I'm a software developer and I've been a hiring manager in two big-6 accounting firms and now in a startup "DOT COM" on the east coast.
The only things I look for are ability to code how I need and affordability. I can't afford the most expensive people, and that translates into having a green staff. I've hired folks in their 40's, but they were making a career change and did not have the experience to command the higher salary.
I'm over 30 myself and worry that I am pricing myself out of new jobs. My gut tells me that I will have to become more of a beaurocrat in the business side and less of a developer on the systems side to continue justifying my higher income. (I believe business people grudgingly pay good technologists high salaries but have no trouble seeing intrinsic value in good executive staff.)
If there is life on Io, what are the ethical implications of landing technology there that might polute its environment? Wouldn't whatever we land be nuclear powered (probably with plutonium)?
I put to you that it would be as easy to change your pentium number as it is to change your mac address. (Although I question your assertion that a Chimp can do any of this.)
I want a Linux PDA running Apache that I can leave hooked up to a full time internet connection as a simple web server. Whenever I leave my 386 on for that purpose, my wife shuts it off because it makes too much noise (fan) and eats too much power (230watts).
No this is not flamebait. If you have an ethernet card in your machine (as do I) you already have a globally unique number that most people can read at will. (Look up MAC address or check out www.grc.com.)
Money is only part of the cost. Other "expenses" are time and lost productivity. If a product has the right balance of money cost/time cost (to configure+learn)/productivity cost to use (missing features) it should be used. Whether it is free or not is irrelevant.
This fear of using software that someone makes money from is misplaced.
I just purchased an aqua colored iMac a few weeks ago and have to say I am underimpressed. My emachine was about half the cost, runs more of the software I need and has a better user interface. (Why do we have just one mouse button again? Using two to save navigation steps is too complicated?)
I have to agree 100% that the Mot processors Apple choose for the Mac line are definitely better than the Intel trash in the PC. The memory addressing scheme says it all.
However, Apple chose to entome that great chip into a closed system. That's like mumification: Unlike the PC which grows in features dynamically and inexpensively with the input of many creative people, the Mac stays the same. Very 80's looking by now in many ways.
(yes they were ahead of the game way back when. the problem is that they have not grown at the same pace as the PC.)
I'm sorry that I continue to offend Mac lovers, but the QuickTime gui in Windows is bad. Unless of course confusing users and making the search for features an adventure is something all software should strive for.
I think spammers should be free to fill my mailbox with trash without fear of financial consequences. A congressional law like this might be too effective at cutting down on unsolicited junk email. Spammers have a right to fill up my server resources and use your valuable download time to spew their messages!
AOL warns a user before they open a file that it could be dangerous. That should be enough for any mail program. It's good enough for 17 million subscribers right now anyhow.
The coolest AI program would automatically post replies to Slashdot articles that everyone would think were posted by an idiot. Is this a message posted by a real idiot or by a program that is trying to sound like a real idiot?
The usefulness of patents is past. They are now just employment tools for legions of lawyers. Here is some common sense:
If you have a great idea that will make you money, do something with it. If you don't want other people to know your secret while you go about making money, too bad.
Government participation in the enforced protection of intellectual property always leads to ridiculous situations where only the lawyers gain.
What's it going to take for us to recind the whole patent concept? I think it deserves a serious movement.
Technology marches on. I suspect that until we get to something like the "storage crystal" technology pervasive on StarTrek, a new and better media will make a splash every decade or so.
My grandfather's old "Super 8" (look that one up) silent movies haven't even all been converted to VHS yet.
PS - Your buddies may not have anything to show for their choices, other than some missing brain mass; but I'll bet they had more fun!:)
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The only things I look for are ability to code how I need and affordability. I can't afford the most expensive people, and that translates into having a green staff. I've hired folks in their 40's, but they were making a career change and did not have the experience to command the higher salary.
I'm over 30 myself and worry that I am pricing myself out of new jobs. My gut tells me that I will have to become more of a beaurocrat in the business side and less of a developer on the systems side to continue justifying my higher income. (I believe business people grudgingly pay good technologists high salaries but have no trouble seeing intrinsic value in good executive staff.)
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Restricting the flow of computer algorithms is like trying to stem the flow of thought.
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Wouldn't whatever we land be nuclear powered (probably with plutonium)?
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Why no fuss about that?
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This fear of using software that someone makes money from is misplaced.
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However, Apple chose to entome that great chip into a closed system. That's like mumification: Unlike the PC which grows in features dynamically and inexpensively with the input of many creative people, the Mac stays the same. Very 80's looking by now in many ways.
(yes they were ahead of the game way back when. the problem is that they have not grown at the same pace as the PC.)
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Then lets start there!
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If you have a great idea that will make you money, do something with it. If you don't want other people to know your secret while you go about making money, too bad.
Government participation in the enforced protection of intellectual property always leads to ridiculous situations where only the lawyers gain.
What's it going to take for us to recind the whole patent concept? I think it deserves a serious movement.
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My grandfather's old "Super 8" (look that one up) silent movies haven't even all been converted to VHS yet.
PS - Your buddies may not have anything to show for their choices, other than some missing brain mass; but I'll bet they had more fun!
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