I have been working from home for about 5 years now. The first company I worked for, sort of forgot I existed for a while. Checks were coming in, I was providing them with results, but nobody knew who I was. In fact, very few people in the company knew I worked there to begin with. The company wasn't big either, it was only like 25 employees.
The next company (the current one), I have been with them for 1 year now. MANY people in the company know about me, I am much more in the "public" view then previously. I have a greater interaction with people then before. Every day, its conference call after conference call.
But, if I keep staying at home and working I might get passsed up. Which is why I think I am being asked to move across the country. I am ready to do it, but its going to take a lot of adjustment going back to an office structure. I get way more done at home then in the office. Which is strange why they would want you to be in the office all the time.
I don't have kids (nor do I want them) and I am not married. I am in a long term relationship, and she will be going with me. I am lucky that I don't have the distractions at home. When that office door is shut, that means GTFO. At first I had friends bothering me during the day, until I stopped answering calls from them or answering the door during business hours. That helped a ton.
Anyway, if you work at home too much you will lose touch with the office. Many times there are things going on that I don't hear about, or find out way too late. This can also make you miss promotions or showing special interest in events. Hell, even attending events becomes interesting.
I will be upgrading, but not the Windows version of Office. I will be upgrading the Mac version. The reason is very simple, it will be the first Universal binary of it. I only use it because I need to exchange documents a lot with Windows users, otherwise I would just buy iWork.
It will be a very long time before I upgrade to Vista. Presently, the *ONLY* thing I use my Windows install for is Battle Field 2. (and I don't even play it that often, been playing my PS3 most of the time)
I agree, Netflix was very easy. I like the idea that they can put an account on hold for a little while. This way, when I do get time to use them again its very little effort to restart the account.
Its the thought of knowing that its the only way you will ever have any part of mars. Lets face it, none of us will be going to mars anytime soon, unless you work for NASA you _might_ have a shot.
Chances are, I will never go to space. Thats why I want my ashes to be sent up there when I die. One way or another, I am gonna get there.
Sure, when you think about it its a very silly thing to do. Its all for personal satifaction.
Well, in the US they jack the prices up on food and drinks like you wouldn't believe. Not to mention, they also don't allow you to bring food from the outside. Which makes you feel like a criminal when you are forced to sneak in healthy foods. I personally don't, but have some friends that are health nuts.
Movie theaters piss me off, which is why I stopped going there more then once a year. I love paying $9 per ticket, $20 for a drink and popcorn, sit in a theater with some jackass laughing with his friends the entire time, some baby crying, the guy in front of me who takes his shoes off, getting my sit back kicked non-stop... then to top it all off, seeing a totally crappy movie.
I have ranted about this many times. I will deal with ads on TV, websites, etc. But, I can not stand sitting through 5 car commericals, 4 perfume commericals and 6 soft drink commericals... only to have more commericals come at me.
Maybe the gaming companies will relize what the movie companies haven't. As the budget keeps getting higher and higher, its time to make sure you release a quailty product. Something people will not only enjoy once, but enjoy time after time for long periods.
With higher budgets, I know they are gonna try to charge more. But, they damn better make sure its worth it. I own a PS3 (not off eBay) and I find it quite worth it. The games at $60 are well worth it. But, if they try to charge more it might not be worth it. Why ? Well, $60+ for only a few hours of entertainment isn't worth it. Not to mention the $600 for the console. Some games these days are playable for like 4 hours, then you beat them. Games are also far too easy now. Hell, I played a few games recently that on hard mode I could play in my sleep. Hard should be that, HARD.
Gaming companies (EA is the worst at it) enjoy craming recycled crap down peoples throats all year around. Oh lookie! The newest Maden with slightly better graphics and same game play!
Call me antisocial or whatever you want. I have never seen my neighbors and really don't care. I keep to my self, and I hope they do the same. I don't see how video games or other electronics are the cause to this.
I have quite a few friends, and we hang out all the time. Go to bars, hang out at each others house, etc. This is the same group of people I have known since I was 15. (Scary it was that long ago)
Anyway, I could care less what he says. Hes just another CNN nutjob. Along with that fake ass, over acting Nacy Grace.
I think we should launch these 2 and Dvorak into the sun. The world would be such a better place.
Not like it makes a difference there, but the way it _should_ work (and makes sense) is that if your wireless network is open with no form of encryption and you provide DHCP services you are inviting anyone to use your network.
Now, if your network is encrypted... it should be illegal to use those resources without permission. It doesn't matter what grade of encyption is used. Could be WPA, WEP, ROT13 or XOR.
OH YA! Now, I remeber. NTFS partitions won't need to be defragged, thats why we don't include a defrag tool. This is gonna slap them in the face very quickly, and I can't wait.
I did try this a few years ago, of course Dell wouldn't go for it. The problem is, first off they have agreements with Microsoft to now ship PCs without Windows. Second off, they were not able to ship machines without hard drives. Their order system won't allow that kind of change.
Since that last dell laptop I bought, I have found an even better solution to avoiding the Microsoft tax.
They are not dead yet, but they are working their way to the death bed. Funny thing is, I can't rememeber the last time I bought a CD in the store. It had to be at least 10 years now.
Going to a store to purchase 1 CD is a serious hassle. I dunno about the rest of the world, but there is no way in hell I will go to a mall just to buy a CD. (Or even 10 CDs) You can't just go into a store without being bombarded by people to try this, try that, take this survey, do you want fries with that, do you want to sign up for our pointless credit card, etc.
Just like movies, people are losing an interest in them not just becuase you can download them. Its also becuase of the 9 million commericals at the begining of each. But, I won't rant about that now.
I heard a friend of mine talking about HD Audio CDs and I realized, wow... thats a market that will go nowhere. Sorry, but people don't care or can't tell the difference between HD Audio and normal CDs. Hell, I know a lot of people who can't tell the difference between a CD and an MP3.
1) Screen realstate is a big one. Its common of me to have a zillion terminal sessions going, along with everything else 2) Battery lasts longer, typically 45 minutes longer. Helps a lot on those long flights, I have 2 batterys for each. 3) Much cooler temperature on the 17", almost 20 degrees cooler in most cases. 4) Extra USB port, yes this helps a ton. I would have said firewire 800 also, which is very nice but they already fixed that on the new 15" models. 5) CD drive is faster then the 15" model (my other MBP)
You have no idea what you are missing. Like you, I had my head in the sand about a 2 button mouse. That was, until I bought a Mac and understod it. You are used to the Microsoft way to do it, not the simple way that makes your life easier.
I own a 17" MBP and a 15" MBP. I like the 17" MBP a lot more.
I agree, but I disagree. I love video games, been playing games since the orginal Wolfenstein. (Actually earier, but hey) Games now are getting pretty damn violant. The violance is not the problem, is the many parents have NO idea what the game is about.
For example, my little cousin asked for Grand Theft Auto for Christmas. She got it. Of course, my grandmother didn't put really think the game was centered around killing police and stealing cars. Once she relized it, she removed the game from her. I agree with her, I don't feel a 12 year old girl needs to be watching that. Beyond that, I don't think she should be watching most of whats on TV.
I am not trying to blame the parents, but at the same time I am not trying to give them a break.
Now, I am not your typical nut job who claims video game violance is what made kids shoot up their school, started a war, made some jackasses crash a plane into a building, caused the price of oil to sky rocket, etc. They are just trying to push their silly religious belifs on to you.
I don't disagree with video game ratings, I think they do their job and they do it well. My grandmother has denied my cousin 4 times now on buying games since the ratings more properly discribe what the game is. However, I do disagree with banning these games. I am an adult, I enjoy playing games of all types. Don't look down on me if I enjoy shooting law enforcement in a video game. Its a damn video game! That doesn't mean I will do it in real life. In real life, I have a very fond respect for them, they have a hard ass job.
His show fell apart during his divorce. Everyday, all day he just whined about the whole ordeal. Every single day it was the same crap day in and day out. I got tired of it, and stopped listening to him.
I can not believe how much of a difference that made. I own both a 15" and 17" MBP. The 17" MBP has slightly high heat but you can deal with it. However, the 15" was like sticking your hand on the tail pipe of a bus. This app dropped the temp so much I can actually put it on my lap now! Whats even better is that the keyboard isn't on fire anymore (not really on fire, just felt like it)
I know this might not be high on your list, but keep in mind the cost of living in both of those areas. Bayarea is expensive as fook. Even with a super nice salary, you are gonna be broke.
Now on another note. Google gives you 1 day a week to work on projects you think would benefit the company. Which I think is a very cool idea.
I am not gonna repeat the same crap people put before me... if it was up to me, I would go google without a doubt.
Yes, the subject is slightly misleading. I am a Debian user, soon to be former Debian user. Not because of this, this has nothing to do with me switching distros (again). I am moving away because if the slow as balls release cycles. Even after its released, you are already behind by 6 months to a year.
I only used Debian for apt. It totally blows away yum. But, with the slow ass release cycles I can't take it much longer.
I wish more Distros would base on Debian, rather then base on Red Hat. I really don't care for RPMs.
Everytime I see articles like this I am so happy I switched away from Windows. I switched to a lesser of 2 evils, Apple. But, I tell you what I have spent far less time trying to maintain the system, then using it. Defrags, virus scans, spyware scans, updates, upgrades, reboots, etc.
OS X is NOT perfect, nor is Linux. But, OS X is a lot closer then Windows AND Linux. Don't get me wrong, Linux has its place. As a server. I will use nothing but it for a server, but for a workstation it still has a long way to go.
Hollywood needs to wake up. Yes, people are losing interest in movies for a long list of reasons.
1) Expensive. Not just the ticket cost, but the cost of food is unbearable now. 2) Less on story, more on special effects. Don't get me wrong, I really love special effects. But, there are a ton of movies with nothing BUT special effects, the plot is just trash. 3) Cell phones in movies really drive me nuts. 4) People who won't STFU in movies are worse. I can't tell you the last time I went to a movie and DIDN'T have some jack off yelling, laughing with his friends, standing up, etc. The movie theaters don't do jack about it these days also. 5) I am not amused about going to a movie, and hainvg to sit through 2 coke commericals, 4 car commericals, 2 fandago commericals, 1 about the snack bar, 1 about not using your cell, 2 commericals about the internet being evil and then, we finally get to the previews. The previews are my favorite part of the movie experience. Now, I am so annoyed by this point I can't even enjoy them. 6) Movie studios are tossing out good movies, and replacing it with quick easy to make movies that can line their pockets with quick green cash. 7) The bathrooms are like the bathrooms in Grand Central station. You don't wanna use them.
Looking at all the above, I can very well see why people want to download movies (legal or illegal). Personally, I would rather wait till I can buy the DVD, or download it from iTunes or what not. I have a very extensive DVD collection of well over 500 DVDs. In the past 5 years, I think I have seen 8 movies in the theater vs the few hundred DVDs I have purchased.
Hollywood now reminds me of what the postoffice was crying about when E-Mail first started to become popular. Then will learn to adapt, or be crushed and put out of business along the way.
Ok, so now that that is out of the way. On to George Lucas quiting the movie business. Good, its time. I enjoyed the last Star Wars, he should leave now while he made a good movie. If he tries to stay around, things will go down hill very fast. Steven Spielberg is a good example of this, that bastard should have quit a long time ago. His movies now are trash.
Its baseball! Come on, you put the most boring sport in the world on a phone and can't figure out why people don't buy it ?? Lets say I am at the doctors office, waiting around. I have 30 minutes to kill. Lets look at my options:
Read the Golf magazines
Play games on my cell
iPod
Flirt with some hot broad
Watch baseball on a cell phone
Ok, so I lied. Golf is actually the worst and most boring sport to watch, but baseball is right up there.
Anyway, all of the other options look a like better then watch... LOL, baseball...
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I have been working from home for about 5 years now. The first company I worked for, sort of forgot I existed for a while. Checks were coming in, I was providing them with results, but nobody knew who I was. In fact, very few people in the company knew I worked there to begin with. The company wasn't big either, it was only like 25 employees.
The next company (the current one), I have been with them for 1 year now. MANY people in the company know about me, I am much more in the "public" view then previously. I have a greater interaction with people then before. Every day, its conference call after conference call.
But, if I keep staying at home and working I might get passsed up. Which is why I think I am being asked to move across the country. I am ready to do it, but its going to take a lot of adjustment going back to an office structure. I get way more done at home then in the office. Which is strange why they would want you to be in the office all the time.
I don't have kids (nor do I want them) and I am not married. I am in a long term relationship, and she will be going with me. I am lucky that I don't have the distractions at home. When that office door is shut, that means GTFO. At first I had friends bothering me during the day, until I stopped answering calls from them or answering the door during business hours. That helped a ton.
Anyway, if you work at home too much you will lose touch with the office. Many times there are things going on that I don't hear about, or find out way too late. This can also make you miss promotions or showing special interest in events. Hell, even attending events becomes interesting.
I will be upgrading, but not the Windows version of Office. I will be upgrading the Mac version. The reason is very simple, it will be the first Universal binary of it. I only use it because I need to exchange documents a lot with Windows users, otherwise I would just buy iWork.
It will be a very long time before I upgrade to Vista. Presently, the *ONLY* thing I use my Windows install for is Battle Field 2. (and I don't even play it that often, been playing my PS3 most of the time)
I agree, Netflix was very easy. I like the idea that they can put an account on hold for a little while. This way, when I do get time to use them again its very little effort to restart the account.
Its the thought of knowing that its the only way you will ever have any part of mars. Lets face it, none of us will be going to mars anytime soon, unless you work for NASA you _might_ have a shot.
Chances are, I will never go to space. Thats why I want my ashes to be sent up there when I die. One way or another, I am gonna get there.
Sure, when you think about it its a very silly thing to do. Its all for personal satifaction.
Well, in the US they jack the prices up on food and drinks like you wouldn't believe. Not to mention, they also don't allow you to bring food from the outside. Which makes you feel like a criminal when you are forced to sneak in healthy foods. I personally don't, but have some friends that are health nuts.
Movie theaters piss me off, which is why I stopped going there more then once a year. I love paying $9 per ticket, $20 for a drink and popcorn, sit in a theater with some jackass laughing with his friends the entire time, some baby crying, the guy in front of me who takes his shoes off, getting my sit back kicked non-stop ... then to top it all off, seeing a totally crappy movie.
... only to have more commericals come at me.
.... deep breath ...
I have ranted about this many times. I will deal with ads on TV, websites, etc. But, I can not stand sitting through 5 car commericals, 4 perfume commericals and 6 soft drink commericals
ok
Maybe the gaming companies will relize what the movie companies haven't. As the budget keeps getting higher and higher, its time to make sure you release a quailty product. Something people will not only enjoy once, but enjoy time after time for long periods.
With higher budgets, I know they are gonna try to charge more. But, they damn better make sure its worth it. I own a PS3 (not off eBay) and I find it quite worth it. The games at $60 are well worth it. But, if they try to charge more it might not be worth it. Why ? Well, $60+ for only a few hours of entertainment isn't worth it. Not to mention the $600 for the console. Some games these days are playable for like 4 hours, then you beat them. Games are also far too easy now. Hell, I played a few games recently that on hard mode I could play in my sleep. Hard should be that, HARD.
Gaming companies (EA is the worst at it) enjoy craming recycled crap down peoples throats all year around. Oh lookie! The newest Maden with slightly better graphics and same game play!
Call me antisocial or whatever you want. I have never seen my neighbors and really don't care. I keep to my self, and I hope they do the same. I don't see how video games or other electronics are the cause to this.
I have quite a few friends, and we hang out all the time. Go to bars, hang out at each others house, etc. This is the same group of people I have known since I was 15. (Scary it was that long ago)
Anyway, I could care less what he says. Hes just another CNN nutjob. Along with that fake ass, over acting Nacy Grace.
I think we should launch these 2 and Dvorak into the sun. The world would be such a better place.
Not like it makes a difference there, but the way it _should_ work (and makes sense) is that if your wireless network is open with no form of encryption and you provide DHCP services you are inviting anyone to use your network.
... it should be illegal to use those resources without permission. It doesn't matter what grade of encyption is used. Could be WPA, WEP, ROT13 or XOR.
Now, if your network is encrypted
OH YA! Now, I remeber. NTFS partitions won't need to be defragged, thats why we don't include a defrag tool. This is gonna slap them in the face very quickly, and I can't wait.
I did try this a few years ago, of course Dell wouldn't go for it. The problem is, first off they have agreements with Microsoft to now ship PCs without Windows. Second off, they were not able to ship machines without hard drives. Their order system won't allow that kind of change.
Since that last dell laptop I bought, I have found an even better solution to avoiding the Microsoft tax.
I bought a Mac.
They are not dead yet, but they are working their way to the death bed. Funny thing is, I can't rememeber the last time I bought a CD in the store. It had to be at least 10 years now.
... thats a market that will go nowhere. Sorry, but people don't care or can't tell the difference between HD Audio and normal CDs. Hell, I know a lot of people who can't tell the difference between a CD and an MP3.
Going to a store to purchase 1 CD is a serious hassle. I dunno about the rest of the world, but there is no way in hell I will go to a mall just to buy a CD. (Or even 10 CDs) You can't just go into a store without being bombarded by people to try this, try that, take this survey, do you want fries with that, do you want to sign up for our pointless credit card, etc.
Just like movies, people are losing an interest in them not just becuase you can download them. Its also becuase of the 9 million commericals at the begining of each. But, I won't rant about that now.
I heard a friend of mine talking about HD Audio CDs and I realized, wow
Did it mix up Ted Stevens with Grandpa Simpson ?
There is no way you can get 5+ hours on a MBP and having it doing anything but idle with the brightness all the way down.
15" MBP, working on a document - 2.5 - 3 hours
17" MBP, working on a document - 3.5 - 4 hours
Of course, its always different and there are a lot of things that can determine it.
1) Screen realstate is a big one. Its common of me to have a zillion terminal sessions going, along with everything else
2) Battery lasts longer, typically 45 minutes longer. Helps a lot on those long flights, I have 2 batterys for each.
3) Much cooler temperature on the 17", almost 20 degrees cooler in most cases.
4) Extra USB port, yes this helps a ton. I would have said firewire 800 also, which is very nice but they already fixed that on the new 15" models.
5) CD drive is faster then the 15" model (my other MBP)
If you are serious about gaming, then you will have a mouse designed for just that.
You have no idea what you are missing. Like you, I had my head in the sand about a 2 button mouse. That was, until I bought a Mac and understod it. You are used to the Microsoft way to do it, not the simple way that makes your life easier.
I own a 17" MBP and a 15" MBP. I like the 17" MBP a lot more.
I agree, but I disagree. I love video games, been playing games since the orginal Wolfenstein. (Actually earier, but hey) Games now are getting pretty damn violant. The violance is not the problem, is the many parents have NO idea what the game is about.
For example, my little cousin asked for Grand Theft Auto for Christmas. She got it. Of course, my grandmother didn't put really think the game was centered around killing police and stealing cars. Once she relized it, she removed the game from her. I agree with her, I don't feel a 12 year old girl needs to be watching that. Beyond that, I don't think she should be watching most of whats on TV.
I am not trying to blame the parents, but at the same time I am not trying to give them a break.
Now, I am not your typical nut job who claims video game violance is what made kids shoot up their school, started a war, made some jackasses crash a plane into a building, caused the price of oil to sky rocket, etc. They are just trying to push their silly religious belifs on to you.
I don't disagree with video game ratings, I think they do their job and they do it well. My grandmother has denied my cousin 4 times now on buying games since the ratings more properly discribe what the game is. However, I do disagree with banning these games. I am an adult, I enjoy playing games of all types. Don't look down on me if I enjoy shooting law enforcement in a video game. Its a damn video game! That doesn't mean I will do it in real life. In real life, I have a very fond respect for them, they have a hard ass job.
His show fell apart during his divorce. Everyday, all day he just whined about the whole ordeal. Every single day it was the same crap day in and day out. I got tired of it, and stopped listening to him.
After all that, what you describe above is true.
I can not believe how much of a difference that made. I own both a 15" and 17" MBP. The 17" MBP has slightly high heat but you can deal with it. However, the 15" was like sticking your hand on the tail pipe of a bus. This app dropped the temp so much I can actually put it on my lap now! Whats even better is that the keyboard isn't on fire anymore (not really on fire, just felt like it)
I know this might not be high on your list, but keep in mind the cost of living in both of those areas. Bayarea is expensive as fook. Even with a super nice salary, you are gonna be broke.
... if it was up to me, I would go google without a doubt.
Now on another note. Google gives you 1 day a week to work on projects you think would benefit the company. Which I think is a very cool idea.
I am not gonna repeat the same crap people put before me
Yes, the subject is slightly misleading. I am a Debian user, soon to be former Debian user. Not because of this, this has nothing to do with me switching distros (again). I am moving away because if the slow as balls release cycles. Even after its released, you are already behind by 6 months to a year.
I only used Debian for apt. It totally blows away yum. But, with the slow ass release cycles I can't take it much longer.
I wish more Distros would base on Debian, rather then base on Red Hat. I really don't care for RPMs.
Everytime I see articles like this I am so happy I switched away from Windows. I switched to a lesser of 2 evils, Apple. But, I tell you what I have spent far less time trying to maintain the system, then using it. Defrags, virus scans, spyware scans, updates, upgrades, reboots, etc.
OS X is NOT perfect, nor is Linux. But, OS X is a lot closer then Windows AND Linux. Don't get me wrong, Linux has its place. As a server. I will use nothing but it for a server, but for a workstation it still has a long way to go.
Hollywood needs to wake up. Yes, people are losing interest in movies for a long list of reasons.
1) Expensive. Not just the ticket cost, but the cost of food is unbearable now.
2) Less on story, more on special effects. Don't get me wrong, I really love special effects. But, there are a ton of movies with nothing BUT special effects, the plot is just trash.
3) Cell phones in movies really drive me nuts.
4) People who won't STFU in movies are worse. I can't tell you the last time I went to a movie and DIDN'T have some jack off yelling, laughing with his friends, standing up, etc. The movie theaters don't do jack about it these days also.
5) I am not amused about going to a movie, and hainvg to sit through 2 coke commericals, 4 car commericals, 2 fandago commericals, 1 about the snack bar, 1 about not using your cell, 2 commericals about the internet being evil and then, we finally get to the previews. The previews are my favorite part of the movie experience. Now, I am so annoyed by this point I can't even enjoy them.
6) Movie studios are tossing out good movies, and replacing it with quick easy to make movies that can line their pockets with quick green cash.
7) The bathrooms are like the bathrooms in Grand Central station. You don't wanna use them.
Looking at all the above, I can very well see why people want to download movies (legal or illegal). Personally, I would rather wait till I can buy the DVD, or download it from iTunes or what not. I have a very extensive DVD collection of well over 500 DVDs. In the past 5 years, I think I have seen 8 movies in the theater vs the few hundred DVDs I have purchased.
Hollywood now reminds me of what the postoffice was crying about when E-Mail first started to become popular. Then will learn to adapt, or be crushed and put out of business along the way.
Ok, so now that that is out of the way. On to George Lucas quiting the movie business. Good, its time. I enjoyed the last Star Wars, he should leave now while he made a good movie. If he tries to stay around, things will go down hill very fast. Steven Spielberg is a good example of this, that bastard should have quit a long time ago. His movies now are trash.
Ok, so I lied. Golf is actually the worst and most boring sport to watch, but baseball is right up there.
Anyway, all of the other options look a like better then watch