I always thought it was "Garbage Media Adapter" and in the case of the GMA 500 (which has non-existent Linux support, and poor Windows support, even though it's decent hardware) The GiMpAlong.
That's why I said "increased from non-existant to slim", instead of "increased from non-existant to excellent" so that if it were misplaced it has a chance of recovery, and if it were stolen, then yeah, you probably still out of luck.
And people wonder why Linux hasn't succeeded on the desktop.
I think it was part of the OEMs ploy to get cheap XP licences. They (Asus) release a machine that Vista can't physically can't fit on the SSD, ship it with the crappiest Linux distro they can find, include XP drivers on the DVD, and have half the manual talking about how to install XP
That said, I bought my Linux EeePC701 with the intention of putting XP on it, and the way I have it set up, it works very well.
As far as price creep, the 701 was $400, had a 3 hour battery, 512MB RAM, and 800x480 screen. For $300-$350 you can now buy a netbook with 8 hour battery, 1GB RAM and 1024x600 screen.
Opening multiple copies of Excel can cause problems when you try to copy/paste data across workbooks. The mostly "best way" is to restore the MDI windows, manually stretch the parent window across screen, then arrange the child windows. Of course occasionally a window gets lost in oblivion you will have to do an "arrange" operation, losing your sizing. As well if you restore the MDI windows with the parent window stretch across two monitors, you get mammoth windows.
WTF-like window management indeed. Powerpoint is even worse because it does not have MDI windows, yet opens multiple documents in the same instance.
Double click the tab names or press Ctrl+F1, voila, vertical space back. But the space occupied by the ribbon isn't that much greater than classic menus+toolbars.
Some recruitment agencies want to easily strip your contact information out of the resume or otherwise modify it so the prospective employer won't try to contact you directly. Where possible I try to submit resumes as PDFs.
I found with Windows 7, as long as it had a functioning network driver, and a functioning HDD controller driver, all you have to do is go to Windows update and it will find the rest. It found my video driver (even pulling XP drivers where necessary for the Intel i915), found printer drivers, and even found drivers for my old no-name non-standard web-cam. Unlike XP on modern hardware, 7 on modern hardware is able to communicate with most SATA controllers without any intervention.
The most recent example was for trying to install SCSI/RAID controller drivers on my Win XP machine. The *only* ways to install them, that I've been able to find, are by floppy disk (also required me to buy an external floppy drive) or by making a re-configured Windows install disk and re-installing my OS.
Since the former was easier, that's what I did.
Does that include the time wasted writing corrupt floppies?
I've also found that the more specialized a hardware or software system, the crappier the quality. And not just "in house" stuff. People dump on Microsoft, but until you see some of the other stuff out there, there's no comparison. And it's more scandalous when you consider some of it costs orders of magnitude more than Office.
Software that crashes if the system is locked, software that by default tries to save data files in the program subdirectory, the "rotate left" command rotates right, "undo" erases have your data and replaces it with something from this morning. On the backend I've seen software that requires sticking with an outdated version of Windows server, etc.
The day at work 4 years ago when I was handed a Sony Mavica "company camera" was the day before I started bringing in my personal camera for use at work (for my use only). My colleagues were amazed at the detail and clarity of my photos. The camera was nothing special at all. Just a cheap $200 Kodak P&S. It probably had more to do with making sure objects were illuminated and in focus before taking the photo.
Gosh darn legacy equipment (CNC seems big one). I'd like to see a device for legacy systems which would connect to a standard floppy controller, and also have a USB port, and mount an image file off the usb drive. Then the usb drive could be connected to newer hardware and the image file could be mounted in software instead of the USB floppy foolishness.
I've also seen floppies used to move around licences for Alan-Bradley software (for PLC systems), complete with a complement of unreliable USB floppy drives. The licences can be moved on floppies, can't be moved on "removable media" (how most usb flash appears), but can be moved on usb hard drives (appear as fixed). You can mount a Truecrypt image located on usb flash, as a "fixed disk" and copy licences on/off. As well it provides an easy method of backing up licences. They are moving to an online activation licencing scheme now.
Some scopes and other equipment use them. I'd rather use RS232 when available instead of floppy.
Good riddance to floppies. My life would be complete if I never have to use one ever again.
Slashdot Mirror
With GMA500 (Z520) and GMA3150 (N450). So the bar isn't very high.
I always thought it was "Garbage Media Adapter" and in the case of the GMA 500 (which has non-existent Linux support, and poor Windows support, even though it's decent hardware) The GiMpAlong.
That's why I said "increased from non-existant to slim", instead of "increased from non-existant to excellent" so that if it were misplaced it has a chance of recovery, and if it were stolen, then yeah, you probably still out of luck.
how about putting contact information in the backpack so the chance of recovery is increased from non-existant to slim?
Does that mean we have to give up Hurd?
. . . but at least it will be more fun :-)
Until you TRY to look for that new job.
And people wonder why Linux hasn't succeeded on the desktop.
I think it was part of the OEMs ploy to get cheap XP licences. They (Asus) release a machine that Vista can't physically can't fit on the SSD, ship it with the crappiest Linux distro they can find, include XP drivers on the DVD, and have half the manual talking about how to install XP
That said, I bought my Linux EeePC701 with the intention of putting XP on it, and the way I have it set up, it works very well.
As far as price creep, the 701 was $400, had a 3 hour battery, 512MB RAM, and 800x480 screen. For $300-$350 you can now buy a netbook with 8 hour battery, 1GB RAM and 1024x600 screen.
Small and cheap. Ultra portable "sub-notebooks" have been around for years, but cost at least a grand. Although a slightly different form factor, see also: the inability for UMPC/Oragami to gain tractions. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/umpc/default.mspx
What? You didn't buy 6 netbooks last month and don't plan on buying 38 this month?
But I like having my printer plugged into my scanner, plugged into my zip drive, plugged into my license dongle, plugged into my PC.
Ctrl+F1 or double click on a tab name.
Opening multiple copies of Excel can cause problems when you try to copy/paste data across workbooks. The mostly "best way" is to restore the MDI windows, manually stretch the parent window across screen, then arrange the child windows. Of course occasionally a window gets lost in oblivion you will have to do an "arrange" operation, losing your sizing. As well if you restore the MDI windows with the parent window stretch across two monitors, you get mammoth windows.
WTF-like window management indeed. Powerpoint is even worse because it does not have MDI windows, yet opens multiple documents in the same instance.
Double click the tab names or press Ctrl+F1, voila, vertical space back. But the space occupied by the ribbon isn't that much greater than classic menus+toolbars.
The most interesting of which was if a user was connecting using an iPhone, no one else could connect.
You must manage Cisco VPN. Never have I seen a program with so many ".... issues" on every platform.
Some recruitment agencies want to easily strip your contact information out of the resume or otherwise modify it so the prospective employer won't try to contact you directly. Where possible I try to submit resumes as PDFs.
I found with Windows 7, as long as it had a functioning network driver, and a functioning HDD controller driver, all you have to do is go to Windows update and it will find the rest. It found my video driver (even pulling XP drivers where necessary for the Intel i915), found printer drivers, and even found drivers for my old no-name non-standard web-cam. Unlike XP on modern hardware, 7 on modern hardware is able to communicate with most SATA controllers without any intervention.
This defect? http://hplies.com/
This onion article already covers that: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rw8gE3lnpLQ
You must be the only person on the planet that has ever used floppies, and have never suffered data corruption.
The most recent example was for trying to install SCSI/RAID controller drivers on my Win XP machine. The *only* ways to install them, that I've been able to find, are by floppy disk (also required me to buy an external floppy drive) or by making a re-configured Windows install disk and re-installing my OS. Since the former was easier, that's what I did.
Does that include the time wasted writing corrupt floppies?
I've also found that the more specialized a hardware or software system, the crappier the quality. And not just "in house" stuff. People dump on Microsoft, but until you see some of the other stuff out there, there's no comparison. And it's more scandalous when you consider some of it costs orders of magnitude more than Office.
Software that crashes if the system is locked, software that by default tries to save data files in the program subdirectory, the "rotate left" command rotates right, "undo" erases have your data and replaces it with something from this morning. On the backend I've seen software that requires sticking with an outdated version of Windows server, etc.
The day at work 4 years ago when I was handed a Sony Mavica "company camera" was the day before I started bringing in my personal camera for use at work (for my use only). My colleagues were amazed at the detail and clarity of my photos. The camera was nothing special at all. Just a cheap $200 Kodak P&S. It probably had more to do with making sure objects were illuminated and in focus before taking the photo.
Gosh darn legacy equipment (CNC seems big one). I'd like to see a device for legacy systems which would connect to a standard floppy controller, and also have a USB port, and mount an image file off the usb drive. Then the usb drive could be connected to newer hardware and the image file could be mounted in software instead of the USB floppy foolishness.
I've also seen floppies used to move around licences for Alan-Bradley software (for PLC systems), complete with a complement of unreliable USB floppy drives. The licences can be moved on floppies, can't be moved on "removable media" (how most usb flash appears), but can be moved on usb hard drives (appear as fixed). You can mount a Truecrypt image located on usb flash, as a "fixed disk" and copy licences on/off. As well it provides an easy method of backing up licences. They are moving to an online activation licencing scheme now.
Some scopes and other equipment use them. I'd rather use RS232 when available instead of floppy.
Good riddance to floppies. My life would be complete if I never have to use one ever again.
Does this include McAfee? It seems to be a fake anti-virus, holding critical system files hostage.