It was somewhere around a year ago, when I was looking at what 3D card to get (I never did decide, so I'm still using my old Voodoo Graphics, which is dying a slow and painful death).
They said it would be out some time in '99 or '00 - sounds like they're basically on schedule. Should be interesting to see how it compares with what 3Dfx (or is it 3dfx now? I can never remember) comes up with next...
If you've been paying attention, there are already 2 major (free!) projects that are doing this. KOffice, which only running on *n*xes, uses XML for its documents. Unfortunately, the KWord docs I've looked at are terribly bloated with tons of extra stuff. For each paragraph there are about 20 lines of junk duplicated from the previous one.
AbiWord, the WP I'm using right now, runs on Win, Mac, *n*x, and BeOS. It uses XML, and its documents are much nicer to read - they're actually hand-editable.
Try out AbiWord - it's not finished, but it's quite usable if you don't need to do fancy formatting.
The only thing is: they don't want flames, or the/. effect. They probably figure that if you are serious about it (like I am, I'm going to send mine off today), you will probably get the game, and not just pirate it or something.
I know I would buy it in a second. Come on, Westwood! There IS a market out there!
Games. Games simply cannot be developed in a bazaar style. I'm sure you've heard the saying "too many cooks spoil the broth", and it's definitely true with games.
I'm not saying that game *engines* shouldn't be developed. Commercial outfits could definitely use something like Crystal Space - it's LGPL'd, so they can legitimately use it.
But with almost every other type of software (except for some niche applications that have a very small and highly specialized userbase), Open Source/Free(d) Software works very well. KOffice and AbiWord are good examples of office software that should be ready for primetime quite soon.
I've tried the latest builds of both, and they're very nice - pretty buggy, yes, but that's to be expected from prerelease software.
By contrast, Win9x is still on DOS, and NT is based off of VMS.
Which needs constant maintainance? Certainly not Linux - set it up, and let it sit. You don't have to worry about crashes, filesystem corruption, or general instability.
*I* don't know anyone who uses Linux because it's cool - most use it because it does something they need, or something they can't do with another OS.
For example, at work we just got an 8-node Beowulf (from XTreme Machines, each node is a dual P2-450, pretty impressive), and it's going to be used for simulations of Liquid Crystals. You simply can't get that sort of computing power out of a Windows box - it cost $25000, but that's quite a bit cheaper than a single machine with the equivalent processing power.
At home, I use Linux 98% of the time - I have Windows '98 installed, but hardly ever use it. I occasionally reboot to play some games, but I'm getting Civ:CTP (linux version) today - yippee! I've given up only Windows because it's just too unstable.
Hmm.... I had to underclock my K6-233 down to 200 MHz because windows bluescreened constantly, but I haven't tried clocking it back up to 233 in Linux. I gotta try that....
Since compiling a kernel seems to be so intimidating (don't know why, I didn't have any problem with it the first time, just followed the instructions I had and it worked), maybe we need a way to make kernel setup easier for newer users.
Perhaps a nice, slick front end that downloads the latest kernel source, detects your hardware, asks a few simple questions (do you have a printer?, etc.), compiles the kernel (and tells you it may take a while, sets up LILO or whatever, and then asks you to reboot for changes to take effect.
I think something like this could be very useful - later when people get more comfortable with that sort of thing, they can use the "real" kernel configuration thingy (make [|menu|x]config) - or not if they don't want to.
And here's something you may not realize: Most modern distros already have it set up so that it will detect your hardware and install the correct precompiled kernel modules.
The only real reason I've had to recompile my kernel is because I've got an IDE CD burner, and that requires SCSI emulation. Besides that, I could still use the stock kernel.
1) So I can make money (it's my job!) 2) So I can get up-to-date news (/., etc.) (don't watch TV, if I had cable it would only be for a cable modem) 3) So I can write papers for school 4) The internet's a mighty good source of information for said papers...
You get the idea - I don't "need" a computer anymore than I don't "need" a car (If I had one - don't have my license yet:) - but try telling that to most people - they'll probably laugh in your face. (at least, if they live in the U.S. in an area with out public transportation)
Debian automagically (well, actually it's not magic - you can go in and edit/create/delete the files) adds entries to all window manager menus when you install a Debian package - or at least to window manager menus that are installed via Debian packages.
It's very convenient - install a new window manager, and all your programs are right there... you should try it, you'll be pleasantly surprised...
Also, coming soon from Lokisoft: Myth 2, Railroad Tycoon 2, and Eric's Ultimate Solitaire (or something like that - why they picked THAT one is beyond me).
I was born in Sept. 1982 (I'm 16 now, in case you can't do basic math:). My family got our first computer (a ZX-81 - it's still in the basement somewhere, and it will run, but half the keys don't work) the same week I was born.
I remember playing games on our C-64 when I was 3 or 4 or 5 - and I used and mastered Win3.1 when I was about 10 or so. Thought M$ was the best thing around (I don't any more - that changed last year - about the same time I got Linux).
It feels kinda awkward right now for me - I've got average/pretty good programming skills (C/C++), I've started writing a few games and stuff, but I want to get involved in a open source project - one that's not too difficult, but not ridiculously easy either...
How come nobody seems to know about this great MP3 player?
It's been GPL'd for ages - has really nice skin support (including shaped skins), is fast, doesn't crash, and is just generally cool - and it isn't a copy of a Windows program:).
Have you tried SCSI host adapter emulation? That's what I use for my ATAPI CD burner and my PD/CD drive.
Just download the latest kernel source, set stuff up how you want, and choose "SCSI emulation support" (probably not as module, don't know if that works, didn't for me), disable ATAPI CD-ROM support.
Then choose SCSI support, SCSI emulation support, multiple LUNs, and maybe a few other things.
Of course, the same is true of Enlightenment, you know - it's had that sort of thing for AGES:).
Of course, it needed a while back, but now it's quite stable - I've been using it for about a week or so, and it's only crashed on me once (and I didn't lose any work either).
This was also the unstable CVS version - which is quite impressive.
So if you want a window manager that actually has pagers, check out Enlightenment CVS 0.16.
I didn't mean to make this an ad for E, but I just thought I'd point out that WindowMaker isn't the only one that does that... however, I definitely agree that all window managers SHOULD, or at the very least start an XTerm if they crash (so you can at least start up another WM or close all of your running programs).
Slashdot Mirror
It was somewhere around a year ago, when I was looking at what 3D card to get (I never did decide, so I'm still using my old Voodoo Graphics, which is dying a slow and painful death).
They said it would be out some time in '99 or '00 - sounds like they're basically on schedule. Should be interesting to see how it compares with what 3Dfx (or is it 3dfx now? I can never remember) comes up with next...
mumble mumble www.transmeta.com mumble blah blah
I haven't read anything so mind-numbing in a loooong time...
(First post?)
LOL
:)
Yeah, it was actually *Patrick* Henry...
Wow... that took SOOOO much effort, I'm sure... you must have spent all of ten seconds doing that...
let's see...
banner -w 80 "Linux is obsolete."
I bow before your amazing h4x0r sk1llz.
NOT
If you've been paying attention, there are already 2 major (free!) projects that are doing this. KOffice, which only running on *n*xes, uses XML for its documents. Unfortunately, the KWord docs I've looked at are terribly bloated with tons of extra stuff. For each paragraph there are about 20 lines of junk duplicated from the previous one.
AbiWord, the WP I'm using right now, runs on Win, Mac, *n*x, and BeOS. It uses XML, and its documents are much nicer to read - they're actually hand-editable.
Try out AbiWord - it's not finished, but it's quite usable if you don't need to do fancy formatting.
http://www.abisource.com
Note the "31337", which is $kR1p7 k1ddi3 talk for "elite".
It's called JunkBuster. You can get it for Linux and I believe Windows.
I don't use it, because I'm too lazy to set it up... but I can install it in a couple minutes through apt-get if it's not already installed.
The only thing is: they don't want flames, or the /. effect. They probably figure that if you are serious about it (like I am, I'm going to send mine off today), you will probably get the game, and not just pirate it or something.
I know I would buy it in a second. Come on, Westwood! There IS a market out there!
I agree, with one exception.
Games. Games simply cannot be developed in a bazaar style. I'm sure you've heard the saying "too many cooks spoil the broth", and it's definitely true with games.
I'm not saying that game *engines* shouldn't be developed. Commercial outfits could definitely use something like Crystal Space - it's LGPL'd, so they can legitimately use it.
But with almost every other type of software (except for some niche applications that have a very small and highly specialized userbase), Open Source/Free(d) Software works very well. KOffice and AbiWord are good examples of office software that should be ready for primetime quite soon.
I've tried the latest builds of both, and they're very nice - pretty buggy, yes, but that's to be expected from prerelease software.
Hmm... I think you've got it backwards.
Which OS is newer?
Linux - it was started in 1991, with 1.0 in 1994.
By contrast, Win9x is still on DOS, and NT is based off of VMS.
Which needs constant maintainance? Certainly not Linux - set it up, and let it sit. You don't have to worry about crashes, filesystem corruption, or general instability.
*I* don't know anyone who uses Linux because it's cool - most use it because it does something they need, or something they can't do with another OS.
For example, at work we just got an 8-node Beowulf (from XTreme Machines, each node is a dual P2-450, pretty impressive), and it's going to be used for simulations of Liquid Crystals. You simply can't get that sort of computing power out of a Windows box - it cost $25000, but that's quite a bit cheaper than a single machine with the equivalent processing power.
At home, I use Linux 98% of the time - I have Windows '98 installed, but hardly ever use it. I occasionally reboot to play some games, but I'm getting Civ:CTP (linux version) today - yippee! I've given up only Windows because it's just too unstable.
Hmm.... I had to underclock my K6-233 down to 200 MHz because windows bluescreened constantly, but I haven't tried clocking it back up to 233 in Linux. I gotta try that....
I've got an idea here:
Since compiling a kernel seems to be so intimidating (don't know why, I didn't have any problem with it the first time, just followed the instructions I had and it worked), maybe we need a way to make kernel setup easier for newer users.
Perhaps a nice, slick front end that downloads the latest kernel source, detects your hardware, asks a few simple questions (do you have a printer?, etc.), compiles the kernel (and tells you it may take a while, sets up LILO or whatever, and then asks you to reboot for changes to take effect.
I think something like this could be very useful -
later when people get more comfortable with that sort of thing, they can use the "real" kernel configuration thingy (make [|menu|x]config) - or not if they don't want to.
And here's something you may not realize: Most modern distros already have it set up so that it will detect your hardware and install the correct precompiled kernel modules.
The only real reason I've had to recompile my kernel is because I've got an IDE CD burner, and that requires SCSI emulation. Besides that, I could still use the stock kernel.
Ah, but using "them" for a singular is incorrect.
:).
The proper "gender-nonspecific" form for a singular person is he/him/his.
Sort of the same way "mankind" includes women, too
I used to be one too...
I'm not any more, and I'd delete windows if there were more Linux games! (probably getting Civ:CTP, definitely RRT2 - thanks Loki!)
Almost correct...
:).
Eli Whitney invented interchangeable parts.
Henry Ford invented the assembly line.
Still doesn't matter, tho - both were Americans (or more correctly, USans
Hmm... I don't need a computer? Even at work?
:) - but try telling that to most people - they'll probably laugh in your face. (at least, if they live in the U.S. in an area with out public transportation)
You must be smoking some serious crack there....
I need a computer:
1) So I can make money (it's my job!)
2) So I can get up-to-date news (/., etc.) (don't watch TV, if I had cable it would only be for a cable modem)
3) So I can write papers for school
4) The internet's a mighty good source of information for said papers...
You get the idea - I don't "need" a computer anymore than I don't "need" a car (If I had one - don't have my license yet
THAT is why you should use Debian.
Debian automagically (well, actually it's not magic - you can go in and edit/create/delete the files) adds entries to all window manager menus when you install a Debian package - or at least to window manager menus that are installed via Debian packages.
It's very convenient - install a new window manager, and all your programs are right there... you should try it, you'll be pleasantly surprised...
Actually it's Civ: Call *TO* Power, but anyway...
Also, coming soon from Lokisoft: Myth 2, Railroad Tycoon 2, and Eric's Ultimate Solitaire (or something like that - why they picked THAT one is beyond me).
I guess I'm one of the rarer ones, then...
:). My family got our first computer (a ZX-81 - it's still in the basement somewhere, and it will run, but half the keys don't work) the same week I was born.
I was born in Sept. 1982 (I'm 16 now, in case you can't do basic math
I remember playing games on our C-64 when I was 3 or 4 or 5 - and I used and mastered Win3.1 when I was about 10 or so. Thought M$ was the best thing around (I don't any more - that changed last year - about the same time I got Linux).
It feels kinda awkward right now for me - I've got average/pretty good programming skills (C/C++), I've started writing a few games and stuff, but I want to get involved in a open source project - one that's not too difficult, but not ridiculously easy either...
BZZZZZZZZZZZT!
Wrong!
Free(d) Software / Open Source != Freeware
I know of at least two - I'm helping 'em install Linux on their computers, but they haven't actually gotten to use it yet...
Maybe that's what he meant? (I doubt it - I think he was smoking crack, too)
It's been GPL'd for ages - has really nice skin support (including shaped skins), is fast, doesn't crash, and is just generally cool - and it isn't a copy of a Windows program :).
GQmpeg/GQview
Have you tried SCSI host adapter emulation? That's what I use for my ATAPI CD burner and my PD/CD drive.
Just download the latest kernel source, set stuff up how you want, and choose "SCSI emulation support" (probably not as module, don't know if that works, didn't for me), disable ATAPI CD-ROM support.
Then choose SCSI support, SCSI emulation support, multiple LUNs, and maybe a few other things.
Recompile, and try it out.
Of course, the same is true of Enlightenment, you know - it's had that sort of thing for AGES :).
Of course, it needed a while back, but now it's quite stable - I've been using it for about a week or so, and it's only crashed on me once (and I didn't lose any work either).
This was also the unstable CVS version - which is quite impressive.
So if you want a window manager that actually has pagers, check out Enlightenment CVS 0.16.
I didn't mean to make this an ad for E, but I just thought I'd point out that WindowMaker isn't the only one that does that... however, I definitely agree that all window managers SHOULD, or at the very least start an XTerm if they crash (so you can at least start up another WM or close all of your running programs).
This was a joke, you dimwits! :)