I doubt Sun would sell Java until they're ready to sell the company. Java has been a loss leader for them that has made the name "Sun Microsystems" nearly a household brand. Right now Sun is trying to reinvent itself because of the lack of vision in the marketplace.
Yes, Intel x86 can handle many of the tasks that only Unix machines used to be able to handle. I'd just tend to debate whether they're capable of doing these tasks as cost effectively, as reliably, and as efficiently.
Sir, your ignorance is astounding. A simple search on Google would have given you a good familiarity with one of the most popular web development technologies in existence.
If that was a poor attempt at a joke, then I apologize. But please be aware that it neither is funny, nor does it make you appear particularly intelligent.
Java has several design decisions that are nods to reality. For example, many have complained that Java has primitives instead of doing everything via objects. This was a nod toward the realities of performance issues in the marketplace. Similarly, Java is designed to be easily compiled to native code at runtime for performance. There are now compilers for Python, but it used to be an interpreted language.
C++ has those dangerous pointers that invariably cause memory leaks. Also, C++ does not allow for plugin designs to be easily developed. If we were using C++, it is doubtful that Servlets, JSP pages, SPI plugins, and other dynamic code modules would exist.
Above all, Java had one of the most powerful core libraries ever seen in any language before it. Nearly all previous languages forced the programmer to write common functionality himself, jump through a variety of hoops to link in shared libraries, or simply hid the underlying implementations of data structures and functionality. The later was particularly annoying since language changes were needed for new functionality (*cough*Visual Basic*cough*).
Hopefully that at least scratches the surface for you.:-)
Thank you for making my point for me, sir. Java is not elegent from a purly compsci perspective. However, it meets the real needs of the marketplace, which is a very different beast from the ivory towers of acedemia.
FWIW, I don't think you deserve the -1 Flamebait. You were simply stating your opinion. One which I predicted was coming about 3000 miles away.:-)
Interestingly enough, the latest versions of Java come with a new Look and Feel for Swing. The GTK+ look and feel hooks into GTK+, and makes your Swing application look and behave just like all your other GTK apps; even if you change your skin! Thus one might argue that Java is a perfectly acceptable GTK+ development language.:-)
I think that many parties have been using the recent news from Sun as an excuse to attempt to drive wedges in the developer community. Many academics hate Java for it being a successful, but very real world language. They would much rather see a more "elegant" language become popular, all while ignoring the realities of development that Java addresses.
I've been writing reviews of various distros in my journal. I hope to have my Mandrake review up in a day or two. So far, both Fedora and Mandrake have been disappointing. I do have high hopes for SUSE, however. The Java Desktop System demo CD I have is based on SUSE. None of the problems I regularly have with other distros have shown up with that CD. Here's hoping.:-)
It *is* problematic when you can't access your NTFS drive. The other OSes appear to distribute only GPLed software on disk, but then allow upgrades to non-GPL stuff via their installation manager. (e.g. NVidia driver is as simple as installing an update package in YaST)
Check my journal for the start of my "Linux Evaluation" series. I started this after someone asked me to publish the results of my personal Linux testing.
Armadillo is still in the early testing phase of the engine.
Who told you that? Armadillo is in advanced stages of engine testing. The primary kink they're trying to work out is getting the engine to consistently light without warmup. They were actually going to try a simple flight of the full craft a few days ago, but a piece of equipment didn't arrive in time.
The thing that has me worried most is another poster's mentioning of their decision to ditch the nose cone approach. Last I knew, they were going to handle the groud impact by smashing a collapsable nose cone. Their decision to switch to a powered landing makes their craft much more complex.
I already solved that problem. If they *really* want a top billing actress (I really wish they wouldn't), then they can just throw in a few more well known actors and actresses.
If they stick even close to the storyline laid out by Nintendo
Hollywood? Stick to a storyline? As if. Don't worry, I'm sure they'll "reimagine" it for us.
Samus was orphaned after a space pirate attack on her colony world, and taken in by the Chozo soon after, who gave her the power suit, an infusion of Chozo blood, and all that fun stuff.
Ok, so we see a bunch of teens on the ship. We have no idea who it's going to be. I just suggested training because it seemed obvious. But any sort of flashback done in such a way as to confuse you would be fine.
Wouldn't it be cool if we get to watch flashbacks to training? In these flashbacks, you see several men and women and have no idea which one is going to *be* the metroid warrior. They could make it look like it's going to be some guy, then at the end of the movie they reveal that it's the chick you least expected it to be!
It would be even better if they kept her gender a secret until later in the movie. Hardcore video game enthusists would know the secret, but it would be a surprise for everyone else. Even better would be to throw out some indirection to make the gamers thing that they changed her to a he for the movie.:-D
As I said, this violates the KISS principle. Adding a burner to the machine makes it *extremely* complex. It's much simpler and cheaper to grab an existing machine, fill it with pressed CDs, and be done with it. The machine is less likely to have difficulties (difficulties means $$$ out of your pocket) and it would be cheap enough for you or I to go into business with it.
In case there's any question on the versatility of those snack machines, I once saw one in an auto store filled with small parts and tools. I found it a bit odd at the time, but I couldn't help but like the idea.
Let the employers make their mistakes. You're going to get laid off anyway, so you might as well use the time to start looking for a new job instead of whining about having to train your replacement. Unless you're extremely well organized, it's not like your replacement is going to get much out of your training.
It seems to me that the only major step remaining is to fill the tanks to the top an let 'er rip.
You're making a key assumption here: That the tanks, engines, and airframe are all proven for an 80+ kilometer ascent and 100 km descent. So far these tests are trying to determine whether that assumption is correct or not. Applying Murphy's Law, they'll probably need to build a new version of the craft before they'll be able to fly the craft.
I thought Armadillo was still stuck in the "testing the motors" phase.
Do they have a spacecraft at all?
Spoken like someone who hasn't been paying attention. Right now, they're testing the *big motors*. i.e. The one's that are going on the full sized craft. And they're testing them both bolted to the ground, and with captive tests of the craft. Once they get some of the engine kinks worked out and finally work out a control board they can rely on, they'll be ready to fly. Go check out the videos on their site. You can see the big armadillo craft in some of them.
Slashdot Mirror
I doubt Sun would sell Java until they're ready to sell the company. Java has been a loss leader for them that has made the name "Sun Microsystems" nearly a household brand. Right now Sun is trying to reinvent itself because of the lack of vision in the marketplace.
Yes, Intel x86 can handle many of the tasks that only Unix machines used to be able to handle. I'd just tend to debate whether they're capable of doing these tasks as cost effectively, as reliably, and as efficiently.
Sir, your ignorance is astounding. A simple search on Google would have given you a good familiarity with one of the most popular web development technologies in existence.
If that was a poor attempt at a joke, then I apologize. But please be aware that it neither is funny, nor does it make you appear particularly intelligent.
Java has several design decisions that are nods to reality. For example, many have complained that Java has primitives instead of doing everything via objects. This was a nod toward the realities of performance issues in the marketplace. Similarly, Java is designed to be easily compiled to native code at runtime for performance. There are now compilers for Python, but it used to be an interpreted language.
:-)
C++ has those dangerous pointers that invariably cause memory leaks. Also, C++ does not allow for plugin designs to be easily developed. If we were using C++, it is doubtful that Servlets, JSP pages, SPI plugins, and other dynamic code modules would exist.
Above all, Java had one of the most powerful core libraries ever seen in any language before it. Nearly all previous languages forced the programmer to write common functionality himself, jump through a variety of hoops to link in shared libraries, or simply hid the underlying implementations of data structures and functionality. The later was particularly annoying since language changes were needed for new functionality (*cough*Visual Basic*cough*).
Hopefully that at least scratches the surface for you.
Thank you for making my point for me, sir. Java is not elegent from a purly compsci perspective. However, it meets the real needs of the marketplace, which is a very different beast from the ivory towers of acedemia.
:-)
FWIW, I don't think you deserve the -1 Flamebait. You were simply stating your opinion. One which I predicted was coming about 3000 miles away.
I just *wish* I had been able to test 4.2.
Interestingly enough, the latest versions of Java come with a new Look and Feel for Swing. The GTK+ look and feel hooks into GTK+, and makes your Swing application look and behave just like all your other GTK apps; even if you change your skin! Thus one might argue that Java is a perfectly acceptable GTK+ development language. :-)
I think that many parties have been using the recent news from Sun as an excuse to attempt to drive wedges in the developer community. Many academics hate Java for it being a successful, but very real world language. They would much rather see a more "elegant" language become popular, all while ignoring the realities of development that Java addresses.
*sigh* Apparently the mods have no sense of humor today.
I'm glad that they like "OS" software, because my latest attempt at installing some OS software (pun intended), didn't go over very well.
I've been writing reviews of various distros in my journal. I hope to have my Mandrake review up in a day or two. So far, both Fedora and Mandrake have been disappointing. I do have high hopes for SUSE, however. The Java Desktop System demo CD I have is based on SUSE. None of the problems I regularly have with other distros have shown up with that CD. Here's hoping. :-)
It *is* problematic when you can't access your NTFS drive. The other OSes appear to distribute only GPLed software on disk, but then allow upgrades to non-GPL stuff via their installation manager. (e.g. NVidia driver is as simple as installing an update package in YaST)
Read my journal for the full scoop. Couple of points:
1. The mouse problem has been there since RedHat 8, possibly earlier.
2. NTFS support is not available for Core 2.
Check my journal for the start of my "Linux Evaluation" series. I started this after someone asked me to publish the results of my personal Linux testing.
Here's the link
Armadillo is still in the early testing phase of the engine.
Who told you that? Armadillo is in advanced stages of engine testing. The primary kink they're trying to work out is getting the engine to consistently light without warmup. They were actually going to try a simple flight of the full craft a few days ago, but a piece of equipment didn't arrive in time.
The thing that has me worried most is another poster's mentioning of their decision to ditch the nose cone approach. Last I knew, they were going to handle the groud impact by smashing a collapsable nose cone. Their decision to switch to a powered landing makes their craft much more complex.
Here's my solution.
I already solved that problem. If they *really* want a top billing actress (I really wish they wouldn't), then they can just throw in a few more well known actors and actresses.
If they stick even close to the storyline laid out by Nintendo
Hollywood? Stick to a storyline? As if. Don't worry, I'm sure they'll "reimagine" it for us.
Samus was orphaned after a space pirate attack on her colony world, and taken in by the Chozo soon after, who gave her the power suit, an infusion of Chozo blood, and all that fun stuff.
Ok, so we see a bunch of teens on the ship. We have no idea who it's going to be. I just suggested training because it seemed obvious. But any sort of flashback done in such a way as to confuse you would be fine.
Fine with me. Most of the named actresses are butt ugly. I'd rather have another Carrie Fisher, Marina Sirtis, or Carrie Ann Moss.
Wouldn't it be cool if we get to watch flashbacks to training? In these flashbacks, you see several men and women and have no idea which one is going to *be* the metroid warrior. They could make it look like it's going to be some guy, then at the end of the movie they reveal that it's the chick you least expected it to be!
It would be even better if they kept her gender a secret until later in the movie. Hardcore video game enthusists would know the secret, but it would be a surprise for everyone else. Even better would be to throw out some indirection to make the gamers thing that they changed her to a he for the movie. :-D
As I said, this violates the KISS principle. Adding a burner to the machine makes it *extremely* complex. It's much simpler and cheaper to grab an existing machine, fill it with pressed CDs, and be done with it. The machine is less likely to have difficulties (difficulties means $$$ out of your pocket) and it would be cheap enough for you or I to go into business with it.
In case there's any question on the versatility of those snack machines, I once saw one in an auto store filled with small parts and tools. I found it a bit odd at the time, but I couldn't help but like the idea.
Let the employers make their mistakes. You're going to get laid off anyway, so you might as well use the time to start looking for a new job instead of whining about having to train your replacement. Unless you're extremely well organized, it's not like your replacement is going to get much out of your training.
It seems to me that the only major step remaining is to fill the tanks to the top an let 'er rip.
You're making a key assumption here: That the tanks, engines, and airframe are all proven for an 80+ kilometer ascent and 100 km descent. So far these tests are trying to determine whether that assumption is correct or not. Applying Murphy's Law, they'll probably need to build a new version of the craft before they'll be able to fly the craft.
Which is exactly why we vending machines will only work for software that's $5 or less.
I thought Armadillo was still stuck in the "testing the motors" phase.
Do they have a spacecraft at all?
Spoken like someone who hasn't been paying attention. Right now, they're testing the *big motors*. i.e. The one's that are going on the full sized craft. And they're testing them both bolted to the ground, and with captive tests of the craft. Once they get some of the engine kinks worked out and finally work out a control board they can rely on, they'll be ready to fly. Go check out the videos on their site. You can see the big armadillo craft in some of them.