Ok, let's pretend I'm really filthy rich and looking for a bank to put my money.
If I ask to see their security, chances are the bank will be more than willing to do so. If I suggest testing their security for weak points, they may also be willing to work with me if I'm worth a really filthy amount.
If however I do so by attempting to break in to all the banks in town to see which ones have weak security, witout asking first.
Would it come as any surprise to end up in jail?
I understand your point, but you need to ask permission. If permission isn't granted, then maybe you should move on to the next provider, until you actually find one who will let you.
Our company filters emails on content and doesn't allow any HTML type messages that look like they contain scripting.
It's kind of annoying, though. I subscribe to a number of development email lists and a large portion of the content is whacked by the anti-virus software.
I basically have to get around it by using a different mail account like hotmail.com.
The only disadvantage of the Visual Studio IDE(or any other) is the capabilities of the editor.
Otherwise, the Intellisense and ability to easily step through the code with breakpoints, watches, etc. makes the IDE much much more powerful than anything you will do with Emacs.
I don't think the benefits of an IDE can necessarily be ignored. For instance in Visual Studio.NET you can place comments 'TODO: blah' and they show up in a Task list within the IDE.
I will grant you that sometimes those editor capabilities, or lack thereof, can be annoying.
I've programmed somewhat in VB myself. I guess you could call it my primary language at this point.
It depends on what you've been doing with VB. VB's strength has always been it's GUI RAD. However in recent years it's also become an incredibly adept language for writing middle-tier business objects.
If you've doing the middle-tier stuff, then you may wish to look at Java.
However, if you have been doing the GUI stuff. You won't find anything better. Java really does not work well for UI design. I suppose you could look at Delphi, as you suggested.
However, if what you're really just looking for is a "Real" language which eliminates all the inconcistencies and goofy things about Visual BASIC. Microsoft will be releasing VB.Net here in the next year. The Beta2 preview should be out by the end of the month, and you can start looking at it now with Beta1.
I went to a prestentation by Rocky Lohtka(author of several books including one on VB.Net) who explained many of the differences. I was very impressed with how much of old VB they are throwing away in favor of doing it the right way. I know some old time VB people are mad, but I've never much cared for the language, so.:)
Although personally I'm looking into C# myself, as I have more of a C background.
It all depends on what one is looking for. If it's your goal to go into the Linux world, good luck. If it's your goal to just become a more efficient and more capable programmer,.Net is obviously where it's at.
What is more efficient, spending $1 million rolling your own software.
Or buying it from someone else for $1,000.
That's the problem with the Linux paradigm, it's a belief by some people that commercial software is evil and it is much better to write your own than succumb to their evilness.
Again, the GPL does not cater towards efficiency, nor does it fuel the economic spending.
I can see your point. I guess I look at it as a problem with this idea of post-PC independent devices.
The PC has offered a lot of power, most notably the ability to be general purpose for a lot of creative tasks. Recording TV to harddrive is just one such task that I can utilize the power of my current PC to accomplish.
I have no interest in replacing my PC with lot's of independent post-PC devices if each one of them requires a monthly subscription.
And by my reckoning I primarily will only be recording things when I'm not at home... so having a next to unusable PC doesn't seem like a problem.;)
It bugs me when people don't seem to realize that there are at least 4 different versions of Windows and not specifying the particular version makes it difficult to discern the intent of the point.
Are we talking Windows 9x or Windows NT/2k?
I already have a WinTV-Go card and have had absolutely no problems with it locking up under Win2k. On the other hand, it doesn't seem to want to record sound with the video, which bugs me.
It wouldn't surprise me if you had problems with Windows 9x. I haven't used that version or 3.x for at least 4 years.
I guess I would have to disagree, even on the average level. I'm actually amazed at the general ignorance of most Unix admins I encounter. Especially the group on/. who considers themselves experts because they can make it through a Redhat install.
As far as the number of admins. That has little to do with the OS, but much more to do with the solution being supported.
It's the number of day to day requests for work that say how many admins you need. Supporting a File/Print server requires signifigantly more work than supporting a database server, at least as far as the server admin is concerned because file/print shares are not static, new users come in the door daily, printers are added, replaced, etc.
But that's only because on a database server, most of the work is done by the DBA. Then again this depends on your environment. 2-tier apps require more DBA work than n-tier. Ongoing development requires more work than static third party applications, etc.
I had been considering the purchase of a TiVo or similar such device. But only because I've always been frustrated with my VCR.
Now the thing is, I'm perfectly capable of setting the time on the VCR.
I'm perfectly capable of setting up a recurring program on the VCR. I know I want to record my 1 hour show every wednesday at 8pm on channel 9.
The thing that bugs me about the VCR is having to remember to stick a tape in on wednesday morning that has been rewound.
It's frustrating when you get the first 15 minutes of the show, but then the tape runs out. Or nothing was recorded because I forgot a tape, etc.
So I thought TiVo would be kind of cool in this regard. No need for tapes... don't want 'em anyway as I intend to watch the show within the next day or two when I'm home.
But like I said. I can set the time, I can program the device, I can even read a TV guide to know when my show is on.
So why do I need or want this service?
Honestly I don't. It's also inconvenient for me to run a phone line in next to my television.
At one time I had asked people if I could use the Tivo the way I wanted without subscribing and they assured me that this was the case.
It's now apparent that this is not true, or at least TiVo doesn't want me as a customer.
That's too bad.
But I've noticed a product out there that does fit my needs. WinTV-Personal Video Recorder card from Hauppage.
It sounds intriguing. Does everything TiVo does that I want, but also includes a capability to archive recordings to Video-CD.
The only problem right now is it doesn't support Win2k but they are working on that.
Umm, you could also buy Internet Explorer in a boxed set at the store for $40. Or don't you remember that?
Both browsers were available as free downloads from day #1. It might have been only a beta version, but those beta versions were extremely popular at the time because people didn't feel compelled to pay $30 for a browser.
It's very difficult to argue that Netscape ever intended or made any money off browser sales. The only people who paid for it were corporations.
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Ok, let's pretend I'm really filthy rich and looking for a bank to put my money.
If I ask to see their security, chances are the bank will be more than willing to do so. If I suggest testing their security for weak points, they may also be willing to work with me if I'm worth a really filthy amount.
If however I do so by attempting to break in to all the banks in town to see which ones have weak security, witout asking first.
Would it come as any surprise to end up in jail?
I understand your point, but you need to ask permission. If permission isn't granted, then maybe you should move on to the next provider, until you actually find one who will let you.
Sigh. I'm getting very tired of responding to people who's understanding of VB is limited to version 3.
I have a number of friends who used to be Delphi programmers. They all admit that since VB6 there has been very little to differentiate Delphi.
Sorry!
Our company filters emails on content and doesn't allow any HTML type messages that look like they contain scripting.
It's kind of annoying, though. I subscribe to a number of development email lists and a large portion of the content is whacked by the anti-virus software.
I basically have to get around it by using a different mail account like hotmail.com.
Your experience with VB appears to be limited to version 4.
First of all VB6 is compiled code.
Writing database applications using ADO recordsets is incredibly easy.
I'm not at all certain why you are trying to compare VB with Access.
The only disadvantage of the Visual Studio IDE(or any other) is the capabilities of the editor.
Otherwise, the Intellisense and ability to easily step through the code with breakpoints, watches, etc. makes the IDE much much more powerful than anything you will do with Emacs.
I don't think the benefits of an IDE can necessarily be ignored. For instance in Visual Studio.NET you can place comments 'TODO: blah' and they show up in a Task list within the IDE.
I will grant you that sometimes those editor capabilities, or lack thereof, can be annoying.
'High Level Language' usually refers to a higher degree of abstraction.
Moving from VB to C/C++ would not be regarded as a move to a high level language, but rather a lower level language.
I agree with your comment about being frustrated with VB's lack of functionality. This is addressed in Visual Studio.NET.
It always amazes me when I see ignorant people bash VB, but promote PERL.
As much as I dislike VB, I dislike PERL even more.
I don't believe Microsoft will be porting their IDE to Linux any time soon.
As part of the ECMA standardization, there will be a reference implementation for C# which will be available and most likely run on Linux.
But it's doubtful that it'll be full featured. i.e. just the base classes will be implemented.
I've programmed somewhat in VB myself. I guess you could call it my primary language at this point.
:)
.Net is obviously where it's at.
It depends on what you've been doing with VB. VB's strength has always been it's GUI RAD. However in recent years it's also become an incredibly adept language for writing middle-tier business objects.
If you've doing the middle-tier stuff, then you may wish to look at Java.
However, if you have been doing the GUI stuff. You won't find anything better. Java really does not work well for UI design. I suppose you could look at Delphi, as you suggested.
However, if what you're really just looking for is a "Real" language which eliminates all the inconcistencies and goofy things about Visual BASIC. Microsoft will be releasing VB.Net here in the next year. The Beta2 preview should be out by the end of the month, and you can start looking at it now with Beta1.
I went to a prestentation by Rocky Lohtka(author of several books including one on VB.Net) who explained many of the differences. I was very impressed with how much of old VB they are throwing away in favor of doing it the right way. I know some old time VB people are mad, but I've never much cared for the language, so.
Although personally I'm looking into C# myself, as I have more of a C background.
It all depends on what one is looking for. If it's your goal to go into the Linux world, good luck. If it's your goal to just become a more efficient and more capable programmer,
Ahh, but now you want to argue efficiency.
What is more efficient, spending $1 million rolling your own software.
Or buying it from someone else for $1,000.
That's the problem with the Linux paradigm, it's a belief by some people that commercial software is evil and it is much better to write your own than succumb to their evilness.
Again, the GPL does not cater towards efficiency, nor does it fuel the economic spending.
Consider this example:
:)
Microsoft sells GM 40,000 copies of Windows 2000 for several million dollars.
Microsoft in turn takes this money and gives salaries to many of it's employees.
Employees take money home and decide to buy Chevy Tahoe trucks.
It's a big cylical thing, the economy.
I realize that's overly simplistic, but it ought to help you on the path to enlightenment.
Your absolutely right!
:)
"It's the economy stupid!"
Microsoft fuels the economy, the GPL does not.
As I recall, Rational or some similar company intends to offer Java compiler for the .Net platform.
It's not Microsoft who is trying to kill Java, that privilege belongs to Sun who wishes to keep it proprietary at all costs.
I can see your point. I guess I look at it as a problem with this idea of post-PC independent devices.
;)
The PC has offered a lot of power, most notably the ability to be general purpose for a lot of creative tasks. Recording TV to harddrive is just one such task that I can utilize the power of my current PC to accomplish.
I have no interest in replacing my PC with lot's of independent post-PC devices if each one of them requires a monthly subscription.
And by my reckoning I primarily will only be recording things when I'm not at home... so having a next to unusable PC doesn't seem like a problem.
Understandable. I would certainly like to take advantage of pausing live television, and I can see where that would be useful.
Some of the other features you mention also sound useful.
But my point is that at a minimum, out of the box, the TiVo should have equal functionality to my VCR.
Wouldn't you agree?
It bugs me when people don't seem to realize that there are at least 4 different versions of Windows and not specifying the particular version makes it difficult to discern the intent of the point.
Are we talking Windows 9x or Windows NT/2k?
I already have a WinTV-Go card and have had absolutely no problems with it locking up under Win2k. On the other hand, it doesn't seem to want to record sound with the video, which bugs me.
It wouldn't surprise me if you had problems with Windows 9x. I haven't used that version or 3.x for at least 4 years.
Under the .Net CLR, int is 32-bit and long is 64-bit.
:)
Just might want to keep that in mind.
Why? Are you incapable of programming a VCR?
I guess I would have to disagree, even on the average level. I'm actually amazed at the general ignorance of most Unix admins I encounter. Especially the group on /. who considers themselves experts because they can make it through a Redhat install.
As far as the number of admins. That has little to do with the OS, but much more to do with the solution being supported.
It's the number of day to day requests for work that say how many admins you need. Supporting a File/Print server requires signifigantly more work than supporting a database server, at least as far as the server admin is concerned because file/print shares are not static, new users come in the door daily, printers are added, replaced, etc.
But that's only because on a database server, most of the work is done by the DBA. Then again this depends on your environment. 2-tier apps require more DBA work than n-tier. Ongoing development requires more work than static third party applications, etc.
For around $10/year I can have full TV listings, along with reviews and other interesting news, delivered to my home.
It's called the TV-Guide.
Besides, I usually don't need a TV Guide to figure out when my favorite television shows are on.
I had been considering the purchase of a TiVo or similar such device. But only because I've always been frustrated with my VCR.
Now the thing is, I'm perfectly capable of setting the time on the VCR.
I'm perfectly capable of setting up a recurring program on the VCR. I know I want to record my 1 hour show every wednesday at 8pm on channel 9.
The thing that bugs me about the VCR is having to remember to stick a tape in on wednesday morning that has been rewound.
It's frustrating when you get the first 15 minutes of the show, but then the tape runs out. Or nothing was recorded because I forgot a tape, etc.
So I thought TiVo would be kind of cool in this regard. No need for tapes... don't want 'em anyway as I intend to watch the show within the next day or two when I'm home.
But like I said. I can set the time, I can program the device, I can even read a TV guide to know when my show is on.
So why do I need or want this service?
Honestly I don't. It's also inconvenient for me to run a phone line in next to my television.
At one time I had asked people if I could use the Tivo the way I wanted without subscribing and they assured me that this was the case.
It's now apparent that this is not true, or at least TiVo doesn't want me as a customer.
That's too bad.
But I've noticed a product out there that does fit my needs. WinTV-Personal Video Recorder card from Hauppage.
It sounds intriguing. Does everything TiVo does that I want, but also includes a capability to archive recordings to Video-CD.
The only problem right now is it doesn't support Win2k but they are working on that.
If you adjust your account options you can have it fail to show stories by certain contributors.
Katz and Roblimo have always been the two most notable nutcases, so just ignore anything from them.
Then maybe ignore anything tagged as Microsoft news.
Microsoft has already promised to release the source to a reference implementation of C# for Unix as part of their standards compliance process.
Umm, you could also buy Internet Explorer in a boxed set at the store for $40. Or don't you remember that?
Both browsers were available as free downloads from day #1. It might have been only a beta version, but those beta versions were extremely popular at the time because people didn't feel compelled to pay $30 for a browser.
It's very difficult to argue that Netscape ever intended or made any money off browser sales. The only people who paid for it were corporations.
"a good 1/3rd of my software doesn't run on it at all or well"
Now you are aware that Linux and OS/2 software is not designed to run under Windows?
Right?