What kind of crack are you smoking? IE gained popularity because of two things:
1) They pre-installed the browser with the OS. 2) They fucked around with browser implementation standards.
IE wasn't better. Microsoft included their own tags and "VB script" that would make it's browser do things that Netscape couldn't.
When web site developers foolishly started using these proprietary tags, web site viewers realized that half the sites they were going to didn't work "properly" in Netscape, and Netscape lost marketshare.
Netscape didn't get the nickname "Nutscrape" from users who know what they were talking about, it got the name from people who preferred the glitz and galmour of all the cool, new, RFC breaking features that IE provided.
I would also like to know, is Python faster than PHP at generic string manipulation, or sorting (of array elements) for instance?
Right now I'm happy using PHP on the command line because I was previously comfortable using it for web sites. Is there a major reason/restriction (performance?) that I would want to learn Python, or even Perl?
I believe the book you are referring to is PHP Web Development. It is a great book, and I still refer to it from time to time. However it is outdated, and there is a new second edition. I don't know anything about the second edition though, as it only came out last month!
Oh I know about anti trust, and it's a great (but overexaggerated, supposedly) movie about the evils of a big IT corporation.
But the type of movie i'm talking about is more like a documentary like Bowling for Columbine, where people are not just educated about microsoft, but the DMCA and the truth about Intellectual property laws as well.
The majority of the world is not going to be aware that Microsoft is "Evil" or at least that they are intruding on personal privacy. Microsoft knows this, thats why they let sites like Slashdot live, because it gives those of us who are in-the-know a place to rant and feel like we're doing something about all the Intellectual Property and Privacy B.S. thats taking place. We rant among ourselves, and the rest of the world is oblivious.. and Microsoft continues to make money off the oblivious.
Microsoft isn't going to get nervous, and things woun't change for the better until someone makes a movie about this whole mess. That way, not just us 'smart' people will know whats going on, but the knowledge and severity of whats going on will actually be accessible to those who aren't very 'smart' (aware of the computer industry and current intellectual property issues, and how they affect everyone).
If the information is dumbed down and put into a drama, then hundreds of thousands of people would be aware of issues we've all been worrying about and fighting for for years, and it would happen over night.
I do not use Microsoft Windows on my desktop. I haven't for a long time. I am a Debian GNU/Linux user who is greatly satisfied with Gnome and Enlightenment (except for the lack of alpha channel support in X). I use Open Office, Vim, multi-gnome-terminal, Mozilla, XMMS, Bluefish, Gnomeicu, Dia, Abiword, and a breadth of other applications that allow me to do much of what I can do on a Microsoft Windows machine. My workstation is much more solid (stable) using Linux.
Unfortunately, I still have to keep abreast of whats going on in the Microsoft world because of my business, and the best way to do that is by actually using the operating systems and applications that I have to communicate with.
Our company is a consulting firm focused on large scale network design and implementation. This requires us to research a large majority of hardware and sofware solutions. This also means that to be objective, we also have to consider Microsoft products. One of our clients has given us access to one of their terminal servers (rdesktop) so that we can fulfill that need.
Recently, my company held a LAN party to celebrate moving our office to a more spacious location. Although half of us were Linux gurus, I was one of the very few who did not have a machine running Windows at all (not even on some tucked away partition).
However, I love LAN parties, as I enjoy gaming very much (at least I did until I went totally linux about 2 years ago). Anyway, to make a long story short, I ended up grabbing some spare hard drive I had with 20 or so free gigs of space, and installed some version of Windows my buddy had. It all came back to me, fragging away my buddies, the adreneline rush, the co-ordinated attacks.. it was great!
I eventually got rid of the windows partition, but I strongly considered keeping it so that I could boot it up and play some games.
The point of this story is, there are two major reasons why a lot of Linux lovers are still running Microsoft Windows as their primary operating systems. One is that the Professional IT Industry is flooded with Microsoft's Products, and two is that the Gaming Industry hasn't made a committment to supporting Linux users.
I do not believe that WineX is a solution to the Linux Gaming problem. This only encourages PC game developers to disregard the Linux community, as they believe we'll find a way to get it running anyway.
This is simply not true, I don't want to waste my time trying to get games running on WineX when I could be spending that time actually gaming. I know that if I sit down and try hard to get a specific game running under WineX, that I could probably do it (with a little luck). But if I'm going to do that, then I might as well pirate the game, because I don't think I should have to work so hard to try and get a game running that I've already paid for.
Buddy, you seriously should have your head checked. Do you honestly not realize that Microsoft (yet again) took anti-competitive action?
The only reason we Americans tend to "destroy our own successes" is that we let companies like Microsoft provide poor quality products and services at ridiculously high costs. We allow these companies to monopolize the market, therefore locking out any competition, and in doing that, we allow them to ristrict innovation.
Complaining that other countries are going to come in and take over is serious crap. Your thinking on too small a scale. Don't you think that other countries in the world will be affected by Microsoft's actions? Do you not care?
If you are a Linux kernel user, then your using software developed by an external country, and distributed for free. It's not only free, the idea of open source software (in my opinion) is infinitely better for innovation than proprietary software development, unless all you care about is making money. Does this mean that Linux is a threat to America? You've got to be kidding.
I agree with you that if Microsoft goes down for what ever reason, we'll just have another player step in. But I would cheer happily if the company that steps in is a company that concentrates on the quality of it's developments, rather than how much someone would pay if they implemented N number of pretty "features". Most of the features that Microsoft has innovated in their lifecycle has been around for ages on other operating systems and software platforms (and if you think I'm joking, you need to do some research).
Microsoft clearly stopped Sony from displaying their product because they recognize them as competition. The fact that it was Sony doesn't matter. If it was any other console manufacturer, founded inside or outside of the united states, Microsoft would do the same thing if that company posed such a threat. It's dealings with Netscape and Sun Microsystems have already proved this.
It's sad that I have to keep reminding myself that there are people like you still around. It disgusts me to see such blatant ignorance and disregard for the development of humanity in general. Your capitalist way of thinking will have us all living a typical Blade Runner future, rather than a Star Trek future.
// "Software just ain't that different from regular stuff we all use every day" In fact, software/firmware is in lots of devices, and we don't accept similar restrictions in their use...what about cell phones. Did you have to agree to a EULA to use it? Does it reboot/crash often? How about your VPR or Toaster or Car or Microwave? //
Actually, my buddy has a nokia cell phone and it has rebooted several times on him already. His usual reaction is "Damnit! Those bastards have infected my phone too, I know it!"
Slashdot Mirror
What kind of crack are you smoking? IE gained popularity because of two things:
1) They pre-installed the browser with the OS.
2) They fucked around with browser implementation standards.
IE wasn't better. Microsoft included their own tags and "VB script" that would make it's browser do things that Netscape couldn't.
When web site developers foolishly started using these proprietary tags, web site viewers realized that half the sites they were going to didn't work "properly" in Netscape, and Netscape lost marketshare.
Netscape didn't get the nickname "Nutscrape" from users who know what they were talking about, it got the name from people who preferred the glitz and galmour of all the cool, new, RFC breaking features that IE provided.
I would also like to know, is Python faster than PHP at generic string manipulation, or sorting (of array elements) for instance?
Right now I'm happy using PHP on the command line because I was previously comfortable using it for web sites. Is there a major reason/restriction (performance?) that I would want to learn Python, or even Perl?
I believe the book you are referring to is PHP Web Development. It is a great book, and I still refer to it from time to time. However it is outdated, and there is a new second edition. I don't know anything about the second edition though, as it only came out last month!
Oh I know about anti trust, and it's a great (but overexaggerated, supposedly) movie about the evils of a big IT corporation.
But the type of movie i'm talking about is more like a documentary like Bowling for Columbine, where people are not just educated about microsoft, but the DMCA and the truth about Intellectual property laws as well.
The majority of the world is not going to be aware that Microsoft is "Evil" or at least that they are intruding on personal privacy. Microsoft knows this, thats why they let sites like Slashdot live, because it gives those of us who are in-the-know a place to rant and feel like we're doing something about all the Intellectual Property and Privacy B.S. thats taking place. We rant among ourselves, and the rest of the world is oblivious.. and Microsoft continues to make money off the oblivious.
Microsoft isn't going to get nervous, and things woun't change for the better until someone makes a movie about this whole mess. That way, not just us 'smart' people will know whats going on, but the knowledge and severity of whats going on will actually be accessible to those who aren't very 'smart' (aware of the computer industry and current intellectual property issues, and how they affect everyone).
If the information is dumbed down and put into a drama, then hundreds of thousands of people would be aware of issues we've all been worrying about and fighting for for years, and it would happen over night.
~ M. Knight Shyamalan, do you read Slashdot?
I do not use Microsoft Windows on my desktop. I haven't for a long time. I am a Debian GNU/Linux user who is greatly satisfied with Gnome and Enlightenment (except for the lack of alpha channel support in X). I use Open Office, Vim, multi-gnome-terminal, Mozilla, XMMS, Bluefish, Gnomeicu, Dia, Abiword, and a breadth of other applications that allow me to do much of what I can do on a Microsoft Windows machine. My workstation is much more solid (stable) using Linux.
Unfortunately, I still have to keep abreast of whats going on in the Microsoft world because of my business, and the best way to do that is by actually using the operating systems and applications that I have to communicate with.
Our company is a consulting firm focused on large scale network design and implementation. This requires us to research a large majority of hardware and sofware solutions. This also means that to be objective, we also have to consider Microsoft products. One of our clients has given us access to one of their terminal servers (rdesktop) so that we can fulfill that need.
Recently, my company held a LAN party to celebrate moving our office to a more spacious location. Although half of us were Linux gurus, I was one of the very few who did not have a machine running Windows at all (not even on some tucked away partition).
However, I love LAN parties, as I enjoy gaming very much (at least I did until I went totally linux about 2 years ago). Anyway, to make a long story short, I ended up grabbing some spare hard drive I had with 20 or so free gigs of space, and installed some version of Windows my buddy had. It all came back to me, fragging away my buddies, the adreneline rush, the co-ordinated attacks.. it was great!
I eventually got rid of the windows partition, but I strongly considered keeping it so that I could boot it up and play some games.
The point of this story is, there are two major reasons why a lot of Linux lovers are still running Microsoft Windows as their primary operating systems. One is that the Professional IT Industry is flooded with Microsoft's Products, and two is that the Gaming Industry hasn't made a committment to supporting Linux users.
I do not believe that WineX is a solution to the Linux Gaming problem. This only encourages PC game developers to disregard the Linux community, as they believe we'll find a way to get it running anyway.
This is simply not true, I don't want to waste my time trying to get games running on WineX when I could be spending that time actually gaming. I know that if I sit down and try hard to get a specific game running under WineX, that I could probably do it (with a little luck). But if I'm going to do that, then I might as well pirate the game, because I don't think I should have to work so hard to try and get a game running that I've already paid for.
My $0.02
Buddy, you seriously should have your head checked. Do you honestly not realize that Microsoft (yet again) took anti-competitive action?
The only reason we Americans tend to "destroy our own successes" is that we let companies like Microsoft provide poor quality products and services at ridiculously high costs. We allow these companies to monopolize the market, therefore locking out any competition, and in doing that, we allow them to ristrict innovation.
Complaining that other countries are going to come in and take over is serious crap. Your thinking on too small a scale. Don't you think that other countries in the world will be affected by Microsoft's actions? Do you not care?
If you are a Linux kernel user, then your using software developed by an external country, and distributed for free. It's not only free, the idea of open source software (in my opinion) is infinitely better for innovation than proprietary software development, unless all you care about is making money. Does this mean that Linux is a threat to America? You've got to be kidding.
I agree with you that if Microsoft goes down for what ever reason, we'll just have another player step in. But I would cheer happily if the company that steps in is a company that concentrates on the quality of it's developments, rather than how much someone would pay if they implemented N number of pretty "features". Most of the features that Microsoft has innovated in their lifecycle has been around for ages on other operating systems and software platforms (and if you think I'm joking, you need to do some research).
Microsoft clearly stopped Sony from displaying their product because they recognize them as competition. The fact that it was Sony doesn't matter. If it was any other console manufacturer, founded inside or outside of the united states, Microsoft would do the same thing if that company posed such a threat. It's dealings with Netscape and Sun Microsystems have already proved this.
It's sad that I have to keep reminding myself that there are people like you still around. It disgusts me to see such blatant ignorance and disregard for the development of humanity in general. Your capitalist way of thinking will have us all living a typical Blade Runner future, rather than a Star Trek future.
//
"Software just ain't that different from regular stuff we all use every day" In fact, software/firmware is in lots of devices, and we don't accept similar restrictions in their use...what about cell phones. Did you have to agree to a EULA to use it? Does it reboot/crash often? How about your VPR or Toaster or Car or Microwave?
//
Actually, my buddy has a nokia cell phone and it has rebooted several times on him already. His usual reaction is "Damnit! Those bastards have infected my phone too, I know it!"
I wonder if some Nokia phones run WinCE?