I don't know if it's because I'm running on no sleep, or that images of patch panels are swimming in front of my eyes due to a late-night rack-a-thon, but that was one fine rant.
This just makes me wonder where California's planned high-speed rail initiative is actually going. Imagine, 2-1/2 hours from SF to LA, but it seems to be a stuck project!
Win2000 was out for only a couple years before XP was released. In the 6-7 years since XP was released, you'd expect Vista to have more compelling features. Look how far OS X has moved since 2001 and you begin to wonder, "where's the innovation, guys?" This is the computer industry, after all.
Hell, I was 12 when I played teh original DN. To my adolescent sensibilities, it was pretty cool.
But now? I can't imagine that kind of shtick competing with modern-day fare. Maybe the 30-to-45-year old "man-child" market would be all over it, but not The Rest of the World.
1998 called. They want their lame Bondi case jokes back, dude. If the most you can say about Apple is "teh shiny," and you're in IT, I fear for your soul.
It's not enough that you dumbed down DX2 for consoles, ruining the maps, the story, the weapons, etc. but now you have to make a THIRD game? Listen, the first one was great because of the conspiracies within conspiracies. But it's done! Run its course!
What the hell is the next big surprise in the next big DX remake? We find out JC was a woman?
So what is this, audiophile rant number 4,262,176?
"Vinyl/DAT/reel-to-reel/(insert esoteric, dated format) is better Just Because, and if you have anything less than $30/foot oxygen-free gold plated lamp wire pulled right out of Richard Gere's ass connecting your amp to your $5000 speakers, you're rotting holes in your brain."
But you know what, dude? I can't tell the difference, and it doesn't fatigue my ears, because I have reference cans and I listen at the right volume.
YES Computers is the perfect example of why "friendly local Apple stores" are dying out.
10 years ago YES sold mostly Macs, printers, etc. There'd be one rack of accessories in the corner. Now, 90% of the place is laptop bags, wrist rests, iPod cases, $100 software, etc. Low price, high margin stuff.
Most independent Apple stores are becoming accessory shops. Apple's squeezing their independent resellers from the bottom. Time when you'd pay $7000 for a IIfx is long gone. The official Apple Stores have the attractive displays, highly trained employees, consistent service, and most of all, inventory that tends to make customers stick with them over time, and of course at the same prices as the local guys.
My 'defaults' for a new system: rip the keys off and change them to Dvorak, install gcc + build tools, create RSA keys for ssh, certificates for wireless, setup rsync script for backup, install X11, install VNC + rdesktop clients, setting terminal to default to 'screen' for multiple tty goodness. And that's just for the girlfriend.
I'd owned my PowerBook for maybe 3 years when I discovered Quicksilver. That kept me busy for a while. Then I started wrapping shell scripts into apps with Platypus, and launching them with Quicksilver. Installed TypeIt4Me to make notes easier. About a year ago I started doing much of my work in the command line. 4 years later, I'm still 'tweaking' the system, wringing out as much efficiency as possible. Given what I do on it (sys admin), the limiting factor is not the CPU, but file manipulation, batching, networking, etc. and those can be tweaked as long as I'm willing to learn new things.
Stopped by Target today to pick up a new iron (the previous one had shat wax (!) all over some pants I was ironing) and saw the Zune display. Now I've heard it was a rebadged Toshiba. I don't know much about Toshiba MP3 players save that I've never seen one in the wild. Now I know why. The physical interface, such as it is, is the same me-too cheap D-pad we've all seen on the Nomad et al. but this one's round, so it looks like a scroll wheel, except, heh, it doesn't scroll. Footprint the same as an iPod, but it's about as thick as yo momma's purse, and the same brown color too! The menu does a glitzy SNES-era pixelly thing when you choose options, presumably to make up for the lack of feedback by the, heh, missing scroll wheel. (Sensing a trend here?) It's hard as hell to choose a song; they're all multi-line and of course, no precision scrolling, because...
It's definitely more glitzy than the iPod, or pretty much anything save the Archos, in that very obvious Microsoft "bright blue XP theme" way. So... I guess if you're the type with a leopard print cell phone cover and non-DOT-legal "blue" headlamps on your riced-out CRX, then, yeah! Go the hell for it! As someone who drives 500 miles a week in the city, there is no way I'm going to use this in my car. It's not half as usable as the iPod.
What is the deal with this Roland Piquepaille guy feeding stories to Slashdot? There's even a "Related Links" section for him. Guys, either make him an editor or stop linking to his damn technology site. Slashdot has become less of a "News for Nerds" site and more of a C-Net / Yahoo News style site. It's a sad day when Wired outgeeks you.
I've always found my Mac to be faster than my PC - faster meaning more work is done. Expose really speeds things up mightily as I often work in multiple apps. There's something to be said for Apple's consistent interface design. I carry my PowerBook around and to the office - it's my "work machine," while my PC sits at home for playing games and as a backup if I need a larger screen. Both machines have Macromedia Studio MX, luxology modo, and CS Suite on them, but I find I just work faster on the Mac. Not just design work, but also development work (databases).
PC keyboards' "logo key" (usually Windows key) remains a logo key on the Mac, except it's marked with an Apple logo on Apple keyboards - wotta surprise! ALT becomes Option, and CTRL remains CTRL.
On a Mac, the second mouse button displays a contextual menu, just like in Windows. Scroll wheels behave the same.
The Ctrl and Logo keys play different roles under Mac and Windows. On Windows, the Ctrl key is the main modifier: Ctrl-C to copy, Ctrl-S to save, and so on. You need Control if you want to use menu commands in Windows. On the Mac, however, the Logo key is the primary modifier: Logo-C, Logo-S, etc. while the Shift, Ctrl and Option (Alt) keys serve as modifiers. Apple puts an Apple key on either side of the spacebar, a good ergonomic decision, becuase contrary to s_mencer's post, most users will use the Logo key extensively - Logo-Tab to switch apps, Logo-Q, etc.
The Mac tends to use modifier keys more fully than Windows, no doubt due to the single mouse button. Need a (tm) logo in your text? Alt-2. The mnemonics are also better overall - Close Window is Logo-W instead of Alt-F4, and the Process Manager is Logo-Alt-Esc instead of Ctrl-Alt-Del so you can execute it with one hand.
I tell ya, I love my MX500 / MX700, but the drivers suck. No app-specific settings. No modifier key maps (heaven forbid I might want to use a button to drag around in Photoshop). I could go on. Microsoft's IntelliMouse drivers have covered all this crap for years.
Apparently if I buy the MX510 I can get app specific drivers. Nice sales work, Logitech.
They fix some things with the Advanced utility, but why isn't it rolled into the main MouseWare driver set?
FWIW, this is in Windows. Yeah, I said it! Until I can get SolidWorks on my Mac I've gotta use Windows!
I see the relevance of posting this article to Slashdot- black box used as evidence- but what I found more interesting is that the guy's being sentenced to only 18 months for the murder of another person.
...and pop off the back of the display (4 screws) and unscrew the hinge (2 screws) to access the bezel. You don't need to pull the topcase / bottom case off. I don't think the bezel's covered under warranty, so you hopefully won't have to charge customers as much... everyone saves time.
Another good one: intermittent flickering on the iBook LCD can often be resolved by replacing the reed switch cable rather than the entire display assembly. Only useful for out of warranty repairs as it does take time (2 hrs) but good for helping those who can't afford an entire display assembly.
If ya'll check the PDF, the drive itself is only about 40x40mm square. This is about the size of the current iPod's LCD screen. Perhaps Apple will omit the LCD or replace it with a single- or dual-line display to save money... one would think navigation would be impaired as a result, but perhaps they've got something up their sleeves. They've gotta save money somewhere, in any case... perhaps they've figured out a way to reduce the number of on board ICs from 4-5 to 1-2. Maybe it'll be essentially a USB "thumb drive" with no cable to speak of... it'll save on FireWire controllers at least.
Interesting how, despite the poster's comparison to old-tyme MFM drives, the Cornice is apparently equipped with a "true IDE" interface. Dunno what level ATA that is, but parts is parts to a certain extent, and it looks like a fairly simple drop-in solution. The iPod, despite being incredibly compact, uses no custom ICs- everything's all off the shelf- this was done on purpose and the Cornice SE jives perfectly with this design methodology.
Maybe this'll be the next Gameboy, from a pop culture standpoint.
Slashdot Mirror
I don't know if it's because I'm running on no sleep, or that images of patch panels are swimming in front of my eyes due to a late-night rack-a-thon, but that was one fine rant.
This just makes me wonder where California's planned high-speed rail initiative is actually going. Imagine, 2-1/2 hours from SF to LA, but it seems to be a stuck project!
Win2000 was out for only a couple years before XP was released. In the 6-7 years since XP was released, you'd expect Vista to have more compelling features. Look how far OS X has moved since 2001 and you begin to wonder, "where's the innovation, guys?" This is the computer industry, after all.
Hell, I was 12 when I played teh original DN. To my adolescent sensibilities, it was pretty cool.
But now? I can't imagine that kind of shtick competing with modern-day fare. Maybe the 30-to-45-year old "man-child" market would be all over it, but not The Rest of the World.
1998 called. They want their lame Bondi case jokes back, dude. If the most you can say about Apple is "teh shiny," and you're in IT, I fear for your soul.
Yes, we have package managers too.
"The" "XSAN?" Really? Honest? I'm a fan of "The iCal" myself...
You bastards.
It's not enough that you dumbed down DX2 for consoles, ruining the maps, the story, the weapons, etc. but now you have to make a THIRD game? Listen, the first one was great because of the conspiracies within conspiracies. But it's done! Run its course!
What the hell is the next big surprise in the next big DX remake? We find out JC was a woman?
Why doesn't this surprise me? And this time it's not DVD-Jon!
Well, if you're having video and suspend issues, then it's not really running like a dream now, is it?
"Vinyl/DAT/reel-to-reel/(insert esoteric, dated format) is better Just Because, and if you have anything less than $30/foot oxygen-free gold plated lamp wire pulled right out of Richard Gere's ass connecting your amp to your $5000 speakers, you're rotting holes in your brain."
But you know what, dude? I can't tell the difference, and it doesn't fatigue my ears, because I have reference cans and I listen at the right volume.
You guys are worse than PS3 fanboys.
YES Computers is the perfect example of why "friendly local Apple stores" are dying out.
10 years ago YES sold mostly Macs, printers, etc. There'd be one rack of accessories in the corner. Now, 90% of the place is laptop bags, wrist rests, iPod cases, $100 software, etc. Low price, high margin stuff.
Most independent Apple stores are becoming accessory shops. Apple's squeezing their independent resellers from the bottom. Time when you'd pay $7000 for a IIfx is long gone. The official Apple Stores have the attractive displays, highly trained employees, consistent service, and most of all, inventory that tends to make customers stick with them over time, and of course at the same prices as the local guys.
My 'defaults' for a new system: rip the keys off and change them to Dvorak, install gcc + build tools, create RSA keys for ssh, certificates for wireless, setup rsync script for backup, install X11, install VNC + rdesktop clients, setting terminal to default to 'screen' for multiple tty goodness. And that's just for the girlfriend.
I'd owned my PowerBook for maybe 3 years when I discovered Quicksilver. That kept me busy for a while. Then I started wrapping shell scripts into apps with Platypus, and launching them with Quicksilver. Installed TypeIt4Me to make notes easier. About a year ago I started doing much of my work in the command line. 4 years later, I'm still 'tweaking' the system, wringing out as much efficiency as possible. Given what I do on it (sys admin), the limiting factor is not the CPU, but file manipulation, batching, networking, etc. and those can be tweaked as long as I'm willing to learn new things.
Wrists killing you? Not in 2 weeks. Learn Dvorak.
...it caches apps in RAM to speed up performance, but runs 'sub-optimally' until you bump it... to 4GB? Just how much caching does this thing do?!
Stopped by Target today to pick up a new iron (the previous one had shat wax (!) all over some pants I was ironing) and saw the Zune display. Now I've heard it was a rebadged Toshiba. I don't know much about Toshiba MP3 players save that I've never seen one in the wild. Now I know why. The physical interface, such as it is, is the same me-too cheap D-pad we've all seen on the Nomad et al. but this one's round, so it looks like a scroll wheel, except, heh, it doesn't scroll. Footprint the same as an iPod, but it's about as thick as yo momma's purse, and the same brown color too! The menu does a glitzy SNES-era pixelly thing when you choose options, presumably to make up for the lack of feedback by the, heh, missing scroll wheel. (Sensing a trend here?) It's hard as hell to choose a song; they're all multi-line and of course, no precision scrolling, because...
It's definitely more glitzy than the iPod, or pretty much anything save the Archos, in that very obvious Microsoft "bright blue XP theme" way. So... I guess if you're the type with a leopard print cell phone cover and non-DOT-legal "blue" headlamps on your riced-out CRX, then, yeah! Go the hell for it! As someone who drives 500 miles a week in the city, there is no way I'm going to use this in my car. It's not half as usable as the iPod.
What is the deal with this Roland Piquepaille guy feeding stories to Slashdot? There's even a "Related Links" section for him. Guys, either make him an editor or stop linking to his damn technology site. Slashdot has become less of a "News for Nerds" site and more of a C-Net / Yahoo News style site. It's a sad day when Wired outgeeks you.
Almost as bad as the guy that posted "czech this out" on the front page.
I've always found my Mac to be faster than my PC - faster meaning more work is done. Expose really speeds things up mightily as I often work in multiple apps. There's something to be said for Apple's consistent interface design. I carry my PowerBook around and to the office - it's my "work machine," while my PC sits at home for playing games and as a backup if I need a larger screen. Both machines have Macromedia Studio MX, luxology modo, and CS Suite on them, but I find I just work faster on the Mac. Not just design work, but also development work (databases).
Anyone can stuff a midget into a box and spray paint it black. (The box, not the midget.)
PC keyboards' "logo key" (usually Windows key) remains a logo key on the Mac, except it's marked with an Apple logo on Apple keyboards - wotta surprise! ALT becomes Option, and CTRL remains CTRL.
On a Mac, the second mouse button displays a contextual menu, just like in Windows. Scroll wheels behave the same.
The Ctrl and Logo keys play different roles under Mac and Windows. On Windows, the Ctrl key is the main modifier: Ctrl-C to copy, Ctrl-S to save, and so on. You need Control if you want to use menu commands in Windows. On the Mac, however, the Logo key is the primary modifier: Logo-C, Logo-S, etc. while the Shift, Ctrl and Option (Alt) keys serve as modifiers. Apple puts an Apple key on either side of the spacebar, a good ergonomic decision, becuase contrary to s_mencer's post, most users will use the Logo key extensively - Logo-Tab to switch apps, Logo-Q, etc.
The Mac tends to use modifier keys more fully than Windows, no doubt due to the single mouse button. Need a (tm) logo in your text? Alt-2. The mnemonics are also better overall - Close Window is Logo-W instead of Alt-F4, and the Process Manager is Logo-Alt-Esc instead of Ctrl-Alt-Del so you can execute it with one hand.
I tell ya, I love my MX500 / MX700, but the drivers suck. No app-specific settings. No modifier key maps (heaven forbid I might want to use a button to drag around in Photoshop). I could go on. Microsoft's IntelliMouse drivers have covered all this crap for years.
Apparently if I buy the MX510 I can get app specific drivers. Nice sales work, Logitech.
They fix some things with the Advanced utility, but why isn't it rolled into the main MouseWare driver set? FWIW, this is in Windows. Yeah, I said it! Until I can get SolidWorks on my Mac I've gotta use Windows!
I see the relevance of posting this article to Slashdot- black box used as evidence- but what I found more interesting is that the guy's being sentenced to only 18 months for the murder of another person.
Might want to try iPoker. As one person on macupdate put it, "the authors definitely had fun making it."
...and pop off the back of the display (4 screws) and unscrew the hinge (2 screws) to access the bezel. You don't need to pull the topcase / bottom case off. I don't think the bezel's covered under warranty, so you hopefully won't have to charge customers as much... everyone saves time.
Another good one: intermittent flickering on the iBook LCD can often be resolved by replacing the reed switch cable rather than the entire display assembly. Only useful for out of warranty repairs as it does take time (2 hrs) but good for helping those who can't afford an entire display assembly.
Interesting how, despite the poster's comparison to old-tyme MFM drives, the Cornice is apparently equipped with a "true IDE" interface. Dunno what level ATA that is, but parts is parts to a certain extent, and it looks like a fairly simple drop-in solution. The iPod, despite being incredibly compact, uses no custom ICs- everything's all off the shelf- this was done on purpose and the Cornice SE jives perfectly with this design methodology.
Maybe this'll be the next Gameboy, from a pop culture standpoint.