It appears China is where Japan was, post-war. There is a market for the 'cheapest product possible', but personally I'd rather pay twice, say for a quality motherboard without on board "Realtek" garbage. In general all products from China seem to be a bit shoddy. Give them a few years and things may change dramatically. I'm referring to 'authorized products' here.
Then, what is wrong with making obvious fakes? As long as the consumer is fully aware and there is no deception, no faked trademarks, etc. What is the problem? I wouldn't drive a Chinese car quite yet or use an unapproved drug or related product, (like the toothpaste), I am certainly game to learn HOW they do it.
In yet another case, its profitable to over-produce 'authorized products' and sell them. Does it matter if your 'designer clothes' came from a fancy retailer on High Street or resold at 1/10 the price elsewhere? Remember they came from exactly the same source in this case. Hint: I'm not stupid.
People the world over tolerate Microsoft. Has Microsoft __ever__ made an original product? Isn't it strange to think about that for a second? Whats wrong with a Linux based phone that looks like the BSD based iPhone? I doesn't appear to have an 'Apple logo', something the end-user can add if it helps. Its a completely different product. Maybe it works better? Chances are it will break in half a year, but at a fraction the price: Who cares? If they've fixed the rough edges of the iPhone, like easy to change batteries, some sort of API, it may be preferable to many. The ones I've seen locally come with source and an API and cost about half the US price of iPhone, in Europe. AFAIK, it legal as long as you don't program it to do something illegal. (such as jam GPS or intercept calls that are not yours) Yes, its illegal to lock a consumer to a single provider or a single choice if more are available.
It appears today, the most profitable business plan is to base a product on an existing concept. Designing completely new products (like I do) has its challenges and risks. Usually it fails, but that one in five that wins, makes everything back and $millions more, at minimum. So China, like Japan in the 40s and 50s, is at the "Microsoft stage". Eventually they will, like Japan, think for themselves. Japanese products are quality, and China is likely to follow. There is no business plan in forever 'cloning' existing products. What if 'PC hardware' was only IBM clones? Fortunately companies do move on to survive. So do nations....
Anyone who goes for this "War on Terror" crap needs help. I guess some MS employees aren't that stupid. I don't see them making that much difference in ending such a non-productive idea as a false war. Still my opinion has raised a bit. As far as any new technology in the suggested reading, we've been using it for years. Somehow Microsoft can't admit they have fallen behind, but they certainly drop many hints.
If I had the burden of MS, I'd sell off every division except 'Office' and maybe the re-branded hardware. Microsoft cannot make a true 64bit OS and more importantly, they've never turned a profit on anything but Office and perhaps mice. If it doesn't make a profit: Sell it!
XP is probably the best Win32 system since W2000 it may be slow, hard to use and full of bugs, but bashing it internally is only admitting to the failure Vista is. This is confirmed by their own statement another 'OS' is in the works. Perhaps if they 'opened it up', they'd make their code more understandable. I'd also hope they would remove those sometimes nasty and often irrelevant comments. The amount of BSD code is astounding, nothing wrong with that, just make it better.
"Biometrics" was a technique of the late 19th century. Its ad dead as DRM -- IMPOSSIBLE. Even DNA has its problems and the only biometric technique that that survived over those last 100 years is fingerprinting and then we got 'experts' in court that 'go with the flow'.
Ever listen to lawyers debating DRM? We know that's impossible and these idiots would best loosen their ties.
Even if it worked, a society where if you do a "crime", expect the "time" is no Utopia. This is troll, but the whole abuse of technology by "authority" will never go anywhere. Time to push it in their faces and maybe some see. Can't work, won't work and anyone who believes the authorities will win with this is a sissy. This is the problem with our young hackers today, perhaps it was in my generation too -- but a hell of a lot of people 'got away' with their "crimes". GOOD FOR ALL of THEM!
One thing we must remember is to always be honest about it. I told the BBC I would have their programmes on BSD, DAY ONE! Somehow I see a similarity, but biometrics is dangerous. So what if you pay for everything on Windows. If people start cutting off fingers and other mayhem, that's "Biometrics at work". Push the hackers underground and thats serious and when "criminals" learn the trade -- You're first America!!!
My understanding is Microsoft has turned a profit by its Office suite and perhaps by stamping its name on a variety of cheap hardware, like some two-button mice. In a normal business, you sell off the unprofitable areas and concentrate on what makes you money. Windows doesn't seem to ever turn a profit and there is no reason it is needed to run Office.
If Microsoft wants to survive, they'd better concentrate on what is profitable and leave the whole Windows behind or better make it 'Open Source' and let the community make it a success. Windows is the biggest blunder ever, 100% cause of spam and many other problems that plague all users, not only Windows users. No more Windows looks like like the only "Road Ahead" for them that isn't a dead end.
Isn't it time that the world get tough, fine Microsoft $100 or so per incident and collapse all of Gate's charities while there at it? Just keeping Windows off the Internet would serve the same purpose, but destroying the cause would make people think twice about putting computers in the hands of complete idiots.
Get real. This can happen anywhere, so I will make the rare move in defense of America. There are lots of reasons to hate America but this is absurd. Enough said.
It may seem harsh, but I fully agree. This is a very serious slip and the company is likely to go out of business. The justification that 'you may need police protection' is seriously flawed. News of a security firm going to the police would most likely result in the firm going bust. This is a no win situation. Best advice: Don't talk.
You are right. Its very obvious and I'm still puzzled why this wasn't done from the start. Torrent has an easy to recognize pattern as one author said, crypted or not. Far more problematic would be key management. Another issue is using crypto improperly can be worse than not using it at all. While its routine with Unix, its not with Windows. Small issues, but a political move like this might be just what's needed to get people to understand the basics and use it.
The iPhone covers all GSM bands and should work adequately on any system. Not every feature works on my phone and that's the norm. How much do GSM providers pay for these things? IPhones work fine over here and if they do cost $1000 each as a friend in the industry told me, that should be an option: Free to choose the provider you want.
This isn't quite right. The record companies biggest mistake appears to be 'trying to schedule creativity' and everyone should know that can't be done. The result is what people call 'filler'. If there are more than two tracks I consider 'filler', they've lost my business. I don't think many people over 20 buy singles and that's a problem. I purchase about five 'current' albums a year and many times more older ones. I've learned a hard lesson a few times: Nothing worse than buying an album to find out the only song you heard was the only good song on the whole album.
If record labels gave musicians more time, there would be better music. This is also where the Internet could play a big role. By releasing a song now and then for free, it would be easy for a producer and band to tell if they were on the right track. Today 'piracy' fills this role to a limited extent. Either way: "Airplay is airplay". No musician I've ever talked to (and that's quite a few) has _ever_ viewed piracy as a 'bad' thing. A band wants to be heard!
There is the true 'big iron', like the top500. There are clusters and multi-core systems that use the exact same software technology. I've designed many such systems myself. Its those huge 1" tape drives and washing machine-sized Winchester drives that are no longer and these are the very things most associated with 'mainframes'.
It is the 'big iron' where Linux rules supreme with well over 70% share, almost 10x bigger than the second place systems. Go to http://www.top500.org/stats/list/29/os and see for yourself. Its no surprise most computing power is in Linux, but the lead is astounding.
Then there is Plan9, more of a 'networking system' than an 'operating system', but still considered Unix. This is one basis of 'super clusters' and its everywhere. If you tie thousands of machines saved from being 'PCs' into a cluster, that's a 'mainframe' if it looks like one or not. The 'mainframe' in whatever form it may take, has a bright future.
As a former engineer of DigiCash in Amsterdam, I know a little about smartcard technology. There are a number of problems and risks:
1) The technology used is very old and few improvements have been made over the last 20 years or so.
2) The latest technology can cost over $10 while the older chips are a few cents.
3) Banks and politics have done their best to stifle development and have mostly succeeded.
In a word: NO. Chances are you get some 'exportable' model that supports 40bit crypto if money is involved. Otherwise, say for transit use, it may be a simple account number that is (usually) broadcast at 13.1MHz. Just because the readers appear to work at only close range does not mean the information cannot be intercepted at a range of 10's of meters or more.
The very expensive units can support 128bit or better crypto. Apart from being costly, they may be 'export restricted' and there are a number of governments that only allow very weak security. 40bits will take about a half hour to crack on a 'high-end' desktop and only a handful of minutes on a halfway decent workstation. A shielded wallet may be a common item if these chips see widespread use. A card (or passport) carefully wrapped in aluminium foil will work (to prevent unauthorized use/interception) despite any propaganda that may be out there.
As long as the 'value' is very low and you can accept losing it, there is really nothing wrong with using them. Keep in mind the chips can be destroyed accidently a number of ways and easy verification and recovery of funds is doubtful. Banknotes are still better and their use for 'small ticket' purchases is not likely to go away anytime soon.
Its simply not in their best interest to 'do something' about Linux or particularly BSD. Attacking this resource would simply destroy them. Where else would they get any ideas? I'm quite sure they realize their corporate culture and policies completely destroy innovation, resulting in what many say is one of the least innovative companies that has ever existed.
People simply tend to get more managerial as they get older. This extra proofreading, checking and review has resulted in a fantastic product. While BSD is my primary computer interest, I've maintained a Linux box since 2.6.16 to follow the most current developments. I'm running 2.6.22 now and have great respect for the way they use SMP to enhance reliability. Short of a hardware failure, it simply doesn't crash. The way I use a computer, getting an hour uptime out of XP would be rather remarkable.
...when you realize anybody can do this. Not that I trust Microsoft completely, but chances are good they won't abuse the information they collect. Compare spamers and many (most?) online retailers. Personally, my only use of Microsoft is research. Its ran in a totally artificial environment (emulation) to see if they have "anything new". The answer appears to be "not".
Nobody wants Vista here (Europe) and from what I read, this appears universal. The simple answer is: "Don't use it". The practical answer may be a new service for providers to offer. From an earlier/. post, it would appear the average MS 'user' is incapable of setting up a simple DNS server, so suggesting MS 'users' set up a packet filter is clearly out of the question. Providers are in a good position to block all of this at the customer's request. Looking at all the paranoia out there, there certainly appears to be a business model here. Those of us that know how can easily intercept all this and make a shot of interpreting the data MS or any other 'spyware' operator would have received. It's rarely encrypted in a real way, in fact its almost always easily extractable by standard Unix utilities. Perhaps somebody should make a Windows tool that can monitor this? It doesn't sound like much more than a web ad blocker. Its unclear to me how to do this "clickity click" and maybe the simple reality about computers is: "Type or else"?
The answer Slashdot wants to hear is simply 'bite the bullet' and use real operating systems. It would appear Vista might be just what it takes for people to say enough. Linux or Unix in incompetent hands is clearly a bad thing, so its not just dump Microsoft, its time to learn how to use a computer!
Some interest wants a to see a bit of public opinion on this matter. The main article and those linked to it have many obvious and glaring technical errors. Who would believe the Net isn't logged so completely that every move can be traced if there is the will to do it? That just stood out in red to me. (and a couple others noticed it)
Granted, there are protocols that are obsolete or even some that should never have happened. There is an almost endless list of 'future use' protocols too. The Internet works fine today and has rapidly _evolved_ since the average person found out about it. All anyone with any brains might want to see is some better mechanisms to protect it from the ravages of "criminals" and even poorly written software -- A little "spew protection".
All improvements imaginable are at hand with what we have today. The system is completely flexible and today allows everyone a fair amount of access. Certain absolutely needed improvements, such as symmetrical end-user connections, full freedom to set up a server at home or a small office, decentralized data centres to avoid repeated 'long distance calls' to save costs, and better proxy systems overall, all in the works on existing networks.
The present system gives users at all levels "all they can handle", so "where's the beef"? Besides, the Net will fully replace itself over time. Look at its closest cousin, the phone system. There might be some "crank phones" still in existence but a dynamic and flexible infrastructure can interface to those relics too, if need be.
Get a life: This is simply not going to happen. People tell me: "If you don't like the Internet, make your own". Good try, but the concept of an Internet implies anything can be interfaced. Only the most extreme situations require complete isolation. 'Building your own' tends to imply you will become part of the whole. Its been researched quite thoroughly and nothing is more efficient. Compare that with 'licensed radio' across all frequencies -- What a waste of empty space!
This has been an April Fools joke with all the horror of "Friday the 13th". Some suits better loosen their ties.....
Certainly anything the BSA says is pure bullshit. This has already been well established in the comments to this. Its really quite simple: Any personal use is NOT piracy, but if you profit from anyone's work, you really owe them something! If the application is useless to you, just destroy it. Has the BSA heard about the 'try before you buy' concept?
It gets even more blurred when you are dealing with source code. If you are a developer, you really want to have the source code and compile it yourself. Some companies really want a pretty stiff non-disclosure agreement but the bottom line is personal use is fine but distribution is not. Again, if you profit from it, you are morally obliged to contribute. If not, destroy and inform the company that you have done so.
Another class of software it that which is specific to a particular device, namely drivers. In this case, nobody pays for software, it comes "free" with the hardware unit although we all know it it probably the most expensive part. I could care less if people distribute copies of "Finalscratch" in either form. This can only to lead to more sales. More hardware sold, more money to all the developers.
Any software only products I develop are by default open source -- no exceptions. I have the luxury to demand this condition. All of the developers I know feel the same, unfortunately some aren't millionaires yet.
BSA, If you don't understand this, you will be despised by the very people you try to protect and laughed out of court.
While I think computers are a good idea in the classroom, lets teach them what they are. Surely clicking a mouse isn't going to do much good, learning how to _use_ a computer will. I learned how to do the basic math by learning how a calculator works. Therefore open sourse and nothing less!
There was one "asr33" paper terminal in my highschool my second year in 1972. At 110Baud it wasn't really that accessable. (fortunately the provider company would give students free access at their facility after business hours) It was all AT&T Unix and definitely the ticket to many good jobs.
The smarter students I know, actually tend to prefer OpenBSD, possibly bragging rights, but they are learning something! In the developed world there is a serious problem with useless systems. In the developing world OSS is far more common and we are going to lose everything if the next generation is mostly computer illitterate while there is all this talent overseas.
Like a TV, its not the machine, its what you put on it. These are serious machines and should used properly. Personally I'm very distressed that kids are being brainwashed that what is good for corporations is good for them. Copyright violations are _NOT_ theft, plain and simple. However old values that forbid plagerism should certainly apply -- no copy/paste papers for instance.
Computers are certainly part of a modern education, but not a replacement teacher. Also teachers should only accept plain text -- use a word processor, get a zero. That was how it was for me. Somehow I still seem to agree with that.
A mouse seems best with three buttons and if button 3 is also buttons 4 and 5 (wheel) you got the best rat possible as long as its not "ergonomic". Its quite simple: The fewer clicks, the longer you last.
It looks like an exploit I happened to discover only about two and a half weeks ago while running Windows XP-sp2-blabla under emulation. The recconisable part is being able to get 'spyware' (in the test, just a dummy cookie) through Firefox and into IE. A few people were told this and repeated it. It should be made VERY clear that Sun Java is NOT needed (MS has every reason to FUD Sun) and its not Mozilla at fault, but the fact that IE cannot yet be 'de-installed'. The advised solution is for _someone_ to develop a full de-installer for IE. Nobody I know gives a flying f* for MS, but getting a practical de-installer out for IE is the slap-in-the-face MS has coming!
In the meantime watch out for FUD. MS will say Sun and Mozilla are bad and IE is good. You never say in business: "I told you so", but MS will. WATCH OUT! As usual there is a spin on this that seems to favour Microsoft. Don't buy it.
There are some 'unfixable' bugs in all Windows and MS products due to the "I want to be different factor". Being able to completely remove IE (use Firefox, Opera, etc.) would go a long way in reducing the threat. Removing "Media Player" (use mplayer) would help a little more. The real truth however is that Windows is flawed by design and can never be fixed in an acceptable way.
If you are unfortunate enough to be using Windows, please look at the track record, including all the lies you've been told and make an informed decision. Get Solaris 10 if you wish, I'll stick with FreeBSD. Linux has a range of distros that range from 'true hardcore' to 'clickity-click' and even have a dual boot. Sooner or later, you are going to have to make the transition. You decide when.
Perhaps that applies to a Mac to a lesser extent. If you use Unix/Linux don't get too smug. Might I suggest one thing: Use a seperate account for anything questionable: All your P2P, "Instant Messaging" and possibly any action that may produce spam. Also consider IRC is faster than "IM" and talk(1) is 'realtime'. Talk(1) is secure, unlike IRC on a trusted server where SSH is used.
Anytime someone makes something public on a regular and changing basis it is journalism and is guarenteed all the protections. Apple is wrong, mind you at the scared 'middle management' level. Perhaps that is easy to say from Europe?
As a part owner of a provider, we have told both the RIAA and MPAA to "fsck off" and we can rightfully do so. We'd do the same with Apple or any other corporation.
Please, defy the court order or better, move to a provider in a free country!
Those Lin/Winmodems are simply a soundcard with a telephone interface. They are of no value to most of us that have had fast Internet connections for years. Wait a minute: They have been approved to be connected to the PSTN! That is by far the greatest expence of producing this hardware.
Might I add, with a bit of experience, and perhaps a 'trade school' education in electronics it is trivial to reverse them and make 'ATA' devices. (Actually I think they are called 'FXS' devices in telco lingo. The devices that must be approved for connection to the PSTN are 'FXO' modules.) At somewhere between zero and a couple Euros per linmodem, used, this is a great idea.
As for the software, I'll stick to FreeBSD or Gentoo Linux and install my own Asterisk. Binaries give me the creaps. Computers a couple or three years old are likely to have more PCI slots and maybe an onboard 'Lin/Winmodem and lan card. While ee100s are a very good NIC (get them for as little as EUR 5,--) Linux and the BSDs have drivers for just about all types -- far more than Windows ever had.
An ordinary three button optical mouse is best. Combining buttons 4 and 5 with 3 (scrollwheel) is the most significant development ever for the lowly mouse. I can type hours after I'm unable to click. A keyboard with an integrated trackball might be better still. (Who makes one?) Use the useles meta-keys ("Windows keys", "penguin keys", "apple keys", etc.) Possibly toggle the trackball to be a scrollwheel with a simple key combination or with another useless key, like "CapsLock". Since I don't have such a keyboard to map, the ordinary mouse will do just fine.
Some simple suggestions: (most possible only with Unix)
Turn of "click to focus". It's simply not needed.
Avoid "doubble clicks" whenever possible. This has got to be the stupidest idea ever.
A "tap" is better than a click. (used in CAD, but has other uses)
The clipboard (^C ^X ^V) is almost always avoidable. Here the mouse is the best tool as anyone who uses X knows. If a clipboard is needed (CAD, draw and paint applications, etc) get that on the mouse using "taps".
The simple conclusion is the less you need the mouse, the better off you are. Set up your own environment reality! Choice is the key.
As for the "horse", its a two-button mouse that also appears to have too much mass. If I see one I'll try it -- promise.
Slashdot Mirror
It appears China is where Japan was, post-war. There is a market for the 'cheapest product possible', but personally I'd rather pay twice, say for a quality motherboard without on board "Realtek" garbage. In general all products from China seem to be a bit shoddy. Give them a few years and things may change dramatically. I'm referring to 'authorized products' here.
...
Then, what is wrong with making obvious fakes? As long as the consumer is fully aware and there is no deception, no faked trademarks, etc. What is the problem? I wouldn't drive a Chinese car quite yet or use an unapproved drug or related product, (like the toothpaste), I am certainly game to learn HOW they do it.
In yet another case, its profitable to over-produce 'authorized products' and sell them. Does it matter if your 'designer clothes' came from a fancy retailer on High Street or resold at 1/10 the price elsewhere? Remember they came from exactly the same source in this case. Hint: I'm not stupid.
People the world over tolerate Microsoft. Has Microsoft __ever__ made an original product? Isn't it strange to think about that for a second? Whats wrong with a Linux based phone that looks like the BSD based iPhone? I doesn't appear to have an 'Apple logo', something the end-user can add if it helps. Its a completely different product. Maybe it works better? Chances are it will break in half a year, but at a fraction the price: Who cares? If they've fixed the rough edges of the iPhone, like easy to change batteries, some sort of API, it may be preferable to many. The ones I've seen locally come with source and an API and cost about half the US price of iPhone, in Europe. AFAIK, it legal as long as you don't program it to do something illegal. (such as jam GPS or intercept calls that are not yours) Yes, its illegal to lock a consumer to a single provider or a single choice if more are available.
It appears today, the most profitable business plan is to base a product on an existing concept. Designing completely new products (like I do) has its challenges and risks. Usually it fails, but that one in five that wins, makes everything back and $millions more, at minimum. So China, like Japan in the 40s and 50s, is at the "Microsoft stage". Eventually they will, like Japan, think for themselves. Japanese products are quality, and China is likely to follow. There is no business plan in forever 'cloning' existing products. What if 'PC hardware' was only IBM clones? Fortunately companies do move on to survive. So do nations.
Anyone who goes for this "War on Terror" crap needs help. I guess some MS employees aren't that stupid. I don't see them making that much difference in ending such a non-productive idea as a false war. Still my opinion has raised a bit. As far as any new technology in the suggested reading, we've been using it for years. Somehow Microsoft can't admit they have fallen behind, but they certainly drop many hints.
If I had the burden of MS, I'd sell off every division except 'Office' and maybe the re-branded hardware. Microsoft cannot make a true 64bit OS and more importantly, they've never turned a profit on anything but Office and perhaps mice. If it doesn't make a profit: Sell it!
XP is probably the best Win32 system since W2000 it may be slow, hard to use and full of bugs, but bashing it internally is only admitting to the failure Vista is. This is confirmed by their own statement another 'OS' is in the works. Perhaps if they 'opened it up', they'd make their code more understandable. I'd also hope they would remove those sometimes nasty and often irrelevant comments. The amount of BSD code is astounding, nothing wrong with that, just make it better.
"Biometrics" was a technique of the late 19th century. Its ad dead as DRM -- IMPOSSIBLE. Even DNA has its problems and the only biometric technique that that survived over those last 100 years is fingerprinting and then we got 'experts' in court that 'go with the flow'.
Ever listen to lawyers debating DRM? We know that's impossible and these idiots would best loosen their ties.
Even if it worked, a society where if you do a "crime", expect the "time" is no Utopia. This is troll, but
the whole abuse of technology by "authority" will never go anywhere. Time to push it in their faces and maybe some see. Can't work, won't work and anyone who believes the authorities will win with this is a sissy. This is the problem with our young hackers today, perhaps it was in my generation too -- but a hell of a lot of people 'got away' with their "crimes". GOOD FOR ALL of THEM!
One thing we must remember is to always be honest about it. I told the BBC I would have their programmes on BSD, DAY ONE! Somehow I see a similarity, but biometrics is dangerous. So what if you pay for everything on Windows. If people start cutting off fingers and other mayhem, that's "Biometrics at work". Push the hackers underground and thats serious and when "criminals" learn the trade -- You're first America!!!
My understanding is Microsoft has turned a profit by its Office suite and perhaps by stamping its name on a variety of cheap hardware, like some two-button mice. In a normal business, you sell off the unprofitable areas and concentrate on what makes you money. Windows doesn't seem to ever turn a profit and there is no reason it is needed to run Office.
If Microsoft wants to survive, they'd better concentrate on what is profitable and leave the whole Windows behind or better make it 'Open Source' and let the community make it a success. Windows is the biggest blunder ever, 100% cause of spam and many other problems that plague all users, not only Windows users. No more Windows looks like like the only "Road Ahead" for them that isn't a dead end.
Windows!
Isn't it time that the world get tough, fine Microsoft $100 or so per incident and collapse all of Gate's charities while there at it? Just keeping Windows off the Internet would serve the same purpose, but destroying the cause would make people think twice about putting computers in the hands of complete idiots.
That's only in Amerika of course.
Get real. This can happen anywhere, so I will make the rare move in defense of America. There are lots of reasons to hate America but this is absurd. Enough said.
It may seem harsh, but I fully agree. This is a very serious slip and the company is likely to go out of business. The justification that 'you may need police protection' is seriously flawed. News of a security firm going to the police would most likely result in the firm going bust. This is a no win situation. Best advice: Don't talk.
You are right. Its very obvious and I'm still puzzled why this wasn't done from the start. Torrent has an easy to recognize pattern as one author said, crypted or not. Far more problematic would be key management. Another issue is using crypto improperly can be worse than not using it at all. While its routine with Unix, its not with Windows. Small issues, but a political move like this might be just what's needed to get people to understand the basics and use it.
The iPhone covers all GSM bands and should work adequately on any system. Not every feature works on my phone and that's the norm. How much do GSM providers pay for these things? IPhones work fine over here and if they do cost $1000 each as a friend in the industry told me, that should be an option: Free to choose the provider you want.
This isn't quite right. The record companies biggest mistake appears to be 'trying to schedule creativity' and everyone should know that can't be done. The result is what people call 'filler'. If there are more than two tracks I consider 'filler', they've lost my business. I don't think many people over 20 buy singles and that's a problem. I purchase about five 'current' albums a year and many times more older ones. I've learned a hard lesson a few times: Nothing worse than buying an album to find out the only song you heard was the only good song on the whole album.
If record labels gave musicians more time, there would be better music. This is also where the Internet could play a big role. By releasing a song now and then for free, it would be easy for a producer and band to tell if they were on the right track. Today 'piracy' fills this role to a limited extent. Either way: "Airplay is airplay". No musician I've ever talked to (and that's quite a few) has _ever_ viewed piracy as a 'bad' thing. A band wants to be heard!
There is the true 'big iron', like the top500. There are clusters and multi-core systems that use the exact same software technology. I've designed many such systems myself. Its those huge 1" tape drives and washing machine-sized Winchester drives that are no longer and these are the very things most associated with 'mainframes'.
It is the 'big iron' where Linux rules supreme with well over 70% share, almost 10x bigger than the second place systems. Go to http://www.top500.org/stats/list/29/os and see for yourself. Its no surprise most computing power is in Linux, but the lead is astounding.
Then there is Plan9, more of a 'networking system' than an 'operating system', but still considered Unix. This is one basis of 'super clusters' and its everywhere. If you tie thousands of machines saved from being 'PCs' into a cluster, that's a 'mainframe' if it looks like one or not. The 'mainframe' in whatever form it may take, has a bright future.
As a former engineer of DigiCash in Amsterdam, I know a little about smartcard technology. There are a number of problems and risks:
1) The technology used is very old and few improvements have been made over the last 20 years or so.
2) The latest technology can cost over $10 while the older chips are a few cents.
3) Banks and politics have done their best to stifle development and have mostly succeeded.
In a word: NO. Chances are you get some 'exportable' model that supports 40bit crypto if money is involved. Otherwise, say for transit use, it may be a simple account number that is (usually) broadcast at 13.1MHz. Just because the readers appear to work at only close range does not mean the information cannot be intercepted at a range of 10's of meters or more.
The very expensive units can support 128bit or better crypto. Apart from being costly, they may be 'export restricted' and there are a number of governments that only allow very weak security. 40bits will take about a half hour to crack on a 'high-end' desktop and only a handful of minutes on a halfway decent workstation. A shielded wallet may be a common item if these chips see widespread use. A card (or passport) carefully wrapped in aluminium foil will work (to prevent unauthorized use/interception) despite any propaganda that may be out there.
As long as the 'value' is very low and you can accept losing it, there is really nothing wrong with using them. Keep in mind the chips can be destroyed accidently a number of ways and easy verification and recovery of funds is doubtful. Banknotes are still better and their use for 'small ticket' purchases is not likely to go away anytime soon.
Its simply not in their best interest to 'do something' about Linux or particularly BSD. Attacking this resource would simply destroy them. Where else would they get any ideas? I'm quite sure they realize their corporate culture and policies completely destroy innovation, resulting in what many say is one of the least innovative companies that has ever existed.
People simply tend to get more managerial as they get older. This extra proofreading, checking and review has resulted in a fantastic product. While BSD is my primary computer interest, I've maintained a Linux box since 2.6.16 to follow the most current developments. I'm running 2.6.22 now and have great respect for the way they use SMP to enhance reliability. Short of a hardware failure, it simply doesn't crash. The way I use a computer, getting an hour uptime out of XP would be rather remarkable.
BillSF
...when you realize anybody can do this. Not that I trust Microsoft completely, but chances are good they won't abuse the information they collect. Compare spamers and many (most?) online retailers. Personally, my only use of Microsoft is research. Its ran in a totally artificial environment (emulation) to see if they have "anything new". The answer appears to be "not".
/. post, it would appear the average MS 'user' is incapable of setting up a simple DNS server, so suggesting MS 'users' set up a packet filter is clearly out of the question. Providers are in a good position to block all of this at the customer's request. Looking at all the paranoia out there, there certainly appears to be a business model here. Those of us that know how can easily intercept all this and make a shot of interpreting the data MS or any other 'spyware' operator would have received. It's rarely encrypted in a real way, in fact its almost always easily extractable by standard Unix utilities. Perhaps somebody should make a Windows tool that can monitor this? It doesn't sound like much more than a web ad blocker. Its unclear to me how to do this "clickity click" and maybe the simple reality about computers is: "Type or else"?
Nobody wants Vista here (Europe) and from what I read, this appears universal. The simple answer is: "Don't use it". The practical answer may be a new service for providers to offer. From an earlier
The answer Slashdot wants to hear is simply 'bite the bullet' and use real operating systems. It would appear Vista might be just what it takes for people to say enough. Linux or Unix in incompetent hands is clearly a bad thing, so its not just dump Microsoft, its time to learn how to use a computer!
BillSF
Some interest wants a to see a bit of public opinion on this matter. The main article and those linked to it have many obvious and glaring technical errors. Who would believe the Net isn't logged so completely that every move can be traced if there is the will to do it? That just stood out in red to me. (and a couple others noticed it)
Granted, there are protocols that are obsolete or even some that should never have happened. There is an almost endless list of 'future use' protocols too. The Internet works fine today and has rapidly _evolved_ since the average person found out about it. All anyone with any brains might want to see is some better mechanisms to protect it from the ravages of "criminals" and even poorly written software -- A little "spew protection".
All improvements imaginable are at hand with what we have today. The system is completely flexible and today allows everyone a fair amount of access. Certain absolutely needed improvements, such as symmetrical end-user connections, full freedom to set up a server at home or a small office, decentralized data centres to avoid repeated 'long distance calls' to save costs, and better proxy systems overall, all in the works on existing networks.
The present system gives users at all levels "all they can handle", so "where's the beef"? Besides, the Net will fully replace itself over time. Look at its closest cousin, the phone system. There might be some "crank phones" still in existence but a dynamic and flexible infrastructure can interface to those relics too, if need be.
Get a life: This is simply not going to happen. People tell me: "If you don't like the Internet, make your own". Good try, but the concept of an Internet implies anything can be interfaced. Only the most extreme situations require complete isolation. 'Building your own' tends to imply you will become part of the whole. Its been researched quite thoroughly
and nothing is more efficient. Compare that with 'licensed radio' across all frequencies -- What a waste of empty space!
This has been an April Fools joke with all the horror of "Friday the 13th". Some suits better loosen their ties.....
My 0,02 worth. -- BillSF
Certainly anything the BSA says is pure bullshit. This has already been well established in the comments to this. Its really quite simple: Any personal use is NOT piracy, but if you profit from anyone's work, you really owe them something! If the application is useless to you, just destroy it. Has the BSA heard about the 'try before you buy' concept?
It gets even more blurred when you are dealing with source code. If you are a developer, you really want to have the source code and compile it yourself. Some companies really want a pretty stiff non-disclosure agreement but the bottom line is personal use is fine but distribution is not. Again, if you profit from it, you are morally obliged to contribute. If not, destroy and inform the company that you have done so.
Another class of software it that which is specific to a particular device, namely drivers. In this case, nobody pays for software, it comes "free" with the hardware unit although we all know it it probably the most expensive part. I could care less if people distribute copies of "Finalscratch" in either form. This can only to lead to more sales. More hardware sold, more money to all the developers.
Any software only products I develop are by default open source -- no exceptions. I have the luxury to demand this condition. All of the developers I know feel the same, unfortunately some aren't millionaires yet.
BSA, If you don't understand this, you will be despised by the very people you try to protect and laughed out of court.
While I think computers are a good idea in the classroom, lets teach them what they are. Surely clicking a mouse isn't going to do much good, learning how to _use_ a computer will. I learned how to do the basic math by learning how a calculator works. Therefore open sourse and nothing less!
There was one "asr33" paper terminal in my highschool my second year in 1972. At 110Baud it wasn't really that accessable. (fortunately the provider company would give students free access at their facility after business hours) It was all AT&T Unix and definitely the ticket to many good jobs.
The smarter students I know, actually tend to prefer OpenBSD, possibly bragging rights, but they are learning something! In the developed world there is a serious problem with useless systems. In the developing world OSS is far more common and we are going to lose everything if the next generation is mostly computer illitterate while there is all this talent overseas.
Like a TV, its not the machine, its what you put on it. These are serious machines and should used properly. Personally I'm very distressed that kids are being brainwashed that what is good for corporations is good for them. Copyright violations are _NOT_ theft, plain and simple. However old values that forbid plagerism should certainly apply -- no copy/paste papers for instance.
Computers are certainly part of a modern education, but not a replacement teacher. Also teachers should only accept plain text -- use a word processor, get a zero. That was how it was for me. Somehow I still seem to agree with that.
A mouse seems best with three buttons and if button 3 is also buttons 4 and 5 (wheel) you got the best rat possible as long as its not "ergonomic". Its quite simple: The fewer clicks, the longer you last.
It looks like an exploit I happened to discover only about two and a half weeks ago while running Windows XP-sp2-blabla under emulation. The recconisable part is being able to get 'spyware' (in the test, just a dummy cookie) through Firefox and into IE. A few people were told this and repeated it. It should be made VERY clear that Sun Java is NOT needed (MS has every reason to FUD Sun) and its not Mozilla at fault, but the fact that IE cannot yet be 'de-installed'. The advised solution is for _someone_ to develop a full de-installer for IE. Nobody I know gives a flying f* for MS, but getting a practical de-installer out for IE is the slap-in-the-face MS has coming!
In the meantime watch out for FUD. MS will say Sun and Mozilla are bad and IE is good. You never say in business: "I told you so", but MS will. WATCH
OUT! As usual there is a spin on this that seems to favour Microsoft. Don't buy it.
There are some 'unfixable' bugs in all Windows and MS products due to the "I want to be different factor". Being able to completely remove IE (use Firefox, Opera, etc.) would go a long way in reducing the threat. Removing "Media Player" (use mplayer) would help a little more. The real truth however is that Windows is flawed by design and can never be fixed in an acceptable way.
If you are unfortunate enough to be using Windows, please look at the track record, including all the lies you've been told and make an informed decision. Get Solaris 10 if you wish, I'll stick with FreeBSD. Linux has a range of distros that range from 'true hardcore' to 'clickity-click' and even have a dual boot. Sooner or later, you are going to have to make the transition. You decide when.
Perhaps that applies to a Mac to a lesser extent. If you use Unix/Linux don't get too smug. Might I
suggest one thing: Use a seperate account for anything questionable: All your P2P, "Instant Messaging" and possibly any action that may produce spam. Also consider IRC is faster than "IM" and talk(1) is 'realtime'. Talk(1) is secure, unlike IRC on a trusted server where SSH is used.
"Where's the beef?"
Most blogs are crap. Most mainstream is crap.
Anytime someone makes something public on a regular and changing basis it is journalism and is guarenteed all the protections. Apple is wrong, mind you at the scared 'middle management' level. Perhaps that is easy to say from Europe?
As a part owner of a provider, we have told both the RIAA and MPAA to "fsck off" and we can rightfully do so. We'd do the same with Apple or any other corporation.
Please, defy the court order or better, move to a provider in a free country!
Those Lin/Winmodems are simply a soundcard with a telephone interface. They are of no value to most of us that have had fast Internet connections for years. Wait a minute: They have been approved to be connected to the PSTN! That is by far the greatest expence of producing this hardware.
Might I add, with a bit of experience, and perhaps a 'trade school' education in electronics it is trivial to reverse them and make 'ATA' devices. (Actually I think they are called 'FXS' devices in telco lingo. The devices that must be approved for connection to the PSTN are 'FXO' modules.) At somewhere between zero and a couple Euros per linmodem, used, this is a great idea.
As for the software, I'll stick to FreeBSD or Gentoo Linux and install my own Asterisk. Binaries give me the creaps. Computers a couple or three years old are likely to have more PCI slots and maybe an onboard 'Lin/Winmodem and lan card. While ee100s are a very good NIC (get them for as little as EUR 5,--) Linux and the BSDs have drivers for just about all types -- far more than Windows ever had.
Has Microsoft _ever_ invented a damn thing? This simply doesn't set right. They pervert technology, not invent, like IBM, Philips, etc.
An ordinary three button optical mouse is best. Combining buttons 4 and 5 with 3 (scrollwheel) is the most significant development ever for the lowly mouse. I can type hours after I'm unable to click. A keyboard with an integrated trackball might be better still. (Who makes one?) Use the useles meta-keys ("Windows keys", "penguin keys", "apple keys", etc.) Possibly toggle the trackball to be a scrollwheel with a simple key combination or with another useless key, like "CapsLock". Since I don't have such a keyboard to map, the ordinary mouse will do just fine.
Some simple suggestions: (most possible only with Unix)
Turn of "click to focus". It's simply not needed.
Avoid "doubble clicks" whenever possible. This has got to be the stupidest idea ever.
A "tap" is better than a click. (used in CAD, but has other uses)
The clipboard (^C ^X ^V) is almost always avoidable. Here the mouse is the best tool as anyone who uses X knows. If a clipboard is needed (CAD, draw and paint applications, etc) get that on the mouse using "taps".
The simple conclusion is the less you need the mouse, the better off you are. Set up your own environment reality! Choice is the key.
As for the "horse", its a two-button mouse that also appears to have too much mass. If I see one I'll try it -- promise.