Lack of DVD/Blueray player killed it. Seriously of you are making/using an optical drive using the same form factor as a CD/DVD/Blueray play, it can't be that much harder/more expensive to add that functionality into it.
I really only want one device that can play disks cluttering the area near my TV (and generally you can play games or watch TV/DVD). If it had been able to play my DVDs, I would have bought one.
What I did in a previous job was implement terminal services across the board. Stuck an AD server in each remote offices for workstation authentication, dns, dhcp, updates, etc. Files were stored centrally. Accessibility was increased (eveyone had access to their files which ever office they were in without them being dragged across the network. Bandwidth has grown as the number of people in offices (and the amount they print) has grown.
On Windows: New version / new box, there would be at 3 install/wipe cycles. Part of that is making sure the latest (correct) drivers are downloaded and installed. Other bits such as getting the intelligent partition sizing had generally waited until the next rebuild. Having built a windows install on a box, the next time it has to be rebuilt it is generally a lot easier (unless there is a new version involved). Often because a new box comes with windows drivers and things like CD writing software, I know that I generally just used the ones that came with the box.
For Linux: Being a relative newcomer I'm still trying to get it right. Although, yes you can get away with two partitions (/ and swap), I generally have one for/home as well. With LVM I find I tend to try and put more thought into it so that in the future disk expansion is easier. One thing I have found with linux is trying to work out which application to use. With soo many to choose from for a particular task it is easy to install/uninstall remove several different apps. Windows definitely left crap about with an install/uninstall cycles, I guess linux isn't perfect with it, but at least Unbuntu seems to be able to remove packages or be able to find out which packages are not needed.
As far as personalisation (desktop theme etc) goes... well that really is ongoing.
Ahh the joys of global communication... in another 2 hours 40 minutes it will be the 2nd of April... at least in the land of the long white cloud... others will catch up in due course:-)
By default everyone gets the Ubuntu preinstalled, if they chose to run another linux (or in the case of one poor lost soul Free DSD) that is entirely up to them. There are a couple of people who have grovelled sufficiently to get Macs, but I think of the 80 of us there are 5 windows workstations. But then I work for an Open Source Development company:-)
I told a neighbour recently that I did not use Windows. The reply was "What do use instead? Excel?" And then there are the people who refer to the case as the cpu or hard drive. I've had 'interesting' reactions when I've told people (who have told me they opened their harddisk to clean it out) that harddisks should only be opened in clean room conditions and that they'd probably lost all their files... but then I can be a bastard like that:-)
A few years ago I bought another CD in my quest to get the complete collection of Jethro Tull. Got it home and it wouldn't play in my car... mutter mutter... it was one of those protected 'CDs'. So I stuck it in my pc (Windows 2000 with Cdex) and sucked it out to ogg. And then went to the web site and sent a message off telling Ian Anderson what I thought of the copy protection scheme.
'The Tull' still make great music, but they seem a bit confused of the whole where we are now. They seem to be a bunch of 'Heavy Horses' - beautiful things but outdated:-(
Extending copyright has some advantages, but disadvantages as well - how many musicians started off signing their soul away to the record company to discover that the record company own their work. Changing record companies can mean that they can't include a recording of theirs in their greatest hits (I'm reminded of a hit of Donovan's "Catch the Wind" that had to be rerecorded for a greatest hits CD). Having stuff slide out of copyright means that those 'souless' musicians can reclaim their music. Of course those that have been able to retain the ownership of that are likely to protect what they can to the detriment of the greater public, and ultimately themselves.
It would take a big shift. Too many people think in terms of who's neck is on the line, they like to think of the board of directors or the CEO or the team manager.
Let's not knock communism, like all political ideologies it has it's faults, and the common flaw with most systems is the abuse of power. Even democracy has it's abuses.. the 'great democracy of the west' has what seems to be leaders passing jobs to friends, companies providing campaign contributions to ensure that demcoracy works.
Hmm, but isn't there a contract on the site? I agree to the terms seems to be a contract to me (IANAL etc etc). After all the website seems to be providing a service for those getting sued.
But then I have to keep reminding myself that there is law, there is fair and right, and there is justice... sometimes they manage to go in the same direction.
Knowing how to use the whatever help function on the system. And how to find deeper more comprehensive information on the 'net.
It's like that whole knowledge is power thing... it isn't the knowledge that is the power it is the knowing how to use the knowledge that is the power.
People knowing how to find the information out themselves is the first step towards becoming a computer literate person.
I don't know, I've had to call a helpdesk - HP and Veritas - the English there is a distant cousin (very distant cousin, from the side of the family noone talks about) to the English I speak.
Slashdot Mirror
Ohh yeah, isn't it nice to be in a country that is moving away from this insanity?
http://www.iitp.org.nz/newsletter/article/430
http://no.softwarepatents.org.nz/
Lack of DVD/Blueray player killed it. Seriously of you are making/using an optical drive using the same form factor as a CD/DVD/Blueray play, it can't be that much harder/more expensive to add that functionality into it.
I really only want one device that can play disks cluttering the area near my TV (and generally you can play games or watch TV/DVD). If it had been able to play my DVDs, I would have bought one.
The year of Linux on the (gaming) Desktop?
Let's not get carried away.
As far as I have known, APAC refers to Asia Pacific .. which includes place like NZ.
Probably best to refer to Bejing / China as China or maybe at a pinch Asia. But please not Asia Pacific.
.. hang on ... I don't get to vote.
Much to my father's disappointment I've never taken up my US passport/citizenship.
Nope .. It's wednesday here :-)
They could throw some time and effort (and $$?) into the support of WINE to allow the use of legacy Windows applications in an 'archaic OS'
What I did in a previous job was implement terminal services across the board.
Stuck an AD server in each remote offices for workstation authentication, dns, dhcp, updates, etc.
Files were stored centrally.
Accessibility was increased (eveyone had access to their files which ever office they were in without them being dragged across the network.
Bandwidth has grown as the number of people in offices (and the amount they print) has grown.
Unless of course you live in a country that has a very different exchange rate
On Windows: New version / new box, there would be at 3 install/wipe cycles.
/home as well. With LVM I find I tend to try and put more thought into it so that in the future disk expansion is easier.
... well that really is ongoing.
Part of that is making sure the latest (correct) drivers are downloaded and installed.
Other bits such as getting the intelligent partition sizing had generally waited until the next rebuild. Having built a windows install on a box, the next time it has to be rebuilt it is generally a lot easier (unless there is a new version involved).
Often because a new box comes with windows drivers and things like CD writing software, I know that I generally just used the ones that came with the box.
For Linux: Being a relative newcomer I'm still trying to get it right.
Although, yes you can get away with two partitions (/ and swap), I generally have one for
One thing I have found with linux is trying to work out which application to use. With soo many to choose from for a particular task it is easy to install/uninstall remove several different apps. Windows definitely left crap about with an install/uninstall cycles, I guess linux isn't perfect with it, but at least Unbuntu seems to be able to remove packages or be able to find out which packages are not needed.
As far as personalisation (desktop theme etc) goes
Ahh the joys of global communication ... in another 2 hours 40 minutes it will be the 2nd of April ... at least in the land of the long white cloud ... others will catch up in due course :-)
By default everyone gets the Ubuntu preinstalled, if they chose to run another linux (or in the case of one poor lost soul Free DSD) that is entirely up to them. There are a couple of people who have grovelled sufficiently to get Macs, but I think of the 80 of us there are 5 windows workstations. But then I work for an Open Source Development company :-)
.. more sciences in school This from the country that cuts evolution from schools?... to quote a song title from Jethro Tull.
... mutter mutter ... it was one of those protected 'CDs'. So I stuck it in my pc (Windows 2000 with Cdex) and sucked it out to ogg. And then went to the web site and sent a message off telling Ian Anderson what I thought of the copy protection scheme.
:-(
A few years ago I bought another CD in my quest to get the complete collection of Jethro Tull. Got it home and it wouldn't play in my car
'The Tull' still make great music, but they seem a bit confused of the whole where we are now. They seem to be a bunch of 'Heavy Horses' - beautiful things but outdated
Extending copyright has some advantages, but disadvantages as well - how many musicians started off signing their soul away to the record company to discover that the record company own their work. Changing record companies can mean that they can't include a recording of theirs in their greatest hits (I'm reminded of a hit of Donovan's "Catch the Wind" that had to be rerecorded for a greatest hits CD). Having stuff slide out of copyright means that those 'souless' musicians can reclaim their music. Of course those that have been able to retain the ownership of that are likely to protect what they can to the detriment of the greater public, and ultimately themselves.
Just my highly opinionated thoughts.
... I pacify people with my fists. ;-)
It would take a big shift. Too many people think in terms of who's neck is on the line, they like to think of the board of directors or the CEO or the team manager.
.. the 'great democracy of the west' has what seems to be leaders passing jobs to friends, companies providing campaign contributions to ensure that demcoracy works.
Let's not knock communism, like all political ideologies it has it's faults, and the common flaw with most systems is the abuse of power. Even democracy has it's abuses
Yes, those mod points are no good here because you made a comment here ;-)
Hmm, but isn't there a contract on the site? I agree to the terms seems to be a contract to me (IANAL etc etc). After all the website seems to be providing a service for those getting sued.
... sometimes they manage to go in the same direction.
But then I have to keep reminding myself that there is law, there is fair and right, and there is justice
Where does this leave things like EULAs?
sigh
Knowing how to use the whatever help function on the system. And how to find deeper more comprehensive information on the 'net.
... it isn't the knowledge that is the power it is the knowing how to use the knowledge that is the power.
It's like that whole knowledge is power thing
People knowing how to find the information out themselves is the first step towards becoming a computer literate person.
Run over their dog on the way out of the driveway.
I'd moderate that as +1 Funny, but it might be true.
I don't know, I've had to call a helpdesk - HP and Veritas - the English there is a distant cousin (very distant cousin, from the side of the family noone talks about) to the English I speak.