You must never forget the one true rule of programming in school....it really, really sucks! The programs that you are sent out to write are unimaginative and probably not challenging enough.
I hated school, and I had a bad feeling that I would be miserable after I graduated. Then I got a job in the "real world", and I loved it because I finally took some pride in the code that I was writing! I learned more in the first 2 months than I did in my last 2 years of school, and the problems that I worked on were challenging and real (instead of the bland textbook problems they try to give you in school).
Once I got into the professional programming world, I loved it more than ever, and I getting paid for it was just icing on the cake.
There are an unusually large amount of mistakes on the site. For example:
"Through requiring driver blocking, Microsoft can stop the use of programs that are not specifically written for Windows XP."
-- This simply is not true at all. Driver blocking is used to block drivers that have not been digitally signed (or approved) by Microsoft. It is not used to block programs or applications, and furthermore, it is completely optional! All driver blocking does is present the user with a dialog box stating that the driver being installed might not be safe.
In the section dealing with the Windows Product Activiation (WPA) it states that "users cannot receive software support anonymously for the product that they activate and are forced to register for Microsoft Passport."
-- Users are not ever forced to register with MS Passport, but Passport does encourage users to register. Passport is an optional service, and all users have to do is press the "Cancel" button.
"If the user changes hardware in their computer, WPA may disable the software."
-- The software can become disabled, but users can call Microsoft to get it re-enabled. Yes this is a pain in the ass, but it doesn't permanently disable the software like this website implies.
"Microsoft XP is the newest version of the Windows operating system."
-- I might be getting picky, but the OS is called "Windows XP", not "Microsoft XP".
I personally don't agree some of the principles behind Passport, but if you are going to complain about it, I think you should at least have the facts straight. Either this is propaganda at it's worst, or someone just didn't do their research.
Microsoft paid nVidia $100 million to create a motherboard with an integrated GPU for the XBox. The GPU for the unreleased XBox will be better than the GeForce 3.
Microsoft allowed nVidia to sell the technology that was developed (the nForce), as long as they didn't sell it with anything higher than a GeForce 2, because then there would be no reason to buy the XBox. In short, nVidia can't sell the nForce with a GeForce 3 because that would violate their agreement with Microsoft.
The company that I currently work for is in the EXACT same situation that you're company is in. In fact, the developers working next to me are taking bets as to whether or not you are the CTO of our company (who is out of the office today).
I know what it's like when morale is bad, and it's very easy to get excited about working for a new company. If you really play as pivotal a role as you say you do, then this is not a decision that anyone will be able to answer execept for you. In fact, I would go so far as to say that there really is no correct decision that can be made, because there is a downside to either one. On the other hand, there is no wrong answer because of the obvious advantages to either solution.
The tech market isn't doing so good right now and a lot of companies are finding it difficult to stay afloat, especially startup companies. The situation that I am in is that we have funding to stay alive for a few more months, by which time our product will be out. I really believe that the product fills a niche, so I'm going to stick with it solely based on my belief in what I'm doing. As CTO of a consulting firm, you might not have the advantage of believing in a single product like I do.
Some people say that it really depends on how loyal the company is to you. I disagree with this, because unless someone has worked for a company that is going under, they don't realize how unimportant loyalty can be. Just the fact that they are going out of business feels like a slap in your face. It's not an easy decision to make, but if you feel this guilty about leaving, then you have a tough road ahead if you do actually decide to bail. I would stay with them for as long as possible until every last smidgen of hope was gone. The tech market might not be doing to wel,l but there are plenty of jobs out there. "Job offers don't last forever", but other jobs do exist.
The advantage of working for a startup company is usually the laid back atmosphere, and the ability to make a huge difference as an individual. The disadvantages are a lack of money, and a lack of stability. You probably knew this when you accepted the position as CTO. Just because the going got tough, doesn't mean that you have to get going. Stick it out as long as you can. The longer you stay, the more information you will have, and the better the decision you will be able to make.
Slashdot Mirror
The API call that is used for Alpha Blending on windows is called AlphaBlend().
The minimum requirements (at the bottom of the page) for it are Win98 or better and Win2000 or better (that means Me and XP are also supported).
Windows 95 and NT 4.0 are not supported, but here is a link to do Aplha Blending on multiple Windows platform.
You must never forget the one true rule of programming in school....it really, really sucks! The programs that you are sent out to write are unimaginative and probably not challenging enough.
I hated school, and I had a bad feeling that I would be miserable after I graduated. Then I got a job in the "real world", and I loved it because I finally took some pride in the code that I was writing! I learned more in the first 2 months than I did in my last 2 years of school, and the problems that I worked on were challenging and real (instead of the bland textbook problems they try to give you in school).
Once I got into the professional programming world, I loved it more than ever, and I getting paid for it was just icing on the cake.
There are an unusually large amount of mistakes on the site. For example:
"Through requiring driver blocking, Microsoft can stop the use of programs that are not specifically written for Windows XP."
-- This simply is not true at all. Driver blocking is used to block drivers that have not been digitally signed (or approved) by Microsoft. It is not used to block programs or applications, and furthermore, it is completely optional! All driver blocking does is present the user with a dialog box stating that the driver being installed might not be safe.
In the section dealing with the Windows Product Activiation (WPA) it states that "users cannot receive software support anonymously for the product that they activate and are forced to register for Microsoft Passport."
-- Users are not ever forced to register with MS Passport, but Passport does encourage users to register. Passport is an optional service, and all users have to do is press the "Cancel" button.
"If the user changes hardware in their computer, WPA may disable the software."
-- The software can become disabled, but users can call Microsoft to get it re-enabled. Yes this is a pain in the ass, but it doesn't permanently disable the software like this website implies.
"Microsoft XP is the newest version of the Windows operating system."
-- I might be getting picky, but the OS is called "Windows XP", not "Microsoft XP".
I personally don't agree some of the principles behind Passport, but if you are going to complain about it, I think you should at least have the facts straight. Either this is propaganda at it's worst, or someone just didn't do their research.
Microsoft paid nVidia $100 million to create a motherboard with an integrated GPU for the XBox. The GPU for the unreleased XBox will be better than the GeForce 3.
Microsoft allowed nVidia to sell the technology that was developed (the nForce), as long as they didn't sell it with anything higher than a GeForce 2, because then there would be no reason to buy the XBox. In short, nVidia can't sell the nForce with a GeForce 3 because that would violate their agreement with Microsoft.
The company that I currently work for is in the EXACT same situation that you're company is in. In fact, the developers working next to me are taking bets as to whether or not you are the CTO of our company (who is out of the office today).
I know what it's like when morale is bad, and it's very easy to get excited about working for a new company. If you really play as pivotal a role as you say you do, then this is not a decision that anyone will be able to answer execept for you. In fact, I would go so far as to say that there really is no correct decision that can be made, because there is a downside to either one. On the other hand, there is no wrong answer because of the obvious advantages to either solution.
The tech market isn't doing so good right now and a lot of companies are finding it difficult to stay afloat, especially startup companies. The situation that I am in is that we have funding to stay alive for a few more months, by which time our product will be out. I really believe that the product fills a niche, so I'm going to stick with it solely based on my belief in what I'm doing. As CTO of a consulting firm, you might not have the advantage of believing in a single product like I do.
Some people say that it really depends on how loyal the company is to you. I disagree with this, because unless someone has worked for a company that is going under, they don't realize how unimportant loyalty can be. Just the fact that they are going out of business feels like a slap in your face. It's not an easy decision to make, but if you feel this guilty about leaving, then you have a tough road ahead if you do actually decide to bail. I would stay with them for as long as possible until every last smidgen of hope was gone. The tech market might not be doing to wel,l but there are plenty of jobs out there. "Job offers don't last forever", but other jobs do exist.
The advantage of working for a startup company is usually the laid back atmosphere, and the ability to make a huge difference as an individual. The disadvantages are a lack of money, and a lack of stability. You probably knew this when you accepted the position as CTO. Just because the going got tough, doesn't mean that you have to get going. Stick it out as long as you can. The longer you stay, the more information you will have, and the better the decision you will be able to make.
"Vote for Matt Diez"