RMS - Unfortunately this looks like we have here a classic case of what happens when engineers pursue a technical goal and lose sight of the context in which they are working. They "solve the problem", but the results are not a step forward.
Since when is solving a problem not a step forward? If a problem arised and was solved successfully, that, to me is a step forward, regardless of the application or method.
RMS - Free software involves the freedom to change a program
If you want to change the behaviour or applications of a program, you're going to have to at one point edit the source. If you have to edit the source, the source is going to be available. Namely, if you don't want to pay for it, it has to be free. Therefor, doesn't that mean in an ideal case free software = open source?
RMS - Would you be so kind as to forward this to the other developers of Crystal Space?
Read the sign on the door. It says "No Soliciting."
Actually, I think the CPU does have to support an SMP option. Remember the Celerons? They were a PII based chip, but you could not run them dual...you needed to do some hack to it, and trick the hardware into seeing 2 PII's instead of 2 Celerons.
So I think the chip maker has to support it AND the motherboard manufacturing company as well. Let's not forget here that AMD doesn't have most of the market share for CPU's and that most people run single-CPU OS's (I don't need to say it). Thus I'm sure that either company made a decision based on past research that there just wouldn't be enough demand for this kind of hardware. It kinda sucks, though, I really like dual systems as well.
Land-line telco systems in Canada are light years ahead of the States! I think competition in Canada is only a good thing since advances in technology can happen at a quicker rate. So I think we can expect a lot more from Canada and wireless systems in the future compared to the States anyhow.
Research in Motion is already on the right track, and I think they're going to have the Mobile-IP market in their pockets if they can keep up with demand and supply.
Last I checked, most AP CS courses are all code. Why not delve into the hardware aspect of computers and how they work?
I think that some high schoolers might be a little tired of looking at code for their class, and this might offer a change of venue. Topics could include Overclocking, Network Architecture, Telco systems...
Although this might be hard to serve if you're aiming for a non-lecture sort of approach. Since a lot of this might be over their heads, it might be hard to implement a hands-on curriculum.
Actually, a lot of these gumption traps are addressed in this book by Robert M. Pirsig. I know I just finished reading it, and you can very easily interchange "Motorcycle Maintenance" with "Computer Coding". It details the traps, and possible solutions to just about every situation you could face.
But more and more I think about it, this may just be boredom. I know I'm working on a project that I just can't seem to get motivated on. Maybe it's because there's no longer a newness to the whole thing, and since there's no newness, there's no challenge. If we've done something similiar before, why should we be overburdening ourself wrt creativeness and self-endurance to end up with the same result as we receieved before (other than to keep the paycheques coming in)? I know my gumption levels increase dramatically when I've got something in front of me that I've never seen before, it's a challenge, and in order to stay productive, I need to be challenged constantly. But, that's only my take!
Seriously, this technology has been out there for a while. I think the time to market and climactic differences have so far prevented these alternative fuel technologies from becoming public. Plus, the performance factors of these AFV's do not come close (yet) to matching the output of traditional gasoline.
It is nice to see that Honda and Daimler-Chrysler are taking the challenge. I'd buy some stock in Ballard if I could:)
I think a lot of people in the Ottawa area look down on the company because of the management. Let's not forget the whole Netwinder issue. Corel built these things, and then sold them to Rebel. Those things just kick ass! Corel tried to fit in the Windows industry, but that just wasn't happening since everyone's pretty much accustomed to Word, and the MS Office products. Now in a scramble to stay a float on the market, they've shifted their goals towards Linux. But we have to remember that most people (although it's increasing) do not use Linux. So we've got a company producing a non-major distribution (before RedHat and Mandrake) for a non-major OS. Then there is the way they actually hire. They are big into outsourcing and external contractors, "hire them and fire them". They seem to think that this saves money. Everyone I've talked to do not enjoy working at Corel for the most part. And then there's his wife. Woooohoooooo. There's just another story all together:) But, I've seem them pull the most amazing crap out of their back pockets, so this might not be the end. I think they're just a little lost in what the company should be doing. They're having problems finding their "niche" in the market. If they don't find it soon though, I still think there will be enough captial out there from some stupid company to finance another one of their endeavours.
I agree with you wrt to the fact that this digital medium is indeed an infinite product. Combine an infinte supply with a zero dollar price tag, and you've got an infinite demand in old school economics. The problem is not with the product, but the economy that supports these products. Who the hell is going to want to pay money for something they can get for free? It's not a supply and demand LAW for no apparent reason. This is something we'll be seeing more and more of...not only in music, but video, and all other digital medium that graces our presence in the near future. Perhaps the only solution is to tax the bandwith and distribute these bandwith taxes to artists and producers of these products. Anyone got a better idea?
Up in Canada, we got this new service a couple months ago. It's called EPOST and apparently you can get your businesses to send bills and stuff to your epost address. I haven't used it and probably never will. The post office is DEAD!
Slashdot Mirror
There's a pretty good comparison of players and their supported formats at www.vcdhelp.com
Since when is solving a problem not a step forward? If a problem arised and was solved successfully, that, to me is a step forward, regardless of the application or method.
RMS - Free software involves the freedom to change a program
If you want to change the behaviour or applications of a program, you're going to have to at one point edit the source. If you have to edit the source, the source is going to be available. Namely, if you don't want to pay for it, it has to be free. Therefor, doesn't that mean in an ideal case free software = open source?
RMS - Would you be so kind as to forward this to the other developers of Crystal Space?
Read the sign on the door. It says "No Soliciting."
Actually, I think the CPU does have to support an SMP option. Remember the Celerons? They were a PII based chip, but you could not run them dual...you needed to do some hack to it, and trick the hardware into seeing 2 PII's instead of 2 Celerons. So I think the chip maker has to support it AND the motherboard manufacturing company as well. Let's not forget here that AMD doesn't have most of the market share for CPU's and that most people run single-CPU OS's (I don't need to say it). Thus I'm sure that either company made a decision based on past research that there just wouldn't be enough demand for this kind of hardware. It kinda sucks, though, I really like dual systems as well.
Land-line telco systems in Canada are light years ahead of the States! I think competition in Canada is only a good thing since advances in technology can happen at a quicker rate. So I think we can expect a lot more from Canada and wireless systems in the future compared to the States anyhow.
Research in Motion is already on the right track, and I think they're going to have the Mobile-IP market in their pockets if they can keep up with demand and supply.
Last I checked, most AP CS courses are all code. Why not delve into the hardware aspect of computers and how they work?
I think that some high schoolers might be a little tired of looking at code for their class, and this might offer a change of venue. Topics could include Overclocking, Network Architecture, Telco systems...
Although this might be hard to serve if you're aiming for a non-lecture sort of approach. Since a lot of this might be over their heads, it might be hard to implement a hands-on curriculum.
Actually, a lot of these gumption traps are addressed in this book by Robert M. Pirsig. I know I just finished reading it, and you can very easily interchange "Motorcycle Maintenance" with "Computer Coding". It details the traps, and possible solutions to just about every situation you could face.
But more and more I think about it, this may just be boredom. I know I'm working on a project that I just can't seem to get motivated on. Maybe it's because there's no longer a newness to the whole thing, and since there's no newness, there's no challenge. If we've done something similiar before, why should we be overburdening ourself wrt creativeness and self-endurance to end up with the same result as we receieved before (other than to keep the paycheques coming in)? I know my gumption levels increase dramatically when I've got something in front of me that I've never seen before, it's a challenge, and in order to stay productive, I need to be challenged constantly. But, that's only my take!
That and don't forget that the Canadian goverment claims around 50% of gas prices in taxes!
Honda's Insight's New 2001 Electrical engine :)
http://es.epa.gov/new/contacts/newsltrs/prevent/ fall93.html#battery
Seriously, this technology has been out there for a while. I think the time to market and climactic differences have so far prevented these alternative fuel technologies from becoming public. Plus, the performance factors of these AFV's do not come close (yet) to matching the output of traditional gasoline.
It is nice to see that Honda and Daimler-Chrysler are taking the challenge. I'd buy some stock in Ballard if I could :)
I think a lot of people in the Ottawa area look down on the company because of the management. Let's not forget the whole Netwinder issue. Corel built these things, and then sold them to Rebel. Those things just kick ass! Corel tried to fit in the Windows industry, but that just wasn't happening since everyone's pretty much accustomed to Word, and the MS Office products. Now in a scramble to stay a float on the market, they've shifted their goals towards Linux. But we have to remember that most people (although it's increasing) do not use Linux. So we've got a company producing a non-major distribution (before RedHat and Mandrake) for a non-major OS. Then there is the way they actually hire. They are big into outsourcing and external contractors, "hire them and fire them". They seem to think that this saves money. Everyone I've talked to do not enjoy working at Corel for the most part. And then there's his wife. Woooohoooooo. There's just another story all together :) But, I've seem them pull the most amazing crap out of their back pockets, so this might not be the end. I think they're just a little lost in what the company should be doing. They're having problems finding their "niche" in the market. If they don't find it soon though, I still think there will be enough captial out there from some stupid company to finance another one of their endeavours.
It seems a little funnier now BOFH #6
I agree with you wrt to the fact that this digital medium is indeed an infinite product. Combine an infinte supply with a zero dollar price tag, and you've got an infinite demand in old school economics. The problem is not with the product, but the economy that supports these products. Who the hell is going to want to pay money for something they can get for free? It's not a supply and demand LAW for no apparent reason. This is something we'll be seeing more and more of...not only in music, but video, and all other digital medium that graces our presence in the near future. Perhaps the only solution is to tax the bandwith and distribute these bandwith taxes to artists and producers of these products. Anyone got a better idea?
Up in Canada, we got this new service a couple months ago. It's called EPOST and apparently you can get your businesses to send bills and stuff to your epost address. I haven't used it and probably never will. The post office is DEAD!