1. Smart tags can be easily turned off by the end user. There is a BUTTON ON THE TOOLBAR to do this.
But they have some use - I'd rather do a google search than a microsoft one, but microsoft's better than nothing. And 90% of people will just think 'its better than nothing' and not realise they can get a set of 3rd party smart tags
2. Smart tags can be easily turned off by a page author. There is a META tag that does this.
The default smart tags look for any reference to any company in MoneyCentral, and a few US universities. You click on them, and you get info.
So everybody has to insert a special Microsoft META tag to avoid Internet Explorer linking their page to microsoft.com - the last nail in the coffin of non-proprietary HTML. And what about all the pages that already exist - even Microsoft can't make everyone rewrite their pages.
3. Smart tags look nothing like ordinary links. They are purple dotted lines uder the word. When you mouse-over them, an (i) info symbol appears. You CANNOT mistake smart tags for ordinary links.
So? The problem isn't that we don't know Microsoft is doing it, it's that we're being fed biased information. For example, they could probably justify a smart tag linking 'web browser' to the IE page, giving the impression that its the only one around.
4. IMO, they are a pain, but easily disabled.
So's Clippy, but how many people have worked out how?
You can get them on tape from the BBC - don't know if there are tapes.
And yes they *are* funnier than the books - basically Adams filled up the books with all the jokes that weren't quite funny enough for the radio.
Why not use some form of wiki wiki net so people can correct mistakes while leaving the bulk of the article unchanged?
And if you use a one which allows revisions (e.g. takefive wiki, which is already under GPL), we could correct facts in the same article.
You'd also be able to insert links to relevant articles as they were added, rather than begging the authors to point out new information.
And you use HTML, so you'd be able to convert existing web pages to fit in.
Slashdot Mirror
But they have some use - I'd rather do a google search than a microsoft one, but microsoft's better than nothing. And 90% of people will just think 'its better than nothing' and not realise they can get a set of 3rd party smart tags
2. Smart tags can be easily turned off by a page author. There is a META tag that does this. The default smart tags look for any reference to any company in MoneyCentral, and a few US universities. You click on them, and you get info.
So everybody has to insert a special Microsoft META tag to avoid Internet Explorer linking their page to microsoft.com - the last nail in the coffin of non-proprietary HTML. And what about all the pages that already exist - even Microsoft can't make everyone rewrite their pages.
3. Smart tags look nothing like ordinary links. They are purple dotted lines uder the word. When you mouse-over them, an (i) info symbol appears. You CANNOT mistake smart tags for ordinary links.
So? The problem isn't that we don't know Microsoft is doing it, it's that we're being fed biased information. For example, they could probably justify a smart tag linking 'web browser' to the IE page, giving the impression that its the only one around.
4. IMO, they are a pain, but easily disabled.
So's Clippy, but how many people have worked out how?
You can get them on tape from the BBC - don't know if there are tapes. And yes they *are* funnier than the books - basically Adams filled up the books with all the jokes that weren't quite funny enough for the radio.
No home pages about 'my Amish life'. Now I wonder why that could be...
Why not use some form of wiki wiki net so people can correct mistakes while leaving the bulk of the article unchanged? And if you use a one which allows revisions (e.g. takefive wiki, which is already under GPL), we could correct facts in the same article. You'd also be able to insert links to relevant articles as they were added, rather than begging the authors to point out new information. And you use HTML, so you'd be able to convert existing web pages to fit in.