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  1. Encourage value added activity, don't tax it! on EU Plans to Tax Internet Sales · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    One of these days, Europe will learn (the hard way) to encourage value added activity, rather than tax it. The US has known this all along, which is why it rules the world's economy.

  2. If I were Microsoft... on Microsoft's $40 Billion On Hand · · Score: 2

    ...the first thing I'd do is throw a little money at Congress, to pass laws that help me maintain my position, such as the DMCA. The cost would be chickenfeed, the results spectacular.

  3. The Blacksburg Electronic Village is no success! on Community Networks and Websites? · · Score: 2
    I live in Blacksburg. I've been doing business here for over 7 years. I can vouch for the fact that the BEVnet is more hype than reality.

    Basically, it's a college dorm network. The only difference is that VTech students live in dorm-like off campus apartments built by private developers. These are wired into VTech's university network. BFD. No one but VTech undergrads lives in these apartments. So it's not as if real Blacksburg residents and businesses are particularly wired. Outside the little student enclave, the broadband situation is like the rest of rural America- it sucks!

  4. Re:Java developers buck this trend. on Fewer Jobs, Less Pay In The IT Industry · · Score: 2
    $88K in the South...yeah, right. Who?? College graduate or senior manager??

    It's true- none of this makes any difference unless cost of living, etc., is figured in. Here in Blacksburg, VA, there are dozens of tech companies, and one of the best engineering schools in the country(Virginia Tech). People with multiple grad degrees, including a PhD, are lucky to get $60k. But you can have a better lifestyle, and even save more each month, than while making twice that much in California.

  5. Re:Write to them NICELY!!! on Installing Linux On A Wal-Mart OS-less machine · · Score: 2

    "Proper" modems are expensive, winmodems are cheap. Many winmodems do work with Linux- drivers have been written for them. There's no reason not to use one of these. However, it must be one of these...

  6. Links = Google rankings. DMN are morons. on "Deep Linking" Controversy Renewed in Texas · · Score: 2

    First of all, DMN ought to be glad for any reader they get, no matter how.

    Second, these guys are morons for standing in the way of what brings in more readers than anything else- a higher Google ranking. Google largely ranks pages by the number of links to them from other sites. If DMN makes a stink about deep linking, other webmasters won't link to them anymore- kiss of death. The web worked this way even before Google, but now it's more important than ever.

    This is not just a matter of marketing style, salesmanship technique, or professional opinion- it's a strict, technical fact, that marketers and webmasters must heed. If I were in charge over there, I'd kick some sense into the jackass who made this decision- or fire him- quick!

  7. Who will be the first to load Linux on this baby? on Apple Releases New PowerBook and the eMac · · Score: 2

    It's perfect. The old iMac's screen was too small for X at 1024x768, which is about the minimum you'd want to use. I'm dying to give this one a try...

  8. All-in-one is a good thing... on Apple Releases New PowerBook and the eMac · · Score: 2

    Personally, I'd love to have one of these, with a DVD/burner combo drive, and a bunch of RAM. I really like the all-in-one idea- everything fits into the footprint of the monitor. I'm sick of having to build a shrine for the computer and its peripherals.

  9. A 17" iMac has been long-rumored... on Apple Releases New PowerBook and the eMac · · Score: 3, Insightful

    An iMac with a 17" screen has been talked about for a long time. It was the obvious successor to the original iMac, and what everyone assumed Apple would do next.

    Then the new, flat screen iMac came out. It upped the ante, and upped the price point. It's possible the eMac was in the works for a long time, but the new iMac leapfrogged it. Naturally, Apple would want to milk the iMac for awhile before letting the eMac out- the eMac might have eaten into iMac sales.

    Whatever happened, there's definately a market for both. It's unfortunate the eMac is edu-only, at least for now. There are a lot of starving artist Mac users who need a CRT, but can't afford a new G4 and monitor. Plus, the eMac is the perfect office appliance- as someone else said, "e" should mean "enterprise."

  10. There are plenty of good deals out there... on Making an Independent Web Site? · · Score: 2

    You just need to shop harder for your hosting. There are plenty of good deals out there. You can get "burstable" bandwidth deals, averaged bandwidth deals, whatever. It's still cheaper than a co-lo or a leased line (T1/T3). You don't pay for what you don't use, you pay a surcharge when you do, and you don't keep your users waiting.

    Frankly, I think you have delusions of grandeur. If you can really generate that kind of traffic, you can find a way to capitalize on it- directly or indirectly- that the cost shouldn't be a problem. We should all be so lucky.

  11. This illustrates a *big* problem with the web... on Worst Buy · · Score: 2

    A big problem with the web is that a company can make a quick change of a web page, and claim it was that way all along. I've seen this happen before- a web special being offered, which then mysteriously disappears. Or a change in some fine print, a cutomer agreement, a license, terms of service, etc.

    I'm not sure what we can do to protect ourselves against this. Saving web pages? Having third parties (like Alexa) keep archives of corporate sites? It's an interesting problem.

  12. Screen size and native resolution... on Comparative Laptop Reviews? · · Score: 2

    Something to be really careful with is screen size and native resolution. Bigger is not always better. As LCD screens get bigger, their native resolution is higher too. A 15" screen with 1200x1600 resolution sounds great, but in fact the text will probably be too small. Putting that screen at a more comfortable 1024x768, it may look horrible, because it's not the native resolution- text may be a bit fuzzy, and pictures not as sharp and clear. A 14" screen at a native 1024x768 will probably look better, with more readable text, even though it's smaller.

    Most web pages these days are designed for 800x600, with some at 1024x768. So 1024x768 is probably best for most people. It happens to be the native resolution of most 14" laptop screens. Bigger screens are usually higher, and smaller screens lower. So 14" is probably the sweet spot.

  13. Linux on laptops... on Comparative Laptop Reviews? · · Score: 2
    You can find out how your favorite laptop works with Linux by looking here:

    www.linux-laptop.net


  14. IBM has the best keyboard, by far... on Comparative Laptop Reviews? · · Score: 2

    Laptops are a very personal thing. The ergonomics are way more important than anything else. In fact, you should ignore all the "horespower and torque" ratings and just focus on this.

    I chose my IBM because I tried a friend's and fell in love with the keyboard. I now prefer it to a desktop keyboard. I also really like the pointing device, especially in combination with the third "scroll" button.

    The 14" screen is the perfect compromise- just big enough for all day viewing at 1024x768. Bigger isn't necessary, smaller is too squinty.

    There's also an overall quality feel that's a notch or two above everything else, except Apple. Ti Powerbooks are beautiful.

    As far as I'm concerned, IBM blows everything else away. In comparison, my bro-in-law's Dell feels like a piece of crap.

    I'd still take a three year old IBM T-series over a brand new anything else. Speed, schmeed.

  15. Entertainment industry rules Myrtle Beach... on Hardball Tactics For The Geek Lobby · · Score: 2
    We will never get enough critical mass together to threaten his lock on his voter base - not enough of the right demographic is there (and please, all 5 of you in Columbus and Charleston, don't take umbrage.)

    The problem isn't the lack of the right demographic, it's still just too much of the wrong kind of money. In case you haven't noticed, Myrtle Beach is like Vegas by the Sea without the gambling- bought and and built by the entertainment industry. From the House of Blues to Broadway at the Beach, they're all there. Myrtle Beach is fast eclipsing Columbia and Charleston as SC's major metropolis. If it's not the fastest growing city in the country, it's certainly one of them. There's big, big money there, and much more on the way- and it's all enemy money.

  16. Drwning in alphabet soup! on Zope Bible · · Score: 3, Informative

    I'm sure Zope is much simpler than it looks, and after working with it awhile, you get to a point where it's all crystal clear. But I could never get to that point- everything is obscured by silly new paradigms, acronyms, and taxonomy. It's all just too zilly for me. After ztruggling with Zope for what zeemed like a zentury, I picked up OpenACS and built a website with it in about three weeks.

  17. Correct use of term "methodology" on Learn About Ximian and Gnome From Nat Friedman · · Score: 2

    As a technical editor, this one really drives me nuts. People use "methodology" all the time, when simply, "method" should be used. A methodology is a study of methods. And this is the first time I've seen it used correctly! Conratulations!

  18. It's true... on Spanish Province Dist-Upgrades · · Score: 2

    Windows is not exactly trouble free or completely user-friendly, even for fairly advanced users. Training is needed no matter what. Eliminate the license fees, and you can invest more in training. Or hardware...

  19. Re:No loss of horsepower...actually yes, a bunch on Hybrid Powertrains and Hydrogen Fuel Cells · · Score: 2
    Perhaps the horsepower doesn't add linearly, or there's other loss.

    No, it doesn't add linearly, which is why I said it's the area under the curve that matters, not the peak.

    Don't forget the hybrid has a CVT too, which allows peak torque or horsepower to be applied over a much wider range of road speeds.

    The net result is that the hybrid meets or exceeds the performance of the Civic HX, while delivering better fuel economy.

  20. No loss of horsepower... on Hybrid Powertrains and Hydrogen Fuel Cells · · Score: 2

    You're forgetting the horsepower of the electric motor. I don't know what the actual rating is, but keep in mind that electric motors have a perfectly flat torque curve, with max torque available from zero rpm to redline. In the real world, horsepower should be veiwed as area under the curve rather than peak or instantaneous (ie, at a certain rpm). With this in mind, the hybrid meets or exceeds the output of its predecessor, just as Honda intended. And if you drove the hybrid, you'd see that this is true.

  21. V6 cars don't get 50 mpg... on Hybrid Powertrains and Hydrogen Fuel Cells · · Score: 2

    ...and until you can beat my three Formula Atlantic track records, don't tell me about performance.

  22. What's with the popups at the Kazaa Lite site? on Kazaa Lite: spyware-free version · · Score: 1, Redundant

    I can't stand the irony- an ad-busting version of Kazaa, being distributed from a site rife with popups!

  23. Re:Honda Civic Hybrid on Hybrid Powertrains and Hydrogen Fuel Cells · · Score: 2
    Torque is great for getting off the line or passing on the highway.

    Doesn't that sound like the performance requirement for most driving? I'll take the 155 ft-lb at 2000 rpm, thank you. I'll be cruising right over a mountain pass in 5th gear with my AC on, while you're buzzing your brains out at 5000 rpm in 3rd in your wheezing Acura.

  24. Not so... on Hybrid Powertrains and Hydrogen Fuel Cells · · Score: 2

    Yes, there have been many high mileage cars in the past. My Rabbit diesel got 45mpg city, 50mpg hwy, and as much as 70mpg when driven at a steady 45-50mph (on a long interstate trip in a snowstorm). The 80s' CRX HF did well over 50mpg too. But both of these cars weighed barely 2000lb. They wouldn't even come close to meeting modern crash standards. They were cheaply and lightly built, lacked modern amenities like decent seats, nice stereos, and AC that works, weren't very reliable, and were slow, slow, slow. The Rabbit took 18 seconds to go 0-60, while the CRX was practically a screamer at 14. The cheapest Korean POS sold now would beat the pants off either of these cars in any category, including cost per mile.

    The Insight, Prius, and now Civic are high quality, very sophisticated cars- probably the most sophisticated vehicles ever produced. They are indeed very efficient for what they are- good performing, comfortable, well-equipped, refined, smooth, quiet, and safe. And though only time will tell, probably very reliable too.

  25. Hydrogen a storage medium, not an energy source on Hybrid Powertrains and Hydrogen Fuel Cells · · Score: 2

    We should think of hydrogen not as an energy source, but as an energy storage medium, like a battery. But batteries are too bulky and heavy, and don't have the capacity we need (low energy density). They're expensive, with a short service life, and present a huge disposal problem. Flywheels are very expensive to build, with delicate moving parts, and a dangerous failure mode. So in comparison, hydrogen looks pretty good. Plus, it comes closest to matching our existing infrastructure- vehicles, filling stations, pipelines- and producers. The trick is convincing Big Oil to become Big Hydrogen.