Not to launch too far on a tangent here, but this question partly stems from the fact that floppy disk quality been so crappy in recent years. It's not uncommon to lose 1-2 disks per box straight from the factory even when buying name brands like Sony or Maxell. 10 years ago before the dawn of "high tech" it wasn't uncommon for a single floppy disk to last 2-3 years while booting your OS every single day! At what point did they start making floppy disks from recycled iron filings and rusty nails?
We all know news services have to have freedom to report impartially, so while this is a funny anecdote I don't see it by any means as a sign of hypocrisy. CNN must be able to report news regardless of Time-Warner's allegiances just like Slashdot needs to have the freedom to report things that even Andover.net doesn't like.
The really sleazy thing would be for Time Warner to force an impartial news service like CNN to pull the article!
I think the real question isn't about technology, it's about ergonomics. People don't want convergence to happen, the industry just keeps trying to convince us we do.
Phones are ergonomically suited to talking with others. But their screens are completely unusable for web browsing. Palm computers are great for portable data viewing and simple web browsing. Camcorders are ideal for recording video. All are suited for a single task, and the dynamics of the marketplace will prevent the convergence of these devices.
When you think about it, the basic size and shape of the telephone has barely changed in 50 years. This isn't because of lack of technology, it's because the basic design just works. No one will use a klunky device like the Qualcomm PDQ because it's uncomfortable and clumsy.
And ergonomics are only one of the factors that will guarantee convergence never happens. Who will pay $1500 for an all-in-one device that is so miniturized you need to throw it away when it breaks? Who will settle for an "ok" cell phone, an "ok" camcorder, and an "ok" palmtop because they're combined in one? People will want the best of each, not a massive compromise.
The only people who preach convergence are cell phone and palmtop companies who want to charge you $1500 for a gadget and use "convergence" as an excuse to corner the market on 3 items at once.
Oh please. Don't subject me to one more whining plea that no matter how evil the major record labels are, "Napster is still illegal". Armed coups are also illegal, but they usually have a reason. Don't you wonder why cassette tapes cost a fraction what a CD does even though the CD is MUCH cheaper to manufacture? The recording industry is GOUGING you and laughing all the way to the bank. Don't think for a moment that 10 songs downloaded digitally from a major label will be cheaper than a CD, even though the costs of production, sales, distribution, and warehousing are basically NON-EXISTENT for digital media. The members of the RIAA will continue to widen their profit margin and continue pushing to charge PER-USE because their greed and control over the distribution channels are unchallenged. People are STEALING and they're doing it to make a STATEMENT and because they are tired of the ongoing THEFT by the recording industry. It's fair, it's right, it's a revolution.
If you think Microsoft will ever release Office for Linux you need to take a stroll down monopoly lane. They may start rumours about porting Office to Linux and if the heat gets to them expect them to make a formal announcement of Office for Linux. Just don't expect to see it. They have provided several precedents. Company "X" gets all kind of glory by selling a product Microsoft doesn't have and they need to respond. They announce their intention to make a product that's 10x better, free, and is mere weeks from delivery. At this point they have already won the battle -- everyone waits quietly for the Microsoft solution (who gets fired for recommending Microsoft?) and no one invests in a competitor. Now their options are open. Either they can delay the project indefinitely or they can come out with crappy product that no one buys and blame the lack of sales on the fact that there was no market. Option #1 was used for NetPC, option #2 was used for SMS. Either way the competitor loses and the market is lost. So yes... expect to see Office for Linux announced some day but don't ever expect to see a viable product hit the shelves.
Slashdot Mirror
Please OH PLEASE tell me when you say "200FPS" in Quake you mean Frags Per Second. If yes, I am so buying one!
Not to launch too far on a tangent here, but this question partly stems from the fact that floppy disk quality been so crappy in recent years. It's not uncommon to lose 1-2 disks per box straight from the factory even when buying name brands like Sony or Maxell. 10 years ago before the dawn of "high tech" it wasn't uncommon for a single floppy disk to last 2-3 years while booting your OS every single day! At what point did they start making floppy disks from recycled iron filings and rusty nails?
We all know news services have to have freedom to report impartially, so while this is a funny anecdote I don't see it by any means as a sign of hypocrisy. CNN must be able to report news regardless of Time-Warner's allegiances just like Slashdot needs to have the freedom to report things that even Andover.net doesn't like.
The really sleazy thing would be for Time Warner to force an impartial news service like CNN to pull the article!
I think the real question isn't about technology, it's about ergonomics. People don't want convergence to happen, the industry just keeps trying to convince us we do.
Phones are ergonomically suited to talking with others. But their screens are completely unusable for web browsing. Palm computers are great for portable data viewing and simple web browsing. Camcorders are ideal for recording video. All are suited for a single task, and the dynamics of the marketplace will prevent the convergence of these devices.
When you think about it, the basic size and shape of the telephone has barely changed in 50 years. This isn't because of lack of technology, it's because the basic design just works. No one will use a klunky device like the Qualcomm PDQ because it's uncomfortable and clumsy.
And ergonomics are only one of the factors that will guarantee convergence never happens. Who will pay $1500 for an all-in-one device that is so miniturized you need to throw it away when it breaks? Who will settle for an "ok" cell phone, an "ok" camcorder, and an "ok" palmtop because they're combined in one? People will want the best of each, not a massive compromise.
The only people who preach convergence are cell phone and palmtop companies who want to charge you $1500 for a gadget and use "convergence" as an excuse to corner the market on 3 items at once.
Oh please. Don't subject me to one more whining plea that no matter how evil the major record labels are, "Napster is still illegal". Armed coups are also illegal, but they usually have a reason. Don't you wonder why cassette tapes cost a fraction what a CD does even though the CD is MUCH cheaper to manufacture? The recording industry is GOUGING you and laughing all the way to the bank. Don't think for a moment that 10 songs downloaded digitally from a major label will be cheaper than a CD, even though the costs of production, sales, distribution, and warehousing are basically NON-EXISTENT for digital media. The members of the RIAA will continue to widen their profit margin and continue pushing to charge PER-USE because their greed and control over the distribution channels are unchallenged. People are STEALING and they're doing it to make a STATEMENT and because they are tired of the ongoing THEFT by the recording industry. It's fair, it's right, it's a revolution.
If you think Microsoft will ever release Office for Linux you need to take a stroll down monopoly lane. They may start rumours about porting Office to Linux and if the heat gets to them expect them to make a formal announcement of Office for Linux. Just don't expect to see it. They have provided several precedents. Company "X" gets all kind of glory by selling a product Microsoft doesn't have and they need to respond. They announce their intention to make a product that's 10x better, free, and is mere weeks from delivery. At this point they have already won the battle -- everyone waits quietly for the Microsoft solution (who gets fired for recommending Microsoft?) and no one invests in a competitor. Now their options are open. Either they can delay the project indefinitely or they can come out with crappy product that no one buys and blame the lack of sales on the fact that there was no market. Option #1 was used for NetPC, option #2 was used for SMS. Either way the competitor loses and the market is lost. So yes... expect to see Office for Linux announced some day but don't ever expect to see a viable product hit the shelves.