Yes, sure, they have no power over you if you don't actually NEED to correctly view some special page, here in Argentina for example, there are a LOT of web sites, OFFICIAL websites, that only work well if you have IE, and a new one. One example (from the University where I am studying) www.efn.uncor.edu I have to tell that a few parts have been fixed (the login for students to manage our accounts), and now work in firefox,and other browsers too, but achieving that was a lot of pain for some students like me that raised complaints more than once. The last month I have told to the one in charge,once or twice a week, him about the lack of support for non IE browsers, nothing more yet. Incompetence is everywhere....
"...but I guess high voltage is the most likely thing which isn't trivial for hardware to protect itself against)."
But it's pretty easy for the designer to put a zener diode of whatever voltage you want and you will know the voltage won't come up. I know, is not the only way.
I have done something like that with my PC (the vendor was a local IT store), told to tech support the problem and that I wouldn't give my hard drive because the problem wasn't software,they first told me that how could they fix the computer without it.
But I insisted and explained there was nothing wrong with my software, and told them that the hard drive had files of my work and that my clients wouldn't be happy if it was compromised, so they having the hard drive was also risky for them (I know, could have safely erased the files and always have a back up somewhere, but obviously did not tell them that), finally they accepted and in 48 hours had my PC back and working properly.
I think it's not only about they give you the proper support, but also, they have no right to know what you do with your data, OS or application programs, and if you actually know isn't the hard drive, you shouldn't have to back everything up and safely delete files from it to have tech support.
>Whatever's next? Will a Microsoft funded study find that Windows has a lower total cost of ownership than Linux? That have already happened (if I'm not making a mistake) in the UK some time ago.
..the time and money spend in making such an awful site is used in doing something different than that like designing and making advertising for free (as in free speech) software?
Personally I use to recommend ubuntu for new users, just because it's simple to install and easy to use, that is what I've seen most people want over many things, they want to use programs that let them send e-mail, navigate the web, writing and using spreadsheets and playing games.
We must do something that cause attraction, not just because it's a good app and works correctly and doesn't turn on a blue screen (what most of free software users like), but because it makes you want it, just because. My point is let's make propaganda like for example :
Easy to send e-mail (some e-mail app being used by someone with a BIG smile)
Surf the web with your favorite web-browser (some pictures of firefox, mozilla, opera, konkeror,...others)
GNU/Linux, makes you feel free (and some drawings that let you think as if you where in heaven)
Easy to install, just put the CD and let the PC to do the rest (a figure showing a splashscreen of an installing instance of ubuntu or knopix or something easy to install).
Personalization, you CAN and ARE encouraged to do whatever YOU want with the software you have installed (a picture of someone doing something and smiling showing joy for doing that)
You want to do something, but don't know the application needed, just type it in Synaptic (or other), select the app, click install and done (a picture of synaptic doing an installation)
You want new software, just click and install it.
Many games for YOU (some pictures of people playing, some pictures of different games... )
For newbies and experts, YOU, and only YOU set your limits for using, learning, or whatever you want to do.
Software for your work place (an office suite)
NO virus problems
Home and Server application
Accessibility software available
Always getting better
Millions of developers all over the world
Lots of languages available
Lots of groups that want to help you
You CAN give your opinion
You CAN help make it better
Moral and politically correct
Help making the world a better place, use free software
Plenty of applications available
FREE as in free speech.
Stable as a rock, in movement like water,always growing like the knowledge....
Well, some ideas to think about, maybe,a mass campaign of making videos, pictures, phrases, etc, in different languages,releasing under free licenses, using the web to spread the voice, will help getting people, that only use software, interested in using and getting involved in free software.
Slashdot Mirror
Yes, sure, they have no power over you if you don't actually NEED to correctly view some special page, here in Argentina for example, there are a LOT of web sites, OFFICIAL websites, that only work well if you have IE, and a new one. One example (from the University where I am studying) www.efn.uncor.edu I have to tell that a few parts have been fixed (the login for students to manage our accounts), and now work in firefox,and other browsers too, but achieving that was a lot of pain for some students like me that raised complaints more than once. The last month I have told to the one in charge,once or twice a week, him about the lack of support for non IE browsers, nothing more yet.
Incompetence is everywhere....
But it's pretty easy for the designer to put a zener diode of whatever voltage you want and you will know the voltage won't come up. I know, is not the only way.
I have done something like that with my PC (the vendor was a local IT store), told to tech support the problem and that I wouldn't give my hard drive because the problem wasn't software,they first told me that how could they fix the computer without it.
But I insisted and explained there was nothing wrong with my software, and told them that the hard drive had files of my work and that my clients wouldn't be happy if it was compromised, so they having the hard drive was also risky for them (I know, could have safely erased the files and always have a back up somewhere, but obviously did not tell them that), finally they accepted and in 48 hours had my PC back and working properly.
I think it's not only about they give you the proper support, but also, they have no right to know what you do with your data, OS or application programs, and if you actually know isn't the hard drive, you shouldn't have to back everything up and safely delete files from it to have tech support.
>"...What's missing?..." ...
a plug and learning like Neo in Matrix
P.S. I know that it will take the fun out, but we can always learn the traditional way.
Sorry, but where you say :
.... and you have to replace them from time to time.
"...and I will still be generating electricity in an environmentally-friendly manner."
I can see you forgot about the batteries. Batteries aren't environmetally-friendly
>Whatever's next? Will a Microsoft funded study find that Windows has a lower total cost of ownership than Linux?
That have already happened (if I'm not making a mistake) in the UK some time ago.
..the time and money spend in making such an awful site is used in doing something different than that like designing and making advertising for free (as in free speech) software?
... )
...
Personally I use to recommend ubuntu for new users, just because it's simple to install and easy to use, that is what I've seen most people want over many things, they want to use programs that let them send e-mail, navigate the web, writing and using spreadsheets and playing games.
We must do something that cause attraction, not just because it's a good app and works correctly and doesn't turn on a blue screen (what most of free software users like), but because it makes you want it, just because. My point is let's make propaganda like for example :
Easy to send e-mail (some e-mail app being used by someone with a BIG smile)
Surf the web with your favorite web-browser (some pictures of firefox, mozilla, opera, konkeror,...others)
GNU/Linux, makes you feel free (and some drawings that let you think as if you where in heaven)
Easy to install, just put the CD and let the PC to do the rest (a figure showing a splashscreen of an installing instance of ubuntu or knopix or something easy to install).
Personalization, you CAN and ARE encouraged to do whatever YOU want with the software you have installed (a picture of someone doing something and smiling showing joy for doing that)
You want to do something, but don't know the application needed, just type it in Synaptic (or other), select the app, click install and done (a picture of synaptic doing an installation)
You want new software, just click and install it.
Many games for YOU (some pictures of people playing, some pictures of different games
For newbies and experts, YOU, and only YOU set your limits for using, learning, or whatever you want to do.
Software for your work place (an office suite)
NO virus problems
Home and Server application
Accessibility software available
Always getting better
Millions of developers all over the world
Lots of languages available
Lots of groups that want to help you
You CAN give your opinion
You CAN help make it better
Moral and politically correct
Help making the world a better place, use free software
Plenty of applications available
FREE as in free speech.
Stable as a rock, in movement like water,always growing like the knowledge.
Well, some ideas to think about, maybe,a mass campaign of making videos, pictures, phrases, etc, in different languages,releasing under free licenses, using the web to spread the voice, will help getting people, that only use software, interested in using and getting involved in free software.