As a Republican, I agree. After countless failed attempts to "save the troops" and get out of Iraq and debating endlessly over pointless drivel, you'd think they would eventually notice their terrible approval ratings and start listening to the people, but they're relentless. I wish they would stop wasting my tax money.
Not to say Bush is all that great, but he seems to actually get stuff done.
> US consumers are clueless about technology in general. If you would ask the average > person if they know simple computer concepts such as partitioning and operating systems...
As a tech person, perhaps you think regular consumers should be able to partition their hard drives, but for most people computers and hi-tech gadgets are tools no matter how prevalent or even how important they are in our lives. They don't care how their hard drives are virtually divided for use by their OS, and why should they? I know how it works because I'm interested in technology and I chose to program computers, but I know this is not what life is about.
Perhaps it is ridiculous for people not to know what operating system they run, but again why should they care? It's a tool they use to type stuff, check email, and surf the web, and even when it doesn't work, they just want somebody to make it work again. They don't want to know anything about it, and ideally they shouldn't need to know anything about it. All they should have to know is how to make it do what they want.
Hopefully we can get software to the point that it is that simple to use. Of course you and me can continue to hack at our command lines, but I don't see a problem with people only being concerned with what they want to be concerned with, and that often does not include knowing how to partition hard drives.
Now going back to the topic and on the other hand, I definitely think people should be fully aware of who has access to information about them. This is completely different from consumers needing to know about technology.
Google cannot be considered a monopoly for the simple fact that their products still are not forced on anyone. End of story. The same cannot be said about Microsoft. Big difference, actually.
Basically there is a difference between a monopoly and a successful company which enjoys most of the market-share. The successful company with good market-share makes good products that people _choose_ to buy or use, while the monopoly focuses primarily on how they can force products onto consumers. In this case, the former describes Google well, and the latter describes Microsoft fairly.
Microsoft fans often stick their heads in the sand or make up excuses, but the undeniable fact is that Microsoft is often found to engage in activities which force their products on consumers. I won't argue the relative quality of their products compared to others because that's not the point. The fact is they're a monopoly, and they're taking choice away from consumers which should never happen.
> Its called business, if you offer a 'sweeter' deal then the > next guy, be it by a better products or deeper discounts, you make the sale.
> This is hardly even news.
Except of course for the fact that apparently Mandriva had already made the 'sweeter' deal because that's what was chosen. Then all of a sudden Nigeria change their minds? The only way that would make sense for Nigeria is if they received money (I.E. bribe) because they already chose and paid Mandriva. It's the only possibility. It has nothing to do with better products or discounts, etc. at this point because Nigeria had _already_decided_ that Mandriva met their needs.
It's not the sale that's newsworthy, it's the scam.
Yup, my local Blockbuster is gone, too. The building is still vacant. Personally, I liked having it there; and I would never consider Netflix because it doesn't match my movie-watching style. Whenever I want to rent a movie to watch, it's always a spur-of-the-moment thing, and I only do it one or two weekends a month. There's still another Blockbuster in the next city over, though.
> So, lots of eye candy for the casual user. Anyone care to chime in why a geek might want to upgrade?
Apparently you didn't even read the review. Yeah, there are new visual effects, but his whole review points to the fact that it's really the under-the-hood changes (I.E. for geeks!) which should motivate people to upgrade. To say there's nothing new in Leopard that would interest geeks directly contradicts what the reviewer concludes, therefore you should find the answer to your question in TFA.
Why is this modded as flamebait? He said nothing that ought to be taken as inflammatory. Actually, he has a very good point. I've been using Macs for 10+ years, but it's true that Mac OS X could indeed be incredibly better of Apple focused on those small user interface problems that drive people nuts...
Oh what's the point... I'll probably get modded flamebait, too.
> No version of Windows XP came with the ability (i.e. a codec) > to play DVDs. Nor does any version of Linux that remains > simultaneously free and legal.
XP is irrelevant, and so is Linux. Linux is irrelevant because seeing as how it's free, we can't attach the same expectations to it as we could if we paid hundreds of dollars for an operating system--although Linux certainly measures up in many, many areas. XP is irrelevant because it's not current. This is 2007, almost 2008. Ignore the fact that a DVD player always came with Mac OS X, I think it's time we can expect that if we pay ~$177 for an operating system that it will come with licensed DVD playing software without making me pay extra. If you disagree, that's fine, but perhaps you should start expecting more for your money.
By the way, of course I was referring to full version pricing which puts Vista Basic at ~$177 on Amazon. You can also get it much cheaper as Used & New, but that only goes to show the number of people ditching Vista.
> many home users were buying the more lucrative Vista Home Premium or > Ultimate editions...
Obviously. The "Basic" version (which is still considerably more expensive than Mac OS X Leopard or certainly Linux) is crippled to the point of ridiculous. It doesn't even come with the ability to play DVD's; instead it will take you to a Microsoft page where you can buy the necessary plug-ins.
Slashdot Mirror
As a Republican, I agree. After countless failed attempts to "save the troops" and get out of Iraq and debating endlessly over pointless drivel, you'd think they would eventually notice their terrible approval ratings and start listening to the people, but they're relentless. I wish they would stop wasting my tax money.
Not to say Bush is all that great, but he seems to actually get stuff done.
Iran is no threat to America? No wonder our Democratic Congress has worse approval ratings than Bush... they're diluted.
> US consumers are clueless about technology in general. If you would ask the average
> person if they know simple computer concepts such as partitioning and operating systems...
As a tech person, perhaps you think regular consumers should be able to partition their hard drives, but for most people computers and hi-tech gadgets are tools no matter how prevalent or even how important they are in our lives. They don't care how their hard drives are virtually divided for use by their OS, and why should they? I know how it works because I'm interested in technology and I chose to program computers, but I know this is not what life is about.
Perhaps it is ridiculous for people not to know what operating system they run, but again why should they care? It's a tool they use to type stuff, check email, and surf the web, and even when it doesn't work, they just want somebody to make it work again. They don't want to know anything about it, and ideally they shouldn't need to know anything about it. All they should have to know is how to make it do what they want.
Hopefully we can get software to the point that it is that simple to use. Of course you and me can continue to hack at our command lines, but I don't see a problem with people only being concerned with what they want to be concerned with, and that often does not include knowing how to partition hard drives.
Now going back to the topic and on the other hand, I definitely think people should be fully aware of who has access to information about them. This is completely different from consumers needing to know about technology.
Google cannot be considered a monopoly for the simple fact that their products still are not forced on anyone. End of story. The same cannot be said about Microsoft. Big difference, actually.
Basically there is a difference between a monopoly and a successful company which enjoys most of the market-share. The successful company with good market-share makes good products that people _choose_ to buy or use, while the monopoly focuses primarily on how they can force products onto consumers. In this case, the former describes Google well, and the latter describes Microsoft fairly.
Microsoft fans often stick their heads in the sand or make up excuses, but the undeniable fact is that Microsoft is often found to engage in activities which force their products on consumers. I won't argue the relative quality of their products compared to others because that's not the point. The fact is they're a monopoly, and they're taking choice away from consumers which should never happen.
> Its called business, if you offer a 'sweeter' deal then the
> next guy, be it by a better products or deeper discounts, you make the sale.
> This is hardly even news.
Except of course for the fact that apparently Mandriva had already made the 'sweeter' deal because that's what was chosen. Then all of a sudden Nigeria change their minds? The only way that would make sense for Nigeria is if they received money (I.E. bribe) because they already chose and paid Mandriva. It's the only possibility. It has nothing to do with better products or discounts, etc. at this point because Nigeria had _already_decided_ that Mandriva met their needs.
It's not the sale that's newsworthy, it's the scam.
Yup, my local Blockbuster is gone, too. The building is still vacant. Personally, I liked having it there; and I would never consider Netflix because it doesn't match my movie-watching style. Whenever I want to rent a movie to watch, it's always a spur-of-the-moment thing, and I only do it one or two weekends a month. There's still another Blockbuster in the next city over, though.
Let's see just how many Google articles we can get from Slashdot today.
> So, lots of eye candy for the casual user. Anyone care to chime in why a geek might want to upgrade?
Apparently you didn't even read the review. Yeah, there are new visual effects, but his whole review points to the fact that it's really the under-the-hood changes (I.E. for geeks!) which should motivate people to upgrade. To say there's nothing new in Leopard that would interest geeks directly contradicts what the reviewer concludes, therefore you should find the answer to your question in TFA.
What a surprise.
Why is this modded as flamebait? He said nothing that ought to be taken as inflammatory. Actually, he has a very good point. I've been using Macs for 10+ years, but it's true that Mac OS X could indeed be incredibly better of Apple focused on those small user interface problems that drive people nuts... Oh what's the point... I'll probably get modded flamebait, too.
I will gladly second this. I love amex.
> No version of Windows XP came with the ability (i.e. a codec)
> to play DVDs. Nor does any version of Linux that remains
> simultaneously free and legal.
XP is irrelevant, and so is Linux. Linux is irrelevant because seeing as how it's free, we can't attach the same expectations to it as we could if we paid hundreds of dollars for an operating system--although Linux certainly measures up in many, many areas. XP is irrelevant because it's not current. This is 2007, almost 2008. Ignore the fact that a DVD player always came with Mac OS X, I think it's time we can expect that if we pay ~$177 for an operating system that it will come with licensed DVD playing software without making me pay extra. If you disagree, that's fine, but perhaps you should start expecting more for your money.
By the way, of course I was referring to full version pricing which puts Vista Basic at ~$177 on Amazon. You can also get it much cheaper as Used & New, but that only goes to show the number of people ditching Vista.
Ciao,
onefriedrice
> many home users were buying the more lucrative Vista Home Premium or
> Ultimate editions...
Obviously. The "Basic" version (which is still considerably more expensive than Mac OS X Leopard or certainly Linux) is crippled to the point of ridiculous. It doesn't even come with the ability to play DVD's; instead it will take you to a Microsoft page where you can buy the necessary plug-ins.
This is the way it should be:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RsOIdF_DdY
I agree with you 100%, sir. And I have nothing to add.
> Of course, I'm sure that some Mac fan is going to point out how this is another Apple innovation.
Well, some Windows fanboy (you) already pointed this out as some sort of Microsoft innovation, which is no more true.
Nice plug, but I don't think 'consistent' would best describe Ubuntu. Just my opinion, though.