Look at all the discussion. His article has gotten 2 days of coverage, and lots of attention. I applaud the article, and if some of us Mac users get a little bothered, I hope they at least look at the points he made.
I do expect, though, that Mac users will take umberage anytime some one, especially another Mac user, points out anything less than glowing about our favorite platform. I don't think of it so much as smugness, rather a learned response to all the years of FUD targeted at Apple through the well know "business" practices of Microsoft. It is hard at times to not appear smug when the truth aboout Windows vulnerabilities is so predominant.
Style, flair, and innovation are Apple hallmarks with Steve Jobs at the helm. Dell is just another PC maker, nothing more. When Apple suffered through those other CEO's, the style, flair and innovation were missing. Apple never was, nor will it ever be just another personal computer company. Gil Amelio and John Sculley never really understood that.
Dell has no real style, flair, nor innovation. Michael Dell sells PC's, nothing more, nothing less. The most creative thing he has done is build an odd sense of customer loyalty where Dell owners believe that their computers are better than other Windows PC's. There is a place for that, but in the end Apple excites the consumer PC market, and Dell along with others ride the waves.
What more could a user want? Windows is so easy to install that when something goes wrong you simply reinstall it! All the warnings about destroying your files is no problem because after answering those cute little pop ups about firewall, anti-virus, automatic update, etc., you haven't had time to create any files. I don't see what the problem is? Excuseme, I have to go defrag now.
The only reason this story is getting attention is Walmart is the current American icon of corporate evil and greed. America is a nation of victims who have nothing better to do than blame their personal failures on everyone else. This story should be humorous.
When Steve Jobs speaks he shows enthusiasm for Apple and the products, which is expected of someone in his position. What makes his keynotes so notable is the way he invites the audience and the faithful to join in his enthusiasm, as if all are participants rather than customers.
Cat's foot iron claw Neuro-surgeons scream for more At paranoia's poison door Twenty first century schizoid man. Blood rack barbedwire Politicians' funeral pyre Innocents raped with napalm fire Twenty first century schizoid man. Death seed blind man's greed Poets' starving children bleed Nothing he's got he really needs Twenty first century schizoid man
I don't see any surprises here. The most important items listed in the article are related to a root issue concerning security. A true surprise would be MS announcing a development path to a truly new operating system. Maybe the MS marketing group should take a hiatus so the developers could work on what MS customers truly want and need.
A small cooler for the head, and maybe for under the armpits, would be cheaper and more easily distributed to all infantry that would not add much bulk or weight to their body armor. More junk makes it harder the the troops to fire and maneuver. These suits are better suited for armor rather than scout vehicles.
How Awesome! More (and likely much better) choices for consumers. What a concept! No doubt many hardware and software companies, as well as enterprising custom builders would offer better bundles. More standalone applications that newbies get to start their computing expierience with will be far more secure than the Os integrated crap that makes what we know as 'Windows' is. It would also likely further diffuse some of the worst prolems we see with so called DRM solutions.
Apple leads the way again. Quality and simplicity, giving people what they really want. Microsoft will get into this market and mess it up with complexity and buggery. Others will join the fray, and some will be taken and some will be left, while the press and pundits will forsee Apple's demise again and again.
"Recent rumors claimed that Microsoft wanted to giveaway its OS for free by integrating advertisements in the OS itself. If that happens (provided the method is secure enough), I don't know what the figures would be in terms of revenue, but Windows will most definitely "outsell" Linux in sheer numbers and that could perhaps be touted as the beginning of the end of Linux."
No one will want a server feeding ads, and Windows being secure enough to have advertising integrated.... yeah, right.
The only distros that don't matter are the ones that disappear. Linux has come a long way, and offers so many wonderful choices. I "learned" on Slackware. Many of my peers try the latest and greatest, frequently prodding me to try their current favorite distro. I find much to like about all distros I have tried, but always find Slackware fills my comfort zone. I enjoyed playing with Gentoo while I worked on a customers FreeBSD system. There was a warm squishy feeling to be had with Gentoo after working on BSD. I have customers who find Linspire easy requiring very little nuts and bolts knowledge and letting them feel free from the Redmond Beast, whle following their new guru Michael Robertson. Mandrake/Mandriva always very respactable. The plethora of Live CD distros are fun, and great introductions to Linux for skeptical windows users to see a different reality, and I have great respect for Ubuntu because of Mark Shuttlworth's vision.
I would never have enjoyed Linux as I do, though, if I hadn't started with Slackware 7. It fits me like Mac OS X. My PC has been upgraded numerous times as my Mac systems have over the years. Never once have I had to reinstall, nor have I had my OS's break through numerous hardware and software upgrades. Slackware has kept me in my comforts zone.
It is great to see music / entertainment being commercially distributed on another form of media. Of course all the copyright, licensing, and DRM issues are not soon to be resolved (probably never will be), we should be stimulated that a "commercial" band is embracing other forms of media, expanding the digital distribution pool. There is a void that can be filled, that gap between the RIAA and Indies. More diverse the distribution models become, the better it will be for the consumers and the artists. The RIAA and MPAA execs with their lawyers, along with the Sony Zonies, and a wanna-be law school droput DOS coder are working diligently to build their profits at the expense of their customers and artists, by locking down the distribution models. My father was a "priate" because he recorded music off FM radio on to a reel to reel (the music industry claimed that FM radio was evil), and I first became a "pirate" because I used audio cassette tapes (there were congressional hearings about the damage that hi-fi cassettes would do to the industry). The MPAA in an earlier manifestation claimed that Television would destroy the movie industry. An expanding distribution pool is a good thing, after all, centuries ago King Canute tried, but failed to stop the tide.
There are links from InfoTech's site that pretty much lead to the truth. In a nutshell, Microsoft last week bought purchased media-streams.com, and "In August, Microsoft bought Teleo, a developer of VoIP, PSTN termination and click-to-call technology, which can be used to bring VoIP to the IM space." TFA is simply a typical FUD campaign from MS and its partners. Microsoft's implementation of VOIP with thier revamped IM in Office will, of course be safe and secure, and this is another reason why it is so important to continue in the forced upgrade cycle of proprietary software. Looks like microsoft is taking on 'eBay' as well as 'Google', not to mention the whole FOSS community.
It appears to me that Apple will provide at this time, the ultimate mass apeal personal computer. Windows users can easily switch and still use their library of software. Linux users and hackers can use and develop under GPL or their choice of licensing, and join in with Apple's Public Source Licensing. What it looks like it will prevent is developers creating 'MacWindows', or 'WinMac' apps (at least commercially).... of course hackers will do what they do no matter what. The best part will be that Windows won't be able to knock the users computer out of being productive when it eventually gets broken, as so many home and small business systems do.
It is interesting how you use Cindy Sheehan as an example of our"freedom to speak is declining". This woman is heard throughout the world without any infringment. Look at her words, and those of so many in our country who claim thier rights are diminishing. Their minds are closed and they spew vitriolic rhetoric. Their targeted audience, in this case the Bush administration, simply has no interest in attempting a dialog when there can be no discussion. I would be sympathetic if for example Ms. Sheehan was arrested for her speech rather than creating a public nusiance with out a permit. No one who claims our rights are diminishing is jailed for their speech. While I agree that it is important for their message to be heard openly, I am weary of their uninformed, spoiled brat attitudes. If their "cause" were as real as they claim, they would be more open to meaningful dialog, but their minds are not open.
It's 2005.... soon to be 2006. Unix has been with us how long? Some different flavors, but certainly not dead. Linux with its multitude of choices just keeps on advancing. God, I love choice. Where's 'Longhorn' or 'Vista', especially the promised innovations? Microsoft might get a better deal auctioning Steve Balmers chair than introducing yet another patch to NT (Vista).
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Eisner is gone. Creativity has returned to Disney, and Disney has made a fine aquisition.
Look at all the discussion. His article has gotten 2 days of coverage, and lots of attention. I applaud the article, and if some of us Mac users get a little bothered, I hope they at least look at the points he made.
I do expect, though, that Mac users will take umberage anytime some one, especially another Mac user, points out anything less than glowing about our favorite platform. I don't think of it so much as smugness, rather a learned response to all the years of FUD targeted at Apple through the well know "business" practices of Microsoft. It is hard at times to not appear smug when the truth aboout Windows vulnerabilities is so predominant.
What a dull world this would be if Oblio and Arrow hadn't come out of the 'Pointed Forest'.
Style, flair, and innovation are Apple hallmarks with Steve Jobs at the helm. Dell is just another PC maker, nothing more. When Apple suffered through those other CEO's, the style, flair and innovation were missing. Apple never was, nor will it ever be just another personal computer company. Gil Amelio and John Sculley never really understood that.
Dell has no real style, flair, nor innovation. Michael Dell sells PC's, nothing more, nothing less. The most creative thing he has done is build an odd sense of customer loyalty where Dell owners believe that their computers are better than other Windows PC's. There is a place for that, but in the end Apple excites the consumer PC market, and Dell along with others ride the waves.
What more could a user want? Windows is so easy to install that when something goes wrong you simply reinstall it! All the warnings about destroying your files is no problem because after answering those cute little pop ups about firewall, anti-virus, automatic update, etc., you haven't had time to create any files. I don't see what the problem is? Excuseme, I have to go defrag now.
The only reason this story is getting attention is Walmart is the current American icon of corporate evil and greed. America is a nation of victims who have nothing better to do than blame their personal failures on everyone else. This story should be humorous.
When Steve Jobs speaks he shows enthusiasm for Apple and the products, which is expected of someone in his position. What makes his keynotes so notable is the way he invites the audience and the faithful to join in his enthusiasm, as if all are participants rather than customers.
"MSN is committed to ensuring that products and services comply with global and local laws, norms and industry practices..."
I haven't had such a good laugh in so long...
21st Century Schizoid Man
Cat's foot iron claw
Neuro-surgeons scream for more
At paranoia's poison door
Twenty first century schizoid man.
Blood rack barbedwire
Politicians' funeral pyre
Innocents raped with napalm fire
Twenty first century schizoid man.
Death seed blind man's greed
Poets' starving children bleed
Nothing he's got he really needs
Twenty first century schizoid man
I don't see any surprises here. The most important items listed in the article are related to a root issue concerning security. A true surprise would be MS announcing a development path to a truly new operating system. Maybe the MS marketing group should take a hiatus so the developers could work on what MS customers truly want and need.
Dvorak has a real knack for getting people discussing non-events.
A small cooler for the head, and maybe for under the armpits, would be cheaper and more easily distributed to all infantry that would not add much bulk or weight to their body armor. More junk makes it harder the the troops to fire and maneuver. These suits are better suited for armor rather than scout vehicles.
MS hasn't done anything with IE Mac for a couple of years now? Since when is the news, especially duped and again?
Brings to mind an old computing acronym: GIGO
How Awesome! More (and likely much better) choices for consumers. What a concept! No doubt many hardware and software companies, as well as enterprising custom builders would offer better bundles. More standalone applications that newbies get to start their computing expierience with will be far more secure than the Os integrated crap that makes what we know as 'Windows' is. It would also likely further diffuse some of the worst prolems we see with so called DRM solutions.
Apple leads the way again. Quality and simplicity, giving people what they really want. Microsoft will get into this market and mess it up with complexity and buggery. Others will join the fray, and some will be taken and some will be left, while the press and pundits will forsee Apple's demise again and again.
"Recent rumors claimed that Microsoft wanted to giveaway its OS for free by integrating advertisements in the OS itself. If that happens (provided the method is secure enough), I don't know what the figures would be in terms of revenue, but Windows will most definitely "outsell" Linux in sheer numbers and that could perhaps be touted as the beginning of the end of Linux."
No one will want a server feeding ads, and Windows being secure enough to have advertising integrated.... yeah, right.
The only distros that don't matter are the ones that disappear. Linux has come a long way, and offers so many wonderful choices. I "learned" on Slackware. Many of my peers try the latest and greatest, frequently prodding me to try their current favorite distro. I find much to like about all distros I have tried, but always find Slackware fills my comfort zone. I enjoyed playing with Gentoo while I worked on a customers FreeBSD system. There was a warm squishy feeling to be had with Gentoo after working on BSD. I have customers who find Linspire easy requiring very little nuts and bolts knowledge and letting them feel free from the Redmond Beast, whle following their new guru Michael Robertson. Mandrake/Mandriva always very respactable. The plethora of Live CD distros are fun, and great introductions to Linux for skeptical windows users to see a different reality, and I have great respect for Ubuntu because of Mark Shuttlworth's vision.
I would never have enjoyed Linux as I do, though, if I hadn't started with Slackware 7. It fits me like Mac OS X. My PC has been upgraded numerous times as my Mac systems have over the years. Never once have I had to reinstall, nor have I had my OS's break through numerous hardware and software upgrades. Slackware has kept me in my comforts zone.
It is great to see music / entertainment being commercially distributed on another form of media. Of course all the copyright, licensing, and DRM issues are not soon to be resolved (probably never will be), we should be stimulated that a "commercial" band is embracing other forms of media, expanding the digital distribution pool. There is a void that can be filled, that gap between the RIAA and Indies. More diverse the distribution models become, the better it will be for the consumers and the artists. The RIAA and MPAA execs with their lawyers, along with the Sony Zonies, and a wanna-be law school droput DOS coder are working diligently to build their profits at the expense of their customers and artists, by locking down the distribution models. My father was a "priate" because he recorded music off FM radio on to a reel to reel (the music industry claimed that FM radio was evil), and I first became a "pirate" because I used audio cassette tapes (there were congressional hearings about the damage that hi-fi cassettes would do to the industry). The MPAA in an earlier manifestation claimed that Television would destroy the movie industry. An expanding distribution pool is a good thing, after all, centuries ago King Canute tried, but failed to stop the tide.
There are links from InfoTech's site that pretty much lead to the truth. In a nutshell, Microsoft last week bought purchased media-streams.com, and "In August, Microsoft bought Teleo, a developer of VoIP, PSTN termination and click-to-call technology, which can be used to bring VoIP to the IM space." TFA is simply a typical FUD campaign from MS and its partners. Microsoft's implementation of VOIP with thier revamped IM in Office will, of course be safe and secure, and this is another reason why it is so important to continue in the forced upgrade cycle of proprietary software. Looks like microsoft is taking on 'eBay' as well as 'Google', not to mention the whole FOSS community.
It appears to me that Apple will provide at this time, the ultimate mass apeal personal computer. Windows users can easily switch and still use their library of software. Linux users and hackers can use and develop under GPL or their choice of licensing, and join in with Apple's Public Source Licensing. What it looks like it will prevent is developers creating 'MacWindows', or 'WinMac' apps (at least commercially).... of course hackers will do what they do no matter what. The best part will be that Windows won't be able to knock the users computer out of being productive when it eventually gets broken, as so many home and small business systems do.
I didn't do it, I never said it, I've never been near it, it certainly wasn't me... What was that again?
It is interesting how you use Cindy Sheehan as an example of our"freedom to speak is declining". This woman is heard throughout the world without any infringment. Look at her words, and those of so many in our country who claim thier rights are diminishing. Their minds are closed and they spew vitriolic rhetoric. Their targeted audience, in this case the Bush administration, simply has no interest in attempting a dialog when there can be no discussion. I would be sympathetic if for example Ms. Sheehan was arrested for her speech rather than creating a public nusiance with out a permit. No one who claims our rights are diminishing is jailed for their speech. While I agree that it is important for their message to be heard openly, I am weary of their uninformed, spoiled brat attitudes. If their "cause" were as real as they claim, they would be more open to meaningful dialog, but their minds are not open.
Hmmm, welll, OK.
It's 2005.... soon to be 2006. Unix has been with us how long? Some different flavors, but certainly not dead. Linux with its multitude of choices just keeps on advancing. God, I love choice. Where's 'Longhorn' or 'Vista', especially the promised innovations? Microsoft might get a better deal auctioning Steve Balmers chair than introducing yet another patch to NT (Vista).