I believe they are comparing it to other wireless LANs and LANs that use existing house wiring(phone/Cable/AC). I don't know about other wireless LANs, but the only phone-wiring based LAN I know of runs at 1 MB/s, and cable modem runs at under 2 MB/s... The only "LAN" I can think of that runs over AC is X-10.
While I am not adverse to the idea of stinging up CAT5 all over the house, most non-geeks are (my mom comes to mind).
Regards,
Re:1 problem I have with the Darwin awards
on
Stop: Quickies Time
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· Score: 2
I think the Darwin awards are amusing, and they are a great monument to stupidity of some in the human race.
One problem I've always had with the Darwin awards is that they don't stick to their own criteria. The original description of the Darwin awards was
"... awards for those individuals who better society by
removing themselves from the gene-pool."
If you know anything about Biology, any person, living or dead, with living desendants is still in the gene pool. I think all Darwin award nominees with living descendants should be disqualified.
Ummm... send who an intelligent letter? This was a letter to the spammers. Often I question if they could even understand an intelleigent letter. Did you think I was asking people to send that to mindcraft? I'm not saying you're wrong or right, I'm just saying either you didn't understand what I wrote, or I didn't understand your response.
Now I realize that these are just mindcraft's chosen few, but if we made it extremely easy for us to reply to such zealous smut, and had lists of such offenders readily availible, maybe these childish fools might learn their lesson...
For example, if we all pasted the following into our nearest xterm:
echo Hey dudes -@@ " " Cool the anti-Linux hate mail. If you \ haven\'t noticed it\'s@making us look bad, as well as \ making Linux _AND_ you look bad.@Next time \ think \"Would recieving this make _YOU_ feel better about@Linux\?\" \ before you send such a response... If you@don\'t know what I\'m talking \ about look at check@out http://www.mindcraft.com/linux-net-rage.html @@ " " \ a concerned Linux user,@@ " " " " `grep '^'$USER':'/etc/passwd | \ sed -e 's/^\([^:]*:\)\{4\}//' -e 's/,.*$//'` | tr '@' '\012' | fmt | \ mail joe@pjprimer.com abel@cybercable.fr tom@classicsites.com \ TOsburn@wpsmtp.siumed.edu joern_merkel@wtal.de bollocks@erols.com \ stefan.heimers@kosta.ch Pekka.Honkonen@tieto.com sergiovf@infosa.org
I wonder if the resulting mail flood would teach these guys a lesson?
For those of you who don't want to sort through all the above gibberish, it basically sends the following email to each of the mindcraft "Linux zealot" poster children:
Hey dudes -
. Cool the anti-Linux hate mail. If you haven't noticed it's making us look bad, as well as making Linux _AND_ you look bad. Next time think "Would recieving this make _YOU_ feel better about Linux?" before you send such a response... If you don't know what I'm talking about look at check out http://www.mindcraft.com/linux-net-rage.html
. a concerned Linux user,
. . Your name here
Please send the above letter... any responses apreciated...
Okay... I'll concede that at 60 Hz it would be next to useless... (although not entirely so)... Can someone suggest another wireless/semi-wireless(over AC/telephone) that would be usefull to remedy this... and (preferably) 10-base-T compatible...
I saw some telephone-based LAN kits (that ran at 1 MB/s) that looked desent, with the following shortcommings:
I didn't see any obvious signs of Linux support... (although this may have since changed.)
One of the ends of the connection is a Macintosh Performa 631CD, and is not compatible with much (I'm pulling teeth trying to find a printer for the darn thing), so something 10-base-T on both ends would be best.
P.S. Does anyone know any retailers/distributors that have any "new in the box" (discontinued) HP DeskWriters still in stock?
I've been using X10 with Linux for over 10 years and I have it working pretty well. The only thing that we're really missing is a good GUI to make the software collections easier to use...
Umm... How could you have been using X10 with Linux for 10 years when Linux has only been around for less than 8 years (Linux first appeared in September 1991)?
Does anyone know of a way to send IP (as in TCP/IP, UDP/IP and ICMP/IP) over X10?? I have one computer user in my house that wants internet access (via our household LAN), but doesn't want the unsightlyness of an ethernet cabel running through the house... Ideally it would have a 10-base-T port on it directly, because all computers in the house have 10-base-T ethernet NICs. I envision something like this:
I use OSS/Free. From what I can tell it seems to be a good driver, and I'm fairly happy with it. (There are a few features that I would like to see, but I don't consider adding features a big issue, because the source is open. If I decide I need a feature badly enough, I'll write it myself.) I don't have anything personal against 4 Front as a company, but I have decided against OSS/Linux for the following reasons:
I have been burned too many times by closed source software.
I prefer OpenSource software to propriatary software. If given a choice, I'd take the OpenSource product.
I try to avoid closed-source software for any application that I rely upon.
I refuse to
run closed-source software as root
insert closed source software into my kernel
This is not to say that I am against paying good money for good software, but I expect it to come with source. Unfortunately, OSS/Linux must be inserted into the kernel. By my above resolves I cannot use it, and it is useless to me because it's closed source.
I know we live in a world of NDAs and other restrictions. Honestly, I think this is the card manufacturer's problem, and not yours... If they don't want to open specs, than they don't deserve Linux support! I consider source-code availibility an essetial feature when running a maintainable system. That is waht makes software "free" (libre) not it's price tag (gratis)!
In summary: I don't mind paying good money for good software, but I expect it to come with source.
I am (at least slightly) interested in DVD support under Linux. I am not fully in support of DVD's imposing copy-protection methods, but that is a completely different issue. I am writing because it is my experience that many Linux users push their hardware to limits other than those imposed by their wallets. I, specifically, would like many new peripherals for my machine, but my limiting factors are space (for internal drives) and and available slots. While you are going to the trouble of collecting these statistics, I would think you may also wish to gather information on your customers' other constraints. For instance, I would love a DVD player for my system, but as I am short of slots and drive bays, I would need a DVD decoder board integrated on to my 2D/3D accelerated AGP video card (currently a 3dfx Voodoo Banshee) or be able to replace one of my other cards (such as having a SCSI controller integrated onto the same card). I would also need either an external SCSI DVD drive, or (preferably) a 1/4 height DVD drive (I currently only have one half of 1 half-height 5.25" drive bay free) and would prefer a SCSI drive. These may not be things that are within your control, but they are probably things your investors/manufacturers should take into consideration.
The other issue is that your question is slightly biased. (or, more accurately, the answers are.) Asking someone how much they would pay is fine, but assuming that anyone who isn't willing to pay for a DVD decoder is satisfied with MS Windows (or, for that matter, would even *USE* windows) is probably biasing people who may not otherwise purchase a DVD decoder into giving you a dollar figure.
I hope they find an old Apple I (Yes: 1, as in the predicessor to the 2) or an Altair still in use at some buisness somewhere... We used to have an Apple ][+, but the motherboard died about 6 years ago...
Peace,
Re:RMS should read the GPL
on
GNU Inside?
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· Score: 4
Hold the boat a bit... RMS never asked anyone to call the Linux kernel "GNU/Linux". The Linux kernel was written by Linus Torvalds, and RMS is cool with that. What RMS is miffed about is the kernel makes up about 5% of an average "Linux" system, while GNU tools make up about 30% of it, and that the system still bears the name "Linux" (appearantly giving no credit to FSF for the GNU portion). RMS is claiming that the Linux system (including all the GNU tools... not just the kernel) should be called "GNU/Linux". I'm still not sure where I stand on the issue, but I think that a "GNU Inside" logo is a good compromise.
It is (or at least the beta was) most definitly a glibc2 only game... I beta-tested it on a (originally libc5) Slackware box, and even after installing glibc2 (originally for the glibc2-only Banshee X-Server) it wouldn't run until I recompiled some of my libs (zlib comes to mind) for glibc2...
Still, that said, it is a superb game. I, personally, am waiting to buy it from a "brick-and-mortar" store... (If we don't buy it, why should they carry it)... So Im am waiting patiently to make my purchase... My beta expired about 2 weeks ago, and I'm suffering symptoms of withdrawl.
FYI... I typically buy AMD chips because I believe that they are better quality chips, and faster than equivalant Intel models... Price is not my main concern when buying a CPU... I would probably buy AMD even if they were slightly more expensive than Intel.
As far as Cirix and WinChip go, I haven't heard to many positives from them with regard to quality or speed. Therefore I would not be likely to buy Cirix or WinChip despite their low price.
Yes, the AMD K-7 is supposedly designed with multi-processor in mind from the start. It will not be compatible with current x86 motherboards though (Like intel bothered with motherboard compatibility on the PentiumPro, or Pentium II???), it will use DEC (Compaq) Alpha motherboards instead (but will remain x86 instruction set compatible).
I make no gaurentees about the above information, but it is what I understand from following AMD recently.
This actually ISN'T 100% off topic. I just wanted to say:
Yes, I do believe that AMD makes superior products, to Intel (despite my recent customer service experience with AMD), and I don't agree with some of the things that Intel is doing now (especially Proc ID Numbers), but when it comes to multiple processors in an x86 architecture, they are the only game in town. The AMD K-5 and K-6 series chips level-1 caching architecture is incompatible with the SMP architecture. As far as Cirix and WinChip, I don't know about SMP compatibility, but I am not particularly impressed by anything that I have heard about either of their chips.
This GUID only applies to macro viruses (for MS office programs) or for viruses compiled with an MS compiler. Anyone who wanted to eliminate identity traces could, without too much difficulty, hand craft virus code (either hand assemble, or something similar) to not only eliminate all traces of his/her identity, but also streamline the virus to be leaner and meaner.
As far as I understand the Ethernet specification, although the MAC address, upon which the GUID is based, is set in the factory, it is supposedly resetable by the user with a special utility. (In other words the ID number that is being tracked can be changed.)
So, basically, only malicious hackers who don't know what they are doing, or innocent bystanders will be tracked... also, said hacker could easily fram someone else.
Also, I don't see your justification for assuming everyone who advocates privacy is guilty. Have you ever said anything illegal on the phone? (I doubt it... almost anything you could say on the phone is protected under the 1st ammendment.) That said, would you be mad if I suggested all the phone calls you ever made were taped, and would be played before a grand jury? I know I would be livid.
Note: I used the the word "hacker" above (and not "cracker") because a "cracker" is one who cracks into other's systems. Not all malicious "hackers" are "crackers". Whether writing a virus to attack other's systems constitutes cracking, I will leave as an exercise for the reader.
> Umm... How in the heck do you think you could posibly make printers to do operations in a cluster?!?!??
You could put the printers in some sort of large rack with a robotic arm, and have the robotic arm colate the pages from each of the printers into one giant output bin. (like an OSAR - Opticalmedia Storage And Retrival - unit... except for paper.)
In general (not with respect to Blender specifically) I don't mind paying even a few hundred dollars for software (if it's something that I really, think I need), but I want it to come with source! My general rule of thumb is:
If it doesn't come with source, in general I don't want it. I may need it, and use it anyway, but I won't want it.
My one big acception to this is games: I don't mind a non-utilitarian program that's for recreation only, and I don't have to rely on, to come without source. I prefer it with source code, but it's more like an added bonus.
If it (has to/is supposed to) run as root, and it doesn't come with source, then I WON'T use it! Games included!
I just sent the following letter to Toshiba at the previously mentioned URL. I recommend others send similar letters:
Dear Toshiba Representative:
I have been a computer user for close to 20 years; having used PC's for the past 10 years. Over the past 5 years I have become familiar with Unix, and have used Linux exclusively on my home PCs for the last 2 years. I have found Linux to be a much more viable and efficient working environment than other commercially available alternatives.
For some time I have been looking into purchasing a laptop. Since I build all of my own PC's a laptop will be a much more significant purchase than any of my previous PC upgrades. I have, up to this point, been most impressed by the Toshiba Satellite Pro series of laptops. They appear to be a solid product for a good price. I have, however, been very disappointed by Toshiba's recent position toward the Linux community.
Toshiba has taken two specific recent actions that upset me:
Recently users of alternative operating systems, such as Linux, became aware of a clause in Microsoft's "End User License Agreement" that allowed users of non-Microsoft operating systems that did not choose to use MS "Windows" to contact their manufacture for refunds on their unused software. In response to this, Toshiba modified the packaging of their laptops so that unpacking the laptop required accepting the Microsoft license, therefore rescinding the refund offer.
Also, when contacted by Dag Brattli, the lead developer in the Linux/IrDA project, Toshiba responded with a policy decision to not disclose any information regarding chips inside their laptops. This was even in light of Dag being a volunteer developer, donating his time to make Linux a better platform. (He was offering his time to make Linux compatible with YOUR hardware!)
In light of these actions I have decided to NOT purchase a Toshiba laptop (or any other Toshiba product for that matter) until Toshiba makes some serious changes in its attitude toward the Linux platform.
Loren Osborn a concerned consumer
Loren Osborn
Isn't this sort of a cut and dry issue?
on
Is Pluto a Planet?
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· Score: 1
I thought the definition of "planet" was that it orbits a star (the sun), and rotates around an axis. Is this not correct? It does orbit the sun. So isn't it simply a matter of whether it's spinning on an axis?
Loren Osborn
If I recall from a previous slashdot article...
on
Truely Flat CRTs
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· Score: 1
I can't find the article at the moment, but I remember a slashdot article about scientists being able to grow (I believe) a carbon crystal latice onto the surface of glass. What I understood this was supposed to be for was to build walls an array of micro-mini (single pixel) CRTs each with its own electron gun. This was supposed to produce a real FLAT and THIN CRT display. Now they did also say that this was several years from shipping, but just so you know.
Slashdot Mirror
While I am not adverse to the idea of stinging up CAT5 all over the house, most non-geeks are (my mom comes to mind).
Regards,
One problem I've always had with the Darwin awards is that they don't stick to their own criteria. The original description of the Darwin awards was
If you know anything about Biology, any person, living or dead, with living desendants is still in the gene pool. I think all Darwin award nominees with living descendants should be disqualified.For example, if we all pasted the following into our nearest xterm:
I wonder if the resulting mail flood would teach these guys a lesson?For those of you who don't want to sort through all the above gibberish, it basically sends the following email to each of the mindcraft "Linux zealot" poster children:
Please send the above letter... any responses apreciated...
I saw some telephone-based LAN kits (that ran at 1 MB/s) that looked desent, with the following shortcommings:
P.S. Does anyone know any retailers/distributors that have any "new in the box" (discontinued) HP DeskWriters still in stock?
Thanks in advance,
Umm... How could you have been using X10 with Linux for 10 years when Linux has only been around for less than 8 years (Linux first appeared in September 1991)?
Does anyone know of a way to send IP (as in TCP/IP, UDP/IP and ICMP/IP) over X10?? I have one computer user in my house that wants internet access (via our household LAN), but doesn't want the unsightlyness of an ethernet cabel running through the house... Ideally it would have a 10-base-T port on it directly, because all computers in the house have 10-base-T ethernet NICs. I envision something like this:
/------\ /-------\ /-----|- AC .\-----|
------\
| RJ45|-|10base|-| 1 MB. |-| X10 |- outlet
------/ |T eth | | buffer| |tran-|
. . . . \------/ \-------/ |sever|
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
P.S. Please excuse my insult to ASCII art.
P.P.S. Rob, could you please make Slashdot able to support the &xxx; HTML tag? -- Thanks
Ahh... So THAT is where he got his ethics training from. ;-)
This is not to say that I am against paying good money for good software, but I expect it to come with source. Unfortunately, OSS/Linux must be inserted into the kernel. By my above resolves I cannot use it, and it is useless to me because it's closed source.
I know we live in a world of NDAs and other restrictions. Honestly, I think this is the card manufacturer's problem, and not yours... If they don't want to open specs, than they don't deserve Linux support! I consider source-code availibility an essetial feature when running a maintainable system. That is waht makes software "free" (libre) not it's price tag (gratis)!
In summary: I don't mind paying good money for good software, but I expect it to come with source.
Peace,
Loren Osborn
Still, that said, it is a superb game. I, personally, am waiting to buy it from a "brick-and-mortar" store... (If we don't buy it, why should they carry it)... So Im am waiting patiently to make my purchase... My beta expired about 2 weeks ago, and I'm suffering symptoms of withdrawl.
Peace,
Loren Osborn
As far as Cirix and WinChip go, I haven't heard to many positives from them with regard to quality or speed. Therefore I would not be likely to buy Cirix or WinChip despite their low price.
Loren Osborn
I make no gaurentees about the above information, but it is what I understand from following AMD recently.
Loren Osborn
Loren Osborn
This GUID only applies to macro viruses (for MS office programs) or for viruses compiled with an MS compiler. Anyone who wanted to eliminate identity traces could, without too much difficulty, hand craft virus code (either hand assemble, or something similar) to not only eliminate all traces of his/her identity, but also streamline the virus to be leaner and meaner.
As far as I understand the Ethernet specification, although the MAC address, upon which the GUID is based, is set in the factory, it is supposedly resetable by the user with a special utility. (In other words the ID number that is being tracked can be changed.)
So, basically, only malicious hackers who don't know what they are doing, or innocent bystanders will be tracked... also, said hacker could easily fram someone else.
Also, I don't see your justification for assuming everyone who advocates privacy is guilty. Have you ever said anything illegal on the phone? (I doubt it... almost anything you could say on the phone is protected under the 1st ammendment.) That said, would you be mad if I suggested all the phone calls you ever made were taped, and would be played before a grand jury? I know I would be livid.
Note: I used the the word "hacker" above (and not "cracker") because a "cracker" is one who cracks into other's systems. Not all malicious "hackers" are "crackers". Whether writing a virus to attack other's systems constitutes cracking, I will leave as an exercise for the reader.
Loren Osborn
You could put the printers in some sort of large rack with a robotic arm, and have the robotic arm colate the pages from each of the printers into one giant output bin. (like an OSAR - Opticalmedia Storage And Retrival - unit... except for paper.)
Why does the phrase "Get a life." come to mind?
Loren Osborn
In general (not with respect to Blender specifically) I don't mind paying even a few hundred dollars for software (if it's something that I really, think I need), but I want it to come with source! My general rule of thumb is:
Regards,
Loren Osborn
Dear Toshiba Representative:
I have been a computer user for close to 20 years; having used PC's for the past 10 years. Over the past 5 years I have become familiar with Unix, and have used Linux exclusively on my home PCs for the last 2 years. I have found Linux to be a much more viable and efficient working environment than other commercially available alternatives.
For some time I have been looking into purchasing a laptop. Since I build all of my own PC's a laptop will be a much more significant purchase than any of my previous PC upgrades. I have, up to this point, been most impressed by the Toshiba Satellite Pro series of laptops. They appear to be a solid product for a good price. I have, however, been very disappointed by Toshiba's recent position toward the Linux community.
Toshiba has taken two specific recent actions that upset me:
Recently users of alternative operating systems, such as Linux, became aware of a clause in Microsoft's "End User License Agreement" that allowed users of non-Microsoft operating systems that did not choose to use MS "Windows" to contact their manufacture for refunds on their unused software. In response to this, Toshiba modified the packaging of their laptops so that unpacking the laptop required accepting the Microsoft license, therefore rescinding the refund offer.
Also, when contacted by Dag Brattli, the lead developer in the Linux/IrDA project, Toshiba responded with a policy decision to not disclose any information regarding chips inside their laptops. This was even in light of Dag being a volunteer developer, donating his time to make Linux a better platform. (He was offering his time to make Linux compatible with YOUR hardware!)
In light of these actions I have decided to NOT purchase a Toshiba laptop (or any other Toshiba product for that matter) until Toshiba makes some serious changes in its attitude toward the Linux platform.
Loren Osborn
a concerned consumer
Loren Osborn
Loren Osborn
Loren Osborn