I think we can pretty much say that DataPlay disks will replace cassettes, with lower-quality sound than CDs but higher capacity.
Consider this analogy, if you will: 35-mm cameras and APS cameras. APS cameras have demonstrably lower quality, objectively speaking. Yet, people love APS cameras. Why would someone put up with low-quality crap? Because it's good enough. APS film is 35% smaller than 35mm film, yet because of the convenience of its intelligent processing and the cool-factor of panorama shots, it has gained a nice toehold in the market. But, the 35mm cameras aren't going anywhere, because people who care about the absolute best images, and the best control of the photography, spit on automated point-and-shoot gimickry, and use 35mm or large-format cameras.
I see the same situation possibly coming into play with the DataPlay disks. The amazing convenience of putting a handful of albums in your pocket will outweigh the (relatively minor for most purposes) difference in audio quality.
Worse, many of the portable MP3 players don't support VBR well. Different VBR encoding schemes produce varying degrees of bugs on portable players. For instance, my RioVolt repeats sections of some VBR tracks after the end of the real song. Not all VBR files, but reliably on the ones it doesn't like. Other portables can't recognize VBRs as MP3 files at all! Until someone formalizes a standard VBR format that everyone adheres to (which is too late by now IMHO), we'll probably need to stick to 160k CBR files for compatibility.
Well, if you judge MP3 players as ONLY being the solid-state type, then you are accurate. But, the new trend in MP3 portable is CD-R based.
Both Rio and Pine have models out now, and TDK is releasing one soon. Here's a little on my experience with my new RioVolt (sweet)...
Battery life is 10-15 hours with MP3 disks (the CD spins up and buffers 2 megs, then stops), and each CD holds somewhere around 10 hours of music in 160kbps MP3 format. I can organize by directory and have the machine spin through a specific directory only, or the whole 100+ song CD.
The devices are costing 150-200 USD, and the CDRs are the usual 75 cents or so in bulk. So, to use your example of 50-60 CDs worth of music: about 5 bucks in media, on 5 or 6 disks. Admittedly, a CDR is a bit bulkier than an MD, and this MDLP sounds pretty snazzy, but MD has such a history of being overpriced, I wonder if it will catch on.
We're still getting contradictory instructions ever couple days on how to interact with "normal" email addresses, and new registry patches get pushed out seemingly daily.
Um, I've been working with classified materials on computers for the past 12 years, and in all that time I've not once seen color-coded machines.
We do have stickers on each machine, color-coded as well as with much verbiage, telling what level of material can be accessed on each machine. Hell, we've got classification stickers on Xerox machines!:-)
I know it's not a full-featured appliance, but the Kerbango internet radio offers Ethernet connections as well as landline. I think the reasoning behind that is because most of the people who would even know what to do with an internet radio are geeks with a high likelihood of owning a home network.
I agree with many posters regarding the profit motive. Although I have an ethernet home network, only 2 of my coworkers do as well. Most of my coworkers use dialup, but the cable-modem faction is definitely on the rise!
Would the current solution for we cutting-edge people to attempt to add ethernet to an existing appliance, or is it better to just buy a cheap PC, install a minimal Linux distro and leave it running?
I normally ignore ACs entirely, especially such obvious trolls. But, since I'm bored tonight anyway:
We did NOT become geeks. We had tech support people when things went terribly awry, just as we do for the Windows machines, and the Digital Vax machines.
Have you actually tried to approach a modern distro as a normal user, without a biased predisposition to being a pain in the ass?
And, I don't think that what we have today sucks, and "just wait RSN". I personally think that for most people, Linux RIGHT NOW is good enough, with the benefit of not crashing.
One of my coworkers was complaining about the frequency of his reboots in Windows recently. He said if he didn't have kids (and therefore kid's games), he'd never need to use Windows. But, he has to restart his computer at least daily. I've never had to reboot Linux in 2 years of running it. I have, of course, rebooted, but it was to play a Windows game, not because the computer ceased to function.
Linux, StarOffice, and Netscape. Bam! Most users' needs are met.
At work, we use SunOS Unix workstations daily for our mission-critical apps. For the less-important stuff, they make us use Windows.
When I was working at Field Station Korea, every system ran Unix. It was either AIX, Xenix, or SunOS, but it was Unix. We didn't need to call the techs for every little thing, and we weren't all computer geeks (SIGINT geeks, yes).
Now, if we're looking at the individual home user, the type of person who actually will install software on occasion, have you taken a gander at some of the usability enhancements that Mandrake, RedHat and Debian have put out lately?
As for the need for security on a single-user desktop, consider all the little script-kiddies out there who try to break into systems that run Windows because it's so easy. Why not make it harder by running something that doesn't actually advertise, "Hey rape me now" every 30 seconds. I certainly hope that security is a concern on every home user's mind nowadays.
Odd that all these reviews just discuss the installation, not how the system actually RUNS.
Since upgrading from 7.0-2 to 7.1, I've had some interesting experiences. Canvas7 no longer loads. TopPage no longer loads. Windowmaker core-dumps upon exit about 70% of the time. And, I'm using about 25 more Megs of RAM doing the same tasks.
Maybe if I used KDE or Gnome I'd notice the "improvements" that Mdk 7.1 has, but I like my menus just the way they are, thanks. I also customize my menus in the other OS, so I'm pretty handy.:-)
Oh, and ImWheel worked perfectly in 5.3, 6.1, and 7.0, but now requires that I drop to root and manually remove a pid lockfile if I ever load X as root for some config or maintenance task.
I'm sure these are all being worked, but why have 3 betas if you don't get the bugs out? The WM crash is particularly vexing, since WM ships with Mdk.
It seems to be a rather exhaustive fraud, to me. Notice he spends much time discussing why everyone talks about the particular location the "fake" story happened, and never once mentions where it "really" happened. Near a Major Army installation is hardly specific...
I believe Corel had maintained publicly for some time that the first iteration of their suite would depend on Wine, so as to be quicker to market. They would have to be even dumber than Commodore to not create a native Linux version for the next iteration. If for no other reason, native code will be so much faster and more stable.
It's a first step, and the free uber alles zealots can just use the KOffice suite. Choice is good.
I'm happy that they are finally updating the player for Linux because the local radio stations in West Texas suck and I can listen to a few thousand others with Real. I'd like a program that is WMP compatible, too, but ya gets what ya pay for at times.:-)
Overall, the Linux version is about the same as the Windows version, with an astounding omission for the Linux side: I can no longer save presets, and my old presets were not imported at all. Hmmm, not a good sign so far. Also, of course, several of the newer 'features' of Real are not supported yet. Those features seem to be push-advertising embedded in an audio stream. Since I usually minimize RealPlayer and just listen to the radio, why should I not be able to listen to any of GlobalMedia's stations outside Windows? Even more ironic, since GlobalMedia uses Linux to serve Real streams. *sigh* I feel so marginalized.
BTW, if you look at some recent streaming-media stats, it looks like Real has about twice the number of clients downloaded as WMP, yet several of my favorite sites have converted to WMP from Real. They don't usually even include an alternate stream, just the WMP stream. HUH? If RealPlayer has twice the market penetration, why serve WMP?
Of course, the answer was given a few posts ago: Microsoft is paying them to dump Real, while Real is charging for the privilege to serve RealAudio. Not too hard to see why the change of heart. Bottom line, folks! That's all bizfolks will notice.:-)
Do you honestly think that anyone was confused in any way about what the unit of measure was? I understand "correct is correct," but c'mon! I don't even know why I'm responding, except I'm on vacation and bored.:-)
Now, if the unit of measure was meters, then the case could be confusing, but I think everyone can figure out that mhz, MhZ, or even mhZ all really mean MHz.
Actually, phrases like "Strong CPU of High Performance" are obvious artifacts of clumsy translations. Korean companies are VERY fond of putting much hyperbole and near-propaganda in their ad copy. All of this seems normal to their local market, and needs to be rebuilt when they move products to the US.
There are some amazingly humorous ads in the computer magazines, if you read dead trees, that are really badly done quick-translations. So, the company may know everything, but the ad geeks are kinda strange.
I've spent over 4 years living and working in Korea, with the added benefit of knowing the language, so I'm not just talking out my @$$ here, honestly.
While I know that Mr. Card is more than capable of defending himself, I'd like to jump in with a few points to counter yours:
Silly Sci-Fi Gear: I'm certain the amazing art and costume departments of any major studio are up to the task of making a headset look "military" enough for you. Since I've been in the Army for over a decade myself now, I've seen enough real military tech to wonder if our weapons manufacturers are capable of the same, but the fake stuff from Hollywood always looks good.
Lousy scripting: I'd certainly hope that Mr. Card is the best person to adapt his book to a movie. If you think the script is lousy, have you read the book?
Mazer being cool: Shooting from around the moon shows a certain type of mind, and that scene, although heavy with interest, is not the focal point of the movie.
Training room: As above, I'm sure the Hollywood folks are able to make a realistic looking null-G environment. Computers are amazing, no? And, the 30-year-old 2001 did OK for zero-G look.
No noise in space: View 2001. Probably MORE powerful because of the silence. Undoubtedly the test audiences and studio types will force some noise in there, but let's hope it is dialog and not "laser fire".:-)
Excuse me? Do I not see little icons when I install Netscape (I turn the buggers off)? Do I not see a little swoopy N when loading web pages? Do I NOT need to be running a GUI to use Netscape in the first place?
Please, rather than making one-sentence non sequiturs, please tell me what your point is! Obviously it is not one that is obvious to me, so if you actually want an intelligent discussion, SPEAK!
I re-read my original post, and I have to say one thing: I repeatedly used the word "MOST" in my note.
Because I know some people use VMS on a 15-year-old Vax (I do at work) and don't use anything else, but MOST people understand the GUI metaphor that Microsoft developed from the one that Apple stole from Xerox. SO, again: Most people would have no problem learning most programs with very little extra time.
I'm sorry, but isn't the entire WIMP metaphor what we (normal computer geeks) use to define a GUI?
Look at Netscape. Is there a single version of Netscape that is NOT run from a GUI? I don't think I understand your point. Is there some other definition of GUI that you would prefer the rest of us use from now on?
(And, log in for cryin' out loud! How am I to know one AC from another?)
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I think we can pretty much say that DataPlay disks will replace cassettes, with lower-quality sound than CDs but higher capacity.
Consider this analogy, if you will: 35-mm cameras and APS cameras. APS cameras have demonstrably lower quality, objectively speaking. Yet, people love APS cameras. Why would someone put up with low-quality crap? Because it's good enough. APS film is 35% smaller than 35mm film, yet because of the convenience of its intelligent processing and the cool-factor of panorama shots, it has gained a nice toehold in the market. But, the 35mm cameras aren't going anywhere, because people who care about the absolute best images, and the best control of the photography, spit on automated point-and-shoot gimickry, and use 35mm or large-format cameras.
I see the same situation possibly coming into play with the DataPlay disks. The amazing convenience of putting a handful of albums in your pocket will outweigh the (relatively minor for most purposes) difference in audio quality.
Worse, many of the portable MP3 players don't support VBR well. Different VBR encoding schemes produce varying degrees of bugs on portable players. For instance, my RioVolt repeats sections of some VBR tracks after the end of the real song. Not all VBR files, but reliably on the ones it doesn't like. Other portables can't recognize VBRs as MP3 files at all! Until someone formalizes a standard VBR format that everyone adheres to (which is too late by now IMHO), we'll probably need to stick to 160k CBR files for compatibility.
YMMV
Well, if you judge MP3 players as ONLY being the solid-state type, then you are accurate. But, the new trend in MP3 portable is CD-R based.
Both Rio and Pine have models out now, and TDK is releasing one soon. Here's a little on my experience with my new RioVolt (sweet)...
Battery life is 10-15 hours with MP3 disks (the CD spins up and buffers 2 megs, then stops), and each CD holds somewhere around 10 hours of music in 160kbps MP3 format. I can organize by directory and have the machine spin through a specific directory only, or the whole 100+ song CD.
The devices are costing 150-200 USD, and the CDRs are the usual 75 cents or so in bulk. So, to use your example of 50-60 CDs worth of music: about 5 bucks in media, on 5 or 6 disks. Admittedly, a CDR is a bit bulkier than an MD, and this MDLP sounds pretty snazzy, but MD has such a history of being overpriced, I wonder if it will catch on.
You mean you've gotten DMS working? hehe
We're still getting contradictory instructions ever couple days on how to interact with "normal" email addresses, and new registry patches get pushed out seemingly daily.
Thank goodness I'm leaving next week.
Um, I've been working with classified materials on computers for the past 12 years, and in all that time I've not once seen color-coded machines.
:-)
We do have stickers on each machine, color-coded as well as with much verbiage, telling what level of material can be accessed on each machine. Hell, we've got classification stickers on Xerox machines!
Yep, it says "HTTP Error Code # 404" in Korean. Damn, I knew the army was good for something!
.kr =South Korea, BTW
I know it's not a full-featured appliance, but the Kerbango internet radio offers Ethernet connections as well as landline. I think the reasoning behind that is because most of the people who would even know what to do with an internet radio are geeks with a high likelihood of owning a home network.
I agree with many posters regarding the profit motive. Although I have an ethernet home network, only 2 of my coworkers do as well. Most of my coworkers use dialup, but the cable-modem faction is definitely on the rise!
Would the current solution for we cutting-edge people to attempt to add ethernet to an existing appliance, or is it better to just buy a cheap PC, install a minimal Linux distro and leave it running?
I normally ignore ACs entirely, especially such obvious trolls. But, since I'm bored tonight anyway:
We did NOT become geeks. We had tech support people when things went terribly awry, just as we do for the Windows machines, and the Digital Vax machines.
Have you actually tried to approach a modern distro as a normal user, without a biased predisposition to being a pain in the ass?
And, I don't think that what we have today sucks, and "just wait RSN". I personally think that for most people, Linux RIGHT NOW is good enough, with the benefit of not crashing.
One of my coworkers was complaining about the frequency of his reboots in Windows recently. He said if he didn't have kids (and therefore kid's games), he'd never need to use Windows. But, he has to restart his computer at least daily. I've never had to reboot Linux in 2 years of running it. I have, of course, rebooted, but it was to play a Windows game, not because the computer ceased to function.
Linux, StarOffice, and Netscape. Bam! Most users' needs are met.
Never suitable, eh?
At work, we use SunOS Unix workstations daily for our mission-critical apps. For the less-important stuff, they make us use Windows.
When I was working at Field Station Korea, every system ran Unix. It was either AIX, Xenix, or SunOS, but it was Unix. We didn't need to call the techs for every little thing, and we weren't all computer geeks (SIGINT geeks, yes).
Now, if we're looking at the individual home user, the type of person who actually will install software on occasion, have you taken a gander at some of the usability enhancements that Mandrake, RedHat and Debian have put out lately?
As for the need for security on a single-user desktop, consider all the little script-kiddies out there who try to break into systems that run Windows because it's so easy. Why not make it harder by running something that doesn't actually advertise, "Hey rape me now" every 30 seconds. I certainly hope that security is a concern on every home user's mind nowadays.
Again I say, "Never is a long time."
Yep, you can make custom away messages with no problems.
Odd that all these reviews just discuss the installation, not how the system actually RUNS.
:-)
Since upgrading from 7.0-2 to 7.1, I've had some interesting experiences. Canvas7 no longer loads. TopPage no longer loads. Windowmaker core-dumps upon exit about 70% of the time. And, I'm using about 25 more Megs of RAM doing the same tasks.
Maybe if I used KDE or Gnome I'd notice the "improvements" that Mdk 7.1 has, but I like my menus just the way they are, thanks. I also customize my menus in the other OS, so I'm pretty handy.
Oh, and ImWheel worked perfectly in 5.3, 6.1, and 7.0, but now requires that I drop to root and manually remove a pid lockfile if I ever load X as root for some config or maintenance task.
I'm sure these are all being worked, but why have 3 betas if you don't get the bugs out? The WM crash is particularly vexing, since WM ships with Mdk.
It seems to be a rather exhaustive fraud, to me. Notice he spends much time discussing why everyone talks about the particular location the "fake" story happened, and never once mentions where it "really" happened. Near a Major Army installation is hardly specific...
I believe Corel had maintained publicly for some time that the first iteration of their suite would depend on Wine, so as to be quicker to market. They would have to be even dumber than Commodore to not create a native Linux version for the next iteration. If for no other reason, native code will be so much faster and more stable.
It's a first step, and the free uber alles zealots can just use the KOffice suite. Choice is good.
Actually, buying this and Corel Linux (non-deluxe) costs US$159, since the high-end version of Corel Office includes Corel Linux. :-)
I'm happy that they are finally updating the player for Linux because the local radio stations in West Texas suck and I can listen to a few thousand others with Real. I'd like a program that is WMP compatible, too, but ya gets what ya pay for at times. :-)
:-)
Overall, the Linux version is about the same as the Windows version, with an astounding omission for the Linux side: I can no longer save presets, and my old presets were not imported at all. Hmmm, not a good sign so far. Also, of course, several of the newer 'features' of Real are not supported yet. Those features seem to be push-advertising embedded in an audio stream. Since I usually minimize RealPlayer and just listen to the radio, why should I not be able to listen to any of GlobalMedia's stations outside Windows? Even more ironic, since GlobalMedia uses Linux to serve Real streams. *sigh* I feel so marginalized.
BTW, if you look at some recent streaming-media stats, it looks like Real has about twice the number of clients downloaded as WMP, yet several of my favorite sites have converted to WMP from Real. They don't usually even include an alternate stream, just the WMP stream. HUH? If RealPlayer has twice the market penetration, why serve WMP?
Of course, the answer was given a few posts ago: Microsoft is paying them to dump Real, while Real is charging for the privilege to serve RealAudio. Not too hard to see why the change of heart. Bottom line, folks! That's all bizfolks will notice.
I remember getting a brand-new 486DX33 in 1992 and being the guy with the fastest machine on the block, so 10 years ago, 100 Mhz was unheard of!
If we've gone from 33 to 1000 (or 1050 in some cases) in just 8 years, imagine what will happen in another decade.
Mr. Jetson, you have a call...
Do you honestly think that anyone was confused in any way about what the unit of measure was? I understand "correct is correct," but c'mon! I don't even know why I'm responding, except I'm on vacation and bored. :-)
Now, if the unit of measure was meters, then the case could be confusing, but I think everyone can figure out that mhz, MhZ, or even mhZ all really mean MHz.
Actually, phrases like "Strong CPU of High Performance" are obvious artifacts of clumsy translations. Korean companies are VERY fond of putting much hyperbole and near-propaganda in their ad copy. All of this seems normal to their local market, and needs to be rebuilt when they move products to the US.
There are some amazingly humorous ads in the computer magazines, if you read dead trees, that are really badly done quick-translations. So, the company may know everything, but the ad geeks are kinda strange.
I've spent over 4 years living and working in Korea, with the added benefit of knowing the language, so I'm not just talking out my @$$ here, honestly.
While I know that Mr. Card is more than capable of defending himself, I'd like to jump in with a few points to counter yours:
:-)
Silly Sci-Fi Gear: I'm certain the amazing art and costume departments of any major studio are up to the task of making a headset look "military" enough for you. Since I've been in the Army for over a decade myself now, I've seen enough real military tech to wonder if our weapons manufacturers are capable of the same, but the fake stuff from Hollywood always looks good.
Lousy scripting: I'd certainly hope that Mr. Card is the best person to adapt his book to a movie. If you think the script is lousy, have you read the book?
Mazer being cool: Shooting from around the moon shows a certain type of mind, and that scene, although heavy with interest, is not the focal point of the movie.
Training room: As above, I'm sure the Hollywood folks are able to make a realistic looking null-G environment. Computers are amazing, no? And, the 30-year-old 2001 did OK for zero-G look.
No noise in space: View 2001. Probably MORE powerful because of the silence. Undoubtedly the test audiences and studio types will force some noise in there, but let's hope it is dialog and not "laser fire".
The first link is to the cards that are supported in 3d-accelerated X, and the second link is the cards that are supported in Accelerated-X.
Two different programs, and unfortunately the OpenGL version has some serious support shortfalls. (so far, anyhow)
Excuse me? Do I not see little icons when I install Netscape (I turn the buggers off)? Do I not see a little swoopy N when loading web pages? Do I NOT need to be running a GUI to use Netscape in the first place?
Please, rather than making one-sentence non sequiturs, please tell me what your point is! Obviously it is not one that is obvious to me, so if you actually want an intelligent discussion, SPEAK!
I re-read my original post, and I have to say one thing: I repeatedly used the word "MOST" in my note.
Because I know some people use VMS on a 15-year-old Vax (I do at work) and don't use anything else, but MOST people understand the GUI metaphor that Microsoft developed from the one that Apple stole from Xerox. SO, again: Most people would have no problem learning most programs with very little extra time.
I'm sorry, but isn't the entire WIMP metaphor what we (normal computer geeks) use to define a GUI?
Look at Netscape. Is there a single version of Netscape that is NOT run from a GUI? I don't think I understand your point. Is there some other definition of GUI that you would prefer the rest of us use from now on?
(And, log in for cryin' out loud! How am I to know one AC from another?)
Do you perceive Netscape as NOT requiring a GUI then? Is there some command-line version of the graphical web browser that I'm missing?
I honestly didn't think it was an odd phrase.
In my experience with the various distros, I noticed that Corel gave me a refresh rate of 60hz with the 1024x768x16bit mode it chose for me.
Caldera, OTOH, gave me a much more solid 80hz, since it actually knew what my (Philips) monitor was capable of.
RedHat (Ok, Mandrake) gave me 75hz, since it didn't know my monitor, but I gave it the ranges for refresh and it decided that was good enough.