Although I see where you are coming from, Trillian has been very responsive to the community for a long time, has never had ad/spyware in any of their iterations (even the non-pro versions), and supports the Jabber protocol and IRC, as well as proprietary protocols. Plus they have an API so that you can write your own plugins.
As long as the underlying protocols stay free and open (be it soap, irc, jabber or whatever) then if someone wants to write a closed source interface to it, that's their perogative, and of course they do so at their own risks. As great as it is to work as an (open) team, there is still something to be said for going it on your (closed) own.
I can already see it now... Keanu Reeves as Tanis Half-Elven, Tara Reid as Laurana, a CGI-reduced Kris Kristofferson as Flint and Pauly Shore as Tasselhoff... okay, I have to stop, I'm making myself sick.
I'm running WinXP on a PIII 1Ghz with a 64meg GForce2 MMX clone. I have Trillian's alpha set to 90%, and yes, it does flicker when watching movies. Of course fullscreen will take care of that. Another issue I noticed, is when connecting to my machine with VNC,any window that has alpha blending will become invisible to the VNC server (you can still interact with the window, ya just don't see it).
Allow me to say that your correction to the original post was not only insightful, but less condescending than what is the norm on this site.
As for your additional insight regarding the economics of such an idea, I must admit they left me with a sense of dismay for two different reasons.
Firstly because I am always dissapointed when 'cost' overrules the big picture. The same could be said for providing AIDS drugs to Africa, providing money to Iraq, or the use of solar panels to name a few examples. The cost isn't the money required to be invested, that is the price, the cost is the lose that is incurred if nobody is willing to pay the price. The same argument could be said by refering to the logistics that would be required (all students would need chairs and desks in each classroom, and books, not to mention access to computers, and trained professionals to handle the classes/curriculum), but we both know a system to handle that is already in place. Nevertheless the second reason I was dissapointed was that I myself admitted the price would be prohibitive. But then I realised that the solution already exists, has already been implemented, and has already helped at least a few people remain empowered.
I harkened back to my grade 10 'computer science' classes. In those classes, not only did we learn the history of the computer over the last 100 years, we also learned about bolean logic, how to draw a flowchart to represent the processes of an application. We also wrote for loops, if/else if/else statements, and even fiddled around with different graphics at different resolutions. Sure 50% of the class didn't pay proper attention, but the same could be said for the phyisics and chemistry classes I was taking the same year.
If a class such as the one I described above was manditory part of the curriculum of all high schools, I think it would be a step in the right direction. I also think the cost wouldn't be prohibitive (just drop phys-ed, lol). The main concern that I have, is that if I attended the same class today it would consist mostly of how to use Internet Explorer, how to search Google, how to format a text document or spreadsheet, or worse yet, the coding would have been replaced by how to use HTML (note the lack of a D prefix).
I tend to agree, but what if you had a doctor who's signature block said "Kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out" or a politician who's signature block said "Ask yourself what you can do for ME"...the fact is that sarcasm in certain forms, and certain places is innapropriate and it doesn't take a great deal of thought to tell when it is no longer apropriate.
Perhaps the best way would be analyse the stones in a mass spectrometer to look for traces of metal from an axe.
True, but even if it was intentional art, wouldn't metal have been required to carve it? I suppose stone could also be used, but stone is better for chipping away at edges, not for making impressions. It would still be inconclusive.
They look more like the sort of mark left after the impact of a metal object. Maybe someone just banged an axe against the stone. Cavemen were capable of better art than this (I'm not talking about the alignment of the stones themselves).
You little piece of shit. Since when does a missing 'r' warrant a reply. Useless posts like yours are what make Slashdot comments more and more unberable. Did you really add anything to the conversation? Was the meaning of my previous post lost on you? Was it even worth your time to submit that little bit of drivel. I don't normally respond to tripe such as yourself, but I've had enough and it is time to speak up. This is exactly why BBSs had exclusive membership. Now excuse me while I FUCK YOU!
I'll bite. Water offers a lot more resistance than air (try slapping water or doing a belly flop). That doesn't mean your technique won't work, it will just be a lot harder. And you'll have a lot less luck spearing the meatballs on your spaghetti, let alone the noodles...while chopsticks wouldn't bat an eye. But if you really want to spear all the food you consume in space...by all means don't let me stop you.
The block was put in place to force other IM companies to pay for a license. Companies like Trillian were making money their product used the Messange networks (true, other products weren't making money but were still using the Messanger networks). I'd prefer it if Microsoft didn't go this way, but I certainly think it is within their right. And if you don't like it? Use a different client/protocol like Jabber. As for new IM wars, I don't think the old war was ever settled.
Slashdot Mirror
As long as the underlying protocols stay free and open (be it soap, irc, jabber or whatever) then if someone wants to write a closed source interface to it, that's their perogative, and of course they do so at their own risks. As great as it is to work as an (open) team, there is still something to be said for going it on your (closed) own.
Bah, she ain't hot, she just shrinks her shirts in the laundry ;-)
I can already see it now... Keanu Reeves as Tanis Half-Elven, Tara Reid as Laurana, a CGI-reduced Kris Kristofferson as Flint and Pauly Shore as Tasselhoff... okay, I have to stop, I'm making myself sick.
As long as there aren't any Baldwins in it.
Just my personnal opinion, but the problem people have with The Matrix ending is peace.
Oh, its a peace of something alright...a peace of krap.
++me
I agree with you and after 20 years have fallen on the same storage system. It was the box that comes with the lego robotics that finally inspired me.
What ever happen to Dick and Jane?
The world is both a lot bigger and a lot smaller since Dick and Jane were born.
Been there. Got the t-shirt.
I'm running WinXP on a PIII 1Ghz with a 64meg GForce2 MMX clone. I have Trillian's alpha set to 90%, and yes, it does flicker when watching movies. Of course fullscreen will take care of that. Another issue I noticed, is when connecting to my machine with VNC,any window that has alpha blending will become invisible to the VNC server (you can still interact with the window, ya just don't see it).
Allow me to say that your correction to the original post was not only insightful, but less condescending than what is the norm on this site.
As for your additional insight regarding the economics of such an idea, I must admit they left me with a sense of dismay for two different reasons.
Firstly because I am always dissapointed when 'cost' overrules the big picture. The same could be said for providing AIDS drugs to Africa, providing money to Iraq, or the use of solar panels to name a few examples. The cost isn't the money required to be invested, that is the price, the cost is the lose that is incurred if nobody is willing to pay the price. The same argument could be said by refering to the logistics that would be required (all students would need chairs and desks in each classroom, and books, not to mention access to computers, and trained professionals to handle the classes/curriculum), but we both know a system to handle that is already in place. Nevertheless the second reason I was dissapointed was that I myself admitted the price would be prohibitive. But then I realised that the solution already exists, has already been implemented, and has already helped at least a few people remain empowered.
I harkened back to my grade 10 'computer science' classes. In those classes, not only did we learn the history of the computer over the last 100 years, we also learned about bolean logic, how to draw a flowchart to represent the processes of an application. We also wrote for loops, if/else if/else statements, and even fiddled around with different graphics at different resolutions. Sure 50% of the class didn't pay proper attention, but the same could be said for the phyisics and chemistry classes I was taking the same year.
If a class such as the one I described above was manditory part of the curriculum of all high schools, I think it would be a step in the right direction. I also think the cost wouldn't be prohibitive (just drop phys-ed, lol). The main concern that I have, is that if I attended the same class today it would consist mostly of how to use Internet Explorer, how to search Google, how to format a text document or spreadsheet, or worse yet, the coding would have been replaced by how to use HTML (note the lack of a D prefix).
What do you think? Is that a reasonable solution?
And I didn't.
Hmmm...tunnel...transport...symbolism?
I wont even bother replying to the rest of your comment.
Whoa, did you answer because you're a Ned's fan, or is this just some freaky coincidence?
What's up with the image servers, and am I the only one that saw that huge god-awful ad on the right hand column?
Over drinks or in passing maybe, but not in business related correspondance.
I tend to agree, but what if you had a doctor who's signature block said "Kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out" or a politician who's signature block said "Ask yourself what you can do for ME"...the fact is that sarcasm in certain forms, and certain places is innapropriate and it doesn't take a great deal of thought to tell when it is no longer apropriate.
It's like saying "You're not allowed to walk into this high security area, but if you LIMBO in we can't do anything about it."
On that note, anyone in the Montreal Area who wants to buy a barely used Minidisc player, give me a shout!
I'd mod you up if I had points.
Or rip it with any ripping software :-)
True, but even if it was intentional art, wouldn't metal have been required to carve it? I suppose stone could also be used, but stone is better for chipping away at edges, not for making impressions. It would still be inconclusive.
They look more like the sort of mark left after the impact of a metal object. Maybe someone just banged an axe against the stone. Cavemen were capable of better art than this (I'm not talking about the alignment of the stones themselves).
No bug fixes? You ever heard of service packs?
No new realeases? What about Windows 2003?
I'm not a big Microsoft fan (hell as I write this reply I'm loading Mandrake 9.1 on my subnotebook), but your comment is patently false.
You little piece of shit. Since when does a missing 'r' warrant a reply. Useless posts like yours are what make Slashdot comments more and more unberable. Did you really add anything to the conversation? Was the meaning of my previous post lost on you? Was it even worth your time to submit that little bit of drivel. I don't normally respond to tripe such as yourself, but I've had enough and it is time to speak up. This is exactly why BBSs had exclusive membership. Now excuse me while I FUCK YOU!
I'll bite. Water offers a lot more resistance than air (try slapping water or doing a belly flop). That doesn't mean your technique won't work, it will just be a lot harder. And you'll have a lot less luck spearing the meatballs on your spaghetti, let alone the noodles...while chopsticks wouldn't bat an eye. But if you really want to spear all the food you consume in space...by all means don't let me stop you.
The block was put in place to force other IM companies to pay for a license. Companies like Trillian were making money their product used the Messange networks (true, other products weren't making money but were still using the Messanger networks). I'd prefer it if Microsoft didn't go this way, but I certainly think it is within their right. And if you don't like it? Use a different client/protocol like Jabber. As for new IM wars, I don't think the old war was ever settled.