Here's a tip: If you don't like the article, DON'T READ IT.
You're not the only reader of Slashdot. I often enjoy the conversations that are sparked by articles, even if the content doesn't directly interest me. I like to hear other people's views and rationalizations on things.
I have a feeling people will be more likely to post opinions that are gaurenteed to be marked as Flamebait or Troll (ie, comments where the vast majority of the Slashdot crowd disagrees with your opinion), since it's not a numbers game anymore.
> and [programs] are too expensive because of warez
Do you really think that if Warez were eliminated that software prices would decrease? I see warez as a form of competition, in some ways. I release a piece of software and charge $19.95 for it, hoping that most people will just buy it instead of passing it around on KaZaa.
I think many, if not most people have a limited conscience. They'll pay $10-$20 for their favorite applications to support the starving author. But if that price rose to $100, they would open up their favorite P2P app and just download it.
Eliminating piracy doesn't mean the manufacturers necessarily make more money, either. It just means the average person has less software on their desktop. Do you think the majority of people who pirate Adobe Photoshop would actually purchase it if they couldn't download it? If they are a professional, they probably already bought it. If not, I have a feeling they would migrate towards something cheaper like Paint Shop Pro or The Gimp.
Before, I might have been more likely to buy MS Office if I used it every day.
Today, for compatibility purposes, I might like to keep a copy of MS Office around (on my spare Win95 box, next to my primary Linux/OpenOffice box). I don't want to pay for it because I only use it once in awhile, so off to KaZaa I go.
It has also fueled the mentality that software should be free. We're so used to just downloading the software we want that when commercial software comes to light we feel appauled to pay for it.
If they had only used the Chewbacca defense, perhaps they wouldn't be in this mess...
"Ladies and Gentlemen of this supposed jury, Mr. Black's accusers would certainly want you to believe my client was maliciously squatting the canadian.biz domain name, and they make a good case. Hell, I almost felt pity myself. But Ladies and Gentlemen of this supposed jury, I have one final thing I want you to consider.
Ladies and Gentlemen, this is Chewbacca. Chewbacca is a Wookiee from the planet Kashyyyk who carried a gun and ran from the mob. But Chewbacca lives on the planet Endor. Now think about it. That does not make sense. Why would a Wookiee, an eight-foot-tall Wookiee, want to live on Endor with a bunch of two-foot-tall Ewoks. That does not make sense.
But more important, you have to ask yourself what does this have to do with this case. Nothing. Ladies and Gentlemen, it has nothing to do with this case. It does not make sense. Look at me. I'm a lawyer defending a major record company producer and entertainer and I'm talkin' about Chewbacca. Does that make sense? Ladies and Gentlemen I am not making any sense. None of this makes sense.
And so you have to remember when you're in that jury room deliberating and conjugating the Uniform Dispute Resolution Procedure, does it make sense? No. Ladies and Gentlemen of this supposed jury it does not make sense. If Chewbacca lives on Endor you must acquit.
I know he seems guilty. But ladies and gentlemen this is Chewbacca. Now think about that for one minute. That does not make sense. Why am I talking about Chewbacca when a man's life is on the line? Why? I'll tell you why. I don't know. It doesn't make sense. If Chewbacca does not make sense you must acquit. Here look at the monkey , look at the silly monkey.
> Heck - I click on Slashdot's ads all the time, just because I know that by doing so I'm keeping the site available FOR FREE.
It's been my observation that most affiliate networks don't pay for clicks anymore (maybe some porn or Internet gambling do yet). It looks to me like most give a percentage of any sales that occur as a result of the referral.
The only bad part is I often check out a site I see in an advertisement, think it's cool, and come back later when I NEED something. I rarely, if ever, buy something on the initial visit to the site, which makes the referral process almost worthless for the poor web site operator...
Although noble, I think your charity-clicking isn't doing much good. Anyone know otherwise?
> If you make computers Lindows isn't $99, it's a single $500 fee for as many computers as you want to put it on.
Although I agree, I feel much of the consumer value in Lindows is within the $99 subscription to the Click-and-Run warehouse. What's a Lindows user to do if he got no applications?
> Isn't is possible that an OSS-type BeOS is a better option?
I would like to see a free (or significantly cheaper) version of Lindows (including all of its features and goals). Should be too hard - it's open-source, right? At $99, it's not going to be a Redmund-killer by any means.
Let's see, I can get 100% compatibility for $90 (Windows updrade) or I can get partial compatibility for $99. Sweeeet.
> They did all kinds of funny things with tables that just happened to work in IE but not with anything else.
Good Lord! How can any self-respecting web publisher allow this to happen. I am no professional, but even I give my own web site a shot in Mozilla and on both browsers on a Macintosh to make sure people see it the same (and my site isn't even that useful).
It isn't that hard to do! This is just sad...
I design for IE first (because I like IE, so shoot me) and then I check it in Mozilla and (*ugh*) Netscape. If I find something that doesn't look right, it usually only requires a small adjustment to the code to fix it.
> The plural of box is boxes. Anyone who uses the term boxen should not be taken seriously.
You may not like the term "boxen", but at least the people using it are doing it on purpose to be colorful. It amazes me that those who speak english for their entire lives still do not know the difference between "your" and "you're". THESE people should not be taken seriously.
> Garage at home, garage at work, bright, open monitored parking lot wherever you go out to dinner or whatever.
I suppose I'll need to buy a second car for the circumstance where I cannot do this. I cannot afford an apartment with a garage, there are no garages within many miles of work (I also live in the country, so car-pooling and buses are tough), and I occasionally want to go to the mall and other places that aren't stereo safe.
I shouldn't be in electronics because my electronics fail? Do none of your electronics fail (if so, where do you shop)? How could I have prevented my stereo from dying? I treat all of my equipment well. Should I have replaced my TVs CRT after 3 years, somehow predicting it's eventual failure?
I am not in the electronics industry, but regardless of my profession, it doesn't change the fact that electronics fail. I and most people here are not going to fuck with their receiver when it dies. Most will likely buy a new one.
Yes, I have some 486's and old hard drives that are running fine too. It seems like the new stuff that is crap. We had a console television that lasted 25 years.
I do have my computer plugged into a UPS, but it still failed. I'll admit, however, the other devices I mentioned were not. I do not abuse my equipment.
> Other consumer electronics like TV's and VCR's have a much longer life expectancy.
If they last that long. My last TV died in 4 years, my receiver in 3 years, and my last computer in 1 year (CPU went out and damaged the mainboard). The only thing worth a damn is my 1990 Oldsmobile with 211,000 miles on it:)
> How many of those billion are sitting in land fills?
I can account for one of them. A guy in the city I live in bought a brand new computer from a Gateway Country store. He claimed the thing was a lemon from the beginning, and eventually got sick of dealing with the service people. Instead of trying to get it repaired by a professional and sell it to help reclaim his losses, he placed the computer in the lobby of their store and took a sledge hammer and smashed it to pieces.
It made quite the news and I think people around here are nervous to buy from that store now, given the track record this one individual brought to light.
Slashdot Mirror
> Features include the long-awaited MPEG-4 support, 50+ input/output formats, and plenty of A/V codecs and video effects
How about the long awaiting checkbox that allows you to turn off the stupid "Upgrade to QuickTime Pro?" popup at startup?
> Nothing is better than crap.
Here's a tip: If you don't like the article, DON'T READ IT.
You're not the only reader of Slashdot. I often enjoy the conversations that are sparked by articles, even if the content doesn't directly interest me. I like to hear other people's views and rationalizations on things.
I have a feeling people will be more likely to post opinions that are gaurenteed to be marked as Flamebait or Troll (ie, comments where the vast majority of the Slashdot crowd disagrees with your opinion), since it's not a numbers game anymore.
I like that.
I'm thinking Metropolitan Life.
11 different operators in the past two days, 10 of which couldn't even pull up my account given the account number.
Then again, it's just insurance. Why should I expect to be confident about my coverage?
> and [programs] are too expensive because of warez
Do you really think that if Warez were eliminated that software prices would decrease? I see warez as a form of competition, in some ways. I release a piece of software and charge $19.95 for it, hoping that most people will just buy it instead of passing it around on KaZaa.
I think many, if not most people have a limited conscience. They'll pay $10-$20 for their favorite applications to support the starving author. But if that price rose to $100, they would open up their favorite P2P app and just download it.
Eliminating piracy doesn't mean the manufacturers necessarily make more money, either. It just means the average person has less software on their desktop. Do you think the majority of people who pirate Adobe Photoshop would actually purchase it if they couldn't download it? If they are a professional, they probably already bought it. If not, I have a feeling they would migrate towards something cheaper like Paint Shop Pro or The Gimp.
Killed Warez? Some could argue it fueled it.
Before, I might have been more likely to buy MS Office if I used it every day.
Today, for compatibility purposes, I might like to keep a copy of MS Office around (on my spare Win95 box, next to my primary Linux/OpenOffice box). I don't want to pay for it because I only use it once in awhile, so off to KaZaa I go.
It has also fueled the mentality that software should be free. We're so used to just downloading the software we want that when commercial software comes to light we feel appauled to pay for it.
If they had only used the Chewbacca defense, perhaps they wouldn't be in this mess...
"Ladies and Gentlemen of this supposed jury, Mr. Black's accusers would certainly want you to believe my client was maliciously squatting the canadian.biz domain name, and they make a good case. Hell, I almost felt pity myself. But Ladies and Gentlemen of this supposed jury, I have one final thing I want you to consider.
Ladies and Gentlemen, this is Chewbacca. Chewbacca is a Wookiee from the planet Kashyyyk who carried a gun and ran from the mob. But Chewbacca lives on the planet Endor. Now think about it. That does not make sense. Why would a Wookiee, an eight-foot-tall Wookiee, want to live on Endor with a bunch of two-foot-tall Ewoks. That does not make sense.
But more important, you have to ask yourself what does this have to do with this case. Nothing. Ladies and Gentlemen, it has nothing to do with this case. It does not make sense. Look at me. I'm a lawyer defending a major record company producer and entertainer and I'm talkin' about Chewbacca. Does that make sense? Ladies and Gentlemen I am not making any sense. None of this makes sense.
And so you have to remember when you're in that jury room deliberating and conjugating the Uniform Dispute Resolution Procedure, does it make sense? No. Ladies and Gentlemen of this supposed jury it does not make sense. If Chewbacca lives on Endor you must acquit.
I know he seems guilty. But ladies and gentlemen this is Chewbacca. Now think about that for one minute. That does not make sense. Why am I talking about Chewbacca when a man's life is on the line? Why? I'll tell you why. I don't know. It doesn't make sense. If Chewbacca does not make sense you must acquit. Here look at the monkey , look at the silly monkey.
The defense rests."
> Heck - I click on Slashdot's ads all the time, just because I know that by doing so I'm keeping the site available FOR FREE.
It's been my observation that most affiliate networks don't pay for clicks anymore (maybe some porn or Internet gambling do yet). It looks to me like most give a percentage of any sales that occur as a result of the referral.
The only bad part is I often check out a site I see in an advertisement, think it's cool, and come back later when I NEED something. I rarely, if ever, buy something on the initial visit to the site, which makes the referral process almost worthless for the poor web site operator...
Although noble, I think your charity-clicking isn't doing much good. Anyone know otherwise?
> If you make computers Lindows isn't $99, it's a single $500 fee for as many computers as you want to put it on.
Although I agree, I feel much of the consumer value in Lindows is within the $99 subscription to the Click-and-Run warehouse. What's a Lindows user to do if he got no applications?
Starting your own nation is a good way to lose sensorship, but it's also a good way to lose protection.
What's to stop some country (or some whacko, if there's a difference) who dislikes one of your customer's opinions from destroying Sealand?
> Isn't is possible that an OSS-type BeOS is a better option?
I would like to see a free (or significantly cheaper) version of Lindows (including all of its features and goals). Should be too hard - it's open-source, right? At $99, it's not going to be a Redmund-killer by any means.
Let's see, I can get 100% compatibility for $90 (Windows updrade) or I can get partial compatibility for $99. Sweeeet.
> I wonder how many people here carry VISA / Mastercard / Amex?
My guess: Almost everyone.
> They did all kinds of funny things with tables that just happened to work in IE but not with anything else.
Good Lord! How can any self-respecting web publisher allow this to happen. I am no professional, but even I give my own web site a shot in Mozilla and on both browsers on a Macintosh to make sure people see it the same (and my site isn't even that useful).
It isn't that hard to do! This is just sad...
I design for IE first (because I like IE, so shoot me) and then I check it in Mozilla and (*ugh*) Netscape. If I find something that doesn't look right, it usually only requires a small adjustment to the code to fix it.
People are just being lazy...
Regardless of what the Slashdot crowd says, it couldn't have been worse than "Orange County" or "The New Guy".
/me cries as he remembers the monetary loss.
> why hasn't there been a slashdot review of Lilo and Stitch?
Because a lot of us are adults and/or prefer adult-oriented humor (not porn, but some post-grade school wit is always appreciated).
> The plural of box is boxes. Anyone who uses the term boxen should not be taken seriously.
You may not like the term "boxen", but at least the people using it are doing it on purpose to be colorful. It amazes me that those who speak english for their entire lives still do not know the difference between "your" and "you're". THESE people should not be taken seriously.
> Garage at home, garage at work, bright, open monitored parking lot wherever you go out to dinner or whatever.
I suppose I'll need to buy a second car for the circumstance where I cannot do this. I cannot afford an apartment with a garage, there are no garages within many miles of work (I also live in the country, so car-pooling and buses are tough), and I occasionally want to go to the mall and other places that aren't stereo safe.
And as soon as you submit your code, you see it on KaZaa the next day with the file description, "The check is in the mail"...
I shouldn't be in electronics because my electronics fail? Do none of your electronics fail (if so, where do you shop)? How could I have prevented my stereo from dying? I treat all of my equipment well. Should I have replaced my TVs CRT after 3 years, somehow predicting it's eventual failure?
I am not in the electronics industry, but regardless of my profession, it doesn't change the fact that electronics fail. I and most people here are not going to fuck with their receiver when it dies. Most will likely buy a new one.
> Sounds like your managers have their heads where the sun doesn't shine.
But I'm sure introducing a Mac OS X server in their IT department won't cause any problems...
Yes, I have some 486's and old hard drives that are running fine too. It seems like the new stuff that is crap. We had a console television that lasted 25 years.
I do have my computer plugged into a UPS, but it still failed. I'll admit, however, the other devices I mentioned were not. I do not abuse my equipment.
> Other consumer electronics like TV's and VCR's have a much longer life expectancy.
:)
If they last that long. My last TV died in 4 years, my receiver in 3 years, and my last computer in 1 year (CPU went out and damaged the mainboard). The only thing worth a damn is my 1990 Oldsmobile with 211,000 miles on it
Ask ANY Mac enthusiast, novice or expert. Watch the commercials on TV.
About the only people who call Macs "PCs" anymore are those who are anal about the definition (I was once).
You can call it what you like, but if nobody else refers to it as a PC, communication will be difficult.
It's all good anyway, they're not actually real computers anyway. More like an appliance.
> How many of those billion are sitting in land fills?
I can account for one of them. A guy in the city I live in bought a brand new computer from a Gateway Country store. He claimed the thing was a lemon from the beginning, and eventually got sick of dealing with the service people. Instead of trying to get it repaired by a professional and sell it to help reclaim his losses, he placed the computer in the lobby of their store and took a sledge hammer and smashed it to pieces.
It made quite the news and I think people around here are nervous to buy from that store now, given the track record this one individual brought to light.
> It's really not up to me to say "the number of PCs will double by 2008", but I believe that it is a distinct possibility.
So when can we start? I've been out of a job for FAR too long.
It's a dead industry, admit it.