This comment is more true than you realize. I recently downloaded all the works of Isaac Asimov as a 10MB PDF file. It really puts things into a perspective when a life's work of one of the most prolific authors can be summed up in so little disk space. So I can safely say no one will ever need more than 10 MB.
However, people will want more than 4TB. And more importantly, they will pay for it.
I like to say that I literally 'LOL'ed at this. I've said the same thing a number of times about things that are so easy either on a Mac or on Linux that is impossible to do natively on Windows.
Yes, there are many such features. However, despite wanting to bash Microsoft, I think I ought to point out something in their defense.
As a monopolist, they are not allowed to include some functionality into their system, because it would unlawfully compete with other such products. Remember the lawsuits because they included a browser and a media player, which are both thing most people use and all competing OS's provide? They can't just add anything the want to Windows because they may face another lawsuit.
Yes, of course, that's what we really need. Everyone who wants to write any program ever must write the self-updating functionality into it. Then of course he/she must also provide binaries for every single OS in existance, so throw in several build servers and one webserver. That's what we really need, to ensure only large businesses can release software.
And don't forget regular reminders. How could a poor soul use his computer if every program disturbs him/her with dialogs about updates, upgrades and mandatory reboots. And what happens if the free screensaver program they installed last month updates itself with a keylogger? No problem, they'll just install two more antivirus packages.
There's also the whole idea behing distributions: to make sure programs work together. A Java update breaks your music player? Tough luck, their next update will be in a few months. No problem, you'll just wait with the Java update? Tough luck again, your browser just updated itself and won't work with the old Java. Centralized updates mean all those components will be updated at once, ensuring a smooth transition (with at most one reboot).
So, in short, centralized updates benefit both developers and users. I really don't see why you would be opposed to them.
They were all: a) for wealth (be it gold, oil or territory) b) to ensure that those in power remain in power (to keep those who would otherwise oppose them afraid)
The single greatest cause of death in human history is religion!
I wouldn't say you're wrong, but in most cases religion was not the real cause, but rather used as justification for killing. The killings of Stalin, Mao, Hitler, and various crusades/conquests/inquisitions may have had different justifications, but their true purpose was very similar in all cases. It just so happens that religion is what drives most people to follow you into doing whatever.
This. It's not just about opinions and moral values, the base point of religion is that there is some special being. Granted, religion (and yes, even atheism) has been used many times by rulers to keep the population in check or justify a war, but at its core religion is a belief.
I don't know all the worldn's religions, but the ones I do know include belief in things and events that are highly unlikely and all have a much simpler explanation. As someone who has heard of Occam's razor, I find such beliefs stupid.
Yes, but: Gmail has a whole lot of clients (every mail client works with it), and still I'm sure their ads get more than enough views. The same is probably with Facebook, (I don't know because I don't use it), I'd wager that the same people who read and write statuses on the go are also heavy users of the site itself.
Why the US wants it globally accepted is obvious, we don't really manufacturer what we used to. A significant portion of our economy has moved to a creating ideas, instead of things, then selling those ideas at massively inflated prices.
Now just need to do something about PIPA, and we can breathe a nice sigh of relief (for a while)
I don't think it works that way. See, politicians are the masters of compromise. They gave up on SOPA because of pressure from the public and/or internet corporations, so they both are somewhat happy now and will support them for the elections, and now they almost have to appease big media by passing other laws.
When was the last time you've seen more that one politician take a serious stand on something? It's small concessions all around that keeps them in office.
I understand that this is true for some people, but it isn't for me. It's money coming out of my "pocket" either way.
Then again, I don't exhaustively budget every cent I spend (that doesn't mean I spend willy nilly, most people I know would probably say the exact opposite).
Of course, you are a part of the reasonable and rational Slashdot crowd. I'd be willing to bet that your passwords (at least the ones for your computers) are relatively complex and still never (or very rarely) forgotten, which was the premise of this thread.
Slashdot Mirror
This comment is more true than you realize. I recently downloaded all the works of Isaac Asimov as a 10MB PDF file. It really puts things into a perspective when a life's work of one of the most prolific authors can be summed up in so little disk space. So I can safely say no one will ever need more than 10 MB.
However, people will want more than 4TB. And more importantly, they will pay for it.
I like to say that I literally 'LOL'ed at this. I've said the same thing a number of times about things that are so easy either on a Mac or on Linux that is impossible to do natively on Windows.
Yes, there are many such features. However, despite wanting to bash Microsoft, I think I ought to point out something in their defense.
As a monopolist, they are not allowed to include some functionality into their system, because it would unlawfully compete with other such products. Remember the lawsuits because they included a browser and a media player, which are both thing most people use and all competing OS's provide? They can't just add anything the want to Windows because they may face another lawsuit.
Yes, of course, that's what we really need. Everyone who wants to write any program ever must write the self-updating functionality into it. Then of course he/she must also provide binaries for every single OS in existance, so throw in several build servers and one webserver. That's what we really need, to ensure only large businesses can release software.
And don't forget regular reminders. How could a poor soul use his computer if every program disturbs him/her with dialogs about updates, upgrades and mandatory reboots. And what happens if the free screensaver program they installed last month updates itself with a keylogger? No problem, they'll just install two more antivirus packages.
There's also the whole idea behing distributions: to make sure programs work together. A Java update breaks your music player? Tough luck, their next update will be in a few months. No problem, you'll just wait with the Java update? Tough luck again, your browser just updated itself and won't work with the old Java. Centralized updates mean all those components will be updated at once, ensuring a smooth transition (with at most one reboot).
So, in short, centralized updates benefit both developers and users. I really don't see why you would be opposed to them.
Or a word processor that won't barf when you are editing a 10,000 page document.
I would suggest that you are "doing it wrong" if you have a 10, 000 page document in a word processor ;)
I would suggest that the mere fact of having a 10k page document implies "doing it wrong".
They were all:
a) for wealth (be it gold, oil or territory)
b) to ensure that those in power remain in power (to keep those who would otherwise oppose them afraid)
The single greatest cause of death in human history is religion!
I wouldn't say you're wrong, but in most cases religion was not the real cause, but rather used as justification for killing. The killings of Stalin, Mao, Hitler, and various crusades/conquests/inquisitions may have had different justifications, but their true purpose was very similar in all cases. It just so happens that religion is what drives most people to follow you into doing whatever.
This. It's not just about opinions and moral values, the base point of religion is that there is some special being. Granted, religion (and yes, even atheism) has been used many times by rulers to keep the population in check or justify a war, but at its core religion is a belief.
I don't know all the worldn's religions, but the ones I do know include belief in things and events that are highly unlikely and all have a much simpler explanation. As someone who has heard of Occam's razor, I find such beliefs stupid.
It's not Apple. It's not Samsung.
The lawyers however...
As an American, I don't think we can ever repay our debt to Viet Nam.
No, you can't. However, you can come close by using the same chemicals in your country, so at least you can share the pain.
Yes, but: Gmail has a whole lot of clients (every mail client works with it), and still I'm sure their ads get more than enough views. The same is probably with Facebook, (I don't know because I don't use it), I'd wager that the same people who read and write statuses on the go are also heavy users of the site itself.
you could reboot Windows without using a mouse.
Now that's something!
Maybe, but it's still the best fluff and padding I've seen. And don't forget that this fluff is what gets the eyeballs to the ads.
Walled garden is the way to go.
Android users very satisfied: 47%
iPhone users very satisfied: 75%
Stockholm Syndrome. Yes, it really works.
Can't it be configured to only sync large files (music, photos and videos) over Wi-Fi?
Fuck Sweden.
Assange tried, it didn't end too well for him.
What ideas?
Rounded corners.
I'm all for downloading one, but where can I get a VIN to make it street legal?
Getting a VIN is simple, just fill it with DIESEL.
(just be careful not to make your FAST car too FURIOUS).
Why the "religion" tag? Is everything that slashdotters don't like "religion" now?
It may not be everything, but most of the things Slashdotters don't like are irrational beliefs. This includes, but is not limited to, religion.
Or, perhaps right now there is a young Finnish college student writing a new OS even as I type...
I had high hopes in some Finnish guys, but then they sold out to MS.
However, there is still hope with Qt, as it runs on both Android and iOS. I don't know how well it runs, or how integrated it looks, but it's possible.
Android: http://sourceforge.net/p/necessitas/home/necessitas/
iOS: http://qt.gitorious.org/+qt-iphone/qt/qt-iphone-clone
Yes, just give your politicians more money, that ought to fix everything.
Now just need to do something about PIPA, and we can breathe a nice sigh of relief (for a while)
I don't think it works that way. See, politicians are the masters of compromise. They gave up on SOPA because of pressure from the public and/or internet corporations, so they both are somewhat happy now and will support them for the elections, and now they almost have to appease big media by passing other laws.
When was the last time you've seen more that one politician take a serious stand on something? It's small concessions all around that keeps them in office.
That's because they actually are funny, unlike most of the new crap.
No, it's the real world that is out of touch with Slashdot.
A brilliant theoretical physicist cannot learn a new (arguably easier) technology over a ten year period, yet alone flourish?
Have you ever seen a professor trying to turn on a projector?
I understand that this is true for some people, but it isn't for me. It's money coming out of my "pocket" either way.
Then again, I don't exhaustively budget every cent I spend (that doesn't mean I spend willy nilly, most people I know would probably say the exact opposite).
Of course, you are a part of the reasonable and rational Slashdot crowd. I'd be willing to bet that your passwords (at least the ones for your computers) are relatively complex and still never (or very rarely) forgotten, which was the premise of this thread.