The text about calc and paint is a joke. Sorry if you did not understand it.
The post #26966545 said, that if EU wants to remove IE from Windows, it should remove calc.exe and MSPaint too, since they are bundled just like IE is. Or adding GIMP to Paint just like MS will probably add Firefox to IE.
I see no problem with Paint or Calc, but I see a problem with IE, because IE des not support web standards that other browsers support, but is used by a lot of people. So, if you are a web developer, you can: (1) code for standards - IE users complain, since they are the majority, you have to comply, because you do not want to lose customers. (2) code for IE - linux users get screwed, other users are forced to use IE which they do not like (they use some other browser for a reason), but the majority is happy. (3) code for both - now all users are happy, but you have to do a lot more work, to make your site look good on both IE and Firefox.
So, I wrote two paragraphs about how calc and paint are "non compliant and hurting others". If you need more features than Paint has, you download some other program, which is how it's supposed to be. On the other hand, a lot of users use IE, because it is there by default (a few of the even call IE "the internet"), and if a site is rendered wrong, they do not go and download another browser - they complain to the company which made the site (especially if that company is a bank or some other company that offers its services over the web).
Windows XP setup is in English (and even if I get a localized version of Windows, people still are not reading).
(1) Change how it looks, not how it acts. I can make Windows look however I want, I'll still need to go to "My Computer" to access all hard drives and network drives (no, "My Computer" was just an example it's not that I don't like Linux only because of that). (2) So, what are the alternatives for MathCad, Multisim and uVision? (3) How does Windows handle multiple versions of the same DLL? either puts it in the programs directory, in a separate directory, or, if the DLL is newer than the one the system has, replaces it. On Linux though, I had a problem where if I wanted to install program1, I had to install lib1 version 0.0.4.1, which was not compatible with some lib currently installed and required by pretty much every program on that PC. (4) Fair enough. I remember trying to get some old app to work on Linux, but failing because of some lib version incompatibility. (5) Trying to navigate a 10KB text file isn't so painless either. (6) Sorry, didn't try to say that XP supports everything right after install, but there are drivers for more devices for Windows than for Linux. And I remember installing nVidia driver for Linux which required editing some text files to add it in (no right click ->update driver or launch setup.exe->next->next->finish).
I think I am not alone in expecting Linux to work like Windows. Only then will Linux get widespread adoption.
First, I do not use Vista, so I cannot say anything about it (other than when I saw it I didn't like it).
(1) The special thing about Windows UI is that I have used it since Windows 95 came out. Even if it is slow or convoluted, I already know how to accomplish what I need to. Linux UI is convoluted differently, and while it may be the same to a person, who has never used a PC, it matters to me.
(2) OK
(3) Add/Remove programs is only used for unnstalling softare (if it did not came with it's own uninstaller). While package managers may be better, there are times when the particular program is not in the database. And when I download the.rpm or.deb file and try to install it, I get greeted by a dialog box saying that I need a somerandomlib1.2.3.4. After downloading the.rpm file for that I am asked to get some another lib. Why can't the programmers include the lib files with their programs that use them? Look at Windows. I only have to downlaod some additional packages for Windows (DirectX,.NET, VBRuntime) and do not need to hunt for every.dll file.
(4)Apps, that were made for Win3.11 and do not need to access hardware directly, work fine on WinXP 32bit.
(5) Text config files may be less cryptic, but are too slow, the tree structure of the registry is faster if you semi-remember what you are looking for (if you remember what you are loking for you can search both the registry and the text file for it, but if you go like "was it driver or drivers or devices or.... I know it was on HKLM/SYSTEM though..."
(6) I'm hoping that the manufacturers will eventually start to support Linux.
(7) I paid 380 euros for my video card and a lot of money for two dualcore Opterons not just so I can play CS1.6:)
(8) I don't like to reinstall an OS just so. If I reinstall Windows on my main PC it means that: [1] I have built a new main PC (rare), [2]My old installation is full of viruses (rare), [3] this windows installation is broken(currently rare, with Win9x was common), or [4] I install an OS that is way better than my current one (Win95-98->2k->XP).
Yes, I have no right to tell people, who are smarter than me (can create an OS) how to make their own OSes, but, if there would be a Linux distribution that fit my needs, it would fit needs of many people and that distribution may have a higher market share. OTOH, someday, there may be ReactOS if it ever gets finished.
Yes, I am currently using Windows (XP, not Vista and not 7), and I am happy with it. But I think a lot of people would use Linux if it could be used just like Windows (don't care how things work, but it has to look like Windows). My list may be too extensive (though I forgot one thing - drivel letters, but whatever), but I don't think that anyone wants to relearn how to use a PC. Yes, using logic you can do a lot on Linux even if you haven't used it before, but it's slow, you always have to think how to accomplish even a simple task. And for those users who remember that "to do this and that I must press the 4th button from the left, then click OK when the computer writes something". If you read carefully and understand English (where I live, English is not the main language and only a small portion of older people understand it) you can install Windows, the setup explains the procedure quite well, but a lot of people just know than "I have to press this and that to get the work done" but don't read what the computer is writing them.
So, if anyone wants his/her/its Linux distribution to be used by ordinary people - make it look and feel like Windows. Is it so hard? (that was not a rhetorical question, I really do not know if creating a UI to look like Windows is hard, I am not a programmer, so for me it would be hard, but how about programmers?).
For example: OpenOffice looks and works like MSOffice, so it is used by a lot of people, because it is not difficult to start using it even if you used MSOffice for the last 10 years. Oh, and it supports MSOffice file formats, too.
Linux may never be used by a lot of ordinary people, I just hope that ReactOS is finished eventually, if it works OK, then Windows will have a competitor.
Linux uses a lot of file systems, but the list does not include FAT32 or NTFS, so I would need to format some hard drive to install Linux on it. You are right, though, I do not have to format the Windows system drive.
On the other hand, I do not like rebooting my PC. If Linux could only do a part of what Windows does, I would need to reboot to Windows sometimes. OTOH if I used Windows mainly, I would not need to reboot my PC to Linux. Since I sometimes play games (and even paid a lot of money on then-new Radeon HD2900XT), I'll just stick to Windows XP.
And by the way, Windows 98 is a good OS. Yes, it does not support >768MB RAM or >4GB files but it's good, especially for old computers, if for some reason you do not want Windows NT4.
(1) OK (2) I have bad memories of Wine being not compatible with almost every program I tried. Maybe it changed in the last few years. (3) Yes, I know that usually Linux does not use file extensions for file types, but sometimes it does (for example, if you delete the extension of a OOo document, it will be detected as an archive containing xml files). Why setup is a security risk? Is it more a security risk than usual linux "tar....,./configure, make, make install"? (4) Well, I said "majority". Win3.11 apps that do not need direct access to hardware run fine on WinXP 32bit. (5) I tried Mandrake. We even use it where I work (and I have to support it). It is my observation that everything is OK until something breaks. For example: Over the weekend, I installed Mandrake to a new work PC, configured everything, set display resolution 1280x1024@85Hz, packed up the PC and went to the office where I connected a LCD monitor that does not support 85Hz refresh rate. On Windows, I would boot into safe mode, uninstall video card drivers, boot into normal mode, install drivers and set a "normal" refresh rate. On Linux, I had to edit some text file which had quite a lot of numbers in mode lines or whatever... Well this happened to me a few years ago, maybe new Linux versions have a "safe mode". (6) Maybe, though I still remember trying to install Linux on my old laptop (486DX 50MHz 16MB RAM, 800MB HDD) and not being able to launch the GUI, because the video adapter was not supported. Also, Win98 or Win95 runs quite well on that laptop, Know any Linux distribution that does (with a GUI comparable to Win9x) (7)... (8) Yes, the install is simple, but I do not want to format my hard drive and (re)install an OS if the current one is not broken and the new one is not much better (that's why I don't use Vista and may not use Seven).
I do not know about Vista, but you can use Windows XP bootloader to load Linux. I used it, when I was trying linux out and did not want to screw the bootloader when I formatted the linux partition.
Remove calc.exe. It is the default calculator for windows and cannot be removed even if you delete the program filee manually or use add/remove programs. It uses horribly nonstandard math which forced all a lot of scientists to adopt Microsoft math standard, which is incompatible with other calculators. Ir you want your math to be compatible both with microsoft calc and mozilla firepigeon you have to design special equations for these two different programs. While you could do just the standard ones, a lot of users complain that your calculations do not add up because they use "the computer" that is calc.exe. On the other hand, if you do just thenoncompliant equations then only a minority of your users complain, mainly because they use linux and cannot run calc.exe
MS Paint has all features of Photoshop or GIMP but can only save in proprietary file format known as.msp This has forced all manufacturers of digital cameras to produce cameras that can only save photos in.msp, because if they saved in.jpg, a lot of users would complain that they have to buy Photoshop, which is expensive, or use GIMP, which is harder than programming an OS. So, manufacturers use.msp as standard, because using.jpg in addition to.msp would mean thet their costs are higher while only appealing to a minority of users who use linux and cannot run MSPaint.exe.
In any case, I will start to use linux as my main os as soon as there is a linux version that: (1) has windows UI, (2) can run all software I want to use (either runs the same program or has an alternative), (3) use setup.exe (.sh,.whatever) file for installation of additional software that do not depend on some third party (apt-get, yum) database and have all needed files included (.so files,.dll files) (can have some exceptions, like LinuxD3D, Lin.net, LinVBrun), (4) is compatible with majority of old software, written 15 years ago, (5) uses GUI (for most options) or registry (for obscure options) for configuration, instead of text files, (6) supports any currently made device that Windows supports (including a USB thermometer) (7) is compatible with games. (8) is so better (faster, more stable) than windows that I do not mind reinstalling the OS.
Not necessarily. If the demand is so elastic, that lowering the price by half increased the sales by 30x then it means that you get 15 times more income (in selling 30 times as much but for only half the price). Since the cost of a copy of game is quite low (that is, it's lower than the reduced price), then the company will make more money by selling more at a lower price.
The cost of development is fixed, it stays constant no matter how many copies you make.
Opera works OK on a 486DX 50MHz, 16MB of RAM and Windows 98. It should work on your PC too. Probably it will even allow you to open 4 tabs without running out of memory. Some version of Firefox shold work on W98 too.
Having Windows is a desirable thing. Any other operating system is not 100% compatible with Windows. Yes, I know, that there may be Linux versions of Mathcad, Multisim and other programs, but I do not know what they are. Also, I have used Windows for a long time (I remember using Windows 3.11, but I was little then), so I do not have to find out how I can do something in Linux that I already know how to do in Windows.
The Psion Series 5 is a great machine and EPOC is a great OS (it also has a programming language that is very easy to learn, OPL), however, it is in many ways incompatible with Windows. For example - I can download a.doc file off the net, but I cannot open it without converting it to Psion format, which means, that I have to carry my laptop around to be able to convert. Except now, that I am carrying my laptop, I no longer need the Series 5. While there is a YACAS port for EPOC, it is not as easy to work with as Mathcad.
At one point I tried to use a x86 emulator to install Windows 3.1 on the Psion. Everything would have been OK if Series 5 had a faster CPU. Well, maybe the netbook would have been OK for that, but Windows 3.1 (not 3.11) on Series 5 was slower than anything I have used before.
Now, if I have a small x86 laptop, I can install Linux and Windows on it. Linux offers less compatibility than Windows, so I install Windows (XP) and I can do everything that I can do with my main Windows PC (well, except for gaming). And no, I don't want to install Linux just to install VmWare and use Windows in it.
For my workplace, though, Linux is a great choice. It's free and people can use it to do their work (browse the 'net, create, open and print.doc and.xls files, transfer pictures from a digital camera to the PC and add them to a.doc file).
Oh, and by the way, from the looks of things, I will be using Windows XP for a long time (not Vista or 7). I stopped installing a new OS just for the sake of trying it out with Whistler.
Not really, all Valve games are still tied to Steam, even if you bought the DVDs. I however, have 100% working backups that I got using.torrent files that I found on ThePirateBay.
Yea, I have Series 5 and 5mx, and I have used them a lot, lately though, I use them less and less often, because a lot of their functions can be accomplished by my laptop or my Nokia N93. The Series 5 is a great PDA because it has a keyboard which a lot of current PDAs do not. On the other hand, now I could buy Fujitsu U810 and finally have Windows on a form factor similar to the Series 7 or NetBook.
That is true, but sometimes (at least I) take photos that would have no "artistic" value, but only for informational purposes, for example taking a photo of a page of text (using a phone as a scanner), the requirement here is that the text is readable, which depends a lot on technical properties of the phone (one phone I had couldn't take a clear picture of text, either the page is too close (out of focus) or it is too far away (too few pixels per character)).
And yes, a cameraphone will never be as good as a DSLR camera, but I have trouble putting a DSLR camera in my pocket... Also video cameras with photo capability are better than phones, for example my Handycam DCR-HC90E takes 3mpx photos that are way better than the 3mpx photos my Nokia N93 takes. On the other hand the N93 fits in my pocket, while the Handycam does not.
Megapixels are an indicator of quality, just not the main or single one.
The quality of the lens and sensor, also the size of the sensor also matters as much as (or more than) the megapixel count, but still, if a camera had a perfect lens and a 75mm sensor, but a resolution of only 320x240, it may actually do worse than a cameraphone with it's tiny sensor and a below average lens but 5mpx... Shooting in low light would be a different matter...
While the library does not have that book temporarily, the person who borrowed it can use a photocopier or a scanner to make a copy of that book, then return the original to the library. Therefore, the library is "making available" the book for copying.
So, if I use RAID mirroring and one hard drive crashes, is the data safe or not? If it is, that means raid is at least somewhat effective against hardware failure, but it is not effective against user action (for example deleting the file).
On the other hand, backing up the file to a different directory on the same hard drive is effective against accidental deletion, but is not effective against drive failure.
And yes, having 10 backup copies that are incrementally updated each day and are kept at 10 different locations would be the best, but it may be too expensive. And RAID1 (or RAID5) and copying the file to a different directory is still better than no RAID and no backup.
Yes, yes it would, however, publishers want their "protection system" which works only for a short amount of time, until someone finds a way to break it.
She could get a better job easily, but she feels compelled to stay.
So, she doesn't want to find a better job. And this is a problem with the employer? Because what I know is that the workers are not forced to work there (nobody's pointing a gun at them) and even there are better alternative jobs. So the problem is with the mindset of the workers, since employers will pay them just enough so they don't quit.
The job you're working in is the best one available to you? I some how doubt it.... If they complained their boss' would fire them...
So, the boss fires them and they can find a better job, oh wait, they can't. That means the job they are working in is the best currently available, otherwise they would quit and go to a better job.
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The text about calc and paint is a joke. Sorry if you did not understand it.
The post #26966545 said, that if EU wants to remove IE from Windows, it should remove calc.exe and MSPaint too, since they are bundled just like IE is. Or adding GIMP to Paint just like MS will probably add Firefox to IE.
I see no problem with Paint or Calc, but I see a problem with IE, because IE des not support web standards that other browsers support, but is used by a lot of people. So, if you are a web developer, you can:
(1) code for standards - IE users complain, since they are the majority, you have to comply, because you do not want to lose customers.
(2) code for IE - linux users get screwed, other users are forced to use IE which they do not like (they use some other browser for a reason), but the majority is happy.
(3) code for both - now all users are happy, but you have to do a lot more work, to make your site look good on both IE and Firefox.
So, I wrote two paragraphs about how calc and paint are "non compliant and hurting others". If you need more features than Paint has, you download some other program, which is how it's supposed to be. On the other hand, a lot of users use IE, because it is there by default (a few of the even call IE "the internet"), and if a site is rendered wrong, they do not go and download another browser - they complain to the company which made the site (especially if that company is a bank or some other company that offers its services over the web).
Windows XP setup is in English (and even if I get a localized version of Windows, people still are not reading).
(1) Change how it looks, not how it acts. I can make Windows look however I want, I'll still need to go to "My Computer" to access all hard drives and network drives (no, "My Computer" was just an example it's not that I don't like Linux only because of that).
(2) So, what are the alternatives for MathCad, Multisim and uVision?
(3) How does Windows handle multiple versions of the same DLL? either puts it in the programs directory, in a separate directory, or, if the DLL is newer than the one the system has, replaces it. On Linux though, I had a problem where if I wanted to install program1, I had to install lib1 version 0.0.4.1, which was not compatible with some lib currently installed and required by pretty much every program on that PC.
(4) Fair enough. I remember trying to get some old app to work on Linux, but failing because of some lib version incompatibility.
(5) Trying to navigate a 10KB text file isn't so painless either.
(6) Sorry, didn't try to say that XP supports everything right after install, but there are drivers for more devices for Windows than for Linux. And I remember installing nVidia driver for Linux which required editing some text files to add it in (no right click ->update driver or launch setup.exe->next->next->finish).
I think I am not alone in expecting Linux to work like Windows. Only then will Linux get widespread adoption.
First, I do not use Vista, so I cannot say anything about it (other than when I saw it I didn't like it).
(1) The special thing about Windows UI is that I have used it since Windows 95 came out. Even if it is slow or convoluted, I already know how to accomplish what I need to. Linux UI is convoluted differently, and while it may be the same to a person, who has never used a PC, it matters to me.
(2) OK
(3) Add/Remove programs is only used for unnstalling softare (if it did not came with it's own uninstaller). While package managers may be better, there are times when the particular program is not in the database. And when I download the .rpm or .deb file and try to install it, I get greeted by a dialog box saying that I need a somerandomlib1.2.3.4. After downloading the .rpm file for that I am asked to get some another lib. Why can't the programmers include the lib files with their programs that use them? Look at Windows. I only have to downlaod some additional packages for Windows (DirectX, .NET, VBRuntime) and do not need to hunt for every .dll file.
(4)Apps, that were made for Win3.11 and do not need to access hardware directly, work fine on WinXP 32bit.
(5) Text config files may be less cryptic, but are too slow, the tree structure of the registry is faster if you semi-remember what you are looking for (if you remember what you are loking for you can search both the registry and the text file for it, but if you go like "was it driver or drivers or devices or.... I know it was on HKLM/SYSTEM though..."
(6) I'm hoping that the manufacturers will eventually start to support Linux.
(7) I paid 380 euros for my video card and a lot of money for two dualcore Opterons not just so I can play CS1.6 :)
(8) I don't like to reinstall an OS just so. If I reinstall Windows on my main PC it means that: [1] I have built a new main PC (rare), [2]My old installation is full of viruses (rare), [3] this windows installation is broken(currently rare, with Win9x was common), or [4] I install an OS that is way better than my current one (Win95-98->2k->XP).
Yes, I have no right to tell people, who are smarter than me (can create an OS) how to make their own OSes, but, if there would be a Linux distribution that fit my needs, it would fit needs of many people and that distribution may have a higher market share. OTOH, someday, there may be ReactOS if it ever gets finished.
Yes, I am currently using Windows (XP, not Vista and not 7), and I am happy with it. But I think a lot of people would use Linux if it could be used just like Windows (don't care how things work, but it has to look like Windows). My list may be too extensive (though I forgot one thing - drivel letters, but whatever), but I don't think that anyone wants to relearn how to use a PC. Yes, using logic you can do a lot on Linux even if you haven't used it before, but it's slow, you always have to think how to accomplish even a simple task. And for those users who remember that "to do this and that I must press the 4th button from the left, then click OK when the computer writes something". If you read carefully and understand English (where I live, English is not the main language and only a small portion of older people understand it) you can install Windows, the setup explains the procedure quite well, but a lot of people just know than "I have to press this and that to get the work done" but don't read what the computer is writing them.
So, if anyone wants his/her/its Linux distribution to be used by ordinary people - make it look and feel like Windows. Is it so hard? (that was not a rhetorical question, I really do not know if creating a UI to look like Windows is hard, I am not a programmer, so for me it would be hard, but how about programmers?).
For example: OpenOffice looks and works like MSOffice, so it is used by a lot of people, because it is not difficult to start using it even if you used MSOffice for the last 10 years. Oh, and it supports MSOffice file formats, too.
Linux may never be used by a lot of ordinary people, I just hope that ReactOS is finished eventually, if it works OK, then Windows will have a competitor.
Linux uses a lot of file systems, but the list does not include FAT32 or NTFS, so I would need to format some hard drive to install Linux on it. You are right, though, I do not have to format the Windows system drive.
On the other hand, I do not like rebooting my PC. If Linux could only do a part of what Windows does, I would need to reboot to Windows sometimes. OTOH if I used Windows mainly, I would not need to reboot my PC to Linux. Since I sometimes play games (and even paid a lot of money on then-new Radeon HD2900XT), I'll just stick to Windows XP.
And by the way, Windows 98 is a good OS. Yes, it does not support >768MB RAM or >4GB files but it's good, especially for old computers, if for some reason you do not want Windows NT4.
(1) OK ...., ./configure, make, make install"? ...
(2) I have bad memories of Wine being not compatible with almost every program I tried. Maybe it changed in the last few years.
(3) Yes, I know that usually Linux does not use file extensions for file types, but sometimes it does (for example, if you delete the extension of a OOo document, it will be detected as an archive containing xml files). Why setup is a security risk? Is it more a security risk than usual linux "tar
(4) Well, I said "majority". Win3.11 apps that do not need direct access to hardware run fine on WinXP 32bit.
(5) I tried Mandrake. We even use it where I work (and I have to support it). It is my observation that everything is OK until something breaks. For example: Over the weekend, I installed Mandrake to a new work PC, configured everything, set display resolution 1280x1024@85Hz, packed up the PC and went to the office where I connected a LCD monitor that does not support 85Hz refresh rate. On Windows, I would boot into safe mode, uninstall video card drivers, boot into normal mode, install drivers and set a "normal" refresh rate. On Linux, I had to edit some text file which had quite a lot of numbers in mode lines or whatever... Well this happened to me a few years ago, maybe new Linux versions have a "safe mode".
(6) Maybe, though I still remember trying to install Linux on my old laptop (486DX 50MHz 16MB RAM, 800MB HDD) and not being able to launch the GUI, because the video adapter was not supported. Also, Win98 or Win95 runs quite well on that laptop, Know any Linux distribution that does (with a GUI comparable to Win9x)
(7)
(8) Yes, the install is simple, but I do not want to format my hard drive and (re)install an OS if the current one is not broken and the new one is not much better (that's why I don't use Vista and may not use Seven).
I do not know about Vista, but you can use Windows XP bootloader to load Linux. I used it, when I was trying linux out and did not want to screw the bootloader when I formatted the linux partition.
Remove calc.exe. It is the default calculator for windows and cannot be removed even if you delete the program filee manually or use add/remove programs. It uses horribly nonstandard math which forced all a lot of scientists to adopt Microsoft math standard, which is incompatible with other calculators. Ir you want your math to be compatible both with microsoft calc and mozilla firepigeon you have to design special equations for these two different programs. While you could do just the standard ones, a lot of users complain that your calculations do not add up because they use "the computer" that is calc.exe. On the other hand, if you do just thenoncompliant equations then only a minority of your users complain, mainly because they use linux and cannot run calc.exe
MS Paint has all features of Photoshop or GIMP but can only save in proprietary file format known as .msp This has forced all manufacturers of digital cameras to produce cameras that can only save photos in .msp, because if they saved in .jpg, a lot of users would complain that they have to buy Photoshop, which is expensive, or use GIMP, which is harder than programming an OS. So, manufacturers use .msp as standard, because using .jpg in addition to .msp would mean thet their costs are higher while only appealing to a minority of users who use linux and cannot run MSPaint.exe.
In any case, I will start to use linux as my main os as soon as there is a linux version that: .whatever) file for installation of additional software that do not depend on some third party (apt-get, yum) database and have all needed files included (.so files, .dll files) (can have some exceptions, like LinuxD3D, Lin.net, LinVBrun),
(1) has windows UI,
(2) can run all software I want to use (either runs the same program or has an alternative),
(3) use setup.exe (.sh,
(4) is compatible with majority of old software, written 15 years ago,
(5) uses GUI (for most options) or registry (for obscure options) for configuration, instead of text files,
(6) supports any currently made device that Windows supports (including a USB thermometer)
(7) is compatible with games.
(8) is so better (faster, more stable) than windows that I do not mind reinstalling the OS.
Not necessarily. If the demand is so elastic, that lowering the price by half increased the sales by 30x then it means that you get 15 times more income (in selling 30 times as much but for only half the price). Since the cost of a copy of game is quite low (that is, it's lower than the reduced price), then the company will make more money by selling more at a lower price.
The cost of development is fixed, it stays constant no matter how many copies you make.
Opera works OK on a 486DX 50MHz, 16MB of RAM and Windows 98. It should work on your PC too. Probably it will even allow you to open 4 tabs without running out of memory. Some version of Firefox shold work on W98 too.
Having Windows is a desirable thing. Any other operating system is not 100% compatible with Windows. Yes, I know, that there may be Linux versions of Mathcad, Multisim and other programs, but I do not know what they are. Also, I have used Windows for a long time (I remember using Windows 3.11, but I was little then), so I do not have to find out how I can do something in Linux that I already know how to do in Windows.
The Psion Series 5 is a great machine and EPOC is a great OS (it also has a programming language that is very easy to learn, OPL), however, it is in many ways incompatible with Windows. For example - I can download a .doc file off the net, but I cannot open it without converting it to Psion format, which means, that I have to carry my laptop around to be able to convert. Except now, that I am carrying my laptop, I no longer need the Series 5. While there is a YACAS port for EPOC, it is not as easy to work with as Mathcad.
At one point I tried to use a x86 emulator to install Windows 3.1 on the Psion. Everything would have been OK if Series 5 had a faster CPU. Well, maybe the netbook would have been OK for that, but Windows 3.1 (not 3.11) on Series 5 was slower than anything I have used before.
Now, if I have a small x86 laptop, I can install Linux and Windows on it. Linux offers less compatibility than Windows, so I install Windows (XP) and I can do everything that I can do with my main Windows PC (well, except for gaming). And no, I don't want to install Linux just to install VmWare and use Windows in it.
For my workplace, though, Linux is a great choice. It's free and people can use it to do their work (browse the 'net, create, open and print .doc and .xls files, transfer pictures from a digital camera to the PC and add them to a .doc file).
Oh, and by the way, from the looks of things, I will be using Windows XP for a long time (not Vista or 7). I stopped installing a new OS just for the sake of trying it out with Whistler.
Not really, all Valve games are still tied to Steam, even if you bought the DVDs. I however, have 100% working backups that I got using .torrent files that I found on ThePirateBay.
The original Super Mario Bros. can be speed-run in under 6 minutes
Can it be done by a player who never played this game before? Probably not.
On the other hand, I finished Portal in 3-4 hours on the first try.
Yea, I have Series 5 and 5mx, and I have used them a lot, lately though, I use them less and less often, because a lot of their functions can be accomplished by my laptop or my Nokia N93. The Series 5 is a great PDA because it has a keyboard which a lot of current PDAs do not. On the other hand, now I could buy Fujitsu U810 and finally have Windows on a form factor similar to the Series 7 or NetBook.
You mean something like mininova (ads less annoying)?
That is true, but sometimes (at least I) take photos that would have no "artistic" value, but only for informational purposes, for example taking a photo of a page of text (using a phone as a scanner), the requirement here is that the text is readable, which depends a lot on technical properties of the phone (one phone I had couldn't take a clear picture of text, either the page is too close (out of focus) or it is too far away (too few pixels per character)).
And yes, a cameraphone will never be as good as a DSLR camera, but I have trouble putting a DSLR camera in my pocket... Also video cameras with photo capability are better than phones, for example my Handycam DCR-HC90E takes 3mpx photos that are way better than the 3mpx photos my Nokia N93 takes. On the other hand the N93 fits in my pocket, while the Handycam does not.
Megapixels are an indicator of quality, just not the main or single one.
The quality of the lens and sensor, also the size of the sensor also matters as much as (or more than) the megapixel count, but still, if a camera had a perfect lens and a 75mm sensor, but a resolution of only 320x240, it may actually do worse than a cameraphone with it's tiny sensor and a below average lens but 5mpx... Shooting in low light would be a different matter...
While the library does not have that book temporarily, the person who borrowed it can use a photocopier or a scanner to make a copy of that book, then return the original to the library. Therefore, the library is "making available" the book for copying.
So, if I use RAID mirroring and one hard drive crashes, is the data safe or not? If it is, that means raid is at least somewhat effective against hardware failure, but it is not effective against user action (for example deleting the file).
On the other hand, backing up the file to a different directory on the same hard drive is effective against accidental deletion, but is not effective against drive failure.
And yes, having 10 backup copies that are incrementally updated each day and are kept at 10 different locations would be the best, but it may be too expensive. And RAID1 (or RAID5) and copying the file to a different directory is still better than no RAID and no backup.
So, since the site, you gave link to, is incorrect, please enlighten me - what is raid used for if not protection from hard drive crashes?
that have started to ask about mirroring so they don't lose their videos, pictures, save files, etc due to a hard drive crash
If a file becomes corrupted (or even lost) due to drive failure, then a copy of the file can be retrieved from another drive.
It seems that he knows...
Yes, yes it would, however, publishers want their "protection system" which works only for a short amount of time, until someone finds a way to break it.
She could get a better job easily, but she feels compelled to stay.
So, she doesn't want to find a better job. And this is a problem with the employer? Because what I know is that the workers are not forced to work there (nobody's pointing a gun at them) and even there are better alternative jobs. So the problem is with the mindset of the workers, since employers will pay them just enough so they don't quit.
Or we could make a compromise :)
DRM is legal until the copyright expires or the first working crack - whichever comes first.
Because after the crack is created, DRM only makes problems for paying customers.
The job you're working in is the best one available to you? I some how doubt it. ... If they complained their boss' would fire them ...
So, the boss fires them and they can find a better job, oh wait, they can't. That means the job they are working in is the best currently available, otherwise they would quit and go to a better job.