Managers are risk averse, so will "run the numbers" to minimize risk.
The problem with that is that risk is inherent, and the more risk you're willing to take, the better the payoff if you succeed.
I'll give you my analogy:
There's a fortified position with 100 elite troops with heavy machine guns, anti-tank cannon, a well-stocked armory, and strict discipline.
There are two ways to attack this position: Use a mechanized army, complete with air support, crack assault troops, and tanks, or use a people's army, complete with 10 regiments of 5,000 men each and crude artillery.
The mechanized army is like closed source development: it can succeed, but it must have excellent discipline, great communication and coordination, and great planning.
The people's army is like open-source development: It can succeed, but must have dogmatic determinism in the face of high risk, and be willing to use the human wave strategy, which will result in a high casualty rate.
This is essentially the story of Dien Bien Phu, where 5,000 entrenched Frecnh troops, including several battalions of Airborne French Foreign Legionnaires, with artillery and good supplies, were attacked by 50,000 Viet Minh troops led by General Giap. The french lost, despite technological superiority, marking a turning point in modern warfare and shocking western colonialists.
A similar scenario was demonstrated at the battle of Khe Sanh in i1968. This time, again, General Giap led several North Vietnamese divisions near a couple of Marine battalions. General Westmoreland, the US Commander of the American armed forces in Viet Nam, unwilling to allow another Dien Bien Phu, committed enormous ground and air forces to defend the base. The base held, but it was later surmised that Giap's plan was to divert US forces. (see the excellent wikipedia article).
All this to say that using a large number of troops to attack a problem can be very effective, but that just like US commanders are generally not willing to use a human wave attack strategy, likewise US managers are unwilling to take the kinds of risks that the populist Open Source Army is willing to take.
> Many corporate shops I've worked with avoid GPL'd code...
They can sell all they want, as long as they provide the source and the same rights to those they sold it to. If they want to keep the source code to themselves, they can't. That is the whole point of the GPL.
People have this amazing realization when they see their computer running 1 month straight with Linux and Mac: Windows was a piece of crap, and it is not normal to have to reboot more than a 1-2 times a year. By that point, they are ready to blame everything on Windows, not the PC manufacturer.
As far as games: They follow the money.
The problem with games and Linux is that if a game runs in linux, it can be trivially copied to another machine (blame the geeks) so copy protection and all that does not work at all. Running as a service also is not so hot. See valve's latest troubles.
Ultimately, the Personal Computer (PC) is not a gaming machine to most people. It's a tool to Get Shit Done (term paper, email, research, or work-for-hire), and those people are Dell's bread and butter.
I suggest that Dell is going to put together a Ubuntu-ready line of desktops and laptops, price them aggressively, and cause the Microsoft meltdown. Remember: The best way to predict the future is to invent it. (Alan Kay)
I am not saying they will be successful, but I can guarantee Michael is thinking real hard on how to make it work. By August 1st 2007 is my guess, but maybe sooner (no later than that for sure).
I will drive to your house, kill you, kill your children by strangling them with piano wire, and rape, then kill your wife...*
On a web site somewhere...
You instamagically get your own FBI Special Agent assigned to your case. Your internet connection is immediately tapped. Your name is identified, your particulars are entered in a watchlist database, and you get your own profile built by dedicated professionals. (remember that anything using the internet is a federal matter since the internet is an extrastate communication medium)
But wait, there's more! The local law enforcement professionals also get to participate. They may place you under surveillance, tap your phones (they have probable cause) and trail you around town.
Don't touch that dial! A full report of your online and offline activities may be compiled and analyzed by mental health professional(s) to make a psychological evaluation, all at no extra charge to you!
Don't like the offer yet? I'll throw in the best: A task force may be assigned to your case, and a team may try to trap you, including a free undercover agent posing as a tasty morsel for your vile pleasure. You might certainly meet all of them in person, get a free bondage session complete with regulation handcuffs and a tongue-lashing. Plus you will be housed in a sturdy facility for a time, participate in a dog and pony show, and be introduced to rather unpleasant individuals who will make your life prior to their "handling" a delightful memory.
In other words: If you can't do the Time, don't do the Crime.
What does the law have to do with all this? You'll be asking yourself the same question when you are swapped for cigarettes in the slammer.
* Please note that I am using this sentence to illustrate the point and in no event intend to do any of these things to you or anyone else, nor condone this behavior by anyone else.
It's an example of "Get Shit Done Today" mentality that, indeed, ill fits the professional corporate image. But it may just be a result of the Ray Ozzie effect.
Organized Crime in Namibia (and India for that matter methinks) would get the stuff from the government warehouse 5 days before the Alcatel engineer showed up to go set up the gear.
What I'm saying is that you can't have a conversation with an AC since you can't differentiate one ac from another. You would never be able to know whether the ac that just posted is the same person.
We The People have an active part, indeed, play an indispensable role in the constant re-shaping of our society. It is not now as it has ever been, nor will it ever again be as it is today. Only through our hard work, diligence, and high regard for one another's Honor can we hope to improve our quality of life and allow us, our children, and their children Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
Oh, and I'm not talking about the United States of America. What I just wrote goes for all men and women, regardless of race, religion, creed, or nationality.
The right to Privacy is just a subset of the greater Rights we humans claim for ourselves.
Slashdot Mirror
so that would also explain it's network affect.
same here, and the first thing I do after logging in is to launch the bash. (would it be redundant to call it the bash shell? I think so)
It's such a pain.
(yeah I know about setting the default shell... but several people share this account (I know, I know, it's all messed up).)
OLPC is giving a gmail account with each of the machines. That should be interesting if it really takes off.
I'm going to make a really stretchy analogy:
Managers are risk averse, so will "run the numbers" to minimize risk.
The problem with that is that risk is inherent, and the more risk you're willing to take, the better the payoff if you succeed.
I'll give you my analogy:
There's a fortified position with 100 elite troops with heavy machine guns, anti-tank cannon, a well-stocked armory, and strict discipline.
There are two ways to attack this position: Use a mechanized army, complete with air support, crack assault troops, and tanks, or use a people's army, complete with 10 regiments of 5,000 men each and crude artillery.
The mechanized army is like closed source development: it can succeed, but it must have excellent discipline, great communication and coordination, and great planning.
The people's army is like open-source development: It can succeed, but must have dogmatic determinism in the face of high risk, and be willing to use the human wave strategy, which will result in a high casualty rate.
This is essentially the story of Dien Bien Phu, where 5,000 entrenched Frecnh troops, including several battalions of Airborne French Foreign Legionnaires, with artillery and good supplies, were attacked by 50,000 Viet Minh troops led by General Giap. The french lost, despite technological superiority, marking a turning point in modern warfare and shocking western colonialists.
A similar scenario was demonstrated at the battle of Khe Sanh in i1968. This time, again, General Giap led several North Vietnamese divisions near a couple of Marine battalions. General Westmoreland, the US Commander of the American armed forces in Viet Nam, unwilling to allow another Dien Bien Phu, committed enormous ground and air forces to defend the base. The base held, but it was later surmised that Giap's plan was to divert US forces. (see the excellent wikipedia article).
All this to say that using a large number of troops to attack a problem can be very effective, but that just like US commanders are generally not willing to use a human wave attack strategy, likewise US managers are unwilling to take the kinds of risks that the populist Open Source Army is willing to take.
Ok, I'll stop now.
Be a better husband: buy her a Mac.
> Many corporate shops I've worked with avoid GPL'd code...
They can sell all they want, as long as they provide the source and the same rights to those they sold it to. If they want to keep the source code to themselves, they can't. That is the whole point of the GPL.
People have this amazing realization when they see their computer running 1 month straight with Linux and Mac: Windows was a piece of crap, and it is not normal to have to reboot more than a 1-2 times a year. By that point, they are ready to blame everything on Windows, not the PC manufacturer.
As far as games: They follow the money.
The problem with games and Linux is that if a game runs in linux, it can be trivially copied to another machine (blame the geeks) so copy protection and all that does not work at all. Running as a service also is not so hot. See valve's latest troubles.
Ultimately, the Personal Computer (PC) is not a gaming machine to most people. It's a tool to Get Shit Done (term paper, email, research, or work-for-hire), and those people are Dell's bread and butter.
I suggest that Dell is going to put together a Ubuntu-ready line of desktops and laptops, price them aggressively, and cause the Microsoft meltdown. Remember: The best way to predict the future is to invent it. (Alan Kay)
I am not saying they will be successful, but I can guarantee Michael is thinking real hard on how to make it work. By August 1st 2007 is my guess, but maybe sooner (no later than that for sure).
traceroute is going to be more interesting.
It works especially well close to the German border.
you can buy a new toyota yaris in Southern California (stick shift) for about $12,500
That's putting it on the very low end for new cars.
speaking of, lemme ctrl-t
> "To me, this service is childish and, well, kind of stupid.'"
Well, YouTube was childish and kind of stupid, and then it was worth $1.6 billion.
Simple.
You write:
I will drive to your house, kill you, kill your children by strangling them with piano wire, and rape, then kill your wife...*
On a web site somewhere...
You instamagically get your own FBI Special Agent assigned to your case. Your internet connection is immediately tapped. Your name is identified, your particulars are entered in a watchlist database, and you get your own profile built by dedicated professionals. (remember that anything using the internet is a federal matter since the internet is an extrastate communication medium)
But wait, there's more! The local law enforcement professionals also get to participate. They may place you under surveillance, tap your phones (they have probable cause) and trail you around town.
Don't touch that dial! A full report of your online and offline activities may be compiled and analyzed by mental health professional(s) to make a psychological evaluation, all at no extra charge to you!
Don't like the offer yet? I'll throw in the best: A task force may be assigned to your case, and a team may try to trap you, including a free undercover agent posing as a tasty morsel for your vile pleasure. You might certainly meet all of them in person, get a free bondage session complete with regulation handcuffs and a tongue-lashing. Plus you will be housed in a sturdy facility for a time, participate in a dog and pony show, and be introduced to rather unpleasant individuals who will make your life prior to their "handling" a delightful memory.
In other words: If you can't do the Time, don't do the Crime.
What does the law have to do with all this? You'll be asking yourself the same question when you are swapped for cigarettes in the slammer.
* Please note that I am using this sentence to illustrate the point and in no event intend to do any of these things to you or anyone else, nor condone this behavior by anyone else.
Your website url is eerily apropos.
You had days?
We had permanent darkness in the mines...
\mumbles: my preciousss...
It's an example of "Get Shit Done Today" mentality that, indeed, ill fits the professional corporate image. But it may just be a result of the Ray Ozzie effect.
In which case the fight is going to take longer.
Organized Crime in Namibia (and India for that matter methinks) would get the stuff from the government warehouse 5 days before the Alcatel engineer showed up to go set up the gear.
by the way, it's Murkins.
What I'm saying is that you can't have a conversation with an AC since you can't differentiate one ac from another. You would never be able to know whether the ac that just posted is the same person.
Too bad you posted as AC. I was looking forward to a mature conversation about your assertions...
Oh wait, this is Slashdot. What am I thinking?
...and a high-pitch rumbling in the background: "imgonnafuckingkillgoogleimgonnafuckingkillgooglei mgonnafuckingkillgoogle".
g onnafuckingkillapple"
:)
oh wait...
"imgonnafuckingkillappleimgonnafuckingkillappleim
There...
My sig is better than your sig :)
I think it was more tongue-in-cheek.
\me ducks.
Hear Hear.
We The People have an active part, indeed, play an indispensable role in the constant re-shaping of our society. It is not now as it has ever been, nor will it ever again be as it is today. Only through our hard work, diligence, and high regard for one another's Honor can we hope to improve our quality of life and allow us, our children, and their children Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
Oh, and I'm not talking about the United States of America. What I just wrote goes for all men and women, regardless of race, religion, creed, or nationality.
The right to Privacy is just a subset of the greater Rights we humans claim for ourselves.
(Pass the tissue, queue the marching band!)
I didn't think they would have a picture of his underground bunker...