So is it just me or has Google really cornered the market on everything they've touched?
Info searches.
Image searches.
Usenet searches.
And now news.
As a co-worker pointed out, if they were to suddenly find that they had to charge a small fee to access Google, would anyone complain? Where else can you find the in depth services that Google does?
I'd be willing to bet if I won my boss wouldn't give me the time off, and even if he did my wife would stop me. (We just and a baby. Can you say mood swings?!)
Speaking only for myself, As a Web Developer, I code first for NS/Mozilla products first and IE last. My only complaint about NS is the lack of standards support in the 4x versions. However, as folks around the internet upgrade my job becomes better and better. The latest versions of Mozilla are very easy to build sites for, while M$ still gives me and some of my co-workers headaches.
Example: Nevada Casino's offer free drinks to the customer while they play. Giving away the booze is a "loss" on paper. The amount of money spent on "free" drinks is claimed as a business expence and written off as a promotional expence. The restaurants are budgeted to "lose" x-number of dollars per month. That too is claimed as a promotional expence. The profit/loss margin is setup to function in this manner due to the shear amount of money brought in on the casino floor.
As a player, you can asked to be "tracked" by the house. They keep track of the amount of money you win/lose and provide you with the report when you leave. Then when you are filling out your taxes, you can claim the money you "lost" against the money you "won" and pay less in taxes. I have several friends who claimed 50-60k in winnings but ended up getting refunds due to the loss statements from the casino to offset the winnings.
As for MSFT, I'd be willing to bet they claim that the "lower price" is a promotion and they write off the "loss".
True. They do "lose" money on the deal. But IMO I really don't think that they do. I'd bet that it's only a "paper" loss and not real cash. And like they won't write any "loss" off as a business expence on their taxes.
However, if they look at the mods as new features to add to later versions of the products, they're back to winning again. Our economy is fed by giving people what they want, when they want it. If you fail at giving the consumer what they want then you fail as a business.
If I buy your product you're making money from the sale. If I then mod that same product in a way that's cool and I show it off to my friends, chances are they too will buy your product and again you'll make money.
If you throw walls, safeguards, and other things in my way to prevent me from modding your products, chances are I'll take my business and money elsewhere.
Get a clue folks. If you support and assist us in product mods you'll generate more sales! And you may even find new versions of your products to sell, and new innovations to improve your products.
There is more than enough money already to be had to cover this.
Just look at all of the porkbarrels they added to the "National Security" Bill. More than 75% of the total bill didn't have anything to do with National Security. Seems to me that some of the "Pet Projects" our congressmen have going could get axed to cover the cost. Besides, if I get billed by the gov't, I can't go to my boss and demand an increase to "meet expences." They shouldn't either.
It may not stop the Gov't agencies from using M$ products, but I wonder if a class action may generate some sort of penalty for the continued use of them. I'd love to see us regular folks be able to "Tax" the feds for using a product that violates their own rules, guidelines, and laws.
I wonder if we could also work into it some interest and late fees too!
When I watch TV using an antenna to view my local stations, I am a theif because I didn't pay for access to the shows. If I tape a program I'm watching for my personal use, I'm a theif because I'm "stealing" a copywritten program. If I pause the tape while recording to "edit" out the commercials, I'm a really big theif because I'm altering the "original" broadcast of the show.
So if recording a show so I can watch it later when I have the time to do so is wrong, then it only makes sense for me to never watch TV.
I wonder if next I'll be called a criminal for NOT watching the programs and commercials.
They should be there to maintain the chain of evidence. It would also give them something to do.
About 5 years ago a radio station I listened to used to play a game called "Cop or Not." They'd get a listener to call in and have them choose "cop" or "not" and then they would ramdomly call donut shops around town and ask if there were any cops in the store. If the listener guessed correctly they'd win tickets or whatever the prize was that week. This went on for about two months until the police complained that they were "giving away their positions around town."
I say make them be there during the search. Better there than eating donuts.
Would Office Depot and Office Max and any other office supply store in the US be sued for selling these clear violations of the DMCA? After all, if posting the DeCSS code in any form is a violation then wouldn't selling Post-its and Sharpies also be a violation?
Yet again I find that a product I buy and own for my personal use, that the manufacturer wants me now to keep paying them money to use it. At least I thought this one through before I bought mine. But I'd be willing to guess if they made a point of saying something BEFORE folks slapped down their hard earned bucks, they'd have bought a different printer.
After all, if I use a polaroid instant camera, I know I can only use their film in the camera. It's very clear that only their film will work. But, when I bought a printer, one of the things I checked on is the cost of the carts before I spent dime one. One of the selling points to me was that I could buy a refill kit. Maybe what we as consumers should do is start boycotting the companies that do these kinds of things and start supporting the refill markets.
I'd buy one hell of a great week in Vegas for every employee and throw in a week at the Mustang Ranch for any that wanted it. Let's face it. For the stereotypical geek it may be the only chance they get to get laid...
What happens if I'm in a car accident and loose my eye or hand?
When it's all said and done I really don't like the idea of anyone knowing my movements around the country, but this just seems too much like one way for the Govn't to keep tabs on you.
The old joke about the coder informing the salesman about the "Bug" in the software. To which the salesman replied, "It's not a bug, it's an unexpected feature!"
Sales people are the bane of the coders existance.
We have to create the products they already sold to the clients.
To prevent getting hit with a virus I use the web interface my IP offers to check my mail BEFORE I download it. Since the interface doesn't allow me to launch any exe files and barely allows me to see attachments, I can see what is in the mailbox before downloading it to my home PC.
Since it also allows me to delete mail without opening it, I can 99% of the time kill the spam or suspected mail before any infected mail even gets near me. Because of this, the only thing I have left to do is make sure my anti-viral software is up-to-date, and scan anything I get with an attachment. So far, one virus since 95, and the one I did get was caught before doing any damage by my software. The simple solution is to stay awake and do everything you can think of to scan your mail before "bringing it home."
Slashdot Mirror
Encrypt my mail to keep it from CowboyNeal's prying eyes.
(This article should have been a poll question.)
So is it just me or has Google really cornered the market on everything they've touched?
Info searches.
Image searches.
Usenet searches.
And now news.
As a co-worker pointed out, if they were to suddenly find that they had to charge a small fee to access Google, would anyone complain? Where else can you find the in depth services that Google does?
Goran
Please tell me they dumped that suck-ass theme song.
Goran
I'd be willing to bet if I won my boss wouldn't give me the time off,
and even if he did my wife would stop me.
(We just and a baby. Can you say mood swings?!)
Goran
Will it ease my mind and let me know that everything is fine when I finish building the furniture and still have parts left over?
Goran
Actually it's a world wide organization.
It's also one of the few "military" groups that the US Armed Forces approves of.
(One of the shires is located onboard an aircraft carrier)
We also have members that are part of one country's Royal Family. (Not the UK)
Also please don't confuse the SCA with the "Ren Faire" folks.
Ren Faires = staged.
SCA = As real as you get without really getting hurt.
-Goran
(SCA Member since 1980)
Perhaps it's a Mister Gigabrew.
Or maybe, "Maxwell House, Good to the last Byte."
-Goran
I whole heartedly agree. But the question could be expanded to ask if any of his books/series might now be moved to the big or small screen.
Speaking only for myself, As a Web Developer, I code first for NS/Mozilla products first and IE last. My only complaint about NS is the lack of standards support in the 4x versions. However, as folks around the internet upgrade my job becomes better and better. The latest versions of Mozilla are very easy to build sites for, while M$ still gives me and some of my co-workers headaches.
Goran
Actually I have.
Example:
Nevada Casino's offer free drinks to the customer while they play. Giving away the booze is a "loss" on paper. The amount of money spent on "free" drinks is claimed as a business expence and written off as a promotional expence. The restaurants are budgeted to "lose" x-number of dollars per month. That too is claimed as a promotional expence. The profit/loss margin is setup to function in this manner due to the shear amount of money brought in on the casino floor.
As a player, you can asked to be "tracked" by the house. They keep track of the amount of money you win/lose and provide you with the report when you leave. Then when you are filling out your taxes, you can claim the money you "lost" against the money you "won" and pay less in taxes. I have several friends who claimed 50-60k in winnings but ended up getting refunds due to the loss statements from the casino to offset the winnings.
As for MSFT, I'd be willing to bet they claim that the "lower price" is a promotion and they write off the "loss".
Goran
True. They do "lose" money on the deal. But IMO I really don't think that they do. I'd bet that it's only a "paper" loss and not real cash. And like they won't write any "loss" off as a business expence on their taxes.
However, if they look at the mods as new features to add to later versions of the products, they're back to winning again. Our economy is fed by giving people what they want, when they want it. If you fail at giving the consumer what they want then you fail as a business.
Goran
I can't believe that companies are this stupid!
If I buy your product you're making money from the sale. If I then mod that same product in a way that's cool and I show it off to my friends, chances are they too will buy your product and again you'll make money.
If you throw walls, safeguards, and other things in my way to prevent me from modding your products, chances are I'll take my business and money elsewhere.
Get a clue folks. If you support and assist us in product mods you'll generate more sales! And you may even find new versions of your products to sell, and new innovations to improve your products.
Goran
There is more than enough money already to be had to cover this.
Just look at all of the porkbarrels they added to the "National Security" Bill. More than 75% of the total bill didn't have anything to do with National Security. Seems to me that some of the "Pet Projects" our congressmen have going could get axed to cover the cost. Besides, if I get billed by the gov't, I can't go to my boss and demand an increase to "meet expences." They shouldn't either.
Goran
It may not stop the Gov't agencies from using M$ products, but I wonder if a class action may generate some sort of penalty for the continued use of them. I'd love to see us regular folks be able to "Tax" the feds for using a product that violates their own rules, guidelines, and laws.
I wonder if we could also work into it some interest and late fees too!
Goran
When I watch TV using an antenna to view my local stations, I am a theif because I didn't pay for access to the shows. If I tape a program I'm watching for my personal use, I'm a theif because I'm "stealing" a copywritten program. If I pause the tape while recording to "edit" out the commercials, I'm a really big theif because I'm altering the "original" broadcast of the show.
So if recording a show so I can watch it later when I have the time to do so is wrong, then it only makes sense for me to never watch TV.
I wonder if next I'll be called a criminal for NOT watching the programs and commercials.
-Goran
Can he do more with the scene in SW:VI ROTJ with Leia in the gold bikini?
-Goran
They should be there to maintain the chain of evidence. It would also give them something to do.
About 5 years ago a radio station I listened to used to play a game called "Cop or Not." They'd get a listener to call in and have them choose "cop" or "not" and then they would ramdomly call donut shops around town and ask if there were any cops in the store. If the listener guessed correctly they'd win tickets or whatever the prize was that week. This went on for about two months until the police complained that they were "giving away their positions around town."
I say make them be there during the search. Better there than eating donuts.
-Goran
Would Office Depot and Office Max and any other office supply store in the US be sued for selling these clear violations of the DMCA? After all, if posting the DeCSS code in any form is a violation then wouldn't selling Post-its and Sharpies also be a violation?
This would make a great Simpson's episode!
-Goran
Yet again I find that a product I buy and own for my personal use, that the manufacturer wants me now to keep paying them money to use it. At least I thought this one through before I bought mine. But I'd be willing to guess if they made a point of saying something BEFORE folks slapped down their hard earned bucks, they'd have bought a different printer.
After all, if I use a polaroid instant camera, I know I can only use their film in the camera. It's very clear that only their film will work. But, when I bought a printer, one of the things I checked on is the cost of the carts before I spent dime one. One of the selling points to me was that I could buy a refill kit. Maybe what we as consumers should do is start boycotting the companies that do these kinds of things and start supporting the refill markets.
Goran
I'd buy one hell of a great week in Vegas for every employee and throw in a week at the Mustang Ranch for any that wanted it. Let's face it. For the stereotypical geek it may be the only chance they get to get laid...
-Goran
Of which biometric data goes on this card?
What happens if I'm in a car accident and loose my eye or hand?
When it's all said and done I really don't like the idea of anyone knowing my movements around the country, but this just seems too much like one way for the Govn't to keep tabs on you.
-Goran
The old joke about the coder informing the salesman about the "Bug" in the software.
To which the salesman replied, "It's not a bug, it's an unexpected feature!"
Sales people are the bane of the coders existance.
We have to create the products they already sold to the clients.
-Goran
To prevent getting hit with a virus I use the web interface my IP offers to check my mail BEFORE I download it. Since the interface doesn't allow me to launch any exe files and barely allows me to see attachments, I can see what is in the mailbox before downloading it to my home PC.
Since it also allows me to delete mail without opening it, I can 99% of the time kill the spam or suspected mail before any infected mail even gets near me. Because of this, the only thing I have left to do is make sure my anti-viral software is up-to-date, and scan anything I get with an attachment. So far, one virus since 95, and the one I did get was caught before doing any damage by my software. The simple solution is to stay awake and do everything you can think of to scan your mail before "bringing it home."
-Goran
So the BSA will be installing this on all of the computers yes?
I'd demand to see the licenses for every install of that software, and a different serial number for each install.
After all... Quid Pro Quo
-Goran