Imagine the pre-computer days, when the customs could stop you, do a naked search and go through all your papers without any passwords. What could you do at that time? Just do not take the sensitive papers with you or mail them with certified mail.
I think there is no difference now. Email your files and do not put them on your laptop. That is what TFA is basically saying too.
So, IMHO, complains here won't work. The only problem that travelers have with laptop/cellphone search is inconvenience (since everybody is used to store all your files on your hard drive), but otherwise it is not any bit less legal than it was before the laptop era.
And inconvenience is not any concern for authorities at all. So consider your laptop to be your briefcase and just not put any documents there that you don't want custom officers to see. End of story.
Not to start a fanbois war here, but you did not say what Windows Mobile phone you complain about. Personally, I have BlackJack II and I love it. Plenty of RAM (256 MB RAM, 128 MB ROM), Windows Mobile 6, 2 GB microSD card, 3G Internet, hardware GPS and full QWERTY keyboard. Plenty of Office applications included. There is no touchscreen, but I can live with that. The phone (red variant) even looks great!
I agree that most of Windows Mobile devices are slow, but this one looks like a good compromise to me. I use it as work PDA, otherwise I would have got an iPhone or smth. fancy.
I would say that all those conversations of "whose device is bigger" do not make much sense. It all depends on the tasks you are going to implement on the device, your habits and your preferences.
What I like Windows Mobile devices for,are:
1. Integration with Office apps, Exchange and such.
2. Plenty of applications on the market, many of them are free.
3. Ability to write your applications. I use Visual Studio 2005 to complie my small apps for Windows Mobile, and I am the happiest camper. No limitations, ease of test and deployment: just click "run on device" and that's it! I believe Java programmers can say the same thing about Blackberry.
So guys, back to the point: I think Eee PC has the ability to become a cult device (just like iSomething did), and this will contribute more to the market success, than compatitor's features. Otherwise there are plenty of nice gadgets on the market (Sharp Zaurus is one of the good examples).
"...The robot has no face or legs, and with its long arms certainly doesn't look human...'"
Maybe it is just my twisted imagination, but it looks human to me:
http://www.space.gc.ca/asc/img/spdm-hr.jpg
I can see arms, legs, head and even something between the legs...;)
"...Looks like what's bad for Sony may be good for the consumer..."
Really? Where have you people been when Sony pushed HD-DVD down? Everybody on the forums cried out: "Die, HD-DVD, die! Viva Blu-Ray!"
No, consumer is a bitch. He will eat whatever is more popular and whatever has a hype around. There are so few educated consumers in comparison to general public.
So, IMHO, regardless of the features, if Asus keeps promoting Eee PC and succeeds in establishing a stable cult around it, then it will survive. Otherwise, Sony, Dell and the other mammoths will bring it down, since they have more money and power to push their products. End of story.
Technology like that is already used now. I see some Dell laptops have WiFi hotspot finder integrated into BIOS, and it displays results without booting your OS.
Also I believe I've seen some email apps integrated into BIOS that flash a light on your computer when your email arrives without booting Windows. I do not remember exactly, so I may be mistaken about email, but WiFi hotspot finders in BIOS - this feature is on Dell laptops for sure.
This could be considered slightly offtopic, but I would add one more benefit of NASA Moon mission: the resurrection of public interest in space science (in general) and Space Science Fiction (in particular).
Did you notice that during recent decades the theme of science fiction shifted significantly from space exploration plots to fantasy and alternative history? As a big fan of space science fiction, I feel my favourite trend is neglected. The reason is obvious - the whole space research both in USA and Russia/Europe fell into stagnation and public interest was lost.
Remember how excited the science fiction writers were about space technology back in 60s? They were expecting humans to fly around solar system by 2000 and to distant stars in the beginning of this new century. Where are their hopes? Ruined.
Now I really hope NASA mission will bring back the long-forgotten public excitement about space exploration, and the science fiction will once again picture the starships instead of dragons and elves. I hope.
Gates also said that DRM was evil for Microsoft customers and suggested buying DVDs and CDs instead of DRMed mp3s. This was discussed on Slashdot several weeks ago.
Now Jobs is doing similar announcement. I think this is the FUD from the big bosses: "Sorry guys if my employees hurt you. They just do their jobs well, you know... You should forgive them. I am above those dirty things they do with DRM, it's evil, I agree. Still, we have no choice..."
If your company does something you do not agree with, but can not change, either stick to your companys politics and shut up or protest and leave.
There was a lady in our office (long time ago) who was excited about everything all the time. When our network admin gave her a new password, she was so excited, that she cried it out loud in front of everybody. Well, admin was really upset and told her everything he was thinking about her.
Then she told him with an innocent expression: "Why can not you teach me this security practices?"
He replied: "I can not teach you how to eat, mate or live."
So related to Bank of America customers, if they do not care about the security - it is their fault. If they start crying their passwords out loud - it is their fault. It is a common sense, like eating, avoiding poisons, not hurting yourself. You can not teach the grown-up how to do those things. It is their sole responsibility, and not a fault of the Bank.
Slashdot Mirror
The right query would be "DELETE FROM..." (no star)
;)
You just failed the database module exam.
Seriously, I do this mistake too, from time to time.
I sincerely want to sign in. This is a one day course and costs a little. I would call it a public lecture, if not the price.
As a fan of StarWars I would gladly pay my money for the opportunity to learn more of Jedi philosophy and how it can be applicable in our life.
Imagine the pre-computer days, when the customs could stop you, do a naked search and go through all your papers without any passwords. What could you do at that time? Just do not take the sensitive papers with you or mail them with certified mail.
I think there is no difference now. Email your files and do not put them on your laptop. That is what TFA is basically saying too.
So, IMHO, complains here won't work. The only problem that travelers have with laptop/cellphone search is inconvenience (since everybody is used to store all your files on your hard drive), but otherwise it is not any bit less legal than it was before the laptop era. And inconvenience is not any concern for authorities at all. So consider your laptop to be your briefcase and just not put any documents there that you don't want custom officers to see. End of story.
Wasn't it already posted on Slashdot a while ago?
http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/02/12/1414257Not to start a fanbois war here, but you did not say what Windows Mobile phone you complain about. Personally, I have BlackJack II and I love it. Plenty of RAM (256 MB RAM, 128 MB ROM), Windows Mobile 6, 2 GB microSD card, 3G Internet, hardware GPS and full QWERTY keyboard. Plenty of Office applications included. There is no touchscreen, but I can live with that. The phone (red variant) even looks great!
I agree that most of Windows Mobile devices are slow, but this one looks like a good compromise to me. I use it as work PDA, otherwise I would have got an iPhone or smth. fancy.
I would say that all those conversations of "whose device is bigger" do not make much sense. It all depends on the tasks you are going to implement on the device, your habits and your preferences.
What I like Windows Mobile devices for,are:
1. Integration with Office apps, Exchange and such.
2. Plenty of applications on the market, many of them are free.
3. Ability to write your applications. I use Visual Studio 2005 to complie my small apps for Windows Mobile, and I am the happiest camper. No limitations, ease of test and deployment: just click "run on device" and that's it! I believe Java programmers can say the same thing about Blackberry.
So guys, back to the point: I think Eee PC has the ability to become a cult device (just like iSomething did), and this will contribute more to the market success, than compatitor's features. Otherwise there are plenty of nice gadgets on the market (Sharp Zaurus is one of the good examples).
Just my 2 cents.
"...The robot has no face or legs, and with its long arms certainly doesn't look human...'" Maybe it is just my twisted imagination, but it looks human to me: http://www.space.gc.ca/asc/img/spdm-hr.jpg I can see arms, legs, head and even something between the legs... ;)
"...Looks like what's bad for Sony may be good for the consumer..."
Really? Where have you people been when Sony pushed HD-DVD down? Everybody on the forums cried out: "Die, HD-DVD, die! Viva Blu-Ray!"
No, consumer is a bitch. He will eat whatever is more popular and whatever has a hype around. There are so few educated consumers in comparison to general public.
So, IMHO, regardless of the features, if Asus keeps promoting Eee PC and succeeds in establishing a stable cult around it, then it will survive. Otherwise, Sony, Dell and the other mammoths will bring it down, since they have more money and power to push their products. End of story.
Technology like that is already used now. I see some Dell laptops have WiFi hotspot finder integrated into BIOS, and it displays results without booting your OS.
Also I believe I've seen some email apps integrated into BIOS that flash a light on your computer when your email arrives without booting Windows. I do not remember exactly, so I may be mistaken about email, but WiFi hotspot finders in BIOS - this feature is on Dell laptops for sure.
This could be considered slightly offtopic, but I would add one more benefit of NASA Moon mission: the resurrection of public interest in space science (in general) and Space Science Fiction (in particular). Did you notice that during recent decades the theme of science fiction shifted significantly from space exploration plots to fantasy and alternative history? As a big fan of space science fiction, I feel my favourite trend is neglected. The reason is obvious - the whole space research both in USA and Russia/Europe fell into stagnation and public interest was lost. Remember how excited the science fiction writers were about space technology back in 60s? They were expecting humans to fly around solar system by 2000 and to distant stars in the beginning of this new century. Where are their hopes? Ruined. Now I really hope NASA mission will bring back the long-forgotten public excitement about space exploration, and the science fiction will once again picture the starships instead of dragons and elves. I hope.
Gates also said that DRM was evil for Microsoft customers and suggested buying DVDs and CDs instead of DRMed mp3s. This was discussed on Slashdot several weeks ago.
Now Jobs is doing similar announcement. I think this is the FUD from the big bosses: "Sorry guys if my employees hurt you. They just do their jobs well, you know... You should forgive them. I am above those dirty things they do with DRM, it's evil, I agree. Still, we have no choice..."
If your company does something you do not agree with, but can not change, either stick to your companys politics and shut up or protest and leave.
P.S. Sorry for the socialist slogans here.
There was a lady in our office (long time ago) who was excited about everything all the time. When our network admin gave her a new password, she was so excited, that she cried it out loud in front of everybody. Well, admin was really upset and told her everything he was thinking about her. Then she told him with an innocent expression: "Why can not you teach me this security practices?" He replied: "I can not teach you how to eat, mate or live." So related to Bank of America customers, if they do not care about the security - it is their fault. If they start crying their passwords out loud - it is their fault. It is a common sense, like eating, avoiding poisons, not hurting yourself. You can not teach the grown-up how to do those things. It is their sole responsibility, and not a fault of the Bank.