I'm amazed that a country with NO money continually spends their debt on failing space programs, whereas a country with a high level of affluence and world influence shows continuing dis-interest in what its very own citizens realize as important, if not somewhat boring these days.
Father: "I grew up in the space age."
Son: "You mean that use to be a big thing? Ohhh..."
Russia SHOULD rather be focusing on rebuilding their ruined country. A place where doctors are paid in trade by the government (salt, cow dung, whatever -- and no i'm not kidding). A place with an unstable government and a weak military. What is in space that they are after, exactly?
Meanwhile, America should of course be embracing space more, but we're barely willing to increase NASA's budget beyond annual inflation.
On the other hand, it looks like we won't even be able to afford a valuable education bill without dipping heavily into social security, so maybe space can wait.
Although certainly having a specially-designed chip for Linux systems would be nice, Linux will forever be fragmented in the nature of its architecture simply because of its open-source design. So I think the primary source of reliability will come from the kernel and entire system itself, not so much from the chip on which it runs. And clearly, one of Linux's strongpoints has been its portability across chip designs. I can run Linux on my G4.. but also on a P3 system, if I were so inclined. There are so many Linux-based OSes out there these days.
Also, are the chip companies even targeting Linux? It seems to me that they're interested in open-source. But open-source does not mean Linux. Open-source is much larger as a concept than Linux is. And of course, I imagine that the future will be this: open-source programmers will be lured away by dollar signs (not in a bad way -- but hey, everyone's gotta eat). The companies will have a vested interest in making sure that these programmers are not working on things outside of the company itself, and in fact will also require that parts of the systems they develop will be proprietary. Just like Apple does. Darwin is open-source, but Aqua, Quartz, etc., are proprietary systems. And Apple nabbed the top guy for BSD, did they not?
I'm rambling now. But what I'm saying, basically, is that although i think this is primarily a good thing, the waters are still very muddy and the trail itself extends very far out.
NASA always gave astronauts those "black pills" that could quickly and painlessly let them commit suicide in the event of disaster... I guess the mouse equivelant is a biggg, nice piece of cheese... and a mouse trap.
Dammit. Back in my day, we had real transistors, and silicon. We made chips out of SAND, dammit! None of this molecule pish posh. I ain't never gonna use some computer made from plants. You new-age scientists sure are ungrateful...
This is sad - AND the wrong metaphor
on
The New Zelda
·
· Score: 2
I really think Nintendo is missing the point. I remember when Nintendo was more about the game than the graphics. Look at what they're doing -- they're forming a game around the graphics capabilities of the system. They're making the game to show off the graphics. The story and game itself should be shown off, and the graphics should be simply the visual presentation. Since N64, Nintendo on more than one occassion has said "[such and such a game] will really show off [a 3D effect]."
I just think they're missing the point. I'm all about 3D gaming and incredible graphics -- and yet I can't help but think much of the storyline went out with the SNES series.
Apple came up with the technology entirely independent of anyone. It's then handed to the IEEE for standards-recognition. Apple controls the technology, IEEE controls things about branding and reviewing the technology itself, etc.
So you're wrong, it IS Apple's.
FireWire = IEEE 1394 = Sony i.LINK
As of right now, FireWire is the #1 recognized brand of IEEE 1394.
After using the Mac for 10 years (and the PC alongside... and a lot of Linux as well), and after reading the mentioned article, i must say the Mac way is the best way -- in a closed model. For years, it's been so conveinent: no file extensions, nothing to worry about. Heck, even I add ".txt" to a Photoshop file, it'll still open with Photoshop correctly.
Add to that Windows.
Now the Mac has to be aware of Windows files. It's a Mac "control panel" called File Exchange. If there's a file without a type/creator metadata (which the Mac depends on, in part), File Exchange says, "Hey, that's a Windows file that ends in.psd. That's really a Photoshop file!" So, it opens then with Photoshop. Alright sir, 'nuff said.
Add to that networking/internet.
Now the Mac not only has to worry about file extensions, but also its forks (data fork / resource fork). So if I send a program over email -- even to another Mac -- the result will be garbled data that won't work. I have to first convert the Mac file to MacBinary -- which squooshes together the forks. On the other side, it can be uncompressed into a two-fork program again and it works perfectly.
Eh, sorta annoying, but I compress things I email anyway because I hate emailing huge files.
Mac OS 9 gives me no problems. Files work right over PC networks, etc. Mac OS X works even better over networks -- in fact, in my work it is much smarter and works more efficiently than Windows NT (or even Linux).
The problem? Now Mac users have to worry about file endings --- in a sense. Applications use the Bundle methodology. Works great!
Files, on the other hand, *sometimes* need extensions.
When don't they?
If the file is opening in a "Classic" application (meaning it is being run through the old mac os 9 codebase... though it's not really "emulated"). Because those "old" files HAVE type/creator codes the Mac understands.
When DO they?
If it's purely a Mac OS X file, for the most part. Now in 10.1, the file endings can be hidden. But that doesn't solve the real problem: the Mac is battling PC/Unix files from the net AND its original OS 9-and-lower files that now have to carry redundent metadata.
Apple really needs to solve this. I know a lot of the OS X programmers, and they're extremely committed and bright, so I'm sure the problem will be fixed. Most importantly: make the Mac work great over the 'net (which is does really so far), AND make the experience very easy. I HATE file extensions. I love the old type/creator method. But I'm sure it could be done even better to satisfy all.
Why does everyone say you pay a premium with Apple computers? My bro's iBook was $1299 and it's *great*. My own PowerBook Titanium G4 was $2,599. I couldn't find a single laptop for less money that could beat the Ti that I bought. A $599 15" LCD that is the BEST in the industry (even the biased CNET says that).
I'm not trying to sell Apples here, I'm just saying, I work with them every day, and they're not overpriced, especially considering the greater number of features you get. Come on, even the Sony laptop doesn't have a standard CDRW (or even CD-ROM), you have to add that on.
I'm curious as to what the difference between slashdot and slBANJO! is. When I read "our new fancy setup" I didn't expect to see the Exact same thing, but with a different logo.
It seemed a lot faster... but then I realized the load is probably much less than slashdot.org. So I have to dismiss that much.
Is there a "new features" list somewhere? What's the difference? And also, will Slashdot ever get a new interface/design?
To me, I find multitasking to be very schedule lunch meeting at 3:30 disrrupting because, quite frankly, three aspirin, one water, doesnt matter what brand I don't need to have 100 things to worry about when I already before 8:30, not after, I'll be out of town, but you can reach me have enough to do as it is, cell phone. dog.
You say Gamecube is doing a lot better than PS2 did last Christmas. Keep in mind, you're basing Nintendo's planned numbers on PS2's real sales (which were kept small mainly because of supply problems).
So no, Gamecube isn't doing better numbers than PS2 did at Christmas. If we follow that rationale, I could just say my game machine will have 10,000,000 units available at Christmas, and beat everyone.
The problem with the Cube is fragementation. Not hard drive fragmentation, but market. Look, you have two big, stable markets: Power Mac G4, and iMac. Two computers -- one benefits pros, one benefits consumers.
The Cube is for "power consumers" who "Aren't quite pros." Okay, awesome -- but you've just divided your two stable markets and mixed them together. Messy sales.
Instead, you'll make more money offering new "power iMacs" under the same brand name. There's no reason for an extra brand. The entire resurgence of the company was based on diminishing all the product models.
The police of course would make a statement that this is for the "good of the public" and does not require any type of warrant because it is a "public area" and not a private residence.
Notice, however, that the police did not many any statement - they just did it.
Why? Because there is to be no scrutiny of it by the public. I'm sorry, but as a citizen, I would feel *incredibly* violated by knowing somewhere, there could be hidden cameras filming me at any given moment, and some guy is checking to see if I've committed a murder or brought in any drugs from another country.
This is the reason why I DO want to get into government - to stop absurd and dangerous ideas from being initiated by our government (in this case, local government). This is outrageous.
This is a major change, if you think about it, from old standards ---
Wow, I'd never been marked troll before. I was just making the point that I don't think Mozilla has come far enough for the amount of development time put into it.
I suppose saying something bad about open-source means you're a troll. From now on, I shall only say good things about anything open-source, in fear of being marked lower. Forget opinions, this is Slashdot!
I'm purposely not posting this anonymously so you can mark this down too.
.092 % is about the likelihood that I care at all. It's just depressing... I use to LOVE Netscape... I thought Mozilla would be really cool... But it feels like it's 20 years in the making. How many people are on the team? I thought open-source development was suppose to be so much faster in terms of develop time.
Sometimes I wonder if that damn mozilla creature is the only programmer on staff...
If Apple gets out of the hardware businses, I can't say I would ever glady use a computer ever again in my life.
Every Mac I've bought in the past few years has been of the utmost quality, nicest/classiest design, and best engineering.
I can't imagine not having Mac hardware in my business and personal life to use every day. Even now, I'm on a new iMac with a 40GB hard drive and 512MB of RAM running Mac OS X. FireWire ports, USB, CD-RW slow-loading, incredible speakers, and an awesme design. It's not only beautiful to look at and inspires me, but it *feels* friendly, as though it likes me. Sounds absurd, I know.
Mac hardware is so well tied to Mac software. A few say Apple should get out of Mac hardware. I say that if Apple exited hardware, the computer industry would suffer, and Apple would become a small-time player.
Look how influential Apple has been with USB, FireWire, and next, I believe, LCD displays. We *need* Apple hardware pushing the others to get off their asses (pardon my American).
I guess I'm biased -- but I'm biased only because of how great it really is, and it's influenced my opinions because I'm so happy with it.
I do think dragging a disk to the trash is potentionally unintuitive, but after a while, it "feels right."
Nevertheless, do note that under Mac OS X and the Aqua UI, dragging a disk toward the trash in the dock will make it change into a big 3D eject icon. It's REALLY cool looking. I think it makes more sense.
Just so people realize, Apple did change that, and therefore apparantly would agree with what Woz is saying (who can often be seen wearing OS X t-shirts).
The fact that slaves were apparantly treated like royalty PROVES they were used in large construction jobs. If you're going to tax their strength -- you want them to be strong to do the job, and help them live long.
Otherwise, what's the point of slaves if they're royalty? In that specific sense, then they aren't slaves.
A lot of arcades have been shutting down where I live, and when I visited Vegas this year, the huge arcades were turned into restaurants, and the arcades relocated to little corners of the buildings.
Arcades have been stereotyped, as well: a place for male losers to hang out and burn through money.
But let's face it, the market has shifted -- or is shifting, anyway. Before, you had your SNES at home, and you'd go to the arcade to play the latest and greatest. Sort of like, you have your PC/Mac at home, but you could check out some SGI workstation at a university.
Today, "arcade power" fits quite nicely in a black rectangle that also plays DVDs for you (PS2...).
Certainly, arcades could always out-do home systems, but if the difference isn't great enough, people don't care to make a trip. I love realism (sometimes), but I don't need PERFECT realism.
Meanwhile, am I willing to play more than $0.75 or $1 per game? No, sorry. Even as the games got more costly to produce, arcade income didn't rise accordingly, I don't think.
So Midway's decision makes sense.
Another problem, I suppose, is that there's no Mortal Kombat on the scenes right now. There's no incredible game only for arcades (meaning, when MK came out, you had to go to the arcades to play it).
First of all, PARC gave Apple the rights to everything they had. Why? Because Xerox was NOT going to pick it up. What could they have done? Simply let their ideas burn out, most of which was under control of Xerox? Or do they give it to a VERY successful company and let them fly with it? Xerox missed the boat. Apple became successful. Only years later did Microsoft begin, quite publicly, taking the ideas of Apple. And also, the PARC designs were quite unfinished. There is a LOT of Apple innovation in the end product. I'm using OS X and Aqua right now. It's so far beyond PARC it's not even funny (which makes sense after 15 odd years).
I've worked with the Mac since the Apple Lisa. Back in the 80's, my uncle purchased an Apple Lisa, and an Apple rep. actually delivered it to your place of business, set it up, and showed you how to use it. People were absolutely speechless.
Everyone says now, "Oh the Lisa was a piece of crap, it was slow, sometimes buggy. Overpriced." You must understand though, nobody had really ever SEEN anything like that before.
People didn't follow computers back then. People couldn't say, "Oh there's a new computer coming out." At least not most people. So when you saw the Lisa, you barely knew what to say. Icons? Graphics? A.. mouse.. and you can click.. and type? Speechless. 100%.
Later on, it became a novelty and was given to me. Last year I was strapped for cash, and it was sold on eBay and picked up by a person I trusted very much to take care of it. I miss it.:-\ It was really neat (and still working).
There's my two cents on nostalgia. I love the Mac. I'm running OS X v10.0.4 on my iBook right now. It's incredible.
Slashdot Mirror
I'm amazed that a country with NO money continually spends their debt on failing space programs, whereas a country with a high level of affluence and world influence shows continuing dis-interest in what its very own citizens realize as important, if not somewhat boring these days.
Father: "I grew up in the space age."
Son: "You mean that use to be a big thing? Ohhh..."
Russia SHOULD rather be focusing on rebuilding their ruined country. A place where doctors are paid in trade by the government (salt, cow dung, whatever -- and no i'm not kidding). A place with an unstable government and a weak military. What is in space that they are after, exactly?
Meanwhile, America should of course be embracing space more, but we're barely willing to increase NASA's budget beyond annual inflation.
On the other hand, it looks like we won't even be able to afford a valuable education bill without dipping heavily into social security, so maybe space can wait.
Although certainly having a specially-designed chip for Linux systems would be nice, Linux will forever be fragmented in the nature of its architecture simply because of its open-source design. So I think the primary source of reliability will come from the kernel and entire system itself, not so much from the chip on which it runs. And clearly, one of Linux's strongpoints has been its portability across chip designs. I can run Linux on my G4.. but also on a P3 system, if I were so inclined. There are so many Linux-based OSes out there these days.
Also, are the chip companies even targeting Linux? It seems to me that they're interested in open-source. But open-source does not mean Linux. Open-source is much larger as a concept than Linux is. And of course, I imagine that the future will be this: open-source programmers will be lured away by dollar signs (not in a bad way -- but hey, everyone's gotta eat). The companies will have a vested interest in making sure that these programmers are not working on things outside of the company itself, and in fact will also require that parts of the systems they develop will be proprietary. Just like Apple does. Darwin is open-source, but Aqua, Quartz, etc., are proprietary systems. And Apple nabbed the top guy for BSD, did they not?
I'm rambling now. But what I'm saying, basically, is that although i think this is primarily a good thing, the waters are still very muddy and the trail itself extends very far out.
NASA always gave astronauts those "black pills" that could quickly and painlessly let them commit suicide in the event of disaster... I guess the mouse equivelant is a biggg, nice piece of cheese... and a mouse trap.
Troll? I was just being humerous. Eh, whatever. :-) I'll joke less.
Huh? I don't get it.
Dammit. Back in my day, we had real transistors, and silicon. We made chips out of SAND, dammit! None of this molecule pish posh. I ain't never gonna use some computer made from plants. You new-age scientists sure are ungrateful...
I really think Nintendo is missing the point. I remember when Nintendo was more about the game than the graphics. Look at what they're doing -- they're forming a game around the graphics capabilities of the system. They're making the game to show off the graphics. The story and game itself should be shown off, and the graphics should be simply the visual presentation. Since N64, Nintendo on more than one occassion has said "[such and such a game] will really show off [a 3D effect]."
I just think they're missing the point. I'm all about 3D gaming and incredible graphics -- and yet I can't help but think much of the storyline went out with the SNES series.
Apple came up with the technology entirely independent of anyone. It's then handed to the IEEE for standards-recognition. Apple controls the technology, IEEE controls things about branding and reviewing the technology itself, etc.
So you're wrong, it IS Apple's.
FireWire = IEEE 1394 = Sony i.LINK
As of right now, FireWire is the #1 recognized brand of IEEE 1394.
After using the Mac for 10 years (and the PC alongside... and a lot of Linux as well), and after reading the mentioned article, i must say the Mac way is the best way -- in a closed model. For years, it's been so conveinent: no file extensions, nothing to worry about. Heck, even I add ".txt" to a Photoshop file, it'll still open with Photoshop correctly.
.psd. That's really a Photoshop file!" So, it opens then with Photoshop. Alright sir, 'nuff said.
Add to that Windows.
Now the Mac has to be aware of Windows files. It's a Mac "control panel" called File Exchange. If there's a file without a type/creator metadata (which the Mac depends on, in part), File Exchange says, "Hey, that's a Windows file that ends in
Add to that networking/internet.
Now the Mac not only has to worry about file extensions, but also its forks (data fork / resource fork). So if I send a program over email -- even to another Mac -- the result will be garbled data that won't work. I have to first convert the Mac file to MacBinary -- which squooshes together the forks. On the other side, it can be uncompressed into a two-fork program again and it works perfectly.
Eh, sorta annoying, but I compress things I email anyway because I hate emailing huge files.
Mac OS 9 gives me no problems. Files work right over PC networks, etc. Mac OS X works even better over networks -- in fact, in my work it is much smarter and works more efficiently than Windows NT (or even Linux).
The problem? Now Mac users have to worry about file endings --- in a sense. Applications use the Bundle methodology. Works great!
Files, on the other hand, *sometimes* need extensions.
When don't they?
If the file is opening in a "Classic" application (meaning it is being run through the old mac os 9 codebase... though it's not really "emulated"). Because those "old" files HAVE type/creator codes the Mac understands.
When DO they?
If it's purely a Mac OS X file, for the most part. Now in 10.1, the file endings can be hidden. But that doesn't solve the real problem: the Mac is battling PC/Unix files from the net AND its original OS 9-and-lower files that now have to carry redundent metadata.
Apple really needs to solve this. I know a lot of the OS X programmers, and they're extremely committed and bright, so I'm sure the problem will be fixed. Most importantly: make the Mac work great over the 'net (which is does really so far), AND make the experience very easy. I HATE file extensions. I love the old type/creator method. But I'm sure it could be done even better to satisfy all.
Why does everyone say you pay a premium with Apple computers? My bro's iBook was $1299 and it's *great*. My own PowerBook Titanium G4 was $2,599. I couldn't find a single laptop for less money that could beat the Ti that I bought. A $599 15" LCD that is the BEST in the industry (even the biased CNET says that).
I'm not trying to sell Apples here, I'm just saying, I work with them every day, and they're not overpriced, especially considering the greater number of features you get. Come on, even the Sony laptop doesn't have a standard CDRW (or even CD-ROM), you have to add that on.
A bunch of students all at their voting computers.
"Pssst... which guy did you fill in for the question 1?"
"Are you kidding? I'm not gonna cheat for you!"
"Come on, everybody's doing it... even the candidates!"
I'm curious as to what the difference between slashdot and slBANJO! is. When I read "our new fancy setup" I didn't expect to see the Exact same thing, but with a different logo.
It seemed a lot faster... but then I realized the load is probably much less than slashdot.org. So I have to dismiss that much.
Is there a "new features" list somewhere? What's the difference? And also, will Slashdot ever get a new interface/design?
Just whining 'cause I can...
To me, I find multitasking to be very schedule lunch meeting at 3:30 disrrupting because, quite frankly, three aspirin, one water, doesnt matter what brand I don't need to have 100 things to worry about when I already before 8:30, not after, I'll be out of town, but you can reach me have enough to do as it is, cell phone. dog.
Just a minor detail BUT...
You say Gamecube is doing a lot better than PS2 did last Christmas. Keep in mind, you're basing Nintendo's planned numbers on PS2's real sales (which were kept small mainly because of supply problems).
So no, Gamecube isn't doing better numbers than PS2 did at Christmas. If we follow that rationale, I could just say my game machine will have 10,000,000 units available at Christmas, and beat everyone.
Sorry I'm a nit-picker...
The problem with the Cube is fragementation. Not hard drive fragmentation, but market. Look, you have two big, stable markets: Power Mac G4, and iMac. Two computers -- one benefits pros, one benefits consumers.
The Cube is for "power consumers" who "Aren't quite pros." Okay, awesome -- but you've just divided your two stable markets and mixed them together. Messy sales.
Instead, you'll make more money offering new "power iMacs" under the same brand name. There's no reason for an extra brand. The entire resurgence of the company was based on diminishing all the product models.
But yes, the Cube was a VERY cool machine.
The police of course would make a statement that this is for the "good of the public" and does not require any type of warrant because it is a "public area" and not a private residence.
Notice, however, that the police did not many any statement - they just did it.
Why? Because there is to be no scrutiny of it by the public. I'm sorry, but as a citizen, I would feel *incredibly* violated by knowing somewhere, there could be hidden cameras filming me at any given moment, and some guy is checking to see if I've committed a murder or brought in any drugs from another country.
This is the reason why I DO want to get into government - to stop absurd and dangerous ideas from being initiated by our government (in this case, local government). This is outrageous.
This is a major change, if you think about it, from old standards ---
Guilty until proven innocent.
Wow, I'd never been marked troll before. I was just making the point that I don't think Mozilla has come far enough for the amount of development time put into it.
I suppose saying something bad about open-source means you're a troll. From now on, I shall only say good things about anything open-source, in fear of being marked lower. Forget opinions, this is Slashdot!
I'm purposely not posting this anonymously so you can mark this down too.
0.9.2.
:-\
.092 % is about the likelihood that I care at all. It's just depressing... I use to LOVE Netscape... I thought Mozilla would be really cool... But it feels like it's 20 years in the making. How many people are on the team? I thought open-source development was suppose to be so much faster in terms of develop time.
Sometimes I wonder if that damn mozilla creature is the only programmer on staff...
But maybe I'm just bummed.
Sorensen is great. I use it all the time when producing video from my Power Mac. It's xanim that needs to support it.
That's like saying, "Why does everyone use VHS?! I can't put my DVD disc into this VCR!"
If Apple gets out of the hardware businses, I can't say I would ever glady use a computer ever again in my life.
Every Mac I've bought in the past few years has been of the utmost quality, nicest/classiest design, and best engineering.
I can't imagine not having Mac hardware in my business and personal life to use every day. Even now, I'm on a new iMac with a 40GB hard drive and 512MB of RAM running Mac OS X. FireWire ports, USB, CD-RW slow-loading, incredible speakers, and an awesme design. It's not only beautiful to look at and inspires me, but it *feels* friendly, as though it likes me. Sounds absurd, I know.
Mac hardware is so well tied to Mac software. A few say Apple should get out of Mac hardware. I say that if Apple exited hardware, the computer industry would suffer, and Apple would become a small-time player.
Look how influential Apple has been with USB, FireWire, and next, I believe, LCD displays. We *need* Apple hardware pushing the others to get off their asses (pardon my American).
I guess I'm biased -- but I'm biased only because of how great it really is, and it's influenced my opinions because I'm so happy with it.
I do think dragging a disk to the trash is potentionally unintuitive, but after a while, it "feels right."
Nevertheless, do note that under Mac OS X and the Aqua UI, dragging a disk toward the trash in the dock will make it change into a big 3D eject icon. It's REALLY cool looking. I think it makes more sense.
Just so people realize, Apple did change that, and therefore apparantly would agree with what Woz is saying (who can often be seen wearing OS X t-shirts).
The fact that slaves were apparantly treated like royalty PROVES they were used in large construction jobs. If you're going to tax their strength -- you want them to be strong to do the job, and help them live long.
Otherwise, what's the point of slaves if they're royalty? In that specific sense, then they aren't slaves.
A lot of arcades have been shutting down where I live, and when I visited Vegas this year, the huge arcades were turned into restaurants, and the arcades relocated to little corners of the buildings.
Arcades have been stereotyped, as well: a place for male losers to hang out and burn through money.
But let's face it, the market has shifted -- or is shifting, anyway. Before, you had your SNES at home, and you'd go to the arcade to play the latest and greatest. Sort of like, you have your PC/Mac at home, but you could check out some SGI workstation at a university.
Today, "arcade power" fits quite nicely in a black rectangle that also plays DVDs for you (PS2...).
Certainly, arcades could always out-do home systems, but if the difference isn't great enough, people don't care to make a trip. I love realism (sometimes), but I don't need PERFECT realism.
Meanwhile, am I willing to play more than $0.75 or $1 per game? No, sorry. Even as the games got more costly to produce, arcade income didn't rise accordingly, I don't think.
So Midway's decision makes sense.
Another problem, I suppose, is that there's no Mortal Kombat on the scenes right now. There's no incredible game only for arcades (meaning, when MK came out, you had to go to the arcades to play it).
I think this trend could continue.
First of all, PARC gave Apple the rights to everything they had. Why? Because Xerox was NOT going to pick it up. What could they have done? Simply let their ideas burn out, most of which was under control of Xerox? Or do they give it to a VERY successful company and let them fly with it? Xerox missed the boat. Apple became successful. Only years later did Microsoft begin, quite publicly, taking the ideas of Apple. And also, the PARC designs were quite unfinished. There is a LOT of Apple innovation in the end product. I'm using OS X and Aqua right now. It's so far beyond PARC it's not even funny (which makes sense after 15 odd years).
Just my two cents.
I'm a Slashdotter, and I think Apple is *very* relevant and an incredible company that makes incredible computers.
There's nothing wrong with loving Unix and loving the Mac. Marrying them together is a great idea.
I've worked with the Mac since the Apple Lisa. Back in the 80's, my uncle purchased an Apple Lisa, and an Apple rep. actually delivered it to your place of business, set it up, and showed you how to use it. People were absolutely speechless.
:-\ It was really neat (and still working).
Everyone says now, "Oh the Lisa was a piece of crap, it was slow, sometimes buggy. Overpriced." You must understand though, nobody had really ever SEEN anything like that before.
People didn't follow computers back then. People couldn't say, "Oh there's a new computer coming out." At least not most people. So when you saw the Lisa, you barely knew what to say. Icons? Graphics? A.. mouse.. and you can click.. and type? Speechless. 100%.
Later on, it became a novelty and was given to me. Last year I was strapped for cash, and it was sold on eBay and picked up by a person I trusted very much to take care of it. I miss it.
There's my two cents on nostalgia. I love the Mac. I'm running OS X v10.0.4 on my iBook right now. It's incredible.