There is nothing FORCING you to use Microsoft Word. I have found that Lotus WordPro v9 has none of those faults you mentioned AND can read/write most complex word documents perfectly.
My solution is simple. Use Lotus Smartsuite. I just laugh at those using MS Office
Beyond 2000 me's thinks. I've got an offical OEM W2K Professional copy (from my distributor). It is valid for 415 days - hence late 2000 at the very earliest. If they "discover" the problems I have they will need significant work on it. Since Microsoft didn't provide a contact number that works I might post the stuff here;)
Zope doesn't BUILT-IN support for JavaBeans, however, since Zope is available cross-platform and Python includes support for Corba and COM Zope can access and control EJB using these (if you can stomach using WinJava).
Python itself runs on Java (JPython) and there is a vapourware project underway to allow interaction between Zope and JPython. Also, there are a number of Python/Java connection schemes around. I believe there is one that allows you to subclass from an external JRE.
I find the best way to cope with VC is to use VC to knock up a project via drag 'n drop and then use a converter (email me for details) to convert the dsw/dsp files into a platform generic makefile.
In the process it replaces the absolute path with relative paths and cleans out all the junk. To see how inefficent it is look at the dsw / dsp files in notepad.
The other advantage in doing this is that I can automagically retarget for ming, cywgin or VC for those without VC.
It might be for tax reasons. In Australia we aren't (yet) taxed on services so if the product is free and the service is what you pay for then the earnings are tax free. I'm not an accountant or anything but that is my understanding of it.
PS: I've ordered from LSL Australia and found them great. Much cheaper, faster and more accomendating than InfoMagic.
Glide is "thinner" than DirectX in the sense that it is a thin wrapper around the hardware as compared to DirectX which is hardware-independant. Perhaps it wasn't a good example - I'd hate to see user interface stuff in the kernal;).
That brings up the point - what about the new fb features? These are in the kernal - the key difference being that because the kernal may not have it programmers cannot assume it is there - therefore, they design their *own* generic interface between the display logic & the program. Ie berlin. The difference with MS being that because each interface is purpose-built for the usage required of it, it is more efficiant and because of the kernal being in source form ppl learn not to "build" upon interfaces.
In summary, Linus appears to be saying that the OpenSource Way *allows* ppl to build eff. interfaces for a program easily (out of the kernal) instead of building on (possibily) poor interfaces because they have no choice.
Especially interesting from an engineering pov is the separation of interfaces from modulisation. The idea of writing the OS in C and basing "portability" on the portability of the compiler is a cool idea.
But, I suggest that you do need "interfaces" otherwise how can ppl use the devices? The "interface" in Linux is the/proc +/dev file systems. So, Linux is actually using "low-level" interfaces, ie interfaces which are "thin" as apposed to "thick" (example, glide vs DirectX).
In effect, we have a trade-off against "portability" towards usage. This, I agree with totally.
And it will determine what it depends on, dialup and download the stuff and install it on-the-fly. If you are upgrading (for example) lpr it will stop lpr, install the new one and bring it up again.
The key word with Debian TCO. Once running... it is the closest to zero that you can find.
However, patents ARE used coercively by large organisations and you cannot just ignore it.
Software patents are already being granted in ways that people would disagree with - witness Microsoft's patenting of the W3C works in progress (the CSS & Dynamic HTML specs). So, how do we relistically prevent this?
One thing would be to open up the patenting process so that people who have no knowledge of the industry that the patent applies to cannot grant patents. This would (maybe) prevent Microsoft snapping up the public domain work by others - "free" licence aside.
There are no easy answers and banning software patents (however usful this would be to the OpenSource movement aside...) is not the answer.
The big vendors bulk-buy Office + Windows and combine them on one CD with their own modifications. That's why its hard to separate them. My suggestions?
1 - Buy a desktop from a "local" builder and ask for Lotus / Wordperfect. It will (suprising) work out of the box unlike some well-known brands that come through our workshop. Plus, It'll be cheaper;)
2 - Buy an OEM laptop like Twinheads etc. Unfortuneatly, most of them go broke after a few years but at lest you have a better chance of _not_ buying Microsoft.
3 - Buy a Toshiba / Dell and join the Microsoft Refund Movement;)
First, Great idea for reducing the number of comments! Who can read 100+ comments per article?
Second, How about adding a 1-10 rating thingybob to the comment display so that those who don't want to comment can still say "I agree / That sucks" to a comment. Then, maybe a top-ten comment can move to the top of the pile.
Third, Is there an Australian mirror somewhere? If not, are there plans to intro a Freshmeat style mirror farm?
Slightly offtopic, What about a "100% SlashProof" / "Slashed!" icon for the url to a story to indicate if you can see the url or not. Nothing worse than looking at a link to see that the/. effect is alive and well;). Prehapes a simple daemon to get the http header every x minutes while the story is "live"
Slashdot Mirror
There is nothing FORCING you to use Microsoft Word. I have found that Lotus WordPro v9 has none of those faults you mentioned AND can read/write most complex word documents perfectly.
My solution is simple. Use Lotus Smartsuite. I just laugh at those using MS Office
Beyond 2000 me's thinks. I've got an offical OEM W2K Professional copy (from my distributor). It is valid for 415 days - hence late 2000 at the very earliest. If they "discover" the problems I have they will need significant work on it. Since Microsoft didn't provide a contact number that works I might post the stuff here ;)
Zope doesn't BUILT-IN support for JavaBeans, however, since Zope is available cross-platform and Python includes support for Corba and COM Zope can access and control EJB using these (if you can stomach using WinJava).
Python itself runs on Java (JPython) and there is a vapourware project underway to allow interaction between Zope and JPython. Also, there are a number of Python/Java connection schemes around. I believe there is one that allows you to subclass from an external JRE.
Hope this clears this up!
Who says?
I think UQ Roboroos will beat the crap out of everyone else. We've got some secret weapons...
I find the best way to cope with VC is to use VC
to knock up a project via drag 'n drop and then
use a converter (email me for details) to convert
the dsw/dsp files into a platform generic makefile.
In the process it replaces the absolute path with relative paths and cleans out all the junk. To see how inefficent it is look at the dsw / dsp files in notepad.
The other advantage in doing this is that I can automagically retarget for ming, cywgin or VC for those without VC.
Hi,
It might be for tax reasons. In Australia we aren't (yet) taxed on services so if the product is free and the service is what you pay for then the earnings are tax free. I'm not an accountant or anything but that is my understanding of it.
PS: I've ordered from LSL Australia and found them great. Much cheaper, faster and more accomendating than InfoMagic.
This is simliar to what I suggested on Mod 1.1 ;) I agree entirely.
Also, it could help pay for SlashDot -> "Featured Product" dept allows companies (for money) to gauge reaction to a product.
Cheers
As long as it comes with:
;)
* AppleScript
* HyperCard
* Newton HW recon.
* The Palm "remote control" "feature"
and someone writes a sync applet for Linux
... I'll buy it ASAP
Well stated ;). However,
;).
Glide is "thinner" than DirectX in the sense that it is a thin wrapper around the hardware as compared to DirectX which is hardware-independant. Perhaps it wasn't a good example - I'd hate to see user interface stuff in the kernal
That brings up the point - what about the new fb features? These are in the kernal - the key difference being that because the kernal may not have it programmers cannot assume it is there - therefore, they design their *own* generic interface between the display logic & the program. Ie berlin. The difference with MS being that because each interface is purpose-built for the usage required of it, it is more efficiant and because of the kernal being in source form ppl learn not to "build" upon interfaces.
In summary, Linus appears to be saying that the OpenSource Way *allows* ppl to build eff. interfaces for a program easily (out of the kernal) instead of building on (possibily) poor interfaces because they have no choice.
Just me rambling along,
Great review! My rambling thoughts...
/proc + /dev file systems. So, Linux is actually using "low-level" interfaces, ie interfaces which are "thin" as apposed to "thick" (example, glide vs DirectX).
/.ers
Especially interesting from an engineering pov is the separation of interfaces from modulisation. The idea of writing the OS in C and basing "portability" on the portability of the compiler is a cool idea.
But, I suggest that you do need "interfaces" otherwise how can ppl use the devices? The "interface" in Linux is the
In effect, we have a trade-off against "portability" towards usage. This, I agree with totally.
Cheers
Debian is well worth trying out...
Once installed you can install a new package via:
apt-get install
And it will determine what it depends on, dialup and download the stuff and install it on-the-fly. If you are upgrading (for example) lpr it will stop lpr, install the new one and bring it up again.
The key word with Debian TCO. Once running... it is the closest to zero that you can find.
Cheers
It would be nice...
/.ers
However, patents ARE used coercively by large organisations and you cannot just ignore it.
Software patents are already being granted in ways that people would disagree with - witness Microsoft's patenting of the W3C works in progress (the CSS & Dynamic HTML specs). So, how do we relistically prevent this?
One thing would be to open up the patenting process so that people who have no knowledge of the industry that the patent applies to cannot grant patents. This would (maybe) prevent Microsoft snapping up the public domain work by others - "free" licence aside.
There are no easy answers and banning software patents (however usful this would be to the OpenSource movement aside...) is not the answer.
Cheers
Yes,
;)
;)
/.ers
The big vendors bulk-buy Office + Windows and combine them on one CD with their own modifications. That's why its hard to separate them. My suggestions?
1 - Buy a desktop from a "local" builder and ask for Lotus / Wordperfect. It will (suprising) work out of the box unlike some well-known brands that come through our workshop. Plus, It'll be cheaper
2 - Buy an OEM laptop like Twinheads etc. Unfortuneatly, most of them go broke after a few years but at lest you have a better chance of _not_ buying Microsoft.
3 - Buy a Toshiba / Dell and join the Microsoft Refund Movement
Cheers
First,
/. effect is alive and well ;). Prehapes a simple daemon to get the http header every x minutes while the story is "live"
/.ers
Great idea for reducing the number of comments! Who can read 100+ comments per article?
Second,
How about adding a 1-10 rating thingybob to the comment display so that those who don't want to comment can still say "I agree / That sucks" to a comment. Then, maybe a top-ten comment can move to the top of the pile.
Third,
Is there an Australian mirror somewhere? If not, are there plans to intro a Freshmeat style mirror farm?
Slightly offtopic,
What about a "100% SlashProof" / "Slashed!" icon for the url to a story to indicate if you can see the url or not. Nothing worse than looking at a link to see that the
Cheers