Yeah, I had them, but my dad is an entrepreneur and becausse of that, and despite the fact that he makes very little, my student loans went to the shithole.
> everyone was given the laptop loan.
I'm sure I know the answer, but are you able to sell it back to them after you're done with it? Is the price of the laptop taken off from the price of tuition? And was it required (I think you mentioned it was)? What if you wanted to spend time studying instead of working, how are you supposed to pay for the laptop?
I just think it's a very bad idea to require students to have laptops. I even think it's a bad idea (for most people, at least) to have them in classrooms, except for higher Math & Science classes (C.S. included).
> One: don't bother. You will never go back and listen to a recorded lecture. Ever. > Two: you're a fucking idiot. I'd sooner gouge out my own eyes than take your advice.
Man, the first part is stupid, but you make a greate point about gouging your eyes out. Thanks
> Take your generic black laptop to an off-campus Starbucks and see how many Kappa Delts ask you about it. Try the same experiment with an iBook.
A few problems with that:
1) Who said it was black, you racist! 2) Starbucks *shudder* 3) Kappa Delts -- frat boys don't impress me, whether they are "honors fraternity" or not 4) What do I care what others say about my laptop? All they would do is bother me & take my mind off of what I'm trying to do (okay, okay, social interaction is good, but only when I want it) 5) I'm not going to get an iBook to prove that people like shiny things. 6) pretty != functional (although I think iBooks are okay)
> It's called a trackpad,
What's a trackpad? Same as a touchpad? Those are the only way to go. Those "Joy Buttons" ("Who's the ad wizard that came up with THAT one.") on IBMs are the biggest pain in the ass to use. My Dell, however has both, which may be the best option for some.
> What a waste of keyboard space those are
If trackpad == touchpad, they take up way more space (but I don't care, I like them better).
> the company that INVENTED THE FUCKING LAPTOP: Apple.
Lies don't get too much more boldfaced. Wait, that's not bold, it's caps. Sorry.
> On the other side of the issue, laptops are distracting. The continuous clickety-clack in a room that is silent other than the professor talking is annoying as all get out
Absolutely. I don't (didn't) want to have to ask the lecturer to repeat himself because some 1337 doofus can't figure out the intricacies of a pencil and paper...
"Uh, so where do I click?" "Click & drag the long, graphite-cored, wooden mouse on the paper and use it to draw symbols."
> Or just get a truckload of Sony PlayStations and a bunch of ethernet cords. Try bringing THAT to class.
If you can manage to make it a BNC network, you can just leave a chain of them from your dorm room to class room. You'll know immediately if someone is trying to steal one (ie, network stops).
Haha, I'll prove YOU wrong! I'm... err.. wait, yeah 9... Why was I thinking 10 digit? Okay, you're right that I have seen them before, but still, I rarely see them. Probably helps that my ZIP (26003) has fewer addresses in it than, say, 90210 (the DIP code).
> I've often thought the Neilson families either hand picked to reflected the desired outcome
That had occurred to me, but even with the shadiness of corporations I don't think this is true. They would probably want to know what the customers really do want so that they can put that on & be able to charge more for commercials. Of course, they could just say that a show gets a lot of viewers and charge more anyway, therefore doing less work. Hmm. Damn, I just totally cancelled my own argument. Oh well.
> This is an excellent example why we need a constitutional right to privacy
The problem is, what amount of privacy would it cover? Would it cover anonymous data collecting? Publishing your phone number in a phone book? Making your home address available to individuals who need to send you real mail?
I'm not arguing, mind you, we should have some sort of rights to privacy, but it's a lot harder than just saying "we need a constitutional amendment that says 'Citizens have the right to privacy.'"
I think the problem w/ spyware is that usually there isn't a license to read. The software is installed without your knowledge (or with minimal notice at least). With TiVo, you should have (yeah, I don't read them all either) read your agreement that contained this information in it.
You are right, the only thing I would change is that you pay them less to let them track this data. If this was not available to them, the subscription prices would probably be higher.
> That kind of research should be illegal. It has no legitimate purpose
(-1, Troll) or (-1, blind fucking idiot)? Which one are you? If the answer is the second one, the answer is that it shows what kind of people like certain things in a particular area. I happened to hear (on NPR this morning) a story about WalMart using customer data to find out that (American) Southerners preferred powdered laundry soap & northerners preferred liquid (in general, of course). That way, they can fill up the shelves in those areas with the ones that get bought, therefore they are able to save money by not overbuying, retaining extra shelf real-estate, etc. Most of the time this means an improvement for the customer, such as more variety of brands you want, more available on the shelf (although a product running out in Wal-Mart is unlikely), and possibly lower prices.
There's a legitimate use for you.
Re:1997 MIT study said aggregate data defeats priv
on
TiVo To Sell Customer Data
·
· Score: 1, Insightful
> 97 percent of the individuals in Cambridge whose data appeared in a data base which contained only their nine digit zip code and birth date could be identified with certainty
First of all, I have never seen a 9 digit zip code. Secondly, and more importantly, the crucial data there is your birth date. If that data is not included in the TiVo information, this post means very little. If the BDate is in there, that's a problem.
> That's much like saying you "kind of like" the targetted banner ads that you get from doubleclick et al.
Well, I block ads for most sites, but I don't block them from Slashdot, because those are more likely to be something I'm interested in. So yes, in practice, I like targetted ads better than random crap.
> wouldn't it be a lot nicer if all of these companies [...] had an Opt-In policy
That is a good idea for privacy, but to be realistic, most people don't give a hoot for their privacy (or lack thereof) on something as benign as viewing habits. That means that very few (if any) people would opt-in or even know how to, not making it worth their time to insert that data collecting "feature."
Sand, gravel, crushed stone and quarried rock used for construction purposes. http://www.em.gov.bc.ca/Mining/MiningSt ats/Aggrega te%20BMP%20Handbook/Chapters/A-1_Glossary.pdf
Although this is probably what you want: aggregate
In general, to aggregate (verb, from Latin aggregare meaning to add to) is to collect things together. An aggregate (adjective) thing is a collection of other things. An aggregation is a collection.
Slashdot Mirror
> You ever hear of student loans?
Yeah, I had them, but my dad is an entrepreneur and becausse of that, and despite the fact that he makes very little, my student loans went to the shithole.
> everyone was given the laptop loan.
I'm sure I know the answer, but are you able to sell it back to them after you're done with it? Is the price of the laptop taken off from the price of tuition? And was it required (I think you mentioned it was)? What if you wanted to spend time studying instead of working, how are you supposed to pay for the laptop?
I just think it's a very bad idea to require students to have laptops. I even think it's a bad idea (for most people, at least) to have them in classrooms, except for higher Math & Science classes (C.S. included).
> Real men don't wear fag-flops.
Real men don't post anonymously.
> One: don't bother. You will never go back and listen to a recorded lecture. Ever.
> Two: you're a fucking idiot. I'd sooner gouge out my own eyes than take your advice.
Man, the first part is stupid, but you make a greate point about gouging your eyes out. Thanks
> Take your generic black laptop to an off-campus Starbucks and see how many Kappa Delts ask you about it. Try the same experiment with an iBook.
A few problems with that:
1) Who said it was black, you racist!
2) Starbucks *shudder*
3) Kappa Delts -- frat boys don't impress me, whether they are "honors fraternity" or not
4) What do I care what others say about my laptop? All they would do is bother me & take my mind off of what I'm trying to do (okay, okay, social interaction is good, but only when I want it)
5) I'm not going to get an iBook to prove that people like shiny things.
6) pretty != functional (although I think iBooks are okay)
> It's called a trackpad,
What's a trackpad? Same as a touchpad? Those are the only way to go. Those "Joy Buttons" ("Who's the ad wizard that came up with THAT one.") on IBMs are the biggest pain in the ass to use. My Dell, however has both, which may be the best option for some.
> What a waste of keyboard space those are
If trackpad == touchpad, they take up way more space (but I don't care, I like them better).
> the company that INVENTED THE FUCKING LAPTOP: Apple.
Lies don't get too much more boldfaced. Wait, that's not bold, it's caps. Sorry.
> On the other side of the issue, laptops are distracting. The continuous clickety-clack in a room that is silent other than the professor talking is annoying as all get out
Absolutely. I don't (didn't) want to have to ask the lecturer to repeat himself because some 1337 doofus can't figure out the intricacies of a pencil and paper...
"Uh, so where do I click?"
"Click & drag the long, graphite-cored, wooden mouse on the paper and use it to draw symbols."
> Or just get a truckload of Sony PlayStations and a bunch of ethernet cords. Try bringing THAT to class.
If you can manage to make it a BNC network, you can just leave a chain of them from your dorm room to class room. You'll know immediately if someone is trying to steal one (ie, network stops).
> IT as in "I'm too lazy to take the hard math classes that the CS guys are expected to take"?
Or, IT as in "Why the fuck do I need Calculus II to work a helpdesk job?"
> You have NEVER seen a 9 digit zip code?
Haha, I'll prove YOU wrong! I'm... err.. wait, yeah 9... Why was I thinking 10 digit? Okay, you're right that I have seen them before, but still, I rarely see them. Probably helps that my ZIP (26003) has fewer addresses in it than, say, 90210 (the DIP code).
> when the prof. starts drawing diagrams just grab the frame.
Might be more effective to grab them after he has finished drawing them. teehee.
> Would someone please show me where the washroom is?
Down the hall, the third left, next left, turn around 900 degrees, next right, second right, ask the woman at the front desk.
> Sorry you went to a shitty school, but we actually have a use for our craptops.
Wealthy students != good school
If my college had required that I could not have gone. Fuck, it was hard enough to pay for school at all, let alone a $2000 laptop in addition.
> can't claim a single zip code as ours.
That's just wrong. We should make our own zip, possibly 31337. It isn't taken.
> I've often thought the Neilson families either hand picked to reflected the desired outcome
That had occurred to me, but even with the shadiness of corporations I don't think this is true. They would probably want to know what the customers really do want so that they can put that on & be able to charge more for commercials.
Of course, they could just say that a show gets a lot of viewers and charge more anyway, therefore doing less work. Hmm. Damn, I just totally cancelled my own argument. Oh well.
> This is an excellent example why we need a constitutional right to privacy
The problem is, what amount of privacy would it cover? Would it cover anonymous data collecting? Publishing your phone number in a phone book? Making your home address available to individuals who need to send you real mail?
I'm not arguing, mind you, we should have some sort of rights to privacy, but it's a lot harder than just saying "we need a constitutional amendment that says 'Citizens have the right to privacy.'"
> assuming the spyware license doesn't lie
I think the problem w/ spyware is that usually there isn't a license to read. The software is installed without your knowledge (or with minimal notice at least). With TiVo, you should have (yeah, I don't read them all either) read your agreement that contained this information in it.
> There's an excellent documentary
:)
HAHA, that's damn good, I thought you were serious when I clicked the link
> I will PAY THEM to LET THEM track this data
You are right, the only thing I would change is that you pay them less to let them track this data. If this was not available to them, the subscription prices would probably be higher.
> That kind of research should be illegal. It has no legitimate purpose
(-1, Troll) or (-1, blind fucking idiot)? Which one are you? If the answer is the second one, the answer is that it shows what kind of people like certain things in a particular area. I happened to hear (on NPR this morning) a story about WalMart using customer data to find out that (American) Southerners preferred powdered laundry soap & northerners preferred liquid (in general, of course). That way, they can fill up the shelves in those areas with the ones that get bought, therefore they are able to save money by not overbuying, retaining extra shelf real-estate, etc. Most of the time this means an improvement for the customer, such as more variety of brands you want, more available on the shelf (although a product running out in Wal-Mart is unlikely), and possibly lower prices.
There's a legitimate use for you.
> 97 percent of the individuals in Cambridge whose data appeared in a data base which contained only their nine digit zip code and birth date could be identified with certainty
First of all, I have never seen a 9 digit zip code. Secondly, and more importantly, the crucial data there is your birth date. If that data is not included in the TiVo information, this post means very little. If the BDate is in there, that's a problem.
> You trusted the fox.
Everyone is a "Fox," but you have to choose which ones you distrust the least to be in your pack.
> That's much like saying you "kind of like" the targetted banner ads that you get from doubleclick et al.
Well, I block ads for most sites, but I don't block them from Slashdot, because those are more likely to be something I'm interested in. So yes, in practice, I like targetted ads better than random crap.
> young teenagers watched "The 700 Club" and retired senior citizens watched MTV
Well, after the "MTV Generation" gets old enough, that may happen.
> That would be dope
That would be cool... dope. Yep.
> wouldn't it be a lot nicer if all of these companies [...] had an Opt-In policy
That is a good idea for privacy, but to be realistic, most people don't give a hoot for their privacy (or lack thereof) on something as benign as viewing habits. That means that very few (if any) people would opt-in or even know how to, not making it worth their time to insert that data collecting "feature."
> define aggregate plz
t ats/Aggrega te%20BMP%20Handbook/Chapters/A-1_Glossary.pdf
_ gc i214504,00.html
Sand, gravel, crushed stone and quarried rock used for construction purposes.
http://www.em.gov.bc.ca/Mining/MiningS
Although this is probably what you want:
aggregate
In general, to aggregate (verb, from Latin aggregare meaning to add to) is to collect things together. An aggregate (adjective) thing is a collection of other things. An aggregation is a collection.
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9
> Since the DMV has be privatized
DMV was privatized? I've never heard of that. Is that pretty common across the states? When did it happen in Jersey?