Exactly. As in the case of the tax on blank CDs in Canada, this is gives you the legal right to copy any damn thing you want -- you already paid the royalty when you bought the media! (IANAL, but that's the arguement I'd make if they tried to charge me with "pirating")
A search of eBay for "pen-based computer" turns up nothing. Care to specify the exact make and model you're looking at? (also, how much are they going for?)
I can't believe they got patents on this. It's just a truss made out of composite materials. I'll bet they're infriging one or more of Buckminister Fuller's patents, too. Certainly, this is an obvious application of composites. Indeed, what they show looks a lot like the Hubble Space Telescope'sgraphite epoxy metering truss!
They haven't used that "like a book" license in a long time. I don't know anyone who's used their products in a long time. They haven't made money in a long time.
I wasn't thinking of potential damage to the unit (I'm sure I can install it no problem -- I've got several soldering irons and I know how to use them!), I was thinking more about the appearance of the startup screen, etc. I'd hate to have it pop up a huge banner that says "Gates Sucks!" or something. Well, that might be cool, but my wife would question it ("Does our XBox have a virus? No? How do you know?").
Great answers! Perhaps you can help with my question: If I install this mod chip, will the XBox appear any different to my wife, who would kill me if she knew I was voiding the warranty and possibly breaking a $200 "toy". In other words, will it run and play exactly as before, or will she notice that something's different?
when was warfare supposed to be fun? It's all about imposing your will on somebody else
My nephew is a pilot in the U.S. Air Force. He turned down an assignment where he would go to Las Vegas (hmm, I wonder what airbase we have there?) and fly airplanes from a console on the ground. His reward after a year of this was to be any assignment he wanted, and he still turned it down because a year of flying from the ground sounded too boring to him. Oh, and he flys tankers, not fighters.
If the warfare's not "fun" (i.e., if it's boring) then you will only get people to do it by "imposing your will on somebody else", i.e., the draft. And then you don't get the best pilots, you just get drones controlling the drones. At that point, you'll probably find it easier/cheaper/better to turn it all over to computers, and then you have machines deciding whether or not to kill humans -- there's your SkyNet scenario, and I really really hope we never go there. Boeing's good at what they do, but they're not that good.
No, I don't have any numbers, just personal observation. Here we all have Dells, all with Microsoft mice, and the new Dells have Microsoft mice in Dell black with both "Dell" and "Microsoft" brands on them. You have to admit the first MS mouse (green buttons, metal ball) was crap, the next batch was OK, and the Dove Bar (soap, not icecream) was darn good. They've just been getting better and better since, and they long ago set the standard for what makes a compatible mouse. I believe even Logitech make a Microsoft-compatible mouse and use Microsoft's drivers. This leads me to say they have the dominant share of the mouse market, but no, I don't have numbers to back that up.
If MS were to make a proprietary version, though, who would buy it? MS cant force anybody into it no matter what experience they gained from the XBOX.
No, they can't force anyone to buy it, but as I said, if they make this box you'd better believe they'll stop selling Windows to Dell and the others. It'll be the new MS box or a Mac.
If Sony, for example, made a set top box to use as a PC, would they go with Windows?
Who will buy Sony's box if it won't run Office? Certainly not the Fortune 500, who is the real customer for this hypothetical box. That's why few of the 500 buy Macs now; as an Office platform it's overpriced. It's great for a person in graphic arts, but office drones don't need it, so the Fortune 500 don't buy it.
As I said, I sure hope you're right, but I believe my scenario is the real reason M$ came out with the X-Box.
I understand what you're saying, and I hope you're right, but I fear I'm right.
Perhaps I didn't make myself clear. Microsoft has already said, in court, that if forced to open up Windows the way the non-settling states propose, then Microsoft will simply stop selling Windows. Add to this Sen. Hollings' attempt to force all PCs to have closed content protection systems and I think you're wrong when you say "The only way they can get me or anybody else to buy one is if they can convince me that it is lots better than what I already have today." You will have no choice. Well, maybe the iMac is your choice, but your choice won't include Dell or HP or Gateway or any other brand, because Microsoft won't sell them Windows and the law won't allow them to run Linux. Sure, you and I will continue to use our old hardware, but at work we will either use a Mac or a M$ box.
And no, it won't require a TV -- it'll use a monitor just like your PC does today. I'll say it again: X-Box is just their way of gaining experience in the closed-hardware business. Microsoft has a history of doing crap in release 1.0, OK in release 2.0, and winning the market with release 3.0. This goes for hardware as well as software: look at how their mice have improved and taken the majority market share. X-Box isn't the target device, it's just release 1.0.
The next box isn't going to be an improved X-Box. Well, OK, maybe it is, but that's not the box I'm talking about. I'm talking about the Microsoft computer based on what they learn by making the X-Box. It's gonna be a general-purpose PC replacement, not an X-Box replacement, but it's not gonna be a general-purpose PC. Yes, it may well play X-Box games, but that's not it's reason for existance. Indeed, to sell these to GM and Boeing and Monsanto and the rest of the Fortune 500, it probably won't play X-Box games. This box is going to put Dell and the rest out of business, unless they get with the program and become hardware suppliers to Microsoft instead of OS customers of Microsoft. And Congress is going to make it manditory for Microsoft to do this!
If you think X-Box is about game consoles, you miss the whole point. X-Box is about learning how to control the hardware design as well as the software. Today you can buy Lotus Notes for Windows and Microsoft doesn't make a penny. Worse, you can get Perl or GCC for Windows and write your own code without paying M$ one penny. Not only that, they have to support all that legacy hardware in each Windows release, not to mention that pesky trial over the OS itself.
Once Windows is the embedded OS in a Microsoft-controlled hardware product, many good things (for Microsoft) happen:
There is no threat from any other OS.
There is no cry of "Unfair middleware bundling!"
There is no issue of different licenses for different hardware makers, or of rogue hardware makers loading a non-M$ approved desktop.
Everyone who writes software for the box has to pay Microsoft a royalty -- guess what this does to the Free Software folks?
Microsoft can provide ever-greater improvements just by re-flashing the ROM via your (required) Internet connection (don't have one? sign here for MSN for just $5/month more than you're paying now).
Oh, did I mention manditory software subscriptions?
Want more storage space? We'll rent you more for a slightly higher subscription (no hardware upgrade needed)
This this is all a pipe dream? Think nobody will buy this? Think again.
I guess you missed it, but I was refering to airplanes coming out of the sky and hitting buildings. I think you'd change your perspective on airline security if you, or someone you knew, were in one of the buildings hit on 9/11. It's no longer a matter of safety for those on the airplane, it's now a matter of safety for everyone.
As Sara points out, try an internship -- that's a great way to go (that's how I did it). Even if the company you intern with doesn't offer you a job, it looks fantastic on your resume. A degree plus two or three years work experience beats a degree or two or three years experience, hands down.
But don't limit yourself to internship. Learn on your own (you can get a beater PC for $100 -- speed doesn't matter; buy three or four and network them (you only need one monitor); load them with Linux and OpenBSD and any other free OS you care to try, and learn them all. After a few weeks of playing (adding and deleting users, backing up directories, re-loading software, patching software, etc.) you will know enough to volunteer to run the network at the local YMCA/Red Cross/Library/whatever. Even if you don't get paid for it, you'll gain valuable experience with real-world problems (and volunteer work looks great on that resume!). Pretty soon (sophmore year or so) you'll be good enough to get paid for it -- run the network at some local law office, or a doc-in-the-box medical clinic, or your Uncle's insurance company, or whatever. Face it, you'll want if not need a job in collage, so you might as well get some useful work experience out of it.
Bottom line: DO BOTH. Get the degree and the work experience. The other comments about the social benefits of collage are spot on -- you won't regret it. Good luck, and have fun!
Yeah, but everything changed Sept. 11, when suddenly the public who did not have any say in the airline's security (those not on the flight, and thus not in a position to choose one airline over another on the basis of their security) became directly affected by the quality of that security. When that happened (as opposed to the risk being essentially limited to that one flight in all previous hijackings), the government has a duty to the rest of us to get involved in a big way.
The similarity to driving down the road is that, to protect the other drivers, the state has an obligation to require all drivers prove their skill and obtain a license. This is not unreasonable. Performing sobriety tests on all drivers every time you get behind the wheel is unreasonable. I'll admit these are shades of grey, but that's why we have courts independent of the police and the legislature.
Yes, there is a difference. Anyone is supposed to be able to walk (or drive) down the street for free; it's a public place. You cannot fly for free, you must buy a ticket; it's a private place.
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They haven't used that "like a book" license in a long time.
I don't know anyone who's used their products in a long time.
They haven't made money in a long time.
Coincidence?
Great answers! Perhaps you can help with my question: If I install this mod chip, will the XBox appear any different to my wife, who would kill me if she knew I was voiding the warranty and possibly breaking a $200 "toy". In other words, will it run and play exactly as before, or will she notice that something's different?
If the warfare's not "fun" (i.e., if it's boring) then you will only get people to do it by "imposing your will on somebody else", i.e., the draft. And then you don't get the best pilots, you just get drones controlling the drones. At that point, you'll probably find it easier/cheaper/better to turn it all over to computers, and then you have machines deciding whether or not to kill humans -- there's your SkyNet scenario, and I really really hope we never go there. Boeing's good at what they do, but they're not that good.
As I said, I sure hope you're right, but I believe my scenario is the real reason M$ came out with the X-Box.
Perhaps I didn't make myself clear. Microsoft has already said, in court, that if forced to open up Windows the way the non-settling states propose, then Microsoft will simply stop selling Windows. Add to this Sen. Hollings' attempt to force all PCs to have closed content protection systems and I think you're wrong when you say "The only way they can get me or anybody else to buy one is if they can convince me that it is lots better than what I already have today." You will have no choice. Well, maybe the iMac is your choice, but your choice won't include Dell or HP or Gateway or any other brand, because Microsoft won't sell them Windows and the law won't allow them to run Linux. Sure, you and I will continue to use our old hardware, but at work we will either use a Mac or a M$ box.
And no, it won't require a TV -- it'll use a monitor just like your PC does today. I'll say it again: X-Box is just their way of gaining experience in the closed-hardware business. Microsoft has a history of doing crap in release 1.0, OK in release 2.0, and winning the market with release 3.0. This goes for hardware as well as software: look at how their mice have improved and taken the majority market share. X-Box isn't the target device, it's just release 1.0.
Once Windows is the embedded OS in a Microsoft-controlled hardware product, many good things (for Microsoft) happen:
There is no threat from any other OS.
There is no cry of "Unfair middleware bundling!"
There is no issue of different licenses for different hardware makers, or of rogue hardware makers loading a non-M$ approved desktop.
Everyone who writes software for the box has to pay Microsoft a royalty -- guess what this does to the Free Software folks?
Microsoft can provide ever-greater improvements just by re-flashing the ROM via your (required) Internet connection (don't have one? sign here for MSN for just $5/month more than you're paying now).
Oh, did I mention manditory software subscriptions?
Want more storage space? We'll rent you more for a slightly higher subscription (no hardware upgrade needed)
This this is all a pipe dream? Think nobody will buy this? Think again.
Is this from Exile? I haven't played that one yet.
But don't limit yourself to internship. Learn on your own (you can get a beater PC for $100 -- speed doesn't matter; buy three or four and network them (you only need one monitor); load them with Linux and OpenBSD and any other free OS you care to try, and learn them all. After a few weeks of playing (adding and deleting users, backing up directories, re-loading software, patching software, etc.) you will know enough to volunteer to run the network at the local YMCA/Red Cross/Library/whatever. Even if you don't get paid for it, you'll gain valuable experience with real-world problems (and volunteer work looks great on that resume!). Pretty soon (sophmore year or so) you'll be good enough to get paid for it -- run the network at some local law office, or a doc-in-the-box medical clinic, or your Uncle's insurance company, or whatever. Face it, you'll want if not need a job in collage, so you might as well get some useful work experience out of it.
Bottom line: DO BOTH. Get the degree and the work experience. The other comments about the social benefits of collage are spot on -- you won't regret it. Good luck, and have fun!
The similarity to driving down the road is that, to protect the other drivers, the state has an obligation to require all drivers prove their skill and obtain a license. This is not unreasonable. Performing sobriety tests on all drivers every time you get behind the wheel is unreasonable. I'll admit these are shades of grey, but that's why we have courts independent of the police and the legislature.
He isn't; Vader is Anakin -- there's a difference. (Sorry for the spoiler)