While technically adept women do exist, there are *very* few of them out there. (at least in comparison to technically adept men) There are so few that its pretty easy to disregard their existence.
Now I do admit that they actually exist, and that there are probably many more with unrealized technical aptitude, but its an infrequent occurrence to actually run into them in the real world.
And the best part is that many of these forms of physical activity require absolutely no athletic skill whatsoever! This is one reason that I actually enjoy working out these days, even though I still hate being a part of pretty much any form of traditional sports.
That's why we should put in every effort to look beautiful on the outside.:-)
Okay, perhaps even that is a challenge, but it probably is a much more achievable goal for many of us. It really just requires hygiene, exercise, and decent clothing, and most of that can be done with a minimum of social interaction.
You cannot judge conflict simply by the body count. What you're doing is punishing Israel for actually training their soldiers and building bomb shelters for their people.
Also, believe it or not, Israel goes out of their way to avoid killing innocent civilians. The problem is that Gaza is so heavily populated, and that the militants hide amongst civilians, so keeping things clean and meeting objectives is pretty much impossible. If Israel actually *wanted* to massacre people, the numbers would be *much* higher.
With a device known as an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer. Supposedly they can not only detect cable length, breaks, but even the location of splices.
If you think about it, Windows ME had only *one* real purpose... As a stop-gap, because MS had made the business decision to *not* create what they really should have created: "Windows 2000 Home".
Thus, most users didn't discover the significantly less-sucky NT-based OS until it got a new clown-suit, product activation gunk, and was called "Windows XP".
And on MacOS, all apps seem to prefer to be lumped in a completely disorganized pile in/Applications. Sure, you can rearrange them, but that rearrangement may break some apps, or at least cause issues with their updaters.
For this reason, I find it cumbersome to use a Mac without at least some sort of programs menu. Currently, I use a little app called MoofMenu, which does the trick.
And the problem is that NASA/etc. focuses so much on inspiring the 3rd graders, yet don't seem to care so much once those kids get to high school and can actually develop that interest into something useful towards their future.
Standard J2ME is way too limited. That's why Android starts from a more modern Java level, with their own APIs. That's why BlackBerry, even though they are more J2ME compatible, add a crapload of additional APIs to fill in the gaps.
Trac is an absolutely excellent software package, in its domain (smaller-team software development projects). I'd even go so far to say as its the best thing the OSS world has to offer in that arena. However, I'm not so sure its useful as a generic project-tracking system, in the way MS Project and similar software is intended.
I'm pretty sure that SANE drivers are completely independent of the Linux kernel. At that point, you're not really making a Linux-related comment at all. I've used SANE to great success on a whole variety of *nix platforms.
To follow this up, the *real* problem is that Linux lacks a stable binary kernel driver interface. When a driver build on Linux 2.4.XY-foocrap won't work on a system running Linux 2.4.YX-horsehockey, the only kind of drivers that are ever practical are open-source part-of-the-kernel-source-tree drivers.
This leads to a very annoying duality of Linux driver support... Either it JFW out-of-the-box, or its a royal PITA to ever get it to work. Rarely is there ever a middle ground. Meanwhile, in the Windows world, users can (*gasp*) download *and* easily (*gasp*) install device drivers made and distributed by the hardware manufacturer. Sure, less hardware works out-of-the-box on a clean Windows installation, but you can actually get it working in a fairly straightforward manner.
Of course this really isn't a "Linux vs. Windows" argument, as much as it is a "Linux vs. Everything Else" argument. Having a stable binary kernel driver interface is the STANDARD, not the EXCEPTION.
Seriously, what is the point of these things? They are way too big to be used like a PDA, yet way too small to be used like a laptop. They're like little toys you show all your friends, then put on the shelf, and don't touch again for 6 months.
Anyone who thinks regular laptops are too big has been buying lower-end consumer-grade Dell and HP hardware for too long. My old 12" PowerBook looked like a PDA compared to those monsters, yet was still a very full-featured laptop.
My problem with OS X is that it'll do 50% of what I might use a Windows box for, and 75% of what I might use a Linux box for. So it can do the majority of what I need from both, but can't completely replace either. (also, Apple doesn't make a non-insanely-spec'ed/priced mid-tower desktop, but that's another discussion) This is why my home desktop is a Linux box and a Windows box on a KVM, and no Mac to be seen.
However, for the past 5 years or so all the laptops I've owned have been Macs. And for a laptop, they do work really well. In fact, they do the 3 killer laptop-specific features better than any other OS I've seen:
1) On-the-fly display reconfiguration - Windows: A crapshoot depending on your video drivers, but usually works. (except when someone is giving a presentation, and seems to not know how to reconfigure their laptop) - Linux: A total embarrassment, don't get me started. (XrandR is just a small piece of what is necessary) - OS X: JFW, pretty much all the time 2) Dependable WiFi configuration - Windows: Usually works, though sometimes 3rd party drivers make it difficult, and sometimes requires manual poking - Linux: Thanks to NetworkManager, works really well now. Well, except sometimes, when they didn't think of your auth mechanism, then you're SOL. - OS X: JFW, pretty much all the time 3) Suspend/resume - Windows: Pray and hope, but probably works (XP); Works just fine, but a tag sluggish (Vista SP1) - Linux: Pray and hope, may not work at all, but they say the latest distros now work fine - OS X: JFW, pretty much all the time, resume is near-instant
Now for reasons I won't get into here, I recently had to buy a new personal laptop. (I'd been just using my latest work laptop, which is a MacBook Pro.) This time, despite my fondness for Apple laptops, I went for an HP (the business-grade ones, not the consumer-grade garbage). Why did I do that? Because Apple laptops suck when running Windows natively (at least the trackpad drivers and power management), and I needed to do things in Windows more often than I'd like (and didn't want to use a VM). Also, PC laptops make it easier to get extended-life batteries. Also, PC laptops make it possible to get a high-res screen that is smaller than 17". Also, there are still geek-targeted things that support both Windows and Linux, but don't seem to give a flying $@$!@ about the Mac.
Right now the only project I actively contribute to is my own. Of course I have my real name on the project site and in the copyright headers. However, my username (on the site and the repository logs) is more of an online nick. The downside of this is that I get lots of e-mails and forum posts where people assume that nick is my real name.
Of course once I'm at the point where I care about liability protection, I'd rather form some sort of LLC to contain my efforts. I really do want to contribute in a way that people know its me, since what's the point of contributing to a project you can't personally claim credit for?
Meanwhile, the iPhone is perhaps one of the most closed and restrictive platforms out there. The only difference is that it is the iPhone, and people will climb over each other just for the chance to lick Steve Jobs boots.
Seriously, whenever I hear someone mention that they do iPhone development, they usually follow up with "And I don't really feel comfortable talking about it, because of the agreements Apple made me sign."
But basically, you download a version from a carrier that isn't lagging behind, install it on your desktop PC, then delete this file: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research in Motion\AppLoader\vendor.xml
Then you connect your BlackBerry, launch the desktop software, and it'll take you through the upgrade process.
I can't say what devices will support which versions, but that can be found all over the various BlackBerry websites. One thing I can say, is that 4.5 will work on many current devices. Its just that the US carriers seem to be dragging their feet on rolling it out. (and I've heard RIM mention that even newer ones may work in the future, but aren't out yet for older phones)
Updating is actually pretty easy, and you won't lose any of your settings. The trick is that you have to get a build from a less stuck-up carrier, delete the branding data, and then update with that. Again, plenty of websites explain the process.
As of BlackBerry OS 4.6, the built-in browser has actually gotten pretty good. I'd even say its better and more usable than Opera Mini at this point.
BlackBerry OS 4.5 has a better browser than you're used to, but 4.6 is where it truly becomes useful. (FYI, right now 4.6 runs on the Bold, and 4.7 runs on the Storm)
Of course your cell carrier probably wants you stuck on 4.2 or 4.3 until the end of time, even if your device currently is currently supported by 4.5 (and might be supported in the future by 4.6 or 4.7) At least there are tons of pages online explaining how you can use an OS build not from your carrier.
Having recently attended this event, I can say that RIM is dead-serious about improving their platform for developers. Also, quit your bitching about Java. On the BlackBerry, anyways, Java *is* the native platform! The OS is essentially a JVM, and even the built-in apps run on it. This means that the apps you write in Java can look/feel exactly the same as all the built-in apps, and use all the same device features.
On the area of developer tools, everyone already agrees the IDE that RIM provides is junk. This is why few people out there actually use it. This is also why RIM is in the process of developing an Eclipse plugin that integrates their debugging and build tools so no one ever has to touch their IDE again.
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While technically adept women do exist, there are *very* few of them out there. (at least in comparison to technically adept men) There are so few that its pretty easy to disregard their existence.
Now I do admit that they actually exist, and that there are probably many more with unrealized technical aptitude, but its an infrequent occurrence to actually run into them in the real world.
And the best part is that many of these forms of physical activity require absolutely no athletic skill whatsoever! This is one reason that I actually enjoy working out these days, even though I still hate being a part of pretty much any form of traditional sports.
That's why we should put in every effort to look beautiful on the outside. :-)
Okay, perhaps even that is a challenge, but it probably is a much more achievable goal for many of us. It really just requires hygiene, exercise, and decent clothing, and most of that can be done with a minimum of social interaction.
You cannot judge conflict simply by the body count. What you're doing is punishing Israel for actually training their soldiers and building bomb shelters for their people.
Also, believe it or not, Israel goes out of their way to avoid killing innocent civilians. The problem is that Gaza is so heavily populated, and that the militants hide amongst civilians, so keeping things clean and meeting objectives is pretty much impossible. If Israel actually *wanted* to massacre people, the numbers would be *much* higher.
With a device known as an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer. Supposedly they can not only detect cable length, breaks, but even the location of splices.
If you think about it, Windows ME had only *one* real purpose... As a stop-gap, because MS had made the business decision to *not* create what they really should have created: "Windows 2000 Home".
Thus, most users didn't discover the significantly less-sucky NT-based OS until it got a new clown-suit, product activation gunk, and was called "Windows XP".
. . .
} else {
. . .
"To the Bat-Else, Robin!"
And on MacOS, all apps seem to prefer to be lumped in a completely disorganized pile in /Applications. Sure, you can rearrange them, but that rearrangement may break some apps, or at least cause issues with their updaters.
For this reason, I find it cumbersome to use a Mac without at least some sort of programs menu. Currently, I use a little app called MoofMenu, which does the trick.
And the problem is that NASA/etc. focuses so much on inspiring the 3rd graders, yet don't seem to care so much once those kids get to high school and can actually develop that interest into something useful towards their future.
Standard J2ME is way too limited. That's why Android starts from a more modern Java level, with their own APIs. That's why BlackBerry, even though they are more J2ME compatible, add a crapload of additional APIs to fill in the gaps.
Trac is an absolutely excellent software package, in its domain (smaller-team software development projects). I'd even go so far to say as its the best thing the OSS world has to offer in that arena. However, I'm not so sure its useful as a generic project-tracking system, in the way MS Project and similar software is intended.
I'm pretty sure that SANE drivers are completely independent of the Linux kernel. At that point, you're not really making a Linux-related comment at all. I've used SANE to great success on a whole variety of *nix platforms.
That must have been pre-SP1. With SP1, I've never had a problem with suspend/resume on my new HP laptop.
To follow this up, the *real* problem is that Linux lacks a stable binary kernel driver interface. When a driver build on Linux 2.4.XY-foocrap won't work on a system running Linux 2.4.YX-horsehockey, the only kind of drivers that are ever practical are open-source part-of-the-kernel-source-tree drivers.
This leads to a very annoying duality of Linux driver support... Either it JFW out-of-the-box, or its a royal PITA to ever get it to work. Rarely is there ever a middle ground. Meanwhile, in the Windows world, users can (*gasp*) download *and* easily (*gasp*) install device drivers made and distributed by the hardware manufacturer. Sure, less hardware works out-of-the-box on a clean Windows installation, but you can actually get it working in a fairly straightforward manner.
Of course this really isn't a "Linux vs. Windows" argument, as much as it is a "Linux vs. Everything Else" argument. Having a stable binary kernel driver interface is the STANDARD, not the EXCEPTION.
And its USB driver layer isn't braindead like XP
And suspend/resume works reliably (ok, it takes way too long vs. OSX, but it still works)
Seriously, what is the point of these things? They are way too big to be used like a PDA, yet way too small to be used like a laptop. They're like little toys you show all your friends, then put on the shelf, and don't touch again for 6 months.
Anyone who thinks regular laptops are too big has been buying lower-end consumer-grade Dell and HP hardware for too long. My old 12" PowerBook looked like a PDA compared to those monsters, yet was still a very full-featured laptop.
My problem with OS X is that it'll do 50% of what I might use a Windows box for, and 75% of what I might use a Linux box for. So it can do the majority of what I need from both, but can't completely replace either. (also, Apple doesn't make a non-insanely-spec'ed/priced mid-tower desktop, but that's another discussion) This is why my home desktop is a Linux box and a Windows box on a KVM, and no Mac to be seen.
However, for the past 5 years or so all the laptops I've owned have been Macs. And for a laptop, they do work really well. In fact, they do the 3 killer laptop-specific features better than any other OS I've seen:
1) On-the-fly display reconfiguration
- Windows: A crapshoot depending on your video drivers, but usually works. (except when someone is giving a presentation, and seems to not know how to reconfigure their laptop)
- Linux: A total embarrassment, don't get me started. (XrandR is just a small piece of what is necessary)
- OS X: JFW, pretty much all the time
2) Dependable WiFi configuration
- Windows: Usually works, though sometimes 3rd party drivers make it difficult, and sometimes requires manual poking
- Linux: Thanks to NetworkManager, works really well now. Well, except sometimes, when they didn't think of your auth mechanism, then you're SOL.
- OS X: JFW, pretty much all the time
3) Suspend/resume
- Windows: Pray and hope, but probably works (XP); Works just fine, but a tag sluggish (Vista SP1)
- Linux: Pray and hope, may not work at all, but they say the latest distros now work fine
- OS X: JFW, pretty much all the time, resume is near-instant
Now for reasons I won't get into here, I recently had to buy a new personal laptop. (I'd been just using my latest work laptop, which is a MacBook Pro.) This time, despite my fondness for Apple laptops, I went for an HP (the business-grade ones, not the consumer-grade garbage). Why did I do that? Because Apple laptops suck when running Windows natively (at least the trackpad drivers and power management), and I needed to do things in Windows more often than I'd like (and didn't want to use a VM). Also, PC laptops make it easier to get extended-life batteries. Also, PC laptops make it possible to get a high-res screen that is smaller than 17". Also, there are still geek-targeted things that support both Windows and Linux, but don't seem to give a flying $@$!@ about the Mac.
Right now the only project I actively contribute to is my own. Of course I have my real name on the project site and in the copyright headers. However, my username (on the site and the repository logs) is more of an online nick. The downside of this is that I get lots of e-mails and forum posts where people assume that nick is my real name.
Of course once I'm at the point where I care about liability protection, I'd rather form some sort of LLC to contain my efforts. I really do want to contribute in a way that people know its me, since what's the point of contributing to a project you can't personally claim credit for?
I'm not sure how close it is, but the BlackBerry OS does actually have some built-in VPN capabilities.
Options -> Security Options -> VPN
Meanwhile, the iPhone is perhaps one of the most closed and restrictive platforms out there. The only difference is that it is the iPhone, and people will climb over each other just for the chance to lick Steve Jobs boots.
Seriously, whenever I hear someone mention that they do iPhone development, they usually follow up with "And I don't really feel comfortable talking about it, because of the agreements Apple made me sign."
In 3 seconds on Google:
http://www.blackberryforums.com/rim-software/1871-blackberryos-4-x-download-faq-upgrade-downloads.html
http://www.blackberryinsight.com/2007/05/12/howto-upgrade-your-blackberry-os/
http://www.blackberryforums.com/general-blackberry-discussion/2279-howto-install-reinstall-blackberry-os.html
But basically, you download a version from a carrier that isn't lagging behind, install it on your desktop PC, then delete this file:
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research in Motion\AppLoader\vendor.xml
Then you connect your BlackBerry, launch the desktop software, and it'll take you through the upgrade process.
I can't say what devices will support which versions, but that can be found all over the various BlackBerry websites. One thing I can say, is that 4.5 will work on many current devices. Its just that the US carriers seem to be dragging their feet on rolling it out. (and I've heard RIM mention that even newer ones may work in the future, but aren't out yet for older phones)
Updating is actually pretty easy, and you won't lose any of your settings. The trick is that you have to get a build from a less stuck-up carrier, delete the branding data, and then update with that. Again, plenty of websites explain the process.
As of BlackBerry OS 4.6, the built-in browser has actually gotten pretty good. I'd even say its better and more usable than Opera Mini at this point.
BlackBerry OS 4.5 has a better browser than you're used to, but 4.6 is where it truly becomes useful. (FYI, right now 4.6 runs on the Bold, and 4.7 runs on the Storm)
Of course your cell carrier probably wants you stuck on 4.2 or 4.3 until the end of time, even if your device currently is currently supported by 4.5 (and might be supported in the future by 4.6 or 4.7) At least there are tons of pages online explaining how you can use an OS build not from your carrier.
Having recently attended this event, I can say that RIM is dead-serious about improving their platform for developers. Also, quit your bitching about Java. On the BlackBerry, anyways, Java *is* the native platform! The OS is essentially a JVM, and even the built-in apps run on it. This means that the apps you write in Java can look/feel exactly the same as all the built-in apps, and use all the same device features.
On the area of developer tools, everyone already agrees the IDE that RIM provides is junk. This is why few people out there actually use it. This is also why RIM is in the process of developing an Eclipse plugin that integrates their debugging and build tools so no one ever has to touch their IDE again.
You do know the latest BlackBerry models will do 3G, right?