- Ever have trouble starting your car on a really cold day? Now imagine if you had to use those batteries to drive around.
Actually, the batteries would generate more power on a cold day, not less. Your car is hard to start in the cold because of the increased viscosity of the engine oil, not because of the battery.
For my english class this semester I decided to skip buying the 10 required books since they were all available online as extexs.
While I don't particularly regret the decision, I have noticed that there is definitly a considerable amount of eystrain associated with staring at a screen for a few hours at a time, even on a LCD. It really is easier to read stuff on paper, and I actually think I comprehend stuff better when it is less stressful.
Also, you could make the point about just printing out ebooks....but unless you have access to cheap/free printing, that kinda negates the purpose.
While I thing etexts/ebooks are cool, I would choose a real book over an ebook anyday.
I suggest if you move to a pay system (which I would love) then use a micropay system. Something like $0.03 per page load.
While that sounds good, there are a lot of problems associated with it. First of all, you can't charge for loading the front page. OK, so you only charge for loads of comments pages. But now you're changing how often and when people load pages (i.e. only after serveral high-modded comments accumulate).
If a system like that were to be implemented, you would have to change the "price" based on the number of comments. Maybe.00001 ($.03 is ridiculously high) for a page with 5 +3 or greater comments, and.0001 for a page with 25 +3 comments to encourage people to load pages before lots of comments are generated.
It is the fairest way to go, and would encourage people to start reading slashdot because there wouldn't be a commitment.
Seems to me like any sort of pay-per-view system is the worst way to attract new viewers. If you're looking to attract new people, an ad/subscribe-no-ad system would make more sense.
While it seems quite true that linux may be a very good alternative to NT given Microsoft's extravagant prices, what if cost is not really an issue, like in university enviornments? Where I currently work, we can get most MS software at a very drastic discount (Office and 2000 pro are nearly free), so price does not really come into play. Do I think we should use Liunx? Of course, but price isn't necessairly the issue when chosing software.
True, Kaempffert's vision of today was very accurate, but don't forget how many INaccurate depictions of the future (today) there were. This does show us that it is quite possible to make good predictions about the future, but how do we know which predictions about our future are correct?
It seems to me that there is no way to prevent the following digital copying of these CDs:
Standalone CD player --> digital out (coax/optical)--> digital sound card -->.wav
Seems to me that their copy protection doesn't prevent this
Usen offers 100Mbps connection for consumers
Chieko Tashiro
Friday, March 23, 2001 at 18:00 JST
TOKYO -- Usen corporation, a Tokyo based cable radio company, started the world's fastest Internet connection service from March 1. At a top speed of 100Mbps Usen is targeting the average consumer via its fiber-optic cables.
Atsushi Fujimoto, broadband business planning director of Usen, demonstrated the 100Mbps connection for Japan Today and explained, "At 100Mbps connection, when you are downloading a game file that is 121MB it takes only 20-30 seconds instead of waiting the 10-12 hours it takes on the 64Kbps ISDN connection common to many Japanese households.
The monthly service charge is Y4,900 a month, plus another Y900 per month for Usen's special modem. Installing charges run to Y30,000.
It may sound irresistible, but not all agree.
"It is wrong to take a look at a 100M bps connection and consider it the best service," says Takashi Hosoya of Jupiter Communications, a market research company.
The Internet needs to be considered in total, says Hosoya -- the backbone, upstream, and downstream conditions. Even if downstream is 100M bps the backbone may not good enough, slowing everything down.
He also points that Usen's broadband service may be aimed only at pushing Usen's cost contents.
To install the service, Usen will add a fibre optic line alongside your phone line. That line will then be connected to Usen's fiber optic utility pole which then hooks through to the Usen's Shibuya office, and the Internet.
Users can then access Usen's portal site where you can download games and Karaoke songs. Usen is working to provide more content for users.
Currently, Usen services the Shibuya and Setagaya areas of Tokyo. In April, Tokyo's Suginami, Meguro, Ota areas will be added.
Then, in October, Tokyo's 23 wards will be able to access the service. From April 2003, Usen will provide the service to all major cities in Japan.
Andrew Shuttleworth, president of the Tokyo PC Users Group said, "Y4,900 is a very low monthly charge. Users will appreciate the service."
Daiwa Institute of Research's analyst Shinji Moriyuki thinks the key for Usen is to spray the service area wide as soon as possible. He says, "Usen may serve many users' needs. If users have faster connections, there are many more things they can do and create online. If anyone, any one company wants a high speed connection with inexpensive fees, Usen's service will help."
Another thing that is also good about this service is the service subscribers can connect to a high speed Internet 24x7.
Many Japanese Internet users connect to the Internet and download emails and then disconnect. Well trained as they are, by years of NTT charging 10 yen for every three minutes spent on line.
Shuttleworth says, "At the moment many Japanese users connect to download their mail and then disconnect as soon as possible, even if they have a flat rate connection like Flets ISDN. As these services spread the mindset will change so that people think of the Internet as an 'always on' service."
Daiwa's Moriyuki thinks the Usen service will increase competition. "The service will motivate the industry to grow. However, it all depends on the user's need for the Internet."
Gartner Group's broadband analyst, Yuko Adachi, thinks any change to Japan's Internet scene will take at least a year. "Until Usen can provide the service nationwide there won't be much difference. Plus, the service is consumer targeted, and many applications for consumer don't need speeds of 100Mbps."
In fact, NTT East's PR department said, "We are currently providing a 10Mbps test service, and hopefully this spring we will also provide a 100Mbps service." However, the date for the service's start has not been announced.
Shuttleworth also agrees there will be more competition. "Of course NTT and other companies will work to provide the same kind of service."
For personal users, Moriyuki says, "Some might not know what to do with 100Mbps, many only need 10Mbps."
Shuttleworth's opinion differs. "In Japan, many advanced device are being developed, such as TVs which can connect to the Internet and PCs with TV tuners. With those, users will be downloading videos and then when they realise they need a faster connection, they will look for it. Also, once they realise there are faster connections, users will soon start finding out the new things they can do through the 'net."
Usen is aiming for 15,000 subscribers in the first year. By August 2003, they hope to have 1 million subscribers and 2 million subscribers by August 2005.
Asked how customers have responded to the first two weeks of service Usen's Fujimoto says, "Users are impressed with the speed and the vivid graphics that make using the Internet almost like watching TV."
Maybe if this "radio" were to cost as much as a regular radio (as in less than $100), instead of costing the same as a new 900MHz computer, it would have actually sold. The niche just ain't there
Slashdot Mirror
While I don't particularly regret the decision, I have noticed that there is definitly a considerable amount of eystrain associated with staring at a screen for a few hours at a time, even on a LCD. It really is easier to read stuff on paper, and I actually think I comprehend stuff better when it is less stressful.
Also, you could make the point about just printing out ebooks....but unless you have access to cheap/free printing, that kinda negates the purpose.
While I thing etexts/ebooks are cool, I would choose a real book over an ebook anyday.
While that sounds good, there are a lot of problems associated with it. First of all, you can't charge for loading the front page. OK, so you only charge for loads of comments pages. But now you're changing how often and when people load pages (i.e. only after serveral high-modded comments accumulate).
If a system like that were to be implemented, you would have to change the "price" based on the number of comments. Maybe .00001 ($.03 is ridiculously high) for a page with 5 +3 or greater comments, and .0001 for a page with 25 +3 comments to encourage people to load pages before lots of comments are generated.
Seems to me like any sort of pay-per-view system is the worst way to attract new viewers. If you're looking to attract new people, an ad/subscribe-no-ad system would make more sense.
...is 500,000 slashdotters clicking the "off" radio button for the OSDN bar -d
11:25:23 (942.69 KB/s) - `WolfMPTEST0915.exe' saved [66548011/66548011]
Now that's a download
While it seems quite true that linux may be a very good alternative to NT given Microsoft's extravagant prices, what if cost is not really an issue, like in university enviornments? Where I currently work, we can get most MS software at a very drastic discount (Office and 2000 pro are nearly free), so price does not really come into play. Do I think we should use Liunx? Of course, but price isn't necessairly the issue when chosing software.
This article deserves a -1 Redundant
True, Kaempffert's vision of today was very accurate, but don't forget how many INaccurate depictions of the future (today) there were. This does show us that it is quite possible to make good predictions about the future, but how do we know which predictions about our future are correct?
Seeing as how RedHat is very well-known for their stripped-down, non-bloated installs, it seems like the natural thing for them to do.
It seems to me that there is no way to prevent the following digital copying of these CDs: Standalone CD player --> digital out (coax/optical)--> digital sound card --> .wav
Seems to me that their copy protection doesn't prevent this
shouldn't it be: "the thick plottens" ?
Usen offers 100Mbps connection for consumers
Chieko Tashiro
Friday, March 23, 2001 at 18:00 JST
TOKYO -- Usen corporation, a Tokyo based cable radio company, started the world's fastest Internet connection service from March 1. At a top speed of 100Mbps Usen is targeting the average consumer via its fiber-optic cables.
Atsushi Fujimoto, broadband business planning director of Usen, demonstrated the 100Mbps connection for Japan Today and explained, "At 100Mbps connection, when you are downloading a game file that is 121MB it takes only 20-30 seconds instead of waiting the 10-12 hours it takes on the 64Kbps ISDN connection common to many Japanese households.
The monthly service charge is Y4,900 a month, plus another Y900 per month for Usen's special modem. Installing charges run to Y30,000.
It may sound irresistible, but not all agree.
"It is wrong to take a look at a 100M bps connection and consider it the best service," says Takashi Hosoya of Jupiter Communications, a market research company.
The Internet needs to be considered in total, says Hosoya -- the backbone, upstream, and downstream conditions. Even if downstream is 100M bps the backbone may not good enough, slowing everything down.
He also points that Usen's broadband service may be aimed only at pushing Usen's cost contents.
To install the service, Usen will add a fibre optic line alongside your phone line. That line will then be connected to Usen's fiber optic utility pole which then hooks through to the Usen's Shibuya office, and the Internet.
Users can then access Usen's portal site where you can download games and Karaoke songs. Usen is working to provide more content for users.
Currently, Usen services the Shibuya and Setagaya areas of Tokyo. In April, Tokyo's Suginami, Meguro, Ota areas will be added.
Then, in October, Tokyo's 23 wards will be able to access the service. From April 2003, Usen will provide the service to all major cities in Japan.
Andrew Shuttleworth, president of the Tokyo PC Users Group said, "Y4,900 is a very low monthly charge. Users will appreciate the service."
Daiwa Institute of Research's analyst Shinji Moriyuki thinks the key for Usen is to spray the service area wide as soon as possible. He says, "Usen may serve many users' needs. If users have faster connections, there are many more things they can do and create online. If anyone, any one company wants a high speed connection with inexpensive fees, Usen's service will help."
Another thing that is also good about this service is the service subscribers can connect to a high speed Internet 24x7.
Many Japanese Internet users connect to the Internet and download emails and then disconnect. Well trained as they are, by years of NTT charging 10 yen for every three minutes spent on line.
Shuttleworth says, "At the moment many Japanese users connect to download their mail and then disconnect as soon as possible, even if they have a flat rate connection like Flets ISDN. As these services spread the mindset will change so that people think of the Internet as an 'always on' service."
Daiwa's Moriyuki thinks the Usen service will increase competition. "The service will motivate the industry to grow. However, it all depends on the user's need for the Internet."
Gartner Group's broadband analyst, Yuko Adachi, thinks any change to Japan's Internet scene will take at least a year. "Until Usen can provide the service nationwide there won't be much difference. Plus, the service is consumer targeted, and many applications for consumer don't need speeds of 100Mbps."
In fact, NTT East's PR department said, "We are currently providing a 10Mbps test service, and hopefully this spring we will also provide a 100Mbps service." However, the date for the service's start has not been announced.
Shuttleworth also agrees there will be more competition. "Of course NTT and other companies will work to provide the same kind of service."
For personal users, Moriyuki says, "Some might not know what to do with 100Mbps, many only need 10Mbps."
Shuttleworth's opinion differs. "In Japan, many advanced device are being developed, such as TVs which can connect to the Internet and PCs with TV tuners. With those, users will be downloading videos and then when they realise they need a faster connection, they will look for it. Also, once they realise there are faster connections, users will soon start finding out the new things they can do through the 'net."
Usen is aiming for 15,000 subscribers in the first year. By August 2003, they hope to have 1 million subscribers and 2 million subscribers by August 2005.
Asked how customers have responded to the first two weeks of service Usen's Fujimoto says, "Users are impressed with the speed and the vivid graphics that make using the Internet almost like watching TV."
Maybe if this "radio" were to cost as much as a regular radio (as in less than $100), instead of costing the same as a new 900MHz computer, it would have actually sold. The niche just ain't there
Maybe someone can make a little "potato pocket power supply" to power your t-shirt
He could help them out, because we all know that he invented the question mark
Let's not forget that MAC OS does exist....believe it or not