Uh, I work with FERPA regulations every day. *And* they can publicize the 'facts' at the request of the family of the student in question. Apparently though, they dont even want to do that. This is the direction this country is taking, all the while ignoring the root problem..
Im never going to subject my kids to public schools. Not until they can stop this kind of communist crap.
Um, Normally I wouldnt waste the oxygen or brainpower to respond to such a troll posting, but I must in this case...
Security holes are only an issue because of the damn hackers. Hacker: 'Hey, we're helping you exposing security holes so you can fix them'. Dude: 'And why should we fix the holes?.' Hacker: 'Um uh. To protect you from us.' That's great isn't it. WITHOUT THE HACKERS THIS WOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE.
Thats like saying that we wouldn't need locks on our doors if there werent criminals. True, yes. But thats when you wake up, And realize, this isnt a perfect world. And stop mixing yer titles. Hackers and Crackers and Script Kiddies are three different things. Guess you *might* want to educate yourself on this (but then I woke up and realized, hey, this world is full of trolls with uneducated mindless rantings about everything)
A little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing for some...
Good- Cheap, Holds alot, and is small. Great for digital cameras.
Bad- Will kill the market for MP3 players. No body is gonna buy a $200 device to listen to music that they have to keep rebuying every so often. Thats just insane.
If I was an artist, I would start the "Free Music Foundation"
I would have to agree. I would also add that MS has had many innovations in the history of their company. As a personal opinion, I think MS has been sitting on their keisters for the last 6 years and bathing in the cash from their Windows 95 success. Windows 95 in it self was a big step for them, I just dont feel they have wanted to do the same since. They overwhelmingly took over the market, it helped usher a new era of computer users, they just haven't done anything since. Everytime you hear about Microsoft in the news anymore, it either is another company they bought, another company they use FUD against, or another legal case.
As for.NET, It seems like a good idea, but it seems to be too hellbent on everything microsoft. That, is a can of worms I hope too many people dont dig too deeply into. Microsoft would have the server (XP Server?), the middleware (IIS,.NET, Etc), the application (IE), and the desktop (Windows XP). They do now in some markets with existing products, they just arent as tightly coupled.
And not to be a conspiracy theorist here, but being that windows is completely closed source, isnt it likely that there is some backdoors? Even more vulnerable with.NET and the new Windows XP registration?? Take for example the whole NSAKEY. Oh wait, that was just a "development" key that didnt get taken back out. And it was just coincidence that the name was the same as the government agency notable for spying on its own citizens. On the note of government, do we really want our next generation nuclear missle cruiser running on Windows 2000???
I dont hate MS. I use their products everyday. By choice for the most part. But thats what I like. I have a choice. I dont feel they have the right to take that away from us.
I have to wonder here, how much do you know about open source, other than MS FUD?
1. Open source is innovation. Instead of being money-and-management driven innovation, its innovation by the people. Innovation != Marketing. Learn that.
2. Worse software? couldnt be further from the truth! Linux is open source, and its great software. GNU tools are open source...and they are used almost daily by almost all IT departments with a *NIX box.
3. Universities cant teach computer courses without MS funds? Wrong again. I work for a university, we get $0 from Microsoft. In fact, we get donations of equipment from HP and Kodak, but that equipment is part of our infrastructure. Our computer courses do not rely on those donations, nor does the courses revolve around ms in any way.
4. Some open source developers, or linux die-hards may wish to see MS dead, but it is not the intent behind open source. On the other hand, MS would like to see Linux and other open source projects go away. After all, linux is their #1 threat now, as Ballmer has publicly stated. How often do you see Torvalds or Alan Cox say "we must get rid of closed source software!" or "MS is our #1 threat".
5. KDE are based on older products from MS and Apple? Maybe some features. I would say that they took some of the bad points, added good points. One thing I can say about each release of KDE I can look forward to new features that make it even better. Windows? Last 6 years have been bug fixes and a handful of features. Oh, and dont forget who had the GUI first, it was not Microsoft, or even Apple. Xerox. And it may even go beyond there. Every company has just built on the previous one. Linux and KDE/Gnome is just the next generation.
6. Remaining innovation will be reduced? Please! Give me one REAL INNOVATION ms has come up with in 6 years? Just one. One that benefits the consumer. Not the retailer. Not MS's bank account. All I have seen MS do in the last 6 years is find ways to get even more money from the consumer. Example: Office & Subscriptions. There just isnt much more MS can do to word, excel, etc. Theyre done. And they know this. Of course, MS could stop selling the product, but they wouldnt make any money from that. So what to do? Subscriptions! That way, MS doesnt have to do a thing to Office, but they will continue to rake in the money each year.
7. *Nothing* is truly free? Such an optimist you are. Guess what? Alot of things are free. True love is free, whether it be from a family member, lover, or friend. Know what else is free? Open Source software. Both of these things requires some commitment, some time, but they really are free. Open source comes from developers with a passion for writing code, not from developers who just must command a six-figure salary. Oh wait, Im a developer. I dont make anywhere near six-figures. Guess what, I love doing what I do. And given extra time, I would gladly write open source code. OH WAIT! I do. Imagine that. And you know, It hasnt cost me a dime.
8. Economy is so great because of growing IT departments? wha? Oh, then you change to industry...ok.. well, dont forget, some companies are in that industry, whos business is built around open source. VA Linux. Redhat. Mandrake. SuSe. Debian. Penguin Computing. Not to mention the numerous Dot-coms and web hosting companies that rely on open-source software to run their business-critical systems. And what about all these massive systems companies getting into open source? Like Compaq, IBM, Sun, HP, SGI? Would these companies really get into the market if there was no money to be made? Dont think so.
9. Anyone who thinks open-source will "kill" the tech industry (which is what helped the economy IMHO) is a fool. What industry are you referring to? Software? Open source couldnt kill the softwar industry. That would be killing itself. Rather, its changing the industry, and someday it may very well kill off those that wish to avoid change. But it would not kill the economy. It simply is transforming to a world of service rather than product. Something MS probably knows nothing about. Thats why they are so afraid of the future.
In closing, I would just like to ask you something.
Think about it, this actually helps linux and hurts MS stranglehold. Does MS really think everyone who now pirates (usually because they cant afford) windows is going to sacrifice something to *BUY* it?
No.
Some will find a way to crack it, but with the DMCA and new UCITA laws, MS will probably go on an MPAA-style seek-and-destroy type mission to mute all with even the slightest idea how to crack it. So what will happen? People will look even harder at alternative operating systems. Linux being an obvious one, but others like BeOS-pe, *BSD, etc. Sure, I know, somebody out there is saying "but these arent user friendly operating systems".- Well, 2 arguments against that. #1, If I built my aunt a computer today, she wouldnt know how to use it at all. It would be no harder for her to learn how to use KDE than it would be for her to learn windows. #2, Those who are using unpaid versions of windows, probably wouldnt mind giving an alternative os a shot. I think it won't be long before we see linux more widely used than windows.
I dont hate windows or M$. I just like linux better.
Will the 4C attempt to be like congress and pull a pork barrel trick? For example, they could make this new copy protection part of the next ATA stanard. While companies could 'opt' not to use the copy protection, they would also not be able to make hard drives with the newest ATA standard, pretty much forcing them to go with the new copy protection. Do you see the 4C doing something like this?
With all these new laws, napster/DeCSS scares, etc, are companies choosing to ignore educational fair use, or do they just not care anymore? Basically, as a university, we have the right to use copyrighted materials in certain ways (such as taking a video file and copying it to all the machines in a classroom for temporary educational use) for educational purposes. Would this new hard drive standard take this into consideration or would we no longer be able to exercise our fair use rights as an educational institution?
Will rich jerkoff corporate execs ever stop trying to rape the consumers? Will goverments ever stop trying to take away what freedoms we have left? With new laws in place such as the DMCA, the UCITA, etc etc.
Corporations are just getting stupid! And for what? Afraid their multi-national 100 Billion Dollar corporation will crumble because Johnny made a digital copy of a Friend's episode and gave it to a buddy? Afraid that people will stop paying $29 for a silly 2 hour wrasslin match on PPV because sam taped an event and now just watched is over and over??? In reality, they are really hurting themselves. People will stop buying things when the new $2,000 'HDTV' set wont let them do what they can do with their current $200 set and $49 VCR- Does the industry really think people will pay that much more for less capability and a prettier picture? NOT!
Personally, I think they just drove another nail in HDTV's coffin. And if I understand the article right, these new TV streams will be encoded so that unless you have one of the new TVs with copy protection built in, you just get static. Also, it wont work with any other devices (Recievers/VCRs/Tivos/Etc) that doesnt have the device. Does that mean any existing products (including very recent HDTVs, DSS Recievers, TiVO, Replay, etc) will be obsolote and unusable? And what if this shiny new TV dies and you have to have it replaced, now your tape/tivo collection is useless? Does the movie/tv/broadcast/cable industry really think consumers wont care?? Why do they think recording-capable vcrs even exist? Just for making copies of your neice's graduation tape?
As an added note, I think the copy protected hard drive stinks too. As the technology is, all related hard drives and backup equipment/software would need to be compliant with this new 'standard'. I work for a smaller liberal arts university with a microbudget for technology. We have roughly 40 machines in our server room alone, each with at least 1 Exabyte tape drive. These specific drives run several thousand dollars a piece. Doesnt the industry even think about situations like that, where they expect everyone to make an immediate switch (its all or none with this new stuff), especially since they vow to discontinue all current non-protected hard drives?? Are they willing to pay for it, or do we have to take money away from the academics here just to afford the upgrade costs because we had to replace one server hard drive???
Personally, I have made my decision. I will not support/recommend/buy from ANY company/organization/entity that supports these laws/actions/etc. That includes any lawmakers, public officials, etc. And if any clickwrap company thinks they can just come in to my home and take anything or demand anything (proof of license, etc), they have another thing coming. Namely, an H&K MP5:)
There hasnt been a better time to fight for consumer rights, support open/free software, and lash out against bigbusiness raping our freedom.
This has been my first post, even though I have read slashdot for 2 years.
Slashdot Mirror
Uh, I work with FERPA regulations every day. *And* they can publicize the 'facts' at the request of the family of the student in question. Apparently though, they dont even want to do that. This is the direction this country is taking, all the while ignoring the root problem..
Im never going to subject my kids to public schools. Not until they can stop this kind of communist crap.
Um, Normally I wouldnt waste the oxygen or brainpower to respond to such a troll posting, but I must in this case...
Security holes are only an issue because of the damn hackers. Hacker: 'Hey, we're helping you exposing security holes so you can fix them'. Dude: 'And why should we fix the holes?.' Hacker: 'Um uh. To protect you from us.' That's great isn't it. WITHOUT THE HACKERS THIS WOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE.
Thats like saying that we wouldn't need locks on our doors if there werent criminals. True, yes. But thats when you wake up, And realize, this isnt a perfect world. And stop mixing yer titles. Hackers and Crackers and Script Kiddies are three different things. Guess you *might* want to educate yourself on this (but then I woke up and realized, hey, this world is full of trolls with uneducated mindless rantings about everything) A little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing for some...
Good- Cheap, Holds alot, and is small. Great for digital cameras.
Bad- Will kill the market for MP3 players. No body is gonna buy a $200 device to listen to music that they have to keep rebuying every so often. Thats just insane.
If I was an artist, I would start the "Free Music Foundation"
I would have to agree. I would also add that MS has had many innovations in the history of their company. As a personal opinion, I think MS has been sitting on their keisters for the last 6 years and bathing in the cash from their Windows 95 success. Windows 95 in it self was a big step for them, I just dont feel they have wanted to do the same since. They overwhelmingly took over the market, it helped usher a new era of computer users, they just haven't done anything since. Everytime you hear about Microsoft in the news anymore, it either is another company they bought, another company they use FUD against, or another legal case.
.NET, It seems like a good idea, but it seems to be too hellbent on everything microsoft. That, is a can of worms I hope too many people dont dig too deeply into. Microsoft would have the server (XP Server?), the middleware (IIS, .NET, Etc), the application (IE), and the desktop (Windows XP). They do now in some markets with existing products, they just arent as tightly coupled.
.NET and the new Windows XP registration?? Take for example the whole NSAKEY. Oh wait, that was just a "development" key that didnt get taken back out. And it was just coincidence that the name was the same as the government agency notable for spying on its own citizens. On the note of government, do we really want our next generation nuclear missle cruiser running on Windows 2000???
As for
And not to be a conspiracy theorist here, but being that windows is completely closed source, isnt it likely that there is some backdoors? Even more vulnerable with
I dont hate MS. I use their products everyday. By choice for the most part. But thats what I like. I have a choice. I dont feel they have the right to take that away from us.
My $0.02
Oh boy, got a lotta things wrong there...
I have to wonder here, how much do you know about open source, other than MS FUD?
1. Open source is innovation. Instead of being money-and-management driven innovation, its innovation by the people. Innovation != Marketing. Learn that.
2. Worse software? couldnt be further from the truth! Linux is open source, and its great software. GNU tools are open source...and they are used almost daily by almost all IT departments with a *NIX box.
3. Universities cant teach computer courses without MS funds? Wrong again. I work for a university, we get $0 from Microsoft. In fact, we get donations of equipment from HP and Kodak, but that equipment is part of our infrastructure. Our computer courses do not rely on those donations, nor does the courses revolve around ms in any way.
4. Some open source developers, or linux die-hards may wish to see MS dead, but it is not the intent behind open source. On the other hand, MS would like to see Linux and other open source projects go away. After all, linux is their #1 threat now, as Ballmer has publicly stated. How often do you see Torvalds or Alan Cox say "we must get rid of closed source software!" or "MS is our #1 threat".
5. KDE are based on older products from MS and Apple? Maybe some features. I would say that they took some of the bad points, added good points. One thing I can say about each release of KDE I can look forward to new features that make it even better. Windows? Last 6 years have been bug fixes and a handful of features. Oh, and dont forget who had the GUI first, it was not Microsoft, or even Apple. Xerox. And it may even go beyond there. Every company has just built on the previous one. Linux and KDE/Gnome is just the next generation.
6. Remaining innovation will be reduced? Please! Give me one REAL INNOVATION ms has come up with in 6 years? Just one. One that benefits the consumer. Not the retailer. Not MS's bank account. All I have seen MS do in the last 6 years is find ways to get even more money from the consumer. Example: Office & Subscriptions. There just isnt much more MS can do to word, excel, etc. Theyre done. And they know this. Of course, MS could stop selling the product, but they wouldnt make any money from that. So what to do? Subscriptions! That way, MS doesnt have to do a thing to Office, but they will continue to rake in the money each year.
7. *Nothing* is truly free? Such an optimist you are. Guess what? Alot of things are free. True love is free, whether it be from a family member, lover, or friend. Know what else is free? Open Source software. Both of these things requires some commitment, some time, but they really are free. Open source comes from developers with a passion for writing code, not from developers who just must command a six-figure salary. Oh wait, Im a developer. I dont make anywhere near six-figures. Guess what, I love doing what I do. And given extra time, I would gladly write open source code. OH WAIT! I do. Imagine that. And you know, It hasnt cost me a dime.
8. Economy is so great because of growing IT departments? wha? Oh, then you change to industry...ok.. well, dont forget, some companies are in that industry, whos business is built around open source. VA Linux. Redhat. Mandrake. SuSe. Debian. Penguin Computing. Not to mention the numerous Dot-coms and web hosting companies that rely on open-source software to run their business-critical systems. And what about all these massive systems companies getting into open source? Like Compaq, IBM, Sun, HP, SGI? Would these companies really get into the market if there was no money to be made? Dont think so.
9. Anyone who thinks open-source will "kill" the tech industry (which is what helped the economy IMHO) is a fool. What industry are you referring to? Software? Open source couldnt kill the softwar industry. That would be killing itself. Rather, its changing the industry, and someday it may very well kill off those that wish to avoid change. But it would not kill the economy. It simply is transforming to a world of service rather than product. Something MS probably knows nothing about. Thats why they are so afraid of the future.
In closing, I would just like to ask you something.
Have you EVER used open source software?
My $0.02
Think about it, this actually helps linux and hurts MS stranglehold. Does MS really think everyone who now pirates (usually because they cant afford) windows is going to sacrifice something to *BUY* it?
No.
Some will find a way to crack it, but with the DMCA and new UCITA laws, MS will probably go on an MPAA-style seek-and-destroy type mission to mute all with even the slightest idea how to crack it. So what will happen? People will look even harder at alternative operating systems. Linux being an obvious one, but others like BeOS-pe, *BSD, etc. Sure, I know, somebody out there is saying "but these arent user friendly operating systems".- Well, 2 arguments against that. #1, If I built my aunt a computer today, she wouldnt know how to use it at all. It would be no harder for her to learn how to use KDE than it would be for her to learn windows. #2, Those who are using unpaid versions of windows, probably wouldnt mind giving an alternative os a shot. I think it won't be long before we see linux more widely used than windows.
I dont hate windows or M$. I just like linux better.
Will the 4C attempt to be like congress and pull a pork barrel trick? For example, they could make this new copy protection part of the next ATA stanard. While companies could 'opt' not to use the copy protection, they would also not be able to make hard drives with the newest ATA standard, pretty much forcing them to go with the new copy protection. Do you see the 4C doing something like this?
With all these new laws, napster/DeCSS scares, etc, are companies choosing to ignore educational fair use, or do they just not care anymore? Basically, as a university, we have the right to use copyrighted materials in certain ways (such as taking a video file and copying it to all the machines in a classroom for temporary educational use) for educational purposes. Would this new hard drive standard take this into consideration or would we no longer be able to exercise our fair use rights as an educational institution?
Will rich jerkoff corporate execs ever stop trying to rape the consumers? Will goverments ever stop trying to take away what freedoms we have left? With new laws in place such as the DMCA, the UCITA, etc etc.
:)
Corporations are just getting stupid! And for what? Afraid their multi-national 100 Billion Dollar corporation will crumble because Johnny made a digital copy of a Friend's episode and gave it to a buddy? Afraid that people will stop paying $29 for a silly 2 hour wrasslin match on PPV because sam taped an event and now just watched is over and over??? In reality, they are really hurting themselves. People will stop buying things when the new $2,000 'HDTV' set wont let them do what they can do with their current $200 set and $49 VCR- Does the industry really think people will pay that much more for less capability and a prettier picture? NOT!
Personally, I think they just drove another nail in HDTV's coffin. And if I understand the article right, these new TV streams will be encoded so that unless you have one of the new TVs with copy protection built in, you just get static. Also, it wont work with any other devices (Recievers/VCRs/Tivos/Etc) that doesnt have the device. Does that mean any existing products (including very recent HDTVs, DSS Recievers, TiVO, Replay, etc) will be obsolote and unusable? And what if this shiny new TV dies and you have to have it replaced, now your tape/tivo collection is useless? Does the movie/tv/broadcast/cable industry really think consumers wont care?? Why do they think recording-capable vcrs even exist? Just for making copies of your neice's graduation tape?
As an added note, I think the copy protected hard drive stinks too. As the technology is, all related hard drives and backup equipment/software would need to be compliant with this new 'standard'. I work for a smaller liberal arts university with a microbudget for technology. We have roughly 40 machines in our server room alone, each with at least 1 Exabyte tape drive. These specific drives run several thousand dollars a piece. Doesnt the industry even think about situations like that, where they expect everyone to make an immediate switch (its all or none with this new stuff), especially since they vow to discontinue all current non-protected hard drives?? Are they willing to pay for it, or do we have to take money away from the academics here just to afford the upgrade costs because we had to replace one server hard drive???
Personally, I have made my decision. I will not support/recommend/buy from ANY company/organization/entity that supports these laws/actions/etc. That includes any lawmakers, public officials, etc. And if any clickwrap company thinks they can just come in to my home and take anything or demand anything (proof of license, etc), they have another thing coming. Namely, an H&K MP5
There hasnt been a better time to fight for consumer rights, support open/free software, and lash out against bigbusiness raping our freedom.
This has been my first post, even though I have read slashdot for 2 years.