Recently, my wife got on my case because I left my mail in the back seat of my car "somebody can see and know your address!"
So? What good does it do a burgler to know my address? Unless that burgler figures that somebody who drive a 1992 Ford Festiva has untold riches. Why would the burgler target my house instead of somebody elses?
Then on the news, I hear that people are stealing cars to steal identies. They get the identity from the registration and insurance. WTF? What information does my registration and insurance card have that would allow somebody to steal my identity?
That was probably true five years ago, but not anymore. They have cracked down.
Today, it works like this: you study 600 Q&As for an 80 question test. Of those 600 questions, maybe 15 will be on the test. Those 15 *questions* may be very accurate, but the answers are not similar, and are often wrong. And you don't know which 15 of the 600 practise will be on the exam. So you have to really know the answer to 600 practis questions, to get just 15 questions correct.
So, yeah, those braindumps (or whatever they call them) can be helpful. But they are certainly not giving away the test.
Good lord, don't I wish I could go back and get into a real career: law, engineering, medicine, whatever.
Why would anybody, with any sense, want the horrible uphill battle that is IT?
Employers are doing everything they possibly can to outsource the jobs, or bring in H1Bs. IT workers are often considered washed up at 35. There is zero security.
Even if you do a decent job, is it really what you want? Year after year in a cubical? Doing twice the work, for half the pay, as people who are not nearly as smart?
Sure, an A+ will get you occasional $12 an hour grunt work with no benefits. But, I'm sure you want better than that.
Do you want to be an admin? A software developer? A manager?
Just to let you know, IT is ball-breaker for re-treds right now. Even experienced IT pros, who like the work, are getting out because jobs are so bad. When employers see the accounting degree, and experience, they will figure that you're not really dedicated to IT, and will be reluctant to hire you.
I got out of software development to go into admin a few years back because: 1) at the time, admin were in greater demand. 2) admin were up and around, not stuck in a cubicle. 3) More varity in the work.
But now it seems that admins are a dime, a dozen. I wonder if I could go back to development? I still vaugely remember C/C++. Do people still use that?
My degree is in math with a comp sci concentration.
I believe you. But, I happen to think the CISSP is the most over-rated of all IT certs. Don't get me wrong, having a CISSP doesn't prevent somebody from being great at computer security, but it certainly doesn't guarantee it. I've know CISSPs who couldn't install a home network.
Of course the CISSP is supposed to be managerial. But what's managerial about it? It does not go into nearly enough depth to prove somebody knows how to do a security audit, for example. IMO: the CISSP doesn't go into enough depth to prove anything.
Does an MD guarantee a great physician? Does a JD guarantee a great lawyer? Does an MBA guarantee a business man? Need I go on?
If somebody in high school (for whatever reason) wants to be a computer tech; 90% of the posters here on slashdot, would post that five years of experience is much more valuable than an A+ cert. Well duh, thanks for being so insightful, and all. But how is somebody supposed to get started?
Practically every real profession relies on degrees, certs, licenses, and the like. IT has always been a major exception.
Then the IT pros piss and moan about how their not treated like real professionals, and certainly not paid like other professionals. Imagine if a BSEE was optional for an electrical engineer.
You can't just hire somebody off the street to fix your toilet, or clean your swimming pool. Those jobs require licenses, certs, etc. But, hiring somebody to write life-and-death critic software, whose only credential is that he's the PHB's nephew . . . hell, that's done all the time.
Having worked in a top-secret environment, I'm a little amused at how the people on "24" let uncleared vistors view all the computer screens. Also, when the characters are caught disobeying orders, and using the computers in completely unauthorized way, they seem to just get a verbal admonishment, or - at worst - temporarily "fired."
The security on the "Star Trek" is even sillier. They have no problems with giving anybody complete specifications on the ship, and the complete run of the ship.
1984: Compare a Mac to a DOS box. Ten years later, msft still did not have an GUI OS, just a "pretty face on DOS."
Apple didn't invent the GUI. Apple just made it practical for the masses. Still, where was msft in all this until the mid 90s? At best msft was badly lagging Apple.
In terms of ease of use, I don't think msft has ever caught up to Apple.
My 1992 Ford Festiva gets about 40mpg. My 1982 VW Rabbit (diesel) did even better - even with the air conditioner on.
BTW: why is diesel fuel so expensive? Certainly it is cheaper to make than regular. Diesel used to cost half as much as regular. If diesel cost less, maybe more people would drive diesels, and thereby save fuel.
When I see these commercials for uber-expensive hybreds that get 31mpg, I'm just not that impressed.
I think they already do this: a cop goes to a chat room pretending to be a child, a meeting is arranged, and the cops pick up the offender.
I suppose they would need to keep the online records of the cops, and the offender, but that's it.
Of course they wouldn't actually catch somebody molesting a child, so it would be much lesser offense. But, at least they would identify some predators.
Nobody runs an OS just to run the OS. It's all about the apps.
It doesn't take much, just one killer app, to sink linux as desktop candidate. That app could very well be a game.
As to your list of "What do 97% of all computer users do on their computers?" You seem to refer only to home users. Business users are a huge part of the desktop market. IMO: Linux fails even worse in the business sector. I know about OpenOffice, but there is *much* more to it than that. There are thousands of third party apps that just don't run on Linux.
Other than ease of installation, is there an advantage to using Ubuntu over straight-up Debian?
There are two things I really like about Debian. One is, what I consider, the best package management in the business.
The other is that I can download a 100mb package, and then set it up exactly as I want. I can have old and stable, or bleeding edge. I can use whatever WM/DE I want - or don't use any WM/DE or even x-window. I don't have to download, install, then uninstall a lot of apps, or other stuff, that I don't want.
Debian doesn't have the slickest installation. But, once it's installed, all you have to do is upgrade that installation as you go. You don't have to go out and buy the next version, or anything.
Still, if the performance is significally better, or something. I might consider switching.
I don't think Win2K has any activatation cr@p. And none of this home-version vs pro-version vs other-version, stuff either.
It will run practically everything that XP will run, and does not have that cartoon interface by default. Win2K also takes slightly less resources. I also think Win2K works well with Samba.
My guess is: it will probably be supported by hw/sw vendors for a few more years, at least.
Shortly before the lawsuit was filed, scox's market cap was under $6M, now it's over $80. And the share price has been soaring. Up over 8% yesterday, and up over 5% the day before.
If scox had not filed the lawsuit, then msft would have had no reason to arrange scox's funding.
The lawsuit is not meant to be won, it's an end in itself. The lawsuit isn't costing scox anything - just the opposite.
My feeling, for the last 25 years, is that if somebody wants to nuke the USA, they won't send a missle, they will put the device on a ship, and float it into NY harbor. Or something like that.
IMO: the USA is preparing to fight the wrong kind of war. The new enemies of the USA are insidious. The new enemies won't send missles, or storm the shores.
FWIW: USAF vet, previous employee at General Dynamics with TS/clearance.
"Be proactive in defining your career direction, and flexible in the industries that you practice in."
Sounds very nice in theory, doesn't wash in the real world.
If you are lucky enough to have job, you don't get to chose your career direction. You can study, but study is useless without experience, and your employer decides on your expeerience.
>>Why is it that most reputable CS schools do not offer a CS degree online.
I have degrees in business and math - with a concentration in computer science.
IMO: some things can taught online a lot better than others. Most business is no big problem to teach online.
In comp sci, somebody has to actually look at your code, and explain to you how you could have done stuff better. It's more of a hands-on sort of thing. Would you want a doctor who learned medican online?
>>with a couple of years experience, finding a job is easy
Actually, that's not quite true. Most jobs require you have to experience in about six different areas, and only those six areas.
So if you have experience in Java, C/C++, Clearcase - that won't help you with an employer looking for Oracle and Visual-BASIC. In fact, it might not help for a employer looking for DB2, Java, and Eclisp - because that employer will figure that you *really* want to program in C/C++.
As far as I can tell, the reason behind all these bullsh!t articles is to make sure there will never again be a shortage of IT slave labor.
Forget the article, look at the real world.
A BSCS is as difficult to get as an engineering degree, but as useless as Liberal Arts degree. Look at the job boards, degrees are rarely listed as requirements for software development jobs, and when they are they say "BSCS or equivelent."
If I have a degree in Chemical Engineering, I am *way* ahead of any non-degreed person who wants to work as a Chemical Engineer. The same can not be said for a degree in Comp Sci.
The newspapers and job boards are filled with ads for nurses. The ads often offer $15K sign on bonuses. All they ask is that you be an licensed nurse. How many honest ads are there, offering $15K sign on bonuses for software developers - right out of collede? The real evidence of supply v demand is staring you in the face. Most developer jobs require five years experience in a long list of technologies - and ever job has a different technologies list.
Please don't mis-understand. I am not suggesting that nurses are not worth it, nor am I suggesting that you become a nurse. My point is that real world data should out-weight these bogus self-serving articles.
Slashdot Mirror
Let's say you miss an episode of "24." And for $1, you can legally download the show the next day.
I might be interested in something like that. I know there's Tivo, but I don't need all the fuss, and the commitment.
For most movies, I can wait until they come out on HBO, or pay-per-view.
Recently, my wife got on my case because I left my mail in the back seat of my car "somebody can see and know your address!"
So? What good does it do a burgler to know my address? Unless that burgler figures that somebody who drive a 1992 Ford Festiva has untold riches. Why would the burgler target my house instead of somebody elses?
Then on the news, I hear that people are stealing cars to steal identies. They get the identity from the registration and insurance. WTF? What information does my registration and insurance card have that would allow somebody to steal my identity?
That was probably true five years ago, but not anymore. They have cracked down.
Today, it works like this: you study 600 Q&As for an 80 question test. Of those 600 questions, maybe 15 will be on the test. Those 15 *questions* may be very accurate, but the answers are not similar, and are often wrong. And you don't know which 15 of the 600 practise will be on the exam. So you have to really know the answer to 600 practis questions, to get just 15 questions correct.
So, yeah, those braindumps (or whatever they call them) can be helpful. But they are certainly not giving away the test.
Good lord, don't I wish I could go back and get into a real career: law, engineering, medicine, whatever.
Why would anybody, with any sense, want the horrible uphill battle that is IT?
Employers are doing everything they possibly can to outsource the jobs, or bring in H1Bs. IT workers are often considered washed up at 35. There is zero security.
Even if you do a decent job, is it really what you want? Year after year in a cubical? Doing twice the work, for half the pay, as people who are not nearly as smart?
Sure, an A+ will get you occasional $12 an hour grunt work with no benefits. But, I'm sure you want better than that.
Do you want to be an admin? A software developer? A manager?
Just to let you know, IT is ball-breaker for re-treds right now. Even experienced IT pros, who like the work, are getting out because jobs are so bad. When employers see the accounting degree, and experience, they will figure that you're not really dedicated to IT, and will be reluctant to hire you.
JMHO.
I got out of software development to go into admin a few years back because: 1) at the time, admin were in greater demand. 2) admin were up and around, not stuck in a cubicle. 3) More varity in the work.
But now it seems that admins are a dime, a dozen. I wonder if I could go back to development? I still vaugely remember C/C++. Do people still use that?
My degree is in math with a comp sci concentration.
Unlike most certs, the RHCE is a practical test. You can't just memorize a bunch of trivia.
From what I have seen, the RHCE is a well respected cert.
I believe you. But, I happen to think the CISSP is the most over-rated of all IT certs. Don't get me wrong, having a CISSP doesn't prevent somebody from being great at computer security, but it certainly doesn't guarantee it. I've know CISSPs who couldn't install a home network.
Of course the CISSP is supposed to be managerial. But what's managerial about it? It does not go into nearly enough depth to prove somebody knows how to do a security audit, for example. IMO: the CISSP doesn't go into enough depth to prove anything.
Does an MD guarantee a great physician? Does a JD guarantee a great lawyer? Does an MBA guarantee a business man? Need I go on?
If somebody in high school (for whatever reason) wants to be a computer tech; 90% of the posters here on slashdot, would post that five years of experience is much more valuable than an A+ cert. Well duh, thanks for being so insightful, and all. But how is somebody supposed to get started?
Practically every real profession relies on degrees, certs, licenses, and the like. IT has always been a major exception.
Then the IT pros piss and moan about how their not treated like real professionals, and certainly not paid like other professionals. Imagine if a BSEE was optional for an electrical engineer.
You can't just hire somebody off the street to fix your toilet, or clean your swimming pool. Those jobs require licenses, certs, etc. But, hiring somebody to write life-and-death critic software, whose only credential is that he's the PHB's nephew . . . hell, that's done all the time.
But many people who screen applicants are complete imbeciles.
I have worked in IT over 25 years, and that is something I know for a fact.
Having worked in a top-secret environment, I'm a little amused at how the people on "24" let uncleared vistors view all the computer screens. Also, when the characters are caught disobeying orders, and using the computers in completely unauthorized way, they seem to just get a verbal admonishment, or - at worst - temporarily "fired."
The security on the "Star Trek" is even sillier. They have no problems with giving anybody complete specifications on the ship, and the complete run of the ship.
1984: Compare a Mac to a DOS box. Ten years later, msft still did not have an GUI OS, just a "pretty face on DOS."
Apple didn't invent the GUI. Apple just made it practical for the masses. Still, where was msft in all this until the mid 90s? At best msft was badly lagging Apple.
In terms of ease of use, I don't think msft has ever caught up to Apple.
At least some versions run under Wine, I think.
My 1992 Ford Festiva gets about 40mpg. My 1982 VW Rabbit (diesel) did even better - even with the air conditioner on.
BTW: why is diesel fuel so expensive? Certainly it is cheaper to make than regular. Diesel used to cost half as much as regular. If diesel cost less, maybe more people would drive diesels, and thereby save fuel.
When I see these commercials for uber-expensive hybreds that get 31mpg, I'm just not that impressed.
I think they already do this: a cop goes to a chat room pretending to be a child, a meeting is arranged, and the cops pick up the offender.
I suppose they would need to keep the online records of the cops, and the offender, but that's it.
Of course they wouldn't actually catch somebody molesting a child, so it would be much lesser offense. But, at least they would identify some predators.
Nobody runs an OS just to run the OS. It's all about the apps.
It doesn't take much, just one killer app, to sink linux as desktop candidate. That app could very well be a game.
As to your list of "What do 97% of all computer users do on their computers?" You seem to refer only to home users. Business users are a huge part of the desktop market. IMO: Linux fails even worse in the business sector. I know about OpenOffice, but there is *much* more to it than that. There are thousands of third party apps that just don't run on Linux.
Other than ease of installation, is there an advantage to using Ubuntu over straight-up Debian?
There are two things I really like about Debian. One is, what I consider, the best package management in the business.
The other is that I can download a 100mb package, and then set it up exactly as I want. I can have old and stable, or bleeding edge. I can use whatever WM/DE I want - or don't use any WM/DE or even x-window. I don't have to download, install, then uninstall a lot of apps, or other stuff, that I don't want.
Debian doesn't have the slickest installation. But, once it's installed, all you have to do is upgrade that installation as you go. You don't have to go out and buy the next version, or anything.
Still, if the performance is significally better, or something. I might consider switching.
I don't think Win2K has any activatation cr@p. And none of this home-version vs pro-version vs other-version, stuff either.
It will run practically everything that XP will run, and does not have that cartoon interface by default. Win2K also takes slightly less resources. I also think Win2K works well with Samba.
My guess is: it will probably be supported by hw/sw vendors for a few more years, at least.
From what I have observed, employers don't give a rat's azz about math skills for developers.
Academic types types can go on all day and night about how learning math teaches you to think, etc. Nobody in the real world gives a hoot.
Look at the job boards. Employers want recent, varifiable, experience, in whatever technologies the employer happens to use.
Acadmians are so out of touch with the real world, it's a joke.
Disclosure: bachelor's in math, with concentration in computer science.
Shortly before the lawsuit was filed, scox's market cap was under $6M, now it's over $80. And the share price has been soaring. Up over 8% yesterday, and up over 5% the day before.
If scox had not filed the lawsuit, then msft would have had no reason to arrange scox's funding.
The lawsuit is not meant to be won, it's an end in itself. The lawsuit isn't costing scox anything - just the opposite.
My feeling, for the last 25 years, is that if somebody wants to nuke the USA, they won't send a missle, they will put the device on a ship, and float it into NY harbor. Or something like that.
IMO: the USA is preparing to fight the wrong kind of war. The new enemies of the USA are insidious. The new enemies won't send missles, or storm the shores.
FWIW: USAF vet, previous employee at General Dynamics with TS/clearance.
"Be proactive in defining your career direction, and flexible in the industries that you practice in."
Sounds very nice in theory, doesn't wash in the real world.
If you are lucky enough to have job, you don't get to chose your career direction. You can study, but study is useless without experience, and your employer decides on your expeerience.
>>Why is it that most reputable CS schools do not offer a CS degree online.
I have degrees in business and math - with a concentration in computer science.
IMO: some things can taught online a lot better than others. Most business is no big problem to teach online.
In comp sci, somebody has to actually look at your code, and explain to you how you could have done stuff better. It's more of a hands-on sort of thing. Would you want a doctor who learned medican online?
>>with a couple of years experience, finding a job is easy
Actually, that's not quite true. Most jobs require you have to experience in about six different areas, and only those six areas.
So if you have experience in Java, C/C++, Clearcase - that won't help you with an employer looking for Oracle and Visual-BASIC. In fact, it might not help for a employer looking for DB2, Java, and Eclisp - because that employer will figure that you *really* want to program in C/C++.
As far as I can tell, the reason behind all these bullsh!t articles is to make sure there will never again be a shortage of IT slave labor.
Forget the article, look at the real world.
A BSCS is as difficult to get as an engineering degree, but as useless as Liberal Arts degree. Look at the job boards, degrees are rarely listed as requirements for software development jobs, and when they are they say "BSCS or equivelent."
If I have a degree in Chemical Engineering, I am *way* ahead of any non-degreed person who wants to work as a Chemical Engineer. The same can not be said for a degree in Comp Sci.
The newspapers and job boards are filled with ads for nurses. The ads often offer $15K sign on bonuses. All they ask is that you be an licensed nurse. How many honest ads are there, offering $15K sign on bonuses for software developers - right out of collede? The real evidence of supply v demand is staring you in the face. Most developer jobs require five years experience in a long list of technologies - and ever job has a different technologies list.
Please don't mis-understand. I am not suggesting that nurses are not worth it, nor am I suggesting that you become a nurse. My point is that real world data should out-weight these bogus self-serving articles.