Hardware level changes like firewire b and usb 2 won't happen until next year, when Apple hardware will no longer boot into Mac OS 9. Otherwise, they'd have to update 9 to support the new hardware.
And the powerbook does have a digital out (DVI). You have to use a converter to get VGA.
And I expect to see usb2 and firewire b on desktops before laptops. I'd look for new desktops early next year with these features.
> What you really need is generics (as in C++ > templates). Java collections are vile, since they suffer > from type loss even when used with "real" objects.
Huh? That's crazy. You never lose type information in Java. Just call.class() on the object and you'll know what type it is. C++ is where you lose type information, since it is a statically typed-language.
Templates are vile and unnecessary in a dynamic (i.e. elegant) programming language--I should be able to add any kind of object I want to a container without having to know what class it is. And when I pull it out of the container, I should be able to find out what class it is. Since this can't be done in C++, templates were invented as a hack.
After using a dynamic language, I would never go back to a statically-typed language (though Objective-C does this much better than Java).
I'd really like to see Java adopt the Objective-C construct of not considering it an error to call a method on a null object. Code is much easier to read and works much better when you don't have to make null checks all over the place.
I just learned Objective-C earlier this year and have been using Java since 1.0 came out. But from what I've done so far, I'd much rather use the Objective-C language over Java (but not necessarily the frameworks/class libraries). I'm in the process of junking all my C++ code to be Objective-C or Java instead.
Yes, Apple has the rights to restrict access to their source code, yadda yadda yah.
But somone under 18 can get the developer tools by purchasing Mac OS X. They can have software updates automatically installed by the system. This then breaks the develooper tools, and they can't download the new ones without an ADC membership.
This is a problem Apple can fix. No agreement is required to use the tools, especially since they include gcc and other open source code under the GPL.
Apple is basically telling those under 18 they can't develop with Apple's tools.
I live four blocks from the World Trade Center, and left for work to see the south tower crumble. My full account is at http://www.lilback.com/wtc.html.
Well, actually TSR does, but since they are now owned by Hasbro...
TSR did a role-playing game based on Indiana Jones. The front cover listed a bunch of trademarks they claimed, including Nazi(tm). There were a whole lot more common words, but that's the one I remember.
I live in NYC and signed up for ricochet last month. I live on the 21st floor of my building and get faster connections with my 56K modem. I've yet to get a faster connection in Manhattan, at Newark airport, at SF airport, or in downtown SF. I'm canceling my service and returning the modem (the service I use offered a 30 day money back guarantee).
The service would be great if it lived up to expectations -- I can't get DSL in my building (it is all fiber), and the cable company only offers one-way modems. So 128 K wireless would be the equivilent of ISDN (my best option), plus I can use it while traveling to SF (5/6 times a year) and at the airport. Plus, being able to sit in Central Park and surf the net would be fabulous.
I've been looking for competent people for years. Never can find them, or they get snapped up for more money that my company will pay(> $125K in NYC).
I've got 6 open posiitions right now, and based on past trends I'll be lucky to get 2 of those filled this year. I don't care what country they are from or how old they are. They just have to be competent.
Maybe my standards are way too high. But I don't think so. I'll hire someone who's never been to college and had very limited experience if I am impressed with them in an interview.
Anyone who says there isn't a shortage is either lazy, incompetent, or needs to move to a city with a demand for workers.
As to unions, I hate them. Especially when they have closed shops and you have to join the union to work (happened when I did construction work during college). When I consider a job, it is me interviewing the company, not them interviewing me. And I've got the competence to feel that way. I've been working in IT for 8 years and have never sent out a resume once.
Skilled, or people who bought "Java for Dummies" and think they are skilled?
I've been looking for people to work with me for 6 years now, and in that time I've found less than 10 who I've made offers to, even though I've always needed to hire lots more people.
They way I explain it to our HR people is that I'm looking for people who know how to cook, not just follow a recipe. And you'll never find a cook by asking people how to make a sandwich.
And if anyone says they have to ask quiz type questions, then they have no clue how to judge people. Give me 10 minutes with someone and I'll know if I'd want to work with them.
I've been using paymybills.com for a while. They actually waived their fees for all subscribers (as of a couple of months ago) for the next year, so it isn't costing me anything. And boy is it convient. They scan all your bills in and you can download them as pdfs if you want a copy. I'm really bad about opening snail mail and paying bills, but doing it online is so easy that I'm paying them as soon as I receive them.
I just hooked up a ReplayTV, the competitor to TiVO, Sunday and had to rewind the shot of Scully a few times... Replay was $500 for 20 hours of storage, and no monthly fees. I don't have cable, so I haven't had opportunity for most of the issues CmdrTaco ran into. I love it because I no longer have to bitch about the lousy shows on late night broadcast TV. I'm keeping the last couple of episodes of a lot of shows I like but haven't watched in months cause I'm never home at broadcast time.
Slashdot Mirror
Read the following for details: http://www.reason.com/0301/fe.wo.courting.shtml.
It totally makes sense, too.
Hardware level changes like firewire b and usb 2 won't happen until next year, when Apple hardware will no longer boot into Mac OS 9. Otherwise, they'd have to update 9 to support the new hardware.
And the powerbook does have a digital out (DVI). You have to use a converter to get VGA.
And I expect to see usb2 and firewire b on desktops before laptops. I'd look for new desktops early next year with these features.
> What you really need is generics (as in C++
.class() on the object and you'll know what type it is. C++ is where you lose type information, since it is a statically typed-language.
> templates). Java collections are vile, since they suffer
> from type loss even when used with "real" objects.
Huh? That's crazy. You never lose type information in Java. Just call
Templates are vile and unnecessary in a dynamic (i.e. elegant) programming language--I should be able to add any kind of object I want to a container without having to know what class it is. And when I pull it out of the container, I should be able to find out what class it is. Since this can't be done in C++, templates were invented as a hack.
After using a dynamic language, I would never go back to a statically-typed language (though Objective-C does this much better than Java).
I'd really like to see Java adopt the Objective-C construct of not considering it an error to call a method on a null object. Code is much easier to read and works much better when you don't have to make null checks all over the place.
I just learned Objective-C earlier this year and have been using Java since 1.0 came out. But from what I've done so far, I'd much rather use the Objective-C language over Java (but not necessarily the frameworks/class libraries). I'm in the process of junking all my C++ code to be Objective-C or Java instead.
Yes, Apple has the rights to restrict access to their source code, yadda yadda yah.
But somone under 18 can get the developer tools by purchasing Mac OS X. They can have software updates automatically installed by the system. This then breaks the develooper tools, and they can't download the new ones without an ADC membership.
This is a problem Apple can fix. No agreement is required to use the tools, especially since they include gcc and other open source code under the GPL.
Apple is basically telling those under 18 they can't develop with Apple's tools.
I live four blocks from the World Trade Center, and left for work to see the south tower crumble. My full account is at http://www.lilback.com/wtc.html.
Anything Apple does in the future will be Mac OS X, which lets you hack around to your hearts content.
Now that you can get Apple hardware integration, Apple GUI, and open source software working all together, there isn't much need for anything else.
Well, actually TSR does, but since they are now owned by Hasbro...
TSR did a role-playing game based on Indiana Jones. The front cover listed a bunch of trademarks they claimed, including Nazi(tm). There were a whole lot more common words, but that's the one I remember.
Where in Chelsea do you find "(chelsea in NYC on Sundays has a wealth of sometimes valuable 2600 carts marked cheap) "?
I live in NYC and signed up for ricochet last month. I live on the 21st floor of my building and get faster connections with my 56K modem. I've yet to get a faster connection in Manhattan, at Newark airport, at SF airport, or in downtown SF. I'm canceling my service and returning the modem (the service I use offered a 30 day money back guarantee).
The service would be great if it lived up to expectations -- I can't get DSL in my building (it is all fiber), and the cable company only offers one-way modems. So 128 K wireless would be the equivilent of ISDN (my best option), plus I can use it while traveling to SF (5/6 times a year) and at the airport. Plus, being able to sit in Central Park and surf the net would be fabulous.
I've got 6 open posiitions right now, and based on past trends I'll be lucky to get 2 of those filled this year. I don't care what country they are from or how old they are. They just have to be competent. Maybe my standards are way too high. But I don't think so. I'll hire someone who's never been to college and had very limited experience if I am impressed with them in an interview.
Anyone who says there isn't a shortage is either lazy, incompetent, or needs to move to a city with a demand for workers.
As to unions, I hate them. Especially when they have closed shops and you have to join the union to work (happened when I did construction work during college). When I consider a job, it is me interviewing the company, not them interviewing me. And I've got the competence to feel that way. I've been working in IT for 8 years and have never sent out a resume once.
Skilled, or people who bought "Java for Dummies" and think they are skilled? I've been looking for people to work with me for 6 years now, and in that time I've found less than 10 who I've made offers to, even though I've always needed to hire lots more people. They way I explain it to our HR people is that I'm looking for people who know how to cook, not just follow a recipe. And you'll never find a cook by asking people how to make a sandwich. And if anyone says they have to ask quiz type questions, then they have no clue how to judge people. Give me 10 minutes with someone and I'll know if I'd want to work with them.
I've been using paymybills.com for a while. They actually waived their fees for all subscribers (as of a couple of months ago) for the next year, so it isn't costing me anything. And boy is it convient. They scan all your bills in and you can download them as pdfs if you want a copy. I'm really bad about opening snail mail and paying bills, but doing it online is so easy that I'm paying them as soon as I receive them.
I just hooked up a ReplayTV, the competitor to TiVO, Sunday and had to rewind the shot of Scully a few times... Replay was $500 for 20 hours of storage, and no monthly fees. I don't have cable, so I haven't had opportunity for most of the issues CmdrTaco ran into. I love it because I no longer have to bitch about the lousy shows on late night broadcast TV. I'm keeping the last couple of episodes of a lot of shows I like but haven't watched in months cause I'm never home at broadcast time.