"Since you will be undertaking a position which adds no front line benefit to the bottom line - how will you go about adding value and justifying your salary?"
Most managers tend to think that they are most important, and that just by being there they somehow take credit for the actions carried out by others. One of that type who meets this question will waffle, because they have never seriously considered how they COULD add value. If you find one that can answer that question sensibly, you will have found a manager worth employing.
Rather than several hundred graphs, most of which just show the same shape from test to test - why not through software and hardware RAID 5 into the mix?
I could care less about a few percentage points difference in real world speed, but being able to up the reliability would be useful.
Specifically,
What is the hit in doing RAID 5, and how does it scale with load and CPU usage?
How does the number of drives affect things?
Software/Hardware - what's the real difference and if you're going the NAS route, does it matter?
Which saturates first in NAS, network, processing or hard disk performance? Do you need 1000BaseT, or just how well does 100BaseT do in the real world?
If you really want better performance, how do you go about getting it? Which cache size has the biggest effect?
I'm sure that the graphs were easy to make, after the data was gathered, but putting a little more thought into the study would have yielded results that were more useful.
To sum it up, don't both with RAID if you are looking for performance - buy more memory instead.
Monsanto were sued successfully for releasing a biohazard into the environment without any viable means to control it.
A spokesman said "We're really sorry, what the hell were we thinking, we have no idea what the long term effects of this are, let alone being able to sensible make profit from it. We're sorry; really sorry."
A judge was heard to remark "You ignorant bastards. How dare you play stupid corporate games with the livelihood and future of substanical numbers of people? You bastards are going to fry."
Face it, you're in the wrong - the civilised world realised years ago that violence only made things worse in the end, that you should defend yourself but never attack another. Those that don't understand this are a danger to everyone, no matter WHY they do it, they always tend to evil in the end.
Hopefully people like you will die off, too busy killing each other to ever relax and make love.
Probably right, unless...
on
TiVo Will Die
·
· Score: 1
Tivo as it stands is too expensive. Granted the functionality is great and once you're tried it you don't want to go back.
However
Most people won't try it because of the price. There is no good reason for this overcharging other than trying to recoup the hardware cost. Therefore I give this suggestion to Tivo - ditch the hardware and make yourself into a pure play service provider.
There are loads of PVR, DVR and other players looking to get into the market. Ride on that by providing the software and service for, say, $10 per YEAR + upgrades.
I think the only part of this I have to disagree with is the common statement "Ideas are worthless".
Now I know and agree that a good idea on its own is worthless, it just sits there looking smug, but never causes any effect. However, you can have the best execution in the world, be as energetic as you like, without some idea that separates you from everyone else you are 'me too'. About the only thing you compete on is price, and since others can undercut you, the end tends to be drawn out, messy and costly as well.
Ideas are the thing that separate you from the crowd. If you don't have new ideas, don't go near business - efficiency is NOT enough (pity they don't play down that one they way they try with ideas).
As a rough rule of thumb, come up with 100 new ideas. Test and check and find the best one. THEN strengthen that idea as much as you can and execute the hell out of it.
And if anyone ever says to you in your company "ideas are worthless", make damn sure they do nothing more dangerous than office manager.
Thanks for your kind words. You might well be right. I happen to have a way of seeing words that means I can read well, but spelling, grammer, etc. are hard work for me. As a kid I had teacher shouting at me since 'by theory' I was supposed to be able to write as well as I could read. It took hard work to be able to fake it well enough to survive.
Throughout my life I've had related problems in writing and getting across ideas in words. Thing is, because I think strongly in pictures I'm actually better than most at finding new ideas. Its a kind of karma thing, the way the brain is wired; and I wouldn't change it for the world. I can always find someone to rewrite things for me if I really need it.
I've no problem with people not agreeing, provided they do so after thought, not rote reaction.
I've posted my thoughts here because I've seen time and time again people coming up with loads of reasons why its impossible for them to start their own business. At the same time, I've seen people with no talent (technical, business, finance, people, anything) start and succeed at business. In the end it comes down to fear. People fear the unknown and 'wise' words of others, and feel they are safe in a big firm. However, nobody is safe. If you can take control of your life, then you can be the agent of your own future. In the end that is the only place to be, when you make the transition from sheep to wolf its like waking up.
If you can code, you can understand finance, and enough law to get by. Marketing is 99% bull - just doing something different and running it by someone else first is usually as good as a marketing degree. Buy and read an 'idiots' book instead of a software book - you'll be amazed how simple it is.
The only area that software people tend to fall down on is people skills. No matter what, you have to grow to be passable at them - and even code jocks can get there through reps training.
As a by product, it helps in dealings with the opposite sex as well.....
Utter rubbish, put about by English teachers to inflate their perceived worth.
Don't beleive me? Take a look at the papers and articles of those with the ideas, those that have actually advanced knowledge. There is NO correlation between the ability to write well and the ability to think well.
We are all put together differently, with different skills and mindsets. You often find those that excel in one area will suffer in others.
I used to have teachers like you, and I'm damn glad that there were others to support me and recognise just how dumb such theories were.
In the end I got to the stage where I could string sentences together tolerably well, and make only a few mistakes.
Somehow it never stopped me making patentable advances and being a world leader in a niche technology field.
How often do you read an ad in a magazine? In particular how often do you read the little ads at the back (porn excepted)?
Do magazine articles, do conferences (in your field), do the unexpected. In general you will find that your ROI is much higher, providing you actually have something worth selling.
Google adwords are virtually the only ads that are worth trying for the small company - and even then keep it targeted. Otherwise you will find mailed flyers, personal meetings and the 'network' is more effective.
In the end, make damn sure your product is good enough, or innovative enough to get word of mouth. Its the only way you can grow a small company without giving all your profits to the advertising men.
You need a product that can justify costs of a few k per item. You are not in the Microsoft game, you are in the niche game. Value to a specific niche is what you are looking for. Value sufficient to justify the costs you will charge, and small enough that the big boys aren't interested.
So:
Have a number redirected to your mobile, and have a rotation within your little group.
A website is cheap to do well. Don't have an office for the first year. YOU are the sales force.
You are going to deliver it personally (unless its a web service). You're not in the shrinkwrap game yet.
Providing you keep it simple, you can use off-the-shelf software for this for quite a while. Sure, you won't find every tax loophole, but the accountant charges can be kept to a minimum.
Keep it simple. Try and start from the basis of your template contract. Use your brain, and a lawyer when you have to. The aim is to be a partner to the customer - if they try to tie you up in too complex contracts or terrible terms, walk away.
Work from home. Don't have fixed overhead costs until you have to. Plenty of companies can succeed to the extent they need to never having a 9 to 5 office. Some people swear blind that the office is a necessity. It you agree then get the cheapest, smallest, most dive like office you can.
Go to the customer, don't expect the customer to come to you. Sell on the solution you can provide, sell on your dedication. If they want the glitz then you will likely not get a look in until your turnover is $1m anyway - don't go after those customers.
I'm not saying I disagree with what you have said. There are lots of reasons why it can be too difficult, too expensive - but provided you keep you wits about you, they are possible to avoid.
Well, first off, the poster said unemployed. Therefore the question of available time tends to be already covered. Nobody is saying that you shouldn't look for a more conventional job at the same time.
Second, I said niche for a a specific reason. Its amazing how often you find small niches with needs that are not met, or poorly met. You can find opportunities where the programming effort required is minimal, but the value to that customer is immense. Nobody is saying you should take on Microsoft - in fact its because you're small that you can successfully address these niches. Your local, you know the problem, you know the culture. You can also target your marketing cheaply.
Nice reasoned argument. I can see you've really given it a lot of thought, considered all the factors and come to a considered viewpoint that addresses the thrust of the discussion.
Or maybe you just get off on correcting unimportant mistakes.
My brain doesn't always see these things, and for postings on/. I don't give it a lot of consideration. I tend to focus on what's being said instead.
PS Be very careful of throwing rocks in glasshouses.
We've talking software here, the same stuff that many of you do for free with Linux. You have a computer, you have the skills, your marketing and selling might not be great, but at least one of you will be street smart and presentable enough to talk to customers.
So why do you NEED lots of finance?
Find a niche, find a need, create a demo of a solution and sell it. Deliver and find more of the same.
You can be faster, smarter and cheaper than the competition, and if it doesn't work, it need not cost you much at all.
Its one of the advantages of knowledge based industries - the barriers to entry are skill based, not fixed costs.
Analogue mobile phones > Digital mobile phones > 3G
Cassette tape > CD > SACD
Video tape > DVD > HD-DVD
History tends to show that trying to replace a 'good enough' technology with one that has no significant advantages is prone to remaindered stock. Sure, one day I'm sure 3G might take off - but it will be very slow and very patchy. The initial switch to digital delivers benefits. Better resolution is not enough to make the second generation digital technologies grab the public interest.
Now, if they attempt to reimplement region coding, CSS, and other DRM technologies in HD-DVD or Blu-Ray, as we can expect them to, its reasonable to assume that it will NEVER take off, resolution or not. The advantage in moving is just too small.
Skip this next generation, wait for the one after with solid state players and really rich content options.
By 'reasonable' projection, we are at the 50% point where we have used half the reserves. The rate of oil discoveries is substancially less than the rate at which we use it.
What has increased dramatically is the number of people inflating the reserve numbers so that
a) they can pump more out of the ground, under OPEC rules
b) they can confuse the credulous that there is nothing to worry about - since there's not a damn thing they can do about it
Face facts. Oil supply is about to turn down, and when supply can no longer match the rising demand curve, the US way of life comes crashing to a halt. No amount of ostrich impressions is going to change that.
The level of disrespect shown at US Immigration was already on the boundaries of unacceptable, prior to 9/11. However its now well beyond an acceptable admin level. If I'm visiting a country I expect to be treated as guest, not a criminal.
The best approach for the civilised world is probably going to be to just allow the US to build its walls around itself, make itself feel safe, and match it tit-for-tat so that its contained and isolated. The anti democratic insanity that is currently gripping them is best dealt with by a cooling off time of a decade or so.
I now take active steps to avoid visiting the US, and will not consider visiting it for tourism. Its a big world, the US is a small, and progressively less important part of it.
I hate to think what will happen when China overtakes the US economically - and the oil runs out.
Once again, Apple snatches defeat from the jaws of victory.
Reading here we can see the typical Mac Zealot claiming that its all OK really, and 'look, its small!'
Point is they have left a great route for others to come in and undercut them for the mass market - and a story 3 down from this one shows Microsoft is waking up to the opportunity. Given the route of added functionality and stealing a march on the ipod, this it the day Apple will rue, similar to when they lost the PC wars.
No this is not flamebait, its simple real world facts of business life - the portable lifestype device market was somewhat open to Apple, even with mobile phones everywhere. Overpricing this device has cost them that. No price cut to $150 within 3 months, no hope.
I'll take a guess. Over the years its been used to guide civilian and military aircraft, its had all the bugs beaten out of it. I guess its right virtually all the time, and if ever wrong, it errs on the side of caution.
In other words, I'll bet its more reliable than the pilot. You have met pilots, haven't you?
Sure, I want to see very fault tolerant hardware and software in an automated system. But I also want to see the pilots hands off the controls - they are the single biggest cause of accidents.
The joke about the pilot and the dog is very, very true.
With DVD players the cheaper the player, the more likely to play DVD-R, DVD+RW, MP3s, MPGs - all region free.
Plus, if it breaks outside warranty, you replace it with another cheap player, probably Blu-Ray - all for less than the cost of one 'brand name' player.
And don't get me started on Sony's quality.
Face it, the use of the word brand should give you a clue - most of the money you are paying is going to finance expensive adverts and marketing agencies - not engineering.
OK, sensible answer demands a sensible reply. Here's the thinking.
ipod and mini ipod will be hit by a wave of cheap replacements that both allow you to store/play music AND video. These will integrate with mobile phones (2G).
Manufacturers have noted the success of the ipod - they want a slice. Now a straight MP3 player is, in the end, a very simple device (the ipod score with the typical apple design flair). Thus they will look to see how that can be enhanced. One way is to add a video capability (that multi gig drive is good for it). The other is to tie it in with the mobile phone, to yield both a device that will appeal even more to the young, and one where new songs can be bought and downloaded over a GPRS link.
Multi processor machines will begin to take off in the business environment. Single user, multi machine setups will smooth the rollout of Linux/OpenOffice and make people more productive
Your typical office machine gets used for two things: 'normal' office stuff (wordprocessing, email, etc.); and 'other' stuff (everything from a developers environment to that special piece of software that's needed for widget X). There is a lot to be said for explicitly partitioning this and locking down the first part hard, as well as having a free OSS solution with which to beat Microsoft over the head. With thing like the EPIA processor, its easy and a potential selling point to put two 'machines' in one box.
Appliances that take advantage of home broadband links and WiFi will take off.
Few people have seriously thought about what a high bandwidth, always on connection into millions of homes means. I'm predicting that this year someone will, be it for home security, entertainment, community. And providing the price is right, all those people with home hubs and a machine that's on 10% of the time will buy them.
Microsoft will get scared, and will run towards early launch of XBox 2 as a home machine. Failure will spell the fall of Microsoft.
In business, 90% is perception. We know they are getting hit for discounts on the OS and Office, and that the next money spinner is years away. The city is not forgiving of underperformance, and Microsoft knows it. They know that they aren't going to win the smartphone business, PDA is static - all they really have to tell a good story is XBox, and I don't think that they are likely to make a rushed launch a success.
Of course, Microsoft could go Linux - but either way, they will be running, and running scared.
The Apple House will be unveiled
Face it, Apple aren't really a technology company, they are a technology functional design company - understanding how people use technology is where they win. Its sensible and logical to take those core skills and attempt to apply them to all home appliances, if only to do an IKEA and corner the metro set that skirts technology. Thus, the Apple house, where everything is designed to look similar, work well, and work together.
I think he's indulged a bit too much over Christmas. Here's some better predictions:
ipod and mini ipod will be hit by a wave of cheap replacements that both allow you to store/play music AND video. These will integrate with mobile phones (2G).
Multi processor machines will begin to take off in the business environment. Single user, multi machine setups will smooth the rollout of Linux/OpenOffice and make people more productive
Appliances that take advantage of home broadband links and WiFi will take off.
Microsoft will get scared, and will run towards early launch of XBox 2 as a home machine. Failure will spell the fall of Microsoft.
They have just finished arranging the contract with big consulting concerns for new IT for everyone. Those offerings are significantly predicated on Microsoft. Plus there are old DOS apps still in use.
This is pure dealing with Microsoft, there is not a hope that Linux will be generally taken on.
And Microsoft will recognise that too.
If they had wanted to take it seriously, they would have required Linux solutions when they put out the original tender in April. They didn't.
"You won't have to work, machines will do everything for you."
Flying Cars !
Isn't it interesting that the only the failed predictions are the ones that people remember - no matter if they are exceeded or undershot.
Its almost as if, if you want to be quoted and remembered, you need to make high sounding, but wrong predictions. The more smug the eventual reader, the more notice they take.
"Microsoft will perfect intelligent software in their next release"
"SCO will own all Linux IP"
"The future belongs to Internet companies"
"Genetic engineering is no more than a passing fad, forgotten by history"
"President Bush will be recognised by history as a fine president"
Slashdot Mirror
Most managers tend to think that they are most important, and that just by being there they somehow take credit for the actions carried out by others. One of that type who meets this question will waffle, because they have never seriously considered how they COULD add value. If you find one that can answer that question sensibly, you will have found a manager worth employing.
I could care less about a few percentage points difference in real world speed, but being able to up the reliability would be useful.
Specifically,
- What is the hit in doing RAID 5, and how does it scale with load and CPU usage?
- How does the number of drives affect things?
- Software/Hardware - what's the real difference and if you're going the NAS route, does it matter?
- Which saturates first in NAS, network, processing or hard disk performance? Do you need 1000BaseT, or just how well does 100BaseT do in the real world?
- If you really want better performance, how do you go about getting it? Which cache size has the biggest effect?
I'm sure that the graphs were easy to make, after the data was gathered, but putting a little more thought into the study would have yielded results that were more useful.To sum it up, don't both with RAID if you are looking for performance - buy more memory instead.
A spokesman said "We're really sorry, what the hell were we thinking, we have no idea what the long term effects of this are, let alone being able to sensible make profit from it. We're sorry; really sorry."
A judge was heard to remark "You ignorant bastards. How dare you play stupid corporate games with the livelihood and future of substanical numbers of people? You bastards are going to fry."
When did I fall through the wormhole ?
The sonic-queued, solar-powered, multi-homed, focusing mosquito, wasp, bee and fly vapouriser was the creation of a lazy afternoon many decades ago.
One day I'll actually get around to building it; but only after my ......
....nope, you're not ready for that just yet.
Face it, you're in the wrong - the civilised world realised years ago that violence only made things worse in the end, that you should defend yourself but never attack another. Those that don't understand this are a danger to everyone, no matter WHY they do it, they always tend to evil in the end.
Hopefully people like you will die off, too busy killing each other to ever relax and make love.
However
Most people won't try it because of the price. There is no good reason for this overcharging other than trying to recoup the hardware cost. Therefore I give this suggestion to Tivo - ditch the hardware and make yourself into a pure play service provider.
There are loads of PVR, DVR and other players looking to get into the market. Ride on that by providing the software and service for, say, $10 per YEAR + upgrades.
It worked for Microsoft.
Now I know and agree that a good idea on its own is worthless, it just sits there looking smug, but never causes any effect. However, you can have the best execution in the world, be as energetic as you like, without some idea that separates you from everyone else you are 'me too'. About the only thing you compete on is price, and since others can undercut you, the end tends to be drawn out, messy and costly as well.
Ideas are the thing that separate you from the crowd. If you don't have new ideas, don't go near business - efficiency is NOT enough (pity they don't play down that one they way they try with ideas).
As a rough rule of thumb, come up with 100 new ideas. Test and check and find the best one. THEN strengthen that idea as much as you can and execute the hell out of it.
And if anyone ever says to you in your company "ideas are worthless", make damn sure they do nothing more dangerous than office manager.
Throughout my life I've had related problems in writing and getting across ideas in words. Thing is, because I think strongly in pictures I'm actually better than most at finding new ideas. Its a kind of karma thing, the way the brain is wired; and I wouldn't change it for the world. I can always find someone to rewrite things for me if I really need it.
I've no problem with people not agreeing, provided they do so after thought, not rote reaction.
I've posted my thoughts here because I've seen time and time again people coming up with loads of reasons why its impossible for them to start their own business. At the same time, I've seen people with no talent (technical, business, finance, people, anything) start and succeed at business. In the end it comes down to fear. People fear the unknown and 'wise' words of others, and feel they are safe in a big firm. However, nobody is safe. If you can take control of your life, then you can be the agent of your own future. In the end that is the only place to be, when you make the transition from sheep to wolf its like waking up.
If you can code, you can understand finance, and enough law to get by. Marketing is 99% bull - just doing something different and running it by someone else first is usually as good as a marketing degree. Buy and read an 'idiots' book instead of a software book - you'll be amazed how simple it is.
The only area that software people tend to fall down on is people skills. No matter what, you have to grow to be passable at them - and even code jocks can get there through reps training.
As a by product, it helps in dealings with the opposite sex as well.....
Don't beleive me? Take a look at the papers and articles of those with the ideas, those that have actually advanced knowledge. There is NO correlation between the ability to write well and the ability to think well.
We are all put together differently, with different skills and mindsets. You often find those that excel in one area will suffer in others.
I used to have teachers like you, and I'm damn glad that there were others to support me and recognise just how dumb such theories were.
In the end I got to the stage where I could string sentences together tolerably well, and make only a few mistakes.
Somehow it never stopped me making patentable advances and being a world leader in a niche technology field.
Funny that.
How often do you read an ad in a magazine? In particular how often do you read the little ads at the back (porn excepted)?
Do magazine articles, do conferences (in your field), do the unexpected. In general you will find that your ROI is much higher, providing you actually have something worth selling.
Google adwords are virtually the only ads that are worth trying for the small company - and even then keep it targeted. Otherwise you will find mailed flyers, personal meetings and the 'network' is more effective.
In the end, make damn sure your product is good enough, or innovative enough to get word of mouth. Its the only way you can grow a small company without giving all your profits to the advertising men.
You need a product that can justify costs of a few k per item. You are not in the Microsoft game, you are in the niche game. Value to a specific niche is what you are looking for. Value sufficient to justify the costs you will charge, and small enough that the big boys aren't interested.
So:
- Have a number redirected to your mobile, and have a rotation within your little group.
- A website is cheap to do well. Don't have an office for the first year. YOU are the sales force.
- You are going to deliver it personally (unless its a web service). You're not in the shrinkwrap game yet.
- Providing you keep it simple, you can use off-the-shelf software for this for quite a while. Sure, you won't find every tax loophole, but the accountant charges can be kept to a minimum.
- Keep it simple. Try and start from the basis of your template contract. Use your brain, and a lawyer when you have to. The aim is to be a partner to the customer - if they try to tie you up in too complex contracts or terrible terms, walk away.
- Work from home. Don't have fixed overhead costs until you have to. Plenty of companies can succeed to the extent they need to never having a 9 to 5 office. Some people swear blind that the office is a necessity. It you agree then get the cheapest, smallest, most dive like office you can.
- Go to the customer, don't expect the customer to come to you. Sell on the solution you can provide, sell on your dedication. If they want the glitz then you will likely not get a look in until your turnover is $1m anyway - don't go after those customers.
I'm not saying I disagree with what you have said. There are lots of reasons why it can be too difficult, too expensive - but provided you keep you wits about you, they are possible to avoid.Second, I said niche for a a specific reason. Its amazing how often you find small niches with needs that are not met, or poorly met. You can find opportunities where the programming effort required is minimal, but the value to that customer is immense. Nobody is saying you should take on Microsoft - in fact its because you're small that you can successfully address these niches. Your local, you know the problem, you know the culture. You can also target your marketing cheaply.
Or maybe you just get off on correcting unimportant mistakes.
My brain doesn't always see these things, and for postings on /. I don't give it a lot of consideration. I tend to focus on what's being said instead.
PS Be very careful of throwing rocks in glasshouses.
We've talking software here, the same stuff that many of you do for free with Linux. You have a computer, you have the skills, your marketing and selling might not be great, but at least one of you will be street smart and presentable enough to talk to customers.
So why do you NEED lots of finance?
Find a niche, find a need, create a demo of a solution and sell it. Deliver and find more of the same.
You can be faster, smarter and cheaper than the competition, and if it doesn't work, it need not cost you much at all.
Its one of the advantages of knowledge based industries - the barriers to entry are skill based, not fixed costs.
Cassette tape > CD > SACD
Video tape > DVD > HD-DVD
History tends to show that trying to replace a 'good enough' technology with one that has no significant advantages is prone to remaindered stock. Sure, one day I'm sure 3G might take off - but it will be very slow and very patchy. The initial switch to digital delivers benefits. Better resolution is not enough to make the second generation digital technologies grab the public interest.
Now, if they attempt to reimplement region coding, CSS, and other DRM technologies in HD-DVD or Blu-Ray, as we can expect them to, its reasonable to assume that it will NEVER take off, resolution or not. The advantage in moving is just too small.
Skip this next generation, wait for the one after with solid state players and really rich content options.
What has increased dramatically is the number of people inflating the reserve numbers so that
a) they can pump more out of the ground, under OPEC rules
b) they can confuse the credulous that there is nothing to worry about - since there's not a damn thing they can do about it
Face facts. Oil supply is about to turn down, and when supply can no longer match the rising demand curve, the US way of life comes crashing to a halt. No amount of ostrich impressions is going to change that.
The level of disrespect shown at US Immigration was already on the boundaries of unacceptable, prior to 9/11. However its now well beyond an acceptable admin level. If I'm visiting a country I expect to be treated as guest, not a criminal.
The best approach for the civilised world is probably going to be to just allow the US to build its walls around itself, make itself feel safe, and match it tit-for-tat so that its contained and isolated. The anti democratic insanity that is currently gripping them is best dealt with by a cooling off time of a decade or so.
I now take active steps to avoid visiting the US, and will not consider visiting it for tourism. Its a big world, the US is a small, and progressively less important part of it.
I hate to think what will happen when China overtakes the US economically - and the oil runs out.
Works fine, all the benefits of digital (MP2) and selling better than their non digital counterparts.
I've got one on my computer, 40, and it can download data, music, etc.
Reading here we can see the typical Mac Zealot claiming that its all OK really, and 'look, its small!'
Point is they have left a great route for others to come in and undercut them for the mass market - and a story 3 down from this one shows Microsoft is waking up to the opportunity. Given the route of added functionality and stealing a march on the ipod, this it the day Apple will rue, similar to when they lost the PC wars.
No this is not flamebait, its simple real world facts of business life - the portable lifestype device market was somewhat open to Apple, even with mobile phones everywhere. Overpricing this device has cost them that. No price cut to $150 within 3 months, no hope.
I'll take a guess. Over the years its been used to guide civilian and military aircraft, its had all the bugs beaten out of it. I guess its right virtually all the time, and if ever wrong, it errs on the side of caution.
In other words, I'll bet its more reliable than the pilot. You have met pilots, haven't you?
Sure, I want to see very fault tolerant hardware and software in an automated system. But I also want to see the pilots hands off the controls - they are the single biggest cause of accidents.
The joke about the pilot and the dog is very, very true.
With DVD players the cheaper the player, the more likely to play DVD-R, DVD+RW, MP3s, MPGs - all region free.
Plus, if it breaks outside warranty, you replace it with another cheap player, probably Blu-Ray - all for less than the cost of one 'brand name' player.
And don't get me started on Sony's quality.
Face it, the use of the word brand should give you a clue - most of the money you are paying is going to finance expensive adverts and marketing agencies - not engineering.
Of course, Microsoft could go Linux - but either way, they will be running, and running scared.
Face it, Apple aren't really a technology company, they are a technology functional design company - understanding how people use technology is where they win. Its sensible and logical to take those core skills and attempt to apply them to all home appliances, if only to do an IKEA and corner the metro set that skirts technology. Thus, the Apple house, where everything is designed to look similar, work well, and work together.Mr Jobs, if your reading this, gissa job !
This is pure dealing with Microsoft, there is not a hope that Linux will be generally taken on.
And Microsoft will recognise that too.
If they had wanted to take it seriously, they would have required Linux solutions when they put out the original tender in April. They didn't.
"You won't have to work, machines will do everything for you."
Flying Cars !
Isn't it interesting that the only the failed predictions are the ones that people remember - no matter if they are exceeded or undershot.
Its almost as if, if you want to be quoted and remembered, you need to make high sounding, but wrong predictions. The more smug the eventual reader, the more notice they take.
History, here I come.