The very first question a biologist will ask, if we actually find life on mars, will be whether it's genetic structure is similar to anything found on earth. If the genetic structure is similar to things found on earth, then most likely, the material is not native to the planet. (Carried there by a comet...etc).
I've heard rumors from the "bucket-truck guys", that Cablevision is ready to flip the switch on their Docsis 2.0 gear. The cable modem termination systems have been upgraded, and for over a year now, they've been giving out Docsis 2.0 compliant modems.
I'll bet the SAE wants to push the envelope of gasoline internal combustion engines since the infrastructure is already in place. They probably feel that right now, any incremental gains in that technology will have the most short-term benefit.
Longer-term fuel efficiency is probably best explored using the technologies you mentioned.
The solar car challenge is another cool event that explorers alternate power sources.
The PDF on the web site says the engine in question is a Briggs & Stratton Corporation (Model 091202 Type1016E1A1001). The engine is air cooled, four cycle, with a 2.61 kw (3.5 horsepower) rating at 3600 rpm.
I've always viewed parts of the world like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia as either too poor to pursue technological innovation, or too "oil rich" to care about anything else.
I guess that was stupid and elitist of me to think that only "industrialized" nations are capable of technological curiosity. Who knows, maybe sometime in the future we can have the entire world participating in technological research. Wouldn't that be great?
We have this to a limited extent at my company. Microsoft's roaming profiles allow all your settings and data to follow you around at any of our three locations. Any computer, at any location, looks and "feels" like yours.
I would love to see this in the Linux world. I guess you could try to accomplish this by having centrally located home directories and logins - my college used to do this with the SUNs (back in the day using NIS).
I rarely go to see movies in the theater; it has to be a really big event to drag us to a noisy, dirty, overpriced theater when my 56" DLP / home theater system is comfy, affordable, and less annoying than loud teenagers.
I'm sure there are many people like me, and that should be killing the MPAA, right?
Wrong - the MPAA and cable companies got their act together (unlike the RIAA) and rolled out on-demand high-def video. It's awsome! I don't mind forking over $6.00 for HD video on demand in the comfort of my home. The cable co. and the MPAA both get their cut, and everyone is happy.
Another point: DVDs aren't rediculously overpriced either, so when I want to purchase a move I don't feel like i've been butt raped.
RIAA are you listening? People WANT (that means willing to pay) on-demand services, and CHEAP hard media. You produce both of those and you will make money!
Geez...if you let people install hardware or software on your computer then the computer really isn't yours.
Most corporate policies prohibit non-admins from installing hardware and software for STABILITY reasons. That alone should dictate policy on iPods and other such devices.
One of the interesting aspects of MRAM is the ability to not lose system memory "state". You turn off the machine, and the contents of memory remain for the next session.
Can you imagine a windows XP "state" that has never been rebooted? How about a continually running process that has a memory leak?
Eventually all machines need to be rebooted (some much less than others). That means re-creating a "clean" system state in memory.
Fiber to the curb still isn't enough to beat cable. I'm on cablevision's DOCSIS 1.1 system with 10Mbps down/1Mbps up and right now, it can compete with the SBC upgraded system.
What happens when cable companies upgrade to DOCSIS 2.0? That spec allows for 30Mbps SYMETRIC speeds. The only upgrade required is a Cable Modem Termination System upgrade and , maybe, a modem replacement at the customer premises. That type of upgrade is a hell of a lot cheaper than stringing fiber all over creation.
Cable system operators are already providing voice, data, digital cable, and on-demand movies. I know people that have completely left verizon, and have no interest in going back.
The local telcos need to work on Fiber to the Home. It is the only technology that will save them in the long run.
I don't know about all cable systems, but Cablevision uses 56-bit DES encryption between the end user's cable modem and the Cable Modem Termination System. Cisco, and most cable modem equipment suppliers, recommend this setup to prevent packet sniffing. While it doesn't make packet sniffing impossible, it means you have to crack 56-bit DES keys before you can sniff.
Please! Love or hate microsoft, you can thank Bill Gates and company for making computers accessible to everyone. Without the sea change that was microsoft, most tech guys here would not have jobs - why you ask?
Because there would be a lot less computers used by a lot less people.
If Linux is going to really revolutionize the industry, then useability needs to be at the forefront of its design. As a network administrator, I want to get calls from my users when stuff legitimately doesn't work. I don't want to get calls from users asking me to help them browse their filesystem, or figure out how to center and bold a title in OpenOffice.
"Wired" broadband providers will lower prices when there is a viable widespread competitor. That competitor will be the cellular network.
Think about it: The network has vast coverage, laptop market growth has outpaced the desktop market now for 3 years, and most people hooking up broadband at home want some type of wireless access. Verizon will provide a theoretical peak of 2 to 3 Mbps (with most people seeing around 512kbps).
Sure, wired access will always be faster, but for most people I know, wireless high-speed access anywhere you've got cellular coverage is a much better product (and the speed is good enough). I'll never get rid of my 10Mbps down 1Mbps up cablevision connection, but I know tons of people who would for Verizon's new product.
It's being tested in San Diego, CA and Washington, DC. It will probably roll out in the next year.
How many secretaries and attorneys know how to setup a mail server? How many of them know what the hell an MX record is? These are things that can be book-learned so MAYBE someday all doctors, secretaries and attorneys will know all this stuff - or the software will do it for them.
What about the stuff that is not "book-learnable"; like keeping on top of the black-hat community or knowing what the virus-du-jour is?
This stuff requires constant learning and adaptation. Much like law or medicine, these professions require constant learning and most guys that own networks, don't have time to run them correctly - that's why they hire guys like me.
I'm a network admin for a school. We run linux, OS X and predominantly WINDOWS. We haven't had a virus incident in over 4 years (since I started).
Why you ask?
We scan/filter web content, email, and every single file that comes and goes from our systems. We prohibit users from installing any software (via software enforced lockdown - not "honor system"). We distribute patches on a timely basis via automated patch management systems (microsoft makes this particularly easy).
Bottom line - we prevent stupid users from doing stupid things.
This will NEVER happen with a non-technical home user. As long as the home user is responsible for keeping his/her machine patched/updated and can mindlessly install software we will ALWAYS have this problem. I know people who KNOWINGLY have infected machines spewing out god knows what - and they don't take the effort to clean their machines because the machines still run!
It doesn't matter whether it's Linux, OS X, or Windows. If OS X reaches 95% market penetration, malware writers will write crap to run on those machines. Stupid people are the problem - not the platforms.
Lots of discussions here debate the probability of success of this project. What about the potential benefits?
Let's say this guy doesn't figure out how to slow or stop the aging process - but he does figure out how to reduce or eliminate uncontrollable, erroneous cell division? He might actually cure cancer.
Lots of scientific discoveries have been made accidentally. Hopefully this guy will make some.
Do you own the actual CD? If so,you can do with it as you choose - including copying.
Or do you own a "license" to use the content on that disc? If this is true, then the content provider should provide me with replacement media when my media is lost or stolen. After all, I do own the "license" for that content.
I would accept copy restrictions if the latter were true. Unfortunately the CD industry wants it both ways. They own the music, you don't own anything - not the disc - and not the content.
The RIAA can go to hell for all I care. I've stopped buying new CDs. I buy only used CDs now.
During the dawn of the "nuclear age" proponents of nuclear energy said it would be "too cheap to meter".
I don't know about you guys, but Public Service Electric and Gas just sent me a bill for $250.00.
Don't hold your breath for free hardware.
-ted
My 3com NBX experience
on
The 3Com Saga
·
· Score: 4, Interesting
Cisco vs. 3com:
Recently I found out that our NBX call processor software has a DOS vulenerability. It wasn't a real big deal since the call processor isn't accessible via the internet, but since i'm a good network admin, I want to patch the box anyway. I go to 3com's website thinking I can download the updated code right? - Wrong. I had to call my "authorized reseller" and get the code from them. This just gave my reseller an excuse to come visit me and try to sell me more crap.
Cisco, on the other hand, makes you buy a yearly support contract (not too expensive), and they give you access to their TAC site. Login to TAC, download updated software, install updated software - done.
I'm a corporate customer and I like Cisco's method of support. I suspect alot of 3com customers feel the same.
3com are you listening? I don't want to call a salesperson every time I need to patch a box!
Try the integrated CD burner software in Fedora Core 2. I tried with 3 different machines and 3 different burners. I tried each burner in each machine with no success.
Windows XP can handle this trivial process with ease....why not FC2?
I work for a private non-profit school (as a tech-coordinator and network admin). Most of our kids are public district funded, so we are eligible for e-rate funded programs.
We have none, here's why:
E-rate, like most government programs, is waist high in beaurocratic paperwork and red-tape. No one in the system looks for competing bids for two reasons:
1. There is no financial incentive for schools to pick a low bidder - the money is free as far as they're concerned.
2. It adds an enormous amount of paperwork to an already overburdened school staff. Is it worth hiring a full-time position to take care of this for e-rate programs that you aren't guaranteed to receive?
Like any government system, it takes money from those who have it and tries to redistribute it to those that don't. It sounds nice - make the "haves" buy technology for the "havenots", but in reality only the "haves" have enough resources to pull it off.
We get our technology the "old-fashioned" way. We either pay for it out of school tuition, or we seek private grants.
Slashdot Mirror
Yes, there is a way - it's called DNA.
The very first question a biologist will ask, if we actually find life on mars, will be whether it's genetic structure is similar to anything found on earth. If the genetic structure is similar to things found on earth, then most likely, the material is not native to the planet. (Carried there by a comet...etc).
-ted
I've heard rumors from the "bucket-truck guys", that Cablevision is ready to flip the switch on their Docsis 2.0 gear. The cable modem termination systems have been upgraded, and for over a year now, they've been giving out Docsis 2.0 compliant modems.
Docsis 2.0 info here
The new spec is capable of 30Mbps symetric!
-ted
I'll bet the SAE wants to push the envelope of gasoline internal combustion engines since the infrastructure is already in place. They probably feel that right now, any incremental gains in that technology will have the most short-term benefit.
Longer-term fuel efficiency is probably best explored using the technologies you mentioned.
The solar car challenge is another cool event that explorers alternate power sources.
-ted
The PDF on the web site says the engine in question is a Briggs & Stratton Corporation (Model 091202 Type1016E1A1001). The engine is air cooled, four cycle, with a 2.61 kw (3.5 horsepower) rating at 3600 rpm.
It's a tiny 1 cylinder engine.
-ted
I've always viewed parts of the world like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia as either too poor to pursue technological innovation, or too "oil rich" to care about anything else.
I guess that was stupid and elitist of me to think that only "industrialized" nations are capable of technological curiosity. Who knows, maybe sometime in the future we can have the entire world participating in technological research. Wouldn't that be great?
-ted
We have this to a limited extent at my company. Microsoft's roaming profiles allow all your settings and data to follow you around at any of our three locations. Any computer, at any location, looks and "feels" like yours.
I would love to see this in the Linux world. I guess you could try to accomplish this by having centrally located home directories and logins - my college used to do this with the SUNs (back in the day using NIS).
-ted
I rarely go to see movies in the theater; it has to be a really big event to drag us to a noisy, dirty, overpriced theater when my 56" DLP / home theater system is comfy, affordable, and less annoying than loud teenagers.
I'm sure there are many people like me, and that should be killing the MPAA, right?
Wrong - the MPAA and cable companies got their act together (unlike the RIAA) and rolled out on-demand high-def video. It's awsome! I don't mind forking over $6.00 for HD video on demand in the comfort of my home. The cable co. and the MPAA both get their cut, and everyone is happy.
Another point: DVDs aren't rediculously overpriced either, so when I want to purchase a move I don't feel like i've been butt raped.
RIAA are you listening? People WANT (that means willing to pay) on-demand services, and CHEAP hard media. You produce both of those and you will make money!
It really is that simple.
-ted
Geez...if you let people install hardware or software on your computer then the computer really isn't yours.
Most corporate policies prohibit non-admins from installing hardware and software for STABILITY reasons. That alone should dictate policy on iPods and other such devices.
-ted
One of the interesting aspects of MRAM is the ability to not lose system memory "state". You turn off the machine, and the contents of memory remain for the next session.
Can you imagine a windows XP "state" that has never been rebooted? How about a continually running process that has a memory leak?
Eventually all machines need to be rebooted (some much less than others). That means re-creating a "clean" system state in memory.
-ted
Fiber to the curb still isn't enough to beat cable. I'm on cablevision's DOCSIS 1.1 system with 10Mbps down/1Mbps up and right now, it can compete with the SBC upgraded system.
What happens when cable companies upgrade to DOCSIS 2.0? That spec allows for 30Mbps SYMETRIC speeds. The only upgrade required is a Cable Modem Termination System upgrade and , maybe, a modem replacement at the customer premises. That type of upgrade is a hell of a lot cheaper than stringing fiber all over creation.
Cable system operators are already providing voice, data, digital cable, and on-demand movies. I know people that have completely left verizon, and have no interest in going back.
The local telcos need to work on Fiber to the Home. It is the only technology that will save them in the long run.
-ted
Preliminary info here.
-ted
I don't know about all cable systems, but Cablevision uses 56-bit DES encryption between the end user's cable modem and the Cable Modem Termination System. Cisco, and most cable modem equipment suppliers, recommend this setup to prevent packet sniffing. While it doesn't make packet sniffing impossible, it means you have to crack 56-bit DES keys before you can sniff.
-ted
Please! Love or hate microsoft, you can thank Bill Gates and company for making computers accessible to everyone. Without the sea change that was microsoft, most tech guys here would not have jobs - why you ask?
Because there would be a lot less computers used by a lot less people.
If Linux is going to really revolutionize the industry, then useability needs to be at the forefront of its design. As a network administrator, I want to get calls from my users when stuff legitimately doesn't work. I don't want to get calls from users asking me to help them browse their filesystem, or figure out how to center and bold a title in OpenOffice.
-ted
"Wired" broadband providers will lower prices when there is a viable widespread competitor. That competitor will be the cellular network.
Think about it: The network has vast coverage, laptop market growth has outpaced the desktop market now for 3 years, and most people hooking up broadband at home want some type of wireless access. Verizon will provide a theoretical peak of 2 to 3 Mbps (with most people seeing around 512kbps).
Sure, wired access will always be faster, but for most people I know, wireless high-speed access anywhere you've got cellular coverage is a much better product (and the speed is good enough). I'll never get rid of my 10Mbps down 1Mbps up cablevision connection, but I know tons of people who would for Verizon's new product.
It's being tested in San Diego, CA and Washington, DC. It will probably roll out in the next year.
-ted
How many secretaries and attorneys know how to setup a mail server? How many of them know what the hell an MX record is? These are things that can be book-learned so MAYBE someday all doctors, secretaries and attorneys will know all this stuff - or the software will do it for them.
What about the stuff that is not "book-learnable"; like keeping on top of the black-hat community or knowing what the virus-du-jour is?
This stuff requires constant learning and adaptation. Much like law or medicine, these professions require constant learning and most guys that own networks, don't have time to run them correctly - that's why they hire guys like me.
-ted
I'm a network admin for a school. We run linux, OS X and predominantly WINDOWS. We haven't had a virus incident in over 4 years (since I started).
Why you ask?
We scan/filter web content, email, and every single file that comes and goes from our systems. We prohibit users from installing any software (via software enforced lockdown - not "honor system"). We distribute patches on a timely basis via automated patch management systems (microsoft makes this particularly easy).
Bottom line - we prevent stupid users from doing stupid things.
This will NEVER happen with a non-technical home user. As long as the home user is responsible for keeping his/her machine patched/updated and can mindlessly install software we will ALWAYS have this problem. I know people who KNOWINGLY have infected machines spewing out god knows what - and they don't take the effort to clean their machines because the machines still run!
It doesn't matter whether it's Linux, OS X, or Windows. If OS X reaches 95% market penetration, malware writers will write crap to run on those machines. Stupid people are the problem - not the platforms.
-ted
Lots of discussions here debate the probability of success of this project. What about the potential benefits?
Let's say this guy doesn't figure out how to slow or stop the aging process - but he does figure out how to reduce or eliminate uncontrollable, erroneous cell division? He might actually cure cancer.
Lots of scientific discoveries have been made accidentally. Hopefully this guy will make some.
-ted
Do you own the actual CD? If so,you can do with it as you choose - including copying.
Or do you own a "license" to use the content on that disc? If this is true, then the content provider should provide me with replacement media when my media is lost or stolen. After all, I do own the "license" for that content.
I would accept copy restrictions if the latter were true. Unfortunately the CD industry wants it both ways. They own the music, you don't own anything - not the disc - and not the content.
The RIAA can go to hell for all I care. I've stopped buying new CDs. I buy only used CDs now.
-ted
During the dawn of the "nuclear age" proponents of nuclear energy said it would be "too cheap to meter".
I don't know about you guys, but Public Service Electric and Gas just sent me a bill for $250.00.
Don't hold your breath for free hardware.
-ted
Cisco vs. 3com:
Recently I found out that our NBX call processor software has a DOS vulenerability. It wasn't a real big deal since the call processor isn't accessible via the internet, but since i'm a good network admin, I want to patch the box anyway. I go to 3com's website thinking I can download the updated code right? - Wrong. I had to call my "authorized reseller" and get the code from them. This just gave my reseller an excuse to come visit me and try to sell me more crap.
Cisco, on the other hand, makes you buy a yearly support contract (not too expensive), and they give you access to their TAC site. Login to TAC, download updated software, install updated software - done.
I'm a corporate customer and I like Cisco's method of support. I suspect alot of 3com customers feel the same.
3com are you listening? I don't want to call a salesperson every time I need to patch a box!
-ted
Try the integrated CD burner software in Fedora Core 2. I tried with 3 different machines and 3 different burners. I tried each burner in each machine with no success.
Windows XP can handle this trivial process with ease....why not FC2?
-ted
I work for a private non-profit school (as a tech-coordinator and network admin). Most of our kids are public district funded, so we are eligible for e-rate funded programs.
We have none, here's why:
E-rate, like most government programs, is waist high in beaurocratic paperwork and red-tape. No one in the system looks for competing bids for two reasons:
1. There is no financial incentive for schools to pick a low bidder - the money is free as far as they're concerned.
2. It adds an enormous amount of paperwork to an already overburdened school staff. Is it worth hiring a full-time position to take care of this for e-rate programs that you aren't guaranteed to receive?
Like any government system, it takes money from those who have it and tries to redistribute it to those that don't. It sounds nice - make the "haves" buy technology for the "havenots", but in reality only the "haves" have enough resources to pull it off.
We get our technology the "old-fashioned" way. We either pay for it out of school tuition, or we seek private grants.
-ted
I tried Vonage, and the voice side of the product was great.
Faxing, on the other hand, wasn't so good. I have an HP Officejet Scanner/Copier/Printer/Fax and it would not work with Vonage's service.
Tech support tried and tried, but nothing could get my fax machine to work with the servce, so I had to drop it.
-ted
VIP sounds pretty swanky to me.
-ted
...has the most RAM
(PHB tells Dilbert to design a "Mauve" database)
-ted