Most people seem to be forgetting about optical cable. Get a decent sound card with an optical out and run it to your receiver's optical in. The only problem here is a lack of remote control, for which other's have specified solutions. There are lots of ways to get your mp3s on your stereo, some of which will be better for different types of folks, but if you're going to lay an audio cable, do yourself a favour and use an optical one (if your system will support it)!
Your comment about unscrupulous business relying on search rankings is about as cogent as saying that a lot of unscrupulous businesses rely on prime streetfront property to directly translate to dollars. Businesses in general rely on tactics like these to generate customers. This is why businesses pay real money to get listed for certain words. This is why businesses pay real money for a prime storefront location.
Believe me, as an e-commerce consultant I can see the cost/benefit analysis of this tactic, and it works. Like any marketing plan, it can be used for great good or evil (make sure you say this with an Alec Guinness accent).
Furthermore, I'm surprised that anybody who takes the time to read and post here at/. would get upset at the mere CONCEPT of a peer-review system for a search engine. I would think that any method that ranks link popularity (however defined) over corporate sponsorship would be a Good Thing.
I agree. This here hydrogen power is as likely to become a reality as "flying machines" or briefcase-sized computers (now who'd need something like that?).
AMD Duron 750 with 256MB RAM: $390
SoundBlaster Audigy Platinum: $165
40 GB drive: $90
wireless keyboard and mouse: $45 on uBid
DVD drive: $40
wireless network adapter: $115 (SMC SMC2602W)
cheap video card (you just need to run 640x480) with tv-out: $35 on eBay
Your Favourite OS: $free
Total: $879.
And that's with no shopping around, with almost all parts new, and some pretty bloody nice ones at that (sb audigy, wireless lan, for example). With THIS, you can play mp3 files (without the digital rights protection), AND
- play video games on your big-screen tv
- surf the web (if you need to)
- play dvds on your tv
- play all those movies you don't download from morpheus because that would be illegal
- feel very cool because you built your own wireless media server
- control the box on your tv using the wireless keyboard and mouse or VNC/telnet/ftp/whatever in from another computer
- umm, gee, hmm, what else can you do with a computer? that's about all I can think of...
- oh yeah, save $120 off the cost of the HP unit.
Probably anybody who can afford a 1080i HDTV monitor can afford a $100 video card...
Encarta 2002 is available on DVD
on
Debian On DVD
·
· Score: 1
I bought Encarta 2002 -- for my wife!!!;-) -- the other day on DVD. Last version was 5 CDs, this one's 1 DVD. Very nice change for the better. So yes I imagine that most of Microsoft's products that take up more than 1 CD will be available on DVD in their next release.
I've worked at a number of companies with the Quirky Guru type. At one company, at the time a pioneer of electronic commerce payment systems and let's leave it at that, there seemed to be a disporportionately high number of these people. Several of them were the initial instigators and developers of this technology. They were extremely bright and dedicated individuals. One of these guys used to walk around the company wearing cycling shorts, and old sweatshirt and socks (no shoes). But without him and others there wouldn't have BEEN a company and as such, yes, there was definitely a place for them. As others have pointed out, many of the most brilliant people tend to be a bit "insane" when put next to the washed masses. As these types have been around us since the beginning of time (Jesus, Mozart & Einstein to name a few) I don't think the concept of the Quirky Guru is going anywhere soon.
HOWEVER, there's the other type. At the last company I worked with, the lead developer seemed to be trying to turn himself into the quirky guru. In his mind, this seemed to mean showing up for work at 09:30 (and he lived in the office building!), going out for coffee at 09:45, coming back at 10:00, walking around talking to developers until he was called in for a meeting with the president where he'd sit for hours talking very slowly about grandiose plans. Sure, he knew more than I did, but I DID more than he did. I don't think there's much room for this sort of quirky guru.
Most larger companies seem to put this sort of person in 'Special Projects' before too long. Note to those of you out there - if you're in 'Special Projects', the rest of the company is probably not looking at you with awe or envy - they Get It, even if you don't. This is where you go when the VP of R&D doesn't want to fire you because that would declare to his/her boss and the rest of the company that that they made a mistake in hiring you. However, they can't get you to play nicely or get any work done. IMHO, companies should cut their losses and fire this type, not give them a special playground where they can't really negatively affect others. What's the point.
I have a $40 cable modem connection and a $10 digital phone connection from Cox Communications in San Diego county, US. I've seen up to 420kBps (~3.4Mbps) down and about 256kbps up (advertised maximum). My friend has never seen his ION connection go over 4Mbps.
Sure, if I had no choice, I'd buy ION in a second. But with my cable company (occasionally) overdelivering on their promise of 3Mbps and Sprint's service never really going near 8Mbps IMHO ION doesn't have much of a chance against its competition. Sure, cable has its downsides (no static IP, strict "no hosting" policies, etc.) but it still seems like a better deal than ION to me.
...this is like commenting that those companies who rent DVD players at airports have a stupid idea because people are just going to take their DVD players home with them and not return them at the destination airport...
This is like saying that as soon as people figure out they can KEEP their rental car forever after only paying for the first day, they can have a car for $20...
If these companies do a $200 authentication on your credit card, you're definitely going to have a vested interest in returning the camera. And if you don't, the company just cleaned up on you.
Open Source Object/Physics Modelling Environment?
on
The Future of Gaming
·
· Score: 1
I've been pondering the concept of a collaborative, open source "reality" model for a few years now. Does anybody know if anything like this is in development anywhere? Not only would a project like this be incredibly fun (challenging) to develop, but it would be extremely useful for research applications as well as game design.
Now THIS is a project I'd want to get involved in...full of ideas.
I thought the point of loudspeakers was to blow out MUSIC...or did this mean that "inflatable loudspeakers could blow out [of] roadies" (yuck!)? I guess the latter would solve the question of how to inflate the speakers.
Their multiple-bladder design reminds me of the Titanic - see how well THAT concept held water/air/whatever...
I have a GSM phone, and I used to have Verizon (CDMA). If you're the sort of person who never leaves downtown, GSM service is fine. However, I've found that the GSM (1900Mhz PCS) coverage in the US is such that you can't really use your phone in any of the places where you might actually need to. As soon as my Cingular contract is over, I'm going back to Verizon with its analog backup coverage area.
PS: A SIM chip is no good for storing your data if you lose your phone. PLUS, Cingular will charge you $30 to replace it. Makes taking your locked and useless Ericsson T28 World Phone overseas and then losing it a very expensive and frustrating event...
Well, I too was working last month at a small internet consulting company. I ended up leaving. I wasn't quite as pivotal as you, I guess, but I look at it this way: I'm not a jerk at work, but in the end in business, you have to look after YOURSELF. Therefore, if you've done what you can do to make a company succesful and your best efforts have been hindered by people above you (or below you), and you have a better opportunity, then _take it_. That may be construed as "jumping out" or "bailing ship", but if you've honestly given it your best shot then it's the right decision, and anybody not personally involved or hurt (i.e. future employers) should see it that way.
Plus, if your coworkers are any good, they'll get new jobs. You don't owe them your sanity in order that they can keep jobs in a dying company.
There you go. I have spoken.
What's this about W2s and getting paid when companies go under? I just quit my full-time job to go work on a contract, and it only lasted a day and a half before the contract company cancelled the project I was working on and me along with it. Now I'm not making any money even though it was supposedly a 3 month (at-will) W2 contract.
Am I being screwed here?
Slashdot Mirror
Most people seem to be forgetting about optical cable. Get a decent sound card with an optical out and run it to your receiver's optical in. The only problem here is a lack of remote control, for which other's have specified solutions. There are lots of ways to get your mp3s on your stereo, some of which will be better for different types of folks, but if you're going to lay an audio cable, do yourself a favour and use an optical one (if your system will support it)!
What kind of "e-business consulting company" has a homepage that won't even load in Netscape 6.2?
Sorry, not "your comment", the original poster's comment.
Your comment about unscrupulous business relying on search rankings is about as cogent as saying that a lot of unscrupulous businesses rely on prime streetfront property to directly translate to dollars. Businesses in general rely on tactics like these to generate customers. This is why businesses pay real money to get listed for certain words. This is why businesses pay real money for a prime storefront location.
/. would get upset at the mere CONCEPT of a peer-review system for a search engine. I would think that any method that ranks link popularity (however defined) over corporate sponsorship would be a Good Thing.
Believe me, as an e-commerce consultant I can see the cost/benefit analysis of this tactic, and it works. Like any marketing plan, it can be used for great good or evil (make sure you say this with an Alec Guinness accent).
Furthermore, I'm surprised that anybody who takes the time to read and post here at
I agree. This here hydrogen power is as likely to become a reality as "flying machines" or briefcase-sized computers (now who'd need something like that?).
How about this for an alternative:
AMD Duron 750 with 256MB RAM: $390
SoundBlaster Audigy Platinum: $165
40 GB drive: $90
wireless keyboard and mouse: $45 on uBid
DVD drive: $40
wireless network adapter: $115 (SMC SMC2602W)
cheap video card (you just need to run 640x480) with tv-out: $35 on eBay
Your Favourite OS: $free
Total: $879.
And that's with no shopping around, with almost all parts new, and some pretty bloody nice ones at that (sb audigy, wireless lan, for example). With THIS, you can play mp3 files (without the digital rights protection), AND
- play video games on your big-screen tv
- surf the web (if you need to)
- play dvds on your tv
- play all those movies you don't download from morpheus because that would be illegal
- feel very cool because you built your own wireless media server
- control the box on your tv using the wireless keyboard and mouse or VNC/telnet/ftp/whatever in from another computer
- umm, gee, hmm, what else can you do with a computer? that's about all I can think of...
- oh yeah, save $120 off the cost of the HP unit.
I admit it, I just go here for the pictures.
Probably anybody who can afford a 1080i HDTV monitor can afford a $100 video card...
I bought Encarta 2002 -- for my wife!!! ;-) -- the other day on DVD. Last version was 5 CDs, this one's 1 DVD. Very nice change for the better. So yes I imagine that most of Microsoft's products that take up more than 1 CD will be available on DVD in their next release.
I've worked at a number of companies with the Quirky Guru type. At one company, at the time a pioneer of electronic commerce payment systems and let's leave it at that, there seemed to be a disporportionately high number of these people. Several of them were the initial instigators and developers of this technology. They were extremely bright and dedicated individuals. One of these guys used to walk around the company wearing cycling shorts, and old sweatshirt and socks (no shoes). But without him and others there wouldn't have BEEN a company and as such, yes, there was definitely a place for them. As others have pointed out, many of the most brilliant people tend to be a bit "insane" when put next to the washed masses. As these types have been around us since the beginning of time (Jesus, Mozart & Einstein to name a few) I don't think the concept of the Quirky Guru is going anywhere soon.
HOWEVER, there's the other type. At the last company I worked with, the lead developer seemed to be trying to turn himself into the quirky guru. In his mind, this seemed to mean showing up for work at 09:30 (and he lived in the office building!), going out for coffee at 09:45, coming back at 10:00, walking around talking to developers until he was called in for a meeting with the president where he'd sit for hours talking very slowly about grandiose plans. Sure, he knew more than I did, but I DID more than he did. I don't think there's much room for this sort of quirky guru.
Most larger companies seem to put this sort of person in 'Special Projects' before too long. Note to those of you out there - if you're in 'Special Projects', the rest of the company is probably not looking at you with awe or envy - they Get It, even if you don't. This is where you go when the VP of R&D doesn't want to fire you because that would declare to his/her boss and the rest of the company that that they made a mistake in hiring you. However, they can't get you to play nicely or get any work done. IMHO, companies should cut their losses and fire this type, not give them a special playground where they can't really negatively affect others. What's the point.
I have a $40 cable modem connection and a $10 digital phone connection from Cox Communications in San Diego county, US. I've seen up to 420kBps (~3.4Mbps) down and about 256kbps up (advertised maximum). My friend has never seen his ION connection go over 4Mbps.
Sure, if I had no choice, I'd buy ION in a second. But with my cable company (occasionally) overdelivering on their promise of 3Mbps and Sprint's service never really going near 8Mbps IMHO ION doesn't have much of a chance against its competition. Sure, cable has its downsides (no static IP, strict "no hosting" policies, etc.) but it still seems like a better deal than ION to me.
...this is like commenting that those companies who rent DVD players at airports have a stupid idea because people are just going to take their DVD players home with them and not return them at the destination airport...
This is like saying that as soon as people figure out they can KEEP their rental car forever after only paying for the first day, they can have a car for $20...
If these companies do a $200 authentication on your credit card, you're definitely going to have a vested interest in returning the camera. And if you don't, the company just cleaned up on you.
I've been pondering the concept of a collaborative, open source "reality" model for a few years now. Does anybody know if anything like this is in development anywhere? Not only would a project like this be incredibly fun (challenging) to develop, but it would be extremely useful for research applications as well as game design.
Now THIS is a project I'd want to get involved in...full of ideas.
I thought the point of loudspeakers was to blow out MUSIC...or did this mean that "inflatable loudspeakers could blow out [of] roadies" (yuck!)? I guess the latter would solve the question of how to inflate the speakers.
Their multiple-bladder design reminds me of the Titanic - see how well THAT concept held water/air/whatever...
I have a GSM phone, and I used to have Verizon (CDMA). If you're the sort of person who never leaves downtown, GSM service is fine. However, I've found that the GSM (1900Mhz PCS) coverage in the US is such that you can't really use your phone in any of the places where you might actually need to. As soon as my Cingular contract is over, I'm going back to Verizon with its analog backup coverage area.
PS: A SIM chip is no good for storing your data if you lose your phone. PLUS, Cingular will charge you $30 to replace it. Makes taking your locked and useless Ericsson T28 World Phone overseas and then losing it a very expensive and frustrating event...
Well, I too was working last month at a small internet consulting company. I ended up leaving. I wasn't quite as pivotal as you, I guess, but I look at it this way: I'm not a jerk at work, but in the end in business, you have to look after YOURSELF. Therefore, if you've done what you can do to make a company succesful and your best efforts have been hindered by people above you (or below you), and you have a better opportunity, then _take it_. That may be construed as "jumping out" or "bailing ship", but if you've honestly given it your best shot then it's the right decision, and anybody not personally involved or hurt (i.e. future employers) should see it that way. Plus, if your coworkers are any good, they'll get new jobs. You don't owe them your sanity in order that they can keep jobs in a dying company. There you go. I have spoken.
What's this about W2s and getting paid when companies go under? I just quit my full-time job to go work on a contract, and it only lasted a day and a half before the contract company cancelled the project I was working on and me along with it. Now I'm not making any money even though it was supposedly a 3 month (at-will) W2 contract. Am I being screwed here?