As a manager I get very tired of hearing about the programmers, sysadmins, etc. complaining that such-and-such can't be done, or otherwise blocking progress. Much more often than not things that "can't be done" just require a re-statement of the problem and some creative application of simple ideas.
Isn't this the problem, though? A manager who isn't technically qualified to ask the correct question cannot expect to get what he wants to be the right answer. Like everything else in human interaction, it is the responsibility of the communicators to be understood, not get annoyed because they are incapable of coherent specification. Additionally, your statement also does indicate that your developers are not always as far into the decision loop as they ought to be. As a long experienced developer and project manager, I am aware of the skills of me team mates. If their opinions are worth nothing to the decision making process, then I doubt they are qualified to be in our team.
I'm curious as to how the 12million is arrived at. Seems a lot for just pointing a nearly dead device in another direction. How many ground based resources are involved?
Why not! There ae many people who have LS120 dives, for a number of reasons. Many, like myself, bought them when the Zip was only 100MB and the extra 20MB was a BIG advantage. Also, there are many people who, like myself, find a number of other advantages to the ls120:
1. The drive can handle ordinary FDDs - this is useful especially for laptops, or parport drives. 2. The smaller size of the media makes it easier to carry around/store. 3. Cross platform compatibility is excellent. The zip requires special formats (in my experience, I expect someone has found a way to deal with this by now) 4. It looks just like a removable hdd and can even be partitioned. (I've never tried this with a zip, so don't know if this is possible). This makes it SO easy to install/boot new op syses. (Handy when dev'ing an embedded Linux:))
Of course, the downside is the cost of the media...
As regards Bootable CD Distros, there are already a number. I myself use the Slakware 7 disk which makes an evil recovery disk, so complaining that a Superdisk distro is a waste of time is a little superfluous.
The real point, though, comes back the the original 'spirit' of open source operating systems and hacking. Back in the dark ages, when Linux was just starting up, there were many people with lots of different, and obsolete hardware who wanted to use it sensibly, partly because of finances, partly from the challenge. The philospohy of supporting as much h/w as possible was common place and people were applauded for creating support for new systems/hardware, not pilloried. This is one of the reasons that Linux/**BSD etc have all been so successful.
The 'one-horse' culture of the M$ Windows mentality is something that should be avoided at all costs if we wish to have a dynamic computer culture.
Surely there must be some way of getting some of these toys into the UK? Anyway, will this 'pizza' button work here, and if so, will they be cold when they get here??:) Mark
Cases like this seem to come down to who can win the publicity war.
What if action groups were to pick on an organisation (such as the BBC) and were to email a department, or individual reporter with their story/complaints.
If their attention can be raised, especially were there appears to be a juicy conflict, then perhaps "news" can be made. Facts pro/con can be presented and if a case has merit, then it could have a good chance.
Since the DVD companies are motivated by commercial pressures and value their reputation, then adverse publicity could seriously limit their bullying tactics.
While at it, a list of contact emails could be created for use in cases like this. Why only limit the protest to only one organisation?
Slashdot Mirror
I wonder if anyone has thought to do the same with CDs :)
Isn't this the problem, though? A manager who isn't technically qualified to ask the correct question cannot expect to get what he wants to be the right answer. Like everything else in human interaction, it is the responsibility of the communicators to be understood, not get annoyed because they are incapable of coherent specification.
Additionally, your statement also does indicate that your developers are not always as far into the decision loop as they ought to be. As a long experienced developer and project manager, I am aware of the skills of me team mates. If their opinions are worth nothing to the decision making process, then I doubt they are qualified to be in our team.
I'm curious as to how the 12million is arrived at. Seems a lot for just pointing a nearly dead device in another direction. How many ground based resources are involved?
I'm sure u owe them far more in overflight fees :)
1. The drive can handle ordinary FDDs - this is useful especially for laptops, or parport drives. :))
2. The smaller size of the media makes it easier to carry around/store.
3. Cross platform compatibility is excellent. The zip requires special formats (in my experience, I expect someone has found a way to deal with this by now)
4. It looks just like a removable hdd and can even be partitioned. (I've never tried this with a zip, so don't know if this is possible). This makes it SO easy to install/boot new op syses. (Handy when dev'ing an embedded Linux
Of course, the downside is the cost of the media...
As regards Bootable CD Distros, there are already a number. I myself use the Slakware 7 disk which makes an evil recovery disk, so complaining that a Superdisk distro is a waste of time is a little superfluous.
The real point, though, comes back the the original 'spirit' of open source operating systems and hacking. Back in the dark ages, when Linux was just starting up, there were many people with lots of different, and obsolete hardware who wanted to use it sensibly, partly because of finances, partly from the challenge. The philospohy of supporting as much h/w as possible was common place and people were applauded for creating support for new systems/hardware, not pilloried. This is one of the reasons that Linux/**BSD etc have all been so successful.
The 'one-horse' culture of the M$ Windows mentality is something that should be avoided at all costs if we wish to have a dynamic computer culture.
Better still, send them a copy of their page. After all, if its so good.....
Surely there must be some way of getting some of these toys into the UK? Anyway, will this 'pizza' button work here, and if so, will they be cold when they get here?? :) Mark
Cases like this seem to come down to who can win the publicity war.
What if action groups were to pick on an organisation (such as the BBC) and were to email a department, or individual reporter with their story/complaints.
If their attention can be raised, especially were there appears to be a juicy conflict, then perhaps "news" can be made. Facts pro/con can be presented and if a case has merit, then it could have a good chance.
Since the DVD companies are motivated by commercial pressures and value their reputation, then adverse publicity could seriously limit their bullying tactics.
While at it, a list of contact emails could be created for use in cases like this. Why only limit the protest to only one organisation?
Mark.