There is a science to optimizing cost vs. production costs vs. demand. For niche product, the consumer's cost is going to be high.
That's just it though...the only reason why it is such a niche product is because they are prohibitively expensive.
If the readers dropped down to $150 average for a GOOD one instead of a no-name bad one, I would buy an e-reader tomorrow. I doubt I'm the only person who doesn't own one just because of cost.
Even if this technique has merits, it does nothing to correct the primary reason for computer infection - stupid users.
As with most things in life, stupidity is the leading cause of problems.
Except death. I think god has a monopoly on causing death in that department. (Take that last sentence however you will. Just remember: however you take it is how I meant it.)
"Hey Sea Monkeys! It's time for the 'I Hate Marco' Show!"::high-pitched female choir:: "IIIII Hate Marco! Hate Marco! Hate Marco and his mailbox head!"
Biometrics are going to use your DNA for verification, which is the only fool-proof system. I mean, come on, how would you fake someone else's DNA?::cough::GATTACA::cough::
I will end up with whichever one I can install any program I want on to; that's pretty much my only requirement. Whether that means going with a Linux-based device or a Windows 7-based device, I don't care.
As in my first post, this is only my opinion and only apply it to myself.
I wouldn't have a problem with Apple's limited functionality if the price was lowered. IMO, the Apple tax is a little too high on this one, though...I'm not paying a full-feature price for a half-feature device.
I do quality assurance and mail merge programming in a call center. Trust me, I've seen some stupid shit:-)
That being said, the average person still knows how to use a "regular" computer. They might not know how to fix one or maintain one, but I don't see how that would be any different with an iPad. True, being locked into the app store would prevent them from wandering elsewhere and downloading potentially "harmful" software, but my question is this: why wouldn't Apple let me use the appstore OR whatever software I want. I know the answer (money and sales, obviously), but that doesn't mean I like it (which is why I won't get one, doy)
The "average person" deserves treatment only slightly better than being beaten with rubber hoses. Since that won't clear marketing, they'll get the iPad instead.
You grasp something that a lot of people in these arguments fail to understand - that there are opinions that differ from yours (gasp!). The worst "offenders" seem to be some of the folks who basically wanted an OS X-based clone of the typical Windows Tablet PC. The only pre-release poll I knew about the "rumored Apple device" fell pretty decidedly in favor of an iPhone-like interface instead of a OS X-like interface - it was something like 2/3 to 1/3.
I made very sure to include the "it only applies to me, this is my opinion" boilerplate to that post, ESPECIALLY in a discussion about the iPad:-)
For me, as an iPod Touch owner, the Apple restrictions have not been a perceived problem - and the larger screen an iPad offers may very well eventually lead me to purchase an iPad (AFTER the first generation!). But obviously there are people like you that want the absolute freedom they perceive in a Linux-based tablet device, and who chafe at the restrictions they see in the Apple offering. Having options is always better, no matter which camp you fall into; and the market will eventually settle all these questions we seem to love endlessly debating on Slashdot.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the iPad shouldn't exist...I know it's going to sell well, and for the type of device it is, it looks like it does its job well...I just think Apple is going a little overboard with the Apple Tax this time. If each model was reduced by $100-$150 (which I'm sure won't take long, if history is any indication) then I think it would be worth the money in its current state. As it stands though, my primary issue is paying a full-feature price for a half-feature product. That's all.
You forget though, there are plenty of tablets coming out that will have Windows 7 on them (and, in theory, be modifiable), and I wouldn't be surprised if in a year or two once companies get the logistics of tablet design and construction down we will see the cheap knockoffs that you can do whatever you want to appearing on the market.
I'm sure there are other open (as in "do what you want", not "open source") linux-based devices coming as well.
If this was even just ten years ago, I would agree with you...but at this point, the average person has a basic understanding of how to use a computer, and shouldn't be pandered to with watered down offerings that cost as much if not more than their full-fledged peers. The elderly thing still holds true today, although the "young" elderly are more tech-knowledgeable than ever before.
If someone WANTS to pay that much for something with half the functionality of similarly priced tablets, that's totally up to them...but I think it's a little insulting to suggest that you have to be a geek to use something more complicated than a modified version of the iPhone OS.
What with all the other tablets coming out that let me install whatever the hell I want on them, I see no reason to be stuck with the programs Apple deems "appropriate" for me.
Obviously, this is just my opinion and only applies to myself.
I'll certainly agree that governments are "sterile", though-- in the sense that they cannot create anything new, only steal and destroy.
I think government could be an asset to everyday citizens, provided the right people were in charge (i.e. someone interested in the citizens and not only willing but wanting to limit their own power.) Good luck on that one, though...running for President means you think you are better than everyone else by default.
I have a toothy orange two year old cat named Fizzgigg (yes, after the toothy puffball from The Dark Crystal...it's a very appropriate name for this animal, I assure you). She leaves the toilet paper alone...her thing is hair ties.
Toss a hair tie, and she'll chase after it...and bring it back to you. Over. And over. And Over. She plays freakin' fetch, lol
but a communist government is an unacceptable evil by its very existence.
Communism, like many other unfortunate realities, is one of those things that makes perfect sense on paper...until you factor in human nature. Then it becomes a clusterfuck of epic proportions.
What GP proposed is merely that denying Chinese citizen's access to modern information technology would do more to keep them in the dark ages and their government in full control than the reverse. Yet, your ironic stance seems to insinuate that we should punish all Chinese people for their government's policies while the overwhelming majority of them have nothing to do with it, can do nothing about it and want nothing to do with it for perfectly valid reason. The saddest part is, the few who heroically fight their government censorship and get arrested for it over there will be the ones hurt the most from losing gmail and google services.
You have obviously never heard of Baidu. In fact, Baidu is precisely why Google shouldn't worry about pulling out...if they stay, then they are going to have to censor search results while supporting an oppressive regime. If they leave, they are giving the middle finger to an oppressive regime that will just censor someone else's search results...someone else who CAN'T leave China.
Most people who say that do not work out at the gym or the range often enough, and, let's just say, would get a new perspective thrust upon them in a world of anarchy.
I do both, and I still wouldn't want to live in a country without at least a basic government in place. Call me a sheep if you want, Slashdotters...but I like not having to worry about looters trying to take everything I own every second of every day.
I don't know if people are just paranoid or what, but they seem to be intent on protecting EVERYTHING nowadays. Next thing you know, people will get sued for asking whether you put the toilet paper roll facing away from the wall or towards it.
For the record, it's away from the wall, you savages.
Slashdot Mirror
There is a science to optimizing cost vs. production costs vs. demand. For niche product, the consumer's cost is going to be high.
That's just it though...the only reason why it is such a niche product is because they are prohibitively expensive.
If the readers dropped down to $150 average for a GOOD one instead of a no-name bad one, I would buy an e-reader tomorrow. I doubt I'm the only person who doesn't own one just because of cost.
How about you first find a better process for making monochrome e-ink displays so the devices that use them aren't ridiculously priced?
It doesn't take much to break your sarcasm detector, does it?
Even if this technique has merits, it does nothing to correct the primary reason for computer infection - stupid users.
As with most things in life, stupidity is the leading cause of problems.
Except death. I think god has a monopoly on causing death in that department. (Take that last sentence however you will. Just remember: however you take it is how I meant it.)
That is INSANE. I would love to see a similar competition for wiring up a small sound studio :-)
"Hey Sparkplug, did you see the ratings? Number eight, baby!"
"Hey Sea Monkeys! It's time for the 'I Hate Marco' Show!" ::high-pitched female choir:: "IIIII Hate Marco! Hate Marco! Hate Marco and his mailbox head!"
Biometrics are going to use your DNA for verification, which is the only fool-proof system. I mean, come on, how would you fake someone else's DNA? ::cough::GATTACA::cough::
Unfortunately, this is in fact true for many people -_-;;
I will end up with whichever one I can install any program I want on to; that's pretty much my only requirement. Whether that means going with a Linux-based device or a Windows 7-based device, I don't care.
As in my first post, this is only my opinion and only apply it to myself.
I wouldn't have a problem with Apple's limited functionality if the price was lowered. IMO, the Apple tax is a little too high on this one, though...I'm not paying a full-feature price for a half-feature device.
You clearly have not done a lot of tech support.
I do quality assurance and mail merge programming in a call center. Trust me, I've seen some stupid shit :-)
That being said, the average person still knows how to use a "regular" computer. They might not know how to fix one or maintain one, but I don't see how that would be any different with an iPad. True, being locked into the app store would prevent them from wandering elsewhere and downloading potentially "harmful" software, but my question is this: why wouldn't Apple let me use the appstore OR whatever software I want. I know the answer (money and sales, obviously), but that doesn't mean I like it (which is why I won't get one, doy)
The "average person" deserves treatment only slightly better than being beaten with rubber hoses. Since that won't clear marketing, they'll get the iPad instead.
Awesome:-)
You grasp something that a lot of people in these arguments fail to understand - that there are opinions that differ from yours (gasp!). The worst "offenders" seem to be some of the folks who basically wanted an OS X-based clone of the typical Windows Tablet PC. The only pre-release poll I knew about the "rumored Apple device" fell pretty decidedly in favor of an iPhone-like interface instead of a OS X-like interface - it was something like 2/3 to 1/3.
I made very sure to include the "it only applies to me, this is my opinion" boilerplate to that post, ESPECIALLY in a discussion about the iPad :-)
For me, as an iPod Touch owner, the Apple restrictions have not been a perceived problem - and the larger screen an iPad offers may very well eventually lead me to purchase an iPad (AFTER the first generation!). But obviously there are people like you that want the absolute freedom they perceive in a Linux-based tablet device, and who chafe at the restrictions they see in the Apple offering. Having options is always better, no matter which camp you fall into; and the market will eventually settle all these questions we seem to love endlessly debating on Slashdot.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the iPad shouldn't exist...I know it's going to sell well, and for the type of device it is, it looks like it does its job well...I just think Apple is going a little overboard with the Apple Tax this time. If each model was reduced by $100-$150 (which I'm sure won't take long, if history is any indication) then I think it would be worth the money in its current state. As it stands though, my primary issue is paying a full-feature price for a half-feature product. That's all.
You forget though, there are plenty of tablets coming out that will have Windows 7 on them (and, in theory, be modifiable), and I wouldn't be surprised if in a year or two once companies get the logistics of tablet design and construction down we will see the cheap knockoffs that you can do whatever you want to appearing on the market.
I'm sure there are other open (as in "do what you want", not "open source") linux-based devices coming as well.
If this was even just ten years ago, I would agree with you...but at this point, the average person has a basic understanding of how to use a computer, and shouldn't be pandered to with watered down offerings that cost as much if not more than their full-fledged peers. The elderly thing still holds true today, although the "young" elderly are more tech-knowledgeable than ever before.
If someone WANTS to pay that much for something with half the functionality of similarly priced tablets, that's totally up to them...but I think it's a little insulting to suggest that you have to be a geek to use something more complicated than a modified version of the iPhone OS.
What with all the other tablets coming out that let me install whatever the hell I want on them, I see no reason to be stuck with the programs Apple deems "appropriate" for me.
Obviously, this is just my opinion and only applies to myself.
Mankind does a pretty good job of screwing things up.
Truer words have never been spoken, Atomic.
I'll certainly agree that governments are "sterile", though-- in the sense that they cannot create anything new, only steal and destroy.
I think government could be an asset to everyday citizens, provided the right people were in charge (i.e. someone interested in the citizens and not only willing but wanting to limit their own power.) Good luck on that one, though...running for President means you think you are better than everyone else by default.
I have a toothy orange two year old cat named Fizzgigg (yes, after the toothy puffball from The Dark Crystal...it's a very appropriate name for this animal, I assure you). She leaves the toilet paper alone...her thing is hair ties.
Toss a hair tie, and she'll chase after it...and bring it back to you. Over. And over. And Over. She plays freakin' fetch, lol
We didn't :p
but a communist government is an unacceptable evil by its very existence.
Communism, like many other unfortunate realities, is one of those things that makes perfect sense on paper...until you factor in human nature. Then it becomes a clusterfuck of epic proportions.
What GP proposed is merely that denying Chinese citizen's access to modern information technology would do more to keep them in the dark ages and their government in full control than the reverse.
Yet, your ironic stance seems to insinuate that we should punish all Chinese people for their government's policies while the overwhelming majority of them have nothing to do with it, can do nothing about it and want nothing to do with it for perfectly valid reason. The saddest part is, the few who heroically fight their government censorship and get arrested for it over there will be the ones hurt the most from losing gmail and google services.
You have obviously never heard of Baidu. In fact, Baidu is precisely why Google shouldn't worry about pulling out...if they stay, then they are going to have to censor search results while supporting an oppressive regime. If they leave, they are giving the middle finger to an oppressive regime that will just censor someone else's search results...someone else who CAN'T leave China.
Most people who say that do not work out at the gym or the range
often enough, and, let's just say, would get a new perspective thrust upon them in a world of anarchy.
I do both, and I still wouldn't want to live in a country without at least a basic government in place. Call me a sheep if you want, Slashdotters...but I like not having to worry about looters trying to take everything I own every second of every day.
Not sure who's sig it is, but someone around here has it set to:
"Knock Knock"
"Who's there?"
"Under the Patriot Act, we don't have to tell you."
It would be awesome...if it wasn't so true |:/
I don't know if people are just paranoid or what, but they seem to be intent on protecting EVERYTHING nowadays. Next thing you know, people will get sued for asking whether you put the toilet paper roll facing away from the wall or towards it.
For the record, it's away from the wall, you savages.