Yes, one of the "bitter lessons" of the "big" vendors that MS ignored was that you can't create an OS that runs on a 8088 with 16KB of RAM and an audio cassette for mass storage.
Backward compatibility was a key element that made it economically feasible for consumers to upgrade their computers and thus create the economies of scale we enjoy today. Imagine what would have happened (or not happened) if Linus had to implement the Linux kernel on a PDP-11.
There are certainly downsides to backward compatibility put there are positive aspects as well.
"That is, given a set of precise requirements a sufficiently advanced computer would generate a program that met those requirements perfectly."
The problem is that you've now transferred the problem to the requirements domain, but it's still there. Creating "precise requirements" becomes the "coding".
Yes, you should eliminate the part of the process that says "insert bug".
Seriously, it's not helpful to say it's a process problem because we haven't defined a process comprehensive enough to prevent all bugs, and we never will.
People go directly to YouTube if they want to browse silly videos. If they are looking for particular videos they'll use search to find them. If that leads to YouTube, they'll go there, if not, they'll follow a link elsewhere.
If the serious people find that YouTube no longer works for them they'll just skip those links when they search for what they're looking for. Instructional or promotional videos are usually hosted in more places than just YouTube.
I'm probably older than you. I just thought it was funny that somebody used the word "diminutive" when complaining about the use of big words. As it turns out, it was meant to be funny and I missed it (thus the woosh below).
If you want a discussion free from humor or off-topic remarks you should stick to conventionally moderated forums where off-topic stuff never sees the light of day.
"Most of Mr. Gates' adoring legions among the tech punditry (including the most highly respected of the bunch) haven't even made that mental leap just yet."
Gates has the charisma of a rock. He has no adoring legions especially among tech punditry.
Smoking, drinking, and taking illegal drugs are far more harmful to society than people's weight. Let he who doesn't indulge in those harmful activities throw the first scale.
"Instead of telling little timmy to not eat that fifth cheeseburger we just let him and then tell everyone to accept him for what he is and make special accomodations for him."
What I can't figure out is how timmy can eat five cheeseburgers when he's made of straw.
Slashdot Mirror
Yes, one of the "bitter lessons" of the "big" vendors that MS ignored was that you can't create an OS that runs on a 8088 with 16KB of RAM and an audio cassette for mass storage.
Backward compatibility was a key element that made it economically feasible for consumers to upgrade their computers and thus create the economies of scale we enjoy today. Imagine what would have happened (or not happened) if Linus had to implement the Linux kernel on a PDP-11.
There are certainly downsides to backward compatibility put there are positive aspects as well.
You rarely see "moderate versions" of the claim, so he's no more guilty than proponents typically are.
All the typical user can do is describe the bad behavior. The fact that they have source code (if they downloaded it at all) doesn't help.
"That is, given a set of precise requirements a sufficiently advanced computer would generate a program that met those requirements perfectly."
The problem is that you've now transferred the problem to the requirements domain, but it's still there. Creating "precise requirements" becomes the "coding".
Yes, you should eliminate the part of the process that says "insert bug".
Seriously, it's not helpful to say it's a process problem because we haven't defined a process comprehensive enough to prevent all bugs, and we never will.
1. Accept money from MS competitors
2. Investigate MS
3. Take MS to court and win
4. MS has an epiphany
5. Accept money from MS
6. Profit!
"I don't get why people don't understand that corporations don't pay taxes."
That's why corporations never lobby against corporate tax increases .. oh wait.
People go directly to YouTube if they want to browse silly videos. If they are looking for particular videos they'll use search to find them. If that leads to YouTube, they'll go there, if not, they'll follow a link elsewhere.
If the serious people find that YouTube no longer works for them they'll just skip those links when they search for what they're looking for. Instructional or promotional videos are usually hosted in more places than just YouTube.
You don't have to put your promotional videos on YouTube to make them available on the net.
Are you talking about pirated TV and movies or junk like cell phones that can pop popcorn?
The former is available elsewhere and the latter wouldn't be missed.
I'm probably older than you. I just thought it was funny that somebody used the word "diminutive" when complaining about the use of big words. As it turns out, it was meant to be funny and I missed it (thus the woosh below).
If you want a discussion free from humor or off-topic remarks you should stick to conventionally moderated forums where off-topic stuff never sees the light of day.
For a so-called "marketing company" they sure suck at advertising. The Bing ads are the first decent ones they've produced in over a decade.
I think he's just a tin-foil hat hunter and he just bagged one.
But isn't the fact that "it takes some getting used to" contradict the statement that the "interface is easy to use?"
Never use a diminutive word when a small word will do.
"Most of Mr. Gates' adoring legions among the tech punditry (including the most highly respected of the bunch) haven't even made that mental leap just yet."
Gates has the charisma of a rock. He has no adoring legions especially among tech punditry.
Now that's a real social ill. Good luck with curing that as well.
"It is and always will be up to you and you alone to change, and that's all you can change, yourself."
Given that Kevin isn't likely to be reading Slashdot, what was your reason to post if all you care about yourself and yours?
It's hard to imagine a feature more significant for an e-reader than running X11.
Of course you don't. How could you give yourself so much credit otherwise?
Smoking, drinking, and taking illegal drugs are far more harmful to society than people's weight. Let he who doesn't indulge in those harmful activities throw the first scale.
I'm glad that you lucked out but if you keep patting yourself on the back any further you'll be trading a food addiction for self-flagellation.
"Fat models"
Only if you are interested in profiting from selling clothes to fat people.
"Instead of telling little timmy to not eat that fifth cheeseburger we just let him and then tell everyone to accept him for what he is and make special accomodations for him."
What I can't figure out is how timmy can eat five cheeseburgers when he's made of straw.
"it doesn't carry much social stigma, though it should."
I'm trying to recall what great philosopher or holy book first pointed out the necessity of stigmatizing the fat.