But this has nothing to do with running pro audio. If you really looked and really shopped and really got into the recording studio industry, you'd find out that basically mac hardware and os are just a delivery tool for that particular vendors custom made hardware and software.
In the industry nobody gives a shit about colors or 'think different' or Steve Jobs or any of that crap. That piece of hardware is just hooked up and is one of many other expensive pieces of gear.
Ya know, it's seems almost like every./'er thinks the world revolves around linux. I have every mahcine at home running Linux, except 1 and all my work development coding is done on linux. Frankly tho, it's pretty ridiculous to read all these posts all the time bitching about anything not linux.
I love linux. I love bsd. I love my Ti-Powerbook (ok, 2 home machines that dont run linux). And my experience in many industries has convinced me that linux is not the f***ing answer to everything! Neither is Win32. Neither is Solaris. Neither is Bsd. Neither is Mac. It's all about picking the right tool for the job.
Pro audio studio types (well, mostly everyone I've met) don't give a crap about open source or Linux. Most of the pro audio world runs on macs because either Pro Tools or some other hardware/software combo works and has cranked out many million dollar cd's.
I'm all for linux changing that. But the only way that that's going to happen is to find out - not assume - how people are using tools and then make better ones. And if they're cheaper, then all the better. That's what drives change.
Not the well so and so is evil and they're just out to lock everyone in, so screw that attitude.
Honestly. I've spent many years using various audio packages. first on the mac - cuz it was there wayyyy before pc, esp. with propreitary hardware extensions ala protools, etc - and within the past few years, the pc.
My friend has a studio and a few years ago, i convinced them to dump their protools package (cuz seriously, who wants to be locked in and protools excels at that!) for pc software. over time, we got a decent machine, with full scsi, and started tracking his new project. We used Cool Edit Pro and it started barfing here and there. You can't afford *any* drop outs or variations in a track. otherwise, it's useless.
A few months back, they switched back over to protools on a G4. i think part of their problem was lack of experience tho. they have a 'producer' in now using their equip and he's recorded some major label projects. he likes the setup. so i guess it works. however, it *cost* them quite a bit.
my home studio has a athalon 750, 512mb ram, ata-100 raid 0 40gb hd setup, and - ugh - win98. this is *only* because the company i bought my digi audio card - tascam pci 822 (dont go for that crappy soundblaster stuff, u wanna track 24-bit, at least 44khz, *at least*). that connects into my tascam tmd1000 mixer. this is pretty kick ass for a home/project studio. i actually *read* a lot of stuff for disabling read-ahead cache (bad!) and various other things. At most I've had about 36 tracks of audio goin whithout a hitch. Using Cool Edit Pro as well.
Obviosuly, I'd prefer to use linux, but the drivers and the software are *the* major hitch. I mean, tascam (funny, how there's scam in the middle of their name..) can't even get their shit together to write Win2k drivers (which wld be far more robust than 98). So I think it would be difficult to get the appropriate linux drivers.
I do have faith in Linux tho. Esp since a lot of CG shops are using it more and more. Just needs the software and drivers, thats all. And coming from a analog/mixing board kinda view, the software has to be easy to use. I feel cool edit is pretty straight forwars. I gave up on cakewalk and all those others. I personally don't have much need for midi.
So, remember, if you really care about your proj/home studio, you'll record in at least 24-bit/44khz. And for that u need a beefier card than the crappy sound blasters. And that card will require custom drivers. Kinda a weird cicken and egg syndrome.
Microsoft has nothing to do with any kinda of recession or recovery of the economy. So many people think that if M$ would get split, that there would be this huge downfall of economic opportunites. bullocks!
If you really wanna see something that would affect a recession/non-recession then look at an industry much bigger and farther reaching than the computer industry - the auto industry. Remember the bail out of Chrystler in the 80's? Look around you. The auto industry is many time bigger than M$ and will be for quite some time, maybe forever.
Anyway, I don't give M$ that much credit. In the end they'll be their own downfall. Economically, we as a society will not be able to support upgrading software that does pretty much nothing new and, despite popular belief and marketing hype, is not particularly innovative at all, every year or so. When that is finally realized, then they'll end up like a Borland or maybe even Lotus.
That will be a good day. Just like how it was when it all started. This, I feel, will be the natural evolution of things.
It's just not about text tho, it's about how the modern GUI - which we pretty much equate with a workstation - sometimes isn't always practical.
I say this mostly out of experience with the last system I built. Think if you worked at a snack bar at a baseball game. It;s not very feasible to be using a mouse and clicking on a bunch of buttons to enter and print stuff out. This is where, in my opinion, TUI or touch screen is king.
It's the same principle behind the argument that console people use when they might face off with Mac or Windows people. How in a lot of situations, keystrokes are faster than mouse and menus.
And another thing to consider is X configuration issues and possible assocatiated hardware and troubleshooting costs. If you can get a Linux login prompt up, then the system should work. No acceleration, no fancy buttons and widgets and no need for a mouse.
If people could learn SQL which is completely unrelated to any other aspect of their programming experience then adding OODBMS techniques as a skillset would be trivial.
Speaking out of years of DB experience, learning OO techniques are not trivial. SQL is fairly easy to learn - even for a procedural programmer. However, inheritance, polymorphism, just to name a few are not simple concepts to grasp.
Of course, if people don't realize that alternatives to RDBMSs exist then they won't learn these techniques.
Ugh. Databases should be designed for 2 main reasons really.
1. Speed. Get in and get out fast!
2. Redundancy or data protection. Everything else is just nice little utilities bolted on (cept maybe indexes).
I been programming in Java for almost every work day for the past 4 or 5 years and while I've seen Java performance increase, to me, writing a DB in it is pretty ridiculous. Granted, an OO db could be just a easily be (or maybe not) written in C++. However after much review and time and just learning how to write good software over the past years, I'm not quite convinced that OO is 100% the way to go. However, it has a place.
That is more important because management can't find people who have these skills if developers don't go out and learn these techniques.
With all do respect, I have worked with very few managers that were worth much. I've seen so many mangers jump at anything OO without knowing what they're talking about. So I trust me over them to make informative decisions about software.
Apple touts 'revolution' but give them an inch and they'll be just as bad as Microsoft. And frankly, their ads suck! I can't understand how 'Rip, Mix, Burn' doesn't violate any copyright laws. And their think different ads are purely offensive. I mean Caesar Chavez fought the man and if he saw his face put on an ad to sell computers for the man, I'm sure he'd shit his pants. The worst was Ghandi tho. Granted he 'thought different' - but no different than millions of other Indians (he just acted) and using his likeness to sell products is just wrong.
Steve Jobs is an arrogant asshole and when the Mac community realizes that his only goal is to make Apple money and feed his ego, then I'm sure they'll 'think different' - or maybe not.
I do think different; I don't buy M$ or Apple stuff. Period.
1. Cuz someone will launch some virus and blow up a bunch of machines and people will dump it.
2. The RIAA and eveyone other copyright group will get past the "we don't actually do the sharing, just provide the software...". I mean, if you think about it, Napster really isn't illegal. It's people using the service for trading copyrighted material that are breaking the law.
But what will probably happen is there will be fringe groups doing this style of sharing and after the man breaks them, he'll find a way to use it to his advantage...
For us in the computer community, this probably won't matter much cuz we'll find a way around it or come up with something better..
To what are you referring to as nededing to be cleaned up?
And while this isn't a flame, I'd disagree with WindowsGUI just working. Why just this morning my Win2k Pro (built on NT Technology!) locked up while I was doing something in explorer (which I rarely use for a reason!). Mind you, tho, I have to use Win, unfortunately, cuz on this machine I do audio recording as well..
Anyway, I rarely have probs with X. While I agree it's pretty big, I feel it's much more flexible than Win. Especially since I love running things remotely on my office and home machines. All I need is an X server, ssh, and I'm off with my Gnome session. If I wanted to try this with M$ stuff, I'd have to d/l some version of IE and then probably some service pack and *then* their proprietary client...
And lately, it seems like the whole 'skinning' thing is picking up quite a bit of steam on Win stuff. I think it's cool. I want my stuff to look like how I want it. I don't like M$ explorer and on Linux/BSD/*nix I (usually) have the choice to change that. Of course your avg./beginner won't want this and that's fine.
As far as AA, I guess it's cool. But when you start running res' above 1200 or so, it doesn't really matter much.
And I can't stand to develop on an NT/2k box.. Ugh!! No multiple desktops. I don't know how people alt-tab thru 10 or 12 different windows. Drives me nuts!!
Well, I've used many OS's for servers, incl NT, Solaris, Linux, and freeBSD and the guy in the article did some pretty damn good tests. And I would say that his test claims sound quite founded. I've been developing exclusively on Linux since the Redhat 4.2 days and it's been getting better and better in that arena. However, for sheer power and reliability servers demand, freeBSD is a better choice. And I speak out of experience. Oh, and btw, freeBSD is not GPL'd for a reason, of which you, of course, don't know anything about!
Well, I could see that there are copies/snippets of what looks like actual document text posted on slashdot. Which is stupid! Posters should summarize and/or link to M$ to avoid this crap. So, I think (--shudders--) M$ has the right to request removal on this. Cutting/copying & pasting is not 1st amendment stuff. Of course, any kind of opinions and whatnot posted re: this matter, as far as I'm concerned, should live long and be free. Being the Unreal Tournament person I am, the simple solution to this matter - in a non-existent, perfect world - would be to launch a Redeemer at Redmond and be done with it. But, that's only make believe... *sigh*
I'm finding out - after 3 startups - that leadership and vision are sorely lacking a lot of the time.
My last project was bought by another company and it was something I actually pushed for. The guys I co-founded the company with were cool, but they just lacked a strong vision and a strong leadership presence. The new company that bought us just racked these guys cause they could not stand up for what they wanted. I got a great salary and got to work with some great people, but because the new people were also a bunch of boneheads, I ended up butting heads with. They were so removed from their employees (the king and queen syndrome) and they never gave the employees the credit and praise they deserved. So we're all leaving with less than we could have.
Now, I won't take anyone's shit and I will see my vision to the end (whatever that end may be). It takes a good leader to keep everyone focused and in line. If everyone is making decisions or people are not making good decions because they lack the vision, then it's time to leave or overthrow the leadership (which is probably not an option as I learned the hard way).
There's a reason Apple is doing so well now and while Jobs may be a gnarly guy to work with, he has the vision and leadership to take the company forward. Investors look for this.
After first reading about the lawsuit on/. a week or so back, I wrote the Amazon people telling them, basically, that I felt their patent was bs - from a developer's standpoint. They kindly wrote back saying that their patent 'encouraged innovation' and that they had 'thousands of man hours' invested in it. I've been spreading the word to family and friends to boycott Amazon *and* their related investment sites - drugstore, etc.. This is major cool!!! I hope, altho doubtful, that this useless, pathetic patent will be dropped.
I use Emacs and html-helper. Altho the syntax highlighting isn't perfect, for me, it's better than b&w. In my.emacs, I just config any scripting languages (PHP, ASP (ugh..), JSP, CFM, and many more...) to use the html helper highlighting. I've looked for something that specifially highlighted scripting stuff and I've found nothing else worthwhile.
For now, I'm running a startup outta my home - but it's only in the devlopment phase. Some things I've budgeted for this one when I get some $$$ (in 3 weeks!):
Db Server:Postgres (free+transactions), same hardware (ditto for Auction Db server)
Auction server: same hardware, Apache, EveryAuction
All running on a 100mbps switch. When the need arises, we'll move the hardware off to Qwest or somethin. All the above can be purchased for under $20k! Our whole goal for the business - software wise - is free and open source.
We've come to the obvious conclusion that there's no need to run anything M$.
Frankly, I've done quite a bit of web programming. Everything ranging from PHP to Perl/CGI to ASP, JSP, CFML, WDDX/XML, EJB - you name it. Currently our main site is done on ColdFusion (I didn't program it tho). It handles I don't know how many millions of hits a month and works well. However, it's pretty one sided and while it serves up tons of db/dynamic content, it doesn't get that hard core into the 'application' aspect of a web site. The site I did (http://supplies.bispace.com) is a full blown web app. It started 3 years ago using ASP (that's all I had at the time). Now it's a bastard of ASP/VBScript and *many* Java classes that have COM registrations in the NT registry (talk about trying to find a needle in a haystack; MS is *very* hush hush about using Java on IIS. Go figure...). I've made it a specific point to try and program from a non-Microsoft centric view. Which makes me even more of a beliver in *nix and Java. My Java classes will run on an ASP webserver just same as a JSP web server (I've already done this).
The next version of our Supplies site will be completely re-done in EJB using BEA's Weblogic app server. This may be too hardcore for some web sites, but we have many things we're dealing with: - Tying in to existing customers ERP systems (Peoplsoft, JD Edwards, SAP, etc..) - Complete server/session failover. Webloigic has clustering at the app level. I could care less about the OS level - that usually brings in too much low level crap i don't need to deal with. - Separation of data from the presentation. We're going to allow users to customize and 'skin' the site, so XML/XSL is definitely on our horizion. And in theory, if we created a Swing or Win32 app that could make http calls and parse XML, then we could also have another interface into the same system (yeah, that one's pretty crazy..). - Scalability. While NT and ColdFusion have performed well serving up dynamic db content, when you start using a web app - which has to do many different type of things (not just figuring out a date range or whether or not a user posted a certain form element) - the server is going to bear more and more of a complex business logic (or whatever you want to call it) type of hit. - Java (see scalibility). For all my experience, Java on the server side is awesome! I believe Java/EJB will scale much better than any NT/COM solution. We'll be trying out Weblogic on some type of *BSD solution.
So, I guess it really comes down to what is expected of your system. If you don't have much time, then some sort of scripting solution can get results quick. But if you looking for something that might be 'enterprise' strength after a while, then maybe you might need to look a little deeper.
Also, one good last note: Allaire bought JRun a little while back and I did a lot of beta and eval with that product (results were mixed). But mix maybe CFAnywhere with JRun and you could have the building blocks of a pretty decent portable system.
I love my old Amiga 1000, C=64, IBM 5150. I dunno, I also got various 486's layin around. Weird I've started retiring Pentiums too. Some stuff is worth savin and other stuff isn't. One of our dns servers still runs on a AMD DX4-133 (or somethin like that). But those 486's are still totally cool for Linux and basic stuff like email, dns, proxy. Now if I can just finsh that tcp/ip stack for my 64..
I know how it goes on a 'shoestring'(?) budget. My Internet company just got bought a month or so ago and it's soooooooo nice to get a real paycheck. I can now out spend all my friends;-) it's good they gave them creative the creative reigns. Let's see how it all holds out. congrats!
Can we say Novell Unixware?? Wasn't this what was tried back in the early 90's??? And what happend? SCO bought it. I think Netware bought it from AT&T for, like, $1 bil. and then sold it for $50 mil - or something like that. I don't think *nix will ever be unified and whatever... Maybe everyone should be working with Sun to make Java unified instead...
Yeah, but they're all still beige somewhere's in them. I don't understand why I can't get a box that is completely non-beige. I mean, look at SGI machines. I've always thought they looked great! I dunno, this still baffles me. It's like everyone thinks the imac is so revolutionary, but there's been unix vendors doing color for some time now. I lust for a O2 case...
This pales in comparison to how many biotech companies own portions of dna sequencing and the like. That really disgusted me. My last company worked on HIV (amoung other things) and we'd collaborate on and patent all kinds of stuff. And our pockets weren't that deep. What it comes down to is that someone owns the method to cure you of something - or how you can even reproduce. And when they see money in it, they'll squeeze us all. I know. I watched my boss turn down several collaborations with some big universities (our company made the purest form of large proteins/peptides *snythetically* - no one else can do that) because he wanted more money out of them or didn't like some member of their staff. Total arrogance and stupidity. Who knows what could have came out of those collab's.... Makes me really wanna live on another planet and start all over.
I'm glad OS X is where it is. But I'd say there are much more 'end-users' on Macs than PC's. And while we can see the goodness of Next in OS X, I think the usual Mac admin will cringe at / anything - which OS X has a lot of. I don't think there should be any real concern for Apple snuffing Linux out. I mean, Linux is free - OS * is *at least* $80 - with another $80 update comin out every 6 months (a waste!). PC hardware is (always will be) cheaper and more available than Apple. The problem I've always had with OS 8.* is that it's not a 'real' multitasking os. The finder is okay, but I'll take X any day over that. Hell, give me a command line over that:-) I'm not worried in the least.
Personally, I really, really, *really* think Windows sucks! Their API? Yes please, I'll have a few million dll files..... (shudder) Why do I say this? 'Cause I have programmed in Windows & dos. However, I've also programmed the Amiga (way before dos), Apple *, and a bunch of other systems, so I definitely wouldn't consider myself a 'Windows Programmer'. I've participated in some of the M$DN stuff and it amazes me how much *crap* they give you. Umpteen useless cd's. I remember reading that a minimum install of vc++ 5.0 was like 300megs and the complete install was over a gig! What a waste! Unix, I think, is the ultimate. Fast, small, multiuser from the get go. It *is* the Internet os. The development community is awesome. I'd never go back to my main workstation being anything other than *nix and every time I drop one more M$ machine off our network it's time to go celebrate at the local pub. Seriously!
I think if Win people wanna program for Linux/Unix, fine. But read all the books and manuals that everyone else has and live, breathe, eat, and sleep your *nix box, cause we all have. It'll be much nicer to you in return than anything M$ could come up with. I love it!
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This is true. However, now yr getting real artsy fartsy. Don't let neil you hear u say that...
a fine analog mist vs. digital ice cubes...
But this has nothing to do with running pro audio. If you really looked and really shopped and really got into the recording studio industry, you'd find out that basically mac hardware and os are just a delivery tool for that particular vendors custom made hardware and software.
./'er thinks the world revolves around linux. I have every mahcine at home running Linux, except 1 and all my work development coding is done on linux. Frankly tho, it's pretty ridiculous to read all these posts all the time bitching about anything not linux.
In the industry nobody gives a shit about colors or 'think different' or Steve Jobs or any of that crap. That piece of hardware is just hooked up and is one of many other expensive pieces of gear.
Ya know, it's seems almost like every
I love linux. I love bsd. I love my Ti-Powerbook (ok, 2 home machines that dont run linux). And my experience in many industries has convinced me that linux is not the f***ing answer to everything! Neither is Win32. Neither is Solaris. Neither is Bsd. Neither is Mac. It's all about picking the right tool for the job.
Pro audio studio types (well, mostly everyone I've met) don't give a crap about open source or Linux. Most of the pro audio world runs on macs because either Pro Tools or some other hardware/software combo works and has cranked out many million dollar cd's.
I'm all for linux changing that. But the only way that that's going to happen is to find out - not assume - how people are using tools and then make better ones. And if they're cheaper, then all the better. That's what drives change.
Not the well so and so is evil and they're just out to lock everyone in, so screw that attitude.
Honestly. I've spent many years using various audio packages. first on the mac - cuz it was there wayyyy before pc, esp. with propreitary hardware extensions ala protools, etc - and within the past few years, the pc.
My friend has a studio and a few years ago, i convinced them to dump their protools package (cuz seriously, who wants to be locked in and protools excels at that!) for pc software. over time, we got a decent machine, with full scsi, and started tracking his new project. We used Cool Edit Pro and it started barfing here and there. You can't afford *any* drop outs or variations in a track. otherwise, it's useless.
A few months back, they switched back over to protools on a G4. i think part of their problem was lack of experience tho. they have a 'producer' in now using their equip and he's recorded some major label projects. he likes the setup. so i guess it works. however, it *cost* them quite a bit.
my home studio has a athalon 750, 512mb ram, ata-100 raid 0 40gb hd setup, and - ugh - win98. this is *only* because the company i bought my digi audio card - tascam pci 822 (dont go for that crappy soundblaster stuff, u wanna track 24-bit, at least 44khz, *at least*). that connects into my tascam tmd1000 mixer. this is pretty kick ass for a home/project studio. i actually *read* a lot of stuff for disabling read-ahead cache (bad!) and various other things. At most I've had about 36 tracks of audio goin whithout a hitch. Using Cool Edit Pro as well.
Obviosuly, I'd prefer to use linux, but the drivers and the software are *the* major hitch. I mean, tascam (funny, how there's scam in the middle of their name..) can't even get their shit together to write Win2k drivers (which wld be far more robust than 98). So I think it would be difficult to get the appropriate linux drivers.
I do have faith in Linux tho. Esp since a lot of CG shops are using it more and more. Just needs the software and drivers, thats all. And coming from a analog/mixing board kinda view, the software has to be easy to use. I feel cool edit is pretty straight forwars. I gave up on cakewalk and all those others. I personally don't have much need for midi.
So, remember, if you really care about your proj/home studio, you'll record in at least 24-bit/44khz. And for that u need a beefier card than the crappy sound blasters. And that card will require custom drivers. Kinda a weird cicken and egg syndrome.
Microsoft has nothing to do with any kinda of recession or recovery of the economy. So many people think that if M$ would get split, that there would be this huge downfall of economic opportunites.
bullocks!
If you really wanna see something that would affect a recession/non-recession then look at an industry much bigger and farther reaching than the computer industry - the auto industry. Remember the bail out of Chrystler in the 80's? Look around you. The auto industry is many time bigger than M$ and will be for quite some time, maybe forever.
Anyway, I don't give M$ that much credit. In the end they'll be their own downfall. Economically, we as a society will not be able to support upgrading software that does pretty much nothing new and, despite popular belief and marketing hype, is not particularly innovative at all, every year or so. When that is finally realized, then they'll end up like a Borland or maybe even Lotus.
That will be a good day. Just like how it was when it all started. This, I feel, will be the natural evolution of things.
It's just not about text tho, it's about how the modern GUI - which we pretty much equate with a workstation - sometimes isn't always practical.
I say this mostly out of experience with the last system I built. Think if you worked at a snack bar at a baseball game. It;s not very feasible to be using a mouse and clicking on a bunch of buttons to enter and print stuff out. This is where, in my opinion, TUI or touch screen is king.
It's the same principle behind the argument that console people use when they might face off with Mac or Windows people. How in a lot of situations, keystrokes are faster than mouse and menus.
And another thing to consider is X configuration issues and possible assocatiated hardware and troubleshooting costs. If you can get a Linux login prompt up, then the system should work. No acceleration, no fancy buttons and widgets and no need for a mouse.
3 Things:
If people could learn SQL which is completely unrelated to any other aspect of their programming experience then adding OODBMS techniques as a skillset would be trivial.
Speaking out of years of DB experience, learning OO techniques are not trivial. SQL is fairly easy to learn - even for a procedural programmer. However, inheritance, polymorphism, just to name a few are not simple concepts to grasp.
Of course, if people don't realize that alternatives to RDBMSs exist then they won't learn these techniques.
Ugh. Databases should be designed for 2 main reasons really.
1. Speed. Get in and get out fast!
2. Redundancy or data protection.
Everything else is just nice little utilities bolted on (cept maybe indexes).
I been programming in Java for almost every work day for the past 4 or 5 years and while I've seen Java performance increase, to me, writing a DB in it is pretty ridiculous. Granted, an OO db could be just a easily be (or maybe not) written in C++. However after much review and time and just learning how to write good software over the past years, I'm not quite convinced that OO is 100% the way to go. However, it has a place.
That is more important because management can't find people who have these skills if developers don't go out and learn these techniques.
With all do respect, I have worked with very few managers that were worth much. I've seen so many mangers jump at anything OO without knowing what they're talking about. So I trust me over them to make informative decisions about software.
Imho, make good software not hype.
http://sourceforge.net/projects/macthemes/
it was in the original story post.
Apple touts 'revolution' but give them an inch and they'll be just as bad as Microsoft. And frankly, their ads suck! I can't understand how 'Rip, Mix, Burn' doesn't violate any copyright laws. And their think different ads are purely offensive. I mean Caesar Chavez fought the man and if he saw his face put on an ad to sell computers for the man, I'm sure he'd shit his pants. The worst was Ghandi tho. Granted he 'thought different' - but no different than millions of other Indians (he just acted) and using his likeness to sell products is just wrong.
Steve Jobs is an arrogant asshole and when the Mac community realizes that his only goal is to make Apple money and feed his ego, then I'm sure they'll 'think different' - or maybe not.
I do think different; I don't buy M$ or Apple stuff. Period.
1. Cuz someone will launch some virus and blow up a bunch of machines and people will dump it.
2. The RIAA and eveyone other copyright group will get past the "we don't actually do the sharing, just provide the software...". I mean, if you think about it, Napster really isn't illegal. It's people using the service for trading copyrighted material that are breaking the law.
But what will probably happen is there will be fringe groups doing this style of sharing and after the man breaks them, he'll find a way to use it to his advantage...
For us in the computer community, this probably won't matter much cuz we'll find a way around it or come up with something better..
To what are you referring to as nededing to be cleaned up?
And while this isn't a flame, I'd disagree with WindowsGUI just working. Why just this morning my Win2k Pro (built on NT Technology!) locked up while I was doing something in explorer (which I rarely use for a reason!). Mind you, tho, I have to use Win, unfortunately, cuz on this machine I do audio recording as well..
Anyway, I rarely have probs with X. While I agree it's pretty big, I feel it's much more flexible than Win. Especially since I love running things remotely on my office and home machines. All I need is an X server, ssh, and I'm off with my Gnome session. If I wanted to try this with M$ stuff, I'd have to d/l some version of IE and then probably some service pack and *then* their proprietary client...
And lately, it seems like the whole 'skinning' thing is picking up quite a bit of steam on Win stuff. I think it's cool. I want my stuff to look like how I want it. I don't like M$ explorer and on Linux/BSD/*nix I (usually) have the choice to change that. Of course your avg./beginner won't want this and that's fine.
As far as AA, I guess it's cool. But when you start running res' above 1200 or so, it doesn't really matter much.
And I can't stand to develop on an NT/2k box.. Ugh!! No multiple desktops. I don't know how people alt-tab thru 10 or 12 different windows. Drives me nuts!!
Well, I've used many OS's for servers, incl NT, Solaris, Linux, and freeBSD and the guy in the article did some pretty damn good tests. And I would say that his test claims sound quite founded. I've been developing exclusively on Linux since the Redhat 4.2 days and it's been getting better and better in that arena. However, for sheer power and reliability servers demand, freeBSD is a better choice. And I speak out of experience. Oh, and btw, freeBSD is not GPL'd for a reason, of which you, of course, don't know anything about!
Well, I could see that there are copies/snippets of what looks like actual document text posted on slashdot. Which is stupid! Posters should summarize and/or link to M$ to avoid this crap. So, I think (--shudders--) M$ has the right to request removal on this.
Cutting/copying & pasting is not 1st amendment stuff. Of course, any kind of opinions and whatnot posted re: this matter, as far as I'm concerned, should live long and be free.
Being the Unreal Tournament person I am, the simple solution to this matter - in a non-existent, perfect world - would be to launch a Redeemer at Redmond and be done with it. But, that's only make believe... *sigh*
I'm finding out - after 3 startups - that leadership and vision are sorely lacking a lot of the time.
My last project was bought by another company and it was something I actually pushed for. The guys I co-founded the company with were cool, but they just lacked a strong vision and a strong leadership presence. The new company that bought us just racked these guys cause they could not stand up for what they wanted. I got a great salary and got to work with some great people, but because the new people were also a bunch of boneheads, I ended up butting heads with. They were so removed from their employees (the king and queen syndrome) and they never gave the employees the credit and praise they deserved. So we're all leaving with less than we could have.
Now, I won't take anyone's shit and I will see my vision to the end (whatever that end may be). It takes a good leader to keep everyone focused and in line. If everyone is making decisions or people are not making good decions because they lack the vision, then it's time to leave or overthrow the leadership (which is probably not an option as I learned the hard way).
There's a reason Apple is doing so well now and while Jobs may be a gnarly guy to work with, he has the vision and leadership to take the company forward. Investors look for this.
After first reading about the lawsuit on /. a week or so back, I wrote the Amazon people telling them, basically, that I felt their patent was bs - from a developer's standpoint. They kindly wrote back saying that their patent 'encouraged innovation' and that they had 'thousands of man hours' invested in it. I've been spreading the word to family and friends to boycott Amazon *and* their related investment sites - drugstore, etc.. This is major cool!!! I hope, altho doubtful, that this useless, pathetic patent will be dropped.
I use Emacs and html-helper. Altho the syntax highlighting isn't perfect, for me, it's better than b&w. In my .emacs, I just config any scripting languages (PHP, ASP (ugh..), JSP, CFM, and many more...) to use the html helper highlighting. I've looked for something that specifially highlighted scripting stuff and I've found nothing else worthwhile.
For now, I'm running a startup outta my home - but it's only in the devlopment phase. Some things I've budgeted for this one when I get some $$$ (in 3 weeks!):
E-com server: P3-450(X2), 256MB, RAID, >= RedHat6, Enhydra, IBM JDK 118, Apache
Db Server:Postgres (free+transactions), same hardware (ditto for Auction Db server)
Auction server: same hardware, Apache, EveryAuction
All running on a 100mbps switch. When the need arises, we'll move the hardware off to Qwest or somethin. All the above can be purchased for under $20k! Our whole goal for the business - software wise - is free and open source.
We've come to the obvious conclusion that there's no need to run anything M$.
Frankly, I've done quite a bit of web programming. Everything ranging from PHP to Perl/CGI to ASP, JSP, CFML, WDDX/XML, EJB - you name it.
Currently our main site is done on ColdFusion (I didn't program it tho). It handles I don't know how many millions of hits a month and works well. However, it's pretty one sided and while it serves up tons of db/dynamic content, it doesn't get that hard core into the 'application' aspect of a web site.
The site I did (http://supplies.bispace.com) is a full blown web app. It started 3 years ago using ASP (that's all I had at the time). Now it's a bastard of ASP/VBScript and *many* Java classes that have COM registrations in the NT registry (talk about trying to find a needle in a haystack; MS is *very* hush hush about using Java on IIS. Go figure...). I've made it a specific point to try and program from a non-Microsoft centric view. Which makes me even more of a beliver in *nix and Java. My Java classes will run on an ASP webserver just same as a JSP web server (I've already done this).
The next version of our Supplies site will be completely re-done in EJB using BEA's Weblogic app server. This may be too hardcore for some web sites, but we have many things we're dealing with:
- Tying in to existing customers ERP systems (Peoplsoft, JD Edwards, SAP, etc..)
- Complete server/session failover. Webloigic has clustering at the app level. I could care less about the OS level - that usually brings in too much low level crap i don't need to deal with.
- Separation of data from the presentation. We're going to allow users to customize and 'skin' the site, so XML/XSL is definitely on our horizion. And in theory, if we created a Swing or Win32 app that could make http calls and parse XML, then we could also have another interface into the same system (yeah, that one's pretty crazy..).
- Scalability. While NT and ColdFusion have performed well serving up dynamic db content, when you start using a web app - which has to do many different type of things (not just figuring out a date range or whether or not a user posted a certain form element) - the server is going to bear more and more of a complex business logic (or whatever you want to call it) type of hit.
- Java (see scalibility). For all my experience, Java on the server side is awesome! I believe Java/EJB will scale much better than any NT/COM solution. We'll be trying out Weblogic on some type of *BSD solution.
So, I guess it really comes down to what is expected of your system. If you don't have much time, then some sort of scripting solution can get results quick. But if you looking for something that might be 'enterprise' strength after a while, then maybe you might need to look a little deeper.
Also, one good last note: Allaire bought JRun a little while back and I did a lot of beta and eval with that product (results were mixed). But mix maybe CFAnywhere with JRun and you could have the building blocks of a pretty decent portable system.
I love my old Amiga 1000, C=64, IBM 5150.
I dunno, I also got various 486's layin around. Weird I've started retiring Pentiums too. Some stuff is worth savin and other stuff isn't. One of our dns servers still runs on a AMD DX4-133 (or somethin like that). But those 486's are still totally cool for Linux and basic stuff like email, dns, proxy. Now if I can just finsh that tcp/ip stack for my 64..
I know how it goes on a 'shoestring'(?) budget. My Internet company just got bought a month or so ago and it's soooooooo nice to get a real paycheck. I can now out spend all my friends ;-)
it's good they gave them creative the creative reigns. Let's see how it all holds out.
congrats!
Can we say Novell Unixware?? Wasn't this what was tried back in the early 90's???
And what happend? SCO bought it. I think Netware bought it from AT&T for, like, $1 bil. and then sold it for $50 mil - or something like that.
I don't think *nix will ever be unified and whatever... Maybe everyone should be working with Sun to make Java unified instead...
Yeah, but they're all still beige somewhere's in them. I don't understand why I can't get a box that is completely non-beige. I mean, look at SGI machines. I've always thought they looked great! I dunno, this still baffles me. It's like everyone thinks the imac is so revolutionary, but there's been unix vendors doing color for some time now. I lust for a O2 case...
Funny. All the testing software is in Linux, yet they're takin up a G3... Hmm.
This pales in comparison to how many biotech companies own portions of dna sequencing and the like. That really disgusted me. My last company worked on HIV (amoung other things) and we'd collaborate on and patent all kinds of stuff. And our pockets weren't that deep.
What it comes down to is that someone owns the method to cure you of something - or how you can even reproduce. And when they see money in it, they'll squeeze us all. I know. I watched my boss turn down several collaborations with some big universities (our company made the purest form of large proteins/peptides *snythetically* - no one else can do that) because he wanted more money out of them or didn't like some member of their staff.
Total arrogance and stupidity. Who knows what could have came out of those collab's.... Makes me really wanna live on another planet and start all over.
I'm glad OS X is where it is. But I'd say there are much more 'end-users' on Macs than PC's. And while we can see the goodness of Next in OS X, I think the usual Mac admin will cringe at / anything - which OS X has a lot of. :-) I'm not worried in the least.
I don't think there should be any real concern for Apple snuffing Linux out. I mean, Linux is free - OS * is *at least* $80 - with another $80 update comin out every 6 months (a waste!). PC hardware is (always will be) cheaper and more available than Apple.
The problem I've always had with OS 8.* is that it's not a 'real' multitasking os. The finder is okay, but I'll take X any day over that. Hell, give me a command line over that
Personally, I really, really, *really* think Windows sucks! Their API? Yes please, I'll have a few million dll files..... (shudder)
Why do I say this? 'Cause I have programmed in Windows & dos. However, I've also programmed the Amiga (way before dos), Apple *, and a bunch of other systems, so I definitely wouldn't consider myself a 'Windows Programmer'. I've participated in some of the M$DN stuff and it amazes me how much *crap* they give you. Umpteen useless cd's. I remember reading that a minimum install of vc++ 5.0 was like 300megs and the complete install was over a gig! What a waste!
Unix, I think, is the ultimate. Fast, small, multiuser from the get go. It *is* the Internet os. The development community is awesome. I'd never go back to my main workstation being anything other than *nix and every time I drop one more M$ machine off our network it's time to go celebrate at the local pub. Seriously!
I think if Win people wanna program for Linux/Unix, fine. But read all the books and manuals that everyone else has and live, breathe, eat, and sleep your *nix box, cause we all have.
It'll be much nicer to you in return than anything M$ could come up with.
I love it!