Companies decry government regulation and restrictions on the free market, and yet at the same time use those exact same "tools" of restrictions to subvert each other.
Maybe that's free market at it's best? Using all tools at your disposal. Sure makes things messy though, doesn't it?
I can't say IBM's finger pointing at Microsoft is terribly surprising though...
I work at an engineering consulting firm and we are experiencing the same challenges. This seems to effect schools (a major part of our business) and munis such as Jake's.
The analog option: We have had to suggest using a Comcast box per channel and then output the signal to one of these (requires account). This is then piped back into a bi-drectional CATV distribution amplifier and those same digital channels are now available on their analog counterparts. It requires a dedicated rack of equipment and is as expensive as the amount of channels you want to make available. And as Tisha points out, it's really only good for one building.
The digital option: Same procedure as above only you use one of these per channel. You get unencrypted digital QAM.
Let me just say that the problem is not that these are digital channels. The problem is that Comcast has chosen to encrypt the channels you're paying for. There is no other way around it unless you can convince Comcast to give you your channels in the unencrypted digital QAM format. If all you had to do was buy some generic digital cable tuners/converter boxes, or buy TVs with built-in digital tuners -- you'd be fine. But because Comcast ENCRYPTS THEIR CABLE TV CHANNELS... you can't.
Keep in mind that only the best WAPs can only handle so many clients at once! You're going to need to have multiple WAPs on multiple channels in your area to make this work.
...with the realization that conventional advertising no-longer works the way it once did --- companies are mining data to deliver targeted advertising to consumers.
I'm using Ubuntu 9.04 on my firm's office computer right now. I run AutoCAD in a virtual machine, and do all my other work with Opera/Evolution Mail (damn you exchange server!)/Open Office etc etc.
... Then again I am a tinker-er/enthusiast...
Besides the pleasure I get from obsessively compulsively tweaking a computer (and subsequently breaking it, and learning stuff), I like to relax with a video game. Until I can play Fallout 3 on Linux-- I won't be scrapping my dual-boot.
Wine (not the sig) just isn't good enough, and virtual machines just aren't fast enough (mainly because currently, none of them can directly take advantage of the host-os graphics card).
The fantastic Windows Classic theme has been removed completely and now you're forced to use wasteful themese where all windows have thick borders and fat title bars.
Start -> Run
"Services.msc"
Themes Service: Automatic/Manual/Disabled
Disabled.
And:
Windows Key + Pause/Break
Advanced System Settings
Performance -> Settings
Visual Effects
Adjust for best performance
I think the hardest thing about being "The Computer Guy" is that people stop taking the time to think through problems themselves and just ask you.
I couldn't agree more! However. They're still idiots.
The reason I know what I know today is because I WANTED to learn more about the items I interacted with. If you don't have the drive to discover for yourself chances are you won't even try if someone else knows the answer.
All the fun of solving a problem is getting there.
If you can convince manufactures and government to tighten up restrictions let me know.
I work for an engineering firm and there are "dark sky" requirements for many of the buildings/sites we engineer. We're constantly trying to spec the most economical fixture while meeting dark sky requirements.
It really should be in the best interest of the manufactures to make better fixtures; they'll get more of our (and other firms) business.
Honestly. Why not have the keyboard be it's own full resolution touch screen. That'd be hot beans. Have it display a digital keyboard... with neat GUI overlays. It' be like the Matrix!:)
Slashdot Mirror
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMThdnTRCWI
Can you imagine how wonderful the web would be if ADA requirements were enforced on all the bullshit Flash websites?
Looks like I'll be browsing in ADA mode all day long! (not that I don't already... *clicks on /b/*)
http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/64143
Companies decry government regulation and restrictions on the free market, and yet at the same time use those exact same "tools" of restrictions to subvert each other.
Maybe that's free market at it's best? Using all tools at your disposal. Sure makes things messy though, doesn't it?
I can't say IBM's finger pointing at Microsoft is terribly surprising though...
I will second this.
I work at an engineering consulting firm and we are experiencing the same challenges. This seems to effect schools (a major part of our business) and munis such as Jake's.
The analog option:
We have had to suggest using a Comcast box per channel and then output the signal to one of these (requires account). This is then piped back into a bi-drectional CATV distribution amplifier and those same digital channels are now available on their analog counterparts. It requires a dedicated rack of equipment and is as expensive as the amount of channels you want to make available. And as Tisha points out, it's really only good for one building.
The digital option:
Same procedure as above only you use one of these per channel. You get unencrypted digital QAM.
Let me just say that the problem is not that these are digital channels. The problem is that Comcast has chosen to encrypt the channels you're paying for. There is no other way around it unless you can convince Comcast to give you your channels in the unencrypted digital QAM format. If all you had to do was buy some generic digital cable tuners/converter boxes, or buy TVs with built-in digital tuners -- you'd be fine. But because Comcast ENCRYPTS THEIR CABLE TV CHANNELS... you can't.
My firm loves and adores Trapeze WAPs. You can get MIMO units that are PoE powered for far less than the competition *cough* *cough* Cisco.
We have one prominent client (an IT admin who runs a large school campus) who swears by Trapeze WAPs.
Check them out: link
Keep in mind that only the best WAPs can only handle so many clients at once! You're going to need to have multiple WAPs on multiple channels in your area to make this work.
CA CA CA CA COMBO!
Mod Parent UP!!!! (I'm out of mod points :(
I'll prefer to stay in wonderland. No matter how wonky it may be. *goes back to dinking around with his rooted-G1 running CyanogenMOD 4.1.7*
We knew how much you liked flyn'
...So we put a bee inside your bee. So you can fly while you're flyn'
--Xzibit
...with the realization that conventional advertising no-longer works the way it once did --- companies are mining data to deliver targeted advertising to consumers.
Nothing to see here.
Move along.
Thank you. (I'm not being sarcastic)
I've never thought about that expression before. I'll be sure to keep that link handy.
Oh and mgblst --- suck it.
What's even more amusing is the first result:
Why are Mac's So Expensive? - Yahoo! Answers
I could care less about whether or not macs are more expensive, or about commercial OSS prices.
I just want accurate results from a search engine.
Verizon. You then charge 5 dollars a month for 400 TEXT MESSAGE
Correct me if I'm wrong Slashdot.... but don't....
TEXT MESSAGES = DATA ?
And I'm not even going to go into how SMS is transmitted... it's a total racket.
Seriously. Fuck wireless providers. Especially Verizon.
Did I mention fuck Verizon?
I'm using Ubuntu 9.04 on my firm's office computer right now. I run AutoCAD in a virtual machine, and do all my other work with Opera/Evolution Mail (damn you exchange server!)/Open Office etc etc.
... Then again I am a tinker-er/enthusiast ...
Besides the pleasure I get from obsessively compulsively tweaking a computer (and subsequently breaking it, and learning stuff), I like to relax with a video game. Until I can play Fallout 3 on Linux-- I won't be scrapping my dual-boot.
Wine (not the sig) just isn't good enough, and virtual machines just aren't fast enough (mainly because currently, none of them can directly take advantage of the host-os graphics card).
The fantastic Windows Classic theme has been removed completely and now you're forced to use wasteful themese where all windows have thick borders and fat title bars.
Start -> Run
"Services.msc"
Themes Service: Automatic/Manual/Disabled
Disabled.
And:
Windows Key + Pause/Break
Advanced System Settings
Performance -> Settings
Visual Effects
Adjust for best performance
Done.
My bad.
I think the hardest thing about being "The Computer Guy" is that people stop taking the time to think through problems themselves and just ask you.
I couldn't agree more! However. They're still idiots. The reason I know what I know today is because I WANTED to learn more about the items I interacted with. If you don't have the drive to discover for yourself chances are you won't even try if someone else knows the answer. All the fun of solving a problem is getting there.
Just imagine what a spinning hourglass will feel like in your head.
...connect directly to the computer through my brain.
I just won't care.
I don't want to work or stand to get things done on a computer. I want to THINK it to make it happen.
It's called FIDONet. It's almost dead now
Kids...
It's not dead at all. I had no idea FIDONet nodes were so rampant with russian wives!
Fidonet.org --> Active Nodes = http://www.ftngate.net/fidonet/
If you can convince manufactures and government to tighten up restrictions let me know.
I work for an engineering firm and there are "dark sky" requirements for many of the buildings/sites we engineer. We're constantly trying to spec the most economical fixture while meeting dark sky requirements.
It really should be in the best interest of the manufactures to make better fixtures; they'll get more of our (and other firms) business.
Honestly. Why not have the keyboard be it's own full resolution touch screen. That'd be hot beans. Have it display a digital keyboard... with neat GUI overlays. It' be like the Matrix! :)