There's a simple rule when you work for someone. When they ask you for something, you give to them. I'm not sure prison is the right sentence but that is not my decision to make. But his actions were clearly wrong. Maybe he really did feel he was doing the right thing but IMHO it was still wrong.
Another examples of RW denial and lunacy at Slashdot are denial of Windows' success in past
It depends on what you define as success. I personally haven't heard anyone here deny Window's financial and marketing success in the past. If you read carefully, you might notice that most criticism of Windows is of a technical nature. Things like BSOD and swiss cheese secutity, which most Windows users simply accept as normal, are for technically advanced "geeks" not exactly signs of success.
Cobol, IIRC, doesn't care about case. The reason a lot of people think it has to be written in CAPS is that the printer used to print it that way on the old impact printers and that the card punchers didn't have lower case. I could be wrong about that. It's been a while.
What I did like about Cobol was that it could do everything you needed for business applications including reports and pre-compiled SQL statements which did direct assignments to code variables.
I know energy tends to cost more in Europe, but ever consider that part of the reason you're paying 22 cents a kwh is these subsidies? That your electric bill is partially going towards his solar install?
Absolutely right. As long as solar is more expensive to produce, we (the consumers) are going to have to pay for it. I suppose it's worth it, in the sense that you have to start somewhere to start getting the economies of scale to bring down the cost. That seems to be happening, but only slowly.
Germany isn't all that further south than Britain, and I remember reading a study that basically said that after solar power reached x% it'd actually be cheaper to lease land in Africa and run a set of superconducting through the ocean north, due to the greater power generation down there.
I've always wondered if the intense sun in parts of Africa could become some sort of export at some point. Either through solar generated electricity or using that electricity to convert water to hydrogen and export it.
A commercial software developer developing for MS Windows has already put their company into Microsoft's basket. How many companies are turning a profit on Windows development, compared to Linux development (note: development, not support)?
With java you have independence. You're not tied to Windows or Linux.
Agreed. We use Java for that reason. The fact still remains that, even with MS's monopoly power, Java is still the most used programming language. It's not perfect, but it is widely used and it isn't going away any time soon.
Other than that, C and C++ are still in heavy use. And C will never die since all the new languages are written in it.
The rate keeps going down. Given than typical residential KW costs are about 22 cents, the utilities are paying alot of money. And still, given the capital costs for solar panels it doesn't make much money for those doing it. I spoke with one guy who did it. Basically he covers his costs for 15 years (including the cost of borrowing the money) and makes a little in the last 10 years of the solar panels expected life.
He's basically of the opinion that it isn't worth the effort.
I've got two windows laptops (my other machines are linux). I've seen two BSOD in the last two years. For home and non-critical use it's just an aggravation but for mission critical stuff we stick with Linux. Our last server ran for four years until the power went out for an entire night (the UPS couldn't go that long).
It seems just plain irresponsible to use a home OS for mission critical stuff.
Any time one can get remuneration to the actual content creators instead of the middle-men is a good idea in my book.
If only we could do this for music. Wouldn't everyone be better off if we knew that the money we spend on music went directly to the artist? It probably would reduce a lot of piracy. Of course, the labels wouldn't be too excited about this.
My girl-friend and my daughter use my linux machine all the time to surf the web and check their email. Neither has a problem with it and all I needed to do was show them where the firebox button was.
A windows fanboy friend of mine also calls me once a year or so because his Windows box doesn't work anymore (presumably infected) so I can download his drivers for him. He feels that's normal that you have to reinstall an OS once a year or so.
If you have to use a site called Linux-Haters to finally find something to criticize about Linux, perhaps you need to reconsider your position. Linux works and works pretty well for most hardware and anyone who isn't predisposed from the start to "hate" linux.
The question is, if you have no idea what Ubuntu is, then why did you choose it?
That is the exact point here. Dell is telling customers which OS they should choose so they are capable to make the choice. Personally I'm a little bit surprised they didn't note the games, but casual people buying a computer don't necessarily know that they need Windows for their apps to work. Dell is just helping these casual users.
A lot of casual users use the computer for web-based email and browsing. Some will also use it for managing their fotos. And they just want it to work and not get infected. For those people, Ubuntu is a better choice. Even if you "know" how to use Windows, you are still going to run into problems when the first virus strikes (no, AV programs don't always know about the latest viruses in time).
If it is a true DSL connection then it is offered by all the ISP's (Deutsche Telekom, 1&1, GMX, Vodafon, O2, etc). The Telekom no longer has a monopoly there and that has been that way for at least a couple of years now. 1&1, for example, offers a "6-MB" service (it's called 6-Mb but you only would get 4 at that location) for 19.95 euros. For a business, though, the prices could be higher, which probably explains the $70.00. As a private person, you'd pay the €20.
it's enough that I take "$PROBLEM does not exist in Europe
Agreed. Mass transit only works were there are masses. Mass Transit may be more prevalent here but you still can't get by without a car if you live in a rural area.
Regarding the motorways. Yes, they are very crowded especially in the industrial areas. Germany is a pretty densly populated country so there's a lot of traffic.
Slashdot Mirror
"Here is a list of things to avoid: ...
Giving your password over the phone to ANYONE.
Telling your boss your password"
The key may be the word "your" here. There is a difference in giving "your" password to your boss and giving system passwords to your boss.
There's a simple rule when you work for someone. When they ask you for something, you give to them. I'm not sure prison is the right sentence but that is not my decision to make. But his actions were clearly wrong. Maybe he really did feel he was doing the right thing but IMHO it was still wrong.
Another examples of RW denial and lunacy at Slashdot are denial of Windows' success in past
It depends on what you define as success. I personally haven't heard anyone here deny Window's financial and marketing success in the past. If you read carefully, you might notice that most criticism of Windows is of a technical nature. Things like BSOD and swiss cheese secutity, which most Windows users simply accept as normal, are for technically advanced "geeks" not exactly signs of success.
Or ruby, or python, or perl, or .....
True. And, if you use the web browser as you GUI, you are truly platform independent. Perl could be a little dicey for GUI applications.
Cobol, IIRC, doesn't care about case. The reason a lot of people think it has to be written in CAPS is that the printer used to print it that way on the old impact printers and that the card punchers didn't have lower case. I could be wrong about that. It's been a while.
What I did like about Cobol was that it could do everything you needed for business applications including reports and pre-compiled SQL statements which did direct assignments to code variables.
I know energy tends to cost more in Europe, but ever consider that part of the reason you're paying 22 cents a kwh is these subsidies? That your electric bill is partially going towards his solar install?
Absolutely right. As long as solar is more expensive to produce, we (the consumers) are going to have to pay for it. I suppose it's worth it, in the sense that you have to start somewhere to start getting the economies of scale to bring down the cost. That seems to be happening, but only slowly.
Germany isn't all that further south than Britain, and I remember reading a study that basically said that after solar power reached x% it'd actually be cheaper to lease land in Africa and run a set of superconducting through the ocean north, due to the greater power generation down there.
I've always wondered if the intense sun in parts of Africa could become some sort of export at some point. Either through solar generated electricity or using that electricity to convert water to hydrogen and export it.
Isn't the GUI very windows specific? I.e. not portable like Swing or SWT?
A commercial software developer developing for MS Windows has already put their company into Microsoft's basket. How many companies are turning a profit on Windows development, compared to Linux development (note: development, not support)?
With java you have independence. You're not tied to Windows or Linux.
Agreed. We use Java for that reason. The fact still remains that, even with MS's monopoly power, Java is still the most used programming language. It's not perfect, but it is widely used and it isn't going away any time soon.
Other than that, C and C++ are still in heavy use. And C will never die since all the new languages are written in it.
The rate keeps going down. Given than typical residential KW costs are about 22 cents, the utilities are paying alot of money. And still, given the capital costs for solar panels it doesn't make much money for those doing it. I spoke with one guy who did it. Basically he covers his costs for 15 years (including the cost of borrowing the money) and makes a little in the last 10 years of the solar panels expected life.
He's basically of the opinion that it isn't worth the effort.
Germany has mandated that the electricity companies buy any solar power on the order of 70-80 cents per kwh
Not quite. Solar is reimbursed at 42 euro cents (~54 us cent). The law was just updated. The new rates are lower.
I stand corrected. You are right that that was in the Gettysburg Address.
Most of us would agree that that is what we hope for in our government and in any democracy. Apparently not everyone sees it that way.
My understanding is that it is not supposed to be faster. It is non-blocking and asynchronous which serves a different need.
I don't want to bring up that pesky constitution but wasn't there something about government of the people, by the people and for the people?
People like you scare me, but I guess your moniker "sumdumass" probably says it all.
I've got two windows laptops (my other machines are linux). I've seen two BSOD in the last two years. For home and non-critical use it's just an aggravation but for mission critical stuff we stick with Linux. Our last server ran for four years until the power went out for an entire night (the UPS couldn't go that long).
It seems just plain irresponsible to use a home OS for mission critical stuff.
Any time one can get remuneration to the actual content creators instead of the middle-men is a good idea in my book.
If only we could do this for music. Wouldn't everyone be better off if we knew that the money we spend on music went directly to the artist? It probably would reduce a lot of piracy. Of course, the labels wouldn't be too excited about this.
Same here. I saw a history channel show (iirc) in which they showed a very similar plant in the mid west someplace using salt as the concentrator.
Yes, they can
http://news.cnet.com/Microsoft,-Adobe-squabble-over-PDF/2100-1012_3-6079320.html
Here's a link to PDF becoming an open standard:
http://www.iso.org/iso/pressrelease.htm?refid=Ref1141
Yes, they can
http://news.cnet.com/Microsoft,-Adobe-squabble-over-PDF/2100-1012_3-6079320.html
That was 2006. I think that might have changed since then.
PARC is responsible for far more than what you are crediting to Apple
IIRC Xerox PARC created/invented the GUI, the mouse, and ethernet.
Adobe threatened to sue when Microsoft planned on integrating a PDF export option into Office.
Isn't PDF a standard now? Wasn't it submitted to the xopen group or something like that? Can Adobe still exert control over the use of the standard?
My girl-friend and my daughter use my linux machine all the time to surf the web and check their email. Neither has a problem with it and all I needed to do was show them where the firebox button was.
A windows fanboy friend of mine also calls me once a year or so because his Windows box doesn't work anymore (presumably infected) so I can download his drivers for him. He feels that's normal that you have to reinstall an OS once a year or so.
If you have to use a site called Linux-Haters to finally find something to criticize about Linux, perhaps you need to reconsider your position. Linux works and works pretty well for most hardware and anyone who isn't predisposed from the start to "hate" linux.
The question is, if you have no idea what Ubuntu is, then why did you choose it?
That is the exact point here. Dell is telling customers which OS they should choose so they are capable to make the choice. Personally I'm a little bit surprised they didn't note the games, but casual people buying a computer don't necessarily know that they need Windows for their apps to work. Dell is just helping these casual users.
A lot of casual users use the computer for web-based email and browsing. Some will also use it for managing their fotos. And they just want it to work and not get infected. For those people, Ubuntu is a better choice. Even if you "know" how to use Windows, you are still going to run into problems when the first virus strikes (no, AV programs don't always know about the latest viruses in time).
especially those who like things just to work
So, you are promoting Ubuntu?
the 4Mbit DSL is the only cost effective option
If it is a true DSL connection then it is offered by all the ISP's (Deutsche Telekom, 1&1, GMX, Vodafon, O2, etc). The Telekom no longer has a monopoly there and that has been that way for at least a couple of years now. 1&1, for example, offers a "6-MB" service (it's called 6-Mb but you only would get 4 at that location) for 19.95 euros. For a business, though, the prices could be higher, which probably explains the $70.00. As a private person, you'd pay the €20.
it's enough that I take "$PROBLEM does not exist in Europe
Agreed. Mass transit only works were there are masses. Mass Transit may be more prevalent here but you still can't get by without a car if you live in a rural area.
Regarding the motorways. Yes, they are very crowded especially in the industrial areas. Germany is a pretty densly populated country so there's a lot of traffic.