The reverse is true in Windows. MS adds NOP loops, with the length of the loop being the number of days between now and when Windows was shipped. That way they can release new OSes every couple years saying the OS itself is faster than the current version:)
All cars have a gas pedal, brake pedal and steering wheel. And they're all in the same place no matter what brand car you buy.
Besides, cars are a bad example because they've been around for a hundred years and they only perform a few basic functions (forward, reverse, stop, left, right).
I'm not an MS advocate spewing Windows should run on every machine. Wal-Mart will not accurately descibe the differences between the computers aside from a stickers that either says "Windows" or "Linux". That's a disservice.
People can barely handle learning the basics of computer use. I have at least one person sign up at our ISP every week that has literally just unpacked their first computer and they want me to walk them through getting setup on the internet. These people have NO computer experience and don't understand what the escape key is or that the mouse has 2 buttons.
Computers are still relatively new. It's not like cars where they've been around since your grandfather was a child.
Now if Gateway was going to start selling consumer machines with Linux on them, then I would expect them to use those Gateway stores as a training ground for the new users and actually show the differences. I can't see Wal-Mart being able to do that.
There is no doubt choice is a good thing as long as the options are explained well. I understand (now) that these are going to be sold through the website.
But remember, there are a lot of people that have money to buy family members computers during the holidays. These people are ordering things online but don't always know enough to make an informed decision. So if it comes down to choosing between 2 1GHz machines with identical specs but different OSs then the cheaper one will probably be chosen. This can be especially bad when the recipient of the new machine will be an 80 year old grandmother.
My fear is that of a tech support nightmare when somebodies grandmother calls up and can't get things working on her new Wal-Mart computer. But generally speaking I could see it becoming as confusing as the different long distance options available.
Everybody is an idiot... idiot! They won't research it because they won't know where to go because they are in the market for their first computer that will allow them to get on the internet in the first place and allow them to look stuff up. And you know the WalMart sales people aren't going to be able to accurately describe it.
Why carry Windows, Lindows & Mandrake? Isn't this just overkill?
Worst yet, it's going to really confuse the people that can't afford to get confused when buying a computer because all they can afford is the cheap models. This is a disservice to their loyal customers because they'll have just bought a computer from WalMart but won't understand why they can't walk down the software isle and pick up a game for the kids. So is Wal-mart going to carry shrink wrapped Linux apps too, or are they going to blindly claim that every Windows application can run on it like they did last week?
Thanks. More great recommendations. I remember looking at that Rapid Development book before and I was going to go and pick up a copy but I completely forgot about it.
Unfortunately, my company employs 4 people. 2 programmers, a bookkeeper and the president. I'm one of the programmers, but I'm also tech support and graphic/web designer. So while I'd like to throw stuff to some quality testers, it usually just ends up in the hands of the customers:(
I didn't say I consistently write code that's 99.9% bug free. I just believe I can if I'm awake and focused and not getting interrupted every few minutes. Of course isn't hubris one of the three programmer's virtues?
But the problem I face at my company is that nothing is fully planned ahead of time, which means that down the road we may run across some fundamental design flaw that require completely changing several modules. Which in turn usually results in bugs. That's what I'd like to avoid.
I think the biggest problem is convincing the boss to sit down and fully plan his ideas before asking software to be written for it. So maybe a book on upper management mental manipulation would be better.
My original post was a little ambiguous. My company provides software for construction companies for different phases of their business operations. So yes, there are complex mathematical formulas. On the other hand, complex is an ambiguous term in itself. Something is only complex when you can't understand it.
But I was referring more to the actual user interface and db support. The formulas are standard and fairly easy to write and debug. But any time a user requests that they have a button somewhere I try to cut them short and just ask them what they want the end result to be. But if they want some custom analysis then yes they need to let us know what the formula is though.
I'd rather have something about the design process. I'm a believer that the code I right can be 99.9% stable if I do it right the first time. Testing is for other people. I have to write the code which means I'm not going to be the ideal tester because I already know the implied limits of what I've written can do.
You're right. Of course it's still too easrly for most people to handle running a Windows PC. I get people calling me that have had a computer for a couple years and don't know what right-click is. One lady still refers to her desktop as her screen saver.
Oh, and so the people that buy their computers from Wal-mart find this post: "NASCAR", "BEEF JERKY RECIPES", "INCEST".
You seem to know what you're talking about, so are there any good books that cover the software design process? A book that covers what should be flowcharted and how detailed it needs to be, as well as writing good specifications and what should be contained in them?
I don't let customers dictate how programs should work. I make them tell me what information they have to enter, and what they want to get back out. I decide on mostly everything in the middle.
They just shouldn't be allowed to stop distribution by other for eternity.
I agree with that, but you can't copyright a character. You can copyright a book, a movie, a piece of software, and work that you can see, feel or hear. A character can be trademarked though, and then it's essentially like the name of your company. You wouldn't expect them to say "Ok, it's been long enough, any other company want the name Disney?".
They were employed by Disney at the time which means it's owned by the company. Why don't you go tell your boss that you're going to release the source code to the new product because you wrote it.
Slashdot Mirror
Why do you have a neurosurgeons on staff?
I've made some really stupid posts to the newgroups in the past and I used my real name. Can you delete them for me?
Sorry you didn't understand the redneck humor.
Sorry Mr. Sheep Anus-Banger, I'm not from the south.
The reverse is true in Windows. MS adds NOP loops, with the length of the loop being the number of days between now and when Windows was shipped. That way they can release new OSes every couple years saying the OS itself is faster than the current version :)
Ok, that was a lie, don't sue me for slander.
That should be sometime in Q1 2022.
Use it to make a CGI of Natalie Portman covered in steaming hot grits.
Create abstract art based on the goatse.cx pictures.
Create a spell checker that can handle CmdrTaco comments.
Corner the market on beowulf cluster comments.
Did I miss anything important?
All cars have a gas pedal, brake pedal and steering wheel. And they're all in the same place no matter what brand car you buy.
Besides, cars are a bad example because they've been around for a hundred years and they only perform a few basic functions (forward, reverse, stop, left, right).
Gee mine too! And what does the box say, "thousands of applications". Gee, that's helpful.
I'm not an MS advocate spewing Windows should run on every machine. Wal-Mart will not accurately descibe the differences between the computers aside from a stickers that either says "Windows" or "Linux". That's a disservice.
People can barely handle learning the basics of computer use. I have at least one person sign up at our ISP every week that has literally just unpacked their first computer and they want me to walk them through getting setup on the internet. These people have NO computer experience and don't understand what the escape key is or that the mouse has 2 buttons.
Computers are still relatively new. It's not like cars where they've been around since your grandfather was a child.
Now if Gateway was going to start selling consumer machines with Linux on them, then I would expect them to use those Gateway stores as a training ground for the new users and actually show the differences. I can't see Wal-Mart being able to do that.
You're right. I'll openly admit I didn't read the article completely. Of course how many people that are online in the USA read slashdot?
There is no doubt choice is a good thing as long as the options are explained well. I understand (now) that these are going to be sold through the website.
But remember, there are a lot of people that have money to buy family members computers during the holidays. These people are ordering things online but don't always know enough to make an informed decision. So if it comes down to choosing between 2 1GHz machines with identical specs but different OSs then the cheaper one will probably be chosen. This can be especially bad when the recipient of the new machine will be an 80 year old grandmother.
My fear is that of a tech support nightmare when somebodies grandmother calls up and can't get things working on her new Wal-Mart computer. But generally speaking I could see it becoming as confusing as the different long distance options available.
Everybody is an idiot... idiot! They won't research it because they won't know where to go because they are in the market for their first computer that will allow them to get on the internet in the first place and allow them to look stuff up. And you know the WalMart sales people aren't going to be able to accurately describe it.
Why carry Windows, Lindows & Mandrake? Isn't this just overkill?
Worst yet, it's going to really confuse the people that can't afford to get confused when buying a computer because all they can afford is the cheap models. This is a disservice to their loyal customers because they'll have just bought a computer from WalMart but won't understand why they can't walk down the software isle and pick up a game for the kids. So is Wal-mart going to carry shrink wrapped Linux apps too, or are they going to blindly claim that every Windows application can run on it like they did last week?
Thanks. More great recommendations. I remember looking at that Rapid Development book before and I was going to go and pick up a copy but I completely forgot about it.
Hey wow, better advice than an Ask Slashdot response. Thanks again, I'll check it out.
We keep saying that we'll do unit tests but never get around to it.
I'll look for that book. Thanks.
:(
Unfortunately, my company employs 4 people. 2 programmers, a bookkeeper and the president. I'm one of the programmers, but I'm also tech support and graphic/web designer. So while I'd like to throw stuff to some quality testers, it usually just ends up in the hands of the customers
I didn't say I consistently write code that's 99.9% bug free. I just believe I can if I'm awake and focused and not getting interrupted every few minutes. Of course isn't hubris one of the three programmer's virtues?
But the problem I face at my company is that nothing is fully planned ahead of time, which means that down the road we may run across some fundamental design flaw that require completely changing several modules. Which in turn usually results in bugs. That's what I'd like to avoid.
I think the biggest problem is convincing the boss to sit down and fully plan his ideas before asking software to be written for it. So maybe a book on upper management mental manipulation would be better.
My original post was a little ambiguous. My company provides software for construction companies for different phases of their business operations. So yes, there are complex mathematical formulas. On the other hand, complex is an ambiguous term in itself. Something is only complex when you can't understand it.
But I was referring more to the actual user interface and db support. The formulas are standard and fairly easy to write and debug. But any time a user requests that they have a button somewhere I try to cut them short and just ask them what they want the end result to be. But if they want some custom analysis then yes they need to let us know what the formula is though.
I'd rather have something about the design process. I'm a believer that the code I right can be 99.9% stable if I do it right the first time. Testing is for other people. I have to write the code which means I'm not going to be the ideal tester because I already know the implied limits of what I've written can do.
You're right. Of course it's still too easrly for most people to handle running a Windows PC. I get people calling me that have had a computer for a couple years and don't know what right-click is. One lady still refers to her desktop as her screen saver.
Oh, and so the people that buy their computers from Wal-mart find this post: "NASCAR", "BEEF JERKY RECIPES", "INCEST".
You seem to know what you're talking about, so are there any good books that cover the software design process? A book that covers what should be flowcharted and how detailed it needs to be, as well as writing good specifications and what should be contained in them?
I don't let customers dictate how programs should work. I make them tell me what information they have to enter, and what they want to get back out. I decide on mostly everything in the middle.
They just shouldn't be allowed to stop distribution by other for eternity.
I agree with that, but you can't copyright a character. You can copyright a book, a movie, a piece of software, and work that you can see, feel or hear. A character can be trademarked though, and then it's essentially like the name of your company. You wouldn't expect them to say "Ok, it's been long enough, any other company want the name Disney?".
They were employed by Disney at the time which means it's owned by the company. Why don't you go tell your boss that you're going to release the source code to the new product because you wrote it.