Of course you could do that. But you'll get one of these for free or very cheap with a contract in the UK. Would you get the free D70 with a contract? Absolutely not! It's not about the hadware *value* it's about the _cost_ to the consumer. I've always had top end phones, but I've never paid over £20 for one because I'm on contract.
So, they can't deliver screenings on DVD securely any more without resorting to draconian measures. So what? Why can't they just go back to the days when you had a company rep with the film showing it in a private theatre to a collected audience. It was social, people could actually _talk_ to each other about it and they could have the rep answer viewers questions and no hope of the screeners geting duplicated bar shaky-hand-cam action. I would theorise that this is because they save a bit of cash by doing it via mail with a DVD instead. But they claim their losing millions due to the pirated pre-release getting out?! Do the math!
> You really think they're not planning on selling this, or a > derivative of it? Well, eventually. If you'd bothered to read closer, you'd see that the hardware design states "DM320 Development Board". That's "developement board", not "production hardware for sale".
> i did read the spec, pev.. what i'm saying to archos is, make > sure i can add the usb-midi.ko module to support usb-hosted MIDI > interfaces, and its all good.. Are you sure you did? Archos is a different company to Neuros;-) It's an open platform running Linux - the whole point is that you can do it yourself and don't need them to do anything for that more than they are already.
> So if I give some good feedback, and the company takes it, > what do I get in return? A demo model? A discount? Credits > in the fine print? At least with OSS, my free contributions > go to a free product. Well, they're just making the reference hardware. Last time I checked, contributions to the Linux kernel didn't get you free hardware, demo models or discounts from any PC vendors... Sure, it would be nice though.
> According to Specs, this device records to 704x240 asf. > If this is as powerful as they claim it is, why not use > XviD or another open source codec? Because these will need porting to the C54 DSP core. Of course as what appears to be a fairly open project you'll be able to do that yourself independently. With the ASF codec, they HAVE to include that themselves as thats a closed codec format which you as an Open Source developer will have no access to the specs for.
> It has no mention of supporting things like ogg or ac3. > Despite their claims of being open source, this device > is still being marketed to Windows' users, and designed > for them. Which is why they also have Linux and OS X support in their compatibility list? Perhaps its because commercially ogg isn't big enough to be a driving force revenue-wise?
> If it's audiophile quality, it won't be digital. fullstop. Er, no. Digital is fine, although higher bit-depth and sampling rate than CD-level is useful. It's the lossy compression that most of the stored audio will have that's the problem. Have you ever tried A-B'ing on a iPod or similar compressed audio player with a straight WAV/AIFF rip from CD to the MP3/OGG/Whatever compressed version? It's surprisingly noticable.
There's a fundamental irony when 'Audiophiles' harp on about how great their 30K setup sounds and how digital would never sound as good when the material they're listing to was mixed down using Pro-Tools in the first place...
FYI, the actual DAC in use (Burr-Brown PCM1803) can run up to 24/192 and have a decent S/N ratio. If the hardware layout is fairly quiet electrically it should be able to play back superbly to whatever you plug it in to if the source audio is of a decent quality.
If you'd read the (admittedly flimsy) hardware spec, you'd spot there's USB host support. This opens up the field for this and much more (multi-channel audio i/o, external key/mouse, handset for VOIP etc...)
Sure, but by the time you get a 100G iPod, you'll have decided that 120G is the minimum useful amount that you'll settle for, and the game will continue. Either it's useful and you get one, or it's not and you don't.
If only we'd kept control of television transmission by the UK when Logie Baird invented it. Just think of the power we'd have over the citizens of the United States...!
You think digital playing is so much better than LP's? Did you ever consider the whole experience of going to a record shop and talking to people, thumbing through crates of vinyl and finding gems? That the whole thing about LP covers - large pieces of artwork you can really enjoy and can hold a lot of sleeve notes? The pleasure of having something physical and tangible for your purchase beyond 65mb of disk space missing? The hidden messages scratched into lead-outs? Music is more that just sound quality, its a mish mash of different things that make the experience...
Would you rather listen to someone spouting cr^H^Hrubbish in perfectly correct [English/American *] grammar, or someone saying something worth listening to in stunted language?
several words : If you're using hardware that only has OS9 drivers classic doesn't help. If you need to run OS9 audio/video apps, classic is too slow. Also, some people are happy with os9 and dont want to buy new app upgrades. For them, running OS9 natively makes far more sense.
As an aside, three word replies are really not very useful if you're tryin to make a serious point.
My 3ghz p4 shuttle XPC runs circles around the G5 using the same programs for music editing(protools)
Erm..... Sorry? You're trying to say that theres a huge difference? If you're using a TDM system, all the processing is done on dedicated DSP cards and the processor of the machine only affects the UI. (For non-musos, check out http://www.digidesign.com for more info)
If your consideration is portability, then perhaps bunging an Xserve and Xserve-raid in a rack would be more useful for you ; not much bigger in the end, in fact possibly smaller...
I think the 2.5 model, with the whiz-bang cooling and new chips, is the first next-gen G5, whereas the lower models are designed to clear out old supplies. November will see the real "bump" to 2.5/2.7/3.0 all-liquid series.
I think that makes sense, except I reckon that they've only put the liquid cooling on the top models to thrash out any tech issues before releasing en-masse to everyone...
~Pev
I had a carcrash a few years ago, and my Vaio was on the passenger seat in a Tech-Air bag. This is a bag sold at PC-World (ugh) and Dixons in the UK, and has an airbag tube around the edge of the laptop to cushion impact. Astoundingly (see the pics) I walked away from the crash uninjured, and more jaw droppingly so did the laptop. Not even a bad sector on the disk, and it is still running well now, four years later. Thats a good recommendation in my book...
Whilst I'd personally agree broadly with what David Pogue wrote, its worth reminding readers that he's the author of:
Mac OS 9 - The missing manual
Mac OS X - The missing manual
Switching to the Mac - The missing manual
iMovie - The missing manual
iPhoto - The missing manual
The Flat screen iMac for dummies
MacWorld Secrets
More Macs for Dummies
Macs for Teachers
MacWorld Mac FAQs
The great Macintosh easter egg hunt
The iBook for dummies
Mac OSX Hints and,
The Microsloth joke book
admittedly, in his defence he's also writtin:
Windows ME - the missing manual
Windows XP - the missing manual
but from the list, I think you can get the gist of his personal OS of choice:-) So don't take it as an unbiased review....
Yes, as mentioned by others, the Linksys WRT54G runs Linux and *is* hackable. I haven't seen any responses after the initial bitching by peeps about not having the GPL parts of its firmware available from Linksys, but they are actually available from their website now. See:
http://www.linksys.com/support/gpl.asp
I just need to buy one to play with to replace my old Netgear one...
Sorry to break it to you guys (does no-one keep up with news outside of Slashdot? At the latest WWDC, Jobs announced that the new iPod will work with PC's, using a version of MusicMatch Jukebox. Yes, you too can use the original and cutest machine. Check the Apple Web Page
> that still isn't superior firepower. Well depends on your definition of superior. I'd define a nucear weapon as more than enough.
> Now, if as a representative of an Arab state, > he build a long-range nuclear arsenal > comparable, or even better than ours, yes. To > a degree, it would buy that country peace This isnt an I have more weapons than you pissing contest. Look what a small number people did with a couple of commercial planes. Not even technically 'weapons'.
And you say they need an arsenal comparable or better than the USA? The usa's nuclear arsenal could waste the planet a few times over. And you say they need more to be taken seriously?
> For fuck's sake wake up and smell the truth. > The world is not , has never been, nor probably > ever will be a nice place. Peace is purchased > with superior firepower.
So, Osama has millions behind him. When he (inevitably) puchases 'superior' firepower, does that bring peace?
Slashdot Mirror
Of course you could do that. But you'll get one of these for free or very cheap with a contract in the UK. Would you get the free D70 with a contract? Absolutely not! It's not about the hadware *value* it's about the _cost_ to the consumer. I've always had top end phones, but I've never paid over £20 for one because I'm on contract.
~Pev
So, they can't deliver screenings on DVD securely any more without resorting to draconian measures. So what? Why can't they just go back to the days when you had a company rep with the film showing it in a private theatre to a collected audience. It was social, people could actually _talk_ to each other about it and they could have the rep answer viewers questions and no hope of the screeners geting duplicated bar shaky-hand-cam action. I would theorise that this is because they save a bit of cash by doing it via mail with a DVD instead. But they claim their losing millions due to the pirated pre-release getting out?! Do the math!
~Pev
> You really think they're not planning on selling this, or a
> derivative of it?
Well, eventually. If you'd bothered to read closer, you'd see that the hardware design states "DM320 Development Board". That's "developement board", not "production hardware for sale".
~Pev
> i did read the spec, pev .. what i'm saying to archos is, make .. ;-) It's an open platform running Linux - the whole point is that you can do it yourself and don't need them to do anything for that more than they are already.
> sure i can add the usb-midi.ko module to support usb-hosted MIDI
> interfaces, and its all good
Are you sure you did? Archos is a different company to Neuros
~Pev
> So if I give some good feedback, and the company takes it,
> what do I get in return? A demo model? A discount? Credits
> in the fine print? At least with OSS, my free contributions
> go to a free product.
Well, they're just making the reference hardware. Last time I checked, contributions to the Linux kernel didn't get you free hardware, demo models or discounts from any PC vendors... Sure, it would be nice though.
~Pev
> According to Specs, this device records to 704x240 asf.
> If this is as powerful as they claim it is, why not use
> XviD or another open source codec?
Because these will need porting to the C54 DSP core. Of course as what appears to be a fairly open project you'll be able to do that yourself independently. With the ASF codec, they HAVE to include that themselves as thats a closed codec format which you as an Open Source developer will have no access to the specs for.
> It has no mention of supporting things like ogg or ac3.
> Despite their claims of being open source, this device
> is still being marketed to Windows' users, and designed
> for them.
Which is why they also have Linux and OS X support in their compatibility list? Perhaps its because commercially ogg isn't big enough to be a driving force revenue-wise?
~Pev
> If it's audiophile quality, it won't be digital. fullstop.
Er, no. Digital is fine, although higher bit-depth and sampling rate than CD-level is useful. It's the lossy compression that most of the stored audio will have that's the problem. Have you ever tried A-B'ing on a iPod or similar compressed audio player with a straight WAV/AIFF rip from CD to the MP3/OGG/Whatever compressed version? It's surprisingly noticable.
There's a fundamental irony when 'Audiophiles' harp on about how great their 30K setup sounds and how digital would never sound as good when the material they're listing to was mixed down using Pro-Tools in the first place...
FYI, the actual DAC in use (Burr-Brown PCM1803) can run up to 24/192 and have a decent S/N ratio. If the hardware layout is fairly quiet electrically it should be able to play back superbly to whatever you plug it in to if the source audio is of a decent quality.
~Pev
If you'd read the (admittedly flimsy) hardware spec, you'd spot there's USB host support. This opens up the field for this and much more (multi-channel audio i/o, external key/mouse, handset for VOIP etc...)
~Pev
Google finds some pics as expected (Sorry, PDF) :
http://www.surmet.com/docs/Processing_ALON.pdf
I'm not 100% certain if they're genuine or mock ups though...
~Pev
Sure, but by the time you get a 100G iPod, you'll have decided that 120G is the minimum useful amount that you'll settle for, and the game will continue. Either it's useful and you get one, or it's not and you don't.
~Pev
If only we'd kept control of television transmission by the UK when Logie Baird invented it. Just think of the power we'd have over the citizens of the United States...!
~Pev
You think digital playing is so much better than LP's? Did you ever consider the whole experience of going to a record shop and talking to people, thumbing through crates of vinyl and finding gems? That the whole thing about LP covers - large pieces of artwork you can really enjoy and can hold a lot of sleeve notes? The pleasure of having something physical and tangible for your purchase beyond 65mb of disk space missing? The hidden messages scratched into lead-outs? Music is more that just sound quality, its a mish mash of different things that make the experience...
~Pev
Would you rather listen to someone spouting cr^H^Hrubbish in perfectly correct [English/American *] grammar, or someone saying something worth listening to in stunted language?
I know what I choose.
~Pev
(* Delete as applicable)
several words : If you're using hardware that only has OS9 drivers classic doesn't help. If you need to run OS9 audio/video apps, classic is too slow. Also, some people are happy with os9 and dont want to buy new app upgrades. For them, running OS9 natively makes far more sense.
As an aside, three word replies are really not very useful if you're tryin to make a serious point.
~Pev
Ah, shame. Of course you could use a Magma PCI chassis, but then you lose a few more U of rack space...
~Pev
Erm..... Sorry? You're trying to say that theres a huge difference? If you're using a TDM system, all the processing is done on dedicated DSP cards and the processor of the machine only affects the UI. (For non-musos, check out http://www.digidesign.com for more info)
~Pev
Believe it or not, there are still people out there that use OS9 software but need new machines!
~Pev
If your consideration is portability, then perhaps bunging an Xserve and Xserve-raid in a rack would be more useful for you ; not much bigger in the end, in fact possibly smaller...
~Pev
I think that makes sense, except I reckon that they've only put the liquid cooling on the top models to thrash out any tech issues before releasing en-masse to everyone... ~Pev
~Pev
Whilst I'd personally agree broadly with what David Pogue wrote, its worth reminding readers that he's the author of :
:
:-) So don't take it as an unbiased review....
Mac OS 9 - The missing manual
Mac OS X - The missing manual
Switching to the Mac - The missing manual
iMovie - The missing manual
iPhoto - The missing manual
The Flat screen iMac for dummies
MacWorld Secrets
More Macs for Dummies
Macs for Teachers
MacWorld Mac FAQs
The great Macintosh easter egg hunt
The iBook for dummies
Mac OSX Hints
and,
The Microsloth joke book
admittedly, in his defence he's also writtin
Windows ME - the missing manual
Windows XP - the missing manual
but from the list, I think you can get the gist of his personal OS of choice
~Pev
Yes, as mentioned by others, the Linksys WRT54G runs Linux and *is* hackable. I haven't seen any responses after the initial bitching by peeps about not having the GPL parts of its firmware available from Linksys, but they are actually available from their website now. See :
http://www.linksys.com/support/gpl.asp
I just need to buy one to play with to replace my old Netgear one...
~Pev
Sorry to break it to you guys (does no-one keep up
with news outside of Slashdot? At the latest
WWDC, Jobs announced that the new iPod will work
with PC's, using a version of MusicMatch Jukebox.
Yes, you too can use the original and cutest
machine. Check the Apple Web Page
> that still isn't superior firepower.
Well depends on your definition of superior. I'd define a nucear weapon as more than enough.
> Now, if as a representative of an Arab state,
> he build a long-range nuclear arsenal
> comparable, or even better than ours, yes. To
> a degree, it would buy that country peace
This isnt an I have more weapons than you pissing contest. Look what a small number people did with a couple of commercial planes. Not even technically 'weapons'.
And you say they need an arsenal comparable or better than the USA? The usa's nuclear arsenal could waste the planet a few times over. And you say they need more to be taken seriously?
Time for the USA to take a reality check.
~Pev
> For fuck's sake wake up and smell the truth.
> The world is not , has never been, nor probably
> ever will be a nice place. Peace is purchased
> with superior firepower.
So, Osama has millions behind him. When he (inevitably) puchases 'superior' firepower, does that bring peace?
~Pev