Well, almost, they aren't remotely as innovative as Macs are.
Palm tried to ride out the "got there first" mentality by charging WTFM (way to f-in much) for their device which had limited functionality and cheesy, if not hostile interoperability with the PC and the 'net. Since they chose to charge so much and give so little, they didn't gain the market share that being there first would have afforded them and now they are left wondering WTFH (what the F happened) to their market.
Most people I know who are looking for a PDA don't even consider a Palm device, they go straight for the WinCE ones.
"The Athens PC has a built-in telephone linked to Microsoft's productivity applications. When the hardware receives an incoming call, the software automatically pulls up the caller's contact information and photo if the data are stored on the system."
Awesome, and 6 months later and a few installs of various packages, your phone rings and you see this:
A system error has occurred:
ODBC-OLE error 864: Can't connect to object. Please contact your vendor
I think illegal copying IS AFFECTING sales of music. I know a LARGE NUMBER of people who DON'T BUY MUSIC ANYWAY because they can get it FREE online.
I would agree that the RIAA is scewing the numbers and I would also agree that their motices are purely profit driven rather than ethical (of which they are in a poor position to argue from).
Something has to give though. I'm personally not going to get bent out of shape because people think it's their right to copy something illegally get caught... TFB.
No kidding... I know they don't sell computer stuff (actually they just started selling camera memory), but...
RiteAid has a website where you enter in your reciept #, store, date, etc... and it pulls up the purchase for you, adding up any rebate. At the end of each "cycle", they email you a reminder to go to the website and click the "send me my check" button. No snail mail, no messy forms, no mistakes - it works every time.
If more manufactuers did this I think we would see more of a return on rebates... or less rebates because.;)
You don't need to incorporate. I know, I did it, once. You can easily get a checking account as a DBA (doing business as) to keep things seperate from your "regular" account. If you have a corporation, then you have to start dealing with things like paying unemployment insurance, and filling out forms saying you're an equal oppurtunity employer, etc... it's a pain the ass, and not worth it.
So again, dump the corporation and use a Sched C. Put 0's on it, it's pretty easy to do.
If you CAN'T close the corp, then you're either going to have to learn a lot, or hire an accountant.
"A lot of people think that this mutations are responsible for the strange side effects encountered with cellular phone use: headache, visual distorsions, halluzinations, social inefficiency, rythmic depressions."
However the rest of us who don't believe in junk science know that it's probably caused by something simple; like spending too much time on the PHONE!
"And the whole chain of incidents is still very unclear down to the sources. Much research still has to be done."
Can we please wait 'til the "research that hasn't been done" is done before legislating? Would that be OK.... this time?
"In any case, some interesting reading, particular if you like/d The Cluetrain Manifesto."
Sorry, haven't read "The Cluetrain Manifesto" - however I would like to recommend the editors of Slashdot check out a neat website called SLASHDOT - they usually post articles strikingly similar to "World of Ends."
>>Seems like this experiment could turn into the next "big thing" in advertising-- assuming people are willing to sell out their blog space. Bloggers beware!"
This is great!
I hope I can by into the IPO's of these bloggers early and often. I need to make up all that money my 401K lost from the last "big thing."
>We don't know what airports this is going to be run at.
I'm hoping at all of them.
>We don't know what databases are going to be used
"we" as in "I" don't care.
>What if some of the information is erroneous? How can we correct our own "profile"?
The same way you can correct your own profile now.
>Lastly...what does my credit check have to do with whether or not I'm going to blow up a plane?
I thought "we" didn't know what databases were going to be used?
>And then they wonder why almost every single airline in the United States is at or near bankruptcy.
This one I can answer;
Airlines are/were driven on profit. Hassling people at the gates would cut into profit, hence sercurity sucked. Paying people who actually knew something about security would cut into profit, hence security sucked. If people bitched about too much security and stopped flying, it would cut into profit, hence security sucked.
Security sucked so bad that 19 arabs, some with shady backgrounds that should/would have come up on govt watch lists easily boarded airplanes, hijacked them and turned them into guided bombs, murdering 3000 people.
So quite frankly if knowing that these systems are in place discourages (or gasp, even catches in the act) any terrorist, I'M ALL FOR IT.
This is a kickass system - we should be happy that our government has FINALLY taken terrorists so seriously and is kicking into high-gear to protect us and our way of life. I don't really care what databases they're using as long as it works and works well.
Maybe now the 70yo blue-haired old ladies can get on the plane without getting searched.
As a veteran electric guitarist for the last 25 years, I can only imagine the number of broken plugs/cords from this configuration; digital guitar.
Anyone who's ever owned a les paul or tele can attest to that (strats have a slightly better cord placement).
As for the usefullness of this? I don't know if having each string routed to a different amp is going to make better music or be useful at all. For one thing, I don't have SIX amps! Something tells me that a les paul wired through a marshall half stack at 11+ is still the way to go.;)
They deserve this success too. They have given us QT, which IMO is THE BEST Application Framework for C++ ever developed.
However I'm wondering if there isn't another faction inside IBM that we haven't heard about... waiting to kill off anything that isn't Windows based (sort of like what happened with the IBM PC Co and OS/2).
1. People (most people, the majority of people) are completely clueless when it comes to security. The see that their password isn't displayed, so therefore it must be safe. Public computer?... not a concept or an issue to them.
Question: Is this their fault? IMO, no it isn't. The visual indications they see indicate they are indeed using some kind of security. The problem here is software manufactuers (not just M) do not have most users best interests at heart when it comes to security.
2. A system that allows key monitoring software to be installed so easily SHOULD NOT be sold for public use! Not only are the software makers at fault, but so is whomever decided to use such an unsecure system in a public area. But whoever that is, is probably fairly clueless when it comes to security too.
This will continue indefinitely until 1 of 2 things happen;
1. Someone comes out with a dumbed down computing device that uses Windows (sorry, but that's a reality), is cheap, and requires little to no administration (or little enough that breaking the security by a clueless admin will be impossible).
- or -
2. People get a clue about security... not gonna happen.
In fact, I don't see either of the two happening, so IMO this kind of stuff will continue well into the future.
"I have an odd little connection to the Columbia: It once carried a book of mine into space."
That is very cool. I've read some of your books and columns over the years and find your work very, very funny.
My question is this; humorists such as yourself can sometimes find humor in the most horrific of events. How do you find humor in events that are obviously touchy? Do you think finding humor in something like this will help people heal?
Let's sidestep the "there are only 2 good songs on the CD argument for a moment"...
My experience (albeit limited) indicates to me that less people are buying CD's. I've talked with adults who have NO IDEA that downloading music and burning it to a CD is wrong -- they think they're getting free music. Numerous high school kids I've talked to seem to think that music is free, only an idiot would actualy BUY a CD.
Now the question is; would these people actually buy CD's if free downloadable music wasn't available? Again, my experience has shown that they would. In the past, before the online piracy of music became a way of life, these same people I knew were in fact buying CD's. And now? They aren't.
The problem is (IMO), is that most people don't know they're stealing. They don't see someone getting hurt, therefore it's OK.
I don't blame the music industry for trying to prevent this wholesale ripoff of their product.
It's said that you spent $16K for lawyer fees to get your Ham Radio license back. I find it interesting that you cared that much about Ham Radio to do that.
What is it about Ham Radio that you find so compelling to spend that kind of money to get your license back? Also, what activities do you plan to do with Ham Radio?
Slashdot Mirror
IBM?
At least you read the article... but you must of missed the SECOND page! ;)
Yeah, but you don't have to pay the "Apple Tax" to use it, so it's going to be cheaper.
Yeah, and besides everyone knows it's spelled "Strategery."
I mean having a monitor is OK, but HUD, that would ROCK!
And just think about once you get past having the necassary stuff on the HUD, and get into the simulated effects.
Yep, X-Box is OK, but I want a HUD, with Falcon 4.0 installed.
Well, almost, they aren't remotely as innovative as Macs are.
Palm tried to ride out the "got there first" mentality by charging WTFM (way to f-in much) for their device which had limited functionality and cheesy, if not hostile interoperability with the PC and the 'net. Since they chose to charge so much and give so little, they didn't gain the market share that being there first would have afforded them and now they are left wondering WTFH (what the F happened) to their market.
Most people I know who are looking for a PDA don't even consider a Palm device, they go straight for the WinCE ones.
Just the way it is.
If you want an easy to install Debian distro with a boatload of software on one CD, install Knoppix.
Why anyone would pay for this libranet distro is beyond me.
They sued an interview? Man, those RIAA lawyers are slick!
"The Athens PC has a built-in telephone linked to Microsoft's productivity applications. When the hardware receives an incoming call, the software automatically pulls up the caller's contact information and photo if the data are stored on the system."
Awesome, and 6 months later and a few installs of various packages, your phone rings and you see this:
A system error has occurred:
ODBC-OLE error 864: Can't connect to object. Please contact your vendor
Call rejected.
I'm not trying to troll, but...
I think illegal copying IS AFFECTING sales of music. I know a LARGE NUMBER of people who DON'T BUY MUSIC ANYWAY because they can get it FREE online.
I would agree that the RIAA is scewing the numbers and I would also agree that their motices are purely profit driven rather than ethical (of which they are in a poor position to argue from).
Something has to give though. I'm personally not going to get bent out of shape because people think it's their right to copy something illegally get caught... TFB.
No kidding... I know they don't sell computer stuff (actually they just started selling camera memory), but...
;)
RiteAid has a website where you enter in your reciept #, store, date, etc... and it pulls up the purchase for you, adding up any rebate. At the end of each "cycle", they email you a reminder to go to the website and click the "send me my check" button. No snail mail, no messy forms, no mistakes - it works every time.
If more manufactuers did this I think we would see more of a return on rebates... or less rebates because.
You don't need to incorporate. I know, I did it, once. You can easily get a checking account as a DBA (doing business as) to keep things seperate from your "regular" account. If you have a corporation, then you have to start dealing with things like paying unemployment insurance, and filling out forms saying you're an equal oppurtunity employer, etc... it's a pain the ass, and not worth it.
So again, dump the corporation and use a Sched C. Put 0's on it, it's pretty easy to do.
If you CAN'T close the corp, then you're either going to have to learn a lot, or hire an accountant.
>>You owe people a great deal of money and they send the "heavies" round,
He ain't heavy, he's my SysAdmin
(yes, seen here on Slashdot before, but it is funny, you know it is!)
"A lot of people think that this mutations are responsible for the strange side effects encountered with cellular phone use: headache, visual distorsions, halluzinations, social inefficiency, rythmic depressions."
However the rest of us who don't believe in junk science know that it's probably caused by something simple; like spending too much time on the PHONE!
"And the whole chain of incidents is still very unclear down to the sources. Much research still has to be done."
Can we please wait 'til the "research that hasn't been done" is done before legislating? Would that be OK.... this time?
perl -eh 'print "pass the poutine\n"'
"In any case, some interesting reading, particular if you like/d The Cluetrain Manifesto."
Sorry, haven't read "The Cluetrain Manifesto" - however I would like to recommend the editors of Slashdot check out a neat website called SLASHDOT - they usually post articles strikingly similar to "World of Ends."
>>Seems like this experiment could turn into the next "big thing" in advertising-- assuming people are willing to sell out their blog space. Bloggers beware!"
This is great!
I hope I can by into the IPO's of these bloggers early and often. I need to make up all that money my 401K lost from the last "big thing."
>We don't know what airports this is going to be run at.
I'm hoping at all of them.
>We don't know what databases are going to be used
"we" as in "I" don't care.
>What if some of the information is erroneous? How can we correct our own "profile"?
The same way you can correct your own profile now.
>Lastly...what does my credit check have to do with whether or not I'm going to blow up a plane?
I thought "we" didn't know what databases were going to be used?
>And then they wonder why almost every single airline in the United States is at or near bankruptcy.
This one I can answer;
Airlines are/were driven on profit. Hassling people at the gates would cut into profit, hence sercurity sucked. Paying people who actually knew something about security would cut into profit, hence security sucked. If people bitched about too much security and stopped flying, it would cut into profit, hence security sucked.
Security sucked so bad that 19 arabs, some with shady backgrounds that should/would have come up on govt watch lists easily boarded airplanes, hijacked them and turned them into guided bombs, murdering 3000 people.
So quite frankly if knowing that these systems are in place discourages (or gasp, even catches in the act) any terrorist, I'M ALL FOR IT.
So there.
We'll be bitching about our loss of privacy.
Oh well.
This is a kickass system - we should be happy that our government has FINALLY taken terrorists so seriously and is kicking into high-gear to protect us and our way of life. I don't really care what databases they're using as long as it works and works well.
Maybe now the 70yo blue-haired old ladies can get on the plane without getting searched.
Anyone who's ever owned a les paul or tele can attest to that (strats have a slightly better cord placement).
As for the usefullness of this? I don't know if having each string routed to a different amp is going to make better music or be useful at all. For one thing, I don't have SIX amps! Something tells me that a les paul wired through a marshall half stack at 11+ is still the way to go. ;)
This is a HUGE win for the Trolls.
They deserve this success too. They have given us QT, which IMO is THE BEST Application Framework for C++ ever developed.
However I'm wondering if there isn't another faction inside IBM that we haven't heard about... waiting to kill off anything that isn't Windows based (sort of like what happened with the IBM PC Co and OS/2).
1. People (most people, the majority of people) are completely clueless when it comes to security. The see that their password isn't displayed, so therefore it must be safe. Public computer? ... not a concept or an issue to them.
Question: Is this their fault? IMO, no it isn't. The visual indications they see indicate they are indeed using some kind of security. The problem here is software manufactuers (not just M) do not have most users best interests at heart when it comes to security.
2. A system that allows key monitoring software to be installed so easily SHOULD NOT be sold for public use! Not only are the software makers at fault, but so is whomever decided to use such an unsecure system in a public area. But whoever that is, is probably fairly clueless when it comes to security too.
This will continue indefinitely until 1 of 2 things happen;
1. Someone comes out with a dumbed down computing device that uses Windows (sorry, but that's a reality), is cheap, and requires little to no administration (or little enough that breaking the security by a clueless admin will be impossible).
- or -
2. People get a clue about security... not gonna happen.
In fact, I don't see either of the two happening, so IMO this kind of stuff will continue well into the future.
From your blog:
"I have an odd little connection to the Columbia: It once carried a book of mine into space."
That is very cool. I've read some of your books and columns over the years and find your work very, very funny.
My question is this; humorists such as yourself can sometimes find humor in the most horrific of events. How do you find humor in events that are obviously touchy? Do you think finding humor in something like this will help people heal?
Let's sidestep the "there are only 2 good songs on the CD argument for a moment" ...
My experience (albeit limited) indicates to me that less people are buying CD's. I've talked with adults who have NO IDEA that downloading music and burning it to a CD is wrong -- they think they're getting free music. Numerous high school kids I've talked to seem to think that music is free, only an idiot would actualy BUY a CD.
Now the question is; would these people actually buy CD's if free downloadable music wasn't available? Again, my experience has shown that they would. In the past, before the online piracy of music became a way of life, these same people I knew were in fact buying CD's. And now? They aren't.
The problem is (IMO), is that most people don't know they're stealing. They don't see someone getting hurt, therefore it's OK.
I don't blame the music industry for trying to prevent this wholesale ripoff of their product.
Kevin,
;)
It's said that you spent $16K for lawyer fees to get your Ham Radio license back. I find it interesting that you cared that much about Ham Radio to do that.
What is it about Ham Radio that you find so compelling to spend that kind of money to get your license back? Also, what activities do you plan to do with Ham Radio?
73 es welcome back.