Did you read the article? I'm assuming you did.. but really? You don't need to dumb it down for everyone. Underneath the hood it is STILL LINUX. The advanced users can STILL modify to their hearts content.. Joe Public just wants one version, doesn't want to update kernels or try out beta software like the "hardcore" folks. I'm assuming it would be quite easy to have the installer for a distro to give the user options as to what type of install they would like to do.. like a PNP type install or a base install that let's Mr. Expert build his machine fromt he base up.
I would love to use Linux but I when none of the installs will even detect and install my Genius Netmouse pro, even with generic drivers.. well sheez.. that tells me it's going to be a hell of a lot harder to install something like my network adapter and get it all setup for @Home.. with the Windows line all I have to do is put my computer name in and it hooks me up in an instant.. and my mouse works too;)..
Anyway, I think your statement was quite shortsited. Stop and think and you'll realize that there can be releases for every distro with different installation options and configurations available.
Geocities does things like this too. They automatically deleted a file on my site called mp3.html.. all it was, was a list of my MP3's that I made using Winamp. Dumb.
I'm not sure if this public info, but if it's not, it is now. Both Wal-Mart and Air Miles have 40+ Terabytes of information on spending patterns of people. I think air miles was 46 Terabytes as of last year.. but don't quote me on it. So I wouldn't really worry about "revealing" information about yourself by using the "what's new" button or "related sites" button.. I'd be more concerned about the profiling being done on you each time you make a purchase with a credit card at Walmart or get those oh so precious air miles (you might get to fly for 45 minutes after 45 years of collecting!)
Not only do I agree with you, but in reality, it's not really a rumour if it's true.. I hope one of these companies does continue to post rumours and takes them to court. This is a case that Apple couldn't win.
Why is it Amazon can pull something like this and just walk away from it? Saying "whoops" were sorry... "tee hee our mistake"???
Because it is not illegal to charge the highest possible price a consumer will pay before choosing a substitute. In fact, economic theory encourages it to push the economy towards general equilibrium. Simply put, there are people who feel they have no power over their purchase decisions (it's fate), then there are those who feel that it is actually THEIR decision. These are the people who benefit from the others because they get the lower prices which are paid for by those paying above the mean price.
Your resident economist
>I'm far less concerned about big corporations >than I am about big government. The former wants >to make money. The latter wants to tell you what >to do, what to think, and how to behave, and >will exercise the full power of the state if you >resist. Don't believe me?
No I don't believe you at all. You've obviously never taken a marketing course in your life. Companies see profits in getting their customers, and more importantly there non-customers to view their image as positive. Once the company is seen in a positive light, or at least in a position of power and penetrates the mainstream, they are able to manipulate under-informed people into the way they think. Whether it be that shopping at Wal-Mart is for losers, or that if you don't drink Budweiser you won't meet all the pretty girls. These things motivate people into the mainstream, thus increasing revenues and profits for the "manipulating" company.
This entire "too much gov't power" thing is almost entirely an American thing. Being a Canadian, I'm proud that my country can have such a high level of gov't involvement while not stomping on individual rights (albeit less than the U.S., but I'm not complaining that's for sure!)
This brings up the other problem of companies influence in gov't. Once the companies become giants, they also get a say in the political arena. Obviously, and as many people already now, you "bribe" so long as the marginal cost of bribing is less than the marginal benefit of paying the bribe..
Anyway, I'm getting off topic so I'll stop it at that.
Slashdot Mirror
Did you read the article? I'm assuming you did.. but really? You don't need to dumb it down for everyone. Underneath the hood it is STILL LINUX. The advanced users can STILL modify to their hearts content.. Joe Public just wants one version, doesn't want to update kernels or try out beta software like the "hardcore" folks. I'm assuming it would be quite easy to have the installer for a distro to give the user options as to what type of install they would like to do.. like a PNP type install or a base install that let's Mr. Expert build his machine fromt he base up. ;) ..
I would love to use Linux but I when none of the installs will even detect and install my Genius Netmouse pro, even with generic drivers.. well sheez.. that tells me it's going to be a hell of a lot harder to install something like my network adapter and get it all setup for @Home.. with the Windows line all I have to do is put my computer name in and it hooks me up in an instant.. and my mouse works too
Anyway, I think your statement was quite shortsited. Stop and think and you'll realize that there can be releases for every distro with different installation options and configurations available.
Geocities does things like this too. They automatically deleted a file on my site called mp3.html .. all it was, was a list of my MP3's that I made using Winamp. Dumb.
I'm not sure if this public info, but if it's not, it is now. Both Wal-Mart and Air Miles have 40+ Terabytes of information on spending patterns of people. I think air miles was 46 Terabytes as of last year.. but don't quote me on it. So I wouldn't really worry about "revealing" information about yourself by using the "what's new" button or "related sites" button.. I'd be more concerned about the profiling being done on you each time you make a purchase with a credit card at Walmart or get those oh so precious air miles (you might get to fly for 45 minutes after 45 years of collecting!)
Not only do I agree with you, but in reality, it's not really a rumour if it's true.. I hope one of these companies does continue to post rumours and takes them to court. This is a case that Apple couldn't win.
Why don't you just shut up and not respond and read the article if you don't care. An irrelevant reply to an equally irrelevant post.
Why is it Amazon can pull something like this and just walk away from it? Saying "whoops" were sorry... "tee hee our mistake"???
Because it is not illegal to charge the highest possible price a consumer will pay before choosing a substitute. In fact, economic theory encourages it to push the economy towards general equilibrium. Simply put, there are people who feel they have no power over their purchase decisions (it's fate), then there are those who feel that it is actually THEIR decision. These are the people who benefit from the others because they get the lower prices which are paid for by those paying above the mean price.
Your resident economist
>I'm far less concerned about big corporations >than I am about big government. The former wants >to make money. The latter wants to tell you what >to do, what to think, and how to behave, and >will exercise the full power of the state if you >resist. Don't believe me? No I don't believe you at all. You've obviously never taken a marketing course in your life. Companies see profits in getting their customers, and more importantly there non-customers to view their image as positive. Once the company is seen in a positive light, or at least in a position of power and penetrates the mainstream, they are able to manipulate under-informed people into the way they think. Whether it be that shopping at Wal-Mart is for losers, or that if you don't drink Budweiser you won't meet all the pretty girls. These things motivate people into the mainstream, thus increasing revenues and profits for the "manipulating" company. This entire "too much gov't power" thing is almost entirely an American thing. Being a Canadian, I'm proud that my country can have such a high level of gov't involvement while not stomping on individual rights (albeit less than the U.S., but I'm not complaining that's for sure!) This brings up the other problem of companies influence in gov't. Once the companies become giants, they also get a say in the political arena. Obviously, and as many people already now, you "bribe" so long as the marginal cost of bribing is less than the marginal benefit of paying the bribe.. Anyway, I'm getting off topic so I'll stop it at that.