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User: gosand

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  1. Re:Materialist scum (richest? ) on Spider-Man Has Back Problems · · Score: 0, Troll
    Spider-Man 2 or not, he's still one of the richest people in the country.

    What are you smoking? He is not one of the richest people in the country, by far. Probably not even in his neighborhood.

  2. doesn't work like that (for me) on Family Tech Support · · Score: 2, Interesting
    If they can't put it together themselves after you tell them what parts to get and install an OS on their own, just let them buy the Dell and deal with their tech support department.

    For me it doesn't work like that. See, my dad knew a guy who knew a guy who could get him a deal. So they bought a PC from some local shop. (this is in a small town of 3000 people). So when the thing kept freaking out, they kept calling me. They had the tech come down and replace this part, and that part, and it still kept dropping them from the internet or crashing every 15 minutes. No, I am not kidding, BSOD about every 15 minutes. Hardware conflicts galore.

    When I visited a few months before Xmas, I looked at the system - K62-500, all generic parts. I said - you want me to build you a system? I can do it for $200.
    "But Jimmy Somenuts built this one for $300. So now we are going to be spending $500 on a computer? We just need it for email and looking up stock prices. That seems like a lot."

    If you want it to work, let me do it. I figured at least if I built it, I would know what they were getting. They didn't want to spend the $$ for a new system from somewhere like Dell. And my brother, who is an avid eBayer, kept saying "I can get one on eBay cheaper than that!". But he has no clue about computers, and I didn't want to have to support some garbage eMachine.

    So they agreed. I built them a low-end system at the time - AMD Duron 800, 128 MB RAM, 10 GB hard drive (and old one I had lying around), CD-ROM, 8MB AGP card and 56k modem (I had spares of both), floppy, keybd, mouse. I told them if they got me a 19" monitor for Xmas, I would give them my 17" (they were using a 15"). I built it, put a copy of Win98 on it, and that was that. All of their problems went away, and I haven't had a single tech call since. I have their K62-500 running Linux and acting as my backup server right now. I took the piece of junk off their hands in exchange for the parts that I put into the system from my own "inventory". The damn CD drive is a piece of garbage, it failed twice during my Linux installation.

    Overall, it was worth my investment to build them a system, because it cut down on the number of questions that I got from them. I was really tempted to install Linux on there, but I wanted to *decrease* the number of phone calls I got from them. :-)

  3. Re:why put your money there on Clear Case Roundup · · Score: 1
    I'd like to propose something to every single person who posts a comment like this whenever case modding comes up. Think of the last time you spent money on something you wanted, even though you didn't need it. Bought those Nike shoes instead of the generic brand? Paid a hundred bucks more for a fridge with a stainless steel finish? Then, instead of questioning why other people do things they want with their own money for their own amusement, why don't you just shut the fuck up...

    Well, to use your examples, I wouldn't post pictures of my stainless steel refrigerator to a newsgroup, or discuss my shoes online with a bunch of other shoe owners. See, case modding used to be creative and unique. People did it for fun, and actually put some time, effort, and thought into it. Now it is a joke because all you have to do is buy everything off the shelf. That is why putting a PC in an old stereo (which I did ) was just for fun. Now if anyone could go out and just buy a PC that looked like a stereo, it would be lame. Now you might think what I did was stupid, but I did it for fun. How is going out and simply purchasing a bunch of parts that are clear any different than purchasing parts that aren't?

    Case modding ceases to be modding when there is no modding going on. And as much as you have the right to discuss "case modding", I have the right to laugh at you.

  4. Wait, this can't be right... on 10 Years of the World Wide Web · · Score: 1
    Something isn't right here - how could there be an internet browser that didn't run on a Microsoft OS? That's just crazy talk. They invented the internet, after all...

    I remember when this came out. It was sweet. Except at the company I worked for there were no proxies set up to access the internet yet. But me and a buddy figured out where they were when they *did* set one up, and we were the only people in our department of 200 people that could surf the net. It really felt like we were getting away with something back then, so we had to keep our access secret. Man, I am really glad that I got to experience it when it was so young.

  5. OK, then Free Software does not ! on MPAA, Microsoft Testify Piracy Funds Terrorism · · Score: 1

    So perhaps the new Open Source and Free Software slogan should be
    "Open Source and Free Software does not fund terrorism"

  6. OK, dumb question ... on Red Hat Announces Enterprise Linux · · Score: 1
    I don't buy enterprise level stuff, so this may be a really dumb question - but is this a one-time or an annual fee? I see that you get a 1-year subscription to the RH Enterprise Network, but that was the only time related reference I saw.

    Is it just assumed that this is a per-year cost? If not, then I could see how this would be very advantageous over MS related products, where your licence is up for revision every year. I am guessing when you buy RedHat, you are buying it and not leasing it. If I had to make the decision, that would be a big selling point.

  7. Re:Separating Content from Presentation a Good Thi on Office 2003 and XML · · Score: 1
    Apparently, all formatting and presentation information is removed from the XML.

    And this is bad how? Isn't this the dream that XML document proponents have aspired to for years? You just can't please some people...

    And this statement says it is a bad thing, how?

    Physician, heal thyself.

  8. Re:Cool, this would solve the web server on the pl on Web Server Packed into RJ45 Connector · · Score: 1
    e I think an aeroplane would be better off using a rj45 in the chair arm, and now they can squish the server in there too. Now we just have to solve how to connect it to the rest of the internet without interferring with the navigation systems and anti missile targetting.

    Actually, couldn't they just have a webserver on board, and cache several sites, like news sites, etc. People wouldn't be able to browse the internet, but they would be able to browse something. That doesn't allow people to email, but it would be something. I am sure the airlines could sell advertising for the hosted web pages. It seems feasable.

  9. At least the donor is honest about it on A College Without Microsoft? · · Score: 2, Insightful
    While I don't think that it would be in the best interest of the student to exclude Microsoft products, I have to give credit to the donor for honesty. It's better than the shady business practices of Microsoft, charging license fees for every computer regardless of OS.

    That being said, if I were presenting this to the board, I would recommend against accepting it. It is too restrictive, and isn't a good idea. It isn't a business, it is a learning institution. The students are the ones that would have to go into the marketplace, and they shouldn't have this restriction placed on them. However, I would propose an alternate plan, and see if the donor would accept it. Maybe a "[insert name of donor] Linux Lab" could be set up with all Linux based machines. (assuming here that non-MS means Linux, I guess it could mean other things too). Or the "Free Software Lab". Or let the donor name it.

  10. Croquet virus would be like... on Opencroquet · · Score: 1
    I wonder what a virus on this would look like...

    A window that constantly moving away from you

    A window that is always behind you

    A spherical window

    Makes all your windows bounce off each other in a low gravity environment

    Actually, these all sound kind of cool.

  11. Sign me up! on Peer Pressure Porn Filter · · Score: 1
    Sure, sign me up. I would love to see the reaction on their faces the first time they open that report.

    Actually, it would be funny to see them try to access "localhost", cause unless they have brag and my shell scripts that run every night, forget about it. :-)

  12. Re: Know thy enemy/ Too much is simply too much on KDE & Gnome Usability Engineers Interviewed · · Score: 1

    I agree with your opinions in theory, but I think practically it won't happen. Sure, it would be better for the community if there was a standard DE, but figuring out what that should be probably won't happen. I think that is one of the trade-offs of not having an all-powerful governing body.

  13. Actually, what would be really cool... on Matrix Special Edition Cancelled · · Score: 1
    Actually, how cool would it be if they shipped a fully functioning bootable Matrix OS? Base it on Knoppix, tweak it to be fully Matrixed themed, and include it with the DVD set.

    They could put in some bonus video clips, pics, backgrounds, audio clips, Matrix-themed browser, etc.

  14. Re: Know thy enemy/ Too much is simply too much on KDE & Gnome Usability Engineers Interviewed · · Score: 1
    1. The best code from each would have been used and the worst would have been dropped.

    Define which is the best and which is the worst. There is half of the problem with this theory. There would never be a consensus on what is the best and the worst.

    2. There would be twice as many developers.

    No, there would only be developers for the included apps. I doubt that all the developers for application X would just jump to the "preferred" application if X wasn't chosen. Of course there is a pride thing, these people have put a lot of themselves into these projects. Why would they let them die off to go work on something they didn't contribute to?

    I understand that overall, this would be a good strategy, but you are dealing with a community. There isn't some big brother boss to say "this is how it is going to work."

  15. Re:IBM *buy* SCO? WTF? on More on SCO vs. IBM Lawsuit · · Score: 1
    Er, there are laws against that kind of thing. SCO is a trademark.

    Ok, how about "5c0 5uX0r5" :-)

  16. Re:IBM *buy* SCO? WTF? on More on SCO vs. IBM Lawsuit · · Score: 1
    If IBM bought SCO, they would have the IP rights to the original code, plus the name "UNIX" which is trademarked.

    In both cases, whooptie-doo.

  17. IBM *buy* SCO? WTF? on More on SCO vs. IBM Lawsuit · · Score: 4, Interesting
    From Bruce's comments: So, I think the claims I've heard are specious, and not enforcible in court. Why, then, is SCO doing this? They want to be purchased. This is the exit strategy for their investors, Canopy Group. IBM can buy them just to shut them up. Or Microsoft can buy them to use them to FUD Linux. And Canopy Group management figures they'll play the two against each other to drive up the price. But IBM management is smart enough to poison this particular well, by bringing counter-claims against SCO. SCO is also party to the GPL, which invalidates their patent portfolio for any of their patents that happen to have been used in a Linux system that they distributed. Under the GPL terms, if you distribute your patented practice in GPL software, you must grant a license to everyone to make use of that patent in any GPL software, for any field of use.

    Why would IBM *buy* SCO? If they released their product under the GPL, couldn't IBM just take a distro and re-release it as "SCOSUCKS" under the GPL? Couldn't anyone? What would burn the top brass at SCO if after this lawsuit (clearly aimed at them just trying to cash in), someone took their distro and made it successful.

  18. Re:The internet isn't stupid... on World of Ends · · Score: 1
    The Internet is stupid. Well, I tend to disagree. It tends to make people stupid though, and it's hellishly smart at that as well. Just look at this place :-)

    It doesn't make people stupid, it just allows them to shine a spotlight on their own stupidity for the world to see.

  19. Re:World Ends on World of Ends · · Score: 3, Funny
    Oh God I missed the "of" at first. Heaven help us. I found out about Armageddon on slashdot.

    In that case, all the trolls would be trying to get "Last Post". But how would you know who finally got it?

    Earth has been slashdotted.

  20. Quality Software vs Fewer Bugs? on Ask About Proprietary vs. Open Source Code Quality · · Score: 5, Interesting
    I work in software Quality Assurance, and have for going on 10 years now. My experience tells me that true software bugs are only part of the quality of software. So much can get lost in the software development lifecycle. An unclear requirement can travel through the lifecycle and come out the other end as a bug to the customer. Usability is another part of quality. It could be bug-free, but if it is really difficult to use or doesn't fit the needs of the customer, it may not matter.

    It sounds like your company focuses on analyzing the code bugs, and not necessarily the perceived bugs. What are your opinions on this? I know that locating and eliminating the bugs *is* a critical part of software QA, but do you feel that bug-free ensures true quality? A bug-free Open Source project may still be too difficult to use or confusing for the non-technically inclined.

  21. Re:I'm fine with it (ROFL) on What Fruits Will Reduced R&D Bear For The U.S.? · · Score: 1
    Dude, have you owned a Honda (or Toyota) in the last 10 years?

    Yep, two of them, both Hondas. Sure, they kept going, but they were rattletraps. Right now I own two 1988 BMWs. Rock solid cars. The 528e cost me $1800 last year, and even though it has some issues purely because of age, it is solid and runs great. The other one is an M3, so I did pay a little more for that one ($13,500 6 years ago). But the yee-ha factor is through the roof. It was my track car back when I had time to do that stuff. Both cars have 125,000+ miles on them, and don't show any signs of giving out any time soon.

    If you buy a new BMW, then you are going to pay a lot. However, you can get a 4 year old BMW for the price of a new Pontiac. In 10 years, you'll still have the BMW. What kills me is people who are driving a $30,000 SUV give me crap about owning two BMWs that are collectively worth about half of their suburban sheep-mobile.

  22. Dammit, I hate to post this, BUT on Toshiba To Show Laptop Fuel Cells at CeBit · · Score: 1
    If you want a fuel cell to be practically usable, you should make it run on 40% Ethanol, 60% water. That way, there is a commonly available fuel (Vodka) which can be easily purchased most everywhere in the US (outside Mormonstan at least).

    Mod me down, but I have to say it...

    In Soviet Russia, laptop fuels you.

  23. Re:I'm fine with it (ROFL) on What Fruits Will Reduced R&D Bear For The U.S.? · · Score: 1
    If Honda can do for computers what it did for automobiles, in 10 years my PC will use .01 watts, be completely wireless, measure 4 cubic centimeters, have a holographic display and track my eye movement to move the cursor. (provided I have an X Sesion going. :)

    And it will have the processing power of a PII, and will only last about 6 months. The major selling point of it will be that it is cheap, and you can put a bunch of goofy looking mods on it to make it appear to have more processing power.

    No thanks. Give me a German car any day. Solid engineering is where it is at, and I think THAT is also why many offshore companies are taking away tech business. They do good work. Look at the percentage of companies in India that are CMM level 2 or above, then look at American companies. While CMM level doesn't guarantee good software, it does indicate maturity. If you are strapped for cash, you'll go with not only what is cheaper but what gets you the most bang for your buck. Solid engineering is better in the long run.

    The American job market was saturated with dime-a-dozen developers in the years leading up to the dot-com craze. So instead of having pools of good engineers at companies, there were a few good engineers and a bunch of snot-nosed coders. The flood of people trying to cash in on the tech market diluted the pool for everyone.

  24. Re:Arcade Were Cool... Uhh, I don't think so on Xbox Coming to Arcades · · Score: 1
    Arcade Were Cool ... when the "good" games were .50 to start and .25 to continue, and the really really good games were .75 to start.

    My young friend, arcades were cool when every single game in the place was $0.25. I am sorry that you weren't around to see it, it was a very beautiful thing.

  25. Re:Get over it! How, exactly? on ISP Operator Barry Shein Answers Spam Questions · · Score: 2
    I don't know about the rest of you but, I'm getting sick and tired about hearing of people complaining about spam!!! It is fucking stupid! Get over it! Spam is not that inconvienient! I get 50 - 100 spam a day on my email account, and I'm not complaining and demanding that it be stopped, or that laws be enacted to stop it (spam).

    I don't hate spam because of personal inconvenience. I hate it because of the fact that it uses up massive resources on the net, and wastes a lot of people's time for no good reason. Remember, these were questions to someone at an ISP, where spam costs them time and money.

    Actually, if I ever do have to check my email via webmail, it does bother me. On my normal account, I don't get that much spam, but on my webmail account? Holy crap. 99% of it is spam. I don't give it out to anyone either, I use it when I need to provide an email for purchasing things online. Yet, I get tons of spam on it. I only check it once a week for that reason alone.

    Spam is hated for the same reason telemarketers are hated. I don't mind that people complain about them, because if nobody complains, then nothing will be done to stop them.