1) Every time I need to buy a computer (for self or business) I check out VA Linux Systems. But your prices are always $500-$1000 higher than even the Microsof-tax laden goods from someone like Gateway or Dell. Is this all due to volume discounts or is there something else at work?
You don't have to vote for one of the Big Two. You can literally vote for ANYBODY. Sure, a "fringe" or write-in candidate may seem like you are throwing your vote away, but you were going to do that anyway, right? So write in "Steven Wozniak" (or whoever you DO like). If enough people do this every election someone is likely to get the point--at least more so than your not voting at all. ---
Not directly. But people submit things they think Slashdot might be interested in. And what do they think Slashdot will be interested in? Things similar to what they already see here.
"or what news is being made."
Are you saying you post all the news there is? No, you post the stuff you (and we) are interested in. How do you know what stuff that is? Feedback. How do you get that feedback? Polls/moderation/rating. Whatever you call it, I want to be able to "formally" tell the editors what I think of a story/topic/article. ---
So....the reason you aren't releasing the source code is because you haven't "cleaned it up", made it portable and don't have time to be in tech support?
In other words, you don't have time to manage a "Cathedral Building Process". Hello! That's what open source is supposed to fix.
Just tar the main directory recursively and put a link on the main page. Pretty soon all will be well. ---
"If they want to encourage indigenous software development, their programmers need access to the most widely-used operating systems."
1) Define "widely used". Sure, Windows dominates the world numerically, but as a local phenomena Linux is just as viable. If every Chinese person were using Linux and no non-Chinese were it would still make sense. Who do Chinese developers develop for? Chinese users!
2) In any case, W2k is not "widely used" by any definition. It hasn't even shipped yet. And before there's a bunch of shouting about "migration paths", let's just cast our minds back to all the articles we've read about retraining admins and programmers for the "whole new paradigm" of W2k.
MS made a bad move in dropping a lot of backward compatibility. Now purchasers think to themselves (assuming they think at all): "Well, I could buy W2k, but if I'm going to have to relearn a bunch of stuff, why not try out this Linux thing?" ---
"It's not perfect, but until the banks get clueful, it's the best we can hope for."
Right, so let's all sit around and hope they get clueful.
How about this instead: Send them a clue. By email, by boycotts, by not buying HKS, etc.
For instance, why not send your bank something based on the following: "Hi, I am currently a customer of your bank. I am interested in online banking (especially with links to e-commerce), but as an IT professional I know that the only good security is open security. Please send me the source code/protocols/etc of your online security system so I can evaluate it against my needs. I will only be considering financial institutions that can make me feel comfortable with their security."
At the job I used to have I asked about tele-commuting. The head IT guy (who was married to an HR manager) said that one of the reasons they didn't allow it was this OSHA thing.
That was 2 years ago.
So the question is, did you HEAR about it yesterday, or did it HAPPEN yesterday. ---
"OS X will be completely open source, like the popular Linux operating system, with Quartz, Open GL and QuickTime all built in."
Items of note:
1) The third phrase ("with Quartz...") has nothing to do with the first two, so the real quote is "OS X will be completely open source, like the popular Linux operating system...".
2) "Completely" implies the whole thing, so Rob's (?) question is answered.
3) What does "open source like...Linux..." mean? GPL?
4) This entire thing is clearly smoke out of someone's ass. Why don't we wait until Apple's announcement of the anonymous CVS password before we piss our pants in excitement. ---
Axiom #1: Steve McConnell is the author of (among other things) "Code Complete" where he advocates good engineering practices for software developers. In that book he specifically debunks the myth that "real programmers stay up all night coding and eating cold pizza".
Axiom #2: The quote taken from the story says "stereotypical programmer".
Axiom #3: The full story seems to be unavailable (/. effect?).
Axiom #4: Many posts on slashdot are already using the quote as fodder both for and against the notion that "programmers are misfits". Lemma 1: Putting Axioms 1 and 2 together we can conclude that this story will be a further debunking of the "Real Programmers are Social Misfits" myth.
Lemma 2: Axiom #3 and #4 allow us to conclude that the quote is the sole source of fodder.
Conclusion: Lemma 1 and 2 show us that maybe we should read the article before responding.
Is there a "beginner's guide to video cards" anywhere on the 'net? I seriously don't understand the profusion of card types out there and I need to get something I can import/export video with. ---
The whole point of Open Source is that YOU don't need to be all that great. Take what you've done and go to l-k with a request for testers, coders, etc. They'll find/fix your errors and viola! we have a softmodem driver. ---
Slashdot Mirror
Two questions:
1) Every time I need to buy a computer (for self or business) I check out VA Linux Systems. But your prices are always $500-$1000 higher than even the Microsof-tax laden goods from someone like Gateway or Dell. Is this all due to volume discounts or is there something else at work?
2) When will VA Linux be selling laptops?
---
What do YOU think should be the foremost question in our minds? And what is the answer to it?
---
You don't have to vote for one of the Big Two. You can literally vote for ANYBODY. Sure, a "fringe" or write-in candidate may seem like you are throwing your vote away, but you were going to do that anyway, right? So write in "Steven Wozniak" (or whoever you DO like). If enough people do this every election someone is likely to get the point--at least more so than your not voting at all.
---
After all that writing, your points were:
1) Moving students to the next grade despite low scores it at odds with (one of) the stated goals of the school system.
2) Anyone who doesn't agree with all of your assertions is "in denial" (if not actively malicious), "[doesn't] care" and needs to "get used to it".
While your passion is to be praised, your reasoning is not evident enough, nor your assumptions supported enough for me to be much convinced.
---
Offtopic=1, Redundant=1, Insightful=1, Informative=1, Underrated=1
---
"Stephen Hawking on The Future"
Great! He's already been on The Simpsons.
(note for the humor-impaired: a joke)
---
I went to school in MI and these rocked. Favorite: "We know the rules euchre." Man, no kidding.
---
"but that has no bearing on what's submitted,"
Not directly. But people submit things they think Slashdot might be interested in. And what do they think Slashdot will be interested in? Things similar to what they already see here.
"or what news is being made."
Are you saying you post all the news there is? No, you post the stuff you (and we) are interested in. How do you know what stuff that is? Feedback. How do you get that feedback? Polls/moderation/rating. Whatever you call it, I want to be able to "formally" tell the editors what I think of a story/topic/article.
---
Somebody hand the man some moderation points.
---
So....the reason you aren't releasing the source code is because you haven't "cleaned it up", made it portable and don't have time to be in tech support?
In other words, you don't have time to manage a "Cathedral Building Process". Hello! That's what open source is supposed to fix.
Just tar the main directory recursively and put a link on the main page. Pretty soon all will be well.
---
"What would you use [story moderation] for?"
So the editors know how much the users like this topic. Sort of a "more articles like this" rating.
---
"If they want to encourage indigenous software development, their programmers need access to the most widely-used operating systems."
1) Define "widely used". Sure, Windows dominates the world numerically, but as a local phenomena Linux is just as viable. If every Chinese person were using Linux and no non-Chinese were it would still make sense. Who do Chinese developers develop for? Chinese users!
2) In any case, W2k is not "widely used" by any definition. It hasn't even shipped yet. And before there's a bunch of shouting about "migration paths", let's just cast our minds back to all the articles we've read about retraining admins and programmers for the "whole new paradigm" of W2k.
MS made a bad move in dropping a lot of backward compatibility. Now purchasers think to themselves (assuming they think at all): "Well, I could buy W2k, but if I'm going to have to relearn a bunch of stuff, why not try out this Linux thing?"
---
I'm considering getting an Mac laptop, but only if it will run Linux (I hate MacOS). Does anyone know if LinuxPPC fully supports this?
Why a Mac laptop? Simple: Cost, Power, "Standard-ized" hardware.
---
Are those little colored lights in the toolbar color reactance indicators? If so, Linux GUI people better get on the stick...
---
Apparently some Llamas got together and decided to form an Upper Andean hackers group....
---
"It's not perfect, but until the banks get clueful, it's the best we can hope for."
Right, so let's all sit around and hope they get clueful.
How about this instead: Send them a clue. By email, by boycotts, by not buying HKS, etc.
For instance, why not send your bank something based on the following: "Hi, I am currently a customer of your bank. I am interested in online banking (especially with links to e-commerce), but as an IT professional I know that the only good security is open security. Please send me the source code/protocols/etc of your online security system so I can evaluate it against my needs. I will only be considering financial institutions that can make me feel comfortable with their security."
---
At the job I used to have I asked about tele-commuting. The head IT guy (who was married to an HR manager) said that one of the reasons they didn't allow it was this OSHA thing.
That was 2 years ago.
So the question is, did you HEAR about it yesterday, or did it HAPPEN yesterday.
---
I wish I could setup a quick betting counter electronically because I'd haul in the dough on the following bet:
"We will hear a great deal about how Apple is 'Open Sourcing' OS X, but we will never see any code"
---
"OS X will be completely open source, like the popular Linux operating system, with Quartz, Open GL and QuickTime all built in."
Items of note:
1) The third phrase ("with Quartz...") has nothing to do with the first two, so the real quote is "OS X will be completely open source, like the popular Linux operating system...".
2) "Completely" implies the whole thing, so Rob's (?) question is answered.
3) What does "open source like...Linux..." mean? GPL?
4) This entire thing is clearly smoke out of someone's ass. Why don't we wait until Apple's announcement of the anonymous CVS password before we piss our pants in excitement.
---
Axiom #1: Steve McConnell is the author of (among other things) "Code Complete" where he advocates good engineering practices for software developers. In that book he specifically debunks the myth that "real programmers stay up all night coding and eating cold pizza".
Axiom #2: The quote taken from the story says "stereotypical programmer".
Axiom #3: The full story seems to be unavailable (/. effect?).
Axiom #4: Many posts on slashdot are already using the quote as fodder both for and against the notion that "programmers are misfits". Lemma 1: Putting Axioms 1 and 2 together we can conclude that this story will be a further debunking of the "Real Programmers are Social Misfits" myth.
Lemma 2: Axiom #3 and #4 allow us to conclude that the quote is the sole source of fodder.
Conclusion: Lemma 1 and 2 show us that maybe we should read the article before responding.
---
Is there a "beginner's guide to video cards" anywhere on the 'net? I seriously don't understand the profusion of card types out there and I need to get something I can import/export video with.
---
....The Curse of the Amiga(tm)?
---
"l-k" is shorthand for "linux-kernel", meaning "the linux-kernel" mailing list.
---
The whole point of Open Source is that YOU don't need to be all that great. Take what you've done and go to l-k with a request for testers, coders, etc. They'll find/fix your errors and viola! we have a softmodem driver.
---
Hey, I want to eventually USE 2.4, let's don't go crazy....
Each of your 2.3 wishlist items would probably push 2.4 out an additional 1-2 months. That's No Good.
---