I don't think this is really meant to be an instant competitor to currently available rental formats (VHS and DVD at the local Blockbuster).
Instead, it's meant to not only be a future looking project, for the eventual time when the majority have a broadband connection, as well as a legal way to get the business of those who are currently downloading movies in divx format from movie-warez sites.
Ads that catch our attention, even if through somewhat annoying means, are one thing.
But everyday another marketing gimmick pops into creation that pushes the line a bit far, going from mearly attention-getting, and into outright annoying and alienating potential customers.
What's it going to take until these marketing people get the fact that annoying customers is not the way to make a successful company? Will it be the first marketeer killed by a slightly unhinged web surfer who gets pushed too far by these constant advertising attacks on our lives?
Could you please make this available for those of us with less than stellar Perl scripting skills?
Thanks!
Win2K a bit more common than one would think.
on
Code Redux
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· Score: 2
Doing student network support for a midwest college, I came across several newly purchased IBM Thinkpads which came with Win2k installed. Enough, that I'd say one out of every thirty people with a laptop there had it.
Additionally, since alot of the colleges in Ohio have site license deals with Microsoft so that students can get the OS for cheap (or even free), there were just enough people figuring that 2000 must be better than 95, simply due to the numbers, to cause us a bit of aggravation.
Of course, out of those people, most probably don't have IIS installed, but I've come across just enough people who install random things they don't need to say that the problem, while small, certainly isn't insignificant.
This is a beta release, after all. Ximian generally takes a bit of time to release their updates to the current version a bit after the official release
After all, being a beta, if there are major bugs found, they may have to make enough significant changes that Ximian would spend too much time catching up. Better to wait until the release.
And I won't even make a snide comment about how I haven't run Red Hat in 2 years!
Gee... That certainly looks to be a snide comment to me. Kind of like the guy who insults your entire family, and then thinks a "just kidding" at the end makes up for it.
Normally I try to ignore the biased comments that creep up in the stories here, but the snippy little comments, regardless of the topic, have become a bit much lately.
Although it's been a few years since I've seen it, Tron was all about an Evil Corporate Suit® who rose to the top after stealing several hit games from one of the main characters, who then, along with the corporate security guru who was suspicious of the program that was taking over all the company's main frames, went to try and take him down.
You know, the kind of thing that seems to happen in every third MPAA or RIAA story here on Slashdot.;)
. . . What you're saying is that should some company out there attempt to patent the process of using a dying star to produce water, we have evidence of prior art, right?
How is the pencil-n-paper business these days?
on
SJGames Layoffs
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· Score: 2
I used to be an avid RPG'er back in the days before multiplayer online games and collectible card games hit the market from both sides, and used to spend a great deal of my limited income on gaming books, most of which ranged in price from $10 to $25 USD . . .
These days, however, when I can play some pretty absorbing computer based RPG's like Deus Ex, or go frag a group online, the lure of the game store and trying to get a group of gamer geeks together to play an adventure just doesn't have the same pull as it used to.
Anyone who still follows the business able to tell me what the current state of the industry is?
Reading through the website for the Babylon 5 Ranger telelmovie, it notes that the story takes place two years after the original B5 series ended, with the Rangers seeking to help worlds recover from the massive interstellar war with the Shadows.
Yes, the idea of a force striking out to restore order isn't brand spanking new, but then, rarely are many stories out there, regardless of the media they're portrayed through.
It's somewhat ironic that a forum which is closely tied with the promotion of one of the advantages of open source software being the removal of the need to reinvent the wheel and build on the work of others, also being extremely hostile towards a series which seeks to do the same.
Basing a new series within the same universe as a previous one can be a very good thing, as much of the back story is already out there for the viewer in the know. And the Babylon 5 series has been well known for giving us the endings away early on, yet making the voyage to that ending all the more interesting. I do not doubt that we'll see the same attributes with the new story line.
Just because it's based in the same story universe does not automagically mean trash, just as "new" story backgrounds do not guarentee worthwhile work. Most stories, whether they're on television, movies or books are evolutionary, not revolutionary.
Another word for you . . .
on
FreeBSD on DVD
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· Score: 3
. . . choice.
FreeBSD (and most of the alternative open operating systems for that matter) will allow you to choose the model you'd prefer.
Although I honestly don't understand how a subscription model that forces you to upgrade using time limited software can be more "efficient" than a subscription service that provides upgrades that aren't required, only requested, as the software is yours to run as long as you like once you've initially installed it.
One word makes the difference . . .
on
FreeBSD on DVD
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· Score: 4
. . . and that word is "forced".
With the oft mentioned Microsoft subscription model, it truely is a forced upgrade. Even if you're happy with your system and apps after a particular upgrade, you're out of luck when the time limit expires.
There's no forced upgrades being done with the FreeBSD subscription. Once you've installed it, you can either not upgrade, upgrade through the regular means (buying a new CD/DVD, downloading from the internet, etc), or subscribe and have new DVD's mailed to you on a regular basis.
The subscription model FreeBSD is proposing is one of convenience for the customers. What Microsoft is proposing is convenient for Microsoft.
It does seem that for every crazed fanatic, trying to convince us of space brothers and ancient sunken cities based on the flimsiest of "evidence", there's at least one crazed skeptic, going to any length to explain away everything as sunspots, swamp gas and weather balloons.
Ah well . . . at least it keeps them busy and off the streets.
Compared to the usual multi-million dollar suits that we see for outlandishly stupid behavior on the part of customers, this is nothing.
Add to that the actual threats they made towards her credit rating while she was attempting to get that bank loan, plus the usual obnoxious behavior that collection firms can sometimes get into, a complete lack of respect by the service provider about any of it's customers, makes me think that she's asking for too little in punitive damages to get the company to rethink this kind of behavior.
It's exactly concerns like this and other horror stories that make me mistrust most cable ISP's.
You know, I really am thankful for the work the GNU foundation has done for me as a user.
But fanatical speeches about how "free software" based operating systems must be named according to one group's dictates makes me want to go out of my way not to do so.
I'm sure they're all nice guys and girls, really, and we'd get along fine otherwise, but pushing this name thing is doing about as much harm as good.
But then, maybe I just think other batters are more important to be fighting.:shrug:
. . . but it's also pretty much the reason MOST people, regardless of age fear them.
My mother was always afraid she was going to break the computer I set up for her and dad, and therefore tended to use it rarely. After I lied and told her that I had everything backed up and could instantly retore it no matter what she did, and that she couldn't physically break it by pressing any of the buttons, she relaxed and now spends as much time with it as everyone else.
Now if I could only get her to stop forwarding me dumb jokes through email . . .
Actually, I do use both MS Windows 2000 and OpenBSD on two of my other machines here at home, as well as the Linux box.
OpenBSD makes a great server and firewall for my DSL broadband connection. But as a workstation, it'd be a bit too limiting for what I tend to use it for (not that it's impossible, plenty of people do so).
MS Windows 2000 is a huge improvement over the other Microsoft operating systems, but too accomplish some of the things that I use the Linux box for, it seems sluggish and bloated in comparison at those tasks. And even when I've had to use it, I tend to use open source tools (Apache, Gimp, etc) that work just as well on the alternatives. So, for the most part, it gets used for those programs that simply don't have a suitable *nix compatible alternative (free or otherwise).
I could use FreeBSD, but don't for a small number of reasons. The first being that support for my nvidia TNT2 Ultra is much better under Linux than FreeBSD (it's not a great reason, but still a reason).
Add to that the fact that I'm simply more comfortable finding the information I need about running something under X than FreeBSD (and this is more to do with how individuals search, and less to do with the available resources).
Anyway, it boils down to the fact that Linux has nearly all of the advantages of the other alternative operating systems, while not suffering some of the disadvantages that would plague my individual hardware and tasks.
It's not a "superior OS", but it's "superior in exactly what this individual needs to do". The others maybe superior hammers, but right now I need a screwdriver.... or something like that.
However, I would say that, at least in my own personal preferences as stated in my original post, would prefer the codename + build number.
That way, the builds continue growing (so build 1138 is always older than 2100), and nice names are given to appropriate places in the build count that mark a massive upgrade to the product equivalent to the major number change in the X.x system.
As I said, it's only a personal preference, but being that in all too many cases the tradional numbers tend not to mean what they should, why not use a nice sounding codename, plus a build numbher which accurately dates the release.
As a user, the traditional X.x numbering system really hasn't helped in the least, as I've seen many a 0.xx applications that work better than 6.xx versions, and so forth. I'd much prefer the codename + build number system
Besides, it's not like the salespeople couldn't use attractive codenames to sell products. Think of the number of slashdotters who'd by your widgetapplication with a codename like "NataliePortman";)
Slashdot Mirror
I don't think this is really meant to be an instant competitor to currently available rental formats (VHS and DVD at the local Blockbuster).
Instead, it's meant to not only be a future looking project, for the eventual time when the majority have a broadband connection, as well as a legal way to get the business of those who are currently downloading movies in divx format from movie-warez sites.
Ads that catch our attention, even if through somewhat annoying means, are one thing.
But everyday another marketing gimmick pops into creation that pushes the line a bit far, going from mearly attention-getting, and into outright annoying and alienating potential customers.
What's it going to take until these marketing people get the fact that annoying customers is not the way to make a successful company? Will it be the first marketeer killed by a slightly unhinged web surfer who gets pushed too far by these constant advertising attacks on our lives?
*sigh*
Of course, it's $100 to get ahold of, but that's rather reasonable compared to licensing costs of any of the other major game engines.
Thanks!
Additionally, since alot of the colleges in Ohio have site license deals with Microsoft so that students can get the OS for cheap (or even free), there were just enough people figuring that 2000 must be better than 95, simply due to the numbers, to cause us a bit of aggravation.
Of course, out of those people, most probably don't have IIS installed, but I've come across just enough people who install random things they don't need to say that the problem, while small, certainly isn't insignificant.
At $49.95 per month, it's $10 more than what your looking for, but there's no setup or install costs.
After all, being a beta, if there are major bugs found, they may have to make enough significant changes that Ximian would spend too much time catching up. Better to wait until the release.
Normally I try to ignore the biased comments that creep up in the stories here, but the snippy little comments, regardless of the topic, have become a bit much lately.
You know, the kind of thing that seems to happen in every third MPAA or RIAA story here on Slashdot. ;)
These days, however, when I can play some pretty absorbing computer based RPG's like Deus Ex, or go frag a group online, the lure of the game store and trying to get a group of gamer geeks together to play an adventure just doesn't have the same pull as it used to.
Anyone who still follows the business able to tell me what the current state of the industry is?
Yes, the idea of a force striking out to restore order isn't brand spanking new, but then, rarely are many stories out there, regardless of the media they're portrayed through.
It's somewhat ironic that a forum which is closely tied with the promotion of one of the advantages of open source software being the removal of the need to reinvent the wheel and build on the work of others, also being extremely hostile towards a series which seeks to do the same.
Basing a new series within the same universe as a previous one can be a very good thing, as much of the back story is already out there for the viewer in the know. And the Babylon 5 series has been well known for giving us the endings away early on, yet making the voyage to that ending all the more interesting. I do not doubt that we'll see the same attributes with the new story line.
Just because it's based in the same story universe does not automagically mean trash, just as "new" story backgrounds do not guarentee worthwhile work. Most stories, whether they're on television, movies or books are evolutionary, not revolutionary.
FreeBSD (and most of the alternative open operating systems for that matter) will allow you to choose the model you'd prefer.
Although I honestly don't understand how a subscription model that forces you to upgrade using time limited software can be more "efficient" than a subscription service that provides upgrades that aren't required, only requested, as the software is yours to run as long as you like once you've initially installed it.
With the oft mentioned Microsoft subscription model, it truely is a forced upgrade. Even if you're happy with your system and apps after a particular upgrade, you're out of luck when the time limit expires.
There's no forced upgrades being done with the FreeBSD subscription. Once you've installed it, you can either not upgrade, upgrade through the regular means (buying a new CD/DVD, downloading from the internet, etc), or subscribe and have new DVD's mailed to you on a regular basis.
The subscription model FreeBSD is proposing is one of convenience for the customers. What Microsoft is proposing is convenient for Microsoft.
Ah well . . . at least it keeps them busy and off the streets.
Add to that the actual threats they made towards her credit rating while she was attempting to get that bank loan, plus the usual obnoxious behavior that collection firms can sometimes get into, a complete lack of respect by the service provider about any of it's customers, makes me think that she's asking for too little in punitive damages to get the company to rethink this kind of behavior.
It's exactly concerns like this and other horror stories that make me mistrust most cable ISP's.
But fanatical speeches about how "free software" based operating systems must be named according to one group's dictates makes me want to go out of my way not to do so.
I'm sure they're all nice guys and girls, really, and we'd get along fine otherwise, but pushing this name thing is doing about as much harm as good.
But then, maybe I just think other batters are more important to be fighting. :shrug:
My mother was always afraid she was going to break the computer I set up for her and dad, and therefore tended to use it rarely. After I lied and told her that I had everything backed up and could instantly retore it no matter what she did, and that she couldn't physically break it by pressing any of the buttons, she relaxed and now spends as much time with it as everyone else.
Now if I could only get her to stop forwarding me dumb jokes through email . . .
OpenBSD makes a great server and firewall for my DSL broadband connection. But as a workstation, it'd be a bit too limiting for what I tend to use it for (not that it's impossible, plenty of people do so).
MS Windows 2000 is a huge improvement over the other Microsoft operating systems, but too accomplish some of the things that I use the Linux box for, it seems sluggish and bloated in comparison at those tasks. And even when I've had to use it, I tend to use open source tools (Apache, Gimp, etc) that work just as well on the alternatives. So, for the most part, it gets used for those programs that simply don't have a suitable *nix compatible alternative (free or otherwise).
I could use FreeBSD, but don't for a small number of reasons. The first being that support for my nvidia TNT2 Ultra is much better under Linux than FreeBSD (it's not a great reason, but still a reason).
Add to that the fact that I'm simply more comfortable finding the information I need about running something under X than FreeBSD (and this is more to do with how individuals search, and less to do with the available resources).
Anyway, it boils down to the fact that Linux has nearly all of the advantages of the other alternative operating systems, while not suffering some of the disadvantages that would plague my individual hardware and tasks.
It's not a "superior OS", but it's "superior in exactly what this individual needs to do". The others maybe superior hammers, but right now I need a screwdriver. ... or something like that.
However, I would say that, at least in my own personal preferences as stated in my original post, would prefer the codename + build number.
That way, the builds continue growing (so build 1138 is always older than 2100), and nice names are given to appropriate places in the build count that mark a massive upgrade to the product equivalent to the major number change in the X.x system.
As I said, it's only a personal preference, but being that in all too many cases the tradional numbers tend not to mean what they should, why not use a nice sounding codename, plus a build numbher which accurately dates the release.
Besides, it's not like the salespeople couldn't use attractive codenames to sell products. Think of the number of slashdotters who'd by your widgetapplication with a codename like "NataliePortman" ;)
These monoplies confuse me...