Why does the average consumer need a dual-core processor? For that matter, why does the average consumer need a dual processor configuration at all? Are the people buying $3000 dual-proc G5s just being elitist?
My point is this. Let's see what the average consumer does with his computer
Who are you to define what other people do with their computers?
I think the elitist point could also go the other way around: we, the Slashdot crowd, think we are better because we manage quite well with old hardware, while Joe Schmoes are struggling to get Office running on their shiny new machines. We are also bitter, because we believe we'd deserve the better machines instead, as we know better how to utilize them to their fullest potential.
Where do you draw the line between desktop and server processors?
In my experience, servers are rarely limited by CPU power. An Opteron would be better used in a workstation.
I've used old laptops for web servers (they come with a built-in UPS:), and I hate it when someone tries to make a hard distinction between server and client machines, because there isn't really one. I think it's usually marketing types who do this, to be able to sell twice as many machines.
Dude, you want to do real-time, multi-track audio editing on over 5 year old machines? Good luck with that! Your problem lies with Moore, not with Macs.
I've done realtime multitrack recording (not very demanding though, between 5 and 10 tracks) with a P2-350 using Ecasound on Linux. It runs on the command line, so it takes up relatively little resources. For non-realtime editing I use more fancy graphical editors.
And if you do have newer x86 machines then, yes, you apparently do think something is wrong with Macs.
I think something is wrong with
machines that come with a proprietary commercial OS, when there are free and Free alternatives that do the job just as well
expensive machines, when there are cheaper machines available that have the same capabilities.
Well, the same problem comes with fluorescent light. It's nigh impossible to make either them or LEDs give a "flat" spectrum. (Incandescent bulbs and the Sun have a spectrum far from flat. It's close to a blackbody spectrum that has a definite peak.)
Hmmm, so, Linux is secure because its users are more intelligent than windows users? Or is it that Linux is such a pain in the ass to use as a desktop OS that you have no choice but to have a PHD in CS to use it and therefore would know not to open an unknown atachment. I just love the double standards.
But you don't need a PhD to understand the virus problem. A little common sense can tell you not to open every attachment you get.
It's a lot like practicing safe sex: You don't need a PhD in virology to appreciate the dangers, and to be able to use a condom. I'm speaking from a theoretical point of view, of course;)
c is not a standard constant. The speed of light can change depending on the medium through which it travels.
Yes, the speed of light varies. But c is specifically the speed of light in vacuum. Only in vacuum the speed is equal for all observers, thus it is the vacuum speed upon which relativity is built.
On the other hand, the speed of light in vacuum may not be a constant after all. In some theories c is the expansion velocity of the universe in the fourth spatial dimension, therefore it is slowing down all the time. The slowing down has been reported in some recent experiments.
Well, I admit I don't know all that much about different unices:)
Actually there was another point I forgot to mention in the previous comment. It's the willingness to use Free software, something that can make one choose Linux even when OSX provides similar functionality.
It's UNIX versus UNIX, you go with whatever has the better hardware support... and that's OS X.
I don't think it's as simple as that. I'm a Linux guy, but I've played with NetBSD enough to know they are wildly different. Although I'd say the differences are more "distro" issues than kernel issues. I happen to prefer the Linux way, with its more anarchist bleeding-edge ways, but I appreciate the minimalist cleanliness of NetBSD a lot.
This question is like asking why there are different Linux distros since they are all Linux vs Linux. They are very different and suited to different applications and different kinds of user, even though they have the same kernel, directory structure and POSIX standard conformance.
The question is not about which one is deeper. This one gets closer to the Earth's mantle (the layer below the hard crust) because the thickness of the crust varies a lot.
I don't see why anyone buying a Mini would want to do this. It's completely insane to "fix" something that works fine by replacing it with stuff that
almost works.
I guess you could say the same about machines that come preinstalled with Windows. Everyone should use the preinstalled OS, it obviously has to be the best one for the machine, it's the one god intended.
Except that computers have different uses, and for some of them Linux is better. I'm not saying it's always better. I think the preinstalled OS usually has better hardware integration (drivers), but not necessarily, and other aspects of the OS may outweigh the driver issues.
Actually, I just checked the EULA. It says if I don't agree with the contract, I'm entitled to return the Windows license and get a refund. So I wrote to the importer once again...
I'm somewhat principled. In this case, the principle is called market economy.
In market economy, you don't just buy things to get them for yourself. When you buy a product, you are giving a message to the manufacturer that there is demand, and that you like their products better than their competitors'. Your actions are shaping the industry.
If I'm forced to buy a copy of Windows I don't want, I'm giving the wrong message to the industry. For example, Linux drivers are not being developed well enough, because everyone thinks everyone uses Windows. It's not quite true, but the industry is getting the message that everyone wants Windows, because of this imbecile policy of OEM Windows copies.
In the end, I'm doing this because I'm greedy: I want good Linux drivers. It probably helps if I give everyone the message that I prefer to use Linux rather than Windows on my machines.
I got a new FS Amilo Pro a few weeks ago (in Finland), and contacted the importer on my willingness to return the Windows license that I didn't need or want. I rambled a little on the principles of market economy, how I don't want to give MS the message that I like Windows.
The explanation why they declined was that the OS was a part of the package, just like a hard drive, and people are not expected to be able to return a HDD they don't like. They also mentioned that it's impossible for them to have OS-free laptops available because of so little demand.
So, in the end, it's my bad that I chose to buy a laptop that came with Windows. But what choice did I really have, especially when I wanted a budget-ish machine?
Slashdot Mirror
My point is this. Let's see what the average consumer does with his computer
Who are you to define what other people do with their computers?
I think the elitist point could also go the other way around: we, the Slashdot crowd, think we are better because we manage quite well with old hardware, while Joe Schmoes are struggling to get Office running on their shiny new machines. We are also bitter, because we believe we'd deserve the better machines instead, as we know better how to utilize them to their fullest potential.
In my experience, servers are rarely limited by CPU power. An Opteron would be better used in a workstation.
I've used old laptops for web servers (they come with a built-in UPS :), and I hate it when someone tries to make a hard distinction between server and client machines, because there isn't really one. I think it's usually marketing types who do this, to be able to sell twice as many machines.
I for one have been drinking beer for the past few hours. A can of barley type though.
I've done realtime multitrack recording (not very demanding though, between 5 and 10 tracks) with a P2-350 using Ecasound on Linux. It runs on the command line, so it takes up relatively little resources. For non-realtime editing I use more fancy graphical editors.
And if you do have newer x86 machines then, yes, you apparently do think something is wrong with Macs.
I think something is wrong with
Well, the same problem comes with fluorescent light. It's nigh impossible to make either them or LEDs give a "flat" spectrum. (Incandescent bulbs and the Sun have a spectrum far from flat. It's close to a blackbody spectrum that has a definite peak.)
Isn't it strange that blue is considered cool and red warm, even though blackbody spectrum tells just the opposite?
Next time, just emerge mozilla-firefox-bin. (Except if you need fancy compile-time settings.)
But you don't need a PhD to understand the virus problem. A little common sense can tell you not to open every attachment you get.
It's a lot like practicing safe sex: You don't need a PhD in virology to appreciate the dangers, and to be able to use a condom. I'm speaking from a theoretical point of view, of course ;)
Many laptops use a DVI connector internally. Forget about VGA unless you really really need it.
Yes, the speed of light varies. But c is specifically the speed of light in vacuum. Only in vacuum the speed is equal for all observers, thus it is the vacuum speed upon which relativity is built.
On the other hand, the speed of light in vacuum may not be a constant after all. In some theories c is the expansion velocity of the universe in the fourth spatial dimension, therefore it is slowing down all the time. The slowing down has been reported in some recent experiments.
I sincerely hope you mean c, not the language C.
..a toast!
She: *sigh* I didn't think anyone used 3.5'' floppies any more
(with apologies to Sexy Losers)
Actually there was another point I forgot to mention in the previous comment. It's the willingness to use Free software, something that can make one choose Linux even when OSX provides similar functionality.
I don't think it's as simple as that. I'm a Linux guy, but I've played with NetBSD enough to know they are wildly different. Although I'd say the differences are more "distro" issues than kernel issues. I happen to prefer the Linux way, with its more anarchist bleeding-edge ways, but I appreciate the minimalist cleanliness of NetBSD a lot.
This question is like asking why there are different Linux distros since they are all Linux vs Linux. They are very different and suited to different applications and different kinds of user, even though they have the same kernel, directory structure and POSIX standard conformance.
Who are you to tell what other people want?
The question is not about which one is deeper. This one gets closer to the Earth's mantle (the layer below the hard crust) because the thickness of the crust varies a lot.
I guess you could say the same about machines that come preinstalled with Windows. Everyone should use the preinstalled OS, it obviously has to be the best one for the machine, it's the one god intended.
Except that computers have different uses, and for some of them Linux is better. I'm not saying it's always better. I think the preinstalled OS usually has better hardware integration (drivers), but not necessarily, and other aspects of the OS may outweigh the driver issues.
I think you were still forced to buy an OS with the laptop, even though it's perfectly possible to install and use a Free OS instead.
Actually, I just checked the EULA. It says if I don't agree with the contract, I'm entitled to return the Windows license and get a refund. So I wrote to the importer once again...
In market economy, you don't just buy things to get them for yourself. When you buy a product, you are giving a message to the manufacturer that there is demand, and that you like their products better than their competitors'. Your actions are shaping the industry.
If I'm forced to buy a copy of Windows I don't want, I'm giving the wrong message to the industry. For example, Linux drivers are not being developed well enough, because everyone thinks everyone uses Windows. It's not quite true, but the industry is getting the message that everyone wants Windows, because of this imbecile policy of OEM Windows copies.
In the end, I'm doing this because I'm greedy: I want good Linux drivers. It probably helps if I give everyone the message that I prefer to use Linux rather than Windows on my machines.
So, where do you get the parts to build a sleek laptop?
The explanation why they declined was that the OS was a part of the package, just like a hard drive, and people are not expected to be able to return a HDD they don't like. They also mentioned that it's impossible for them to have OS-free laptops available because of so little demand.
So, in the end, it's my bad that I chose to buy a laptop that came with Windows. But what choice did I really have, especially when I wanted a budget-ish machine?
The what?
It seems the beta is only available to a limited number of testers, which IMHO goes against the idea of opensource. So can anyone provide a torrent?