You clearly want a computer. Buy a computer. A tablet is not a computer.
A tablet was a computer until about three weeks ago, when Steve Jobs corrected us all.
Of course, we don't know what the market wants, and won't find out until people can buy iPads. I personally can't think of a use case for the iPad as it stands, that warrants paying $500 (beyond "I really like gadgets and I'm rich enough to drop $500 without a thought).
I'm pretty sure the iPad will be a success in the long term, probably when a lot of the criticisms people have, get addressed. I think we'll see the ability to switch between running apps, and the ability for an iPad to function as the only computer in a household, without needing a "real" computer to sync with.
Though I sort of agree with you on the video out. Seriously? Has anybody ever truly said, "Damn! I really need to plug my laptop into a television!"
Yeah, for a couple of reasons:
Watching Movies and TV programs available online, whether through legitimate channels (BBC iPlayer and 4 On Demand in the UK, or Hulu in the US) or otherwise. Hell, I've even had groups of people round for drinks, and ended up with people gathered round the TV watching YouTube clips.
Gaming. Some games are going to be perfect in tablet mode. Some games demand a desk with a keyboard and mouse. Some games only really shine when you play as if you're on a console, on a big TV, sat on a sofa with a controller. Warning Forever is a great game on your laptop. Use an Xbox controller and a TV, and it's even more magnificant.
Unfortunately my laptop doesn't have HDMI, and my TV's VGA input is fussy about modes. I can't seem to get a full widescreen with correct aspect ratio. It's annoying.
Why in the hell do I need 3 fucking USB ports on an underpowered toy?
Keyboard, mouse, flash drive, and they're all used up.
What well-adjusted person would connect a fucking tablet to a TV?
Just as an example, you could show one person your holiday photos on the tablet, or plug into a big TV to show a larger group of people.
What is the benefit of running 1080i video on this tiny ass screen?
They important thing is that this "underpowered toy" can *decode* 1080p video: no need to transcode to a smaller format just to play it on your tablet. Plus, as you noted, plug it into a TV to see the full resolution.
You've tossed in the phrase "secured area" as if that in itself isn't a challenge. Who is allowed physical access to the secured area? And the rules that your nominated officious prick follows to the letter, who writes those rules? How do you *demonstrate* that they really are being followed to the letter?
The point is, the root CA private key is as valuable as all the information protected by the PKI. I hope you wouldn't say that keeping, say, diamonds locked up securely was cheap and easy. Yet the private key might well be more valuable.
Mitigation: you can't revoke stolen diamonds the way you can a key Anti-mitigation: you might be able to steal a key without leaving a trace. If you steal a diamond, someone will notice the missing diamond.
By the way, I'd be terrible at it. "Yeah, I know I shouldn't, but it saves a walk up to the safe if I keep a copy of the private key on this USB stick in my desk".
The whole purpose of data mining is NOT to update stats - it's to discern usage patterns and monetize them.
What's your definition of "stats" that doesn't cover "usage patterns".
I can go to my Google ad preferences page, and although I can't see what data led them to the decision, I can see what ad preference categories they've put me in.
There's precisely one degree of separation between tracking user's behavior online and linking it to his/her name and address, and it's called the company's Terms of Service.
And fortunately, Google's TOS are OK by me -- which is lucky since, due to Google Checkout, they do know my address.
Google is not open on what keywords they search on,
True.
nor do they place any limits on what they will use the results for.
False. The privacy policy is quite explicit about what they will use the results for.
I am absolutely shocked that a university would risk the students this way.
Except that it's been noted (since I wrote the GP comment) that for Google Apps, including Google Apps for Education, email data is not mined, so that's all moot.
I know, you want it to tell you who that third party is, and how frequently they return to do the audits. Me too. An organisation the size of Yale gets to ask those questions, and should insist on answers.
Google wants to sell Google Apps to big companies. If they don't have satisfactory answers to the kind of questions you're asking, then they're stupid -- and I don't think they're stupid.
This slashdotter asserts that with Google Apps for Education, they promise not to mine the content at all.
That Google uses email content as blackmail material is a ridiculous idea. If it ever came to light the whole company would be ruined. They're making quite enough money through legitimate means.
In the same vein as all the tinfoil hat brigade insisting that Google's privacy policy is a tissue of lies -- "how do you KNOW the phone company doesn't keep a recording of all your conversations?"
We don't have frats in the UK (if you want to be forced to eat jizz-soaked biscuits, you have to join a sports club). I once asked an American to explain it to me. From what I was told, there's frats that fit the Animal House stereotype, and there's other frats that are rather more civilised.
But then again, I'm still not sure I understand the phenomenon. The fixation on the greek alphabet mystifies me.
The technical side of running a PKI is not hard at all.
The process side of things - making it auditably secure - is really quite hard. You've got the crown jewels -- the CA private key -- on a server. How do you make that absolutely safe? Bearing in mind that there are corruptible humans in the equation.
11.1 You retain copyright and any other rights you already hold in Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services. By submitting, posting or displaying the content you give Google a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive licence to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute any Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services. This licence is for the sole purpose of enabling Google to display, distribute and promote the Services and may be revoked for certain Services as defined in the Additional Terms of those Services.
... and the GMail privacy policy further limits what they say they'll do with your messages.
If they switch to Gmail for the Horde servers it will ONLY affect their student population and few outlying departments. The main e-mail and calendaring system at Yale is Exchange.
RTFA.
"Information Technology Services administrators plan to join with Google Apps for Education to bring students, faculty and employees the Gmail e-mail service by the end of this month, said an undergraduate member of the Student Technology Collaborative who asked to remain anonymous because of ITS policy. The service, tentatively called “Bulldogs,” will also offer users a suite of tools for communication and collaboration — including Google Calendar, Google Talk and Google Docs."
Slashdot Mirror
You clearly want a computer. Buy a computer. A tablet is not a computer.
A tablet was a computer until about three weeks ago, when Steve Jobs corrected us all.
Of course, we don't know what the market wants, and won't find out until people can buy iPads. I personally can't think of a use case for the iPad as it stands, that warrants paying $500 (beyond "I really like gadgets and I'm rich enough to drop $500 without a thought).
I'm pretty sure the iPad will be a success in the long term, probably when a lot of the criticisms people have, get addressed. I think we'll see the ability to switch between running apps, and the ability for an iPad to function as the only computer in a household, without needing a "real" computer to sync with.
So any time any company brings out a product that could be better, nobody's allowed to point out the problems because "you're not forced to buy it"?
Where's the fun in that?
I actually looked up "Neckbeard Device" and found nothing. I have no idea what you are talking about.
http://encyclopediadramatica.com/Neckbeard
Though I sort of agree with you on the video out. Seriously? Has anybody ever truly said, "Damn! I really need to plug my laptop into a television!"
Yeah, for a couple of reasons:
Watching Movies and TV programs available online, whether through legitimate channels (BBC iPlayer and 4 On Demand in the UK, or Hulu in the US) or otherwise. Hell, I've even had groups of people round for drinks, and ended up with people gathered round the TV watching YouTube clips.
Gaming. Some games are going to be perfect in tablet mode. Some games demand a desk with a keyboard and mouse. Some games only really shine when you play as if you're on a console, on a big TV, sat on a sofa with a controller. Warning Forever is a great game on your laptop. Use an Xbox controller and a TV, and it's even more magnificant.
Unfortunately my laptop doesn't have HDMI, and my TV's VGA input is fussy about modes. I can't seem to get a full widescreen with correct aspect ratio. It's annoying.
I assume Android doesn't insist that your Java bytecode was compiled from Java source.
So if you're really averse to Java syntax, pick from Jython, jRuby, Groovy, Scala, Clojure etc., or compile to Java bytecode from C, Ada, even Cobol!
Android is fine, no touchscreen but a trackpad in back?? EPIC FAIL. this junk will never sell.
It has BOTH. The rear trackpad for when you're holding the device in your hand. Touchscreen for when it's on a desk or your lap.
Why in the hell do I need 3 fucking USB ports on an underpowered toy?
Keyboard, mouse, flash drive, and they're all used up.
What well-adjusted person would connect a fucking tablet to a TV?
Just as an example, you could show one person your holiday photos on the tablet, or plug into a big TV to show a larger group of people.
What is the benefit of running 1080i video on this tiny ass screen?
They important thing is that this "underpowered toy" can *decode* 1080p video: no need to transcode to a smaller format just to play it on your tablet. Plus, as you noted, plug it into a TV to see the full resolution.
Is this a "tribute" to Macintosh floppy disk drives?
Ugh. Lack of proofreading makes me look illiterate.
Either:
Don't you think that would be an extraordinary risk to their business?
Or:
Don't you think that would be extraordinarily risky to their business?
So, what, you're accusing them of flat-out lying when making a prominent and clear promise to their users?
Don't you think that would be an extraordinarily risk to their business?
You've tossed in the phrase "secured area" as if that in itself isn't a challenge. Who is allowed physical access to the secured area? And the rules that your nominated officious prick follows to the letter, who writes those rules? How do you *demonstrate* that they really are being followed to the letter?
The point is, the root CA private key is as valuable as all the information protected by the PKI. I hope you wouldn't say that keeping, say, diamonds locked up securely was cheap and easy. Yet the private key might well be more valuable.
Mitigation: you can't revoke stolen diamonds the way you can a key
Anti-mitigation: you might be able to steal a key without leaving a trace. If you steal a diamond, someone will notice the missing diamond.
By the way, I'd be terrible at it. "Yeah, I know I shouldn't, but it saves a walk up to the safe if I keep a copy of the private key on this USB stick in my desk".
The whole purpose of data mining is NOT to update stats - it's to discern usage patterns and monetize them.
What's your definition of "stats" that doesn't cover "usage patterns".
I can go to my Google ad preferences page, and although I can't see what data led them to the decision, I can see what ad preference categories they've put me in.
There's precisely one degree of separation between tracking user's behavior online and linking it to his/her name and address, and it's called the company's Terms of Service.
And fortunately, Google's TOS are OK by me -- which is lucky since, due to Google Checkout, they do know my address.
Even Google Apps' business price of $50/user/year compares well to the cost of doing it in-house.
Google is not open on what keywords they search on,
True.
nor do they place any limits on what they will use the results for.
False. The privacy policy is quite explicit about what they will use the results for.
I am absolutely shocked that a university would risk the students this way.
Except that it's been noted (since I wrote the GP comment) that for Google Apps, including Google Apps for Education, email data is not mined, so that's all moot.
So as a customer of Google, you'd be asking them for further details of their processes and audits.
Their support documentation says that "a third party auditor" certified their security:
http://www.google.com/support/a/bin/answer.py?answer=138340
I know, you want it to tell you who that third party is, and how frequently they return to do the audits. Me too. An organisation the size of Yale gets to ask those questions, and should insist on answers.
Google wants to sell Google Apps to big companies. If they don't have satisfactory answers to the kind of questions you're asking, then they're stupid -- and I don't think they're stupid.
Point taken on privacy policies, although getting caught violating it would be a huge PR no-no.
And even if it does just update some stats, the question is which stats?
Google does let you look at what they know about you:
https://www.google.com/dashboard/?hl=en
http://www.google.com/ads/preferences/view
This slashdotter asserts that with Google Apps for Education, they promise not to mine the content at all.
That Google uses email content as blackmail material is a ridiculous idea. If it ever came to light the whole company would be ruined. They're making quite enough money through legitimate means.
In the same vein as all the tinfoil hat brigade insisting that Google's privacy policy is a tissue of lies -- "how do you KNOW the phone company doesn't keep a recording of all your conversations?"
We don't have frats in the UK (if you want to be forced to eat jizz-soaked biscuits, you have to join a sports club). I once asked an American to explain it to me. From what I was told, there's frats that fit the Animal House stereotype, and there's other frats that are rather more civilised.
But then again, I'm still not sure I understand the phenomenon. The fixation on the greek alphabet mystifies me.
Have you noticed the link at the bottom of the page: "turn off buzz".
Also, it was you who turned it on.
I feel duty bound to mention RFC4217 FTP/TLS. FTP's biggest problem is that firewall vendors hate it.
But for transferring large files point-to-point, you can't do better than rsync over SSH -- with its ability to resume partial transfers.
(Running a PKI)
It's really NOT that hard.
The technical side of running a PKI is not hard at all.
The process side of things - making it auditably secure - is really quite hard. You've got the crown jewels -- the CA private key -- on a server. How do you make that absolutely safe? Bearing in mind that there are corruptible humans in the equation.
When you sign up for your own @gmail.com account, you give up ownership of your email. It's in the use agreement.
Can you quote the exact part of the TOS / privacy policy that says this?
The closest I can find is:
http://www.google.com/accounts/TOS?hl=en
11.1 You retain copyright and any other rights you already hold in Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services. By submitting, posting or displaying the content you give Google a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive licence to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute any Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services. This licence is for the sole purpose of enabling Google to display, distribute and promote the Services and may be revoked for certain Services as defined in the Additional Terms of those Services.
... and the GMail privacy policy further limits what they say they'll do with your messages.
> Our contract says they give us free service, and explicitly says they do *NOT* mine our emails for anything, ever.
Interesting! Kinda invalidates a lot of the naysayers. Although they'll probably just say it's Google lying.
Note that there's nothing special about Yale. They appear to be using the standard, free, Google Apps for Education package.
That includes ad-free GMail, Calendar, Docs, Talk.
But yeah, in exchange they get to say "we host email for over 2,000 educational institutions, including Yale"
If they switch to Gmail for the Horde servers it will ONLY affect their student population and few outlying departments. The main e-mail and calendaring system at Yale is Exchange.
RTFA.
"Information Technology Services administrators plan to join with Google Apps for Education to bring students, faculty and employees the Gmail e-mail service by the end of this month, said an undergraduate member of the Student Technology Collaborative who asked to remain anonymous because of ITS policy. The service, tentatively called “Bulldogs,” will also offer users a suite of tools for communication and collaboration — including Google Calendar, Google Talk and Google Docs."