Even though there is a small fault line that runs through the western half of Ohio, it is very rare for us in OH to feel earthquakes... Here in Mansfield (halfway between Cleveland and Columbus), both my fiance and I felt it. I am at home, and she is working about 2 miles away... It was almost like mild dizziness for about 10-15 seconds. Nothing very strong, but distinctly disconcerting... She noticed curtains and pictures on the wall swaying just a little. I really feel for the folks in California; it would be very strange to have the earth moving under your feet at something much closer to a 5 or a 6 or even higher.
So, I can't speak for all... I wasn't afraid for my life in the imminent sense, but I certainly began to understand the danger response when something like that happens.
Office Open XML is as from being open as we are from getting into another galaxy.
First, the bad news. Office Open XML has several thousand pages of documentation for the file format, some of which refers to proprietary ways older Microsoft products operated (e.g. implement feature X of Office 97) without giving code or direct examples. Second, Microsoft ended up attempting to go through ECMA to race against ODF to be the first to be an industry-standard. During this process, Microsoft was accused of encouraging certain voting irregularities. Based upon their past history including their case with the DOJ, some credence might be lent to that train of thought.
Second, the good news... ODF has been ratified as the ISO 26300 standard, in 2006. The documentation was on the order of several hundred pages long. In addition, very little resistance was present during the adoption process, as the OpenDocument folks went through the proper channels and made sure that all involved parties were aware of their steps.
Do you honestly think that a standard controlled by a company who has historically focused on proprietary products is more open than one which was built from a grassroots effort and industry coalition?
I am actually a member of IARC, the ham radio club hosting that particular website. I saw some snippets of Elektro on Jack Weeks' web page middle of last year, and it was amazing to see this early robot in person when it was first on display. He stands a great deal taller than one would expect.
I would recommend that anyone in the north central Ohio area stop and see Elektro when he comes back to the Memorial Museum. And while you're at it, see the old Richland Reformatory where "The Shawshank Redemption" was filmed, sans wall.
I agree that the majority of members of Congress would have deaf ears for the causes that we are fighting for. In our country, it requires money to be elected (even though it shouldn't be required). To be reelected, it is usually rather useful to have a stead stream of funds. There are Senators and Representatives that are there to work for everyone, but there are others that are only fighting to keep themselves in a job.
What is really needed for our country is severe reform of campaign finance to restrict campaign funds to near zero, except for travel expenses and other such related expenses. Put a low cap on advertising on television, but allow for as much travel as possible.
Once we take money out of the equation, corporations that throw lobbying money around will no longer have a target, and laws such as the DMCA would be more carefully debated and discussed and hopefully dropped or revised before they become public policy.
I am hoping that sarcasm is an overriding goal here, because you are certainly making some harsh generalizations.
Of course, Apple expects us to buy the upgrade to the Mac OS. Unlike most Linux developers, many programmers at Apple use this (and only this) to earn their daily bread. I watched Jobs' keynote from MacWorld 2001, and he had some impressive products, with Mac OS X being one of the primary ones.
Also, "The Man" is not Apple in general. Do you complain to "The Man" when you have to buy groceries or your favorite software product? Mostly, we don't. Just because some of us (myself included) love the idea and execution of free choices of computing environments, not everyone cares about that.
As you pointed out, not everyone likes to tweak their system. Most people who are not passionate about technology have neither the time nor energy to tweak things to increase performance. For corporate IT departments, problem-solving on a telephone could be easier with a standard graphical interface. And no, the console or an xterm window doesn't count.;-)
This is actually a good time to buy a Mac. With the Titanium Powerbook G4, the new and more powerful G4 desktop systems, and Mac OS X, there is a solid base on which to support more advanced and speedier applications.
And as for being part of a horde, what do you call yourself? Many people might now like Linux and other free operating systems for their intrinsic values, but many people also jumped on the bandwagon and have then liked what they saw when they got here.
So, next time you wish to make generalizations at people, even if in jest, think about your language and logic before writing.
Minor conflict between users of Linux and Windows
on
The Melissa Syndrome
·
· Score: 1
OK. All of you have had a chance to rant, now is mine. He he he.:)
Although I am a relative newbie to slashdot, I have been reading it nearly every day since last October, and one thing has disappointed me. Unfortunately, most of the comments that I have seen, particularly on this article, happen to be not only anti-Microsoft, but also anti-user, in many respects. For the last 13 or 14 years, I have spent a good deal of time working with computers, mainly with an Apple IIe, an IBM PS/1, and my current machine, a PII-233 w/Windows 95. I know I will likely get flames from even mentioning that I even use Windows. Admittedly, there are many problems with Windows, and I don't like having to reboot at least every 24 hours. In fact, I am currently working on saving up for a nice box to throw Linux on and try it out. I am most anxious, but as a college student, I bought a Windows machine due to the fact that I was more familiar with it and the fact that the Systems Analysis department uses MS products for its classes on VB and C++. With that and books and other expenses, I am not in a position to buy the computer yet.
Yes, I use Office 97. I do like the integration, but there are several features that I would not miss if they are not there. Macros are one, Word HTML Authoring is another. I find it very frustrating that, after my having taken the proper precautions, that I read the comments here bashing practically anything even remotely related to Microsoft. I am a command line type of person, having been well versed in DOS, I have to admit that at times, I like the point and click simplicity of Windows, and I happen to enjoy the rich set of features that Outlook 97 (not Outlook Express) offers. The only lack is newsgroups, which I receive using Pine over a telnet connection to one af three different Un*x boxes around campus. I also like the PGP integration, although I could go without if I had to.
I also find it frustrating that some of the readers here assume that many who use Windows and Microsoft products are clueless and pathetic. Not all of us are. I would have to agree that many are, but not all. Microsoft products do have their merits, even if they are not perfect. I know that Linux isn't perfect. If anything was ever perfect, everyone would want it. That is simply not the case.
My question is this. "Linux is open source and, despite my use of Windows, I would have to agree that it is better, but why do we need to put down people that are not as literate as we are?" It would make sense that the Linux community would want to encourage as many people as possible to try it. For many people that post here, that is already their goal. For some of those and others that I have encountered in the Linux community around here, their means to the goal are misguided. The general impression that I sometimes get is that the Linux community is an elite crew that does not want more members, and some are inadvertently dissuading some users of Windows (even the die-hards) with the arrogant attitude that is projected.
Literate commentary welcome to come to nosbig@technologist.com. Please direct all flames to/dev/null. Rob Gibson nosbig@technologist.com DH/DSS Key by email
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Even though there is a small fault line that runs through the western half of Ohio, it is very rare for us in OH to feel earthquakes... Here in Mansfield (halfway between Cleveland and Columbus), both my fiance and I felt it. I am at home, and she is working about 2 miles away... It was almost like mild dizziness for about 10-15 seconds. Nothing very strong, but distinctly disconcerting... She noticed curtains and pictures on the wall swaying just a little. I really feel for the folks in California; it would be very strange to have the earth moving under your feet at something much closer to a 5 or a 6 or even higher.
So, I can't speak for all... I wasn't afraid for my life in the imminent sense, but I certainly began to understand the danger response when something like that happens.
I absolutely beg to differ...
Office Open XML is as from being open as we are from getting into another galaxy.
First, the bad news. Office Open XML has several thousand pages of documentation for the file format, some of which refers to proprietary ways older Microsoft products operated (e.g. implement feature X of Office 97) without giving code or direct examples. Second, Microsoft ended up attempting to go through ECMA to race against ODF to be the first to be an industry-standard. During this process, Microsoft was accused of encouraging certain voting irregularities. Based upon their past history including their case with the DOJ, some credence might be lent to that train of thought.
Second, the good news... ODF has been ratified as the ISO 26300 standard, in 2006. The documentation was on the order of several hundred pages long. In addition, very little resistance was present during the adoption process, as the OpenDocument folks went through the proper channels and made sure that all involved parties were aware of their steps.
Do you honestly think that a standard controlled by a company who has historically focused on proprietary products is more open than one which was built from a grassroots effort and industry coalition?
I am actually a member of IARC, the ham radio club hosting that particular website. I saw some snippets of Elektro on Jack Weeks' web page middle of last year, and it was amazing to see this early robot in person when it was first on display. He stands a great deal taller than one would expect.
I would recommend that anyone in the north central Ohio area stop and see Elektro when he comes back to the Memorial Museum. And while you're at it, see the old Richland Reformatory where "The Shawshank Redemption" was filmed, sans wall.
I agree that the majority of members of Congress would have deaf ears for the causes that we are fighting for. In our country, it requires money to be elected (even though it shouldn't be required). To be reelected, it is usually rather useful to have a stead stream of funds. There are Senators and Representatives that are there to work for everyone, but there are others that are only fighting to keep themselves in a job.
What is really needed for our country is severe reform of campaign finance to restrict campaign funds to near zero, except for travel expenses and other such related expenses. Put a low cap on advertising on television, but allow for as much travel as possible.
Once we take money out of the equation, corporations that throw lobbying money around will no longer have a target, and laws such as the DMCA would be more carefully debated and discussed and hopefully dropped or revised before they become public policy.
Or like tearing the tag off the matress or not rewinding rental VHS tapes(oh wait, that last one isn't law ;-) )......
Of course, Apple expects us to buy the upgrade to the Mac OS. Unlike most Linux developers, many programmers at Apple use this (and only this) to earn their daily bread. I watched Jobs' keynote from MacWorld 2001, and he had some impressive products, with Mac OS X being one of the primary ones.
Also, "The Man" is not Apple in general. Do you complain to "The Man" when you have to buy groceries or your favorite software product? Mostly, we don't. Just because some of us (myself included) love the idea and execution of free choices of computing environments, not everyone cares about that.
As you pointed out, not everyone likes to tweak their system. Most people who are not passionate about technology have neither the time nor energy to tweak things to increase performance. For corporate IT departments, problem-solving on a telephone could be easier with a standard graphical interface. And no, the console or an xterm window doesn't count. ;-)
This is actually a good time to buy a Mac. With the Titanium Powerbook G4, the new and more powerful G4 desktop systems, and Mac OS X, there is a solid base on which to support more advanced and speedier applications.
And as for being part of a horde, what do you call yourself? Many people might now like Linux and other free operating systems for their intrinsic values, but many people also jumped on the bandwagon and have then liked what they saw when they got here.
So, next time you wish to make generalizations at people, even if in jest, think about your language and logic before writing.
OK. All of you have had a chance to rant, now is mine. He he he. :)
/dev/null.
Although I am a relative newbie to slashdot, I have been reading it nearly every day since last October, and one thing has disappointed me. Unfortunately, most of the comments that I have seen, particularly on this article, happen to be not only anti-Microsoft, but also anti-user, in many respects. For the last 13 or 14 years, I have spent a good deal of time working with computers, mainly with an Apple IIe, an IBM PS/1, and my current machine, a PII-233 w/Windows 95. I know I will likely get flames from even mentioning that I even use Windows. Admittedly, there are many problems with Windows, and I don't like having to reboot at least every 24 hours. In fact, I am currently working on saving up for a nice box to throw Linux on and try it out. I am most anxious, but as a college student, I bought a Windows machine due to the fact that I was more familiar with it and the fact that the Systems Analysis department uses MS products for its classes on VB and C++. With that and books and other expenses, I am not in a position to buy the computer yet.
Yes, I use Office 97. I do like the integration, but there are several features that I would not miss if they are not there. Macros are one, Word HTML Authoring is another. I find it very frustrating that, after my having taken the proper precautions, that I read the comments here bashing practically anything even remotely related to Microsoft. I am a command line type of person, having been well versed in DOS, I have to admit that at times, I like the point and click simplicity of Windows, and I happen to enjoy the rich set of features that Outlook 97 (not Outlook Express) offers. The only lack is newsgroups, which I receive using Pine over a telnet connection to one af three different Un*x boxes around campus. I also like the PGP integration, although I could go without if I had to.
I also find it frustrating that some of the readers here assume that many who use Windows and Microsoft products are clueless and pathetic. Not all of us are. I would have to agree that many are, but not all. Microsoft products do have their merits, even if they are not perfect. I know that Linux isn't perfect. If anything was ever perfect, everyone would want it. That is simply not the case.
My question is this. "Linux is open source and, despite my use of Windows, I would have to agree that it is better, but why do we need to put down people that are not as literate as we are?" It would make sense that the Linux community would want to encourage as many people as possible to try it. For many people that post here, that is already their goal. For some of those and others that I have encountered in the Linux community around here, their means to the goal are misguided. The general impression that I sometimes get is that the Linux community is an elite crew that does not want more members, and some are inadvertently dissuading some users of Windows (even the die-hards) with the arrogant attitude that is projected.
Literate commentary welcome to come to nosbig@technologist.com. Please direct all flames to
Rob Gibson
nosbig@technologist.com
DH/DSS Key by email