On the contrary, it is extremely important what papers (and websites) look like. If your paper doesn't look professional, it will be ignored, regardless of the merits of its content.
Try sending a resume written in crayon - I doubt they'll even look twice at it. Go here http://www.utahwolfproductions.com/ and see if your eyes explode. Do you still think that how things look doesn't matter? (I'm unaffiliated with that site, I just use it as an example of eye-exploding ugliness.)
If your paper says something worthwhile but is butt-ugly, then I wouldn't look at it - I'd give it back and say "resubmit it in a readable form." You can say "f you" all you want but if the powers that be don't like ugly papers then you have to play by their rules.
Imagine if Microsoft's site looked like the site I linked to above. Do you think they'd be taken seriously?
True, but theoretically you should be able to return the product if you don't agree to the EULA, so prohibiting that would be bad. Instead they should put the EULA inside the box but outside the shrink-wrap - or even better, in a sleeve on the outside of the box.
Go to apple.com's store and select the default 15" MacBook Pro. Yeah, the $1999 one. It has the following specs:
OSX Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz 2GB RAM 200GB 5400rpm hard drive 8x DVD-RW nVidia GeForce 8600M GT 256MB 15" 1440x900 widescreen LCD 802.11n and Bluetooth
I've just now configured a Dell Latitude D830 (through Small Business) with the following specs:
Windows XP Professional (with Vista Business license and media) Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz 2GB RAM 180 GB 7200rpm hard drive 8x DVD-RW nVidia Quadro 140M 256MB 15.4" 1440x900 widescreen LCD 802.11n and Bluetooth
Total cost? $1356 - that's $650 less. That's not "anecdotal wankfest evidence", that's reproducible hard evidence. It's a current Dell system next to a current Apple system. It's comparable. The Dell machine is not markedly inferior (though it lacks a webcam, boo-hoo). Dell laptops don't way any more than Apple's, in my experience.
And now for my next trick, a Dell Vostro 1510:
Windows XP Professional (with Vista Business media and license) Core 2 Duo 2.5GHz 2GB RAM 250GB 7200rpm hard drive 8x DVD-RW nVidia GeForce 8400M GS 256MB 15.4" 1440x900 widescreen LCD 802.11n and Bluetooth Webcam
Total cost? $1541. It has a higher capacity and faster hard drive than the MacBook (add $50 to the MacBook to match capacity or $100 to match speed, but not both), faster processor, and a slightly inferior video card in terms of speed but not memory. Even has a webcam. Saves $450, more if you upgrade the MacBook's hard drive.
Except it *is* about cheaper. I've configured various laptops from both Dell and Apple with equivalent specs - and Apple's laptops are consistently around $600 more expensive. I'll believe that Dell uses *slightly* cheaper hardware, but $600 worth? I don't think so.
Not to mention saving money. I've been building computers for my boss; we're saving an average of $300 per machine, although that's largely because we have a site license for Windows.
You're missing part of the problem - you have to crack the shrink-wrap to get to the EULA. If I open the box, I can still return it to the store or sell it - if the shrink-wrap is still there. But once I tear the shrink-wrap to get at the EULA, I'm hosed, because whether or not I agree, I can't return the software for a full refund, and most likely noone will buy it at retail price.
I've always wanted to test this, but I don't have $129 (for OSX) or more-ish for Vista. It's an expensive test if it fails, unless you'd use the software anyway.
DMA is enabled. I've tried so many options I can't remember them all. This happens in both Linux (various distros) and Windows, both XP and Vista (when I had it on here). It has happened unfailingly through several wiped drives and OS reinstalls. It makes LiveCDs somewhat difficult to use (and is probably why Ubuntu didn't want to install). Making ISOs is painfully slow in any OS, and though it was advertised as an 8x DVD burner and 24x CD burner I can't get it to burn DVDs at more than ~1.7x nor CDs at more than 6x.
Yes, it's Dell's fault, but I got such a good deal on the laptop that I stopped *really* caring about this issue about ten minutes after I noticed it.
I tried to get Dell to ship me my laptop without Windows (I have my own legit copies of XP Pro, no need to pay Dell for XP Home). They refused. Finally I gave up. (No, they did not offer Ubuntu on this model.)
I once worked at a company that will remain nameless that used tons of pirated software, or violated licensing terms, etc. They had one several-thousand-dollar piece of software meant for validating addresses, with a license for just one machine. If memory serves, it was installed on every single Windows machine in the office (probably thirty).
We had a burned Windows 2000 Server cd that we used for everyone's workstations (but all the servers ran Fedora Core 4); I'm pretty sure it wasn't a site license. Same for MS Office, though most of the peons were instructed to use OpenOffice.
We used some ancient (DOS-era).dbf-manipulating programs that I'm sure we only had once license for. (That's three WTFs in one.)
My experience there made me promise myself that when I own my own company, I'll just use open source software as much as possible to avoid the whole mire, but if I do find myself running Windows, I'll be sure to have enough licenses. I don't want bureaus of any flavor on my back...
A friend of mine went to megagames at my recommendation - and got a virus so bad I literally had to wipe the hard drive to fix it. I no longer recommend megagames. Yes, he had an updated virus scanner (assuming you count McAffee...).
I actually can't play games with the CD in the drive - my laptop slows to a molasses-like crawl whenever data is being read from the CD drive. This is true whether it's a music CD, a DVD, or a video game's CD. If I don't make a disc image and use something like Daemon Tools, then my games are literally unplayable.
Some might say it's my fault for buying a computer with this issue (as if I knew before I bought it), and others might say it's Dell's fault, or whatever - but while I find piracy morally wrong (and extremely hypocritical for a non-OSS programmer), I find nothing wrong with using images of discs I personally own, especially if it improves performance and reliability. Keeping them in the case (as morari points out) protects them from scratches and whatnot, too.
Once in a while my wife tries to get me to believe that Honda only makes seven unique keys and randomly assigns one of the seven to each car. I'm willing to believe there are collisions - I'll even believe 1 in 10 - but I can't fathom them doing it intentionally.
If you get a home delivery service like Winder Dairy you just get milk twice a week, you don't have to tell anyone. Just make sure you tell them how much milk you drink when you sign up so you're not swamped or dry;)
OEM product keys don't work on standard (non-OEM) install CDs. You need an OEM install CD. OEM install CDs are often tied to particular hardware. There are exceptions but this is the case more often than not.
You made another point without realizing it - date-based versioning makes it difficult to maintain updates for an older branch. What version would the updated older versions be? How would you ensure they don't conflict with the date-versions of the newer releases?
That grammar probably sucked but I'm too lazy to try to reword it. In any case, I award you +1 Insightful in spirit;)
Ok, but comparing two numbers in X.Y.ZZ form is much, much quicker than reading the release notes for every version change from 2007.047 to 2008.198. Plus you wouldn't have a way to figure out the approximate number of releases between the two versions.
Generally the point of version numbers is to know which is newer, or to be able to provide a range for compatibility ("my program FooBar is compatible with 2.6.20 or newer"). Switching to a date-based system does not assist with either need.
The only thing I haven't been able to get to work on my laptop is Bluetooth, and that's likely because I'm masochistic and installed Gentoo. I'm 95% sure that if I were to boot up with an Ubuntu LiveCD then Bluetooth would work (everything else does in Ubuntu, if memory serves). Everything worked in Linux the day I unboxed the brand-new laptop (though the wireless was a bit more finnicky back then) in April/May 2007.
Slashdot Mirror
On the contrary, it is extremely important what papers (and websites) look like. If your paper doesn't look professional, it will be ignored, regardless of the merits of its content.
Try sending a resume written in crayon - I doubt they'll even look twice at it. Go here http://www.utahwolfproductions.com/ and see if your eyes explode. Do you still think that how things look doesn't matter? (I'm unaffiliated with that site, I just use it as an example of eye-exploding ugliness.)
If your paper says something worthwhile but is butt-ugly, then I wouldn't look at it - I'd give it back and say "resubmit it in a readable form." You can say "f you" all you want but if the powers that be don't like ugly papers then you have to play by their rules.
Imagine if Microsoft's site looked like the site I linked to above. Do you think they'd be taken seriously?
It's not the first time.
True, but theoretically you should be able to return the product if you don't agree to the EULA, so prohibiting that would be bad. Instead they should put the EULA inside the box but outside the shrink-wrap - or even better, in a sleeve on the outside of the box.
Wow. By "way" I meant "weigh". Oops.
Go to apple.com's store and select the default 15" MacBook Pro. Yeah, the $1999 one. It has the following specs:
OSX
Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz
2GB RAM
200GB 5400rpm hard drive
8x DVD-RW
nVidia GeForce 8600M GT 256MB
15" 1440x900 widescreen LCD
802.11n and Bluetooth
I've just now configured a Dell Latitude D830 (through Small Business) with the following specs:
Windows XP Professional (with Vista Business license and media)
Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz
2GB RAM
180 GB 7200rpm hard drive
8x DVD-RW
nVidia Quadro 140M 256MB
15.4" 1440x900 widescreen LCD
802.11n and Bluetooth
Total cost? $1356 - that's $650 less. That's not "anecdotal wankfest evidence", that's reproducible hard evidence. It's a current Dell system next to a current Apple system. It's comparable. The Dell machine is not markedly inferior (though it lacks a webcam, boo-hoo). Dell laptops don't way any more than Apple's, in my experience.
And now for my next trick, a Dell Vostro 1510:
Windows XP Professional (with Vista Business media and license)
Core 2 Duo 2.5GHz
2GB RAM
250GB 7200rpm hard drive
8x DVD-RW
nVidia GeForce 8400M GS 256MB
15.4" 1440x900 widescreen LCD
802.11n and Bluetooth
Webcam
Total cost? $1541. It has a higher capacity and faster hard drive than the MacBook (add $50 to the MacBook to match capacity or $100 to match speed, but not both), faster processor, and a slightly inferior video card in terms of speed but not memory. Even has a webcam. Saves $450, more if you upgrade the MacBook's hard drive.
So does anyone still believe I'm blowing smoke?
Except it *is* about cheaper. I've configured various laptops from both Dell and Apple with equivalent specs - and Apple's laptops are consistently around $600 more expensive. I'll believe that Dell uses *slightly* cheaper hardware, but $600 worth? I don't think so.
Not to mention saving money. I've been building computers for my boss; we're saving an average of $300 per machine, although that's largely because we have a site license for Windows.
Ah. Fair enough.
I agree. I love it when people defend themselves over things like extraneous $0.01 charges, even though it'd be easier to pay the $0.01.
You're missing part of the problem - you have to crack the shrink-wrap to get to the EULA. If I open the box, I can still return it to the store or sell it - if the shrink-wrap is still there. But once I tear the shrink-wrap to get at the EULA, I'm hosed, because whether or not I agree, I can't return the software for a full refund, and most likely noone will buy it at retail price.
I've always wanted to test this, but I don't have $129 (for OSX) or more-ish for Vista. It's an expensive test if it fails, unless you'd use the software anyway.
I could use it as intended, or as an expensive doorstop.
I read that as doorstep, which I guess is just as legitimate a use...
DMA is enabled. I've tried so many options I can't remember them all. This happens in both Linux (various distros) and Windows, both XP and Vista (when I had it on here). It has happened unfailingly through several wiped drives and OS reinstalls. It makes LiveCDs somewhat difficult to use (and is probably why Ubuntu didn't want to install). Making ISOs is painfully slow in any OS, and though it was advertised as an 8x DVD burner and 24x CD burner I can't get it to burn DVDs at more than ~1.7x nor CDs at more than 6x.
Yes, it's Dell's fault, but I got such a good deal on the laptop that I stopped *really* caring about this issue about ten minutes after I noticed it.
Yes, they did so for Starcraft and its expansion (patch 1.15a) and Diablo II and its expansion (patch 1.12a).
I tried to get Dell to ship me my laptop without Windows (I have my own legit copies of XP Pro, no need to pay Dell for XP Home). They refused. Finally I gave up. (No, they did not offer Ubuntu on this model.)
There's not always an option.
I once worked at a company that will remain nameless that used tons of pirated software, or violated licensing terms, etc. They had one several-thousand-dollar piece of software meant for validating addresses, with a license for just one machine. If memory serves, it was installed on every single Windows machine in the office (probably thirty).
We had a burned Windows 2000 Server cd that we used for everyone's workstations (but all the servers ran Fedora Core 4); I'm pretty sure it wasn't a site license. Same for MS Office, though most of the peons were instructed to use OpenOffice.
We used some ancient (DOS-era) .dbf-manipulating programs that I'm sure we only had once license for. (That's three WTFs in one.)
My experience there made me promise myself that when I own my own company, I'll just use open source software as much as possible to avoid the whole mire, but if I do find myself running Windows, I'll be sure to have enough licenses. I don't want bureaus of any flavor on my back...
A friend of mine went to megagames at my recommendation - and got a virus so bad I literally had to wipe the hard drive to fix it. I no longer recommend megagames. Yes, he had an updated virus scanner (assuming you count McAffee...).
I actually can't play games with the CD in the drive - my laptop slows to a molasses-like crawl whenever data is being read from the CD drive. This is true whether it's a music CD, a DVD, or a video game's CD. If I don't make a disc image and use something like Daemon Tools, then my games are literally unplayable.
Some might say it's my fault for buying a computer with this issue (as if I knew before I bought it), and others might say it's Dell's fault, or whatever - but while I find piracy morally wrong (and extremely hypocritical for a non-OSS programmer), I find nothing wrong with using images of discs I personally own, especially if it improves performance and reliability. Keeping them in the case (as morari points out) protects them from scratches and whatnot, too.
Once in a while my wife tries to get me to believe that Honda only makes seven unique keys and randomly assigns one of the seven to each car. I'm willing to believe there are collisions - I'll even believe 1 in 10 - but I can't fathom them doing it intentionally.
If you get a home delivery service like Winder Dairy you just get milk twice a week, you don't have to tell anyone. Just make sure you tell them how much milk you drink when you sign up so you're not swamped or dry ;)
OEM product keys don't work on standard (non-OEM) install CDs. You need an OEM install CD. OEM install CDs are often tied to particular hardware. There are exceptions but this is the case more often than not.
Sorry, better luck next time.
You made another point without realizing it - date-based versioning makes it difficult to maintain updates for an older branch. What version would the updated older versions be? How would you ensure they don't conflict with the date-versions of the newer releases?
That grammar probably sucked but I'm too lazy to try to reword it. In any case, I award you +1 Insightful in spirit ;)
Ok, but comparing two numbers in X.Y.ZZ form is much, much quicker than reading the release notes for every version change from 2007.047 to 2008.198. Plus you wouldn't have a way to figure out the approximate number of releases between the two versions.
Generally the point of version numbers is to know which is newer, or to be able to provide a range for compatibility ("my program FooBar is compatible with 2.6.20 or newer"). Switching to a date-based system does not assist with either need.
+1 Insightful in spirit.
The only thing I haven't been able to get to work on my laptop is Bluetooth, and that's likely because I'm masochistic and installed Gentoo. I'm 95% sure that if I were to boot up with an Ubuntu LiveCD then Bluetooth would work (everything else does in Ubuntu, if memory serves). Everything worked in Linux the day I unboxed the brand-new laptop (though the wireless was a bit more finnicky back then) in April/May 2007.
Why does that remind me of the Bratz barbie-like doll they're marketing to kids?
Oh, it's the z.