Someone please correct me, but does anyone see a monitor in that configuration? If not, add $150-200 to total price and you get $750-800 (eMac is built-in, of course).
(Then again, there's always the "performance" factor that people play up...)
I was thinking the exact same thing. Not only UNIX talk, but anyone remember old BBS "chat" functions?
Frankly, I think it's a non-issue. While some chat-happy people might be all excited about knowing if someone is "typing", it's not a deal-killer for me.
And here's some other thoughts: IF SCO can successfully say that LINUX is a *NIX variant and thus owes them money, what about the commercial counterparts of the "OSS" clones? Could Adobe come around and fight with Corel over who gets to sue distros who distribute The Gimp? MS over Evolution (after all, without Outlook to clone and "copy" and without a feature-set to match, where would Evolution be?)? If you can successfully argue that by releasing a product with a set of API's or easily cloned interface that you now "influence" any product that dares to compete with it later, then fuck, man. This rabbit hole could go deep.
Fortunately for us (in CSS and OSS worlds), I don't think they'll be able to argue that successfully.
Just a slight correction: If you know anything about the gaming industry, you'd know that Nintendo has NEVER ascribed to the "loss-leader" model of console sales. The gamecube makes a profit, the GBA makes a profit, etc.
Indeed, but what about a smaller business that can't afford to go through those lengths? What I'm kinda getting at would be, where's an organization that could do this PROFESSIONALLY for people willing to pay? Think of it as an internet legal strongarm. I would think there would be a demand for a company that specializes in tracking down domain spoofers, contacting the correct people (and after you do it for awhile, you quickly learn who to contact at various ISP's for problems, etc, rather than having to "reinvent" the wheel as we have to do now), getting local authorities involved if there's criminal activity, etc etc, as well as providing a mechanism for "self-policing" member companies. If member A isn't holding up to the group's TOS or Acceptable conduct (for instance, they allow spammers to reside on their network knowingly), the other groups could then collectively pressure that member to yield (you know, backbone issues.. Kinda hard to sell internet service when you piss off Member J who owns your backbone...)
And how many hours did you spend tracking this guy down? How much in long distance telephone calls? Stamps? While I'm sure we're all eternally grateful for your hard work and dedication, you have to ask yourself: was it worth the time and effort?
It's from all the goddamn hot-air spewing out from the self-important PHB's. I'd say huddling all the caffeinated, overweight engineers into a cramped meeting space for hours makes for a nice heat-sink.
First you say:/* The American Dream is about freedom to pursue your own life, */
And then you dismiss/* The Ayn Randian everyone-for-herself */
I'm puzzled, because as a so-called "follower" of Ayn Rand principles, I don't get what you're getting at. Ayn Rand never said you had to be a billionaire or a millionaire, but instead followed more of a mantra that every day you should live for yourself, find something you love, and do that. If anything, it's more along the "do what you love, the money will follow" philosophy. Sure, the big stars in her books were gazillionaires, but what about John Galt? The biggest hero she had was a lowly worker living in poverty working for a railroad. Living within his means and pursuing his own interests in his spare time. Do you see the difference? Ayn Rand even said something to the effect that MONEY is not the end, but merely a means to an end. Money merely provides you with a means to pursue happiness.
/* I think the old model of selling products is dead anyway, */
Pardon me if I have the wrong idea, but I just don't see selling blue-jeans on a subscription model. Or a toothbrush. Or toilet paper.
Idea for the Dashboard guys:
on
Blind Lake
·
· Score: 1
Implement a kind of.plan file for Dashboard for users who desire it. In this (preferrably XML-based) file, it contains a reading list for the user (and even a music list). More interesting (seeings how the Amazon.com stuff is already in the code) would be to link those book selections to Amazon for some good 1-click shopping. Add in a referral reference (maybe have a standard one for the GNOME foundation?) and it could make for a small revenue stream for the developers, although it would make sense to 1) disable such feature 2) change the referral ID to someone else and definately 3) make the user aware of such referrals. (Add in music lists (using GStreamer), same Amazon links, and even maybe implement "streaming" so you have a listen before you buy.. hrm)
And on topic: This is the first/. review that's actually gotten me to go buy a book. Not the book reviewed, however, I instead bought The Harvest by the same auther at the local used book store around the corner. They also have Darwinia which looks nifty and I'll be stopping by the library tomorrow for others. Thanks for the "review" as it did introduce me to a new (to me) author!
Sad, but true. (see facetious).. But then again, given the other option of employment for most of those SE Asian kids (namely, spending the day underneath some sweat, overweight American Tourist pumping away between their legs), I'd say they're better off..
Agreed. I had to sell my 1988 Honda Civic that got 36-40 mpg regularly because of computer/engine problems (250k miles without any major service other than the timing belt and clutch, I'd say that's great), but if I could find another with around 100k miles for around 1-2k, I'd sell my current liability and go for it.
Bicycling is a great alternative to driving if you're just commuting. It gets you out in the sun (chicks dig tans), works on the spare tire around your gut, and helps you avoid life-threatening diseases such as diabetes and high-blood pressure. Used by millions of Chinese and in other Asian countries, the basic design is time-tested, and if you're not into racing and other specialized forms of cycling, very inexpensive. No paying through the nose for gas at the pump, either!
A pair of Nike's also goes a long way.
But, to answer your question: Hybrid/Electrics still have some ways to go, it really depends upon your needs. Is it just you you need to haul around? Honda Insight (2 seater) might be something to look into. If you have friends or family, the Toyota Prius (or is it the Echo? I can't remember) is a 4 door sedan that might call to you. If you need to haul things often (not like furniture, but stuff like guitar amps and what not), I'd recommend looking at the Volkswagon TDI Jetta Wagons. Modern Diesels are very fuel-efficient and if you're into BioDiesel, can be very cheap, too.
My vote goes for the Wagon because I dig diesel and station wagons. (I actually own a Mazda Protege5 because it was the only decent "wagon" on the market when I had to buy a car.. if I had known that the TDI was going to appear about 6 months later I probably would've tried to wait it out.. While I like the Mazda, it only gets 25 mpg..:( )
WEll, it's your own damn fault for browing with Links/Lynx.
Frankly, while I detest a LOT of things people are doing with Flash (namely ads), things like JoeCartoon.com, CampChaos.com, Homestarrunner.com, oddtodd.com, and one-offs by would-be web artists everywhere make the whole thing worth it. Just because a lot of sites inappropriately use Flash doesn't mean that Flash in itself is evil.
Re:I have always wondered...
on
Blind Lake
·
· Score: 1
I think that was a major "plot device" in Battlefield Earth (the book) to determine the actual fate of the Psyclos...
The idea about TShirts with Linux continued: Don't just give people the same TShirt they can buy at Thinkgeek or that comes with your distro. I've got a Progeny Linux T-Shirt and it's cool and all, but if I went to a tradeshow and (say they were still around, mkay?) they gave me the same T-Shirt, well, meh. You've got to keep cranking out new designs (a couple a year is fine, though), design new case badges, stickers, posters, hell, I'm sure CD artwork would go a long ways to providing a couple more bucks in the coffer. Just be creative and have fun with it and hell, I'm sure there's a few artistically inclined people out there who would love to have a more active role in the developer's community even though they can't code. This could be their way of "giving back".
Maybe the reason people aren't buying boxed sets and TShirts is because there's not marketing/advertising. Seriously, how often have you seen a Debian or Mandrake ad anywhere? Sure, there are Mandrake T-Shirts (I think) and various other distro T-Shirts around, but the key is variety and to overhaul your line-up regularly.
Let's compare with the Independent music industry, shall we? It's a well known fact that many people who like bands and see bands live tend to wear band-related T-Shirts. Through sales of T-Shirts (and CD's, incidentally), a lot of these bands can afford to tour the country without having to resort to sleeping on lice-infested punk houses. But, what convinces people to buy T-Shirts from the Band rather than from, say Hot Topic? 1) Price. You can usually get the TShirt at the show for $10-12, usually no tax (cash transaction). The mall will cost you $15-20. 2) Knowledge that the band will get most of the proceeds drives many of us to buy at the shows. 3) UNIQUENESS. If the band is selling the same TShirt you can buy at the store, then you won't get nearly as many sales as if you come out with "unique" Tour T-Shirts. Conventions (sci-fi and otherwise) have caught on to this, as well. By buying the "unique" T-Shirt, you now have "bragging" rights. When people say "Did you go see Hatebreed last year" you can point to your T-Shirt and say "You bet your ass I did." It's kinda a reminder of the experience, you know? After all, music sometimes isn't just about the music, live music is also about the experience. A $10 T-Shirt can go a long ways towards bringing back fond memories.
Now, how does this help with distros? One thing I see is that Linux people like to give shit away. Sure, free shit is fun and bands give free shit away, too. Stickers, buttons, etc. But, generally, the free shit entices you to buy something later, be it a CD, T-Shirt, or other buttons and stickers. If you go out to live shows enough, you'll find "merch" tables where bands ply their wares. I think the computer world, they're called "Schwag" tables, and the stuff is generally free. Linux distros (whether it be a company or a gang of guys doing it in their spare time) who represent themselves at trade-shows, conventions, meetings, or whatever, should be conscious of this. When you setup your table, make sure you have something for the person to take home with them. Have some stickers (make them unique!), TShirts, or whatever. Just because Linux is free doesn't mean your TShirts have to be, but be reasonable. You're cutting out the middlemen, so price accordingly. Have some "official" CD's for sale, stickers for a couple bucks, whatever. The idea is to come up with new designs and get your customers caught up in the "Do you have that cool Debian sticker in blue vinyl with a picture of Daryl McBride getting assfucked by Ron Jeremy?" cycle (take a look at Pokemon and Magic: TG). Sure, they're just trinkets, but they serve to help build a community (nothing warms my heart more than to see a big Debian sticker on the back of a car), gets advertising out there (and every "sale" to linux is a win for the entire linux community, regardless of the distro), and is a great way for developers to meet and greet their users at shows. See Apple when it comes to building fanatical fan-bases, it really works (TM).
I'm sure there's a lot of guys who already do this. I don't know because I've never been to any sort of Linux-Con, so please forgive me if I'm treading familiar ground for some of you. But, if you currently don't do this for your distribution or project, maybe it's time to take a step back and examine what you can do to get more support, users, or even money.:)
Struggling company Needs revenue badly Sells out to the man
More seriously, while I might have issues with ads in my screensaver, I don't see any problems with seeing ads upon installation. The way I look at it is the way I look at not blocking ads on my favorite websites (like/. and arstechnica): If me looking at an ad for a moment (actually, I ignore them, but they count ad-load, right?) helps them pay for the sites that I use, then I don't mind at all unless they're purveyors of the evil popup(). If seeing a few ads upon installation allows them to pay for full-time Linux developers who are releasing their software to the community, then it's a small "inconvenience" to pay for so-called greater good.
I know, there's a giant anti-market bunch out there that are going to jump up and down and scream about how Linux isn't about making money or whatnot, but frankly, I like the idea of someone getting paid to do something they love (work developing Linux and Linux applications) with a somewhat benign method of securing funding. Now, the day they start installing spyware...
And, unfortunately, as we witnessed with the recent FSF revelation that they'd been hacked, patches can be available the minute the security hole is disclosed, but it's 100% worthless if no one bothers to apply it.
From what I recall, many "huge" MS worm/virii/trojan outbreaks of recent note were actually "fixed" many months prior, it's just that the admins never bothered to apply the patches, or systems got lost in the, uh, system, etc.
Frankly, I think the idea of a user having to patch his system on a regular basis (becoming his own sysadmin) is a rather stupid idea, as most users barely have the inclination or desire to be a damn user. At the same time, it's folks like that that ensure I'll always be able to make rent as I charge $100 to format/reinstall their OS (and apply updates for them) so they can go back to downloading sub7 from their pr0n browsing. Do I have a better solution? Not really, but throwing a cheap Linksys router in front of my dad's computer did wonders for his system woes and allows me to update his security patches on my time when I'm over visiting..
Man, I hate to bring up a Mel Gibson movie, but ever see Patriot?
Don't hide behind your fucking family just because you don't have the fucking stones to say "I have morals, I have ethics, and I will stand up for myself." Yeah, times will be tough NOW, but in 15 years when your kids are grown and ask you about the times "you had it tough", do you think they'll be more proud of the fact that their Daddy actually has the gumption to stand up for himself or the fact that Daddy was willing to stand by and watch someone do something he was opposed to?
I'm so fucking glad you like your job, I'm sure all those Nike employees are happy now that 12 year old kids are working in sweat shops rather than spending the day with some overweight, sweaty American tourist pumping away between their legs.
Eh, it depends upon the particular "agreement" they have with the USPS. For example, sending stuff back to AOL just means the letter carrier takes it back to the PO and dumps it in the garbage there. Same with a lot of other junk mail./. needs to interview a postal carrier who deals with this stuff everyday to see what gets sent back and what stays local.
Did anyone else read the article but me? That story can sum up everything that "geeks" get wrong about user interfaces and assumptions about "levels of knowledge" when it comes to computers. Let's look:
She's paying $29.95 for KaZaA service. Now, unless they paid for the application (didn't specify), maybe they were referring to their ISP service? Kinda like when users point at their computer and say "My modem".
Dig deeper (paraphrase): "We just listen to the songs and then just let them go. We don't save them."
Obviously these folks do not realize that KaZaA saves the files to their harddrive and automatically "shares" them. They don't even know they still have the song! Not to mention that they probably download the song over and over if they want to hear it again. Don't laugh, I've seen my dad do that. He didn't know, literally, that just because he downloaded a song via napster that he still "had it" and had no idea on how to find it if he didn't use Napster to get to it.
I cringe at the thought that my own dad can't use a computer and has no inclination to learn. I've literally shown him a dozen-times how to open up windows explorer and browse through to find stuff, but he doesn't use his computer very often and by the time he wants to find something, he's forgotten again. It's not that he's stupid (to the contrary, he's a professional musician, a retired machinist, etc etc), it's just that computers are something he very rarely uses and he just doesn't have the dedication it requires to learn the basics.
But that's Joe Average User.
This little girl might know a bit about IM and kazaa and how to use Internet Explorer, but I doubt it goes much beyond that.
If it weren't for the trend of outsourcing to India, I'd say "Job Security" for those of us who do give a shit and ignore pop-culture. Someone has to run the machines. Someone has to fix the machines.
Slashdot Mirror
/* Sure, they can't compete with the Dimension 2400's $599 price tag */
Dimension 2400 here
Someone please correct me, but does anyone see a monitor in that configuration? If not, add $150-200 to total price and you get $750-800 (eMac is built-in, of course).
(Then again, there's always the "performance" factor that people play up...)
I was thinking the exact same thing. Not only UNIX talk, but anyone remember old BBS "chat" functions?
Frankly, I think it's a non-issue. While some chat-happy people might be all excited about knowing if someone is "typing", it's not a deal-killer for me.
And here's some other thoughts:
IF SCO can successfully say that LINUX is a *NIX variant and thus owes them money, what about the commercial counterparts of the "OSS" clones? Could Adobe come around and fight with Corel over who gets to sue distros who distribute The Gimp? MS over Evolution (after all, without Outlook to clone and "copy" and without a feature-set to match, where would Evolution be?)? If you can successfully argue that by releasing a product with a set of API's or easily cloned interface that you now "influence" any product that dares to compete with it later, then fuck, man. This rabbit hole could go deep.
Fortunately for us (in CSS and OSS worlds), I don't think they'll be able to argue that successfully.
Just a slight correction: If you know anything about the gaming industry, you'd know that Nintendo has NEVER ascribed to the "loss-leader" model of console sales. The gamecube makes a profit, the GBA makes a profit, etc.
Indeed, but what about a smaller business that can't afford to go through those lengths? What I'm kinda getting at would be, where's an organization that could do this PROFESSIONALLY for people willing to pay? Think of it as an internet legal strongarm. I would think there would be a demand for a company that specializes in tracking down domain spoofers, contacting the correct people (and after you do it for awhile, you quickly learn who to contact at various ISP's for problems, etc, rather than having to "reinvent" the wheel as we have to do now), getting local authorities involved if there's criminal activity, etc etc, as well as providing a mechanism for "self-policing" member companies. If member A isn't holding up to the group's TOS or Acceptable conduct (for instance, they allow spammers to reside on their network knowingly), the other groups could then collectively pressure that member to yield (you know, backbone issues.. Kinda hard to sell internet service when you piss off Member J who owns your backbone...)
And how many hours did you spend tracking this guy down? How much in long distance telephone calls? Stamps?
While I'm sure we're all eternally grateful for your hard work and dedication, you have to ask yourself: was it worth the time and effort?
It's from all the goddamn hot-air spewing out from the self-important PHB's. I'd say huddling all the caffeinated, overweight engineers into a cramped meeting space for hours makes for a nice heat-sink.
/* a newbie want to click on an install icon... like UT, quake3, or all the loki games has.. and Open Office and Mozilla .. they have them too... */
Newbie fucking hell. I'm not exactly a newbie and all I want is a fucking icon to click to install.
Yes, apt-get install foo is nice and all, but compared to clicking an icon labeled "Install", it's rocket science for 99% of the people out there.
First you say: /* The American Dream is about freedom to pursue your own life, */
/* The Ayn Randian everyone-for-herself */
And then you dismiss
I'm puzzled, because as a so-called "follower" of Ayn Rand principles, I don't get what you're getting at. Ayn Rand never said you had to be a billionaire or a millionaire, but instead followed more of a mantra that every day you should live for yourself, find something you love, and do that. If anything, it's more along the "do what you love, the money will follow" philosophy. Sure, the big stars in her books were gazillionaires, but what about John Galt? The biggest hero she had was a lowly worker living in poverty working for a railroad. Living within his means and pursuing his own interests in his spare time. Do you see the difference? Ayn Rand even said something to the effect that MONEY is not the end, but merely a means to an end. Money merely provides you with a means to pursue happiness.
/* I think the old model of selling products is dead anyway, */
Pardon me if I have the wrong idea, but I just don't see selling blue-jeans on a subscription model. Or a toothbrush. Or toilet paper.
Implement a kind of .plan file for Dashboard for users who desire it. In this (preferrably XML-based) file, it contains a reading list for the user (and even a music list). More interesting (seeings how the Amazon.com stuff is already in the code) would be to link those book selections to Amazon for some good 1-click shopping. Add in a referral reference (maybe have a standard one for the GNOME foundation?) and it could make for a small revenue stream for the developers, although it would make sense to 1) disable such feature 2) change the referral ID to someone else and definately 3) make the user aware of such referrals. (Add in music lists (using GStreamer), same Amazon links, and even maybe implement "streaming" so you have a listen before you buy.. hrm)
/. review that's actually gotten me to go buy a book. Not the book reviewed, however, I instead bought The Harvest by the same auther at the local used book store around the corner. They also have Darwinia which looks nifty and I'll be stopping by the library tomorrow for others. Thanks for the "review" as it did introduce me to a new (to me) author!
And on topic: This is the first
Sad, but true. (see facetious).. But then again, given the other option of employment for most of those SE Asian kids (namely, spending the day underneath some sweat, overweight American Tourist pumping away between their legs), I'd say they're better off..
Agreed. I had to sell my 1988 Honda Civic that got 36-40 mpg regularly because of computer/engine problems (250k miles without any major service other than the timing belt and clutch, I'd say that's great), but if I could find another with around 100k miles for around 1-2k, I'd sell my current liability and go for it.
Bicycling is a great alternative to driving if you're just commuting. It gets you out in the sun (chicks dig tans), works on the spare tire around your gut, and helps you avoid life-threatening diseases such as diabetes and high-blood pressure. Used by millions of Chinese and in other Asian countries, the basic design is time-tested, and if you're not into racing and other specialized forms of cycling, very inexpensive. No paying through the nose for gas at the pump, either!
:( )
A pair of Nike's also goes a long way.
But, to answer your question:
Hybrid/Electrics still have some ways to go, it really depends upon your needs. Is it just you you need to haul around? Honda Insight (2 seater) might be something to look into. If you have friends or family, the Toyota Prius (or is it the Echo? I can't remember) is a 4 door sedan that might call to you. If you need to haul things often (not like furniture, but stuff like guitar amps and what not), I'd recommend looking at the Volkswagon TDI Jetta Wagons. Modern Diesels are very fuel-efficient and if you're into BioDiesel, can be very cheap, too.
My vote goes for the Wagon because I dig diesel and station wagons. (I actually own a Mazda Protege5 because it was the only decent "wagon" on the market when I had to buy a car.. if I had known that the TDI was going to appear about 6 months later I probably would've tried to wait it out.. While I like the Mazda, it only gets 25 mpg..
WEll, it's your own damn fault for browing with Links/Lynx.
Frankly, while I detest a LOT of things people are doing with Flash (namely ads), things like JoeCartoon.com, CampChaos.com, Homestarrunner.com, oddtodd.com, and one-offs by would-be web artists everywhere make the whole thing worth it. Just because a lot of sites inappropriately use Flash doesn't mean that Flash in itself is evil.
I think that was a major "plot device" in Battlefield Earth (the book) to determine the actual fate of the Psyclos...
No, it's a HAIku, albeit a very bad one. :(
Dammit, I missed some points..
The idea about TShirts with Linux continued:
Don't just give people the same TShirt they can buy at Thinkgeek or that comes with your distro. I've got a Progeny Linux T-Shirt and it's cool and all, but if I went to a tradeshow and (say they were still around, mkay?) they gave me the same T-Shirt, well, meh. You've got to keep cranking out new designs (a couple a year is fine, though), design new case badges, stickers, posters, hell, I'm sure CD artwork would go a long ways to providing a couple more bucks in the coffer. Just be creative and have fun with it and hell, I'm sure there's a few artistically inclined people out there who would love to have a more active role in the developer's community even though they can't code. This could be their way of "giving back".
Maybe the reason people aren't buying boxed sets and TShirts is because there's not marketing/advertising. Seriously, how often have you seen a Debian or Mandrake ad anywhere? Sure, there are Mandrake T-Shirts (I think) and various other distro T-Shirts around, but the key is variety and to overhaul your line-up regularly.
:)
Let's compare with the Independent music industry, shall we?
It's a well known fact that many people who like bands and see bands live tend to wear band-related T-Shirts. Through sales of T-Shirts (and CD's, incidentally), a lot of these bands can afford to tour the country without having to resort to sleeping on lice-infested punk houses. But, what convinces people to buy T-Shirts from the Band rather than from, say Hot Topic?
1) Price. You can usually get the TShirt at the show for $10-12, usually no tax (cash transaction). The mall will cost you $15-20.
2) Knowledge that the band will get most of the proceeds drives many of us to buy at the shows.
3) UNIQUENESS. If the band is selling the same TShirt you can buy at the store, then you won't get nearly as many sales as if you come out with "unique" Tour T-Shirts. Conventions (sci-fi and otherwise) have caught on to this, as well. By buying the "unique" T-Shirt, you now have "bragging" rights. When people say "Did you go see Hatebreed last year" you can point to your T-Shirt and say "You bet your ass I did." It's kinda a reminder of the experience, you know? After all, music sometimes isn't just about the music, live music is also about the experience. A $10 T-Shirt can go a long ways towards bringing back fond memories.
Now, how does this help with distros?
One thing I see is that Linux people like to give shit away. Sure, free shit is fun and bands give free shit away, too. Stickers, buttons, etc. But, generally, the free shit entices you to buy something later, be it a CD, T-Shirt, or other buttons and stickers. If you go out to live shows enough, you'll find "merch" tables where bands ply their wares. I think the computer world, they're called "Schwag" tables, and the stuff is generally free.
Linux distros (whether it be a company or a gang of guys doing it in their spare time) who represent themselves at trade-shows, conventions, meetings, or whatever, should be conscious of this. When you setup your table, make sure you have something for the person to take home with them. Have some stickers (make them unique!), TShirts, or whatever. Just because Linux is free doesn't mean your TShirts have to be, but be reasonable. You're cutting out the middlemen, so price accordingly. Have some "official" CD's for sale, stickers for a couple bucks, whatever. The idea is to come up with new designs and get your customers caught up in the "Do you have that cool Debian sticker in blue vinyl with a picture of Daryl McBride getting assfucked by Ron Jeremy?" cycle (take a look at Pokemon and Magic: TG). Sure, they're just trinkets, but they serve to help build a community (nothing warms my heart more than to see a big Debian sticker on the back of a car), gets advertising out there (and every "sale" to linux is a win for the entire linux community, regardless of the distro), and is a great way for developers to meet and greet their users at shows. See Apple when it comes to building fanatical fan-bases, it really works (TM).
I'm sure there's a lot of guys who already do this. I don't know because I've never been to any sort of Linux-Con, so please forgive me if I'm treading familiar ground for some of you. But, if you currently don't do this for your distribution or project, maybe it's time to take a step back and examine what you can do to get more support, users, or even money.
Struggling company
/. and arstechnica): If me looking at an ad for a moment (actually, I ignore them, but they count ad-load, right?) helps them pay for the sites that I use, then I don't mind at all unless they're purveyors of the evil popup(). If seeing a few ads upon installation allows them to pay for full-time Linux developers who are releasing their software to the community, then it's a small "inconvenience" to pay for so-called greater good.
Needs revenue badly
Sells out to the man
More seriously, while I might have issues with ads in my screensaver, I don't see any problems with seeing ads upon installation. The way I look at it is the way I look at not blocking ads on my favorite websites (like
I know, there's a giant anti-market bunch out there that are going to jump up and down and scream about how Linux isn't about making money or whatnot, but frankly, I like the idea of someone getting paid to do something they love (work developing Linux and Linux applications) with a somewhat benign method of securing funding. Now, the day they start installing spyware...
And, unfortunately, as we witnessed with the recent FSF revelation that they'd been hacked, patches can be available the minute the security hole is disclosed, but it's 100% worthless if no one bothers to apply it.
From what I recall, many "huge" MS worm/virii/trojan outbreaks of recent note were actually "fixed" many months prior, it's just that the admins never bothered to apply the patches, or systems got lost in the, uh, system, etc.
Frankly, I think the idea of a user having to patch his system on a regular basis (becoming his own sysadmin) is a rather stupid idea, as most users barely have the inclination or desire to be a damn user. At the same time, it's folks like that that ensure I'll always be able to make rent as I charge $100 to format/reinstall their OS (and apply updates for them) so they can go back to downloading sub7 from their pr0n browsing. Do I have a better solution? Not really, but throwing a cheap Linksys router in front of my dad's computer did wonders for his system woes and allows me to update his security patches on my time when I'm over visiting..
Man, I hate to bring up a Mel Gibson movie, but ever see Patriot?
Don't hide behind your fucking family just because you don't have the fucking stones to say "I have morals, I have ethics, and I will stand up for myself." Yeah, times will be tough NOW, but in 15 years when your kids are grown and ask you about the times "you had it tough", do you think they'll be more proud of the fact that their Daddy actually has the gumption to stand up for himself or the fact that Daddy was willing to stand by and watch someone do something he was opposed to?
I'm so fucking glad you like your job, I'm sure all those Nike employees are happy now that 12 year old kids are working in sweat shops rather than spending the day with some overweight, sweaty American tourist pumping away between their legs.
Eh, it depends upon the particular "agreement" they have with the USPS. For example, sending stuff back to AOL just means the letter carrier takes it back to the PO and dumps it in the garbage there. Same with a lot of other junk mail. /. needs to interview a postal carrier who deals with this stuff everyday to see what gets sent back and what stays local.
Did anyone else read the article but me? That story can sum up everything that "geeks" get wrong about user interfaces and assumptions about "levels of knowledge" when it comes to computers. Let's look:
She's paying $29.95 for KaZaA service. Now, unless they paid for the application (didn't specify), maybe they were referring to their ISP service? Kinda like when users point at their computer and say "My modem".
Dig deeper (paraphrase):
"We just listen to the songs and then just let them go. We don't save them."
Obviously these folks do not realize that KaZaA saves the files to their harddrive and automatically "shares" them. They don't even know they still have the song! Not to mention that they probably download the song over and over if they want to hear it again. Don't laugh, I've seen my dad do that. He didn't know, literally, that just because he downloaded a song via napster that he still "had it" and had no idea on how to find it if he didn't use Napster to get to it.
I cringe at the thought that my own dad can't use a computer and has no inclination to learn. I've literally shown him a dozen-times how to open up windows explorer and browse through to find stuff, but he doesn't use his computer very often and by the time he wants to find something, he's forgotten again. It's not that he's stupid (to the contrary, he's a professional musician, a retired machinist, etc etc), it's just that computers are something he very rarely uses and he just doesn't have the dedication it requires to learn the basics.
But that's Joe Average User.
This little girl might know a bit about IM and kazaa and how to use Internet Explorer, but I doubt it goes much beyond that.
If it weren't for the trend of outsourcing to India, I'd say "Job Security" for those of us who do give a shit and ignore pop-culture. Someone has to run the machines. Someone has to fix the machines.