Quote: "[...]and much-publicized A.I. breakthroughs like Deep Blue's 1997 victory over chess champion Gary Kasparov, the question is no longer whether artificial intelligence will reach the level of human intelligence: It's when."
This makes for a nice Hollywood synopsis, but in reality is a very insignificant claim. Deep Blue was programmed with the help of several chess GrandMasters to beat Kasparov. They knew his moves, analyzed his previous games, and built an AI that would beat him. So, from the get-go, it had not only the specific task of computing chess moves, but also the specific goal of defeating a particular player who's moves - if analyzed thoroughly - would eventually form a pattern.
This was not autonomy, nor was it anything much more celebratory than building a robot to assemble car parts.
I'm not trying to persuade anyone that AI isn't developing or that it doesn't have good/bad potential philosophically/socially. However, let's not use the Kasparov match as a milestone, except for IBM's publicity engine...run by human's the last time I checked.
You an Ontarioian? Tell the Federal Government to give us a transit funding as Toronto got one when they were up for the Olympic Bid. We're up for the 2010 Olympic Bid and we haven't seen such a thing.
Typical BC'er: asking Ontario to do your business for you.
I agree that syncronizing KDE 3.x with Mandy 8.2 would either delay the release of 8.2 or doom Mandy with a timely release but a less-than-perfect KDE. However, Mandrake releases a point-version every year and KDE releases a point-version much more frequently and can be upgraded within the distro easily. If 8.2 comes with a less-than-perfect KDE 3.x, chances are that it would be easier to upgrade KDE shortly afterwards with the 3.x base already installed than hoping KDE 2.2.2 can upgrade seamlessly (which it very well may).
It's a choice between patience or pleasure, and both have their virtues.
As for your way of upgrading...it doesn't make sense. "It's called downloading stuff, compiling it yourself...". If you're going to go to that extent, why bother with Mandrake? Just go to www.linuxfromscratch.com and forget about Mandrake.
Your second option simply doesn't make sense at all: buy a cheap CD...okay, and then...? How does that solve the fact that Mandrake doesn't make it easy to upgrade from point-releases? In fact, how do either of your choices make it easier?
Quote: Does anyone have any info/experience on how this might translate over if I upgrade to 8.2?
Yes. Don't.
Mandrake has never had a very effective system of updating from previous versions, especially if you've been grabbing lib files from Cooker or other sources that it may not recognize as current.
I may be wrong...they may have fixed this, but I'd be prepared to back up/home and reinstall.
Regarding the Beta of Mandrake 8.2, please read my wishes for the final version:
1) kill bugs, kill bugs, kill bugs...then release it.
2) don't you dare ship 8.2 without KDE 3.x.
3) try setting up a bugzilla-type system instead of discouraging the bug-submission process by forcing the great majority of users to either subscribe to the Cooker mailing list or submit bugs via the very inappropriate route of MandrakeExpert.
4) how about a way to upgrade from previous versions of Mandy that works?
Still, even if the two companies are not considering a merger, AOL Timer Warner could license Red Hat for use on PCs or other devices for use with its online service.
This is the journalistic equivalent of:
"Ok, so we screwed up...but just to save our asses from angry readers who bought stock in Red Hat only to see their investments squandered, why don't we use our imagination and peer into a beautiful future as we extrapolate for several paragraphs, feigning the importance of what we're saying after totally messing-up."
I have no argument with anything you've said. So tell me, if a webpage is well-conceived, well-authored, and well-designed, what is the problem with black text/black link?
You guys are objecting to something that - in itself - is not a problem at all, so long as the greater aspects of a webpage (code, design, imagination) are done well.
Design isn't about "pretty things". It's about functionality and aesthetics. The way you guys talk, every web-surfer is a complete moron who needs things underlined for them lest they start convulsing with tears.
You make it sound as if the alternative I'm suggesting is a Nightmare World of black text forever rolling down a page in chaotic ambiguity. Are you suggesting that there's absolutely no way to display navigational direction in a web page without underlined, standard blue hyperlinked text?
While sometimes it's very appropriate and clear to be minimalistic, surely design has more application than the one-size-fits-all utilitarian web you envision?
The comment criticizing non-explicit links {"How do users tell these are links? How can we tell the difference between black text and black links?"} makes perfect sense in the eyes of those who are worried about code and not visual aesthetics. However, from a visual design perspective, I bloody-well hate explicit links; they pre-empt the intuitiveness/intelligence of the viewer.
This is not to say that I Officially Support the Olympic Site, but rather to say that I find Falken's critique in this area narrowly drawn.
I totally agree. What is it about Linux/open-source advocates and their lack of perspective on reality? Don't get me wrong...I'd love to see more Linux users in the office/home market. However, when the 'gurus' leading the charge come across as elitist and fail to demonstrate a practical, shared knowledge (aka common sense) of everyday computing...my hopes dwindle.
Although I am in total agreement with Richard with the conundrum of Word attachments, I disagree with his examples:
"You sent the attachment in Microsoft Word format, a secret proprietary format, so I cannot read it. If you send me the plain text, HTML, or PDF, then I could read it."
Firstly, the grammar is misleading. The first sentence implies that the Word doc was sent with the intention of not allowing the recipient to read it. Secondly, how can he assume that the average Word-user will know the difference between plain text, HTML, and PDF? What program will they use to create PDF documents...Acrobat ($$)?
Unfortunately, the article has the effect of elitism whereas the intention was to inform.
Buddy, you're the last person who should be accusing others of hubris.
The differnce between the guys who developed Daikatana and you, is that they did something with their lives, and you merely sit at home and wait for mistakes.
I think, considering the late geo-political history of Russia, broadening the subject to Eastern-European SF is perhaps more apt...if only to get Stanislav Lem in the list:)
I will admit, now that you mention it, "contrary to the belief..." is perhaps a little leaning. It makes sense given the larger context of the story, but as a synopsis it risks creating a straw-man unecessarily.
Actually, I meant to say what I did. You infer via paranoia that I'm implying that there's only one currency in the world and that it's all a plot to subjugate your philosophy...which has nothing to do with the subject of the article or outer-space in general.
Slashdot Mirror
Quote: "[...]and much-publicized A.I. breakthroughs like Deep Blue's 1997 victory over chess champion Gary Kasparov, the question is no longer whether artificial intelligence will reach the level of human intelligence: It's when."
This makes for a nice Hollywood synopsis, but in reality is a very insignificant claim. Deep Blue was programmed with the help of several chess GrandMasters to beat Kasparov. They knew his moves, analyzed his previous games, and built an AI that would beat him. So, from the get-go, it had not only the specific task of computing chess moves, but also the specific goal of defeating a particular player who's moves - if analyzed thoroughly - would eventually form a pattern.
This was not autonomy, nor was it anything much more celebratory than building a robot to assemble car parts.
I'm not trying to persuade anyone that AI isn't developing or that it doesn't have good/bad potential philosophically/socially. However, let's not use the Kasparov match as a milestone, except for IBM's publicity engine...run by human's the last time I checked.
http://www.linuxnewbie.org
http://www.linuxdot.org
P.S. Yes, moderators, I know this is off-topic, but I figured no one else is going to help out.
Typical BC'er: asking Ontario to do your business for you.
Who the hell said I was talking about BC?
How 'bout those Grizzlies?
Please hit our provincial government, please hit our provincial government, please hit our provincial government.
Amen.
I agree that syncronizing KDE 3.x with Mandy 8.2 would either delay the release of 8.2 or doom Mandy with a timely release but a less-than-perfect KDE. However, Mandrake releases a point-version every year and KDE releases a point-version much more frequently and can be upgraded within the distro easily. If 8.2 comes with a less-than-perfect KDE 3.x, chances are that it would be easier to upgrade KDE shortly afterwards with the 3.x base already installed than hoping KDE 2.2.2 can upgrade seamlessly (which it very well may).
It's a choice between patience or pleasure, and both have their virtues.
As for your way of upgrading...it doesn't make sense. "It's called downloading stuff, compiling it yourself...". If you're going to go to that extent, why bother with Mandrake? Just go to www.linuxfromscratch.com and forget about Mandrake.
Your second option simply doesn't make sense at all: buy a cheap CD...okay, and then...? How does that solve the fact that Mandrake doesn't make it easy to upgrade from point-releases? In fact, how do either of your choices make it easier?
Quote: Does anyone have any info/experience on how this might translate over if I upgrade to 8.2?
Yes. Don't.
Mandrake has never had a very effective system of updating from previous versions, especially if you've been grabbing lib files from Cooker or other sources that it may not recognize as current.
I may be wrong...they may have fixed this, but I'd be prepared to back up
Dear Mandrakesoft,
Regarding the Beta of Mandrake 8.2, please read my wishes for the final version:
1) kill bugs, kill bugs, kill bugs...then release it.
2) don't you dare ship 8.2 without KDE 3.x.
3) try setting up a bugzilla-type system instead of discouraging the bug-submission process by forcing the great majority of users to either subscribe to the Cooker mailing list or submit bugs via the very inappropriate route of MandrakeExpert.
4) how about a way to upgrade from previous versions of Mandy that works?
Thanks!
Yes...another great leap for cyber-journalism. Indeed, the medium is the message.
I love this line:
This is the journalistic equivalent of:
Nice.
close :)
I have no argument with anything you've said. So tell me, if a webpage is well-conceived, well-authored, and well-designed, what is the problem with black text/black link?
You guys are objecting to something that - in itself - is not a problem at all, so long as the greater aspects of a webpage (code, design, imagination) are done well.
Design isn't about "pretty things". It's about functionality and aesthetics. The way you guys talk, every web-surfer is a complete moron who needs things underlined for them lest they start convulsing with tears.
You make it sound as if the alternative I'm suggesting is a Nightmare World of black text forever rolling down a page in chaotic ambiguity. Are you suggesting that there's absolutely no way to display navigational direction in a web page without underlined, standard blue hyperlinked text?
While sometimes it's very appropriate and clear to be minimalistic, surely design has more application than the one-size-fits-all utilitarian web you envision?
The comment criticizing non-explicit links {"How do users tell these are links? How can we tell the difference between black text and black links?"} makes perfect sense in the eyes of those who are worried about code and not visual aesthetics. However, from a visual design perspective, I bloody-well hate explicit links; they pre-empt the intuitiveness/intelligence of the viewer.
This is not to say that I Officially Support the Olympic Site, but rather to say that I find Falken's critique in this area narrowly drawn.
Thank God.
I totally agree. What is it about Linux/open-source advocates and their lack of perspective on reality? Don't get me wrong...I'd love to see more Linux users in the office/home market. However, when the 'gurus' leading the charge come across as elitist and fail to demonstrate a practical, shared knowledge (aka common sense) of everyday computing...my hopes dwindle.
The geek shall not inherit the earth, I'm afraid.
Posted as a reply on Newsforge:
Although I am in total agreement with Richard with the conundrum of Word attachments, I disagree with his examples:
"You sent the attachment in Microsoft Word format, a secret proprietary format, so I cannot read it. If you send me the plain text, HTML, or PDF, then I could read it."
Firstly, the grammar is misleading. The first sentence implies that the Word doc was sent with the intention of not allowing the recipient to read it. Secondly, how can he assume that the average Word-user will know the difference between plain text, HTML, and PDF? What program will they use to create PDF documents...Acrobat ($$)?
Unfortunately, the article has the effect of elitism whereas the intention was to inform.
Hands-up, everyone who thinks the documentation itself should be the focus
Yeah, I thought so.
Buddy, you're the last person who should be accusing others of hubris.
The differnce between the guys who developed Daikatana and you, is that they did something with their lives, and you merely sit at home and wait for mistakes.
Have a great life.
I think, considering the late geo-political history of Russia, broadening the subject to Eastern-European SF is perhaps more apt...if only to get Stanislav Lem in the list :)
Would you believe I've never watched an episode?
I'd believe you :)
As someone who uses Linux at home, people would be amazed how many Canadian Linux-users are invading the internet.
Cathy,
I will admit, now that you mention it, "contrary to the belief..." is perhaps a little leaning. It makes sense given the larger context of the story, but as a synopsis it risks creating a straw-man unecessarily.
Can't say I've heard of him/her. I'll keep an eye open :)
Actually, I meant to say what I did. You infer via paranoia that I'm implying that there's only one currency in the world and that it's all a plot to subjugate your philosophy...which has nothing to do with the subject of the article or outer-space in general.
For the record, I'm Canadian. Get stuffed.