Having read both patents I can only say that I am awestruck.
This all falls in line with making legals arguments based upon the definition of is.
Now I know Clinton doesn't have an original thought in his head. He created his whole legal defense by following the criteria set forth by the Patent Office!
They are both hiding behind a mask. Afraid to come out in the community.
The reason you get burned here so much is because your "articles" have nothing to do with news, which is what this page is about. Worse, your articles have spelling errors, grammar errors, and worse you have a tendency to drop a word in mid-sentence... leaving us to figure it out.
I have yet to one newsworthy item from you, all I see is drivel that explains why you don't write for the other guys anymore.
It would be best if Slashdot had a special John Katz editorial page. That way the news page would not be cluttered with all the noise. That way we could just forget you exist.
Your assumption about "hidden source" is really unrealistic. Just because Linux is open-source is no reason everyone else has to be.
People use a paticular OS because it helps them accomphlish what they need to do. People also use alternative OSes for other reasons like : being different, makes them feel cool, or because they have a physcological defect which the apply to a company they claim to hate - and hence use someone elses product).
I have Be, Linux, and Win98. Of the three Be was the easiest to install. Its an efficient system which works nice. It does have some annoyances but most operating systems do. The Linux system suffers from inconsistent variations of the GUI, and relying on newsgroups for "help" is a pathetic endeavor. Win98 - well - its just Microsoft's normal bloated processor reducer.
Granted Be does not have apps appearing stores, hell, its not even in stores. Guess what, up until recently neither was Linux. I still haven't seen one store selling a stand-alone app for Linux either. (all there is are the OS boxes)
Be needs apps, but so does Linux. Hence the only difference between the two is the latter is the Microsoft buzzword of the week.
Well at least MS doesn't back down. Remove a feature from Windows? Who does the Record industry think they have in their back pockets? The Justice Department? NOT!
As for preventing copying/burning of downloaded songs. The process probably involves a one-use key that the software which burns the music logs or destroys once the copy is made. Most likely anything downloaded by this means cannot be burned by other software, until the CD is made. Then the CD could be copied forever. However, if they get the drive manufacturers in line they could put a special code on each CD that causes software to not copy the disk.
There is one company that does the same thing right now, however what they are doing is encoding a non-audible digital code in the whole song track - they liken it to a watermark. It means that if they find multiple copies of the song somewhere they can trace it to the originator.
I don't think this will supplant MP3. Its just a "legal" method to deliver copyrighted work. It could open a whole new market and actually be a good thing. Why? How many CDs have you bought for just one or two songs? (there are a lot of one-hit wonder bands).
Seeing that MP3 doesn't go away, this new delivery system won't hurt us. Its not like its legal to distribute MP3s you make by copying songs. Amazing as it seems, that seems to be what most people are suggesting.. that the music industry is evil because it wants to protect its rights which means its money.
This isn't news. Hell, maybe it is to the those unfamiliar with JK. Maybe it will cause some Amway maggots to get him into the trade.
If he wanted us to think he's a gullible idiot then he succeeded.
Get a spell checker, get a grammar checker, and get off the news board.
Really, sorry about the language.. but this is the least newsworthy item I have seen yet...
(maybe its a script for the next Porkys movie?) .. . Hey You! Off My Planet!
If the GUI is difficult, its not written right.
on
CNN article on Linux
·
· Score: 1
Your comparison is laughable.
Scripting within a GUI should be no different than any other method. Its all dependant on the scripting language definition.
If something is harder to do using a GUI then one of the following is true...
1. The GUI is designed wrong. 2. You don't how to use it.
I cannot believe the number of people who claim the command line is easier for new users... get real. In some cases there are things that can be done quickly via the command-line - BY people who have the time to devote to learning it.
If something is quicker by the command line there is no reason an icon cannot be constructed to perform the same task at a click (even bundled with a dialog asking for the variable data).
Its obvious that Apple realizes that they will not be able to sell the most machines equipped with Firewire, let alone machines with the best support and most "compatible" peripheals.
So, seeing Ms and Intel attempts to use Firewire Apple just did the logical thing. If you can't make money off your invention with your own machines, let the other guy do it.
Still, it won't help establish the use of Firewire. Unless of course one of these big companies gets into a cross-agreement with them and makes machines without a per port cost.
Amazing... got to nuke the non-in-crowd eh?
on
Linuxberg opens
·
· Score: 1
I am shocked... not even a fifty comments and someone has to knock the new site in town.
Be glad they decided to join, and just because they don't use *your* favorite database of information is no way detracts from their site.
Information is provided on the internet in many forms. It is up to the consumer to determine which method of delivery they prefer.
As they always say, if you don't like it, go elsewhere.
But it is true. MS Windows is one of the cheapest OSes available to run on the PC. There are few that are cheaper or free. However, if Justice plans to throw the price of the OS in Microsoft's face then all they will end up doing is playing the OJ glove trick.
Let's see... on Mac you only have ONE commercial choice (Be used to be a choice, which is still is provided you don't have a G3 - because be proprietary they won't let Be in on the specs). Mac OS is NOT cheap. They have a monopoly on their side.
The problem with MS is that by their own success they got even more successful and larger. Try to find apps in a store for other than Windows.
So what was the point of this news article? If anything it supports MS's claim about pricing. OS/2 has always been priced too high.. its one reason I gave up following it. Any of the commercial Unix softwares is priced in la-la land.
The question that begs to be anwsered... just what does Justice consider a fair price for an operating system? When will Justice tag other manufacturers about their proprietary stance on their platforms? Since they are beating on MS for dominating their market why not beat on Apple? After all its not like you can go outside of Apple easily for your OS. Hell, Apple went out of their way to stop clone makers. If that isn't the definition of a monopolistic attitude then nothing is.
MS is a bunch of money-hungry we have to control the world of PCs, but they are not unique in their actions, and definitely not unique in the monolopistic state that Justice claims.
(ps... I work on an AS/400 - as if anyone else could write an OS for it... )
Stop MS from short-selling the server market. Just get off the desktop market for PCs. No one cares, and its better that there is one dominating standard. The best bet for Justice is to prevent Microsoft from creating exclusive deals for their server and hand-held Operating systems. That is where real competition still exists. If Justice had come to the desktop around the time OS/2 and Win 3.1 were fighting it out they could have made a difference. Now, they are just making press stories.
I think the reference to Firewire supplanting SCSI is in the area of new installations. With higher throughput and supposedly less cost there is an opportunity.
USB got screwed over because everyone waited on Mickeysoft to release software to use it. Basically think of it as being announced for primetime too early.
Apparently Jobs has made Apple brave again, going to new technologies quicker than the stumbling Wintel monopoly. If they can get some manufacturers behind Firewire (it seems they have a few) maybe this will help bring SCSI down to a reasonable level, instead of the price-fixed level its at now. (there cannot be much real price difference between IDE and SCSI drives as in one brand I know for sure the only difference is the circut board attached to the physical drive - yet the price of the drive is 200 bucks more)
..
Put this on the editorial page, NOT NEWS!
on
Why Work Sucks
·
· Score: 1
While a little over obvious in content, and rambling within normal expectations this article is not NEWS.
To come out with an announcement before the previously intended Superbowl ads points to Intel being worried about AMDs K6-3 and K7s.
Guess they are finally feeling the heat. Still the articles "best kept secret" is laughable.
Interesting article, why did they wait to print it
on
Linus in USAToday
·
· Score: 1
It would seem that they could have printed this type of article earlier. Were there any pro-Linux or should that be (non-MS) articles printed while the trial was on hold for the holidays?
This article is pretty much one sided... but at least its about the person for most part. People need to attach a face to a creation.
Just wish Mindspring would fix their Atlanta probs
on
Mindspring Buys Netcom
·
· Score: 1
Sorry, seems they are more interested in getting bigger than better. Outside of Microsoft Mindspring is one of the best companies capable of blowing smoke up their own ass.
Its a constant in Atlanta... getting "circuts are busy" or failed connects. That and their use of buggy 3COM Total Control racks that drop UDP packets so consistently that at prime time its quite possible to see 100% packet loss.
Too bad, they were a good company once, now they are just a big one. ..
Well, it could happen in a couple of years... some PCs do most of what I want anyway.
First off, a PTG flat screen (plastic-that-glows or similar technology - no CRT). Some flat panel speakers (once the quality of sound gets even better). Having a non-attached keyboard and pointing device for jobs requiring them. Otherwise voice control the damn-thing from across the room.
Removable storage? Case? The case should either be in the audio rack with the rest of my electronics, or buried behind/under the desk. Access to removable storage could be in the case if it were in a audio rack environment (IOW - a properly designed machine hooked up to a network (or internet) really has little need for constant access to removable storage. Add a CD jukebox and your all set.
Eventually to make cases much more customizable we have to ditch PCI cards. Perhaps a bigger PCCard as used by laptops that does not require the case to be opened and use a common edge connector. (something the side of a CD case...)
Sorry, but I don't want a cutesy-wutesy computer. Putting the thing out of sight would be a better solution. Sort of like the Aptiva my parents bought. Its one of those stealth jobbies, only the monitor and cdrom/floppy are evident. The tower is hidden from view (though it needs a longer cable)
Honestly, if they would improve the design so that it hides most of the computer I think more people would be happy. Basically all you need is your monitor, keyboard, and mouse around the bulk of the time. Maybe a little box with the removable drives available...
Instead we will probably get stuck with Chia-Computers...
It has shown that open-source works. It also shows that something as complex as an Operating System can be created by people from all areas of the world.
The real test case for Linux is when MS emerges from the court case virtually unscathed. What happens then?
It isn't MS that we have to be worried about when it comes to the Internet. MS may control the desktop and wants to make the software that drives the net. However the real money is who controls the content. This is where MS cannot go because to do so means having to fight very established players like AOL. About the only way to get people to leave a service like AOL is to make it free elsewhere and then give them all their friends on AOL. Its not going to happen. (personally I thought AOL only made coasters)
Still, AOL is now showing what big business is really about. Through the Justice department they managed to build share strength for both them and Netscape just so the merger would be palatable to their respective share holders.
Stop MS from taking over the server market, and keep AOL from buying up the net. Screw the desktop - it was lost 3 years ago. Justice should be looking toward the future, not correcting their errors of ignorance from the past.
Slashdot Mirror
nuff said
Having read both patents I can only say that I am awestruck.
This all falls in line with making legals arguments based upon the definition of is.
Now I know Clinton doesn't have an original thought in his head. He created his whole legal defense by following the criteria set forth by the Patent Office!
better than those who flame you openly.
They are both hiding behind a mask. Afraid to come out in the community.
The reason you get burned here so much is because your "articles" have nothing to do with news, which is what this page is about. Worse, your articles have spelling errors, grammar errors, and worse you have a tendency to drop a word in mid-sentence... leaving us to figure it out.
I have yet to one newsworthy item from you, all I see is drivel that explains why you don't write for the other guys anymore.
It would be best if Slashdot had a special John Katz editorial page. That way the news page would not be cluttered with all the noise. That way we could just forget you exist.
.
(I read your other reply too)
Your assumption about "hidden source" is really unrealistic. Just because Linux is open-source is no reason everyone else has to be.
People use a paticular OS because it helps them accomphlish what they need to do. People also use alternative OSes for other reasons like : being different, makes them feel cool, or because they have a physcological defect which the apply to a company they claim to hate - and hence use someone elses product).
I have Be, Linux, and Win98. Of the three Be was the easiest to install. Its an efficient system which works nice. It does have some annoyances but most operating systems do. The Linux system suffers from inconsistent variations of the GUI, and relying on newsgroups for "help" is a pathetic endeavor. Win98 - well - its just Microsoft's normal bloated processor reducer.
No operating system is perfect.
As if Linux has any real amount of Apps for it?
Granted Be does not have apps appearing stores, hell, its not even in stores. Guess what, up until recently neither was Linux. I still haven't seen one store selling a stand-alone app for Linux either. (all there is are the OS boxes)
Be needs apps, but so does Linux. Hence the only difference between the two is the latter is the Microsoft buzzword of the week.
.
Well at least MS doesn't back down. Remove a feature from Windows? Who does the Record industry think they have in their back pockets? The Justice Department? NOT!
As for preventing copying/burning of downloaded songs. The process probably involves a one-use key that the software which burns the music logs or destroys once the copy is made. Most likely anything downloaded by this means cannot be burned by other software, until the CD is made. Then the CD could be copied forever. However, if they get the drive manufacturers in line they could put a special code on each CD that causes software to not copy the disk.
There is one company that does the same thing right now, however what they are doing is encoding a non-audible digital code in the whole song track - they liken it to a watermark. It means that if they find multiple copies of the song somewhere they can trace it to the originator.
I don't think this will supplant MP3. Its just a "legal" method to deliver copyrighted work. It could open a whole new market and actually be a good thing. Why? How many CDs have you bought for just one or two songs? (there are a lot of one-hit wonder bands).
Seeing that MP3 doesn't go away, this new delivery system won't hurt us. Its not like its legal to distribute MP3s you make by copying songs. Amazing as it seems, that seems to be what most people are suggesting.. that the music industry is evil because it wants to protect its rights which means its money.
This isn't news. Hell, maybe it is to the those unfamiliar with JK. Maybe it will cause some Amway maggots to get him into the trade.
If he wanted us to think he's a gullible idiot then he succeeded.
Get a spell checker, get a grammar checker, and get off the news board.
Really, sorry about the language.. but this is the least newsworthy item I have seen yet...
(maybe its a script for the next Porkys movie?)
..
.
Hey You! Off My Planet!
Your comparison is laughable.
Scripting within a GUI should be no different than any other method. Its all dependant on the scripting language definition.
If something is harder to do using a GUI then one of the following is true...
1. The GUI is designed wrong.
2. You don't how to use it.
I cannot believe the number of people who claim the command line is easier for new users... get real. In some cases there are things that can be done quickly via the command-line - BY people who have the time to devote to learning it.
If something is quicker by the command line there is no reason an icon cannot be constructed to perform the same task at a click (even bundled with a dialog asking for the variable data).
Computers are not for nerds anymore.
.
I sent this submission in yesterday, but apparently its more fun to read about Pluto than Linux here.
From the Pioneer Press (St P. Minn) is an article about Linux, including a local HS installation.
http://www.pioneerpress.com/tech/docs/tech1.htm
This article has a good pro/con list for Linux
http://www.pioneerpress.com/tech/docs/tech2.htm
and finally, this one has links on, of all things, how to pronounce Linux
http://www.pioneerpress.com/tech/docs/tech3.htm
Later...
(isn't it about time for another non-news annoying Katz squawk?)
Its obvious that Apple realizes that they will not be able to sell the most machines equipped with Firewire, let alone machines with the best support and most "compatible" peripheals.
So, seeing Ms and Intel attempts to use Firewire Apple just did the logical thing. If you can't make money off your invention with your own machines, let the other guy do it.
Still, it won't help establish the use of Firewire. Unless of course one of these big companies gets into a cross-agreement with them and makes machines without a per port cost.
I am shocked... not even a fifty comments and someone has to knock the new site in town.
Be glad they decided to join, and just because they don't use *your* favorite database of information is no way detracts from their site.
Information is provided on the internet in many forms. It is up to the consumer to determine which method of delivery they prefer.
As they always say, if you don't like it, go elsewhere.
Welcome Linuxberg!
Sorry,
... I work on an AS/400 - as if anyone else could write an OS for it... )
But it is true. MS Windows is one of the cheapest OSes available to run on the PC. There are few that are cheaper or free. However, if Justice plans to throw the price of the OS in Microsoft's face then all they will end up doing is playing the OJ glove trick.
Let's see... on Mac you only have ONE commercial choice (Be used to be a choice, which is still is provided you don't have a G3 - because be proprietary they won't let Be in on the specs). Mac OS is NOT cheap. They have a monopoly on their side.
The problem with MS is that by their own success they got even more successful and larger. Try to find apps in a store for other than Windows.
So what was the point of this news article? If anything it supports MS's claim about pricing. OS/2 has always been priced too high.. its one reason I gave up following it. Any of the commercial Unix softwares is priced in la-la land.
The question that begs to be anwsered... just what does Justice consider a fair price for an operating system? When will Justice tag other manufacturers about their proprietary stance on their platforms? Since they are beating on MS for dominating their market why not beat on Apple? After all its not like you can go outside of Apple easily for your OS. Hell, Apple went out of their way to stop clone makers. If that isn't the definition of a monopolistic attitude then nothing is.
MS is a bunch of money-hungry we have to control the world of PCs, but they are not unique in their actions, and definitely not unique in the monolopistic state that Justice claims.
(ps
Stop MS from short-selling the server market. Just get off the desktop market for PCs. No one cares, and its better that there is one dominating standard. The best bet for Justice is to prevent Microsoft from creating exclusive deals for their server and hand-held Operating systems. That is where real competition still exists. If Justice had come to the desktop around the time OS/2 and Win 3.1 were fighting it out they could have made a difference. Now, they are just making press stories.
..
I think the reference to Firewire supplanting SCSI is in the area of new installations. With higher throughput and supposedly less cost there is an opportunity.
USB got screwed over because everyone waited on Mickeysoft to release software to use it. Basically think of it as being announced for primetime too early.
Apparently Jobs has made Apple brave again, going to new technologies quicker than the stumbling Wintel monopoly. If they can get some manufacturers behind Firewire (it seems they have a few) maybe this will help bring SCSI down to a reasonable level, instead of the price-fixed level its at now. (there cannot be much real price difference between IDE and SCSI drives as in one brand I know for sure the only difference is the circut board attached to the physical drive - yet the price of the drive is 200 bucks more)
..
While a little over obvious in content, and rambling within normal expectations this article is not NEWS.
Put it on the editorial page.
Sheesh... isn't anything you post news?
..
To come out with an announcement before the previously intended Superbowl ads points to Intel being worried about AMDs K6-3 and K7s.
Guess they are finally feeling the heat. Still the articles "best kept secret" is laughable.
It would seem that they could have printed this type of article earlier. Were there any pro-Linux or should that be (non-MS) articles printed while the trial was on hold for the holidays?
This article is pretty much one sided... but at least its about the person for most part. People need to attach a face to a creation.
Sorry, seems they are more interested in getting bigger than better. Outside of Microsoft Mindspring is one of the best companies capable of blowing smoke up their own ass.
Its a constant in Atlanta... getting "circuts are busy" or failed connects. That and their use of buggy 3COM Total Control racks that drop UDP packets so consistently that at prime time its quite possible to see 100% packet loss.
Too bad, they were a good company once, now they are just a big one.
..
Well, it could happen in a couple of years... some PCs do most of what I want anyway.
First off, a PTG flat screen (plastic-that-glows or similar technology - no CRT). Some flat panel speakers (once the quality of sound gets even better). Having a non-attached keyboard and pointing device for jobs requiring them. Otherwise voice control the damn-thing from across the room.
Removable storage? Case? The case should either be in the audio rack with the rest of my electronics, or buried behind/under the desk. Access to removable storage could be in the case if it were in a audio rack environment (IOW - a properly designed machine hooked up to a network (or internet) really has little need for constant access to removable storage. Add a CD jukebox and your all set.
Eventually to make cases much more customizable we have to ditch PCI cards. Perhaps a bigger PCCard as used by laptops that does not require the case to be opened and use a common edge connector. (something the side of a CD case...)
Just some ding-a-ling ideas..
Sorry, but I don't want a cutesy-wutesy computer. Putting the thing out of sight would be a better solution. Sort of like the Aptiva my parents bought. Its one of those stealth jobbies, only the monitor and cdrom/floppy are evident. The tower is hidden from view (though it needs a longer cable)
Honestly, if they would improve the design so that it hides most of the computer I think more people would be happy. Basically all you need is your monitor, keyboard, and mouse around the bulk of the time. Maybe a little box with the removable drives available...
Instead we will probably get stuck with Chia-Computers...
.
It has shown that open-source works. It also shows that something as complex as an Operating System can be created by people from all areas of the world.
The real test case for Linux is when MS emerges from the court case virtually unscathed. What happens then?
.
If they are not there yet, they are aiming to be.
It isn't MS that we have to be worried about when it comes to the Internet. MS may control the desktop and wants to make the software that drives the net. However the real money is who controls the content. This is where MS cannot go because to do so means having to fight very established players like AOL. About the only way to get people to leave a service like AOL is to make it free elsewhere and then give them all their friends on AOL. Its not going to happen. (personally I thought AOL only made coasters)
Still, AOL is now showing what big business is really about. Through the Justice department they managed to build share strength for both them and Netscape just so the merger would be palatable to their respective share holders.
Stop MS from taking over the server market, and keep AOL from buying up the net. Screw the desktop - it was lost 3 years ago. Justice should be looking toward the future, not correcting their errors of ignorance from the past.
..