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User: nemesisj

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  1. Lindows got what they wanted. on Microsoft Starts Legal Fight Over Lindows Name · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I think that this plays right into Lindows.com's strategy. They were probably hoping to get sued by Microsoft, get tons of press, get to take shots at Microsoft in the press, and get to be hailed by all as the underdog.

    They probably would have used something like Winux if they hadn't wanted to be a target. How could they not be advised by someone that this would be trademark infringement when naming their company?

  2. Re:Possible better solution on Ximian Adds Subscription · · Score: 1

    hehehe. I agree.

  3. Possible better solution on Ximian Adds Subscription · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This latest move is a noble attempt at trying to make some money, but I'd rather see companies like Redhat get an easy to use automatic software updater that keeps every package on my system up to date, and give me the "express treatment" when I enter a UPC code from the boxed version of the software I bought at a retail store. I think this would be a much better solution since it doesn't mean me paying every month, and Redhat is still making money off of retail sales, in addition to racking up more brick and mortar sales numbers.

  4. X Windows is Slow on Perception of Linux Among IT Undergrads · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "The Linux user-interface came in for further unwarranted bashing (no pun intended), "Linux GUIs are slow." Well, this really depends on the hardware you're running on, doesn't it? To put Linux on an old PC (which can no longer run the latest Microsoft OS) and then complain when the Linux GUI runs slowly is just not comparing apples with apples, no matter what way you look at it. "
    This is the only part of the article I disagree with. X Windows is slow. Period. I don't get anywhere near the responsiveness and speed with X-Windows on my PC that I get with Windows. As much as I love developing and playing with Linux, the slow speed of the GUI ticks me off more than anything. I don't see how anyone could not realize how much slower Gnome is then Windows, and then indignantly yell that it's a myth when someone else observes this fact.
  5. Re:This article is bullcrap on The Ongoing Saga of Linux in China · · Score: 1

    I'm not sure if you mean the context of your quote, or the context of the article, because I think we should be able to easily agree that the context of the article was a discussion of linux as a mainstream OS.

    But switching tracks...I haven't hung around China's "technical elite" mostly because there just aren't that many programmers in China, and there is an even smaller software industry in mainland China. Based on the quality of computer science higher education currently available in mainland China, I don't think I'd trust very many applicants at all.

  6. This article is bullcrap on The Ongoing Saga of Linux in China · · Score: 1

    "And don't forget plain old nationalism -- an unwillingness to be so beholden to a monopolistic foreign company -- plus Microsoft's reputation as a bully. ``There is grassroots anti-Microsoft sentiment,'' says Michael Robinson, a technologist with long experience in open-source software who's lived in China for eight years. Robinson cites ``a popular perception of Microsoft being antagonistic to the aspirations of China."

    This is completely inacurrate. I haved lived in China all my life and the Chinese are very pro-Microsoft, for the simple reason that Microsoft is such a success story in business. Also, just like the US, there is a widespread fear of linux being "hard to use". There is no such thing as a price differential between linux and Windows, because anyone can buy a pirated copy of multiple programs for 1-2 US dollars. Pirating is such a rampant practice and is so commonly done that nobody thinks twice about it. I have never spoken to a Chinese friend who doesn't use pirated software. This article is obviously written by someone out of touch with China, who is probably seeking foreign investment.

    Although I'm a linux fan, I regret to say that this article is far from the truth.

  7. Re:An engine -fell off- the plane??? on Another Plane Down in New York · · Score: 1

    Commercial aircraft are designed with some of the highest safety margins of any product ever. You're more likely to choke to death than die in an airplane, so stop being ridiculous. Your comparison of a fully loaded jet (both with passengers and jet fuel) crashing to an egg drop contest is probably the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard of.

  8. Re:Error messages need to be have error numbers on Open Source Programmers Stink At Error Handling · · Score: 1

    I'm all for error messages that have codes like you described above, as long as the code is accompanied by a human readable (and hopefully understandable error) such as:

    ERROR KDE-2345: You forgot to install something this application needs.

    I think that is the best of both worlds, and please, no "Contact your system provider" errors.

  9. Comments do matter. on Is Your Elected Official Really Listening? · · Score: 1

    Just because you aren't getting any "personal" mail back from your representative doesn't mean they aren't listening. I know several interns who work with big-name congressman whose sole job is to log mail/phone calls/faxes/email/etc. as far as to which position they support. I also can't believe you think that a representative in New England is going to care what someone who SAYS they live in California thinks - the way our system works is that you write YOUR representative.

  10. Teamwork in college isn't so hot on Cooperation in CS Education? · · Score: 1

    I am currently a junior at a fairly well respected school with a great CS department. My experience has been one of dread concerning group projects. It usually boils down to the professor picking the groups, and then one or two people end up doing the entire project either because the others don't care or because they can't coordinate properly and fall behind. The worst are the "Business Systems" classes that combine us CS majors with Business majors. That is a complete nightmare as the BS people can't even do an html page properly, and the CS people end up doing everything, even the writeup because the BS people can't understand what they're writing up. The end result of all of this though is that this is probably close to how it's done in the "real world" and therefore this is good experience.

  11. Virtual keyboards on Data Glove That Turns Gestures Into Commands · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I think that this might be useful in situations where a keyboard is needed sometimes but is inconvenient in other situations. If anyone here saw the Final Fantasy movie, you'll know what I mean - one of the characters prompted a holographic keypad/interface to come up which she typed on, and then caused it to dissapear when the bad guys came and action was needed.

  12. Re:OS 10.1 MS Word v X and fun ! on OS X 10.1 Coming Today (Sorta) · · Score: 1

    I am also a big fan of MSIE:Mac, but it has a really nasty SSL bug that prevents me from using it for anything other than basic browsing. Basically, most sites are unable to establish an SSL connection and respond with an error like "Decryption error". So for now, whenever I need to shop or do secure loggins, I use Netscape 6.1 for OS X.

  13. I don't think it looks so great. on A Few Baaaaaad Apples · · Score: 1

    Why would anyone want a laptop that is more than half a foot thick and probably weighs 10-15 pounds? I want a laptop that is slim and durable and light. This thing looks like it fails miserable on two out of those requirements.

  14. OpenGL is on the way out. on What is Happening with OpenGL? · · Score: 1

    I was under the impression that OpenGL has been on the way out since Unreal came out and it was obvious that they didn't care at all about their OpenGL implementation. When a game that was supposed to be technology leader doesn't care about OpenGL you've got problems. Besides id Software, nobody cares about portability or using any API besides DirectX. The reason OpenGL used to be so important was because DirectX was still in its infancy, and because many video cards ran OpenGL better and faster.

  15. Par for the Course on Report Security Problems, Face The Consequences · · Score: 1

    This is nothing new. The FBI has been screwing up stuff like this for the past couple of years in many different areas. Remember Richard Jewell? Same situation as this, just without technology involved. The problems with the FBI don't stem from ignorance of technology.

  16. How is this system authenticated? on Florida Surveillance Cameras Claim a Victim · · Score: 1

    When I was younger, there was a kid in my highschool who looked remarkably like me. One time he was riding his bike recklessly and he knocked over an old man, who then complained to my parents, who believed them until I could establish an alibi. My question is - how long do these picture stay in the database, and what measures are there to emperically identify you as who you are? The potential for abuses on this kind of system seem astronomical to me, as often times appearence is the least consistent or reliable method of identifying someone, especially when a picture is old or out of date.

  17. Huh? on VeriSign Accuses Competitors Of 'Slamming' · · Score: 1

    I agree with CmdrTaco about Network Solution's terrible service and horrible pricing, but I just transferred several domains from them within the last two weeks and there wasn't any problem. There was one confirmation email (which everyone does) making sure that everything about the transfer was kosher, but that was it. Piece of cake - it's literally the easiest thing I've ever done in my dealings with them - I should have done it a lot sooner.

  18. Why is Unified Membership Needed? on A Modest Proposal For Decentralized Membership · · Score: 1

    I think the argument that Microsoft's Passport system will inevitably triumph is not a good one. Their passport system is for their stuff, not everyone's. Won't the overhead of manipulating this member.xml file with permissions information and everything just be the process you have to go through with every membership system? If we are required to submit the goals of privacy to neccesity of convenience, count me out.

  19. My Experience - It's Fast on Can Cable Really Be Slower Than 56K? · · Score: 1

    This summer I am getting much faster speeds on my cable modem than on the campus of my school, which has several T1's feeding it. One of the reasons for this may be because I am on the outer limites of my city and therefore I don't think my node has very many people (I can get around 250-500 KB a sec). I did have one outage for around 5 hours (I use Time Warner) but that's been it. If you're thinking to switching to cable, a lot of providers in my area waive the installation fee and first month's charge if you set it up yourself.

  20. COOL!! on CD Copy "Protection" in California · · Score: 1

    I could have used this technology back when I didn't have any money for a distortion pedal for my guitar. Instant distortion of music - does this mean I'll like Britney Spears now?

  21. Re:Unprofessionalism on MySQL & Nusphere · · Score: 1

    If you're going to release something to the world in a language that's not your own, get a proofreader. The reason I brought this up is becase I'm talking about public opinion, not my own - you and I both know that MySQL AB is right - but the average Microsoft user will only know what he/she reads from a press release, without thinking further about it. This type of unprofessionalism hurts the Open Source movement, and your defense of it shows that you don't have a clue about how to get Open Source software recognized in the business world (a professional world).

  22. Unprofessionalism on MySQL & Nusphere · · Score: 1

    I think that it is fairly apparent that MySQL AB is right, however, why do they insist on LOOKING wrong by being so unprofessional? Typos, bad grammar, and universal statements litter their posts, and they behave like all around jerks. I find myself wanting to believe that NuSphere is right, simply because they know how to behave decently.

  23. Not as Goofy as it Sounds. on Launch Your Own Picosatellite · · Score: 1

    My university (Taylor University) is involved in the designing and deployment of a small communications satelite based on the cubesat approach. From what I can understand, most projects involving cubesats are made up of several cubes (ours will use 6). Space junk concerns aside, I think that cubesat is a cool opportunity for schools. Where else can an undergraduate get experience in designing (both hardware and software) and deploying a real satelite?