I think it is okay for a company to change their mind on their business practices if they want. That is the way the world works, things change.
The problem that I see is, once I give my info to a company (such as Yahoo) because I agree with their privacy policy, if they change their privacy policy into something I don't like, I can't un-give them my info. Yes, I can probably remove it from their web form, but I really doubt that they don't have it on tape somewhere. Once you break the egg, you can't put it back together. Once a company gets your info, they have it. I find it hard to believe that if they are willing to change their policy and start spamming or selling info, they are trustworthy enough to only spam or sell info based on stuff the got after they change the policy. Maybe I am too cynical.
I guess the solution to this is to not give it out in the first place. You live and learn.
The kernel is a monolithic kernel made from many modules.
Using monolithic, it means that it is a single entity, not easily separated into modules. This view of Linux is pre-v2.0 (when kernal modules were introduced? which version was that?). Before this, you had to have the source code for the entire kernal and then recompile the entire kernal, then re-install the entire kernal. This is monolithic.
After v2.0 (or whenever linux introduced kernal modules), the kernal is now neither modular or monolithic: it has a central core (that in order to change, you change/compile/install the entire thing) surrounded by modules that you can insert and remove with considerable ease. Thus it is mostly modular, but only up to a point.
That may be true, but it still could be argued that a consumer version would do the damage they say it would. The version for tv boxes is a closed/controled system that consumers don't mess with, so you could say that it wouldn't generate the support calls.
That is, if you buy the argument at all, which I think is poppycock. In windows since 95 (I can't remember about 3.1) you can remove certain parts of windows. Don't want minesweeper, disable it. It acutally takes it off your system, not just removes the icon from the start menu. I think it has been well proven that you can do the same for IE, or the CD writer software with XP, or Windows media player.
I don't think many people care what the name itself means. I mean, who really knows what the word "Dell" is supposed to mean. It is just a label that people affix to companies.
Of course, if it means something bad, that is different matter altogether. (I would name my company "Piece of Crap Software";-)
very good point, that is why the Gnome usability reports are so important. Developers need this type of insight. As a consumer, however, I would rather listen to someone that is more in-line with my abilities--I don't want to base my buying descisions on someone that can't program his VCR, telling me that something is too complex.
Also, posting a review of a product from a clueless user on a techie site like this one may be misguided. That is why I like "review roundup" type of articles, shows a more well-rounded view.
Being able to sync with Outlook is still very important. While I don't choose to use it, that is what I use are work. And where are most of my appointments? At work.
I would still like to see a review from a technical magazine/journal/website that I trust. Somewhere that I am comfortable with the clue-level of the reviewer. I'm not saying that he doesn't know what he's talking about, but I usually don't see the most knowledgeable computer/electronics info in the newspaper. The WSJ may be different, but I don't read it, so I must paint with a wide brush.
My first thought is "why would anyone use this browser and subject themselves to this"?
But then, I remember the comet cursor scandal*. I'm sure they will package this into a really neat sounding program that will do everything you need, plus other things that you don't know about.
* For those that don't remember, Comet Cursor was this cursor customization that you could download and make your cursor look like anything you want, even an animated something. Pretty neat, except that the software transmitted all your mouse movements and click to their company, so they know where you clicked (becasue it was a browser plug-in) and where you went. The product was wildly popular for a while. I guess some will do anything for a little bit of snazzy-ness.
What really sucks is when you maintain about 300 boxes that all are the same (think of a web server farm, in my case). They will expire at the same time, and you get 300 messages (maybe every 10 minutes like ssl certs do). Then, you have to upgrade all 300 within some abritrary time.
Of course, you probably have already upgraded to get security updates (unless you use IIS;0), so this is purely hypothetical.
With traditional "closed" software, you can't see or understand the code for any amount of money. (sometimes you can, but those are exceptions)
With "free" software, you are "free" to understand the source as well as you can/want to. So if it isn't worth it to you, don't. If it is, you have the option. With a "closed" system (like M$ code), all you have to go on is a sales pitch on how great it is, with an "open" system, you can find out for yourself, if you want.
Also, you still have to hire consultants on closed systems to fix most of your problems, but they are more limited as to what they can really do for you. With a typical commertial software package (M$), they aren't going to help you with problems with the software (for free), unless they actually have a bug in the software (if you are lucky). If you are having problems with integration (most problems a company runs into) or something like that, guess what, you hire a consultant.
Don't believe the hype.
Also, if nobody knows Linux, either hire someone, retain an integration company (small local consulting shops do this is large cities), or maybe Linux isn't for you.
From what I have heard, it isn't so much spammers as scammers. They are shutting down the illegal scams. If you have a real business, but use spam to advertise your product, I haven't read anything to indicate that they are being targeted.
I didn't really like this review because the number of variables weren't reduce sufficently. He compares the older P4s with DDR SDRAM to the New P4 with RDRAM.
I still don't really know how the new and old P4s compare. For all I know, it might be the memory difference.
I understand that you probably can't get the new P4s with DDR SDRAM, but he should have used RDRAM on the old ones to compare, not DDR SDRAM. Both would have been fine, so you can compare those as well.
This is a pretty good article, but one thing really caught my eye:
About me: Let's get this out of the way up-front: I'm a pirate. Two years ago I ripped my 270 CDs to MP3 and pawned them to get a bigger hard drive. With my Cambridge SoundWorks speakers, SoundBlaster Live and MusicMatch Jukebox, my computer surpassed my stereo's phatness of sound. Bye bye boombox; no more physical media. P2P file-sharing (new at the time) made the analog-digital conversion that much sweeter.
I now have about 200 Gigs of digital content with components that wirelessly send audio and video (divx) out to my surround system and TV. I love my digital media. For me and many others, there's no turning back.
So he says he's "a pirate", but all he says is that he ripped his CDs for personal use. I don't see anywhere that he runs a FTP server to "share" the music or has uploaded to napster in the past, or anything that would take that music collection beyond personal use.
He does say: P2P file-sharing (new at the time) made the analog-digital conversion that much sweeter. But it isn't clear if he used P2P to get music that he didn't own, his main point is that he has MP3'ed (my word) his music collection. Perhaps he downloaded some of the music he had on CD via P2P, that is a grey area, but not hard-core piracy.
This seems to me that he has bought into the FUD that the music labels are spreading: (rip, mix, burn) == (music piracy). And that is simply not true. (or at least not proven/held up in a court of law)
They used to have IDE ports on them a long time ago, they have game ports. This isn't really that much different.
It may not make a whole lot of sense, but back when 4 IDE channels were rare (or expensive) on a motherboard, it was a nice way to hook up your first CD-ROM.
daemons? what are those. I don't think they exist on windows. (;-)
On windows, they are "services". They give you exciting service. Way better than those unix daemons. They only talk to you in your head and tell you to burn things. Or at least, that's what they do to me. Maybe I'll post an "Ask Slashdot" to get further insight. Oh, maybe not, the voice in my head says that it will get rejected.
Slashdot Mirror
I think it is okay for a company to change their mind on their business practices if they want. That is the way the world works, things change.
The problem that I see is, once I give my info to a company (such as Yahoo) because I agree with their privacy policy, if they change their privacy policy into something I don't like, I can't un-give them my info. Yes, I can probably remove it from their web form, but I really doubt that they don't have it on tape somewhere. Once you break the egg, you can't put it back together. Once a company gets your info, they have it. I find it hard to believe that if they are willing to change their policy and start spamming or selling info, they are trustworthy enough to only spam or sell info based on stuff the got after they change the policy. Maybe I am too cynical.
I guess the solution to this is to not give it out in the first place. You live and learn.
The kernel is a monolithic kernel made from many modules.
Using monolithic, it means that it is a single entity, not easily separated into modules. This view of Linux is pre-v2.0 (when kernal modules were introduced? which version was that?). Before this, you had to have the source code for the entire kernal and then recompile the entire kernal, then re-install the entire kernal. This is monolithic.
After v2.0 (or whenever linux introduced kernal modules), the kernal is now neither modular or monolithic: it has a central core (that in order to change, you change/compile/install the entire thing) surrounded by modules that you can insert and remove with considerable ease. Thus it is mostly modular, but only up to a point.
That may be true, but it still could be argued that a consumer version would do the damage they say it would. The version for tv boxes is a closed/controled system that consumers don't mess with, so you could say that it wouldn't generate the support calls.
That is, if you buy the argument at all, which I think is poppycock. In windows since 95 (I can't remember about 3.1) you can remove certain parts of windows. Don't want minesweeper, disable it. It acutally takes it off your system, not just removes the icon from the start menu. I think it has been well proven that you can do the same for IE, or the CD writer software with XP, or Windows media player.
I do, however think that they need to keep windows messenger from being removable (in XP), I mean, that improves connectivity and system performance, right? not!
(even if they are just trying to make a profit from it)
I think it is very difficult to see what someone's motives are. It is even worse when the only way to penalize someone is monetarily.
Until someone does this successfully, spam will continue.
I just wonder what they might do with the money....
I don't think many people care what the name itself means. I mean, who really knows what the word "Dell" is supposed to mean. It is just a label that people affix to companies.
;-)
Of course, if it means something bad, that is different matter altogether. (I would name my company "Piece of Crap Software"
but not the majority, thus voting with your wallet won't work, and it will be too late.
This is too big of a deal to just say I won't buy it. The ramifications are too far reaching.
Just IMHO.
The site is slashdotted. Too bad it is hosted on Linux. I need to find "thewayout"
We used to do the same thing with x-tank. Damn I miss that game.
Ah, the good 'ole days.
very good point, that is why the Gnome usability reports are so important. Developers need this type of insight. As a consumer, however, I would rather listen to someone that is more in-line with my abilities--I don't want to base my buying descisions on someone that can't program his VCR, telling me that something is too complex.
Also, posting a review of a product from a clueless user on a techie site like this one may be misguided. That is why I like "review roundup" type of articles, shows a more well-rounded view.
Being able to sync with Outlook is still very important. While I don't choose to use it, that is what I use are work. And where are most of my appointments? At work.
I would still like to see a review from a technical magazine/journal/website that I trust. Somewhere that I am comfortable with the clue-level of the reviewer. I'm not saying that he doesn't know what he's talking about, but I usually don't see the most knowledgeable computer/electronics info in the newspaper. The WSJ may be different, but I don't read it, so I must paint with a wide brush.
My first thought is "why would anyone use this browser and subject themselves to this"?
But then, I remember the comet cursor scandal*. I'm sure they will package this into a really neat sounding program that will do everything you need, plus other things that you don't know about.
* For those that don't remember, Comet Cursor was this cursor customization that you could download and make your cursor look like anything you want, even an animated something. Pretty neat, except that the software transmitted all your mouse movements and click to their company, so they know where you clicked (becasue it was a browser plug-in) and where you went. The product was wildly popular for a while. I guess some will do anything for a little bit of snazzy-ness.
Hate it.
;0), so this is purely hypothetical.
What really sucks is when you maintain about 300 boxes that all are the same (think of a web server farm, in my case). They will expire at the same time, and you get 300 messages (maybe every 10 minutes like ssl certs do). Then, you have to upgrade all 300 within some abritrary time.
Of course, you probably have already upgraded to get security updates (unless you use IIS
Perhaps we should have marked this as "funny"?
RMS is talking about "liberty", not "cheap".
With traditional "closed" software, you can't see or understand the code for any amount of money. (sometimes you can, but those are exceptions)
With "free" software, you are "free" to understand the source as well as you can/want to. So if it isn't worth it to you, don't. If it is, you have the option. With a "closed" system (like M$ code), all you have to go on is a sales pitch on how great it is, with an "open" system, you can find out for yourself, if you want.
Also, you still have to hire consultants on closed systems to fix most of your problems, but they are more limited as to what they can really do for you. With a typical commertial software package (M$), they aren't going to help you with problems with the software (for free), unless they actually have a bug in the software (if you are lucky). If you are having problems with integration (most problems a company runs into) or something like that, guess what, you hire a consultant.
Don't believe the hype.
Also, if nobody knows Linux, either hire someone, retain an integration company (small local consulting shops do this is large cities), or maybe Linux isn't for you.
I don't see how I can play Quake III with pen and mouse.
From what I have heard, it isn't so much spammers as scammers. They are shutting down the illegal scams. If you have a real business, but use spam to advertise your product, I haven't read anything to indicate that they are being targeted.
I didn't really like this review because the number of variables weren't reduce sufficently. He compares the older P4s with DDR SDRAM to the New P4 with RDRAM.
I still don't really know how the new and old P4s compare. For all I know, it might be the memory difference.
I understand that you probably can't get the new P4s with DDR SDRAM, but he should have used RDRAM on the old ones to compare, not DDR SDRAM. Both would have been fine, so you can compare those as well.
Oh, I thought it said SlashXB. Nevermind.
Windows 2000? but I thought that XP pro was so good, everone should use it. So on a new server, they thought that windows 2000 was better than XP.
So he says he's "a pirate", but all he says is that he ripped his CDs for personal use. I don't see anywhere that he runs a FTP server to "share" the music or has uploaded to napster in the past, or anything that would take that music collection beyond personal use.
He does say: P2P file-sharing (new at the time) made the analog-digital conversion that much sweeter. But it isn't clear if he used P2P to get music that he didn't own, his main point is that he has MP3'ed (my word) his music collection. Perhaps he downloaded some of the music he had on CD via P2P, that is a grey area, but not hard-core piracy.
This seems to me that he has bought into the FUD that the music labels are spreading: (rip, mix, burn) == (music piracy). And that is simply not true. (or at least not proven/held up in a court of law)
Why ask why? Why not? They just do.
They used to have IDE ports on them a long time ago, they have game ports. This isn't really that much different.
It may not make a whole lot of sense, but back when 4 IDE channels were rare (or expensive) on a motherboard, it was a nice way to hook up your first CD-ROM.
Yes, that has always seemed very strange to me, but it was always nice.
;-)
But you never know, they now have external firewire CD-ROMs now. It's like going full circle.
The SoundBlaster Audigy series have firewire ports. They look pretty sweet all-around.
Would you rather be served by Windows services or by a hoard of Daemons? ;)
I would rather be serviced by a horad of demons than windows services.
daemons? what are those. I don't think they exist on windows. (;-)
On windows, they are "services". They give you exciting service. Way better than those unix daemons. They only talk to you in your head and tell you to burn things. Or at least, that's what they do to me. Maybe I'll post an "Ask Slashdot" to get further insight. Oh, maybe not, the voice in my head says that it will get rejected.
So you are willing to order a $40 network adapter, but you don't want to go out and buy a few CDRs to test the burning function?
hmph.