourselves, like I am by putting myself on a low-saturated fat diet. This won't stop me from dying - it'll just decrease the odds of me dying now. I can still get hit by a car, suffer an anurism or die of asthma, or some expression of my bodies inherent desire to reject its parts.
      The only way for me to get out of this situation would be to find a way to house my personality elsewhere. The way out for humanity is to find housing elsewhere, in a place with less chance of becoming inhospitable to us. That needs technology.

  3. Re:So, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    We can hope. We don't need a democrat in office, thanks.

  4. largest IT fair in Europe.... by Uzull · · Score: 5, Informative

    "Cebit 2004, the largest IT fair in Europe." Funny. Here we say that it is the largest IT fair in the world (www.heise.de) !

    1. Re:largest IT fair in Europe.... by Sique · · Score: 3, Informative

      It is the largest IT fair of the world, if you count the numbers of the exhibitors, the number of the visitors, the area of the fair and the gross yearly revenue of all participating entities.

      --
      .sig: Sique *sigh*
    2. Re:largest IT fair in Europe.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Here we say that it is the largest IT fair in the world (www.heise.de) !

      European IT fairs aren't included in the World Series so it only counts as the largest in Europe.

      Better luck next time.

    3. Re:largest IT fair in Europe.... by drowstar · · Score: 0

      on all other scales however ...

    4. Re:largest IT fair in Europe.... by Sique · · Score: 1

      It's definitely lacking in "press coverage in the U.S." ;)

      --
      .sig: Sique *sigh*
  5. Microsoft Targets Portable Porn Market by amigoro · · Score: 5, Funny
    Last Image

    Here is the pocket multimedia player we have heard so much about recently. Sporting an 80 GB hard drive, this beauty can store and play all your pictures, music files and video files, (in Windows WMV format).

    Nuff Said.

    Moderate this comment
    Positive: Offtopic Flamebait Troll Redundant
    Negative: Insightful Interesting Informative Funny

    --


    Nothing to see here
    1. Re:Microsoft Targets Portable Porn Market by dmayle · · Score: 1

      Wow... Now I can have Family Guy with me everywhere I go... :)

  6. Nicest thing for me is the nanode by Space+cowboy · · Score: 4, Interesting

    a gorgeous box using the nano-itx layout referred to earlier on /. I think a set-top box is coming my way :-)

    Simon

    --
    Physicists get Hadrons!
    1. Re:Nicest thing for me is the nanode by multiplexo · · Score: 2, Funny

      You darn kids and your mini/nano ITX based HTPCs! In my day we had real HTPCs, the VAX 11/720 HTPC and the Sun 6/690 HTPC with IPI drives. None of this namby, pamby ITX stuff.

      --
      cheap labor conservatives - they want to keep you hungry enough to be thankful for minimum wage.
    2. Re:Nicest thing for me is the nanode by swb · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Ya know, back in the day when everyone had a massive wooden console TV, you probably COULD have stashed a VAX or something inside the cabinet.

      Some people I knew had a big (25"?) TV in a massive wooden console with a phonograph and stereo speakers. I think the whole cabinet was like 5 feet wide by 3 feet deep. Wouldn't need some lame nano-itx case for that.

    3. Re:Nicest thing for me is the nanode by Space+cowboy · · Score: 1, Interesting

      [shudder] Thanks! You've just reminded me what it was like to share a 1-mips machine with 70 other people, running an abortion of an operating system, and with a C compiler that made up code for you when you had syntax errors.

      God, I'm going for a lie down!

      Simon.

      --
      Physicists get Hadrons!
    4. Re:Nicest thing for me is the nanode by Trailwalker · · Score: 1

      I have often wondered if the acceptable convergence device will be a tv/pc/pvr/et.al in one huge box ala the old TV consoles. The female acceptance factor will more easily be appeased with such a set up. Cables and wiring would be out of sight, and a piece of well finished wood looks nice in most homes.

    5. Re:Nicest thing for me is the nanode by swb · · Score: 1

      ...which is why televisions often were sold in console format. You didn't want to spoil a "furnished" room with a bunch of plastic. In the latter part of the 1970s, people just accepted the idea of a TV as a device unto itself and consoles went out, and the TV itself become a kind of modern design itself.

      We've almost looped back completely with the rise of the armoir, which is a kind of do-it-yourself console TV/stereo.

    6. Re:Nicest thing for me is the nanode by BlackShirt · · Score: 1

      What does this picture prove? :)

      http://www.mini-itx.com/news/nanode/images/nanod e- 08-large.jpg

  7. Not fundementally new but... by ThomasFlip · · Score: 1

    I think that new 17 by 17 cm motherboard is certainly deserves merit. If it's as modular as a normal sized motherboard I think it would be useful. They only problem is that there probably isn't anything available to put on it yet. I wonder if any new standards will come out of it as well.

    --
    If the dollar is an "I owe you nothing", then the Euro is a "Who owes you nothing." - Doug Casey
    1. Re:Not fundementally new but... by toast0 · · Score: 1

      17 x 17 is old... the new one is 12 x 12... it looks like it uses laptop parts, and isn't terribly modular. 1 sodimm memory slot, and 1 mini-pci slot. Has a lot of crap built in though.

  8. Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's not as if there's a big difference between a democrat and a republican. If they really had such huge differences between their world views as it's being painted by some, then how the hell could your country be as stable as it is? You make it sound as if there was a civil war about to break out, But if you look at what Kerry says and what Bush says, then they're saying mostly the same things, except for minor differences. For example, both are for banning gay marriages, the only difference being that Kerry is talking about a "limited ban". And so on.

  9. Tivo is not an improvement by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "on the screen (HDTV), Lets improve the ability of the VCR (TiVo),..."

    Tivo is not an improvement. This great idea has been crippled by DRM, which prevents me from doing what I want with my own recorded material.

    Want to record the Superbowl and put it on the shelf for later viewing? Easy with a VCR (or a DVD recording console). Tough with TiVo.

    1. Re:Tivo is not an improvement by nsuccorso · · Score: 0
      Want to record the Superbowl and put it on the shelf for later viewing?

      Nope!

  10. 3D screens will be by Lakedemon · · Score: 1

    the next big leap after flat screens, if they manage to make them affordable and harmless to the long term for your vision.
    Can't wait to work on a 3D desktop or to play Quake-like on these babies...

    1. Re:3D screens will be by Professor+Cool+Linux · · Score: 1

      the next big leap after flat screens, if they manage to make them expencive and harmful to the long term for your vision.
      Can't wait to work on a 3D desktop or to play MUD-like on these babies...

  11. Apple G5? Out of date by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    " you will show your grandkids your Old Apple G5 3Ghz"

    Show anyone this, and they will see that it is an old slow piece of junk. This languid system is easily outrun by 4 ghz PC's. Apple always has a speed lag: their processor/system speed is always "what PC's ran at last year".

  12. No evidence of manmade global warming by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ", there are some S. Pacific islands starting to feel the effects, but until it becomes worse, very few people will care."

    And if they care, so what? They will pray? That is all they can do. There is no evidence of any human connection to global warming.

    1. Re:No evidence of manmade global warming by darius779 · · Score: 3, Funny

      This may or may not be true, I am not sure. However, I am a Master of the Obvious, and common sense tells me that the old saying "Don't shit where you eat" also applies on a global scale. How about "Don't shit where what you eat - eats"? Hmm.. unless it is a mushroom.. then I guess its ok

    2. Re:No evidence of manmade global warming by MisanthropicProgram · · Score: 2, Insightful

      There is no evidence of any human connection to global warming.
      Mr. President,
      So we should sit around and do nothing until there's proof of causation? Then, again, it'll be too late. While by reducing CO2 and other polutants, we'll make the environment better: less polution, less repiratory illnesses, cleaner air, etc, etc, etc... So, so what if there's no link - we'll still benefit.

    3. Re:No evidence of manmade global warming by canajin56 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      It doesn't matter that we'll all benifit, that doesn't excuse fraud. Humans have raised the amount of CO2 and hydrocarbons by a miniscule amount, 0.6%. A single volcano erruption unleashes more char, ash, sulphur, CO2, CO, and hydrocarbons, than all of human history. Also, the sun has been getting hotter for the past decade...perhaps that has something to do with the rising surface temperatures. Further more, we already know that Earth's climate has dramatic cycles. We are still coming out of the last ice age, so a consistent rise in temperature is to be expected.

      Don't get me wrong, I agree with reducing pollution. I don't want to breath smog. Coal power contributes to acid rain and mercury poisoning. But those very problems should be the issue.

      --
      ASCII stupid question, get a stupid ANSI
  13. But are there any... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    ...booth babes as hot as Ceren?

    1. Re:But are there any... by ibmman85 · · Score: 1

      he she is pretty hot.. (im 18 though) i dont think shes that young looking

    2. Re:But are there any... by Whumpsnatz · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I had the same reaction at first; looks young. But it can be hard to tell, and holy freakin' jehosephat, that bod in that outfit is hot!

      What I don't understand, is why those guys in the background are ignoring her. (Or maybe she IS just a kid, and they know it).

    3. Re:But are there any... by lpret · · Score: 2, Funny

      wtf? she's not that hot. How about the PHP girls?

      --
      This is my digital signature. 10011011001
  14. Nope by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    the EU is harsh on pedophiles and child pornography

  15. in other news: by imsabbel · · Score: 1

    Biotech breakthrough creates biggest apple ever :)

    --
    HI O WISE PRINCE. WHT TOOK U SO DAM LONG?
  16. Re:frosty chocolate milk shakes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Even ignoring the issue of how the flying shark is going to breathe in air, the croc has a clear advantage in maneuverability. The shark will have a huge turning radius, and after one miss the croc can stay inside it. Additionally, if the croc takes the battle to land the shark could easily crash into things. The croc's numerous limbs also provide an advantage in close-quarters grappling. The shark's superior velocity will only go so far.

  17. Shut up! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Only Americans may claim to have the biggest fair in the world. USA! USA! USA!

    1. Re:Shut up! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah... and it's probably in Texas.

    2. Re:Shut up! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Only Americans may claim to have the biggest fairy in the world. USA! USA! USA! "

      "Only Americans may claim to have the biggest liar in the world. USA! USA! USA! "

      Answer me this why is it that the Etat-Unians always refer to themself as american , why are they so ashame of there own country ?

      Answer me this why are the Etat-Unians calling the French coward , when in the last two world war the only one who did not show up until the war whas won whas the people of the united states ?

    3. Re:Shut up! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Only Americans may claim to have the biggest fairy in the world. USA! USA! USA! "

      When Michael Jackson bolts, he'll likely go to France. Then France will have the biggest fairy.

      "Only Americans may claim to have the biggest liar in the world. USA! USA! USA! "

      We'll be happy to export Bill Clinton, too.

      "Answer me this why is it that the Etat-Unians always refer to themself as american"

      Because there is no place called "Etat Unia" which sounds like the name of a bone in Tweety Bird.

      "when in the last two world war the only one who did not show up until the war whas won whas the people of the united states ? "

      Yes, the war was over. Japan had established a new order in the East, and the Nazis had dominion over Western Europe. Damn Yankees had to go and upset things!

  18. "iPod killer" by irokitt · · Score: 1

    This is the supposed iPod-killer we've been hearing about for a while. Looks like Microsoft is focusing on video rather than music, since I doubt they could get something like iTunes to work (MSN Tunes? I don't think so...). Frankly, I'm not about to buy either, but there you have it.

    --
    If my answers frighten you, stop asking scary questions.
    1. Re:"iPod killer" by BeerCat · · Score: 1

      Looks like Microsoft is focusing on video rather than music

      The picture suggests that it is Creative making the hardware (but taking the "easy" option of WMV rather than, say MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 (or [insert fave video format here])

      --
      "She's furniture with a pulse"
  19. MOD THIS SPAM DOWN by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    this is spam mod it down

  20. Re:This is Europe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Apparently you haven't met a European woman since the Dark Ages, right? Why are Americans so unbelievably ignorant about Europe so that they honestly and truly believe that women do not shave their legs or wherever? I've heard about "ignorance is a bliss," but this is getting ridiculous. Get rid of your prejudice.

  21. Here is MY coverage by Zone-MR · · Score: 4, Informative

    Just posted this entry on my blog.

  22. knoppix 3.4 by sewagemaster · · Score: 4, Informative

    this is the same Cebit fair where knoppix announces/showcases their 3.4 release (Kernel 2.6 included in the bootCD).

    1. Re:knoppix 3.4 by chronicon · · Score: 1

      I am so ready for this release to be posted for download! I check knopper.net and the torrent tracker every day hoping to see it ready for the masses, but no luck thus far. Looks like it's on hold for the general public until Cebit is over. If anyone has information on when it will be available to the rest of us, please let us know.

    2. Re:knoppix 3.4 by Magada · · Score: 0

      It's also the same cebit where lotsa people came to showcase all kinds of software. If it were up to me, i'd mod the original article "grossly uninformative" Sadly, it isn't

      --
      Something bad is coming when people are suddenly anxious to tell the truth.
  23. Trolling with Europe as bait [slightly offtopic] by ThufirHawat · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Buddy,

    you are really a tiny weeny budding troll, if that's the best you can come up with.

    For your enlightenment, here are some successful trolling strategies:

    - after some technical nonsense, start piling heaps of dung on (OS, application, development technique, whatever);
    - argue successfully, using a spelling checker, that some (group, nation, county, race, gender) is superior to ditto;
    - take a quote out of context from a previous poster and use it to antagonize another poster;
    - study !!!

    Now, be a good baby troll, brush your teeth and go to bed. This discussion is for grown-ups...

    ThufirHawat (from Europe, where we have some 500-pounds trolls)

    --
    Thufir Hawat
    Part-time Mentat
  24. You are on topic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "ThufirHawat (from Europe, where we have some 500-pounds trolls)"

    We were talking about French women. This is not off topic at all!

  25. Re:This is Europe (main difference) by datalife · · Score: 5, Funny

    Look here to see the main difference between Europe and USA.
    It's no goatse.cx link..

    --
    There are only 10 types of people in the world: Those who understand binary and those who don't.
  26. The one on the left is a man by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The one on the left is a man, and the one on the right is Fergy, a British citizen. You left out this important fact. Tsk tsk.

    1. Re:The one on the left is a man by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The individual in the left image is obviously secure in their own sexuality. Nothing wrong with that picture.

      The one on the left is a man, and the one on the right is Fergy, a British citizen

      I'd have my face blurred out as well if I was photographed sitting so close to a chunky yank...

  27. HDV missed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hmm, no mention of HDV goodies, definitely some there. Sony announced their HDV(vapour)cam

    http://camcorderinfo.com/content/sony-hdv-protot yp e-camcorder-03_17_04.htm

  28. Re:third at best by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    nutz!

  29. Re:This is Europe by jonastullus · · Score: 1

    i know, don't feed the trolls, but this much ignorance DOES actually hurt me! "pro-Saddam-Hussein rallies" if you had spent just a few minutes actually informing yourself about those rallies you would now be less likely to appear so utterly stupid! the rallies were actually AGAINST war and in the US there were actually similar rallies! maybe attacking a country without provocation ISN'T such a great thing after all! "massive 'Down with the Jews!' rallies" i don't find it fair to judge a whole continent on some minor rallies! sure, europe has minor problems with racism/xenophobia, but so have other countries! the USA have their fair share of neo-nazis and hooligans... "despite the fact that socialism was responsible for the mass execution of tens of millions" yep, you are SOOO right! make sure not to mix up the socialism of former russia with the socialism practiced in the rest of europe. were you to read the papers from time to time you might find out that they have little to nothing to do with each other! i could go on, but if you'd care, i wouldn't have to anyhow! just get an education, jethr0

  30. Motorola pricing for their new phones... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Man, did anyone see the pricing for the Motorola Windows phones? $920 in the US for the benefit of running Windows?!?! Give me a Linux phone any day. Estimated cost: $50 for the parts :-)

  31. Everything that can be invented.... by D.+J.+Keenan · · Score: 4, Informative
    Remember the quote from the patent office in 1899, something along the lines of 'Everything that can be invented has been invented'?
    This letter to The Economist gives different perspective on that old story:
    It is an historical myth that the commissioner of America's Patent Office recommended it be abolished in 1899. Rather, he asked for a funding increase because of the heavy load of applications, arguing that anyone who would deny him additional funding must believe that "everything that can be invented has been invented."

    It's interesting, too, to see how little times have changed since then--the patent office saying that it was overloaded and needed more resources.

  32. I am not there... by dunkelfalke · · Score: 1

    ...but my boss and the software I have written are.
    And in the middle of the presentation on friday it crashed.

    So I sit here, read slashdot and wonder how long I'll keep my job.

    --
    Conservatism: The fear that somewhere, somehow, someone you think is your inferior is being treated as your equal.
    1. Re:I am not there... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, I feel sorry for you. I known it will be of no help, but this happens very often.
      IMHO it is a derivative of the Murphy's law : when there is a sneaky bug hidden, it will get out during presentation. I use it as a check point in my own software engineering process : if everything goes well while presenting, so the stuff may be pretty stable :)
      Maybe you could argue to your boss that testing was unsufficient, due to pressures to meet the deadline. I guess I am not far of the reality saying that, isn't it ?

  33. Re: Fave Video Format by amigoro · · Score: 1
    That would be DivX

    Moderate this comment
    Negative: Offtopic Flamebait Troll Redundant
    Positive: Insightful Interesting Informative Funny

    --


    Nothing to see here
  34. PVRs by FireFury03 · · Score: 1

    I understand that MythTV is being demonstrated at CeBIT by Axel Thimm (the AT-RPMS guy). Good to see these projects getting some publicity.

  35. Re:This is Europe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Dont insult the American for the stupid comment made by the stupid Etat-Unians ...

  36. You've actually hit an unknown pride ... by Qbertino · · Score: 1

    ... and patriotisim spot on me:

    You got it wrong. It's the largest IT fair in the _world_.

    Things I consider interessting for foreign visitors to Hannover, if you have some time of you might want to check them out:

    1) Food: "Das Pfannenkuchen Haus" in the city 'district' Calenberg. German style Pancakes and good german beer in original-stle potterware beermugs. And patented beer-scales. Go and see what I mean. :-)

    2) Recreational: Herrenhauser Gaerten (The Herrenhaus Gardens): A large baroque style Garden complex north west of central Hannover. They've got opening times - check with the tourist information for details. Just before it are the Georgengarten and the university. Also good enough for a walk.

    3) Maschsee. The towns semi-artificial lake. Runners and Skaters paradise. Right on the townside shore is the Sprengel Museum, specialised in modern Art. They have an large awesome Richard Deacon piece in their collection - if you're lucky it's in exibit.

    3) A more quiet and comfortable shopping area is the pedestrian zone 'Lister Meile', leading straight north away from downtown. You can actually walk from 'Kroepcke' all the way under the Main Train Station all the way through a subterran mall to the 'Raschplatz' (some nice cinemas focues on more indepentent and european movies) all the way to 'Lister Tor', where the 'Lister Meile' starts. Here a lot of the old prewar buildings are still intact. Nice old europen town architecture here - could be interessting for people from the US.

    5) Downtown itself. Kroepcke being the center, you'll notice all the crappy 70ties architecture around you. The old stuff was bombed during the 2nd world war. The opera is still intact though. If your standing at Kroepcke, the remaining old town is to the south, just behing that you'll find Calenberg and the afore mentioned 'Pfannenkuchen Haus'. All this in walking distance, conected by pedestrian zones.

    Note that Hannover is a somewhat compact large city. You can reach each spot by bike in roughly half an hour. It's large enough to offer anything you can think of but small enough to be centralized. If you have access to a car you may want to take a ride south, something like 40-50 kilometers you'll come to the norhtern outskirts of the Harz 'Mountains'. Some very nice medieval castles in that area (again, cool for RPG afiliated geeks, US visitors and... everybody else aswell actually), and a freeckimbing area too (The 'Ith' ridge).

    Have a nice time in Hannover.

    I studied in Hannover. It's a very nice City and I miss it (I currently reside in Krefeld, west germany) which is the crappiest town of the country and is world second only to Bombay in terms of dirtyness.

    --
    We suffer more in our imagination than in reality. - Seneca
    1. Re:You've actually hit an unknown pride ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Have you ever seen Paris during a civic-authorities strike ? It gets twice as dirty as Bombay, and these strikes happen once every couple of months.

      And let's not talk about London !

  37. Re:This is Europe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is Europe, which still elects socialist governments, despite the fact that socialism was responsible for the mass execution of tens of millions of Europeans in the 20th century.

    and how about that other non-socialist party in 20th century, responsible for


    At 11:02 a.m., August 9, 1945 an atomic bomb exploded 500 meters above this spot. The black stone monolith marks the hypocenter.
    The fierce blast wind, heat rays reaching several thousand degrees, and deadly radiation generated by the explosion crushed, burned and killed everything in sight and reduced this entire area to a barren field of rubble.
    About one-third of Nagasaki City was destroyed and 150,000 people killed or injured, and it was said at the time that this area would be devoid of vegetation for 75 years.

    (Large numbers of people died in the following years from the effects of radioactive poisoning.)


    and dont give me any excuse to get the hiroshima numbers ok?

  38. Re:This is Europe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yes, the Japanese government forced this to happen. They were not socialist. However, the 250,000 that the "Empire of the Sun" caused to be killed here is still rather small compared to the socialist death tolls.

  39. Labour problems by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Have you ever seen Paris during a civic-authorities strike ? It gets twice as dirty as Bombay, and these strikes happen once every couple of months"

    Solve this by firing those lazy and greedy public "servants" who refuse to show up for work. If they wanted the jobs anyway, they would be working at them. This would solve the problem quickly.

    Striking to get a fair shake from corporate fatcats is one thing. Overpaid "public servants" striking to extort more money from the average Jacques is another.

  40. Re:This is Europe (main difference) by jo42 · · Score: 1


    You have no idea how right you are. Over 60% of Americans are obese. Man, when those Aliens come down to eat us all, the Yanks will go first!

  41. Re:This is Europe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Its the denial at its best.
    Like some do the same about the holocaust.

    The non-socialist party was the truman's on power, you you fucker moron.

    Americans are the responsible for more human killed on a single day in less than 5 minutes than any other country ever EVER EVER in 300000000 years, and that was only 6 decades ago.

    They get the privileg to be in the 1st position with hiroshima atomic bombings 140.000 and 2nd place with nagasaki's one, with 70.000!