The probability of finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is vanishingly small and cannot be changed by anyone. The probability of a person successfully applying for and receiving a patent is quite different from zero and is under control of that person.
Even though there are conditions on issuance of driving licenses (age, vision, understanding applicable laws) few would dispute the phrase, "anyone can get a driving license."
This has wandered quiet far from the original arguement that people who care about changing the patent system would more productive if they worked to change the system instead of criticizing Microsoft or IBM or Sony.
Anyone with sufficient money for patent searches, attorney fees, and the money to go to trial when a large company doesn't like what you're doing can receive a patent. puts unquantified conditions on but does not negate the phrase, Anyone can apply for and receive a patent.
Your implication is that there are only two choices: "Criticize Microsoft and others for playing by the rules" and "keeping your mouth shut and silently accepting it." There are others, all more effective.
Rule 1: If I don't patent it, someone else will -- no matter how obvious or trivial. Rule 2: If someone else patents it -- even if invalid -- and I try to use it, it's off to court for years and years and lots of money.
The game: The one with the most patents wins.
If you don't like the rules, you have two choices. Choice 1: Don't play the game. Choice 2: Get the rules changed.
Criticizing Microsoft or anyone else for playing the game by the rules is just whining.
... analysts say this will create a shortage of data center space in 2010 in key markets... where demand exceeds supply. And in markets where demand does not exceed supply there will be no shortage.
From the NYT article: Can we abide by the evidence when it tells us that antibiotics don't clear ear infections or help strep throats?
It has been common medical practice for decades to treat "sore throat" with antibiotics only after a positive throat swab for Streptococcus because of the associated risk of rheumatic fever and its complications. According to the article cited this is still true: A serious but rare complication is rheumatic fever, which affects the heart and joints... This review of trials found that antibiotics shorten the illness by an average of about one day and can reduce the chance of rheumatic fever in communities where this complication is common.
Perhaps if The New England Journal of Medicine was available free on-line, more patients would know about the conclusions of the cited article Spinal-Fusion Surgery -- The Case For Restraint. Access to the single article costs $10.
On the other hand, generic beta blockers (ie. propranalol) are so cheap as to be almost free. The conclusion in the cited article does not call for an absolute ban on beta-blocker therapy: Consequently, it might generally be prudent to consider starting beta-blocker therapy in hospital only when the haemodynamic condition after MI has stabilised.
As much as we would like to believe otherwise, medicine is still an inexact science.
Like the mortgage backed securities embeded in bank asset portfolios, there's no market for "Linux" so anybody naming a price is spreading fairy dust. Maybe they can get the US Treasury to make a bid.
Rather than focusing on dark and sinister plots perhaps speculation should center on lack of customer demand and/or too many calls for customer support. If the product was selling well and at a profit its not likely that Lenovo (or anyone else) would abandon the it.
If someone told me I had to use Emacs instead of VI I'd tell them that in doing so they would lose about 90% productivity... You are saying that you could do a job in one week using VI but the same job would take (you) 10 weeks using Emacs. Management would be correct to "no longer respect" your opinion.
Slashdot Mirror
Or does Google already have the edge with SearchWiki, which lets searchers re-rank its results.
Anybody who has used SearchWiki to re-rank Google results, hold you hand up. Up high. Keep 'em up. Anyone? I didn't think so.
And the source of this important information on pricing of an unreleased product? ...
A Microsoft spokesperson told me
Microsoft spokespersons with the knowledge and authority to speak about such things have a name and title.
... employees unwillingness to give up a tool that's so familiar.
Perhaps it's due to employees unwillingness to give up a tool that works so well. And which gets better with every new release.
It is and has been, "Gaming Platforms as Social Networks."
The probability of finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is vanishingly small and cannot be changed by anyone. The probability of a person successfully applying for and receiving a patent is quite different from zero and is under control of that person.
Even though there are conditions on issuance of driving licenses (age, vision, understanding applicable laws) few would dispute the phrase, "anyone can get a driving license."
This has wandered quiet far from the original arguement that people who care about changing the patent system would more productive if they worked to change the system instead of criticizing Microsoft or IBM or Sony.
Anyone with sufficient money for patent searches, attorney fees, and the money to go to trial when a large company doesn't like what you're doing can receive a patent. puts unquantified conditions on but does not negate the phrase, Anyone can apply for and receive a patent.
Anyone can apply for and receive a patent.
Your implication is that there are only two choices: "Criticize Microsoft and others for playing by the rules" and "keeping your mouth shut and silently accepting it." There are others, all more effective.
Rule 1: If I don't patent it, someone else will -- no matter how obvious or trivial.
Rule 2: If someone else patents it -- even if invalid -- and I try to use it, it's off to court for years and years and lots of money.
The game: The one with the most patents wins.
If you don't like the rules, you have two choices.
Choice 1: Don't play the game.
Choice 2: Get the rules changed.
Criticizing Microsoft or anyone else for playing the game by the rules is just whining.
And in markets where demand does not exceed supply there will be no shortage.
From the NYT article: Can we abide by the evidence when it tells us that antibiotics don't clear ear infections or help strep throats?
It has been common medical practice for decades to treat "sore throat" with antibiotics only after a positive throat swab for Streptococcus because of the associated risk of rheumatic fever and its complications. According to the article cited this is still true: A serious but rare complication is rheumatic fever, which affects the heart and joints ... This review of trials found that antibiotics shorten the illness by an average of about one day and can reduce the chance of rheumatic fever in communities where this complication is common.
Perhaps if The New England Journal of Medicine was available free on-line, more patients would know about the conclusions of the cited article Spinal-Fusion Surgery -- The Case For Restraint. Access to the single article costs $10.
On the other hand, generic beta blockers (ie. propranalol) are so cheap as to be almost free. The conclusion in the cited article does not call for an absolute ban on beta-blocker therapy: Consequently, it might generally be prudent to consider starting beta-blocker therapy in hospital only when the haemodynamic condition after MI has stabilised.
As much as we would like to believe otherwise, medicine is still an inexact science.
Intense criticism? Define "intense."
Isn't this how it's supposed to work? Release pre-production code to the community. Listen to comments. Respond to comments as appropriate.
Now define "over the top."
And then there are the computer models that predict climate. As a single number. Temperature of the atmosphere. For the next 100 years. Scary?
This is so ignorant that it must be a hoax.
The convenience factor is the equation. The whole equation.
Like the mortgage backed securities embeded in bank asset portfolios, there's no market for "Linux" so anybody naming a price is spreading fairy dust. Maybe they can get the US Treasury to make a bid.
And then there's the Alpha Romeo 8C ...
Rather than focusing on dark and sinister plots perhaps speculation should center on lack of customer demand and/or too many calls for customer support. If the product was selling well and at a profit its not likely that Lenovo (or anyone else) would abandon the it.
If someone told me I had to use Emacs instead of VI I'd tell them that in doing so they would lose about 90% productivity ...
You are saying that you could do a job in one week using VI but the same job would take (you) 10 weeks using Emacs. Management would be correct to "no longer respect" your opinion.
Now all I need is a machine that can read a 3.5 inch floppy.
Tomorrow Phrenology. Coming soon: Tea Leaves, Entrails, Astrology and Tarot Cards.
What is the conversion factor when going from "batteries charged off the grid" to "miles per gallon internal combustion gasoline engine?"