Switched my parents over to vonage...
on
Vonage going IPO
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· Score: 0
Now almost all of my family is switched over to Vonage and have broadband too for about the same price they were paying for dialup and carrier service.
The only problem with them using Vonage has been when the cablemodem goes out and they've got to use their cellphone. The other issue is that they are used to calling Bellsouth and yelling at them and them politely saying they will have a tech look into it. Now their experience calling techsupport with Vonage has been far more technical and complicated for their comfort level. Now when they call techsupport (likely in India, not always polite to older frustrated americans), they don't have the patience to go through the remote diagnostics steps. Bellsouth has give them the expectation that any phone company can see and trace all of the problems remotely or that a service tech will be out on site in a few hours.
I ask them to call me now when their service is not working (which has only been a three times over the last 18 months) but they keep calling vonage and get frustrated with tech support. My expectation is that both the cablemodem service and vonage over cablemodem will be more reliable and dependable overtime. Until then I believe these issues can be managed like any other service; whether it's your cellphone dropping a call or power going out because of a storm.
Sometimes parents, technology, and change don't mix well.:)
I knew him when was living in Louisville and involved with the linux groups here. I remember him giving a talk about DRI and accelerated Xservers once and it had a great depth of knowledge.
It's good to seeing one of his dreams coming through.
I completely agree about the treo 600. I currently use a treo 300 running PalmOS 3.5.1 and I will upgrade to the treo 600 when I have the funds. The treo 300 has great flexibility for phone use, work use, and entertainment. I can even PPP through vision with a producted called pdanet which treats the phone as a digital modem (up to 4 x 56K speeds).
There are rebates available through Sprint and other online sources where you can get a treo 300 for less than $100.
The only draw backs of the treo 300 is that the clam shell on the phone can break and calls are hard to hear, even if you adjust the volume. There aren't many GOOD accesories for the treo 300. The two phone clips I had with it either broke the clip or the phone's clam shell. I currently just put it in my pocket opposed to my belt. The phone locks up about once every one or two months and needs to be reset/rebooted.
I recommend looking at your needs and you budget and deciding between the treo 300 or 600. I'm not a big fan of sprint either, but they have been giving me consistant service.
Good friend of mine (Also British) is looking to save the same problem. He's looking at http://www.littlepc.com . His only issue is embedding a switch and KVM into the same box. They should consider offering something like that prefabbed so he doesn't have to fab his own.
Good friend of mine (Also British) is looking to save the same problem. He's looking at http://www.littlepc.com . His only issue is embedding a switch and KVM into the same box. They should consider offering something like that prefabbed so he doesn't have to fab his own.
I think you need a break. I've found that it's easy to get burned out after the fact and when you need a break, it's already too late and your work suffers. There is a formula for managing your work and rest, but I don't remember where I came across it.
If the machines need to be located in different places, blades wouldn't be the answer. Maybe look into Single Board Computer (SBC). There are plenty of vendors for them via http://www.google.com/ .
I've got to agree with this post. You must be careful about going into pure science theoretical research versus an applied science research. I was struggling with similar issues before I decided on engineering and computer science as my focus. I when to a lecture in school from a theoretical matheatician, and he had a long career with GM and other car companies working out difficult simulation issues. Now what he does has been replaced by some high tech software packages sold to the companies that where designed by engineers. If you don't like engineering, I would recommend physics over pure math because physics seems to be the nice balance between pure and applied realms of science.
The supercomputer calculations where just to validate their network design. Dr. Dietz had figured it out and designed a parallel simulation to test/show his design.
I'm not sure how well KLAT2 could render FF:TSW, but some of the fine/grain parallel processing work that Dr. Dietz had done could make real-time virtual caves possible. Check out his old work with the PAPERS/AFAPI project.
HP is really been disappointing me lately. I use several HP products and they seem to be going the way of Cray and DEC (which I use serveral of their products too).
It would be nice to know what the reasons where for their decisions. Is it that they are unable to compete with Sun and SGI?
It's not that I like HP-UX either, it's just I'm still using it.:)
Sites like the new york times have people subscribe to their web service, why not just stay with that? That way you wouldn't need to worry about websites unfairly redirecting or linking you to fluff/filler pages for your money.
I just finished my degree in Computer Engineering and Computer Science and I relate to the lack of luster and and frustration with the market currently.
I think that universities spend too much time teaching computer technology as a science instead of addressing artistic issues with coding, software development, etc. Software Engineering, even with UML and Patterns, is unrefined. Good software heavily depends on the capabilites of the individual. Two people can complete similar education with similar marks and have very different capabilities. Too often, students' work is look at too objectively and not subjectively enough. I think the best CS programs would take a similar approach as Medical Schools to in educating their students.
I don't think so. The software and OS being used is free. If you have the staff and expertise to set this up yourself, then everything is fine. Most companies don't and need the work of other companies. Linux needs GNU. GNU needs Linux. Xfree needs GNU, etc, etc...
This is how we get the best software. $1995 is nothing to help contribute to the work of other people, and if you don't like the product, don't contribute.
The popularity of Linux is making people wakeup and say, if we have a good product, give it away to create a market, and then sell support/training for those that needed it. I think it is a good model for business.
I think the biggest issue with Linux being a Desktop OS is that it isn't "there" yet. Linux has definately matured as a server OS. The requirements for "desktop OSes" are completely differant.
I use Linux for everything (development, desktop, games), but I also have enough experience to hack when I need to. My parents wouldn't know where to begin, even if they had a step by step instruction sheet (similar to VCR's) on how to get started. There's too many things about the architecture that get masked with Windows 9x and MACs that make them to be considered "User Friendly"... That's what my parents want... But they would like a bit more avaliability when operating it...
Going to a GUI installation process isn't the answer to Linux being a desktop OS. I think SuSE's installation is probably the easiest, and it hasn't been GUI since day one. It's about auto administration and maintainence with virtually little or no user direction...... that's what makes a desktop (home) OS... (Most people don't care about the engine and transy in their cars, but the drivability and reliability are important)...
I think Linux currently is at the same level of desktop OSes as (Win3.1 & OS/2 Warp 3). Once you got them installed and going a bit, learned what is what and what goes where, they became easier to use... Still some hacking envolved regardless.
Ultimately, the average user (my parents) will need to step up their computing skills (yeah right!) or Linux will need to be automatus (is this a word?)
BTW, Larry seems like a normal person. I think that is the most amazing aspect of his interview with Charlie Rose.
Jonathan Paul Cowherd S+LUG Secretary http://slug.louisville.edu/
Slashdot Mirror
Now almost all of my family is switched over to Vonage and have broadband too for about the same price they were paying for dialup and carrier service.
:)
The only problem with them using Vonage has been when the cablemodem goes out and they've got to use their cellphone. The other issue is that they are used to calling Bellsouth and yelling at them and them politely saying they will have a tech look into it. Now their experience calling techsupport with Vonage has been far more technical and complicated for their comfort level. Now when they call techsupport (likely in India, not always polite to older frustrated americans), they don't have the patience to go through the remote diagnostics steps. Bellsouth has give them the expectation that any phone company can see and trace all of the problems remotely or that a service tech will be out on site in a few hours.
I ask them to call me now when their service is not working (which has only been a three times over the last 18 months) but they keep calling vonage and get frustrated with tech support. My expectation is that both the cablemodem service and vonage over cablemodem will be more reliable and dependable overtime. Until then I believe these issues can be managed like any other service; whether it's your cellphone dropping a call or power going out because of a storm.
Sometimes parents, technology, and change don't mix well.
Jonathan
I knew him when was living in Louisville and involved with the linux groups here. I remember him giving a talk about DRI and accelerated Xservers once and it had a great depth of knowledge.
It's good to seeing one of his dreams coming through.
Jonathan
I completely agree about the treo 600. I currently use a treo 300 running PalmOS 3.5.1 and I will upgrade to the treo 600 when I have the funds. The treo 300 has great flexibility for phone use, work use, and entertainment. I can even PPP through vision with a producted called pdanet which treats the phone as a digital modem (up to 4 x 56K speeds).
There are rebates available through Sprint and other online sources where you can get a treo 300 for less than $100.
The only draw backs of the treo 300 is that the clam shell on the phone can break and calls are hard to hear, even if you adjust the volume. There aren't many GOOD accesories for the treo 300. The two phone clips I had with it either broke the clip or the phone's clam shell. I currently just put it in my pocket opposed to my belt. The phone locks up about once every one or two months and needs to be reset/rebooted.
I recommend looking at your needs and you budget and deciding between the treo 300 or 600. I'm not a big fan of sprint either, but they have been giving me consistant service.
Good luck searching.
Good friend of mine (Also British) is looking to save the same problem. He's looking at http://www.littlepc.com . His only issue is embedding a switch and KVM into the same box. They should consider offering something like that prefabbed so he doesn't have to fab his own.
Jonathan
Good friend of mine (Also British) is looking to save the same problem. He's looking at http://www.littlepc.com . His only issue is embedding a switch and KVM into the same box. They should consider offering something like that prefabbed so he doesn't have to fab his own.
Jonathan
I think you need a break. I've found that it's easy to get burned out after the fact and when you need a break, it's already too late and your work suffers. There is a formula for managing your work and rest, but I don't remember where I came across it.
If the machines need to be located in different places, blades wouldn't be the answer. Maybe look into Single Board Computer (SBC). There are plenty of vendors for them via http://www.google.com/ .
I've got to agree with this post. You must be careful about going into pure science theoretical research versus an applied science research. I was struggling with similar issues before I decided on engineering and computer science as my focus. I when to a lecture in school from a theoretical matheatician, and he had a long career with GM and other car companies working out difficult simulation issues. Now what he does has been replaced by some high tech software packages sold to the companies that where designed by engineers. If you don't like engineering, I would recommend physics over pure math because physics seems to be the nice balance between pure and applied realms of science.
The supercomputer calculations where just to validate their network design. Dr. Dietz had figured it out and designed a parallel simulation to test/show his design.
I'm not sure how well KLAT2 could render FF:TSW, but some of the fine/grain parallel processing work that Dr. Dietz had done could make real-time virtual caves possible. Check out his old work with the PAPERS/AFAPI project.
Jonathan
HP is really been disappointing me lately. I use several HP products and they seem to be going the way of Cray and DEC (which I use serveral of their products too).
:)
It would be nice to know what the reasons where for their decisions. Is it that they are unable to compete with Sun and SGI?
It's not that I like HP-UX either, it's just I'm still using it.
Jonathan
Sites like the new york times have people subscribe to their web service, why not just stay with that? That way you wouldn't need to worry about websites unfairly redirecting or linking you to fluff/filler pages for your money.
Jonathan
I just finished my degree in Computer Engineering and Computer Science and I relate to the lack of luster and and frustration with the market currently.
:) What do you think?
I think that universities spend too much time teaching computer technology as a science instead of addressing artistic issues with coding, software development, etc. Software Engineering, even with UML and Patterns, is unrefined. Good software heavily depends on the capabilites of the individual. Two people can complete similar education with similar marks and have very different capabilities. Too often, students' work is look at too objectively and not subjectively enough. I think the best CS programs would take a similar approach as Medical Schools to in educating their students.
I don't know.
Will someone up the full version up somewhere with a md5 checksum please? Thanks... I'm looking forward to it.
Excactly.
Jonathan
Is there any other information about this? Where is the supporting research?
This is something else, How many CEO (beside the guy from FORD... :) ) would take the time to address the community like this?
Does Bill Gates read Slashdot? I would doubt it.
If you don't like gcc 2.96 as your default compiler, install another one off the CD!!! It's not difficult!
Thanks again Bob.
Jonathan Cowherd
Ok... I see CmdrTaco's point, but it isn't stealing. There are similarities, color, positioning, etc... but they are not the same...
:)
I could list more differences than similarities.
Peace and hair grease.
I don't think so. The software and OS being used is free. If you have the staff and expertise to set this up yourself, then everything is fine. Most companies don't and need the work of other companies. Linux needs GNU. GNU needs Linux. Xfree needs GNU, etc, etc...
This is how we get the best software. $1995 is nothing to help contribute to the work of other people, and if you don't like the product, don't contribute.
The popularity of Linux is making people wakeup and say, if we have a good product, give it away to create a market, and then sell support/training for those that needed it. I think it is a good model for business.
I think the biggest issue with Linux being a Desktop OS is that it isn't "there" yet. Linux has definately matured as a server OS. The requirements for "desktop OSes" are completely differant.
... that's what makes a desktop (home) OS... (Most people don't care about the engine and transy in their cars, but the drivability and reliability are important)...
I use Linux for everything (development, desktop, games), but I also have enough experience to hack when I need to. My parents wouldn't know where to begin, even if they had a step by step instruction sheet (similar to VCR's) on how to get started. There's too many things about the architecture that get masked with Windows 9x and MACs that make them to be considered "User Friendly"... That's what my parents want... But they would like a bit more avaliability when operating it...
Going to a GUI installation process isn't the answer to Linux being a desktop OS. I think SuSE's installation is probably the easiest, and it hasn't been GUI since day one. It's about auto administration and maintainence with virtually little or no user direction...
I think Linux currently is at the same level of desktop OSes as (Win3.1 & OS/2 Warp 3). Once you got them installed and going a bit, learned what is what and what goes where, they became easier to use... Still some hacking envolved regardless.
Ultimately, the average user (my parents) will need to step up their computing skills (yeah right!) or Linux will need to be automatus (is this a word?)
BTW, Larry seems like a normal person. I think that is the most amazing aspect of his interview with Charlie Rose.
Jonathan Paul Cowherd
S+LUG Secretary
http://slug.louisville.edu/