I am not a small business owner, but I work at a small business in the US, and I would just add that at my company, there's little to no privacy. There are only about 15 people, and if someone is out sick, on vacation, on a business trip, etc--someone else will read their email to see if there's anything that has to be replied to immediately.
This goes for the bosses computer+email too.
There have never been any problems that I've heard of--I mean the general standard is, if you're reading someones email and you see its personal, dont read it. Just look at the business email. Not always possible, but it hasn't been a problem in my experience.
I don't really think most people use their business addresses for personal email very often incidentally--everyone seems to use yahoo/gmail/whatever. (I know I do)
I was osama I would be laughing my head of every time a new law is introduced to fight terrorism. We are just handing them moral victory after victory and they are just sitting in a cave somewhere. Please supply any evidence or even just reasoning that would explain why UBL cares one whit about civil liberties? Or how it could possibly be construed as a "moral victory"? Anything?
I don't get it--do you REALLY think UBL is cackling because bosses can read employee's emails now? I think the fact that that's how you are able to empathize with him and the al-Qaeda mindset is laughable, but in the end, very typical of many westerners.
Only the US has a peculiar obsession with separating its population into ethnic groups. Wow, that's utterly insane. Please, what country are you from? Would you care to describe how your country is different? Heck, anything to support your statement would be nice.
Since Denmark was mentioned, maybe you should read some news--there have been some major riots and political happenings there over religion/race within the past month!
I'm by no means claiming the US is perfect--it's not. But look at Australia--beach riots a year or two ago over Muslims. Look at France--ghettoization and discontent from Muslim/African populations that is hard to find an equivalent of in America in the last several decades. Balkans--banned from soccer matches for racist taunts. Chinese--discrimination against Uighur and Tibetan citizens. And where I've come across the most openly racist (against black Africans) people--Egypt. People don't even pretend.
Hell, if there is one constant across the world it's racism..
FWIW, I've heard Cuba actually has a remarkably egalitarian society--at least with regards to race--but it's so hard to hear reliable things about Cuba that I don't know..
Ahh, I see what you did--you took two different sentences, on two different lines, and combined them in to one. The "they" in the second sentence (the one on the second line) referred to Quark+XTensions, not computers.
Because it's fucking impossible to find decent music around here, where we don't have any specialty music shops. All it is is pop shit. I'm sick of it Around here? Welcome to the Internet my friend, feel free to look around.
But seriously, I too hate other people and their preferences. Liking MUNDANE music--what jerks!
Great, so you post a bunch of links to some random person's blog who spends a lot of time writing anti-MS screeds, and that's supposed to convince anybody?
I don't even know what the point is--that MS sometimes has delays? Show me a software maker that doesn't?
The truth of the matter is, Gates was making some off the cuff remarks about a vista successor and said "in a year or so" -- with his answer being unclear as to what exactly happens in "a year or so" (beta release, testing, etc).
Hmmm, I'm on unlimited evdo, I know sprint has a completely unlimited minutes/texts/MB/emails/etc plan for $100, and I was under the impression AT&T did as well?
That's perfectly fine that you don't use the internet on your phone, but al ot of people--including millions of iphone users--do use it!
The problem with your claim is that neither Classic nor OS 9 runs on "quadcore" or any other Intel Macs, so trying to say they run "slower than a G4" is pretty silly.
You'd need Quark 5 to run on Mac OS X at all (and an Intel Mac). No, you managed to completely miss the point and misunderstand. The point is that our workflow--and specifically one processor intensive XTension--runs far faster on Quark 4.5 on our G4 powerpc running OS9 than does the version for Quark 7 on Quadcore Macpro. To be completely clear for you, the processing will take maybe 4-5 minutes on the g4, and around 15 on the quadcore for the same result. (there are a number of reasons for this--decreased quark performance, apparently inferior lisp compiler/interpreter for osx [or so I've been told] and a quark architectural change that interacts negatively with the function of XT)
You're also completely wrong about Quark 5--it was not an OSX app, that would be Quark 6, which also sucked (improved in the 6.5 revision). 7 is much better. Additionally, Quark4.5 is perfectly capable of running as a classic app in OSX though you are correct that it will not run on Intel macs. There is one XT that is needed to fix a screen redraw bug though (free).
The only "claim" I made was that we are an example of a remaining part of that OS9 userbase!
The problem with trying to tell other people what they're talking about is, you're wrong, and that's silly:-P
But there is one key aspect of the X story that has to be remembered: Apple was effectively a dead platform with a small user base. The vast majority of active Mac users today are new to the platform, or on a new-ish machine. There was little to no installed base to lose. The office where I work still has several OS9 computers running. *sigh*
Solely due to Quark 4.5 and some extensions that have not been suitably ported to OSX yet--they run slower on a brand new quadcore than they due on an old g4...
Wasn't a huge fan of the books his son wrote. I think I pretty much followed the typical Dune-reader pattern--loved 1, 2+3+4 were ok, 5+6 confused the hell out of me.
The sequels were entertaining reads--but they felt more like pulp fiction or some other low quality writing to me. Not that that's horrible--but they just didn't keep the Dune mystique going for me. I still read most of them:-)
Advertising: informing the public of the existence of your product, selling the product on its own merits Marketing: bullshitting the public into using your product, usually because it's a turd that needs polished and cannot stand on its own merits. Ok, well, no other way to put it--you're wrong. Those are your own totally idiosyncratic definitions, and are at odds with reality.
Example: Jones soda says "Hi, we're just trying to sell a soda. You'll either like it or not, please give it a try and see for yourself." Selling a product on its merits, respectable. Or pay Bam Margera to do it for you;-) Pretty clear you don't know about Jones Soda marketing, so I think we should quit discussing them.
Example: Coke says "OMFG buy our shit cuz you'll be hip and sexy and so trendy! Watch us shove our ads down your throat like an invading cock!" Brain-washing people into buying the product, believing that hype and repetition will bludgeon down defenses until people mindlessly consume, contemptible. Do you really think anybody drinks coke for any of those reasons?
When Bill Hicks suggested marketing people should kill themselves because it's the only way to save their fucking souls, I disagree -- their souls are already lost. But I still want them to kill themselves. Wow..angry much?
Hah, I didn't think about woot actively pushing products because of what's going on on slashdot/other sites, but it makes sense and is smart. I would have been less inclined to buy the card yesterday. This was my first woot.
I had the corruption bug too...really messed me up while playing Baldur's Gate!
Also, when I first replied to your post I saw your sig lines and was like "hah...bet nobody ever falls for it because of the [slashdot.org]." When I was replying to THIS post, I clicked it, and was very confused as to why I was logged out for several seconds. Clever:p
Well, I don't have a clue what the twitter in this story is:)
The twitter people in this thread are talking about is a slashdot poster named twitter who has strong opinions on any number of topics--he's particularly anti-MS and anyone who uses MS software--and who blatantly uses several other accounts to back up his main account. (sock puppets if you will)
I don't really understand where you and others are getting their definitions or understanding of marketing. Maybe it would help if you could give me the definition of marketing and advertising that you're using, because I just can't find a meaning that fits what you are saying.
You say:
No. It's marketing if the preferred product is indistinguishable from or even worse than the competition. Look at the market segmentation for bottled water, it's all reverse osmosis filtration unless they just go and use direct tap water, there's no fucking difference! But you'll have some water positioned as for edgy hipsters, others for extreme athletes, etc. OED definition:
b. The action or business of bringing or sending a product or commodity to market; (now chiefly, Business) the action, business, or process of promoting and selling a product, etc., including market research, advertising, and distribution. You, like others in this thread, are completely confusing marketing and advertising. Jones soda is an example of an extremely well researched product, and a company that goes to GREAT length to advertise and market their products (check out the wikipedia page if you don't know anything about them, particularly the sections on promotions and marketing). The previous poster illustrated exactly how successfully they've found and targeted a market audience--before he said one word about flavor, he talked about how they're a different kind of a company, how their quality is different, etc etc. They market as an alternative drink! Just think of that, it's completely brilliant--a hip company, a hip drink--not one word about taste!
I know nothing of Jones soda but if it happens to be a better product, then it's a better product. Here we arrive at another problem--"better" is opinion! What if I don't like your example of Blue Front sauce, who's to say it's better or worse? The consumer/user.
Which is better coke or pepsi? vi or emacs? linux or freebsd? Better by one person's definition frequently doesn't have any relation to most people's opinions, or whether the product succeeds, stays niche, goes out of business, explodes, etc.
I'll let the other slashdotters eat you alive for accusing them of being deadbeat leeches on their spouses and/or families, but jones soda is not winning based on marketing OR advertising.
jones soda is winning because they actually follow the equation P = MC. They don't skimp on their ingredients like the major bottling houses do, and they don't gouge like they do. The fact that you know so much--and are so enthusiastic about jones soda (i think you just advertised for them)--shows how well their marketing is doing. You've bought into jones soda as an "alternative" to Big Soda. Marketing. Jones soda spends quite a lot of money on marketing!
As the saying goes, sell the sizzle, not the steak. p=mc, ingredients, alternative to major bottling houses, not gouging--sizzle. You didn't say a single thing about the flavor! Seems very telling...
I don't have onstar, don't know anybody who does, and only know a bit about it. Not too wild about the privacy implications either.
However, one of their advertised features is that if you get in a crash they can initiate a connection and attempt to talk to you--if you can't respond, they can automatically contact police/whoever. I would imagine that's why they have the ability to monitor the ambient sound in your car.
Ok, having read your reply, I see where you're coming from, and I'm more or less with you.
However, I would take issue with one point--your usage of the term "right." I read an excellent article years ago on "positive rights" vs "negative rights" (wikipedia has an article, I don't think it's great though) that made me reevaluate how I thought about rights.
Long story short, do you really have a "right" not to the thrown in jail? A right to drive? I don't think this is a proper usage of the term--it makes the word right become totally equivalent to self-interest, or something that benefits you. When you start defining people's rights in such explicit detail, you start getting problems. Which rights trump what? Your right to privacy, or my right to free speech? Your right to own a gun or my right to feel safe? etc etc etc. A right to earn money? I don't see any way that this is a right.
Not sure if you are American or European (or something else), but I would say that there is a fairly big difference between common US and EU understandings of rights.
Interesting, you're attempting to censor twitter? While I agree with the end, I'm going to play devil's advocate and point out that he, like you, has the right to free speech. Absolutely twitter and all his sock puppets have the right to free speech.
But, with all due respect, I think that your perception of free speech isn't entirely right either. Free speech doesn't mean freedom from criticism! Nor does free speech mean--as you say--that others have to listen to you.
Free speech means exactly what it says--say what you want to say! It doesn't ensure that anyone has to listen to you, has to agree, or has to care.
"Your duty is to assist others"... "duty...earns you the corresponding right." etc. No, absolutely not! You're talking about slavery, or at least something akin to the fascist system in Heinlein's starship troopers (where normal citizens aren't allowed to vote). Rights are rights, freedoms are freedoms. Your system of obligation and duty isn't freedom in my book.
nd you'll see a lot of comments from Apple fanboi's defending Apple all the way, but here's the truth, uncensored. (Go ahead, mod me down, fanboi trolls) what a lot of North American (like myself) readers don't seem to understand is that while we just got 3G services and phones rolled out within the last 2 years by the likes of Sprint, Verizon, etc., here in the States, abroad, they've had 3G for quite sometime and are completely spoiled by it. 1) I completely agree that apple dropped the ball by not initially launching the iphone as 3G. I want one, but have been waiting for a 3G version.
2) What service are you using that only rolled out 3g "within the past 2 years." I have been hard pressed to find a date for when Verizon rolled out their ev-do network (circa 2003--5 years ago--seems roughly it), but I'd guess I've been using it for 3-4 years. Verizon/Sprint/etc just rolled out their RevA ev-do, if that's possibly what you are confused by?
Asking a Judge to Save the World, and Maybe a Whole Lot More
But Walter L. Wagner and Luis Sancho contend that scientists at the European Center for Nuclear Research, or CERN, have played down the chances that the collider could produce, among other horrors, a tiny black hole, which, they say, could eat the Earth. Or it could spit out something called a "strangelet" that would convert our planet to a shrunken dense dead lump of something called "strange matter." Their suit also says CERN has failed to provide an environmental impact statement as required under the National Environmental Policy Act. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/29/science/29collider.html?em&ex=1207022400&en=fc4bb1d73347fe4e&ei=5087%0A
Ahh Re: Norway, I see I totally misread something. Weird, I don't get what happened. Would like to see some press coverage of the vote, though I guess that's too much to ask for.
First off--I have not followed the OOXML story at all, so I don't really have a clue as to what's going on.
However, I read the links here, and I don't see the irregularities--like in Norway, are the people that voted "approve" not allowed to vote normally? Were people stopped from voting? I don't understand.
Slashdot Mirror
I am not a small business owner, but I work at a small business in the US, and I would just add that at my company, there's little to no privacy. There are only about 15 people, and if someone is out sick, on vacation, on a business trip, etc--someone else will read their email to see if there's anything that has to be replied to immediately.
This goes for the bosses computer+email too.
There have never been any problems that I've heard of--I mean the general standard is, if you're reading someones email and you see its personal, dont read it. Just look at the business email. Not always possible, but it hasn't been a problem in my experience.
I don't really think most people use their business addresses for personal email very often incidentally--everyone seems to use yahoo/gmail/whatever. (I know I do)
I don't get it--do you REALLY think UBL is cackling because bosses can read employee's emails now? I think the fact that that's how you are able to empathize with him and the al-Qaeda mindset is laughable, but in the end, very typical of many westerners.
Since Denmark was mentioned, maybe you should read some news--there have been some major riots and political happenings there over religion/race within the past month!
I'm by no means claiming the US is perfect--it's not. But look at Australia--beach riots a year or two ago over Muslims. Look at France--ghettoization and discontent from Muslim/African populations that is hard to find an equivalent of in America in the last several decades. Balkans--banned from soccer matches for racist taunts. Chinese--discrimination against Uighur and Tibetan citizens. And where I've come across the most openly racist (against black Africans) people--Egypt. People don't even pretend.
Hell, if there is one constant across the world it's racism..
FWIW, I've heard Cuba actually has a remarkably egalitarian society--at least with regards to race--but it's so hard to hear reliable things about Cuba that I don't know..
And the further danger of being so eager to prove superior knowledge (even when lacking) and have a flamefest, that you misread!
Ahh, I see what you did--you took two different sentences, on two different lines, and combined them in to one. The "they" in the second sentence (the one on the second line) referred to Quark+XTensions, not computers.
But seriously, I too hate other people and their preferences. Liking MUNDANE music--what jerks!
Great, so you post a bunch of links to some random person's blog who spends a lot of time writing anti-MS screeds, and that's supposed to convince anybody?
I don't even know what the point is--that MS sometimes has delays? Show me a software maker that doesn't?
The truth of the matter is, Gates was making some off the cuff remarks about a vista successor and said "in a year or so" -- with his answer being unclear as to what exactly happens in "a year or so" (beta release, testing, etc).
No need to troll for ad revenue on slashdot...
Hmmm, I'm on unlimited evdo, I know sprint has a completely unlimited minutes/texts/MB/emails/etc plan for $100, and I was under the impression AT&T did as well?
That's perfectly fine that you don't use the internet on your phone, but al ot of people--including millions of iphone users--do use it!
What's the problem?
You'd need Quark 5 to run on Mac OS X at all (and an Intel Mac). No, you managed to completely miss the point and misunderstand. The point is that our workflow--and specifically one processor intensive XTension--runs far faster on Quark 4.5 on our G4 powerpc running OS9 than does the version for Quark 7 on Quadcore Macpro. To be completely clear for you, the processing will take maybe 4-5 minutes on the g4, and around 15 on the quadcore for the same result. (there are a number of reasons for this--decreased quark performance, apparently inferior lisp compiler/interpreter for osx [or so I've been told] and a quark architectural change that interacts negatively with the function of XT)
You're also completely wrong about Quark 5--it was not an OSX app, that would be Quark 6, which also sucked (improved in the 6.5 revision). 7 is much better. Additionally, Quark4.5 is perfectly capable of running as a classic app in OSX though you are correct that it will not run on Intel macs. There is one XT that is needed to fix a screen redraw bug though (free).
The only "claim" I made was that we are an example of a remaining part of that OS9 userbase!
The problem with trying to tell other people what they're talking about is, you're wrong, and that's silly
Solely due to Quark 4.5 and some extensions that have not been suitably ported to OSX yet--they run slower on a brand new quadcore than they due on an old g4...
Wasn't a huge fan of the books his son wrote. I think I pretty much followed the typical Dune-reader pattern--loved 1, 2+3+4 were ok, 5+6 confused the hell out of me.
:-)
The sequels were entertaining reads--but they felt more like pulp fiction or some other low quality writing to me. Not that that's horrible--but they just didn't keep the Dune mystique going for me. I still read most of them
Marketing: bullshitting the public into using your product, usually because it's a turd that needs polished and cannot stand on its own merits. Ok, well, no other way to put it--you're wrong. Those are your own totally idiosyncratic definitions, and are at odds with reality. Example: Jones soda says "Hi, we're just trying to sell a soda. You'll either like it or not, please give it a try and see for yourself." Selling a product on its merits, respectable. Or pay Bam Margera to do it for you
Hah, I didn't think about woot actively pushing products because of what's going on on slashdot/other sites, but it makes sense and is smart. I would have been less inclined to buy the card yesterday. This was my first woot.
:p
I had the corruption bug too...really messed me up while playing Baldur's Gate!
Also, when I first replied to your post I saw your sig lines and was like "hah...bet nobody ever falls for it because of the [slashdot.org]." When I was replying to THIS post, I clicked it, and was very confused as to why I was logged out for several seconds. Clever
Well, I don't have a clue what the twitter in this story is :)
The twitter people in this thread are talking about is a slashdot poster named twitter who has strong opinions on any number of topics--he's particularly anti-MS and anyone who uses MS software--and who blatantly uses several other accounts to back up his main account. (sock puppets if you will)
You say: No. It's marketing if the preferred product is indistinguishable from or even worse than the competition. Look at the market segmentation for bottled water, it's all reverse osmosis filtration unless they just go and use direct tap water, there's no fucking difference! But you'll have some water positioned as for edgy hipsters, others for extreme athletes, etc. OED definition: b. The action or business of bringing or sending a product or commodity to market; (now chiefly, Business) the action, business, or process of promoting and selling a product, etc., including market research, advertising, and distribution. You, like others in this thread, are completely confusing marketing and advertising. Jones soda is an example of an extremely well researched product, and a company that goes to GREAT length to advertise and market their products (check out the wikipedia page if you don't know anything about them, particularly the sections on promotions and marketing). The previous poster illustrated exactly how successfully they've found and targeted a market audience--before he said one word about flavor, he talked about how they're a different kind of a company, how their quality is different, etc etc. They market as an alternative drink! Just think of that, it's completely brilliant--a hip company, a hip drink--not one word about taste! I know nothing of Jones soda but if it happens to be a better product, then it's a better product. Here we arrive at another problem--"better" is opinion! What if I don't like your example of Blue Front sauce, who's to say it's better or worse? The consumer/user.
Which is better coke or pepsi? vi or emacs? linux or freebsd? Better by one person's definition frequently doesn't have any relation to most people's opinions, or whether the product succeeds, stays niche, goes out of business, explodes, etc.
Green for you!
Thanks for the headsup, I've been needing a new soundcard, and after reading about all the Creative stuff last night, not too inclined to buy an Xfi.
Just wanted to say I enjoyed your posts on marketing.
jones soda is winning because they actually follow the equation P = MC. They don't skimp on their ingredients like the major bottling houses do, and they don't gouge like they do. The fact that you know so much--and are so enthusiastic about jones soda (i think you just advertised for them)--shows how well their marketing is doing. You've bought into jones soda as an "alternative" to Big Soda. Marketing. Jones soda spends quite a lot of money on marketing!
As the saying goes, sell the sizzle, not the steak. p=mc, ingredients, alternative to major bottling houses, not gouging--sizzle. You didn't say a single thing about the flavor! Seems very telling...
I don't have onstar, don't know anybody who does, and only know a bit about it. Not too wild about the privacy implications either.
However, one of their advertised features is that if you get in a crash they can initiate a connection and attempt to talk to you--if you can't respond, they can automatically contact police/whoever. I would imagine that's why they have the ability to monitor the ambient sound in your car.
Ok, having read your reply, I see where you're coming from, and I'm more or less with you.
However, I would take issue with one point--your usage of the term "right." I read an excellent article years ago on "positive rights" vs "negative rights" (wikipedia has an article, I don't think it's great though) that made me reevaluate how I thought about rights.
Long story short, do you really have a "right" not to the thrown in jail? A right to drive? I don't think this is a proper usage of the term--it makes the word right become totally equivalent to self-interest, or something that benefits you. When you start defining people's rights in such explicit detail, you start getting problems. Which rights trump what? Your right to privacy, or my right to free speech? Your right to own a gun or my right to feel safe? etc etc etc. A right to earn money? I don't see any way that this is a right.
Not sure if you are American or European (or something else), but I would say that there is a fairly big difference between common US and EU understandings of rights.
But, with all due respect, I think that your perception of free speech isn't entirely right either. Free speech doesn't mean freedom from criticism! Nor does free speech mean--as you say--that others have to listen to you.
Free speech means exactly what it says--say what you want to say! It doesn't ensure that anyone has to listen to you, has to agree, or has to care.
"Your duty is to assist others"
2) What service are you using that only rolled out 3g "within the past 2 years." I have been hard pressed to find a date for when Verizon rolled out their ev-do network (circa 2003--5 years ago--seems roughly it), but I'd guess I've been using it for 3-4 years. Verizon/Sprint/etc just rolled out their RevA ev-do, if that's possibly what you are confused by?
Ahh Re: Norway, I see I totally misread something. Weird, I don't get what happened. Would like to see some press coverage of the vote, though I guess that's too much to ask for.
First off--I have not followed the OOXML story at all, so I don't really have a clue as to what's going on.
However, I read the links here, and I don't see the irregularities--like in Norway, are the people that voted "approve" not allowed to vote normally? Were people stopped from voting? I don't understand.
Any insights would be greatly appreciated.