Actually a car that can jump would be pretty useful, in off-road conditions. Depending on how high it can leap, you could go over fences and ditches. It immediately reminded me of the weather-chasing truck in Bruce Sterling's book Heavy Weather.
Extending this idea, I'd love to see technology realized like what is found in the books by William Gibson; where people use video goggles to jack in to the net. I wonder if the satellite will provide data capabilities, allowing someone to access the internet with their phone? Using a satellite, you'd be more likely to find coverage anywhere, as opposed to hobbyists putting up Wi-Fi antennas wherever they can.
It's easy to sit on here and say to each other 'Linux is great, for so many reasons', and pat ourselves on the back for using it, but much of the world still isn't very aware of what Linux is. I talked to someone the other day who had no idea there was an alternative to Windows - and this was an accomplished university student.
I've been thinking of attacking my city with a strategically placed advertising campaign, using posters on transit and in high-traffic areas, but still haven't come up with what I'd most like to say on a poster. Anyone know of any effort to make large posters touting Linux, that someone could buy a handful of? The typical home computer user, who isn't a geek and just uses their computer for email and web, is an excellent candidate for an easy-to-install distro that 'just works', and doesn't expose them to virii, but this same person wouldn't be the type to stay on top of software news like you'd hear on/. or CNN tech.
I don't understand why this is suddenly a surprise to the general iPod user base. When I researched mp3 players at the beginning of this year, I automatically shunned models like the iPod and Nomad Zen, simply because I knew that the battery wasn't replaceable. I settled on my Archos recorder, and use my wonderful rechargeable Ni-MH. Should the batteries stop charging, I can easily replace them.
Before I had this unit, I used a MiniDisc, which took a replaceable, rechargeable Li-Ion gumstick battery. So I was surprised when mp3 players started coming out and none used this type of battery. It's smaller than AA's, and wouldn't add much to the size of a case. My minidisc lasted 5 years, largely in part because I could buy new batteries for it. I have no sympathy for people who are just learning now that their fancy iPod is disposable.
I'd guesstimate 60% of the computers at my work still run Win95. The reason is all our diagnostic tools run in DOS. The only reason we need Win95 is for compatibility with MSOffice programs, and email/browser usage. Our shipping computers don't even have windows installed. If the company were forced to upgrade to a newer version of Windows, it would probably bankrupt us.
I guess a better term is 'speculative frenzy'. People were buying stock on credit, and expecting the stock to earn enough to cover the money they owed. Economists grew worried that the trend of increasing stock prices would come to an end, and this 'rumour' caused everyone to panic, selling their shares all at the same time, and devaluing the market.
My point was that regular uninformed people make the market swing crazily either way, and the rest of the nation's economy is at their mercy.
You've just described the entire stock market. A group of your average foolish humans can bring the economy of a nation to it's knees based on a rumor (see 1929). Which means those same stupid humans can inflate the value of a company beyond it's worth. (see dot.com era)
Has anyone noticed the similarities between this case and Rambus trying to make money on something they decided later they owned? Now we know where all those Rambus strategists went.
I wait gleefully for my chance to laugh at SCO as I did with Rambus.
I once read a newspaper article that summed up these grey area activities quite nicely with the phrase "Piracy is a killer app" that has spurred the consumer's desire for hardware, including broadband. The content creators hate it, but it's the main reason hardware manufacturers are still turning a profit.
That's something that mildly annoys me too.:) I can only assume that it isn't a top priority for developers to speed up the boot sequence. While reading THG's article, you have to remember that the guy has a vested interest in continuing 'gee-whiz' technology, whether it's good for the consumer market or not. However, he's right about the open source community needing to get more organized. Slashdot needs to take it's vast readership and Use That Power For Good. A central rating system for software, or what can and can't be done with individual pieces of hardware on Linux, would help focus development on weak spots, and help new users find what's needed to make their usage of Linux more enjoyable.
I've always thought that a creed of Linux was to do more with less. It's the continual bloat added to Windows that drives the need for new hardware. Linux development strives for more efficiency. The only way Linux could spur sales of high-end hardware in the consumer market would be if they could finally get a stable gaming base. The lack of a killer app for the masses for so long is why most people are content with a $200 PC. They don't need anything better, because that $200 buys a great system. I think the decline in new tech development will continue, now that most people in North America have a computer, or can afford a cheap one easily. Perhaps hardware manufacturers will concentrate more on useful features and cross-platform compatibility in the future, instead of making stuff faster just for the sake of making it faster.
I don't work in the software side of things (I repair hardware in bank machines), but the concerns most of you bring up seem to suggest that an organized union would benefit IT workers. Has anyone ever tried forming one in a tech company? If Macdonald's employees can make it happen (happened to one in BC) surely the educated can do it.
Slashdot Mirror
Actually a car that can jump would be pretty useful, in off-road conditions. Depending on how high it can leap, you could go over fences and ditches. It immediately reminded me of the weather-chasing truck in Bruce Sterling's book Heavy Weather.
Extending this idea, I'd love to see technology realized like what is found in the books by William Gibson; where people use video goggles to jack in to the net. I wonder if the satellite will provide data capabilities, allowing someone to access the internet with their phone? Using a satellite, you'd be more likely to find coverage anywhere, as opposed to hobbyists putting up Wi-Fi antennas wherever they can.
I've been thinking of attacking my city with a strategically placed advertising campaign, using posters on transit and in high-traffic areas, but still haven't come up with what I'd most like to say on a poster. Anyone know of any effort to make large posters touting Linux, that someone could buy a handful of? The typical home computer user, who isn't a geek and just uses their computer for email and web, is an excellent candidate for an easy-to-install distro that 'just works', and doesn't expose them to virii, but this same person wouldn't be the type to stay on top of software news like you'd hear on /. or CNN tech.
Before I had this unit, I used a MiniDisc, which took a replaceable, rechargeable Li-Ion gumstick battery. So I was surprised when mp3 players started coming out and none used this type of battery. It's smaller than AA's, and wouldn't add much to the size of a case. My minidisc lasted 5 years, largely in part because I could buy new batteries for it. I have no sympathy for people who are just learning now that their fancy iPod is disposable.
I'd guesstimate 60% of the computers at my work still run Win95. The reason is all our diagnostic tools run in DOS. The only reason we need Win95 is for compatibility with MSOffice programs, and email/browser usage. Our shipping computers don't even have windows installed. If the company were forced to upgrade to a newer version of Windows, it would probably bankrupt us.
My point was that regular uninformed people make the market swing crazily either way, and the rest of the nation's economy is at their mercy.
You've just described the entire stock market. A group of your average foolish humans can bring the economy of a nation to it's knees based on a rumor (see 1929). Which means those same stupid humans can inflate the value of a company beyond it's worth. (see dot.com era)
I wait gleefully for my chance to laugh at SCO as I did with Rambus.
Dammit. I knew I should've grabbed the latest RvB eps on Monday. Now their server will be toast, and I'll probably never get them. :(
flash mob, meet slashdot. ooo look! i see your server already knows us. don't worry, we'll be gone in 15 minutes.
address book
calendar
remind you of anything?
I once read a newspaper article that summed up these grey area activities quite nicely with the phrase "Piracy is a killer app" that has spurred the consumer's desire for hardware, including broadband. The content creators hate it, but it's the main reason hardware manufacturers are still turning a profit.
That's something that mildly annoys me too. :) I can only assume that it isn't a top priority for developers to speed up the boot sequence.
While reading THG's article, you have to remember that the guy has a vested interest in continuing 'gee-whiz' technology, whether it's good for the consumer market or not. However, he's right about the open source community needing to get more organized. Slashdot needs to take it's vast readership and Use That Power For Good. A central rating system for software, or what can and can't be done with individual pieces of hardware on Linux, would help focus development on weak spots, and help new users find what's needed to make their usage of Linux more enjoyable.
I've always thought that a creed of Linux was to do more with less. It's the continual bloat added to Windows that drives the need for new hardware. Linux development strives for more efficiency. The only way Linux could spur sales of high-end hardware in the consumer market would be if they could finally get a stable gaming base. The lack of a killer app for the masses for so long is why most people are content with a $200 PC. They don't need anything better, because that $200 buys a great system.
I think the decline in new tech development will continue, now that most people in North America have a computer, or can afford a cheap one easily. Perhaps hardware manufacturers will concentrate more on useful features and cross-platform compatibility in the future, instead of making stuff faster just for the sake of making it faster.
I don't work in the software side of things (I repair hardware in bank machines), but the concerns most of you bring up seem to suggest that an organized union would benefit IT workers. Has anyone ever tried forming one in a tech company? If Macdonald's employees can make it happen (happened to one in BC) surely the educated can do it.
If they had omitted the ridiculous music in those vids, the compression could have been better. The point of that music eludes me.
i was thinking this too. talking with some american friends, it seems there are few or no video stores that rent pc games down there. how tragic.