How tough would it be to create a Perl script to run in Windoze that could detect your existing hardware configs, and creates a basic *.iso for installing a Linux Distribution. It would obviously have to create some custom/dev/ files and might take a long time to run. Maybe the hypothetical script/program could even download the latest stable drivers from a trusted source.
I hate to say it, but If I have to fill out some web-page with all of my hardware and network settings (to order this disk), I'll probably type something wrong. A script that runs on the actual machine (or even over a network) could likely be idiot proof. Have it automatically (and safely) create a working boot/partition manager, and you'd have a Winner!
This sounds like it's basically a Ghost image of a harddrive, except more intelligent. I'd be more than willing to buy a disk like this. Especially if I could just boot to CD-ROM instead of my SLOooooooow floppy drive.
Just think....
If a windshield for a Chevy Lumina Minivan costs $1000.00 now, What would it cost with an integrated Heads up display with enough RAM to store my MP3 collection.
If I get a stone chip from a passing car, do I have to run FSCK?
Sounds like the perfect file system to negate the problems with linux distributions forking their file systems.
For instance, if a particular program you need to use requires a file in the/foobar/example1/ directory in Redhat, and the/fubar/example2/ directory in SuSE, it might be easier to code.
Does anybody know of any small Distributions (like Peanut) that will natively mount the Reiser File system? I know of several people that have had trouble mounting their file sysems (writable) after screwing up key files.
I'm hesitating a switch to Reiser because I don't know what supports it yet. (i.e. Partition Magic, Sys Comm. 2000, emergency boot disks, etc.)
I hope that they come out with some black military pants with this stuff. I like to wear black military pants to work because they look like black Dockers, but have enough pockets for my wallet, keys, cell phone & Palm Pilot. They're also a lot more durable than Dockers while costing about the same.
I suppose the military could find some potential uses for it too. ;-)
If I were to buy a car with say "Windows CE" or something, would I have to sign a special windows licence agreement to drive the car? If I let a friend drive it, would they have to?
I don't know if they still make it, but I bought a pretty sweet Aiwa home Theatre about 3 years ago that combined a 4head Hi-Fi VCR, am/fm stereo receiver, 12 inch Sub, 3 front channel speakers, and 2 rear. All that for $500.00 back when this stuff was expensive. I loved the simplicity it offered. All the connections from the VCR/am/fm/aux. are pre-connected to the built in receiver via short RCA cables on the back. In fact, I can listen to TV shows without a TV.
Although I'm sure there are many better sounding systems out there, It's a system that I would recommend to most people.
If you can tell the difference between high quality MP3's and CDs, then you'd probably be better off with a more expensive system.
I wish I were in the Treadmill market because I'd love to build one from the ground up.
I'd love to have a treadmill with a built in display (or maybe even a touch screen) to connect to a computer.
Include a USB heart monitor device (for a chest strap), with some software to passively control heart rate via speed/incline adjustments). Build & sell this, and you'd have a real winner. With prices falling all the time, it could possibly be cheaper to manufacture than the existing hardware based solutions on today's treadmills.
Moderate me -1 offtopic if you must, but
The LAST think I need is an excuse to sit more often!
(FYI, IANAPP - I am not a professional programmer)
Assuming that this OS needs to be connected to a network to be installed, somebody could create a local network, spoofing a microsoft authentication website. Not saying it would be easy, but it would be possible. A possible crack might be a simple (small) VMware MS-DOS machine with all the necessary networking and files.
Once I get some free time on my hands, I want to create a login screen that features a picture of Tux with one of those cartoon balloons pointed to his mouth. You know, the kind that make it look like the cartoon character just said something. Well, I was only gonna have it say:
"Welcome to XXXX Linux"
Username:
Password:
I don't see why a guy (or gal) couldn't have the same TUX character "say" all the bootup info in his little balloon.
I bought a 31 inch computer monitor from Gateway about 3 or 4 years ago. Works great. I can watch TV while I'm surfing the web from a couch across the room. Although Gateway's Destination system didn't really pan out, I still think it will be the entertainment system of the future. Why will people buy TVs when Giant monitors eventually cost the same price? (My 31 inch monitor used to sell for $999). I bet we'll all soon have 48 inch flatscreens hanging on the wall.
Besides that, Somebody will find a way arround it. Somebody has already found a way to decrypt cable TV on your computer. Check out this cool app. at Freshmeat.net
Interesting Proposal. I'd be curious to see how others feel about it, but until somebody convinces me otherwise, I'd be willing to bet that it would not work as well in the USA as the current system.
To back up my argument, I'd like to point out that impaired drivers are not always under the influence of Alcohol. Other drugs such as "X" are becoming much more popular these days, although I must admit I don't have any statistics to make claims about the most dangerous drugs behind the wheel.
I definitely wouldn't consider myself to be a typical American, or for that matter even a typical Slashdotter, but as a former drunk driver myself, I don't think that a higher drinking age would have stopped me since I was about 23 when I started drinking regularly, and about 24 before starting to drive home knowing that I was probably above the legal limit of.10% (about 5 drinks).
I have been to Europe, and I can attest to your claim that young Europeans have a different drinking Mentality. Sure, some do Binge drink like Americans, but overall, Europeans have much better "buzz control". Although Alcohol in Europe is cheaper than Pepsi (and sometimes water), They know when to stop.
I do agree with you that Hype is a major contributor to the problem. America probably even has the best Beer commericals in the world, but I don't think the answer to the problem is to lower the drinking age. The answer is to have drinkers become more responsible drinkers. Unfortunately it is difficult to force people to be responsible for their actions until after they get caught breaking the rules.
How about instead of a "credits" file included with the software, have a webpage devoted to recognizing contributors.
it might be useful to have hyperlinks from my resume to such a webpage. Optional: maybe even have some sort of karma system that indicates the relative importance of the contribution
To learn of course. But why not improve on it? Books are not interactive (ok Some are), but software can be very interactive. Wouldn't it have been sweet if we could have learned math through a one on one approach instead of just reading a book. If I can't do complicated Integration, software could easily find my weak areas and give me a quick review session. Maybe even a few hints along the way.
I think a wiser choice would not be to open source text books, but to open source "Web Content" Perhaps a variation of Slashdot's "Slash" code with an interactive aspect of learning. Content contributors could easily log in to add a question here and there. Maybe even have the ability for bad questions to be moderated down. I wish I could program well enough to start working on this "virtual slash" code, but if somebody else created it, I'd be more than willing to contribute a few tidbits of my existing knowledge.
Great question, in fact I considered asking it myself.
I also looked into a method of converted text to speach, and burning audio CDs or ripping MP3's of the audio. Unfortunately, I'm a newbie, so I could only find one app. @ Freshmeat that might be able to do the job. It was based on the Emacs text editor, and was designed for blind people.
As far as finding source audio, I suggest looking at the local library. A buddy of mine has made a few books on MP3 by just borrowing books on tape from the library, and connecting a tape deck to his computer. I sure wish it was easier to find MP3's like that on the web! ;-)
This is going to hurt web-retailers big time, in a time when the industry is still in it's infancy. The whole point of shopping online is to keep things simple, and avoid the middle man.
If the government really must have it's tax money, Maybe it would be easier to eliminate all State sales taxes and replace them all with ONE simple Federal tax that everybody would know how to use. How about tearing down some of these barriers to free trade!
Slashdot Mirror
How tough would it be to create a Perl script to run in Windoze that could detect your existing hardware configs, and creates a basic *.iso for installing a Linux Distribution. It would obviously have to create some custom /dev/ files and might take a long time to run. Maybe the hypothetical script/program could even download the latest stable drivers from a trusted source.
I hate to say it, but If I have to fill out some web-page with all of my hardware and network settings (to order this disk), I'll probably type something wrong. A script that runs on the actual machine (or even over a network) could likely be idiot proof. Have it automatically (and safely) create a working boot/partition manager, and you'd have a Winner!
This idea could go far.
This sounds like it's basically a Ghost image of a harddrive, except more intelligent. I'd be more than willing to buy a disk like this. Especially if I could just boot to CD-ROM instead of my SLOooooooow floppy drive.
Just think....
If a windshield for a Chevy Lumina Minivan costs $1000.00 now, What would it cost with an integrated Heads up display with enough RAM to store my MP3 collection.
If I get a stone chip from a passing car, do I have to run FSCK?
Sounds like the perfect file system to negate the problems with linux distributions forking their file systems.
/foobar/example1/ directory in Redhat, and the /fubar/example2/ directory in SuSE, it might be easier to code.
For instance, if a particular program you need to use requires a file in the
Does anybody know of any small Distributions (like Peanut) that will natively mount the Reiser File system? I know of several people that have had trouble mounting their file sysems (writable) after screwing up key files.
I'm hesitating a switch to Reiser because I don't know what supports it yet. (i.e. Partition Magic, Sys Comm. 2000, emergency boot disks, etc.)
Gee, Using that logic, I guess laptops should run pretty cool.
I hope that they come out with some black military pants with this stuff. I like to wear black military pants to work because they look like black Dockers, but have enough pockets for my wallet, keys, cell phone & Palm Pilot. They're also a lot more durable than Dockers while costing about the same.
;-)
I suppose the military could find some potential uses for it too.
If I were to buy a car with say "Windows CE" or something, would I have to sign a special windows licence agreement to drive the car? If I let a friend drive it, would they have to?
I don't know if they still make it, but I bought a pretty sweet Aiwa home Theatre about 3 years ago that combined a 4head Hi-Fi VCR, am/fm stereo receiver, 12 inch Sub, 3 front channel speakers, and 2 rear. All that for $500.00 back when this stuff was expensive. I loved the simplicity it offered. All the connections from the VCR/am/fm/aux. are pre-connected to the built in receiver via short RCA cables on the back. In fact, I can listen to TV shows without a TV.
Although I'm sure there are many better sounding systems out there,
It's a system that I would recommend to most people.
If you can tell the difference between high
quality MP3's and CDs, then you'd probably be better off with a more expensive system.
I wish I were in the Treadmill market because I'd love to build one from the ground up.
I'd love to have a treadmill with a built in display (or maybe even a touch screen) to connect to a computer.
Include a USB heart monitor device (for a chest strap), with some software to passively control heart rate via speed/incline adjustments). Build & sell this, and you'd have a real winner. With prices falling all the time, it could possibly be cheaper to manufacture than the existing hardware based solutions on today's treadmills.
Moderate me -1 offtopic if you must, but
The LAST think I need is an excuse to sit more often!
(FYI, IANAPP - I am not a professional programmer)
Assuming that this OS needs to be connected to a network to be installed, somebody could create a local network, spoofing a microsoft authentication website. Not saying it would be easy, but it would be possible. A possible crack might be a simple (small) VMware MS-DOS machine with all the necessary networking and files.
How long should we expect it to take companies like Red Hat
and SuSE to start selling the new distributions?
thanks in advance
How many days would it take Mr. Gates to Earn $5,000,000,000?
Once I get some free time on my hands, I want to create a login screen that features a picture of Tux with one of those cartoon balloons pointed to his mouth. You know, the kind that make it look like the cartoon character just said something. Well, I was only gonna have it say:
"Welcome to XXXX Linux"
Username:
Password:
I don't see why a guy (or gal) couldn't have the same TUX character "say" all the bootup info in his little balloon.
I bought a 31 inch computer monitor from Gateway about 3 or 4 years ago. Works great. I can watch TV while I'm surfing the web from a couch across the room. Although Gateway's Destination system didn't really pan out, I still think it will be the entertainment system of the future. Why will people buy TVs when Giant monitors eventually cost the same price? (My 31 inch monitor used to sell for $999). I bet we'll all soon have 48 inch flatscreens hanging on the wall.
Besides that, Somebody will find a way arround it. Somebody has already found a way to decrypt cable TV on your computer. Check out this cool app. at Freshmeat.net
.
I can see it now. Billy Bob holding his bass up to the pay-phone making
illegal phone calls with pre-recorded phone phreaking tones.
K5 has a story about a particular Slashdotter not checking his links Right Here
> Would Americans trade one age for the other?
.10% (about 5 drinks).
Interesting Proposal. I'd be curious to see how others feel about it, but until somebody convinces me otherwise, I'd be willing to bet that it would not work as well in the USA as the current system.
To back up my argument, I'd like to point out that impaired drivers are not always under the influence of Alcohol. Other drugs such as "X" are becoming much more popular these days, although I must admit I don't have any statistics to make claims about the most dangerous drugs behind the wheel.
I definitely wouldn't consider myself to be a typical American, or for that matter even a typical Slashdotter, but as a former drunk driver myself, I don't think that a higher drinking age would have stopped me since I was about 23 when I started drinking regularly, and about 24 before starting to drive home knowing that I was probably above the legal limit of
I have been to Europe, and I can attest to your claim that young Europeans have a different drinking Mentality. Sure, some do Binge drink like Americans, but overall, Europeans have much better "buzz control". Although Alcohol in Europe is cheaper than Pepsi (and sometimes water), They know when to stop.
I do agree with you that Hype is a major contributor to the problem. America probably even has the best Beer commericals in the world, but I don't think the answer to the problem is to lower the drinking age. The answer is to have drinkers become more responsible drinkers. Unfortunately it is difficult to force people to be responsible for their actions until after they get caught breaking the rules.
Just wondering if you are sticking with a Honda or if you've moved on to driving something larger (larger usually means safer).
I have a hard time remembering certain things if I don't have enough exposure.
How much of your programming skill do you think you've forgotten, and how long do you think it will take you to get back to your old speed?
How about instead of a "credits" file included with the software, have a webpage devoted to recognizing contributors.
it might be useful to have hyperlinks from my resume to such a webpage.
Optional: maybe even have some sort of karma system that indicates the relative importance of the contribution
Just my $.02
Why do we buy textbooks?
To learn of course. But why not improve on it? Books are not interactive (ok Some are), but software can be very interactive. Wouldn't it have been sweet if we could have learned math through a one on one approach instead of just reading a book. If I can't do complicated Integration, software could easily find my weak areas and give me a quick review session. Maybe even a few hints along the way.
I think a wiser choice would not be to open source text books, but to open source "Web Content" Perhaps a variation of Slashdot's "Slash" code with an interactive aspect of learning. Content contributors could easily log in to add a question here and there. Maybe even have the ability for bad questions to be moderated down. I wish I could program well enough to start working on this "virtual slash" code, but if somebody else created it, I'd be more than willing to contribute a few tidbits of my existing knowledge.
Just my $.02
Great question, in fact I considered asking it myself.
;-)
I also looked into a method of converted text to speach, and burning audio CDs or ripping MP3's of the audio. Unfortunately, I'm a newbie, so I could only find one app. @ Freshmeat that might be able to do the job. It was based on the Emacs text editor, and was designed for blind people.
As far as finding source audio, I suggest looking at the local library. A buddy of mine has made a few books on MP3 by just borrowing books on tape from the library, and connecting a tape deck to his computer. I sure wish it was easier to find MP3's like that on the web!
Good thing this rule doesn't apply to buying and selling used cars!
Total BS!
This is going to hurt web-retailers big time, in a time when the industry is still in it's infancy. The whole point of shopping online is to keep things simple, and avoid the middle man.
If the government really must have it's tax money, Maybe it would be easier to eliminate all State sales taxes and replace them all with ONE simple Federal tax that everybody would know how to use. How about tearing down some of these barriers to free trade!