I'm seriously considering Virgin Mobile's no contract US$25.00 a month plan.
Do I need to buy a phone from Virgin, or can I just walk into the Virgin Mobile storefront or mall kiosk with a compatible phone, fill out the paperwork and get a SIM card?
"Speaking of editors, I feel nostalgic about Speedscript, the word processor on the C64. But I sure don't miss editing in 40 columns!"
The Write Stuff on the 128 was THE best editor ever. I had a 24 pin Panasonic business-class printer hung off the 128. Took me hours with the Write Stuff and Panasonic manuals, getting all the embedded printer codes installed and working.
Once that was done, using the 128 in 80 column mode as a text editor was wonderful.
I must confess, I did have one macro programmed specifically to tweak a friend of mine.
I had the Greek letter Beta as a macro. To use when we were discussing his Sony BetaMax VCR. I would spell it (FSM! I hope this works!) "ßetaMax" (preview says it worked. There should be a Beta character there.) whereas he would have to change the element on his Selectric to do the same.
Yes, this was before the era of the Internet and the Endless September, when people still used pigment on paper and envelopes and stamps to send mail. Yes, dinosaurs still roamed the Earth then, too.
"we're willing to pay but we're NOT willing to mortgage our houses for a bunch of ones and zeroes that will be next to worthless in under a year."
Indeed! Ever since Netflix came into my life, I've only bought a few new DVD box sets, mainly anime and animation. Why buy The Green Hornet when I'm only going to watch it once? Netflix gets ~US10.00 a month from me and as I'm close to the regional Netflix distro center, if I drop off a DVD first thing in the morning, I can average a DVD every other day via my one DVD at a time plan.
As for music, if it's just for background noise, Comcast has Music Choice. I usually have the Jazz channel selected, and if I hear something I like, I just glance at the TV and note the artist and album. Then off to Amazon and eBay to see who has the least expensive used CD. I can't recall the last "new" CD I bought that wasn't from a local indie band. As for the RIAA companies, I will never buy a new CD from any of them. Used is the only way to go for me.
"The problem screen makers are facing is the simple fact that modern TV screens are pretty darned good. An LG 1080p60 in a 42" screen will run you $500 or so, and is as crisp and gorgeous as you can notice."
Indeed. My 1.5 year old Samsung 26" set, looks just as good as a 46"(I think) set, that's less than 6 months old.
My Samsung DVD player (bought mainly because it matches the TV) has both HDMI and Component outputs. I also got the recommended Amazon no-name HDMI cable. That was US$7 and change.
As an experiment, I hooked up the player to the TV with both HDMI and Component cables. From where I sit to watch TV, there is NO difference that I can detect in picture or sound quality.
One reason I bought this particular set is that it has VGA, Component, DVI, 75 ohm co-ax, 2 HDMI ports, headphone jack (I've an old Boston Acoustics BA635 computer speakers and subwoofer set plugged into that jack. Beats the hell out of the built in speakers!) and some digital audio ports.
I then borrowed a BluRay player and a few discs. Plugged it in with the Amazon cable and Component cables.
Aside from a really sharp picture, there was no difference between the cheap HDMI or the Component cables.
If you can't be bothered to properly capitalize, punctuate and spell, I can't be bothered to take anything you say seriously. Nor to read anything you might have to say in the future.
P.S. Using an iPhone is no excuse to be that lazy when it comes to writing. You're not texting someone on where to meet up for PBRs, after all.
"The company, led by Immelt, earned $14.2 billion in profits in 2010, but it paid not a penny in taxes because the bulk of those profits, some $9 billion, were offshore. In fact, GE got a $3.2 billion tax benefit. "
This. Is. SLASHDOT, Slappy. You drop a sig like that, expect to get called on it.
I love it when people like you flip out. Shows me that I was dead on target.
I particularly love the instant resort to obscenities, not to mention the cite of a COMIC STRIP.
So you're ex-military. So what? I'm to be impressed that you joined the ArmyNavyAirForceMarinesCoastGuard? I'm to be impressed that you became a member of an organization that goes and kills people because some Rear Echelon Mother Fucker in D.C. says so? When CHimp McCokespoon said to overthrow Saddam, did yo leap to your feet and yeah "OOHRAH! GET SOME! GET SOME!"?
Yeah, ex-military. Big Fucking Whoop! Got both eyes, all your limbs and fingers and no PTSD or TBI? If yes, you're lucky.
But, I digress.
What REALLY pisses you off is that your Teabagger quote didn't get the reaction you were expecting.
You got a response that almost made you think, but your brain, overfed on GOP/Rightwing/conservatarded propaganda couldn't process the Holmes quote.
"What The Fuck? I can't understand this, so I must hate it and the person that said it!"
400 people in the US have more wealth than 155 million have combined. Let's make that even clearer for you:
400 people in the U.S. have more money than HALF the population of the U.S. has if all the money in that half were added together.
And you, Slappy, YOU are part of that group of 155 million Americans. As am I. Pretty much everyone you will see at work, on the street, etc in the next 24/48/72 hours/12 months will be part of that 155 million.
I hope you have a job that can't (yet) be moved to China.
Because when it is, give me a call so I can laugh in your face for thinking that you were someone special, when you were just another sucker that got played by the GOP/Koch-financed Teabaggers/Fox News Conservatards.
Oh, FYI, I live in a very cozy little apartment on the 4th floor of a building in Boston.
Oh, P.S. When you were in the military, my taxes fed you, clothed you, and equipped you. When you get sick, my taxes pay for your care at a V.A. hospital. When you get old and retire, your Social Security benefits will likely include some of the money from my my taxes. The roads you drive on are paid for by my taxes. The air traffic controllers that keep planes from crashing into each other are paid for with my taxes. The EPA that strives to insure that you have clean water and air. Yep! My taxes help pay for that. They also help pay for the FDA and CDC. Wholesome food and medicines, along with disease prevention.
You're welcome!
When you die, your burial in a Veteran's cemetery will be paid for by taxes, as was the cemetery itself, and the care of your grave will be paid for by taxes paid by people much like myself.
The G5 is also my main computer. It sits under the table I use as the "workstation".
Of course, if you had bothered to inquire before making your asinine proclamation, you'd have saved yourself the embarrassment of outing yourself as a judgmental little shithead.
Oh, wait, that's EXACTLY what the AC option is for.
RE: Your TV comparison analogy. It's absolutely spot on!
I have a run of the mill 26" Samsung LCD TV. It's about two years old. Comcast is the cable provider.
From where I sit to watch TV, the non-HD image beats the hell out of what my old RCA CRT TV produced, I can actually read the fine print in commercials.
Up close, the picture is absolute crap. But as I don't usually stand with my nose a foot from the screen, I don't care what it looks like that close.
I can receive 720P HD over the air channels if I so desire.
As an example, comparing OTA Fox Network to Comcast provided Fox Network (with the letterboxed cable image blown up to full screen via an option in the TV) The OTA is somewhat noticeably 'better'. But not enough for me to spend the extra money for HD service. For letterboxed content, I push a button on the TV remote 3 times, and the letterboxed content fills the screen with no black bars.
My new Samsung DVD player upconverts DVD to "HD" just fine as far as I'm concerned.
As the old saying has it, 'Perfect is the enemy of good enough.' Good enough is good enough for me for video and music.
...who voted GOP/Libertarian, enjoy paying a lot more to Comcast or Time Warner for your high speed Internet access and throttled to death P2P bandwidth.
...don't care one little bit about the App Stores being "walled gardens".
They don't care that iPods or Macs do not natively support Ogg Vorbis or FLAC.
They don't care about iTunes not having as many features as some linux open source thing. They don't care about linux, either.
They don't really care about no Flash on iPhone/iPod/iPad. As long as they can watch the latest Maru videos on YouTube, they will continue not to care about no Flash on iPhone/iPod/iPad.
They care that the Mac Pro/MacBook/iMac/iPod/iPad WORKS.
They care about the seamless one click purchase and it's on the harddrive aspect of the iTunes Store.
They care about the seamless no click synching of iPod/iPhone to the computer.
They care about the interface that lets them get on with it. They don't want to hear about Terminal or how much better a CLI is vs. a GUI. Because they DO NOT CARE.
The vast majority of Apple users have never heard of Slashdot, and don't care a fat rat's ass what any of us here think about Apple.
Slashdot Mirror
Thanks for the info! I greatly appreciate getting that from an actual user.
I'm seriously considering Virgin Mobile's no contract US$25.00 a month plan.
Do I need to buy a phone from Virgin, or can I just walk into the Virgin Mobile storefront or mall kiosk with a compatible phone, fill out the paperwork and get a SIM card?
Thanks!
"Speaking of editors, I feel nostalgic about Speedscript, the word processor on the C64. But I sure don't miss editing in 40 columns!"
The Write Stuff on the 128 was THE best editor ever. I had a 24 pin Panasonic business-class printer hung off the 128. Took me hours with the Write Stuff and Panasonic manuals, getting all the embedded printer codes installed and working.
Once that was done, using the 128 in 80 column mode as a text editor was wonderful.
I must confess, I did have one macro programmed specifically to tweak a friend of mine.
I had the Greek letter Beta as a macro. To use when we were discussing his Sony BetaMax VCR. I would spell it (FSM! I hope this works!) "ßetaMax" (preview says it worked. There should be a Beta character there.) whereas he would have to change the element on his Selectric to do the same.
Yes, this was before the era of the Internet and the Endless September, when people still used pigment on paper and envelopes and stamps to send mail. Yes, dinosaurs still roamed the Earth then, too.
Apple as a religion! Please!
https://img.skitch.com/20091224-fsari6fkwrururpcsinf6r6mnd.jpg
St. Jobs, pray for me! Now and at the time of the Slashdotting!
Needs repeating!
"we're willing to pay but we're NOT willing to mortgage our houses for a bunch of ones and zeroes that will be next to worthless in under a year."
Indeed! Ever since Netflix came into my life, I've only bought a few new DVD box sets, mainly anime and animation. Why buy The Green Hornet when I'm only going to watch it once? Netflix gets ~US10.00 a month from me and as I'm close to the regional Netflix distro center, if I drop off a DVD first thing in the morning, I can average a DVD every other day via my one DVD at a time plan.
As for music, if it's just for background noise, Comcast has Music Choice. I usually have the Jazz channel selected, and if I hear something I like, I just glance at the TV and note the artist and album. Then off to Amazon and eBay to see who has the least expensive used CD. I can't recall the last "new" CD I bought that wasn't from a local indie band. As for the RIAA companies, I will never buy a new CD from any of them. Used is the only way to go for me.
"The problem screen makers are facing is the simple fact that modern TV screens are pretty darned good. An LG 1080p60 in a 42" screen will run you $500 or so, and is as crisp and gorgeous as you can notice."
Indeed. My 1.5 year old Samsung 26" set, looks just as good as a 46"(I think) set, that's less than 6 months old.
My Samsung DVD player (bought mainly because it matches the TV) has both HDMI and Component outputs. I also got the recommended Amazon no-name HDMI cable. That was US$7 and change.
As an experiment, I hooked up the player to the TV with both HDMI and Component cables. From where I sit to watch TV, there is NO difference that I can detect in picture or sound quality.
One reason I bought this particular set is that it has VGA, Component, DVI, 75 ohm co-ax, 2 HDMI ports, headphone jack (I've an old Boston Acoustics BA635 computer speakers and subwoofer set plugged into that jack. Beats the hell out of the built in speakers!) and some digital audio ports.
I then borrowed a BluRay player and a few discs. Plugged it in with the Amazon cable and Component cables.
Aside from a really sharp picture, there was no difference between the cheap HDMI or the Component cables.
If you can't be bothered to properly capitalize, punctuate and spell, I can't be bothered to take anything you say seriously. Nor to read anything you might have to say in the future.
P.S. Using an iPhone is no excuse to be that lazy when it comes to writing. You're not texting someone on where to meet up for PBRs, after all.
You do realize that your snarky comment has been misinterpreted as being serious.
Pity that I currently lack mod points.
#NotIntendedAsAFactualStatement
Anonymous Coward spews data.
TL:DR
Because, you know, it's from an Anonymous Coward.
She doesn't look like Pamela Anderson, so that makes it OK to slag her, right?
Sucks to be you!
Would you like some cheese with your w(h)ine?
"
Government "help" to business is just as disastrous as government persecution... the only way a government can be of service to national prosperity is by keeping its hands off. Read more: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/ayn_rand.html#ixzz1I6JtufZD "
Funny, GE seems to be prospering .
"The company, led by Immelt, earned $14.2 billion in profits in 2010, but it paid not a penny in taxes because the bulk of those profits, some $9 billion, were offshore. In fact, GE got a $3.2 billion tax benefit. "
Randroid teabagger says what?
This. Is. SLASHDOT, Slappy. You drop a sig like that, expect to get called on it.
I love it when people like you flip out. Shows me that I was dead on target.
I particularly love the instant resort to obscenities, not to mention the cite of a COMIC STRIP.
So you're ex-military. So what? I'm to be impressed that you joined the ArmyNavyAirForceMarinesCoastGuard? I'm to be impressed that you became a member of an organization that goes and kills people because some Rear Echelon Mother Fucker in D.C. says so? When CHimp McCokespoon said to overthrow Saddam, did yo leap to your feet and yeah "OOHRAH! GET SOME! GET SOME!"?
Yeah, ex-military. Big Fucking Whoop! Got both eyes, all your limbs and fingers and no PTSD or TBI? If yes, you're lucky.
But, I digress.
What REALLY pisses you off is that your Teabagger quote didn't get the reaction you were expecting.
You got a response that almost made you think, but your brain, overfed on GOP/Rightwing/conservatarded propaganda couldn't process the Holmes quote.
"What The Fuck? I can't understand this, so I must hate it and the person that said it!"
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. . Hate away.
The successful pay and get nothing.
400 people in the US have more wealth than 155 million have combined. Let's make that even clearer for you:
400 people in the U.S. have more money than HALF the population of the U.S. has if all the money in that half were added together.
And you, Slappy, YOU are part of that group of 155 million Americans. As am I. Pretty much everyone you will see at work, on the street, etc in the next 24/48/72 hours/12 months will be part of that 155 million.
I hope you have a job that can't (yet) be moved to China.
Because when it is, give me a call so I can laugh in your face for thinking that you were someone special, when you were just another sucker that got played by the GOP/Koch-financed Teabaggers/Fox News Conservatards.
Oh, FYI, I live in a very cozy little apartment on the 4th floor of a building in Boston.
Oh, P.S. When you were in the military, my taxes fed you, clothed you, and equipped you. When you get sick, my taxes pay for your care at a V.A. hospital. When you get old and retire, your Social Security benefits will likely include some of the money from my my taxes. The roads you drive on are paid for by my taxes. The air traffic controllers that keep planes from crashing into each other are paid for with my taxes. The EPA that strives to insure that you have clean water and air. Yep! My taxes help pay for that. They also help pay for the FDA and CDC. Wholesome food and medicines, along with disease prevention.
You're welcome!
When you die, your burial in a Veteran's cemetery will be paid for by taxes, as was the cemetery itself, and the care of your grave will be paid for by taxes paid by people much like myself.
People who pay for civilization.
"Taxes: Redeemable only for Warfare, Welfare, and more Taxes. Offer not valid in Puerto Rico." Some dumbass Randroid Teabagger.
"I enjoy paying taxes. With them I buy civilization."
Oliver Wendell Holmes.
RE: Venture Bros, and now Futurama, let me quote from my third favorite basic cable animated series, ARCHER:
"SPLOOSH!"
Thank you for your kind attention.
The G5 is also my main computer. It sits under the table I use as the "workstation".
Of course, if you had bothered to inquire before making your asinine proclamation, you'd have saved yourself the embarrassment of outing yourself as a judgmental little shithead.
Oh, wait, that's EXACTLY what the AC option is for.
RE: Your TV comparison analogy. It's absolutely spot on!
I have a run of the mill 26" Samsung LCD TV. It's about two years old. Comcast is the cable provider.
From where I sit to watch TV, the non-HD image beats the hell out of what my old RCA CRT TV produced, I can actually read the fine print in commercials.
Up close, the picture is absolute crap. But as I don't usually stand with my nose a foot from the screen, I don't care what it looks like that close.
I can receive 720P HD over the air channels if I so desire.
As an example, comparing OTA Fox Network to Comcast provided Fox Network (with the letterboxed cable image blown up to full screen via an option in the TV) The OTA is somewhat noticeably 'better'. But not enough for me to spend the extra money for HD service. For letterboxed content, I push a button on the TV remote 3 times, and the letterboxed content fills the screen with no black bars.
My new Samsung DVD player upconverts DVD to "HD" just fine as far as I'm concerned.
As the old saying has it, 'Perfect is the enemy of good enough.' Good enough is good enough for me for video and music.
That's exactly what I do.
I buy a CD. A USED CD.
Often for less than a few tracks off iTunes.
Rip 'em to iTunes. Gracenote adds the fiddling small details.
Google Images or Amazon provides album art for CoverFlow.
I rip to MP3. My 'stereo' is my old dual processor G5 Mac, with a pair of Cambridge Soundworks speakers.
Good enough for these old ears of mine.
As always, YMMV.
Bloody Ferengi!
Keep in mind, the Goldblum character WAS an MIT graduate.
So, it's not like it was really hard for him.
Multiple independent citations for all that pugwash up there or it didn't happen.
Wish I could mod you up, both for your comment and sig.
...who voted GOP/Libertarian, enjoy paying a lot more to Comcast or Time Warner for your high speed Internet access and throttled to death P2P bandwidth.
Define "functionality."
For the average Mac/iPhone/iPad user, the "functionality of their Mac/iPhone/iPad is just freaking fine.
It works. Again, for example. They buy something from iTunes, seconds later, it's on the computer/iPhone/iPad. Same thing with the App Store.
To reiterate, Anonymous Coward, The average Apple user doesn't give a shot about what YOU think.
Neither do I, actually.
But, the challenge has been made. Go ahead. Define "functionality". I await your answer.
Actually, why not rewrite your comment so it makes some sense, grammatically and logically.
...don't care one little bit about the App Stores being "walled gardens".
They don't care that iPods or Macs do not natively support Ogg Vorbis or FLAC.
They don't care about iTunes not having as many features as some linux open source thing. They don't care about linux, either.
They don't really care about no Flash on iPhone/iPod/iPad. As long as they can watch the latest Maru videos on YouTube, they will continue not to care about no Flash on iPhone/iPod/iPad.
They care that the Mac Pro/MacBook/iMac/iPod/iPad WORKS.
They care about the seamless one click purchase and it's on the harddrive aspect of the iTunes Store.
They care about the seamless no click synching of iPod/iPhone to the computer.
They care about the interface that lets them get on with it. They don't want to hear about Terminal or how much better a CLI is vs. a GUI. Because they DO NOT CARE.
The vast majority of Apple users have never heard of Slashdot, and don't care a fat rat's ass what any of us here think about Apple.
Thank you for your kind attention.
Please carry on with the AppleHate/AppleLove.