I think calling Windows and/or Microsoft dead is a bit premature but I do agree with your assessment of what Valve is going to do to them. One of the main reasons people give me as to why they can't leave Windows for Linux is because of gaming. Take away that lock and the Windows installed base will drop.
Let me also point out that Libre Office/Open Office is also seeing wider acceptance. If Microsoft continues to believe that moving different functions from one menu branch to another is an improvement as well as adding features that nobody ever asked for - the revenue generated from Office sales will fade away over time.
Head on over to WISPA, read through their discussion lists, sign up and introduce yourself. DSLReports also has a WISP forum which is pretty friendly and you would be well-served to check out that resource. Having lived the life you're looking at getting into, License Exempt Wireless is probably the only readily available technology that is within your reach unless you have very deep pockets.
I can see several applications that would make this type of network incredibly useful.
Having the ability to distribute situational awareness video in real time would be awesome. This could be useful independently from internet connectivity and a tablet with a decent amount of storage could keep the video for later review. If it were within the budget, wouldn't a head's up display in the firefighters helmet of something built into the brim of a law enforcement officer's hat be pretty slick? The ability to Wifi locate any of your team could also be quite useful.
Perhaps more to the point are disasters like Katrina or 9/11, where the telecommunications network may be down for extended periods of time. This kind of backup network could very well be the difference between life and death. If enough of these radios could be dropped in place with solar and battery backup as entire area could be brought back online in a very short period of time. Year's ago there was mention of a completely independent group of license exempt wireless pros forming an instant adhoc network on the the upcoming anniversary of September 11th to drive this exact point home.
As a suggestion, you might want to look if the 4.9GHz band in available in your location. Among others, Motorola's Motomesh uses this band. It's clean, licensed for this use, and some Wifi adapters can be switched to work in that band, lowering the cost for equipment.
Certainly, challenges exist and need to be worked through but if the opportunity to experiment is presented, why not go for it?
Please, we all know that when we keep inconvenient subjects out of the public discussion, they are always competently addressed. And to prove my point, I would direct your attention to Windows7...
When I used to work in the wireless Internet world, I had an associate who had much the same problem with idiots shooting at his antennas. After he had been forced to change antennas on several occasions, I told to him that the simple way to fix the problem was to mount a bullseye somewhere else on his towers and give these lunatics something different to aim at. The last time I talked to him his antennas were bullet hole free but he did have to replace a few of the targets due to them taking some serious damage.
Come on, Google, put some creative thought into solving these problems..
Using this scale of damage assessment, (developed by the seized marijuana assaying department) I'm guessing BP owes the world roughly eleventy brazillion dollars.
Instead of thinking advertising, how about this?
Revenue is generated by capturing call termination fees (on both ends with Google voice) - but that's nothing compared to the big payoff, mobile payments through Google Checkout.
So, Google gets to pillage and plunder both the telephone companies and the credit card companies, making them the hero of this generation and the next.
And then there is the possibility of selling the mobile media data (a la Nielsen/Arbitron) for extra cash, if they feel they need it.
The real question is did the votes make it to Karl Rove's IT manager's server before they were counted?
After all, that might appear to be suspicious, you know, if the guy died in a plane crash before he testified.
Americas Waste-to-Energy http://www.aw2e.com/index.jsp generates electricity, distills potable water and gasifies trash, all the while reclaiming landfills. Is this a perfect solution? Probably not, but I would suggest it is a damn sight better than what we have now. Add to that the need to move toward a distributed generation policy, a concept that can cut down on ling line transmission losses (of up to 80% of the generated electricity we produce) and this really might be the technology of the future. http://www.eere.energy.gov/de/
Wireless Philadelphia (and no, I don't want to discuss how unsuccessful it has been to date) was formed because almost half of the city had no broadband coverage - nothing, not even DSL which barely qualifies as broadband, in many places.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/ip-telephony/?p=709
And let's not forget that the citizens of Pennsylvania gave some huge tax breaks to Bell Atlantic to deploy broadband which never materialized, if you believe one side of the story.
http://www.tispa.org/node/14
Now, how about those wonderful laws that discourage municipalities that wish to build a network?
http://www.baller.com/comm_broadband.html
I know, I know, the telecoms are a for profit companies and are just protecting their interests.
But the reality is that in many places in this country there are too many miles of wire and too few customers to pay for the service.
Earthlink had offered to give a non-profit $1 Million in cash plus roughly $2 Million in brand new equipment.
Most of the network had been built using first generation Tropos equipment, at the edge, which based on the time the first radios were installed puts them at more than 2/3rds through their usable life.
While there is blame enough to go around for everybody involved, the reality is that Earthlink has now decided to focus on dialup, a plan that most of us here would look at as a long term solution - depending on what you define as long term and what solution you would like to see Earthlink come to.
Good luck, Philadelphia, because trying to use the equipment you have is going to sink this network faster than it did last time.
As someone that has probably made every mistake that can possibly be made in this industry, I believe I might have some valuable insight.
If you have LoS (Line of Sight) meaning that both antenna will be able to see each other without being obstructed by anything, the Ubiquiti NanoStations are an unbeatable solution. These radios cost $79.95/each (retail) and are reasonably easy to setup.
http://www.microcom.us/ns2.html
Online forum help is available here:
http://forum.ubnt.com/forum/
Now, if you have a situation where trees or perhaps a house obscure your view between antennas you would be better served with a 900MHz solution.
Deliberant is the place to pick those up at a reasonable (albeit higher) cost.
http://www.deliberant.com/landing/http://www.ligowave.com/?q=products/ligoap/ligoap-900
And just so we understand each other, I do not work for either company, I do not get any commission and you aren't going to get a better price by mentioning my name - I'm just trying to help out for all the help SlashDot have been to me over the years. In fact, it's nice to finally be able to give back.
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I think calling Windows and/or Microsoft dead is a bit premature but I do agree with your assessment of what Valve is going to do to them. One of the main reasons people give me as to why they can't leave Windows for Linux is because of gaming. Take away that lock and the Windows installed base will drop.
Let me also point out that Libre Office/Open Office is also seeing wider acceptance. If Microsoft continues to believe that moving different functions from one menu branch to another is an improvement as well as adding features that nobody ever asked for - the revenue generated from Office sales will fade away over time.
Head on over to WISPA, read through their discussion lists, sign up and introduce yourself. DSLReports also has a WISP forum which is pretty friendly and you would be well-served to check out that resource. Having lived the life you're looking at getting into, License Exempt Wireless is probably the only readily available technology that is within your reach unless you have very deep pockets.
I can see several applications that would make this type of network incredibly useful. Having the ability to distribute situational awareness video in real time would be awesome. This could be useful independently from internet connectivity and a tablet with a decent amount of storage could keep the video for later review. If it were within the budget, wouldn't a head's up display in the firefighters helmet of something built into the brim of a law enforcement officer's hat be pretty slick? The ability to Wifi locate any of your team could also be quite useful. Perhaps more to the point are disasters like Katrina or 9/11, where the telecommunications network may be down for extended periods of time. This kind of backup network could very well be the difference between life and death. If enough of these radios could be dropped in place with solar and battery backup as entire area could be brought back online in a very short period of time. Year's ago there was mention of a completely independent group of license exempt wireless pros forming an instant adhoc network on the the upcoming anniversary of September 11th to drive this exact point home. As a suggestion, you might want to look if the 4.9GHz band in available in your location. Among others, Motorola's Motomesh uses this band. It's clean, licensed for this use, and some Wifi adapters can be switched to work in that band, lowering the cost for equipment. Certainly, challenges exist and need to be worked through but if the opportunity to experiment is presented, why not go for it?
ICANN Names New CEO, Will Pay Him $800,000 To Ruin the Internet?
Only when actions speaking louder than words has lost its meaning.
Please, we all know that when we keep inconvenient subjects out of the public discussion, they are always competently addressed. And to prove my point, I would direct your attention to Windows7...
Just wondering.....
When I used to work in the wireless Internet world, I had an associate who had much the same problem with idiots shooting at his antennas. After he had been forced to change antennas on several occasions, I told to him that the simple way to fix the problem was to mount a bullseye somewhere else on his towers and give these lunatics something different to aim at. The last time I talked to him his antennas were bullet hole free but he did have to replace a few of the targets due to them taking some serious damage. Come on, Google, put some creative thought into solving these problems..
Using this scale of damage assessment, (developed by the seized marijuana assaying department) I'm guessing BP owes the world roughly eleventy brazillion dollars.
Instead of thinking advertising, how about this? Revenue is generated by capturing call termination fees (on both ends with Google voice) - but that's nothing compared to the big payoff, mobile payments through Google Checkout. So, Google gets to pillage and plunder both the telephone companies and the credit card companies, making them the hero of this generation and the next. And then there is the possibility of selling the mobile media data (a la Nielsen/Arbitron) for extra cash, if they feel they need it.
You'd think this attack was completely deserved, wouldn't you?
The real question is did the votes make it to Karl Rove's IT manager's server before they were counted? After all, that might appear to be suspicious, you know, if the guy died in a plane crash before he testified.
Americas Waste-to-Energy http://www.aw2e.com/index.jsp generates electricity, distills potable water and gasifies trash, all the while reclaiming landfills. Is this a perfect solution? Probably not, but I would suggest it is a damn sight better than what we have now. Add to that the need to move toward a distributed generation policy, a concept that can cut down on ling line transmission losses (of up to 80% of the generated electricity we produce) and this really might be the technology of the future. http://www.eere.energy.gov/de/
Wireless Philadelphia (and no, I don't want to discuss how unsuccessful it has been to date) was formed because almost half of the city had no broadband coverage - nothing, not even DSL which barely qualifies as broadband, in many places.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/ip-telephony/?p=709
And let's not forget that the citizens of Pennsylvania gave some huge tax breaks to Bell Atlantic to deploy broadband which never materialized, if you believe one side of the story.
http://www.tispa.org/node/14
Now, how about those wonderful laws that discourage municipalities that wish to build a network?
http://www.baller.com/comm_broadband.html
I know, I know, the telecoms are a for profit companies and are just protecting their interests.
But the reality is that in many places in this country there are too many miles of wire and too few customers to pay for the service.
Perhaps you are one in one of them.
Earthlink had offered to give a non-profit $1 Million in cash plus roughly $2 Million in brand new equipment. Most of the network had been built using first generation Tropos equipment, at the edge, which based on the time the first radios were installed puts them at more than 2/3rds through their usable life. While there is blame enough to go around for everybody involved, the reality is that Earthlink has now decided to focus on dialup, a plan that most of us here would look at as a long term solution - depending on what you define as long term and what solution you would like to see Earthlink come to. Good luck, Philadelphia, because trying to use the equipment you have is going to sink this network faster than it did last time.
As someone that has probably made every mistake that can possibly be made in this industry, I believe I might have some valuable insight. If you have LoS (Line of Sight) meaning that both antenna will be able to see each other without being obstructed by anything, the Ubiquiti NanoStations are an unbeatable solution. These radios cost $79.95/each (retail) and are reasonably easy to setup. http://www.microcom.us/ns2.html Online forum help is available here: http://forum.ubnt.com/forum/ Now, if you have a situation where trees or perhaps a house obscure your view between antennas you would be better served with a 900MHz solution. Deliberant is the place to pick those up at a reasonable (albeit higher) cost. http://www.deliberant.com/landing/ http://www.ligowave.com/?q=products/ligoap/ligoap-900 And just so we understand each other, I do not work for either company, I do not get any commission and you aren't going to get a better price by mentioning my name - I'm just trying to help out for all the help SlashDot have been to me over the years. In fact, it's nice to finally be able to give back.