There are a couple of Firebird extensions that allow you to dynamically change the User Agent string so that the browser appears to be a different one - Internet Explorer, for instance.
Go to http://texturizer.net/firebird/extensions.html
I use "User Agent Switcher" by Chris Pederick and it works perfectly, provided the site you want to visit is arbitrarily blocking Mozilla, and not using proprietary HTML extensions. http://chrispederick.myacen.com/work/ phoenix/usera gentswitcher/
Quite Right, I guess I should have been more clear.
The point I was trying to make is that HTML is a base from which student can explore in whichever directions interest them, and have something to show for it at the end.
I don't know the students in question so there is no way I can know what will make them happy and capture their imagination. That is the strength of html. So many things can be associated with it, that there should be something for everyone. No, it isn't a programming language, but it can teach them something of structure, and it builds their confidence and competence while they work out what *they* want to learn about next.
If you have decided that they will make great kernel programmers, fine, give them C. Maybe they will love it!
*However* They might find that they are happy tinkering with Flash or playing around creating yet another content management system using client/server side scripting. Give them HTML and they have a forgiving environment to explore and play with. I reckon that is important.
If the students really have a talent for programming, they will quickly outgrow HTML and find something to get their teeth into. If not, then they will still have some basic understanding of the web, and won't have wasted their time or yours getting disheartened and struggling with something that doesn't suit them (I'm making an assumption here that HTML is easier than any programming language, I reckon that stands).
You can be an accountant without understanding calculus, and you can be productive with computers without understanding the subtleties of pointers. You can't assume everyone wants to or can become a hardcore programmer. The thing to do is to let them explore where their level is.
Show them HTML - because it is forgiving, ubiquitous and has 'legs'
It costs nothing to start, just open up notepad and IE/Moz and you are away.
You can start almost anywhere with HTML and take it as near or far as you wish. You might just work out how to say "Hello World" and learn how to surf more effectively, or you might start exploring Flash, Java, Javascript, XML, PHP, Databases etc - Lots of directions to suit most tastes.
Not everyone gets off on Knuth, and you can be productive and have fun without it. Most of us will never progress beyond a bit of scripting, but that can be enough to help us through the day.
At school I took Basic, Pascal and C, but was never able to make use of them once the course had ended, because I didn't really know enough, or have an itch that those languages would help me scratch. Later on, I took HTML. Suddenly I had something I could play with and make use of. From that base I progressed into Graphics, Javascript, ASP then PHP, XML and Python. I found myself wanting to have a server to run these from and ended up getting into Tomcat, and then Apache, Samba and Linux - All because I got a foot in the door with HTML.
"But you are a clueless script monkey with no training" I hear you cry. True. But once you have fudged a dozen or so web pages and sworn all night at your own lame Javascript, you start to hang out on line and listen to the artisans talk about how to do it all properly.
Then you go back and rewrite your code (and rewrite, and rewrite), and take pride in it, because you see from personal experience, some consequences of doing it wrong. You develop the hunger for knowledge. I now find myself studying software architecture, XP, Patterns etc. Expert? No. Happy Hacker? Yes.
Yes, you can get into bad habits if you don't start in a structured way, and I admit I was influenced by my previous experience of programming languages, but I reckon everyone can get crufty or outdated, wherever they start from. It is all about developing an enquiring mind and staying on the ball.
Bottom Line: Learing HTML give you a foot in a very interesting door.
You can to get hold of ephedra in some slimming aids though, I think. Given that Caffiene is a pretty nasty and ineffective stimulant ~ makes you twitchy but doesn't improve your concentration, perhaps someone *should* come up with an Ephedra based drink? Any suggestions?
These guys know quite a bit about SFF computing. Bit curious what you need them for though - people are suggesting Rack mounts, but you seem to need serial access - is rackmount appropriate, or will they be scattered?
Have you considered the VIA EDEN/EPIA? If performance is not a major concern, but size/energy/heat/cost are, it might have what you want... http://www.via.com.tw/en/Products/eden.js p http://www.mini-itx.com/
Does anyone have any practical experience with Syncml? I can't claim to have any experience with it personally, but I get the impression that it is supposed to be THE transfer format for any small device - phone, PDA etc, so why not create/use that?
I know that not everyone is onboard with Syncml, but creating proprietarysyncml filters seems more efficient that creating new proprietaryproprietary filters every time someone comes up with a new email program. That way, Mozilla, Evolution etc could all benefit from the same set of converters.
Disclaimer: I don't know what I'm talking about, but I'm hoping someone else will.
Slashdot Mirror
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/artist /glance/-/57579/
Very interesting modern jazz, with bits of hiphop and scratching.
Apologies to any fans, because that sentence really doesn't do him justice. Try it, it's great.
There are a couple of Firebird extensions that allow you to dynamically change the User Agent string so that the browser appears to be a different one - Internet Explorer, for instance.
/ phoenix/usera gentswitcher/
Go to http://texturizer.net/firebird/extensions.html
I use "User Agent Switcher" by Chris Pederick and it works perfectly, provided the site you want to visit is arbitrarily blocking Mozilla, and not using proprietary HTML extensions.
http://chrispederick.myacen.com/work
Quite Right, I guess I should have been more clear.
The point I was trying to make is that HTML is a base from which student can explore in whichever directions interest them, and have something to show for it at the end.
I don't know the students in question so there is no way I can know what will make them happy and capture their imagination. That is the strength of html. So many things can be associated with it, that there should be something for everyone. No, it isn't a programming language, but it can teach them something of structure, and it builds their confidence and competence while they work out what *they* want to learn about next.
If you have decided that they will make great kernel programmers, fine, give them C. Maybe they will love it!
*However* They might find that they are happy tinkering with Flash or playing around creating yet another content management system using client/server side scripting. Give them HTML and they have a forgiving environment to explore and play with. I reckon that is important.
If the students really have a talent for programming, they will quickly outgrow HTML and find something to get their teeth into. If not, then they will still have some basic understanding of the web, and won't have wasted their time or yours getting disheartened and struggling with something that doesn't suit them (I'm making an assumption here that HTML is easier than any programming language, I reckon that stands).
You can be an accountant without understanding calculus, and you can be productive with computers without understanding the subtleties of pointers. You can't assume everyone wants to or can become a hardcore programmer. The thing to do is to let them explore where their level is.
Show them HTML - because it is forgiving, ubiquitous and has 'legs'
It costs nothing to start, just open up notepad and IE/Moz and you are away.
You can start almost anywhere with HTML and take it as near or far as you wish. You might just work out how to say "Hello World" and learn how to surf more effectively, or you might start exploring Flash, Java, Javascript, XML, PHP, Databases etc - Lots of directions to suit most tastes.
Not everyone gets off on Knuth, and you can be productive and have fun without it. Most of us will never progress beyond a bit of scripting, but that can be enough to help us through the day.
At school I took Basic, Pascal and C, but was never able to make use of them once the course had ended, because I didn't really know enough, or have an itch that those languages would help me scratch. Later on, I took HTML. Suddenly I had something I could play with and make use of. From that base I progressed into Graphics, Javascript, ASP then PHP, XML and Python. I found myself wanting to have a server to run these from and ended up getting into Tomcat, and then Apache, Samba and Linux - All because I got a foot in the door with HTML.
"But you are a clueless script monkey with no training" I hear you cry. True. But once you have fudged a dozen or so web pages and sworn all night at your own lame Javascript, you start to hang out on line and listen to the artisans talk about how to do it all properly.
Then you go back and rewrite your code (and rewrite, and rewrite), and take pride in it, because you see from personal experience, some consequences of doing it wrong. You develop the hunger for knowledge. I now find myself studying software architecture, XP, Patterns etc. Expert? No. Happy Hacker? Yes.
Yes, you can get into bad habits if you don't start in a structured way, and I admit I was influenced by my previous experience of programming languages, but I reckon everyone can get crufty or outdated, wherever they start from. It is all about developing an enquiring mind and staying on the ball.
Bottom Line: Learing HTML give you a foot in a very interesting door.
Apologies if this is gibberish, It's late.
Concrete Submarines
You guts are great - Whenever you need to know about the iffy things, Slashdot comes through, with scientific precision. And recipes.
Keep up the good work!
Maybe it is different where you are, but in the UK, there is no Ephedra:
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Sucrose, Glucose, Citric Acid, Taurine (0.4%), Glucuronolactone (0.24%), Caffiene (0.03%), Inositol, Vitamins (Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, B6, B12), Flavours, Colour (Caramel, Riboflavin)
Yes, I do need to get out more.
Ephedra might be a good idea for RedBull 2.0
You can to get hold of ephedra in some slimming aids though, I think. Given that Caffiene is a pretty nasty and ineffective stimulant ~ makes you twitchy but doesn't improve your concentration, perhaps someone *should* come up with an Ephedra based drink? Any suggestions?
http://forums.viahardware.com/categories.cfm?catid =33
s p
These guys know quite a bit about SFF computing.
Bit curious what you need them for though - people are suggesting Rack mounts, but you seem to need serial access - is rackmount appropriate, or will they be scattered?
Have you considered the VIA EDEN/EPIA? If performance is not a major concern, but size/energy/heat/cost are, it might have what you want...
http://www.via.com.tw/en/Products/eden.j
http://www.mini-itx.com/
http://www.syncml.orgn et/
http://sync4j.sourceforge.
Does anyone have any practical experience with Syncml? I can't claim to have any experience with it personally, but I get the impression that it is supposed to be THE transfer format for any small device - phone, PDA etc, so why not create/use that?
I know that not everyone is onboard with Syncml, but creating proprietarysyncml filters seems more efficient that creating new proprietaryproprietary filters every time someone comes up with a new email program. That way, Mozilla, Evolution etc could all benefit from the same set of converters.
Disclaimer: I don't know what I'm talking about, but I'm hoping someone else will.