The same reason that people use Windows CE: because it's Microsoft, it's supported (in theory), and someone in their organization told them to). And as freaky as it may seem, some people might actually ENJOY using Windows CE. (I know I'm not one of them, but I'm sure it happens.:) )
How is this much different from GNU running on proprietary UNIX machines all these years? GNU wouldn't have had the visibility it does and the loyalty it does if they hadn't had Sun and HP versions of GNU tools. I think the real reason GNU is where it's at is because it's always been there to scratch the users itch. What's so wrong about having GNOME or other GNU tools there to scratch OSX users itches? I think it's a big win for GNU that people are ready to accept these tools on OSX.
I think this is more of a purity issue than a political issue. Yes, in a perfect world users would prefer to run GNU tools on GNU operating systems and pass around GNU blessed formatted documents. We're closer to that goal if people become more familiar with the GNU tools, and not a moment before. I can't think how GNOME or other tools running on OSX hurts the end goal.
When was the last time you saw any of those magazines publish something that didn't trumpet the latest and greatest from Microsoft? Granted, that's probably a very harsh statement.
Also, Windows XP is supposed to perform better than Windows 9x. That's what NT has been for all along.
Seems the GripeLine on Infoworld made mention of this. What used to be sterling support has been turned into a nightmare. Of course I think part of the problem is a "It's not my problem" mentality between the hardware and software manufacturers. Microsoft won't support OEM licenses, and the manufacturers are getting inundated with problems Microsoft won't touch.
Re:Not true about MD not taking off...
on
Quarter-sized CD's?
·
· Score: 3, Interesting
Actually, I saw prerecorded Minidiscs here in the States (Over in the local Best Buy in fact). The selection was about 1/20th of the CD selection in the same store, but it was most certainly there. You could also find blank media pretty easily, and about every store I went into had at least one or two minidisc models on display.
Ahh, but what's to say he won't start charging for the priviledge of obtaining the source code in the future? Or maybe he'll tire of having to sendout the source, so he'll just stop one day. The GPL is good in this respect because you don't have to worry about this. It was born in a time when companies who traditionally gave out source code decided it wasn't worth it anymore, or there was extra revenue to be made off of the initial sale. Yes, you can still find companies that will give you source code, but at what cost? The GPL ensures you get everything up front, with irrevocable rights.
More than likely the author of SkyOS doesn't want to become another "open source" OS, and get lost in the shuffle. Too bad for him. The bench of obsolesced and abandoned OSes always has room for one more. Just ask BeOS.
This could be either good or bad... Good because governments may not have the jurisdiction over the internet, and bad, because freedoms we take for granted like free speech and such may be unenforceable.
Not sure what I think of this... It's of course too soon to tell what the ramifications of this case are.
When was the last time you were able to purchase a pre-packaged machine and not have a Microsoft OS loaded? Unless you're prepared to completely roll-your-own, you can't escape Microsoft.
That is where money-voting fails. There is no consumer choice to NOT use Microsoft unless you roll-your-own or buy an Apple.
Obviously the author does not scratch CDs. Perhaps some steel wool, a malicious 13 year old, and some free time with the author's CD collection would change her mind.
I can't imagine a committee coming up with a reasonable solution to this problem. Perhaps they'll allow three devices in the future.
What if it was technologically feasable to create an adapter to allow playback of betamax tapes on VHS decks. Would marketing this adapter violate copyright? What if the adapter removed Macrovizion in order to allow a clearer picture. Would that violate copyright (note, I didn't mention using the defeating of Macrovision to make a copy, just to play back the tape).
Personally, I stand behind the first sale doctrine until they can come up with doctrine that doesn't violate a consumers rights out of the box.
Part of the reason Exchange is eating Sendmail's lunch is not just the mail component, but that it interfaces rather well with Outlook and offers calendars and other "groupware" stuff. It has nothing to do with how sterling or crappy Exchange handles mail.
I wonder if Oracle will allow Perl Stored Procedures. I despised PL/SQL when I had to use it, since I could do everything PL/SQL did in Perl (minus triggers).
I would say that Mozilla has since surpassed Netscape as far as stability. There are still certain sites that will hork Mozilla and require you to use something like Netscape, but at least Mozilla will allow for a "softer" crash than Netscape.
It's amazing to me what people will sell their privacy for. Password management? Seems like the user is getting the short end of the deal with this plugin.
Also, with IE and Mozilla/Netscape now offering password management, is Gator relevant anymore?
Learning the lessons the hard way
on
$1200 Cheap!
·
· Score: 3, Insightful
Unfortuantely Microsoft is learning the lessons of 3DO the hard way. When first introduced, the Panasonic 3DO console had a price tag of $800, sans software. At launch there were very few software titles available, and even fewer "must have" games. While Microsoft sems aware that very few people will pay more than $299 for a console machine, bundling these machines with multiple games which may or may not be good is ludicrous. The only reason I can see for bundling a console with a game nowadays (outside of pack-in games) are games that require special controllers like gun-games or driving games. If this isn't their strategy, and Microsoft is just bundling for the ske of bundling, they're in for some stiff competition when the Game Cube arrives, and Sony gears up for ther Christmas promotions.
No, it just means that I don't believe that Object Oriented methodologies are the panacaea you make them out to be. A mixture of objects and functions can produce some very elegant results as well. Java does not allow this programming style. This is where I take issue with a complete Object Oriented system. Why limit yourself to one paradigm?
Well, I too did some Java programming, and liked it to a point. This was back around 1998. The problems I encountered were mostly cleint related (Sun hadn't created their now mandatory plugin). I would never consider using Java for a client-side application, and quite frankly lost my appetite for programming in Java. True, it may be approaching C and C++ speeds, and it does get rid of some of the headaches of C and C++, but then again, I've found that Object Oriented programming isn't the complete answer to programming... you need a balance of both function and objects. Not everything can be represented by objects.
Part of the difference between Pascal and Java is Java is the embodiment of a completely Object Oriented language, where Pascal was another in the long line of function-based languages. Pascal's role n the academic world was more as a training language for other languages like C, Modula, or Ada. Java, on the other hand, is a paradigm shift. That's why Java is gaining ground outside the academic world where Pascal merely floundered.
Unfortuantely I see Java being used more and more as a teaching language in universities, ergo more and more developers graduating out of schools are learning Java. Very few college programs will teach anything like C or C++ when they can teach object oriented programming using Java. These developers then move into the private sector and recommend developing using Java to their superiors. It's a vicious cycle. this is also the natural progression for those who are "saved" by Object Oriented methodologies.
How many people even knew Dell was shipping desktops or laptops with Linux on them? I guess you really have to have your ear to the ground, or you might miss something like this.:)
As long as they still support Linux on their desktops and laptops, I'm sure this won't be much of an issue.
Actually, I have a game for the Atari 8-bit (It was a cross-country driving game) that had a sticker on it that mentioned this, so if it was an urban legend, it was propagated by Activision itself. I'm not sure if the sticker was on the package itself (I still have the folder the software came on) or on the shrinkwrap. I might have to go looking for it if there is any interest.
Sadly, that's the first thing I thought of... I was thinking "Gee, did IBM have something to do with the demise of GRID? Were the GRIDs in competition with the convertible for "behemoth of the year" when IBM stifled the competition?
Alright... admit it... who here pines for the days of plasma screens?:)
Slashdot Mirror
The same reason that people use Windows CE: because it's Microsoft, it's supported (in theory), and someone in their organization told them to). And as freaky as it may seem, some people might actually ENJOY using Windows CE. (I know I'm not one of them, but I'm sure it happens. :) )
I think this is more of a purity issue than a political issue. Yes, in a perfect world users would prefer to run GNU tools on GNU operating systems and pass around GNU blessed formatted documents. We're closer to that goal if people become more familiar with the GNU tools, and not a moment before. I can't think how GNOME or other tools running on OSX hurts the end goal.
Also, Windows XP is supposed to perform better than Windows 9x. That's what NT has been for all along.
Seems the GripeLine on Infoworld made mention of this. What used to be sterling support has been turned into a nightmare. Of course I think part of the problem is a "It's not my problem" mentality between the hardware and software manufacturers. Microsoft won't support OEM licenses, and the manufacturers are getting inundated with problems Microsoft won't touch.
Actually, I saw prerecorded Minidiscs here in the States (Over in the local Best Buy in fact). The selection was about 1/20th of the CD selection in the same store, but it was most certainly there. You could also find blank media pretty easily, and about every store I went into had at least one or two minidisc models on display.
Ahh, but what's to say he won't start charging for the priviledge of obtaining the source code in the future? Or maybe he'll tire of having to sendout the source, so he'll just stop one day. The GPL is good in this respect because you don't have to worry about this. It was born in a time when companies who traditionally gave out source code decided it wasn't worth it anymore, or there was extra revenue to be made off of the initial sale. Yes, you can still find companies that will give you source code, but at what cost? The GPL ensures you get everything up front, with irrevocable rights.
More than likely the author of SkyOS doesn't want to become another "open source" OS, and get lost in the shuffle. Too bad for him. The bench of obsolesced and abandoned OSes always has room for one more. Just ask BeOS.
Not sure what I think of this... It's of course too soon to tell what the ramifications of this case are.
How quickly we forget that Linux too is vulnerable.
That is where money-voting fails. There is no consumer choice to NOT use Microsoft unless you roll-your-own or buy an Apple.
From support@apple.com
Weird choice of return addresses, no? Fortunately I run a pine/procmail combo, and procmail managed to toss it into my SPAM folder.
Buslogic made one (the 445 VLB). I have one in my closet gathering dust if you need it. :)
Part of the reason Exchange is eating Sendmail's lunch is not just the mail component, but that it interfaces rather well with Outlook and offers calendars and other "groupware" stuff. It has nothing to do with how sterling or crappy Exchange handles mail.
Well, one can dream, can't they? :)
I would say that Mozilla has since surpassed Netscape as far as stability. There are still certain sites that will hork Mozilla and require you to use something like Netscape, but at least Mozilla will allow for a "softer" crash than Netscape.
Also, with IE and Mozilla/Netscape now offering password management, is Gator relevant anymore?
Unfortuantely Microsoft is learning the lessons of 3DO the hard way. When first introduced, the Panasonic 3DO console had a price tag of $800, sans software. At launch there were very few software titles available, and even fewer "must have" games. While Microsoft sems aware that very few people will pay more than $299 for a console machine, bundling these machines with multiple games which may or may not be good is ludicrous. The only reason I can see for bundling a console with a game nowadays (outside of pack-in games) are games that require special controllers like gun-games or driving games. If this isn't their strategy, and Microsoft is just bundling for the ske of bundling, they're in for some stiff competition when the Game Cube arrives, and Sony gears up for ther Christmas promotions.
It's not my intention to debate this on Slashdot.
To each her own, I guess...
Part of the difference between Pascal and Java is Java is the embodiment of a completely Object Oriented language, where Pascal was another in the long line of function-based languages. Pascal's role n the academic world was more as a training language for other languages like C, Modula, or Ada. Java, on the other hand, is a paradigm shift. That's why Java is gaining ground outside the academic world where Pascal merely floundered.
Unfortuantely I see Java being used more and more as a teaching language in universities, ergo more and more developers graduating out of schools are learning Java. Very few college programs will teach anything like C or C++ when they can teach object oriented programming using Java. These developers then move into the private sector and recommend developing using Java to their superiors. It's a vicious cycle. this is also the natural progression for those who are "saved" by Object Oriented methodologies.
Lucas could try to remake the Star Wars Christmas Special and toss wookies into the fray. :)
As long as they still support Linux on their desktops and laptops, I'm sure this won't be much of an issue.
Will they ship a laptop or desktop without an OS?
Actually, I have a game for the Atari 8-bit (It was a cross-country driving game) that had a sticker on it that mentioned this, so if it was an urban legend, it was propagated by Activision itself. I'm not sure if the sticker was on the package itself (I still have the folder the software came on) or on the shrinkwrap. I might have to go looking for it if there is any interest.
Alright... admit it... who here pines for the days of plasma screens? :)