Disclaimer: This solution only works if you're satisfied with Windows...
That said, I bought a Sony VAIO Digital Studio desktop about 8 months ago. PIII/500, 256 MB RAM (128 comes standard), 16MB ATI Rage Pro 128, 20 GB 7200 RPM drive, DVD-ROM, CD-R/CD-RW burner, and nice USB and FireWire ports right on the front panel.
The newer ones have (I believe) a PIII/650 but are essentially the same machine. Cost around $1700 w/o monitor. For a monitor, I use a Mitsubishi Diamond Plus 100e 21" (around $1000).
The best part about this package is you unpack it, set it up, and it comes with all the video capture and editing software you need (at least for home movies, which is what I use it for). It's been a pretty decent machine overall, once I got the right FireWire software (the package it came with caused system lockups a lot, the new VAIO may have fixed this though).
For the price (about $2900 w/monitor & additional 128 MB RAM), and the ease of use, I'd recommend it. Don't know if it holds up to professional standards though:)
I think it will certainly change. Hasn't it already? Compare the Internet of the early '90's to the "Internet" of today (which is pretty much just the WWW, UseNet is dying, gopher is gone, etc.). As it becomes more corporate, there's bound to be more lawyer nonsense getting thrown about. Eventually it will be indistinguishable from television, with ads being rammed down your throat before you're allowed access to a site, etc.
Wow. I don't have any stats, but in my 8 years of engineering I've never had drug screening even mentioned. One friend of mine went on an interview about 6 months ago, and when they told him they required a drug screening test he laughed and walked out (no he doesn't do drugs, and I would have done the same). That was the first experience any of my personal friends have had with such nonsense.
Re:(Re)Legitimizing the Mac
on
Rack An iMac
·
· Score: 1
"As a long Mac user"
Typical Mac user... Brag, brag, brag... "Mine's longer than yours"... brag, brag, brag...
I'm a WinDoze (no flames please) engineer and I work on reading software for the blind and learning disabled (the Kurzweil 1000 and Kurzweil 3000 products offered by Lernout & Hauspie). One of the nice parts of writing such software for Windows is that the off-screen model is fully documented and available for your use. A couple years ago Microsoft added a set of API's called Active Accessibility which at first were so-so, but which have improved over the last two revisions. Windows may not be the greatest OS, but it does offer the programmer some very nice accessibility features. I know many blind people that have grown to really like Windows because of the products available to them. In my experience, the blind computer users I've run into tend to be very technical and understand the issues surrounding their use of a computer. Most choose Windows because of the effort that has gone into making it accessible.
Please note I'm not trying to pump up Windows. I use both Linux and Windows at home and both are useful for different purposes. I did send this article on to a few blind people I know. Hopefully one or more will try this distro out and let me know how well it works.
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Disclaimer: This solution only works if you're satisfied with Windows...
:)
That said, I bought a Sony VAIO Digital Studio desktop about 8 months ago. PIII/500, 256 MB RAM (128 comes standard), 16MB ATI Rage Pro 128, 20 GB 7200 RPM drive, DVD-ROM, CD-R/CD-RW burner, and nice USB and FireWire ports right on the front panel.
The newer ones have (I believe) a PIII/650 but are essentially the same machine. Cost around $1700 w/o monitor. For a monitor, I use a Mitsubishi Diamond Plus 100e 21" (around $1000).
The best part about this package is you unpack it, set it up, and it comes with all the video capture and editing software you need (at least for home movies, which is what I use it for). It's been a pretty decent machine overall, once I got the right FireWire software (the package it came with caused system lockups a lot, the new VAIO may have fixed this though).
For the price (about $2900 w/monitor & additional 128 MB RAM), and the ease of use, I'd recommend it. Don't know if it holds up to professional standards though
Shhhhh! He only THINKS he's going there for a meeting. I actually called and turned him in. Got this nifty baseball cap...
I'm waiting for someone to program their AIBO to drive them around. Now that would be a nifty Designated Driver!
You can even get translator software for your Palm now. Who needs Babelfish?!
I think it will certainly change. Hasn't it already? Compare the Internet of the early '90's to the "Internet" of today (which is pretty much just the WWW, UseNet is dying, gopher is gone, etc.). As it becomes more corporate, there's bound to be more lawyer nonsense getting thrown about. Eventually it will be indistinguishable from television, with ads being rammed down your throat before you're allowed access to a site, etc.
Wow. I don't have any stats, but in my 8 years of engineering I've never had drug screening even mentioned. One friend of mine went on an interview about 6 months ago, and when they told him they required a drug screening test he laughed and walked out (no he doesn't do drugs, and I would have done the same). That was the first experience any of my personal friends have had with such nonsense.
"As a long Mac user"
Typical Mac user... Brag, brag, brag... "Mine's longer than yours"... brag, brag, brag...
I'm a WinDoze (no flames please) engineer and I work on reading software for the blind and learning disabled (the Kurzweil 1000 and Kurzweil 3000 products offered by Lernout & Hauspie). One of the nice parts of writing such software for Windows is that the off-screen model is fully documented and available for your use. A couple years ago Microsoft added a set of API's called Active Accessibility which at first were so-so, but which have improved over the last two revisions. Windows may not be the greatest OS, but it does offer the programmer some very nice accessibility features. I know many blind people that have grown to really like Windows because of the products available to them. In my experience, the blind computer users I've run into tend to be very technical and understand the issues surrounding their use of a computer. Most choose Windows because of the effort that has gone into making it accessible.
Please note I'm not trying to pump up Windows. I use both Linux and Windows at home and both are useful for different purposes. I did send this article on to a few blind people I know. Hopefully one or more will try this distro out and let me know how well it works.