Actually not always true -
I saw an accident yesterday between an H2 and a Mercedes Benz sedan - the Benz had a rather bad dent in the trunk, the H2 looked like it had been seriously worked over. Incidentally, the Benz had 3 passengers, the Hummer had one. The Hummer had run into the Benz from behind. Only one of the cars was in condition to drive away - and it wasn't the Hummer.
I couldn't possibly disagree more - many of my "services" in the area I live (near LA) are total monopolies. If I get poor service I have few or no options for changing it. At least with a city-run version you can *get* a comittee involved. Try getting Cox to listen to its subscribers.
That being said, I'm also in favor of web access being a service. That way all the federally required data retention and snooping at least have to go through the usual channels.
That'd be nice, except that with IBM DB2 on IBM AIX running on IBM RS/6000 systems, they still point fingers. I have repeatedly been forced (as a customer) to make different divisions within IBM talk to each other. It would seem to be good, but it really is almost the same.
Well - probably the same reason most people aren't. I just don't have time. Unlike some, I do have the skills, so if I get the time I might contrib some to it. I haven't contrib'd to OSS in a little while ( I think NetWinder was the most recent ) so I'm probably due:D
I wish they would - I really hate Adobe's software. Photoshop is a bloated PITA, Premier is overkill for 90% of the stuff, and inferior for 5% of the rest. Acrobat is like the one thing they still have going for them.
My only wish is for GIMP to grow up a bit - it still doesn't have what I need to replace PShop. Maybe someday soon.
I've been to a couple Rush shows, and while I agree with the 'high' point, it wasn't terribly loud. No-one was screaming (except a little bit during intros). Just a huge number of people watching them play. It was really awesome, and the sound was perfect. I can't get the CD to sound *nearly* as good - the fidelity is just not there.
For example: IBM is associated with Mainframes, 30 years of hardcore business machines, and the Thinkpad (which arguably is one of their best products ever). Lenovo is... some random company.
Never mind where they are from, never mind where they are built, it's just about about name. When someone asked me if they should buy a Gateway computer I said "They're still around?". Same issue. Who the heck is Gateway? They used to be everywhere, but they kinda lost mindshare. Lenovo is having the same issue. They aren't really 'known' yet, so they don't have the clout to sell one of the most expensive laptops around.
Well, that, and the fact that several people I know traded in IBM Thinkpad T42s to go with Apple MacBook Pros - that's a different discussion.
I know I personally wouldn't buy a Lenovo for the next 2-3 years, until they proved themselves to make serious laptops. It's not a 'Chinese/American' thing - I won't buy Dell either, for the exact same reason. I only personally trust laptops (in this order): IBM, Apple, Sony, Toshiba.
IBM went from #1 to #n+1 overnight by selling off the business. I've never had a problem with Thinkpads before - but Lenovo is a whole new company.
True enough. I looked at Boot Camp, but as soon as I realized I'd have to go *purchase* XP or something, I completely lost interest. I was actually kinda thinking of running FC5 or something on my Mac occasionally for fun. XP on here? No thanks. I have RDC/VNC for the one Windows app I am paid to use (Frontrange Heat, the ever-loving piece of crap. Not iHeat either... the full-blown version). I refuse to waste my hard disk just to play *games*. Come on, that's why I have a PS2 and an XBox 360 on the way. I don't do games on here except WoW:D.
The biggest problem with Linux is not drivers, but software. Linux is simply a pain in the butt to use. I have on my desk at work right now three machines - a PPC Mac Mini, an Intel MacBook Pro, and an IBM T42 (running Fedora core 4) - I was able to get all of my work applications running on the Mini with no issues at all. I was able to get all but 2 applications running on my MacBook with no issues ( the remaining two are driving me nuts ), however, I was only able to 2 of my apps running on Linux. I am not a total linux novice (indeed, I admin Solaris and Linux servers, and I have run Linux since Corel, Caldera, and RedHat 6.x). Unfortunately, the only apps I could get to work were the easy ones - SAP GUI and OO.o. Those are fairly obvious... the whole rest of my stuff requires a windows virtualization in order to run.
Dual-booting Windows/OSX will ease the transition between OSs as much as dual-booting Windows/Linux does - but I think that argument is already obvious. The main difference is this: Apple is a *hardware* company. IBM would be an idiot to only sell OS/2 on IBM hardware, and Apple has chosen to let you run anything you want on Apple hardware. They probably don't care very much if you run OSX or Windows, just so long as you run it on APPLE hardware.
As for stability - I think Apple's OSX is stable for the same reason that AIX, Solaris, and VMS are stable - well written code for a well known hardware platform. I have always disagreed with the 'PC mentality' that you should run anything on anything. It's neat and all to hack Linux onto your machine of choice, but aside from the 'because it's there' factor, there is no reason to. If anything, MS should be desperately trying to produce a machine that runs Windows with perfect stability - like, say, an XBOX or something. Something that they can hold up and say will never crash, never have viruses, etc. Probably something with DRM built into the hardware, optimized for displaying blue ( just kidding:) ), and widely toted to be 'linux proof'. They would sell quite a lot of them if they could convince the RIAA/MPAA/etc that they had created the perfect hacker-proof machine for home users. Heck, I might even buy one. All they would really need to do is put the OS on firmware, lock the el torito boot extension, prevent non-signed binaries from even executing, and require you to subscribe to Live for firmware updates. Perhaps even simply prohibit firmware updates at all - just say "This machine runs Windows x". Have a trade-up for the next version. If the machine actually *worked* people would gladly pay XBox 360 prices for it, then do it again just to run the next version. Heck, why isn't there MS Office for XBox 360? Is someone asleep at the wheel there? How perfect would that be? I could just walk into Target, then walk out with a machine that would (out of the box) plug into a monitor (DVI), plug into a TV, handle any of the modern USB peripherals, play DVDs, surf the web, and do 90% of the 'work' stuff without ever having a virus? Considering the popularity of Live CDs I suspect that a Windows Office 360 Live CD for the Xbox 360 would be a huge hit. Of course, you'd need to subscribe to Live or something for backups - but hey, even better, right?
I would agree, but add this - "clear conversations". I was promised it with TDMA/CDMA/GSM, etc. Everyone has it, apparently. However, even though I live in LA and have like 4 bars at the worst of times, my phone manages to make most calls sound like the person is underwater or talking through a fan. I've even tried upgrading phones!
Yup - the good ol 'Tyranny of the Majority'. People will elect the leaders they want. It's both a blessing and a curse.
Personally, I dislike Bush. However, I am a serious fan of the process of elections (electoral college and all), even if I don't always like the outcome. I suspect what we need are not better presidents or laws but better politicians and lawyers. If we don't get them, we have only ourselves to blame.
Emperor Joseph II: Your work is ingenious. It's quality work. And there are simply too many notes, that's all. Just cut a few and it will be perfect. Mozart: Which few did you have in mind, Majesty?
Ironically, in 1993 I was supporting both Irix and Win NT (3.1/3.51 I think). Our impression was that NT was pretty much the best thing since sliced bread.
It had: Fine grained user security (far better than rwx) Easy and powerful groups Cheap hardware (ever price an SGI department server?) Real-time compression Easy transition for Mac and Windows people. (A lot easier than Irix, at least)
We ran Hummingbird for the Unix/WAIS/Gopher/Archie stuff, used a domain for the 15 Win 3.11 machines and 3.51 for a couple workstations and a server. Overall, people loved it. It also saved something around 8k per desk or so.
Now however, I think Windows has fallen from the core ideals. I would love to be a windows admin if things worked as advertised. Unfortunately, they don't. The long-standing issues with using more than 4GBs of RAM, the IIS instability, the viruses, the bundling IE with the server, and the processor limits have driven it to a desktop land. In a world where Unix can address 200-300 GBs of RAM in a server, but Windows can't even get 64bit out there consistently the sales numbers really don't matter.
Had a Netware 3.12 machine that ran seamlessly for a good long time. We actually didn't touch it for nearly 4 years, and did all remote work to it. Theoretically, with the combination of dial-in remote power boot and easy rconsole access we could have controlled it for ages without even being able to get to it. It was the disk requirements for the Office NAL object that finally killed it.
Incidentially, when we decommisioned it, it said: Servername(35)
Good 'ol netware. Even when it abends, it keeps right on ticking.
I remember that! It was cool, it even had "channels":)
I used to hang out on there constantly. Go CB or something like that.
VOIP is different from IM, though. I don't *want* to have a conversation with someone - I want a quick, async method of communication. If I wanted actual real-time voice communication, I'd use a phone.
True enough. I have this service, and Cingular seriously abuses it. If I send an "IM" using AIM to my wife's phone from my computer, it is 10c (or one message, depending). If I send one phone to phone, it is 20c (10c to send, 10c to rec.).
I really hope they roll out some sort of "unlimited" plan for this. It benefits me tremendously to have it running for quick informal info (like addresses, paths, commands, etc.), but both email and IM to phone are just too frikin expensive.
On the other had, 10c per email would certainly reduce spam!
-WS
Re:What do corporations have to do with it?
on
Can We Trust Google?
·
· Score: 1
True enough. Don't forget that most of the audit controls can be easily circumenvented as well. We had that issue recently. The auditors were insisting on controls for highly improbable attempts, while refusing to pass the controls we had in place for highly likely attempts. No checks on root, or the db users. Tons of worthless checks on people who had little or no access. We wanted that to be mostly reversed, but nooooo.
I actually played Oregon Trail and Ultima I-II on the Apple II, along with some weird CIV type game I don't recall the name of. Something about being an emperor or something.
Not *my* first computer, but certainly the first I used. I just never owned one.
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The founders of the US were guilty of treason under the laws of Britan
Hopefully, you needn't go on.
-WS
Actually not always true -
I saw an accident yesterday between an H2 and a Mercedes Benz sedan - the Benz had a rather bad dent in the trunk, the H2 looked like it had been seriously worked over. Incidentally, the Benz had 3 passengers, the Hummer had one. The Hummer had run into the Benz from behind. Only one of the cars was in condition to drive away - and it wasn't the Hummer.
-WS
I couldn't possibly disagree more - many of my "services" in the area I live (near LA) are total monopolies. If I get poor service I have few or no options for changing it. At least with a city-run version you can *get* a comittee involved. Try getting Cox to listen to its subscribers.
That being said, I'm also in favor of web access being a service. That way all the federally required data retention and snooping at least have to go through the usual channels.
-WS
Happened to the Whigs you know.
:D
Them third-party folks came out of nowhere
(No, I won't link it - look it up. Get a civics lesson).
-WS
That'd be nice, except that with IBM DB2 on IBM AIX running on IBM RS/6000 systems, they still point fingers. I have repeatedly been forced (as a customer) to make different divisions within IBM talk to each other. It would seem to be good, but it really is almost the same.
-WS
Well - probably the same reason most people aren't. I just don't have time. Unlike some, I do have the skills, so if I get the time I might contrib some to it. I haven't contrib'd to OSS in a little while ( I think NetWinder was the most recent ) so I'm probably due :D
-WS
I wish they would - I really hate Adobe's software. Photoshop is a bloated PITA, Premier is overkill for 90% of the stuff, and inferior for 5% of the rest. Acrobat is like the one thing they still have going for them.
My only wish is for GIMP to grow up a bit - it still doesn't have what I need to replace PShop. Maybe someday soon.
-WS
Wow - that sounds awful!
I've been to a couple Rush shows, and while I agree with the 'high' point, it wasn't terribly loud. No-one was screaming (except a little bit during intros). Just a huge number of people watching them play. It was really awesome, and the sound was perfect. I can't get the CD to sound *nearly* as good - the fidelity is just not there.
-WS
I agree entirely. There are very few times when a line can change hands dramatically without it suffering a decline in service.
-WS
I think it's a branding problem -
For example: IBM is associated with Mainframes, 30 years of hardcore business machines, and the Thinkpad (which arguably is one of their best products ever).
Lenovo is... some random company.
Never mind where they are from, never mind where they are built, it's just about about name. When someone asked me if they should buy a Gateway computer I said "They're still around?". Same issue. Who the heck is Gateway? They used to be everywhere, but they kinda lost mindshare. Lenovo is having the same issue. They aren't really 'known' yet, so they don't have the clout to sell one of the most expensive laptops around.
Well, that, and the fact that several people I know traded in IBM Thinkpad T42s to go with Apple MacBook Pros - that's a different discussion.
I know I personally wouldn't buy a Lenovo for the next 2-3 years, until they proved themselves to make serious laptops. It's not a 'Chinese/American' thing - I won't buy Dell either, for the exact same reason. I only personally trust laptops (in this order):
IBM, Apple, Sony, Toshiba.
IBM went from #1 to #n+1 overnight by selling off the business. I've never had a problem with Thinkpads before - but Lenovo is a whole new company.
-WS
True enough. I looked at Boot Camp, but as soon as I realized I'd have to go *purchase* XP or something, I completely lost interest. I was actually kinda thinking of running FC5 or something on my Mac occasionally for fun. XP on here? No thanks. I have RDC/VNC for the one Windows app I am paid to use (Frontrange Heat, the ever-loving piece of crap. Not iHeat either... the full-blown version). I refuse to waste my hard disk just to play *games*. Come on, that's why I have a PS2 and an XBox 360 on the way. I don't do games on here except WoW :D.
-WS
Actually, I disagree.
:) ), and widely toted to be 'linux proof'. They would sell quite a lot of them if they could convince the RIAA/MPAA/etc that they had created the perfect hacker-proof machine for home users. Heck, I might even buy one. All they would really need to do is put the OS on firmware, lock the el torito boot extension, prevent non-signed binaries from even executing, and require you to subscribe to Live for firmware updates. Perhaps even simply prohibit firmware updates at all - just say "This machine runs Windows x". Have a trade-up for the next version. If the machine actually *worked* people would gladly pay XBox 360 prices for it, then do it again just to run the next version. Heck, why isn't there MS Office for XBox 360? Is someone asleep at the wheel there? How perfect would that be? I could just walk into Target, then walk out with a machine that would (out of the box) plug into a monitor (DVI), plug into a TV, handle any of the modern USB peripherals, play DVDs, surf the web, and do 90% of the 'work' stuff without ever having a virus? Considering the popularity of Live CDs I suspect that a Windows Office 360 Live CD for the Xbox 360 would be a huge hit. Of course, you'd need to subscribe to Live or something for backups - but hey, even better, right?
The biggest problem with Linux is not drivers, but software. Linux is simply a pain in the butt to use. I have on my desk at work right now three machines - a PPC Mac Mini, an Intel MacBook Pro, and an IBM T42 (running Fedora core 4) - I was able to get all of my work applications running on the Mini with no issues at all. I was able to get all but 2 applications running on my MacBook with no issues ( the remaining two are driving me nuts ), however, I was only able to 2 of my apps running on Linux. I am not a total linux novice (indeed, I admin Solaris and Linux servers, and I have run Linux since Corel, Caldera, and RedHat 6.x). Unfortunately, the only apps I could get to work were the easy ones - SAP GUI and OO.o. Those are fairly obvious... the whole rest of my stuff requires a windows virtualization in order to run.
Dual-booting Windows/OSX will ease the transition between OSs as much as dual-booting Windows/Linux does - but I think that argument is already obvious. The main difference is this: Apple is a *hardware* company. IBM would be an idiot to only sell OS/2 on IBM hardware, and Apple has chosen to let you run anything you want on Apple hardware. They probably don't care very much if you run OSX or Windows, just so long as you run it on APPLE hardware.
As for stability - I think Apple's OSX is stable for the same reason that AIX, Solaris, and VMS are stable - well written code for a well known hardware platform. I have always disagreed with the 'PC mentality' that you should run anything on anything. It's neat and all to hack Linux onto your machine of choice, but aside from the 'because it's there' factor, there is no reason to. If anything, MS should be desperately trying to produce a machine that runs Windows with perfect stability - like, say, an XBOX or something. Something that they can hold up and say will never crash, never have viruses, etc. Probably something with DRM built into the hardware, optimized for displaying blue ( just kidding
-WS
I would agree, but add this - "clear conversations". I was promised it with TDMA/CDMA/GSM, etc. Everyone has it, apparently. However, even though I live in LA and have like 4 bars at the worst of times, my phone manages to make most calls sound like the person is underwater or talking through a fan. I've even tried upgrading phones!
-WS
Having had a Javascript based 'virus' run on Safari, I can tell you that it certainly isn't virus proof. It's just a little different :)
Of course, it's reasonably easy to turn off js - not like ActiveX or something.
-WS
Personally, I dislike Bush. However, I am a serious fan of the process of elections (electoral college and all), even if I don't always like the outcome. I suspect what we need are not better presidents or laws but better politicians and lawyers. If we don't get them, we have only ourselves to blame.
-WS
Candidate? Yes. However, the Internet and Security issues certainly snuck up on him.
-WS
lol - I loved that bit:
Emperor Joseph II: Your work is ingenious. It's quality work. And there are simply too many notes, that's all. Just cut a few and it will be perfect.
Mozart: Which few did you have in mind, Majesty?
-WS
Wow!!
:)
It'll be just like OSX, but on Intel!
wait - Even that came out before Vista
-WS
Ironically, in 1993 I was supporting both Irix and Win NT (3.1/3.51 I think). Our impression was that NT was pretty much the best thing since sliced bread.
It had:
Fine grained user security (far better than rwx)
Easy and powerful groups
Cheap hardware (ever price an SGI department server?)
Real-time compression
Easy transition for Mac and Windows people. (A lot easier than Irix, at least)
We ran Hummingbird for the Unix/WAIS/Gopher/Archie stuff, used a domain for the 15 Win 3.11 machines and 3.51 for a couple workstations and a server. Overall, people loved it. It also saved something around 8k per desk or so.
Now however, I think Windows has fallen from the core ideals. I would love to be a windows admin if things worked as advertised. Unfortunately, they don't. The long-standing issues with using more than 4GBs of RAM, the IIS instability, the viruses, the bundling IE with the server, and the processor limits have driven it to a desktop land. In a world where Unix can address 200-300 GBs of RAM in a server, but Windows can't even get 64bit out there consistently the sales numbers really don't matter.
-WS
Had a Netware 3.12 machine that ran seamlessly for a good long time. We actually didn't touch it for nearly 4 years, and did all remote work to it. Theoretically, with the combination of dial-in remote power boot and easy rconsole access we could have controlled it for ages without even being able to get to it. It was the disk requirements for the Office NAL object that finally killed it.
Incidentially, when we decommisioned it, it said:
Servername(35)
Good 'ol netware. Even when it abends, it keeps right on ticking.
-WS
I remember that! It was cool, it even had "channels" :)
I used to hang out on there constantly. Go CB or something like that.
VOIP is different from IM, though. I don't *want* to have a conversation with someone - I want a quick, async method of communication. If I wanted actual real-time voice communication, I'd use a phone.
-WS
True enough. I have this service, and Cingular seriously abuses it. If I send an "IM" using AIM to my wife's phone from my computer, it is 10c (or one message, depending). If I send one phone to phone, it is 20c (10c to send, 10c to rec.).
I really hope they roll out some sort of "unlimited" plan for this. It benefits me tremendously to have it running for quick informal info (like addresses, paths, commands, etc.), but both email and IM to phone are just too frikin expensive.
On the other had, 10c per email would certainly reduce spam!
-WS
True enough. Don't forget that most of the audit controls can be easily circumenvented as well. We had that issue recently. The auditors were insisting on controls for highly improbable attempts, while refusing to pass the controls we had in place for highly likely attempts. No checks on root, or the db users. Tons of worthless checks on people who had little or no access. We wanted that to be mostly reversed, but nooooo.
Crazy
-WS
I actually played Oregon Trail and Ultima I-II on the Apple II, along with some weird CIV type game I don't recall the name of. Something about being an emperor or something.
Not *my* first computer, but certainly the first I used. I just never owned one.
-WS
I still have my Plus 4! It rules - well, for what it is :)
Taught my kids Basic on the machine I learned Basic on. (well, that and an Apple II)
-WS