By and large, I imagine that most people don't want to read a book on their computer. What Baen's offering is not an equal substitute for the original product.
Since the dawn of the iPod, however, an MP3 is a perfectly acceptable substitute for a CD track for many people. This has held true even longer for the 18-24 set, who often live in dorms or small apartments where their computer can perform double duty as a sound system.
2A "This License allows you to install and use one copy of the Apple Software on a single Apple-labeled computer at a time. This License does not allow the Apple Software to exist on more than one computer at a time,and you may not make the Apple Software available over a network where it could be used by multiple computers at the same time. You may make one copy of the Apple Software (excluding the Boot ROM code) in machine-readable form for backup purposes only; provided that the backup copy must include all copyright or other proprietary notices contained on the original. "
I'll need a WYSIWYG report designer, a server that schedules processing of cached copies of reports, and viewer controls for ASP.Net (JSP, PHP, etc.). I can get all that from MS (for the cost of a SQL Server license), or something far more powerful from Crystal (now accepting cash, check, or firstborn son). And I'm not even that demanding - imagine someone that wants a full ad-hoc system with a designer that lets end users report from an abstract model rather than the actual table structure, including security. Or how about user-configurable dashboards?
You said you could name a dozen open source apps for this. I see one FOSS app that'll do this - where's the other 11?
While I doubt that GPUs would continue their rapid ramp-up in performance, I would bet that a move to primarily ray-traced graphics engines would still put some post-processing effects on the GPU.
Put the power there, and they'll find something to do with it.
"If non-Linux friendly devices don't want your money, then that's their choice to make."
No, their choice to make is "Do I use iTunes with my iPod, or do I use Linux?" It's all about "will I be able to use the stuff I have now?", and if asked to choose between the ubiquitous gadget and an OS few people have heard of, I imagine most people would answer "iTunes + iPod".
Microsoft would quickly publicize it. I'm imagining the following:
"Look, folks, we were willing to bend over backwards to make this work, and they wouldn't budge to do something that would benefit the end user! Do you want software that runs your business to be controlled by people who make childish decisions like this?"
But hey, if that plays out great in your mind, by all means keep dreaming of sticking it to The Man.
You're right in that not every bulb will explode, and you're also right in that my hypothetical didn't carry the same qualification as the first statement. However, exploding bulbs are certainly a real hazard, and pushing a lamp past its life could result in a nasty surprise. Of course, it could also just result in an annoyingly dim picture.
Which is why I like their products so much. The way everything integrates together makes my job much easier (look at VS.Net w/ SQL Server for an example), and to a lesser extent my entertainment. I do, of course, wish more of their interconnection ran on open standards, but I'm willing to live with that for now until someone makes something better that isn't closed.
The old Secret API thing comes up again and again, however, and I never see truly satisfying proof. Do you have any to back up your assertion?
Actually, LED-lit DLP sets were the new hotness at CES this past winter. I've read reports of sets being delivered, but they're still backordered everywhere, and they're still about twice what a bulb-and-wheel set would cost.
The neat thing about those is that you don't need a color wheel, and the LED packs last 20000 hours.
That's certainly not a helpful attitude. The question is, why do people choose to use "shitty proprietary crap" instead of what you'd like them to use? The answer is, because it does what they want it to with a minimum of hassle. The complaints of "Fuck 'em, we don't need users like that" and "MS is a monopoly, they control the PC world" are cause-and-effect.
What will I do? Spend an afternoon re-ripping my CDs. All my iTMS music came in one of three ways:
1. Pepsi's iTunes promo.
2. Singles I wanted to get early, for which I eventually bought a physical copy of the album.
3. Stuff my wife bought before we got married.
I could keep lossless copies around, but that's a hassle (no transcoding? WTF, Apple), and I sync my iPod from my iBook, not my desktop, so hard drive space is a concern.
Good thing that I like Windows and OS X, because apparently you guys don't want me as a member of your community. Just don't complain when MS dominates again by giving people (the ones that aren't like you) what they want - you've got no one to blame but yourself.
I've got more important things to do than fuck around with my iPod. I want to plug it in, and have it work. Period. I know how to work on my car, but I don't have time to, even though I enjoy it.
Don't assume that because someone doesn't want to do something, that they can't do it. People aren't babies just beacuse they don't feel the need to make things unnecessarily difficult as part of some bizarre alpha-male chest-beating ritual.
To teach students to understand the concepts behind these devices that play an increasingly large role in our society?
I think we agree on one thing though: the point of composition class is to teach how to write, not how to use any word processor you might encounter. Teaching computer concepts as opposed to OS operation is vital, but where does it belong?
There's two versions of the 965 GPU: the GMA 3000 (old and busted edition) and the GMA X3000 (new hotness edition). The non-X version still only does SM2.0 in software, while the X version does 3.0 in hardware. The X version will also have a WDDM driver that works best with Vista (though the regular version should work at least as well as a 950 with Vista).
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Wow, holy shit. I thought Animal House was Delta Tau Delta.
I now officially have egg on my face, and will be posting my apology.
Because no /. college story is complete without some snide remark about the greek system.
Thanks for doing your part.
By and large, I imagine that most people don't want to read a book on their computer. What Baen's offering is not an equal substitute for the original product.
Since the dawn of the iPod, however, an MP3 is a perfectly acceptable substitute for a CD track for many people. This has held true even longer for the 18-24 set, who often live in dorms or small apartments where their computer can perform double duty as a sound system.
>AFAIK you can use it on 2 or 3. the family pack is for 5.
t m
http://store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/MacOSX.h
2A "This License allows you to install and use one copy of the Apple Software on a single Apple-labeled computer at a time. This License does not allow the Apple Software to exist on more than one computer at a time,and you may not make the Apple Software available over a network where it could be used by multiple computers at the same time. You may make one copy of the Apple Software (excluding the Boot ROM code) in machine-readable form for backup purposes only; provided that the backup copy must include all copyright or other proprietary notices contained on the original. "
Sure. Reporting.
I'll need a WYSIWYG report designer, a server that schedules processing of cached copies of reports, and viewer controls for ASP.Net (JSP, PHP, etc.). I can get all that from MS (for the cost of a SQL Server license), or something far more powerful from Crystal (now accepting cash, check, or firstborn son). And I'm not even that demanding - imagine someone that wants a full ad-hoc system with a designer that lets end users report from an abstract model rather than the actual table structure, including security. Or how about user-configurable dashboards?
You said you could name a dozen open source apps for this. I see one FOSS app that'll do this - where's the other 11?
While I doubt that GPUs would continue their rapid ramp-up in performance, I would bet that a move to primarily ray-traced graphics engines would still put some post-processing effects on the GPU.
Put the power there, and they'll find something to do with it.
"If non-Linux friendly devices don't want your money, then that's their choice to make."
No, their choice to make is "Do I use iTunes with my iPod, or do I use Linux?" It's all about "will I be able to use the stuff I have now?", and if asked to choose between the ubiquitous gadget and an OS few people have heard of, I imagine most people would answer "iTunes + iPod".
Where the hell are you going to find someone willing to spend all that money on something, just to give it away?
"I was wondering how much my vote cost. Apparently it's just over $200k."
On top of that, it's the greatest buy-one-get-six-million-free special of all time.
Microsoft would quickly publicize it. I'm imagining the following:
"Look, folks, we were willing to bend over backwards to make this work, and they wouldn't budge to do something that would benefit the end user! Do you want software that runs your business to be controlled by people who make childish decisions like this?"
But hey, if that plays out great in your mind, by all means keep dreaming of sticking it to The Man.
You're right in that not every bulb will explode, and you're also right in that my hypothetical didn't carry the same qualification as the first statement. However, exploding bulbs are certainly a real hazard, and pushing a lamp past its life could result in a nasty surprise. Of course, it could also just result in an annoyingly dim picture.
Sure, the Xbox 360. I don't know a single person who's unhappy with theirs.
Which is why I like their products so much. The way everything integrates together makes my job much easier (look at VS.Net w/ SQL Server for an example), and to a lesser extent my entertainment. I do, of course, wish more of their interconnection ran on open standards, but I'm willing to live with that for now until someone makes something better that isn't closed.
The old Secret API thing comes up again and again, however, and I never see truly satisfying proof. Do you have any to back up your assertion?
Actually, LED-lit DLP sets were the new hotness at CES this past winter. I've read reports of sets being delivered, but they're still backordered everywhere, and they're still about twice what a bulb-and-wheel set would cost.
The neat thing about those is that you don't need a color wheel, and the LED packs last 20000 hours.
Hope you're counting on that. When those bulbs fail, they can potentially explode - you'll be picking shards of glass out of your projector.
That's certainly not a helpful attitude. The question is, why do people choose to use "shitty proprietary crap" instead of what you'd like them to use? The answer is, because it does what they want it to with a minimum of hassle. The complaints of "Fuck 'em, we don't need users like that" and "MS is a monopoly, they control the PC world" are cause-and-effect.
"and there are *never* shortages of games on release day."
Where on earth do you live? I've had to drive all over town to find games on release day, and I live in a city of 3/4 million people.
If firing me would save my company any amount of money, I'd rather work somewhere that I was properly utilized. Luckily, I already do.
What will I do? Spend an afternoon re-ripping my CDs. All my iTMS music came in one of three ways:
1. Pepsi's iTunes promo.
2. Singles I wanted to get early, for which I eventually bought a physical copy of the album.
3. Stuff my wife bought before we got married.
I could keep lossless copies around, but that's a hassle (no transcoding? WTF, Apple), and I sync my iPod from my iBook, not my desktop, so hard drive space is a concern.
Linux users? Elitist? Naahhh....
Good thing that I like Windows and OS X, because apparently you guys don't want me as a member of your community. Just don't complain when MS dominates again by giving people (the ones that aren't like you) what they want - you've got no one to blame but yourself.
I've got more important things to do than fuck around with my iPod. I want to plug it in, and have it work. Period. I know how to work on my car, but I don't have time to, even though I enjoy it.
Don't assume that because someone doesn't want to do something, that they can't do it. People aren't babies just beacuse they don't feel the need to make things unnecessarily difficult as part of some bizarre alpha-male chest-beating ritual.
To teach students to understand the concepts behind these devices that play an increasingly large role in our society?
I think we agree on one thing though: the point of composition class is to teach how to write, not how to use any word processor you might encounter. Teaching computer concepts as opposed to OS operation is vital, but where does it belong?
This'll be out in Spring (probably early spring, as I'd expect Vista around then as well). That's probably too long for upgrade coupons.
"Moral of the story: don't buy cheap ass hardware."
It came with the wife. You don't suggest I return her, do you?
Buyer beware:
There's two versions of the 965 GPU: the GMA 3000 (old and busted edition) and the GMA X3000 (new hotness edition). The non-X version still only does SM2.0 in software, while the X version does 3.0 in hardware. The X version will also have a WDDM driver that works best with Vista (though the regular version should work at least as well as a 950 with Vista).