For that I do tech support, networking, systems analysis (DFDs etc), systems design (in Access, don't kill me, but currently working on MySQL as a backend) etc etc etc.
They grumble that I don't re-do their network wiring when (like a typical female-run organisation that it is;)) they shuffle all the desks around. Newsflash: Finance won't let me buy a reel of CAT5, it's a charity, we can't afford it. Don't even get me started on the cost of my wages against getting a working system (which I'd LOVE to do)
Worst job posting? Mine, when I accepted it, and mine still!
Incidentally, in the process we also try to stress that Linux isn't a "free cut-down alternative to Windows" which is an easy, but false, impression for people to get in these circumstances.
Just a note, it's been mentioned to me that "scheme" is a rather negative word in the US. Rest assured that I meant the positive version (UK), as in "refurbishment initiative" or "referral agreements"
Also charity = completely non-profit here, by law, and proven in account bookkeeping:)
"Why don't you just shell out on a decent computer?"
A fair enough question.
My answer: I work for a charity. They can't afford to shell out on a decent computer. Heck at the moment they even struggle buying inkjet cartridges.
Currently we're running a PC refurbishment scheme where, older systems (e.g. currently a lot of K6-2/300s for some reason) which would've been on their way to landfill are donated to us. I then install Linux onto them and either sell them on cheap to support the charity's income (for members of the public who simply don't need anything more) or give them away to disadvantaged people and families through referral schemes.
It's a fairly new project, and I've been through a good few distros (Slackware, Gentoo, Peanut...) looking for one that's both simple to use for the target audience (everyday people) and runs smoothly on this older hardware. Obsolete versions of RedHat didn't really appeal to me. Peanut has been the choice so far, but Vector definitely sounds right on the mark.
Yup, Microsoft know what they're doing. Others such as Mozilla, Opera et al were inventing ideas for them... MS weren't blind or ignorant to those ideas, they were just waiting for the right opportunity to implement them.
I'm sure they'll enjoy the adverts... and the install banners;) "Thanks for installing Windows 2006: No more intrusive popups with our unique Popup Blocker feature!"
Seriously though, if (god forbid) Microsoft have the same market share in 2006, the popup era may finally be over. It'll take some time as people adopt the new Windows, but finally there'll be nobody for popup spammers to target and they'll go away. By then the latest Outlook (with decent spam filtering) will have been fully adopted, so crap from that end will also disappear.
Of course, that's the wishful side. I'm sure spammers will find new and more interesting ways to piss people off.
The bad special effects are part of the charm IMO.
For one thing, it let them concentrate more on the story - hence the likes of Doctor Who and B7 were so good.
Heck, I daresay the lack of special effects helped some of the designs. Would we be seeing a police box or a "triple spike thing with a green throbbing blob at the rear" if the effects were done today with CG rendering et al? Nah, it'd be the usual flat spacecraft.
Orac wouldn't have been nearly as impressive if he weren't a portable perspex box with fairy lights inside:)
Seeing Liberator bobbing/wobbling along the screen also added to the memorability.
Oh, and the guns! Zer-WAAAAaaiii (gun lights up, but no visible effect on body). It actually seems more realistic that they'd be hitting with invisible energy rather than today's standard "explosive energy projectile" effect that they like to show off with.
"And these... guns?" "It's a bit elaborate for a toothpick" "Depends how elaborate their teeth are"/chuckle
One rather unfortunate habit that people have picked up is referring to a type of program by its name rather than what it actually *is*.
E.g my boss would never want to "work on a spreadsheet", he'd want to "create an Excel document". Not "work on a project management program" it's "use Project 98"
Introducing a user to Linux is very difficult when they say "Does it have Excel?" and you say "no, but it has something similar" - they seem to automatically assume that it's a poor clone of the "Real Excel".
Difficult problem to solve - however, people still call vacuum cleaners "Hoovers" and adhesive tape "Sellotape" whilst using other brands, so perhaps it's not the end of the world.
I've actually started to really disagree with making Linux as close to Windows as possible.
For the reason that you described, in a way.. "They're familiar with Windows interface conventions, and anything different from Windows will face an immediate barrier."
That much is true, but there are other consequences to it acting just like Windows.
I'm IT manager for a charity (before anyone asks, yes the pay is crap) and we're currently starting up an older-PC refurbishment scheme where we take Pentium-IIs and the like which companies would normally throw away, format them and sell them on cheaply to those who want a real budget system.
Due to licencing issues (Us: "can you pass on any software licenses with your donated hardware?" Them: "who? wha??? Where? How?") it's not usually economical to provide Windows with the machine. Who wants to buy a 50 machine with a 110 operating system?!!
So I explained (or tried to explain) the wonders of Linux to my boss. At some point I mentioned the word "free" and demonstrated how close it can resemble Microsoft software, and he was jumping up and down with joy. "Great!" I thought! Good chance to promote Linux amongst the masses!
Boss: "Start a user group here. I'd be glad to use this building to host it"
Me: "Woohoo!"
Boss: "We can use this to sell the computers cheap, then when they have enough money they can upgrade to the REAL Windows"/sigh
In the past I've disliked him for his set hatred of anyone who differs *in the slightest* with his ideals. But when SCO comes into the picture, you can see *exactly* why he's like that.
He's earned my respect at least, and I wish him (along with Linus and any others involved) the best of luck! You tell em mate!
Heh... it was interesting, when Final Fantasy X's Wakka opened his mouth and made Bender noises. I didn't know at first that they're both played by the same voice actor. After that I had a hard time differentiating the two!
But I digress. It's a sad reflection on today's entertainment that Futurama's gone. They're too busy reviving old ideas (T3 and Blake's 7 as recent examples) for anyone to enjoy new material. Music is similar - it's been a long time since I heard something original (in the UK at least) rather than a rewrite of some older song.
It wouldn't be so bad, but remakes are generally not good. Enterprise is a terrible prequel to Star Trek TOS, Randall and Hopkirk was OK but nowhere near as good as the original, more recent Dr Who = bad, Terminator 3 destroys the "warm feeling" very final ending of T2 and sucks at it, and no doubt Blake's 7: A Rebellion Reborn will have little going for it. (How the hell can you have B7 without Vila or Orac?)
Rant has gone off course again! But I feel rather strongly that remakes of existing material is what's destroying entertainment that's relatively new.
Slashdot Mirror
Sorry, there was supposed to be a UK pound sign in front of that 5.50.
Seems slashdot or firebird won't accept it, or I've made a misconfiguration somewhere.
5.50/hr
;)) they shuffle all the desks around. Newsflash: Finance won't let me buy a reel of CAT5, it's a charity, we can't afford it. Don't even get me started on the cost of my wages against getting a working system (which I'd LOVE to do)
For that I do tech support, networking, systems analysis (DFDs etc), systems design (in Access, don't kill me, but currently working on MySQL as a backend) etc etc etc.
They grumble that I don't re-do their network wiring when (like a typical female-run organisation that it is
Worst job posting? Mine, when I accepted it, and mine still!
When it was theorised that MS wouldn't let you install Linux on VirtualPC, everyone shouted that it's a conspiracy and MS are evil.
;)
Now that they're supporting it... guess what, it's a conspiracy and they're evil!
Some people are hard to please
Bwahahah
;)
BTW I live in Ulverston, birthplace of Stan Laurel. Not that I condone such nonsence, just happen to live here
I work for a good organisation.
Incidentally, in the process we also try to stress that Linux isn't a "free cut-down alternative to Windows" which is an easy, but false, impression for people to get in these circumstances.
Just a note, it's been mentioned to me that "scheme" is a rather negative word in the US. Rest assured that I meant the positive version (UK), as in "refurbishment initiative" or "referral agreements"
:)
Also charity = completely non-profit here, by law, and proven in account bookkeeping
"Why don't you just shell out on a decent computer?"
A fair enough question.
My answer: I work for a charity. They can't afford to shell out on a decent computer. Heck at the moment they even struggle buying inkjet cartridges.
Currently we're running a PC refurbishment scheme where, older systems (e.g. currently a lot of K6-2/300s for some reason) which would've been on their way to landfill are donated to us. I then install Linux onto them and either sell them on cheap to support the charity's income (for members of the public who simply don't need anything more) or give them away to disadvantaged people and families through referral schemes.
It's a fairly new project, and I've been through a good few distros (Slackware, Gentoo, Peanut...) looking for one that's both simple to use for the target audience (everyday people) and runs smoothly on this older hardware. Obsolete versions of RedHat didn't really appeal to me. Peanut has been the choice so far, but Vector definitely sounds right on the mark.
Yup, Microsoft know what they're doing. Others such as Mozilla, Opera et al were inventing ideas for them... MS weren't blind or ignorant to those ideas, they were just waiting for the right opportunity to implement them.
;) "Thanks for installing Windows 2006: No more intrusive popups with our unique Popup Blocker feature!"
I'm sure they'll enjoy the adverts... and the install banners
Seriously though, if (god forbid) Microsoft have the same market share in 2006, the popup era may finally be over. It'll take some time as people adopt the new Windows, but finally there'll be nobody for popup spammers to target and they'll go away. By then the latest Outlook (with decent spam filtering) will have been fully adopted, so crap from that end will also disappear.
Of course, that's the wishful side. I'm sure spammers will find new and more interesting ways to piss people off.
See also "Duke Nukem Forever" ;)
Check bugzilla, if the idea doesn't exist - post it.
An idea that isn't recorded essentially doesn't exist.
Ahh, yes.
:)
US: Spent millions of dollars developing a pen that can write in space
Russians: Took a pencil.
Love it
The bad special effects are part of the charm IMO.
:)
/chuckle
For one thing, it let them concentrate more on the story - hence the likes of Doctor Who and B7 were so good.
Heck, I daresay the lack of special effects helped some of the designs. Would we be seeing a police box or a "triple spike thing with a green throbbing blob at the rear" if the effects were done today with CG rendering et al? Nah, it'd be the usual flat spacecraft.
Orac wouldn't have been nearly as impressive if he weren't a portable perspex box with fairy lights inside
Seeing Liberator bobbing/wobbling along the screen also added to the memorability.
Oh, and the guns! Zer-WAAAAaaiii (gun lights up, but no visible effect on body). It actually seems more realistic that they'd be hitting with invisible energy rather than today's standard "explosive energy projectile" effect that they like to show off with.
"And these... guns?"
"It's a bit elaborate for a toothpick"
"Depends how elaborate their teeth are"
Well, I must admit... paying through the nose for the hardware would beat (theoretically) paying through the nose for the software!
I sincerely hope you're correct...
But haven't you seen the stories about XBOX modders getting sued via the DMCA for modchips that basically replace the BIOS?
Any sources in the UK for geek toys (e.g. a thinkgeek.co.uk type website) would be nice :)
A source for Megatokyo gear = even better.
*look of utter horror!*
Next we'll be seeing MP3s distributed on RIAA servers or something...
One rather unfortunate habit that people have picked up is referring to a type of program by its name rather than what it actually *is*.
E.g my boss would never want to "work on a spreadsheet", he'd want to "create an Excel document". Not "work on a project management program" it's "use Project 98"
Introducing a user to Linux is very difficult when they say "Does it have Excel?" and you say "no, but it has something similar" - they seem to automatically assume that it's a poor clone of the "Real Excel".
Difficult problem to solve - however, people still call vacuum cleaners "Hoovers" and adhesive tape "Sellotape" whilst using other brands, so perhaps it's not the end of the world.
Does anyone know of a UK store that maybe imports and re-sells ThinkGeek stuff such as these t-shirts?
Failing that, any online stores that simply stock similar "geek stuff"?
I'd love a slashdot t-shirt (and a few megatokyo t-shirts for that matter) but just not quite enough to justify the import costs.
Indeed.
If anyone wants a good example, check out some of the comments over at my old haunt (still a haunt for amusement in a way): betanews.com
I've actually started to really disagree with making Linux as close to Windows as possible.
/sigh
For the reason that you described, in a way.. "They're familiar with Windows interface conventions, and anything different from Windows will face an immediate barrier."
That much is true, but there are other consequences to it acting just like Windows.
I'm IT manager for a charity (before anyone asks, yes the pay is crap) and we're currently starting up an older-PC refurbishment scheme where we take Pentium-IIs and the like which companies would normally throw away, format them and sell them on cheaply to those who want a real budget system.
Due to licencing issues (Us: "can you pass on any software licenses with your donated hardware?" Them: "who? wha??? Where? How?") it's not usually economical to provide Windows with the machine. Who wants to buy a 50 machine with a 110 operating system?!!
So I explained (or tried to explain) the wonders of Linux to my boss. At some point I mentioned the word "free" and demonstrated how close it can resemble Microsoft software, and he was jumping up and down with joy.
"Great!" I thought! Good chance to promote Linux amongst the masses!
Boss: "Start a user group here. I'd be glad to use this building to host it"
Me: "Woohoo!"
Boss: "We can use this to sell the computers cheap, then when they have enough money they can upgrade to the REAL Windows"
Delegate :)
That's how I'd solve a mess like that. Shit travels downwards!
Ugh, I can see a lot of people pronouncing GNU incorrectly.
:)
As in "The new system"
Given the number of times I've talked about "the new system" at work, I know how people cringe and writhe at the those words in fear
Very well said.
In the past I've disliked him for his set hatred of anyone who differs *in the slightest* with his ideals. But when SCO comes into the picture, you can see *exactly* why he's like that.
He's earned my respect at least, and I wish him (along with Linus and any others involved) the best of luck! You tell em mate!
Hell of a shame.
Heh... it was interesting, when Final Fantasy X's Wakka opened his mouth and made Bender noises. I didn't know at first that they're both played by the same voice actor. After that I had a hard time differentiating the two!
But I digress. It's a sad reflection on today's entertainment that Futurama's gone. They're too busy reviving old ideas (T3 and Blake's 7 as recent examples) for anyone to enjoy new material. Music is similar - it's been a long time since I heard something original (in the UK at least) rather than a rewrite of some older song.
It wouldn't be so bad, but remakes are generally not good. Enterprise is a terrible prequel to Star Trek TOS, Randall and Hopkirk was OK but nowhere near as good as the original, more recent Dr Who = bad, Terminator 3 destroys the "warm feeling" very final ending of T2 and sucks at it, and no doubt Blake's 7: A Rebellion Reborn will have little going for it. (How the hell can you have B7 without Vila or Orac?)
Rant has gone off course again! But I feel rather strongly that remakes of existing material is what's destroying entertainment that's relatively new.
Guess that's me!
And another several million Kazaa Lite users... heh heh heh