Fortunately for many of us artists, "topping the billboard" charts is not our goal in life. Making a decent living producing the music we love is more than enough. Superstar "status" might be nice, but it's not necessary to be happy in life.
I've seen that exact "setup" in heavily populated areas (Queens, NY). It's not just a rural thing. Automated machines tend to tear shit up, too (cans, lids, etc etc).
I use it. mainly because I was having connectivity issues in various hotels with iChat, so i moved to the official AIM client and no longer have those issues.
I also use the official client on windows. I like it better than Trillian, which always felt "odd" to me.
GAIM is the only game in town for Linux worth mentioning that I've found, though.
Typical Stock Analyst. Anyone else catch the line about "making money" and dismissing efforts to dump money into R&D? We bemoan the fact that companies no longer think long term. Here we have an example of various Japanese countries doing it (investing in their future, taking the losses now), albeit using their profits somewhat suspiciously, but in the process have created some of the key technology that we all use and love (*hugs iBook*). Should we applauding the japanese, who, facing large debts and a recession, continuing to try and push innovation and research into emerging and not-so-emerging markets rather than focus strictly upon their bottom line?
I'm wondering that if the court's position is that a customer can reject a EULA and return said software, then if a customer were to be refused a refund by the retailer if that customer could now sue the shit out of that retailer based upon the findings of this case. Someone must be able to refund the customer's money, whether it be Blizzard or the retailer.
The dismissal of the right of first sale kills me, though. Imagine if we now stuck EULA's on everything, not just software. Buy a music CD, inside the case is a EULA agreeing to not copy, rip, or play on an unauthorized device, and the stores begin a policy to not accept opened CD's back. Or even more insidious would be EULA's on, say, beef that state that customers buying the beef will not sue the beef packing plants if they contract e. coli, or mad cow. (The question is, can you slap a EULA on such a consumable? Or clothing? Or plumbing supplies?)
And just because you have MSDN Universal, doesn' mean that 99.9% of the other users out there do, too. In fact, I'd wager most of those users have no idea what MSDN or Universal is.
Not trying to be an ass, but you're definately not the target market here...
I'm not a moron in real life, I just play one on/. Help me out here.
Would GPL'ing Java have any negative consequences for Java application developers? I.E., if I use a GPL'd Java, would I be required to GPL my application? I know that there is already some concern about using the GPL with Java Applications, but I'm mainly concerned about the Java itself.
I currently use Java (1.4.2 on OS X and 1.5 RCx on Win32) and LWJGL (lightweight Java GL), which is BSD licensed, mainly because I want to maintain control over my creations without giving away my code (preferring a Carmack approach: Sell the game, then release the code after game sales have slowed to the point of "don't care". No, I haven't actually released any games, Thanks for Asking..:) ). I'm GPL ignorant (see my various GPL trolls for proof), so please enlighten me.
My desktop is a dual processor PIII 750 that I built a few years ago (upgraded from a dual Celeron 400). For all practical purposes, it's not really all that much different than the dual Celeron box, except that I've added more RAM and a faster drive. All my apps run smoothly, my games (albeit limited) run well, and it's a super Web-browsing machine. I even run a small website from it, simultaneously.
Now, I did have a mini-ITX machine awhile back. P4 2.4ghz, 1 gig of RAM, 7200 RPM HD. I did not notice a single bit of difference between the two machines except my framerate was a bit highter on the P4 (better graphics card installed). So I sold it. I'm still using the dual PIII.
Earlier this year, I picked up a used iBook G4 800mhz. Ancient CPU technology, by most PC standards. And yet, it is also 100% sufficient (enough to say it's not DEFICIENT) for anything that do. A Voodoo or Alienware laptop would be more than enough machine for me, at a higher price tag. Performance I don't need. Performance I suspect others don't need, as well.
I also agree with the author of the article. CPU's are growing faster and faster, and are consuming more and more power. I'd really like to see more "Power consumption" aware options (like a desktop based on the P-M), because frankly I don't like my computer to be a space heater (actually, the 2 21" CRT's in front of me are probably more to blame than anything). It really has gotten to the point that buying a new machine today is not really all that "special" as it was a few years ago. (With the exception of the G5 in the Apple lineup, or maybe the Opterons or Athlon64 machines, but the general public doesn't seem too enamored with the latter 2).
*Which* games, though? I spend an inordinate amount of time playing popcap games (well, I used to) and they run rather well on a Palm Pilot. No, the fact is that most games do not need these mega-ultra computers (although it certainly wouldn't hurt). The big "blockbusters" people like to talk about (Doom 3, etc) are only a small (but rather large volume) subset of the entire gaming market. Games can be great and not be 3D, you know...
I've used AmigaOS, BeOS (4.x-5.0), Windows (3.1-XP), Linux (starting with RH 5.2, have moved around distros), AIX, Solaris, SunOS, SCO Unixware, VAX/VMS, amongst others. I bought my first Mac this year (an iBook) and found it to "just work" from using my digital camera, my MIDI/audio keyboard, to doing email, browsing the web, and chatting. Even IRC. I'm quite used to Windows and UNIX and I have yet to be frustrated by OS X and haven't had to re-learn anything.
Actually, I don't think that's the problem at all. When I do "service" calls for my friends, I've noticed that their spyware infested machines are not up-to-date at all, unless I do it. MOst of the time, they are unaware that they need to update, and secondly, they are unaware they are infected. ANd when I do point it out to them (windows update), most of them are on dial-up and complain that it takes HOURS to download service packs on their flakey connections, tying up the phone that they could be using for something else, so they end up cancelling the update. And then I have to come over and try to straighten stuff out, usually by bringing their computer back to my house where I have broadband to easily apply the patches. I suppose I could just download the security updates and what not and burn to CD, but my CD burner is on the fritz and I just don't have time or the money to buy another one, even though they're dirt cheap.
Maybe my friends are in the minority (dial-up), but downloading updates for any OS via dial-up is a royal PITA and the less technically proficient will mostly likely just cancel the process when it's time to do something else.
Well, the big difference is the fact that it's printed on paper. I know that sounds trite, but even as a person who "grew up" on the electronic medium, I still cannot get to grips on e-books. There's just something uncomfortable about trying to read documentation online. I much prefer dead trees, even at the added expense (not to mention storage.. 2 6' bookshelves full of mostly outdated tech manuals).:(
Hell, I just bought the Blender 2.3 guide even though I have it "free" on my harddrive. Even with dual 21" monitors, I find it cumbersome to have documentation open in one while working on the other...
That's the most frightening picture of school I've ever read.
Yes, we certainly need to send our kids to boot camp at an age where their hormones are changing daily. We need to teach them to submit to any semblence of authority. We need to teach them that to deviate is to be wrong and punishable. Oh yeah, now I understand why so many Catholic school kids I know are stoners these days. Sucks to be you, if that was your school.
I haven't used my serial or parallel port in over 5 years. My serial port since I got an internal modem back in, what, 1995? and my parallel port since I got a USB printer. Now, they're just wasted ports for me (and for 99.9% of the users out there, I suppose).
Maybe there's a nice market to be had for PCMCIA serial port adaptors...
Yep. And think: If there's a nice lock on that door, you, as a passenger, would be extremely likely to notice a few guys trying to force entry into the cockpit, giving you time to react and subdue those men (with the help of others). The lock is there to buy time, not to be impenetrable.
Because when the terrorists initially hijacked the plane, the pilots and the passengers gave up control immediately, without a fight. If the "terrorists" try to do it again, they'll have to fight through the entire passenger list and the pilots will be damned if they give up control of the airplane.
9/11 was a ONE SHOT deal. I really don't think anyone expects them to try it again, because now it's risky. First, the terrorists are likely to fail and be subdued, at which point they will be brought in and extensively "questioned", further revealing the cell structure, which would further undermine other cells potentially. For example, if one source supplies several cells with funding, if those guys are caught and give up their source, then you can check whom that source funds and potentially discover other cells, or at least finds out who contribute to them and dig through their records to find other distribution schemes, etc etc.
But, wait a minute.. This may be simple semantics, but.. If I'm a developer and distributor, am I not "USING" the code? Doesn't that make the GPL a EULA, as well? Because as a developer, I certainly "use" the source, correct?
/* You might have hard-drives full of applications that you've written, but who knows about them? And thus, who knows about you? */
See, the whole point is, who cares? As long as HE'S happy with his software and doesn't really give a flying fuck about what you or some corporation thinks about him or his software, then it really doesn't matter who knows about them. The only person that truly counts is him. It's his software. he doesn't have to give it away or even let anyone else know it even exists. "OH, but how is he going to get a job?" What if he doesn't WANT a job writing software? Hard to imagine, I know, but it's true. I gave up programming because I found out I really don't enjoy it much. I've got several "in house" (erm, my house) applications that I use for myself, and only myself, and I really have no desire to see them out in the "wild".
The whole point of "freedom" (including software) is making a conscious choice on whether or not you want to share. I don't need the GPL to dictate whether or not I want to share (and consequently, I choose BSD if it matters), and when I develop my own software, I'm under no obligation to you or anyone else to release my source, my licensing, or even the application itself unless I deem to. isn't freedom great?
Benefits: Can only be run when the machine is turned off.
A Microsoft spokesman is quoted as saying the limitation is immensely useful for getting obese Americans outside and doing something besides fucking around on the internet.
FROM: Ali '1st Thief" Baba TO : Osama 'Yo Mama' bin Laden Subject: Training
Oh! Supreme one! We are in the midst of training our latest round of recruits to service in the holy Jihad against the Infidels! We are proud to announce that shortly we shall have the capacity to completely undermine the ability of the Infidel Armies to wage war effectively:
1) It has come to our attention that many of the Infidels train for war electronically, using common-off-the-shelf games that we can obtain in various Indonesian markets for less than $1 per computer. These games are extremely popular within the Infidel youth community. "Operation Wall-Hack" is my proposal to train our operatives to use techniques frowned up by their youth community, although they are the same to create these tools, to produce a formidable, unbeatable force of Counter Strike experts. God willing, we will demoralize the youth of the Infidels, and they shall throw themselves in front of their parent's Four Wheeled Drive vehicles. Praise Allah!
2) Our operatives have discovered that Email is the #1 method of communication within the Infidel community. Our operatives have discovered on a secret, underground website called "Slashdot" that "Spam" is a growing problem that cripples the Infidel's ability to successfully utilize this medium. Through divine inspiration from Allah, I have come up with "Operation SPAM", where we will open up full time spam mailing facilities in the countries that still welcome us and we will flood the mail servers of the world with useless junk! Infidel Economies will grind to a standstill! Office workers will gnash their teeth, System Administrators will pull their hair from the roots and staple their eyes shut from the flood of junk email! I propose that we invest $499 for a server from the Infidel company Dell to begin investigating this immediately.
3. The Infidels have concocted a curious form of support for their technology. They utilize large numbers of people to man telephone stations that attempt to answer technical questions that customers of these technology companies may have in the repair, maintainence, and usage of their machines. I propose "Operation OutSource" to your holiness, to aid in our fight against the Infidels! We shall open up telephone support centers in our friendly nations and underbid the Indians to gain the business of giant Infidel corporations and provide substandard support to the Infidel industry! The Infidel productivity levels will grind to nothing! And they will PAY us for the privilege! If you are concerned that our lack of technology infrastructure and education will prevent us from providing adequate levels of support for these companies, do not fear. The current support providers don't know anything about computers, either! The hapless users will throw themselves off of their Infidel skyscrapers in madness, Allah Willing! Praise Allah!
4) We have learned a new codespeak for our communications. It is called "L33t Sp34k" and is considered to be one of the strongest encryption codes ever produced when combined with GNUPG (I am sorry to hear of your confusion regarding this product, did you read the man pages?). I highly recommend that we teach this method to all of our agents in the field.
As you can see, your Supremacy, we have the potential to completely revolutionize the way "The War" is fought. Allah willing, we shall overcome the Infidels and regain control of Palestine! Praise Allah!
Slashdot Mirror
Or yet another miguided "hip hop" artist.
Didn't the Simpsons have a hip "doggy dog" or something?
Fortunately for many of us artists, "topping the billboard" charts is not our goal in life. Making a decent living producing the music we love is more than enough. Superstar "status" might be nice, but it's not necessary to be happy in life.
I've seen that exact "setup" in heavily populated areas (Queens, NY). It's not just a rural thing. Automated machines tend to tear shit up, too (cans, lids, etc etc).
Fucking Christ. History's first trekkies!
I use it. mainly because I was having connectivity issues in various hotels with iChat, so i moved to the official AIM client and no longer have those issues.
I also use the official client on windows. I like it better than Trillian, which always felt "odd" to me.
GAIM is the only game in town for Linux worth mentioning that I've found, though.
Typical Stock Analyst. Anyone else catch the line about "making money" and dismissing efforts to dump money into R&D? We bemoan the fact that companies no longer think long term. Here we have an example of various Japanese countries doing it (investing in their future, taking the losses now), albeit using their profits somewhat suspiciously, but in the process have created some of the key technology that we all use and love (*hugs iBook*). Should we applauding the japanese, who, facing large debts and a recession, continuing to try and push innovation and research into emerging and not-so-emerging markets rather than focus strictly upon their bottom line?
I'm wondering that if the court's position is that a customer can reject a EULA and return said software, then if a customer were to be refused a refund by the retailer if that customer could now sue the shit out of that retailer based upon the findings of this case. Someone must be able to refund the customer's money, whether it be Blizzard or the retailer.
The dismissal of the right of first sale kills me, though. Imagine if we now stuck EULA's on everything, not just software. Buy a music CD, inside the case is a EULA agreeing to not copy, rip, or play on an unauthorized device, and the stores begin a policy to not accept opened CD's back. Or even more insidious would be EULA's on, say, beef that state that customers buying the beef will not sue the beef packing plants if they contract e. coli, or mad cow. (The question is, can you slap a EULA on such a consumable? Or clothing? Or plumbing supplies?)
And just because you have MSDN Universal, doesn' mean that 99.9% of the other users out there do, too. In fact, I'd wager most of those users have no idea what MSDN or Universal is.
Not trying to be an ass, but you're definately not the target market here...
I thought it was funny. :P
:P
But consider: Google is one of the bubble survivors. Thanks to google, I can get my pr0n on in record time.
And I like Paul Graham, too. While I don't understand LISP, I can certainly appreciate what he thinks about it.
Zero-to-Titties in 0.36 seconds. Thank god for fucking google.
:) )
(Results 1 - 10 of about 695,000 for titties. (0.36 seconds) - direct from google
I'm not a moron in real life, I just play one on /. Help me out here.
:) ). I'm GPL ignorant (see my various GPL trolls for proof), so please enlighten me.
Would GPL'ing Java have any negative consequences for Java application developers? I.E., if I use a GPL'd Java, would I be required to GPL my application? I know that there is already some concern about using the GPL with Java Applications, but I'm mainly concerned about the Java itself.
I currently use Java (1.4.2 on OS X and 1.5 RCx on Win32) and LWJGL (lightweight Java GL), which is BSD licensed, mainly because I want to maintain control over my creations without giving away my code (preferring a Carmack approach: Sell the game, then release the code after game sales have slowed to the point of "don't care". No, I haven't actually released any games, Thanks for Asking..
I've always wanted to try heroin, but was afraid it would lead to cigarettes. :(
My desktop is a dual processor PIII 750 that I built a few years ago (upgraded from a dual Celeron 400). For all practical purposes, it's not really all that much different than the dual Celeron box, except that I've added more RAM and a faster drive. All my apps run smoothly, my games (albeit limited) run well, and it's a super Web-browsing machine. I even run a small website from it, simultaneously.
Now, I did have a mini-ITX machine awhile back. P4 2.4ghz, 1 gig of RAM, 7200 RPM HD. I did not notice a single bit of difference between the two machines except my framerate was a bit highter on the P4 (better graphics card installed). So I sold it. I'm still using the dual PIII.
Earlier this year, I picked up a used iBook G4 800mhz. Ancient CPU technology, by most PC standards. And yet, it is also 100% sufficient (enough to say it's not DEFICIENT) for anything that do. A Voodoo or Alienware laptop would be more than enough machine for me, at a higher price tag. Performance I don't need. Performance I suspect others don't need, as well.
I also agree with the author of the article. CPU's are growing faster and faster, and are consuming more and more power. I'd really like to see more "Power consumption" aware options (like a desktop based on the P-M), because frankly I don't like my computer to be a space heater (actually, the 2 21" CRT's in front of me are probably more to blame than anything). It really has gotten to the point that buying a new machine today is not really all that "special" as it was a few years ago. (With the exception of the G5 in the Apple lineup, or maybe the Opterons or Athlon64 machines, but the general public doesn't seem too enamored with the latter 2).
*Which* games, though? I spend an inordinate amount of time playing popcap games (well, I used to) and they run rather well on a Palm Pilot. No, the fact is that most games do not need these mega-ultra computers (although it certainly wouldn't hurt). The big "blockbusters" people like to talk about (Doom 3, etc) are only a small (but rather large volume) subset of the entire gaming market. Games can be great and not be 3D, you know...
I've used AmigaOS, BeOS (4.x-5.0), Windows (3.1-XP), Linux (starting with RH 5.2, have moved around distros), AIX, Solaris, SunOS, SCO Unixware, VAX/VMS, amongst others. I bought my first Mac this year (an iBook) and found it to "just work" from using my digital camera, my MIDI/audio keyboard, to doing email, browsing the web, and chatting. Even IRC. I'm quite used to Windows and UNIX and I have yet to be frustrated by OS X and haven't had to re-learn anything.
Actually, I don't think that's the problem at all. When I do "service" calls for my friends, I've noticed that their spyware infested machines are not up-to-date at all, unless I do it. MOst of the time, they are unaware that they need to update, and secondly, they are unaware they are infected. ANd when I do point it out to them (windows update), most of them are on dial-up and complain that it takes HOURS to download service packs on their flakey connections, tying up the phone that they could be using for something else, so they end up cancelling the update. And then I have to come over and try to straighten stuff out, usually by bringing their computer back to my house where I have broadband to easily apply the patches. I suppose I could just download the security updates and what not and burn to CD, but my CD burner is on the fritz and I just don't have time or the money to buy another one, even though they're dirt cheap.
Maybe my friends are in the minority (dial-up), but downloading updates for any OS via dial-up is a royal PITA and the less technically proficient will mostly likely just cancel the process when it's time to do something else.
Well, the big difference is the fact that it's printed on paper. I know that sounds trite, but even as a person who "grew up" on the electronic medium, I still cannot get to grips on e-books. There's just something uncomfortable about trying to read documentation online. I much prefer dead trees, even at the added expense (not to mention storage.. 2 6' bookshelves full of mostly outdated tech manuals). :(
Hell, I just bought the Blender 2.3 guide even though I have it "free" on my harddrive. Even with dual 21" monitors, I find it cumbersome to have documentation open in one while working on the other...
That's the most frightening picture of school I've ever read.
Yes, we certainly need to send our kids to boot camp at an age where their hormones are changing daily. We need to teach them to submit to any semblence of authority. We need to teach them that to deviate is to be wrong and punishable. Oh yeah, now I understand why so many Catholic school kids I know are stoners these days. Sucks to be you, if that was your school.
I haven't used my serial or parallel port in over 5 years. My serial port since I got an internal modem back in, what, 1995? and my parallel port since I got a USB printer. Now, they're just wasted ports for me (and for 99.9% of the users out there, I suppose).
Maybe there's a nice market to be had for PCMCIA serial port adaptors...
Yep. And think: If there's a nice lock on that door, you, as a passenger, would be extremely likely to notice a few guys trying to force entry into the cockpit, giving you time to react and subdue those men (with the help of others). The lock is there to buy time, not to be impenetrable.
Because when the terrorists initially hijacked the plane, the pilots and the passengers gave up control immediately, without a fight. If the "terrorists" try to do it again, they'll have to fight through the entire passenger list and the pilots will be damned if they give up control of the airplane.
9/11 was a ONE SHOT deal. I really don't think anyone expects them to try it again, because now it's risky. First, the terrorists are likely to fail and be subdued, at which point they will be brought in and extensively "questioned", further revealing the cell structure, which would further undermine other cells potentially. For example, if one source supplies several cells with funding, if those guys are caught and give up their source, then you can check whom that source funds and potentially discover other cells, or at least finds out who contribute to them and dig through their records to find other distribution schemes, etc etc.
But, wait a minute.. This may be simple semantics, but..
If I'm a developer and distributor, am I not "USING" the code? Doesn't that make the GPL a EULA, as well? Because as a developer, I certainly "use" the source, correct?
/* You might have hard-drives full of applications that you've written, but who knows about them? And thus, who knows about you?
*/
See, the whole point is, who cares? As long as HE'S happy with his software and doesn't really give a flying fuck about what you or some corporation thinks about him or his software, then it really doesn't matter who knows about them. The only person that truly counts is him. It's his software. he doesn't have to give it away or even let anyone else know it even exists. "OH, but how is he going to get a job?" What if he doesn't WANT a job writing software? Hard to imagine, I know, but it's true. I gave up programming because I found out I really don't enjoy it much. I've got several "in house" (erm, my house) applications that I use for myself, and only myself, and I really have no desire to see them out in the "wild".
The whole point of "freedom" (including software) is making a conscious choice on whether or not you want to share. I don't need the GPL to dictate whether or not I want to share (and consequently, I choose BSD if it matters), and when I develop my own software, I'm under no obligation to you or anyone else to release my source, my licensing, or even the application itself unless I deem to. isn't freedom great?
Microsoft Windows "OFF" edition:
Benefits: Can only be run when the machine is turned off.
A Microsoft spokesman is quoted as saying the limitation is immensely useful for getting obese Americans outside and doing something besides fucking around on the internet.
FROM: Ali '1st Thief" Baba
TO : Osama 'Yo Mama' bin Laden
Subject: Training
Oh! Supreme one! We are in the midst of training our latest round of recruits to service in the holy Jihad against the Infidels! We are proud to announce that shortly we shall have the capacity to completely undermine the ability of the Infidel Armies to wage war effectively:
1) It has come to our attention that many of the Infidels train for war electronically, using common-off-the-shelf games that we can obtain in various Indonesian markets for less than $1 per computer. These games are extremely popular within the Infidel youth community. "Operation Wall-Hack" is my proposal to train our operatives to use techniques frowned up by their youth community, although they are the same to create these tools, to produce a formidable, unbeatable force of Counter Strike experts. God willing, we will demoralize the youth of the Infidels, and they shall throw themselves in front of their parent's Four Wheeled Drive vehicles. Praise Allah!
2) Our operatives have discovered that Email is the #1 method of communication within the Infidel community. Our operatives have discovered on a secret, underground website called "Slashdot" that "Spam" is a growing problem that cripples the Infidel's ability to successfully utilize this medium. Through divine inspiration from Allah, I have come up with "Operation SPAM", where we will open up full time spam mailing facilities in the countries that still welcome us and we will flood the mail servers of the world with useless junk! Infidel Economies will grind to a standstill! Office workers will gnash their teeth, System Administrators will pull their hair from the roots and staple their eyes shut from the flood of junk email! I propose that we invest $499 for a server from the Infidel company Dell to begin investigating this immediately.
3. The Infidels have concocted a curious form of support for their technology. They utilize large numbers of people to man telephone stations that attempt to answer technical questions that customers of these technology companies may have in the repair, maintainence, and usage of their machines. I propose "Operation OutSource" to your holiness, to aid in our fight against the Infidels! We shall open up telephone support centers in our friendly nations and underbid the Indians to gain the business of giant Infidel corporations and provide substandard support to the Infidel industry! The Infidel productivity levels will grind to nothing! And they will PAY us for the privilege! If you are concerned that our lack of technology infrastructure and education will prevent us from providing adequate levels of support for these companies, do not fear. The current support providers don't know anything about computers, either! The hapless users will throw themselves off of their Infidel skyscrapers in madness, Allah Willing! Praise Allah!
4) We have learned a new codespeak for our communications. It is called "L33t Sp34k" and is considered to be one of the strongest encryption codes ever produced when combined with GNUPG (I am sorry to hear of your confusion regarding this product, did you read the man pages?). I highly recommend that we teach this method to all of our agents in the field.
As you can see, your Supremacy, we have the potential to completely revolutionize the way "The War" is fought. Allah willing, we shall overcome the Infidels and regain control of Palestine! Praise Allah!
-Ali Baba