Slashdot Mirror


User: mikee805

mikee805's activity in the archive.

Stories
0
Comments
62
First seen
Last seen
Profile
(view on slashdot.org)

Comments · 62

  1. Re:And I was *so* enthused about their Click&R on Linspire Releases Controversial Version 6.0 · · Score: 2, Informative

    I was following with great anticipation the release of the next freespire version back in June. Then just before the beta they announced the patent deal. After that I followed the discussions on the freespire boards. A lot of a good people left to http://www.klikit.org/. I stopped following after a while. It was about a 50/50 split between those who were upset and those who were not. Most (and I have seen a lot of this in the comments here) that were not upset seemed to have confused the licensing agreements Linspire had done in the past for codes and such with the current deal that also included patents. Which in the minds of most people crossed a line they hadnt before. This had nothing to do with the user experience or usability.

    I liked the idea of legally watching a DVD or listening to an MP3 on Linux a more stable less vulnerable OS. I also liked the idea of having a distro I could recommend that was legal in this regard. You would be surprised how many people get scared when they see a window tell them that by continuing they might by breaking the law.

  2. Re:Money! Money! Money! on A Coveted Landing Strip for Google's Founders · · Score: 1

    the super rich have always enjoyed freebees that us mere mortals can only (wet) dream of. I heard an interview with Donald Trump saying that he never carries cash and has never had the need to pay for anything. If it ever came up would not be able to. He then went to say that he has had dinners for dozens people without paying a check. Just boggles the mind.
  3. Re:My Experiences on Believe the Occupational Outlook Handbook? · · Score: 1

    I have done a few interviews for technical positions myself and been interviewed more than a few. One thing that really sands out that no one seems to mention are interview skills, business etiquette and decorum. These things can really make you stand out.

  4. Re:This should end well on Vista Pirates To Get "Black Screen of Darkness" · · Score: 1

    True, but that means buy it all over again. So still stuck but not in the technical sense. The plus about Linux is that the alternatives that are there are Free as in Beer

  5. Re:You can't get there from here. on Believe the Occupational Outlook Handbook? · · Score: 1

    And this is what people fear. Along the lines of what happened with engineering. First went the manufacturing then the engineering. The same is happening for software first goes the programmers then goes the software engineers and architects.

  6. Re:This should end well on Vista Pirates To Get "Black Screen of Darkness" · · Score: 1

    My father recently purchased a new laptop with Vista. He was telling about of the issues he was having I and informed him of how common they were and few others he might be on the look out for.

    He asked if I was going to take the plunge and upgrade to Vista. I said my next OS would probably be some flavor of Linux. He asked why dont I switch him to Linux then if I am going that route. Simple he is a "Prosumer" photographer and none of his software works in anything but windows. CS3, this photo archiving program and tons of other little programs for his specific gear. So he is stuck.

    Until that changes no matter how bad Vista is or its terms people are going to stay. There are alternatives for you and I. I can use OO instead of Office or VLC instead of Media Player. But there are no alternatives to these small niche applications.

  7. Re:More than one side to this one... on Best Programming Practices For Web Developers · · Score: 1

    I think (might wrong about this) but http://www.openlaszlo.org/ might a good way to degrade. It will create similar interfaces in both flash and dhtml. So you can detect if a user has flash if so give them flash if not give them dhtml. Of course (and this the part I have wondered myself) why not just always use dhtml?

  8. Now the rest... on Judge Strikes Down Part of Patriot Act · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Now we just have to get the rest struck down.

  9. Re:Evidence is already out there on Comcast Forging Packets To Filter Torrents · · Score: 1

    extreme network neutrality or XNN is when two people have to look at the same network to make sure that it is neutral.

  10. Re:Open and Shut Case of Police Harrasment on Man Arrested for Refusing to Show Drivers License · · Score: 1

    Ikea has started a nasty policy of charging for bags.

  11. Re:Levers + bullshit = more of the same stupidity. on NASA Employees Fight Invasive Background Check · · Score: 1

    Also more on the same point why does someone have to have a reason? So I have a few thousand in my savings and no real debt. Does that mean I wouldnt like a few thousand more?

  12. Next book? on Science Blogger Sued for Unfavorable Book Review · · Score: 1

    This is going to make it hard to get his next book reviewed.

  13. Re:No, it won't help on Free Tuition for Math, Science, and Engineering? · · Score: 1

    The solution is more need-based and merit-based scholarships specifically for these technical fields.

    There was a post up above that said something similar. It depends on what you want to reward. This is a new type of thinking reward someone for something they are going to do and hold them accountable.

    Merit based rewards someone for something they have done.

    Need based is helping people who have a financial need.

    I dont think the latter applies this isnt necessarily about need (ie without this they couldnt go to school, there are loan, etc as you pointed out). It about lower the barriers to everyone (including the rich).
  14. Re:No, it won't help on Free Tuition for Math, Science, and Engineering? · · Score: 1

    You can't bribe someone to be a nerd. Then how about rewarding them for it? I am a recent grad and I think this would a great way to get more people in these fields that are really interested in them. Right now a lot of people go into other fields that they dont like as much since education (like it or not) has a ROI for the student. On the flip side for students who get into because its free well they have to at least like it enough to pursue it after college. I saw a lot of people taking space away from students who really wanted to be in computer science but couldn't because the classes were full. Many of students that were in it for the money but while they were in school the bottom dropped out so they get their degree then move right into sales.
  15. Re:Can it be retroactive? on Free Tuition for Math, Science, and Engineering? · · Score: 1

    This is one of those ideas that I have thought of myself as a fairly recent grad who is trying to pay off this loans.
    I think it would also encourage people to go into a degree that fits them better. I saw plenty of people entering the computer science program getting their BS in CS just to take any job that requires a degree (this was just after the bubble and the overnight millionaires were gone) since they didnt really like it and were only in it for the money. It really made the program worse because for a while you had to be a CS major to take any of the classes (they were too full) so someone in Physics who wanted to learn to model in software couldn't or it would drag down many of the harder classes with students who couldn't careless about learning the material.

  16. Re:The complaint is with FTC on NFL, MLB Accused of Bogus Copyright Claims · · Score: 2, Interesting

    If it is illegal why did they wait "decades" as the article even points out to do file the complaint?

  17. Re:A common API is the key on Dell to Offer More Linux PCs · · Score: 1

    Then provide the killer application development tools like Visual Basic and/or Access which will let newbie programmers write their killer app with no knowledge of computers or programming and then GNU/Linux may just stand a chance. I have been wondering about that myself. I havent looked (because I dont have a need), but is there an open source equivalent of Access? Something that lets you create simple database backed programs and forms?
  18. Re:In other Harry Potter news... on Harry Potter Leaked Via Handheld Camera · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Not every meal needs to be nutritionally constructive either. This reminds me of something that I heard Wolfgang Puck say in an interview for his latest cook book (to paraphrase):

    A meal is something you sit down to with good friends and enjoy with good wine. Not something you get at a drive thru. He went on to say basically that he has never eaten at a dive, fast food place or greasy spoon and does not consider that eating.

    After hearing that I thought of all that he is missing if he only eats fine dining.

    Same goes for literature if you only read classics then you are missing out on a lot. Imagine not ever eating at your favorite pizza joint or getting those great burgers. That is what you missing if you only read "great" literature.

    *BTW this particular book he was proud of since "you can find all of the ingredients [for the recipes] in your supermarket."
  19. Re:How to get Congre$$' attention on U.S. Court Denies Webcasters' Stay Petition · · Score: 1

    I have written both my senators and my congressman about this issue. Looking at that link you posted it turns out that my congressman and one senator take money from the RIAA. I was going to call them as save internet radio suggests, makes wonder if I should even bother. But it does give me one more things to say.

  20. Re:Well It's About Time! on Surgeon General Describes Censorship From Bush Administration · · Score: 1

    You can throw global warming in there also.

    The law states: As a discussion addressing the topic of the Bush administration grows in size, the probability of going on a Global Warming tanget grows to one.

  21. Re:You call it a shakedown... on Music Industry Shaking Down Coffee Shops · · Score: 1

    It's not like bars/restaurants mute the TV or change the channel or use PVR "commercial skip" measures during commercial breaks. It is not unprecedented for a business to replace the commercials in a broadcast with more targeted ones.
  22. Re:I don't see the problem on Zap2It Labs Discontinuing Free TV Guide Service · · Score: 1

    Everything you said is true, the point being all of this just makes it difficult to deal with something that is already less than reliable. I could see them doing something if they notice you are checking too frequently.

  23. Re:Did anyone really believe the Airforce's line? on USAF Developing New "SR-72" Supersonic Spy? · · Score: 1

    I always figured that too. Especially since the tinfoil hat crowd was already talking about project Aurora. Funny to because the other day I was just thinking about how they havent pulled out a surprise recon aircraft on us in a while.

  24. Re:I don't see the problem on Zap2It Labs Discontinuing Free TV Guide Service · · Score: 1

    They could throw a login in front of it or use captchas.

  25. Re:what with companies ? on Man Sues Gateway Because He Can't Read EULA · · Score: 1

    Whats pointless is passing a discussion on your own premise rather than trying to understand what someone else is saying. You just talking to yourself.