No offense to everyone complaining but you get what you pay for. Of course the phone companies are going to restrict a phone they have to service that way it makes it easier for customer service etc.
I have tMobile and have not had problems with third party apps going against my phone. Of course I paid a little extra money and received an unlock phone. That way I can do what I want to the phone. The only time I call customer service is if I'm not getting data, not getting calls, or not getting txt messages. If one of my apps is not working, or I can't get my ringtones I create myself to install its all on me.
I am surprised by the number of "geeks" here who apparently but a tied down phone yet will look long and hard for an OS or software that will allow them to do what they please with it. I did that with my phone. I found a place that sold unlocked phones for about twice as much as it costs for me to get a "locked" phone.
Why not research and see what you can find before complaining.
Let me start off by saying that no I do not have children, but I do have 2 small neices. One is almost 5 and the other almost 2. I guess my first question to you is where are you taking these kids of that age where they aren't supervised by yourself or someone you know and trust?
Yes I remember as a kid riding my bike alone with my buddies or goign to the park to play, but that was not at 5. I do not even think that was at 8, closer to my preteen or teenage years. Why would a kid at age 5 need a cell phone to contact mommy or daddy if something is wrong when mommy or daddy should be there or have someone around who is responsible enough to call them if something goes wrong.
Perhaps I'm not with the times, but I'm not leaving a five year old alone with a cell phone and saying, okay have at it.
I am not sure what some will think about this but I think one of the reasons that there are not as many CS degrees being given out is people are realizing they do not need a degree in CS to get a job in computers. As one poster already put, he did not even finish his degree because he did think it benefitted him, I will not argue that just point out that there are not many other "professions" that you do not need a degree in to get into the business.
I do not know how many people I've met in my 7 professional years that either a)said they did not have any degree at all or b)said they got a degree in some other program and many of them not even in a technical profession. I think this is the larger problem. Our industry is one of a few where they want highly talented individuals, but also want a break on price. Easies way to do this is let anyone in which drives cost down because it is not specialized. For those of us that are CS Majors think how much more we could demand if someone from outside of the degree program could not come in and take our job. Also think how much more weight might be given to us in project management as well. If someone knows that this person really knows what they are talking about because of his education and experience perhaps those ridiculous deadlines might be fewer and fewer.
I would think the judge would throw it out on the basis that this person knew what they were buying before hand. I could see if he owned it before all this stuff came out and not afterward. But I've been known to be wrong before.
Funny things about those libraries
on
Reining in Google
·
· Score: 2, Insightful
There is a funny thing about those libraries - They actually had to buy or have all of those books donated. That is one of the things the Carnegie institute does. It helps libraries purchase and keep there books up to date.
Another thing about libraries - Only ONE person can take a book out at a time or even use it to do the research. Now if a library has multiple copies of a book because it is popular then multiple people can do that.
Also as for copying, the libraries I have gone to always have those nice little signs that say photocopying a book is wrong and should not be done. Hmmmm I wonder why, maybe because they are protecthing themself from copyright lawsuits.
So please do not tell me that Google and the libraries are the same.
Ken
Re:Microsoft Will Fail - Tales From The Inside
on
Gates on Google
·
· Score: 1
Does anyone remember a large company that everyone said heard the death knell when they wouldn't turn from there tride and true ways of doing business with main frames? This company was hemoraging money like a bucket full of wholes. Everyone said the company would be dead within the decade.
That comapnies name? IBM!!!!
Not quite out of business yet is it? Microsoft is a large corporation, this is true. Its also true it has some 50 billion in cash reserves. Also say what you want about Bill Gates he is a smart man and very competitive, I think if he thinks the corporate structure needs a complete rework like was done in IBM it will happen. Reading the article the same things were going on in IBM.
I think all of us would do well to read Who Says Elephants Can't Dance. I think it shows what can happen if something gets to large.
Just like Microsoft is not the representative of closed/source proprietary systems. Please remember this when everyone says that all proprietary systems/companies are bad cause we can't see the source.
Here is a question I have had about open source code since taking a computer ethics course and also wondering whether we as computer professionals should be certified.
If company A is using an open source product and said product causes a customer of company A to lose millions of dollars whos is liable? Some may say company A is liable which may or may not be true, but lets remove company A now. Many businesses want someone to be "responsible" for the software they use. If that software is written inhouse or by a third party then the liability is obvious. If open source is used would you go to source forge (as an example) and get the user ids working on the project and sue them for liability? You see businesses can't just think about what is the best piece of written code, but also perhaps which piece of code will cover its backside the best. Is that the best situation? I do not know, but it is a situation that exists, why do you think major corporations and even small business owners have lawyers and liability insurance?
May I ask how this is different from all the people who crack a corporate or government site just cause its cool or because it is run off a Microsoft server? You can't have it both ways, either you don't like cracking or you do.
Thats the problem with being the owner of something sometime. Sometime you have to take actions you don't like or want. He had to know when he started this server up and let the connection go out that someone would use it for illegal purposes. Now if he does not know who that is then there is not a problem. But he "owns" the network and should make every effort to keep it as legal as possible. If he does everything he possibly can I nor others may be able to complain, but if he just throws up his hands and says I don't have the time/resources to control this then why did he start it in the first place? If he just wanted to share legal files why doesn't he find some way to do that and make it very searchable without allowing it to hook into other networks that have not so legal stuff on them. ISP's and companies must deal with this all the time. I know my network engineers have to scour our network at my company to find mp3's and delete them just to be sure we don't get busted. Yeah it sucks, but you know what sometimes resonsibility does suck cause it means you have to do something you don't necessarily want or like just because its the right thing to do.
So this senator seems interested in the dealing of the RIAA, would anyone else be interested to hear his views on this and other technical things. Perhaps his thoughts on the DMCA, open source, etc. Just a thought since it looks like he may be interested in these type of things.
Actually the Gideons place these Bibles in the hotel for just that purpose. To be taken by the person in the hotel and read or given to another person. And if it is taken they happily replace it.
The piece of equipment they are talking about is nice, but you are right there is no way to move your currently ripped MP3's over, but they have their NetTune(TM) receivers that let you hook up to a network and play music that is on your computer through the internet. Integra (www.integra.com) also does this which is Onkyo's higher end company. Also check out the smaller devices they have for your network that let you run upto twelve smaller receivers so that each room can play different MP3's or internet Radio stations. I have been a big fan of Onkyo for a long time and am saving up to get some of this stuff.
Once again a lot of people are making comments without actually reading the article.
This is a certficate program and the requirements are actually pretty clear. It says a highschool diploma will be considered on a case by case basis. Guess what this means? They want people who already have some background in computers. They also have an art program and a couple others.
This doesn't sound like to bad of an idea, especially since the computer industry is becoming so large it might be nice to be able to special after getting the general stuff done.
This sounds all well and good, but what happens if this person who can't afford to go to the movies suddenly can?
Or what about the 12 year old kid who becomes a graphics artist. Both will begin to "expect" things this cheap and could continue to say who cares I can get it cheaper somewhere else. This is the problem I have with most of these arguments.
Ohhh and here's another thing, why not wait the obligatory couple months and go see it at the cheap theatre. Plenty of people do this, and the enjoyment is just as good. Or for that matter the kid can go pick up a used copy of Photoshop somewhere.
Why not admit that what they are doing is wrong instead of saying hey they can't afford it anyway so who cares?
I guess this means then that if I were to go to your house and try a door or window and its open, thats a 'welcome Mat' for me to come in a take what I wanted?
I never did understand the philosophy that because its there and open to me I guess I can use it. It seems most prevelent in the computer industry. Yes its bad for users to keep a wireless LAN, but its also bad for us as the technically elite to then steal there bandwith. You wonder why we have such a bad reputation, and I point you to wirefarm's post.
I was thinking about this whole deal with BMG and what I'm sure is more Record companies to follow. What if Napster goes way of the old BBS style upload/download system. I remember during the BBS days where you typically got only so much down load cabapbility per month/week. What if Napster started doing something like that. Instead of having it be an upload download ratio the charge everyone a flat fee per month to use the service. Then if your machine has a lot of MP3s that people are getting your service fee is subsidized. Basically if you start handling a lot of "HOT" MP3s then you could in all possibility get your Napster service for free.
Ken
kenbw@yahoo.com
If you are living in the US and do not get to vote because of your Visa status or whatever that was your choice when you came over here. So now you have to take the good with the bad for living and working/studying in our country for the next few years. If you want to do something about this process then try and become a citizen if its possible and quit whining.
If you live in another country and are saying that the US President influences your life. Well most major countries leaders effect our life here in the US as well. I mean the US has stepped in to try and help the peace process in just about every major uprising that has come up in Europe and the Middle East in the past few years. So don't just think yours in the only life that is being influenced by outside influences.
Yes it's flame bait, but deal with it.
May I ask one simple question. Why do we need/want computers in the elementary and middle school enviroment? When I was in elementary school all I wanted to do was play with my friends outside and maybe learn a little bit of this stuff called Mathematics. What is the need for computers is beginning education? Aren't books enough? I mean what is it that we are hoping to teach these children with computers? Is it how to add with the calculator earlier or play a really great game of solitaire? Come on, if a kid needs to do some research have them grab that thing called an encylcopedia(Oh my god they may have to go to the library and look at those things called books). I hate to mention this but books are just as much a valuable resource as that IMac or IBM PC running windozw or even Linux. Guess where I learned that reading is fun? Thats right school with RIF. Now it seems everyone wants to teach them how to research on coputers and use Da' NET. And then when they are told they can only have one internet resource they look dombfounded as to where else they can go look. I'm sorry for this rant, but I hate when people think that what we need in education is more computers.
Yes I know its flame bait so deal with it
It's kind of funny. I've been following the Napster debate on slashdot since it started many months ago. And everytime something about Napster or one of these other file sharing programs was posted a whole bunch of supporters said they would be happy to pay 50 cents or so for a single of a band they wanted. Now that napster has said they are going to charge 4.95 for downloading feature, what happens? A bunch of you say I'd rather go to another sesrvice. Now either you like the Napster service for what it offers, or you just wanted something for nothing. So either swallow your pride and if Napster cuts a deal with the RIAA continue to use it or realize you are hypocrites and jsut say what you truly want and thats anthing you can get for free.
Yes I know this is probably flame bait, but I'll deal with that.
The reason more people aren't coming out this way to Silicon Valley I believe has nothing to do with work and everything to do with the real estate and living market. The real estate market is so competetive out here I see a lot of older people moving out because its easier for them and their "families" to live in another area of the state or country. Therefore the companies are having to try and offer huge sums of cash to get people out here, and at times that still doesn't help cover the cost of living.
[Did you ever even stop to consider that maybe you weren't paying a fair market price for those CDs, that maybe that price is aritificially inflated by a quintet of record companies that have a lot more to gain through cooperation than they do through competition?]
I hate to be the one to break this to you, but fair market value is what the market sugests that people will pay for a product. If persons weren't willing to pay $16-$18 per CD then they wouldn't and prices would go down, but we as consumers for the most part have decided to pay this much for a CD and that it is a fair value. Therefore we have the 16 to 18 dollar price tag.
Now as to the CDs supposedly being over priced. Lets say it cost $1 to physically produce one CD, now when I say phsically produce the CD I'm talking about the actual machine producing each CD and then putting everything into those nice plastic Jewel cases. Now let's say that initially 1 million of these stupid things are produced. That is 1 million dollars. But you all seem to forget about the person doing all these little jobs in between such as a clerk in the store that is being paid 6.50 to continually listen to the new Britanny spears CD, plus studio time, plus shipping the CDs everywhere, plus promotions, etc. So please do not tell me that it only costs 50 cents to make a CD. Just like it doesn't cost 50 cents to produce a piece of software on CD. I don't know about all you other programmer, but I don't think my time over a period of time is 50 cents. So that means someone has to pay, and untimately its the final person the consumer.
Please quit your whining about overcharging for CDs. If you don't like it don't buy them ever.
Also I hate to tell all of you that $16-18 dollars today is worth less then 16-18 dollars when the CD first showed up so we are technically paying less.
My biggest complaint about Universal Access and the belief that everyone should have a computer is why is this a right? Almost everything that Joe Q. Public wants or needs is available in other places already set up. Those being the libraries, news papers, and other written word documents. Also what do most people use the net for? Is it anything terribly productive? No! They look for junk, read news, read email, etc. Plus with a corporation this gives them a reason to have employees work from home. What if I'm sick and call in. My supervisor can say, well we have some paperwork that needs done why don't you do that from home. So you see Universal or even Corporate Access is not something everyone wants/needs. Just my 2 cents.
First of let me say that I am a geek and enjoy all the wonders that are afforded us that other parts of society do not get sometimes.
With that said I will now go on to aggrevate the hell out of almost everyone that reads this. In a way I can almost understand where the RIAA is coming from with its belief on Napster. I do not personally use this as I don't regulary download music off the net. I read an article with the creator of Napster and it almost seems like he wants to wash his hands of the whole copyright issue. Like all of you he seems to be saying "I didn't know that all these kids would start using my service to trade copyright music illegaly." From what I have read currently Napster has no way of telling what is free music, and what is music that has been ripped and is actually owned by a record company. If they did then the RIAA would have no reason to complain, but Naptser allows any MP3 file to be listed, not caring of what it is or how it came into being. This is wrong. I also hate the gun argument that basically guns don't kill people, pepople do. While this argument may seem sound, there are actually systems in place so that honest merchants can try and stop guns from going into the hands of wrongful people. There is currently no system like this for MP3's on the net. Until there is some sort of ability for detection of what music is legally copyrighted and what music isn't then we are going to have this war between corporations trying to make money(because this is what business is about) and users who want everything to be as cheap as possible.
I do believe Napster is a great idea and has some far stretching uses in the future, but guess what this is still a start up company. And what do start up companies need other then venture capital? They need users, the easiest way to get users is to leave everything as open as possible and let someone else worry about tightening the restrictions.
As far as DeCSS I agree with the geek community that the MPAA is just trying to flex its muscle and say that only they should be allowed to grant persons the ability to create DVD players.
Just my 42.5 cents worth that will probably be flamed quite badly.
Slashdot Mirror
No offense to everyone complaining but you get what you pay for. Of course the phone companies are going to restrict a phone they have to service that way it makes it easier for customer service etc.
I have tMobile and have not had problems with third party apps going against my phone. Of course I paid a little extra money and received an unlock phone. That way I can do what I want to the phone. The only time I call customer service is if I'm not getting data, not getting calls, or not getting txt messages. If one of my apps is not working, or I can't get my ringtones I create myself to install its all on me.
I am surprised by the number of "geeks" here who apparently but a tied down phone yet will look long and hard for an OS or software that will allow them to do what they please with it. I did that with my phone. I found a place that sold unlocked phones for about twice as much as it costs for me to get a "locked" phone.
Why not research and see what you can find before complaining.
Let me start off by saying that no I do not have children, but I do have 2 small neices. One is almost 5 and the other almost 2. I guess my first question to you is where are you taking these kids of that age where they aren't supervised by yourself or someone you know and trust?
Yes I remember as a kid riding my bike alone with my buddies or goign to the park to play, but that was not at 5. I do not even think that was at 8, closer to my preteen or teenage years. Why would a kid at age 5 need a cell phone to contact mommy or daddy if something is wrong when mommy or daddy should be there or have someone around who is responsible enough to call them if something goes wrong.
Perhaps I'm not with the times, but I'm not leaving a five year old alone with a cell phone and saying, okay have at it.
Ken
I am not sure what some will think about this but I think one of the reasons that there are not as many CS degrees being given out is people are realizing they do not need a degree in CS to get a job in computers. As one poster already put, he did not even finish his degree because he did think it benefitted him, I will not argue that just point out that there are not many other "professions" that you do not need a degree in to get into the business.
I do not know how many people I've met in my 7 professional years that either a)said they did not have any degree at all or b)said they got a degree in some other program and many of them not even in a technical profession. I think this is the larger problem. Our industry is one of a few where they want highly talented individuals, but also want a break on price. Easies way to do this is let anyone in which drives cost down because it is not specialized. For those of us that are CS Majors think how much more we could demand if someone from outside of the degree program could not come in and take our job. Also think how much more weight might be given to us in project management as well. If someone knows that this person really knows what they are talking about because of his education and experience perhaps those ridiculous deadlines might be fewer and fewer.
I would think the judge would throw it out on the basis that this person knew what they were buying before hand. I could see if he owned it before all this stuff came out and not afterward. But I've been known to be wrong before.
There is a funny thing about those libraries - They actually had to buy or have all of those books donated. That is one of the things the Carnegie institute does. It helps libraries purchase and keep there books up to date.
Another thing about libraries - Only ONE person can take a book out at a time or even use it to do the research. Now if a library has multiple copies of a book because it is popular then multiple people can do that.
Also as for copying, the libraries I have gone to always have those nice little signs that say photocopying a book is wrong and should not be done. Hmmmm I wonder why, maybe because they are protecthing themself from copyright lawsuits.
So please do not tell me that Google and the libraries are the same.
Ken
Does anyone remember a large company that everyone said heard the death knell when they wouldn't turn from there tride and true ways of doing business with main frames? This company was hemoraging money like a bucket full of wholes. Everyone said the company would be dead within the decade. That comapnies name? IBM!!!! Not quite out of business yet is it? Microsoft is a large corporation, this is true. Its also true it has some 50 billion in cash reserves. Also say what you want about Bill Gates he is a smart man and very competitive, I think if he thinks the corporate structure needs a complete rework like was done in IBM it will happen. Reading the article the same things were going on in IBM. I think all of us would do well to read Who Says Elephants Can't Dance. I think it shows what can happen if something gets to large.
Just like Microsoft is not the representative of closed/source proprietary systems. Please remember this when everyone says that all proprietary systems/companies are bad cause we can't see the source.
Ken
Here is a question I have had about open source code since taking a computer ethics course and also wondering whether we as computer professionals should be certified.
If company A is using an open source product and said product causes a customer of company A to lose millions of dollars whos is liable? Some may say company A is liable which may or may not be true, but lets remove company A now. Many businesses want someone to be "responsible" for the software they use. If that software is written inhouse or by a third party then the liability is obvious. If open source is used would you go to source forge (as an example) and get the user ids working on the project and sue them for liability? You see businesses can't just think about what is the best piece of written code, but also perhaps which piece of code will cover its backside the best. Is that the best situation? I do not know, but it is a situation that exists, why do you think major corporations and even small business owners have lawyers and liability insurance?
May I ask how this is different from all the people who crack a corporate or government site just cause its cool or because it is run off a Microsoft server? You can't have it both ways, either you don't like cracking or you do.
Thats the problem with being the owner of something sometime. Sometime you have to take actions you don't like or want. He had to know when he started this server up and let the connection go out that someone would use it for illegal purposes. Now if he does not know who that is then there is not a problem. But he "owns" the network and should make every effort to keep it as legal as possible. If he does everything he possibly can I nor others may be able to complain, but if he just throws up his hands and says I don't have the time/resources to control this then why did he start it in the first place? If he just wanted to share legal files why doesn't he find some way to do that and make it very searchable without allowing it to hook into other networks that have not so legal stuff on them. ISP's and companies must deal with this all the time. I know my network engineers have to scour our network at my company to find mp3's and delete them just to be sure we don't get busted. Yeah it sucks, but you know what sometimes resonsibility does suck cause it means you have to do something you don't necessarily want or like just because its the right thing to do.
So this senator seems interested in the dealing of the RIAA, would anyone else be interested to hear his views on this and other technical things. Perhaps his thoughts on the DMCA, open source, etc. Just a thought since it looks like he may be interested in these type of things.
In Chicago there are a couple cool "geek" placs to try out:
1) Museum of Science and Industry
2) Planetarium
3) Architectural tour of the loop area.
Actually the Gideons place these Bibles in the hotel for just that purpose. To be taken by the person in the hotel and read or given to another person. And if it is taken they happily replace it.
The piece of equipment they are talking about is nice, but you are right there is no way to move your currently ripped MP3's over, but they have their NetTune(TM) receivers that let you hook up to a network and play music that is on your computer through the internet. Integra (www.integra.com) also does this which is Onkyo's higher end company. Also check out the smaller devices they have for your network that let you run upto twelve smaller receivers so that each room can play different MP3's or internet Radio stations. I have been a big fan of Onkyo for a long time and am saving up to get some of this stuff.
Once again a lot of people are making comments without actually reading the article.
This is a certficate program and the requirements are actually pretty clear. It says a highschool diploma will be considered on a case by case basis. Guess what this means? They want people who already have some background in computers. They also have an art program and a couple others.
This doesn't sound like to bad of an idea, especially since the computer industry is becoming so large it might be nice to be able to special after getting the general stuff done.
This sounds all well and good, but what happens if this person who can't afford to go to the movies suddenly can?
Or what about the 12 year old kid who becomes a graphics artist. Both will begin to "expect" things this cheap and could continue to say who cares I can get it cheaper somewhere else. This is the problem I have with most of these arguments.
Ohhh and here's another thing, why not wait the obligatory couple months and go see it at the cheap theatre. Plenty of people do this, and the enjoyment is just as good. Or for that matter the kid can go pick up a used copy of Photoshop somewhere.
Why not admit that what they are doing is wrong instead of saying hey they can't afford it anyway so who cares?
I guess this means then that if I were to go to your house and try a door or window and its open, thats a 'welcome Mat' for me to come in a take what I wanted?
I never did understand the philosophy that because its there and open to me I guess I can use it. It seems most prevelent in the computer industry. Yes its bad for users to keep a wireless LAN, but its also bad for us as the technically elite to then steal there bandwith. You wonder why we have such a bad reputation, and I point you to wirefarm's post.
I was thinking about this whole deal with BMG and what I'm sure is more Record companies to follow. What if Napster goes way of the old BBS style upload/download system. I remember during the BBS days where you typically got only so much down load cabapbility per month/week. What if Napster started doing something like that. Instead of having it be an upload download ratio the charge everyone a flat fee per month to use the service. Then if your machine has a lot of MP3s that people are getting your service fee is subsidized. Basically if you start handling a lot of "HOT" MP3s then you could in all possibility get your Napster service for free. Ken kenbw@yahoo.com
If you are living in the US and do not get to vote because of your Visa status or whatever that was your choice when you came over here. So now you have to take the good with the bad for living and working/studying in our country for the next few years. If you want to do something about this process then try and become a citizen if its possible and quit whining. If you live in another country and are saying that the US President influences your life. Well most major countries leaders effect our life here in the US as well. I mean the US has stepped in to try and help the peace process in just about every major uprising that has come up in Europe and the Middle East in the past few years. So don't just think yours in the only life that is being influenced by outside influences. Yes it's flame bait, but deal with it.
May I ask one simple question. Why do we need/want computers in the elementary and middle school enviroment? When I was in elementary school all I wanted to do was play with my friends outside and maybe learn a little bit of this stuff called Mathematics. What is the need for computers is beginning education? Aren't books enough? I mean what is it that we are hoping to teach these children with computers? Is it how to add with the calculator earlier or play a really great game of solitaire? Come on, if a kid needs to do some research have them grab that thing called an encylcopedia(Oh my god they may have to go to the library and look at those things called books). I hate to mention this but books are just as much a valuable resource as that IMac or IBM PC running windozw or even Linux. Guess where I learned that reading is fun? Thats right school with RIF. Now it seems everyone wants to teach them how to research on coputers and use Da' NET. And then when they are told they can only have one internet resource they look dombfounded as to where else they can go look. I'm sorry for this rant, but I hate when people think that what we need in education is more computers. Yes I know its flame bait so deal with it
It's kind of funny. I've been following the Napster debate on slashdot since it started many months ago. And everytime something about Napster or one of these other file sharing programs was posted a whole bunch of supporters said they would be happy to pay 50 cents or so for a single of a band they wanted. Now that napster has said they are going to charge 4.95 for downloading feature, what happens? A bunch of you say I'd rather go to another sesrvice. Now either you like the Napster service for what it offers, or you just wanted something for nothing. So either swallow your pride and if Napster cuts a deal with the RIAA continue to use it or realize you are hypocrites and jsut say what you truly want and thats anthing you can get for free. Yes I know this is probably flame bait, but I'll deal with that.
The reason more people aren't coming out this way to Silicon Valley I believe has nothing to do with work and everything to do with the real estate and living market. The real estate market is so competetive out here I see a lot of older people moving out because its easier for them and their "families" to live in another area of the state or country. Therefore the companies are having to try and offer huge sums of cash to get people out here, and at times that still doesn't help cover the cost of living.
[Did you ever even stop to consider that maybe you weren't paying a fair market price for those CDs, that maybe that price is aritificially inflated by a quintet of record companies that have a lot more to gain through cooperation than they do through competition?]
I hate to be the one to break this to you, but fair market value is what the market sugests that people will pay for a product. If persons weren't willing to pay $16-$18 per CD then they wouldn't and prices would go down, but we as consumers for the most part have decided to pay this much for a CD and that it is a fair value. Therefore we have the 16 to 18 dollar price tag.
Now as to the CDs supposedly being over priced. Lets say it cost $1 to physically produce one CD, now when I say phsically produce the CD I'm talking about the actual machine producing each CD and then putting everything into those nice plastic Jewel cases. Now let's say that initially 1 million of these stupid things are produced. That is 1 million dollars. But you all seem to forget about the person doing all these little jobs in between such as a clerk in the store that is being paid 6.50 to continually listen to the new Britanny spears CD, plus studio time, plus shipping the CDs everywhere, plus promotions, etc. So please do not tell me that it only costs 50 cents to make a CD. Just like it doesn't cost 50 cents to produce a piece of software on CD. I don't know about all you other programmer, but I don't think my time over a period of time is 50 cents. So that means someone has to pay, and untimately its the final person the consumer.
Please quit your whining about overcharging for CDs. If you don't like it don't buy them ever.
Also I hate to tell all of you that $16-18 dollars today is worth less then 16-18 dollars when the CD first showed up so we are technically paying less.
Just my 3.5 cents worth.
My biggest complaint about Universal Access and the belief that everyone should have a computer is why is this a right? Almost everything that Joe Q. Public wants or needs is available in other places already set up. Those being the libraries, news papers, and other written word documents. Also what do most people use the net for? Is it anything terribly productive? No! They look for junk, read news, read email, etc. Plus with a corporation this gives them a reason to have employees work from home. What if I'm sick and call in. My supervisor can say, well we have some paperwork that needs done why don't you do that from home. So you see Universal or even Corporate Access is not something everyone wants/needs. Just my 2 cents.
First of let me say that I am a geek and enjoy all the wonders that are afforded us that other parts of society do not get sometimes.
With that said I will now go on to aggrevate the hell out of almost everyone that reads this. In a way I can almost understand where the RIAA is coming from with its belief on Napster. I do not personally use this as I don't regulary download music off the net. I read an article with the creator of Napster and it almost seems like he wants to wash his hands of the whole copyright issue. Like all of you he seems to be saying "I didn't know that all these kids would start using my service to trade copyright music illegaly." From what I have read currently Napster has no way of telling what is free music, and what is music that has been ripped and is actually owned by a record company. If they did then the RIAA would have no reason to complain, but Naptser allows any MP3 file to be listed, not caring of what it is or how it came into being. This is wrong. I also hate the gun argument that basically guns don't kill people, pepople do. While this argument may seem sound, there are actually systems in place so that honest merchants can try and stop guns from going into the hands of wrongful people. There is currently no system like this for MP3's on the net. Until there is some sort of ability for detection of what music is legally copyrighted and what music isn't then we are going to have this war between corporations trying to make money(because this is what business is about) and users who want everything to be as cheap as possible.
I do believe Napster is a great idea and has some far stretching uses in the future, but guess what this is still a start up company. And what do start up companies need other then venture capital? They need users, the easiest way to get users is to leave everything as open as possible and let someone else worry about tightening the restrictions.
As far as DeCSS I agree with the geek community that the MPAA is just trying to flex its muscle and say that only they should be allowed to grant persons the ability to create DVD players.
Just my 42.5 cents worth that will probably be flamed quite badly.