We should start getting prepared for some kind of Windows fallout, considering the DOJ is already working on how to split up MS. MicroSlop is trying to turn its OS into something easier "for consumers" (geez I guess they figured out that WinXX was getting way overbloated and complicated). It's my impression that the Amiga is WAY too late to stage a comeback and it doesn't have a major cash/marketing arm to reinvent itself in the major marketplace (no flames, I used an Amiga for 10 years and loved it although I didn't get any work done for lack of industry software). Linux, although it packs a mighty punch, has a long way to go in terms of capturing desktop marketshare. It needs to somehow operate in modes that make it transparent to the user, especially in environments where production work is the use, not tweaking text variables from a CLI. However, since the code is constantly being worked on by external parties, I'm sure someone will program an update to make it something like MacOS X. MacOS X is probably the first attempt at a UNIX variant that is in competition with WinXX. It combines the strengths of both UNIX and the MacOS while keeping the complexity away from the user (unless configured to allow it). Intel/MS is corroding from the simple fact that they're infighting with technology, trying to backwards-compatibilize itself to its DOS roots and antiquated CISC technology. If it ever tried to break its ties to those old technologies to move on, MS would be forced to rewrite its entire OS to the new hardware and get thousands of software companies to port their warez over. WinXX is so pathetic that it actually needs to be reinstalled regularly (what the F? What kind of OS is that?) The only time I ever had to reinstall MacOS was three years ago when I actually accidentally screwed up the HD messing with a beta version of Norton. Other than disasters, most Mac users only install system software when updates are released. Linux people don't suffer like WinXX people, either, because their OS is just smart like that!
----- Linux user: if (nt == unstable) { switchTo.linux() }
Cost of maintaining Win boxes where I work: Plenty.. plus those guys who sit in the IS department need to get out in the sun sheesh they need tans!
We in the Creatives Services (graphics) department spend ZERO in support for our Macs, since we pretty much can troubleshoot our machines ourselves. Usually problems will occur but they're always just isolated to extension files installed by stupid shareware someone downloaded (toss it in the trash) or just download patches to programs recently released.
It's funny to hear the WinXX people (database and cataloging folks) across the partitions complain "Oh no, my computer crashed. Let's call tech support quick!"
----- Linux user: if (nt == unstable) { switchTo.linux() }
Oh yea, USB is great.. it's about as easy as Apple ADB. If I don't like using the trackpad on my PowerBook G3 laptop, I just plug a mouse in the back, the OS pauses for about 1/2 second, then the mouse works. I guess the Mac thinks "hmm, oh wow there's a new mouse plugged in, let's use it." Just like when I stick a CH GamePad into the port, it starts to work right when I plug it in. USB works about the same except sometimes it needs a driver for the specific device, whereas most ADB devices for the Mac just "work" right when they're plugged in because the MacOS is just smart enough to know what just got shoved into the box.
----- Linux user: if (nt == unstable) { switchTo.linux() }
Mouse like a breast? Fondling? Damn, I wish my computing experience was so sensual.. it sure would make work more interesting. At the very least, good industrial design from the iMac and this Amiga prototype make for more compelling computers.. more so than for plain boxes that only look good next to your grandmother's beige undergarment collection.
I'm a former Amiga fan and now I'm a Mac fanatic (got a 7600/G3 with snowboarding stickers all over it, a curvaceous black PowerBook G3, and a Strawberry iMac). I think it would be awesome if the Amiga came through as a smoky gray or navy.. something to signify power, speed, or performance -- as most car makers do. Hopefully the new 550 MHz G3 minitowers (to be announced on Thursday) will sport some dark, sporty colors.
----- Linux user: if (nt == unstable) { switchTo.linux() }
Well, considering that most PCs ship with a shoddy mono speaker (yes, just one) that goes "beep" or "blip".. the iMac sounds pretty good. Don't most computer owners who want better sound go out and get externals anyway? So if you're not impressed with the stock iMac's SRS Surround stereo speakers, just go to CompUSA and get some other ones to add on!
----- Linux user: if (nt == unstable) { switchTo.linux() }
Pardon me for asking.. I'm a full-time Mac user (hey, no flames pls) so excuse my ignorance.. how long have desktop PCs had the ability to boot from anything other than their floppy drive (well, at least without a major hack to their startup sequence script)? I know most Macintoshes can boot from a CD by holding down "C" for a few seconds after powerup/restart.
----- Linux user: if (nt == unstable) { switchTo.linux() }
No wonder Compaq needs some crazy idea like this.. the CPU sucks energy like mad. It's bad enough that Intel needs to castrate its 25W Pentiums into a 9W weakling CPU just to save energy on laptops. Adding such regenerative "technology" would only add to the already-exorbitant price of the Armada line. All Apple PowerBook G3s use the same CPU as in the desktop line.. the G3 only uses about 5W of power and the batteries last about 5 hours each. Oh yeah, laptops are used for more things than just executive work. I'm a graphic designer and my PB G3/266 is great for Photoshop or Flash 4. However, lately it's been a grand portable Playstation (Connectix VGS) and Starcraft box.. on batteries it tends to last about 3 1/4 hours playing Gran Turismo while hooked up to an S-Video Toshiba widescreen TV
----- Linux user: if (nt == unstable) { switchTo.linux() }
Okay I see it's quite futile to please anyone on this forum. No matter what is announced everyone in the Linux community will find it offensive, lacking, or insufficient. As much as I admire the Linux community for having a rebel attitude similar to the Mac community, it's starting to seem like there's a Linux "not-invented-here" attitude brewing. You guys have all kinds of open source code being spoonfed to you.. use it. Give developers feedback and give feedback to the companies providing you the code. As we all know, bitching and whining about source code graciously handed to you won't make companies feel any more compelled to continue. If you want some more change, instead of flaming and bitching why not put up a highly visible, public petition/forum which Apple may pay attention to. Please no flames.. only constructive criticism (besides, this discussion is moving way too far away from the original topic). I've been fascinated by UNIX ever since the good ole days when they replaced the green VAX terminals at SDSU with X Terms.. cool except configuring the sucker was a nightmare compared to a desktop computer OS.
----- Linux user: if (nt == unstable) { switchTo.linux() }
M$ will most likely use its massive M$-controlled media and news networks to cover up its mess. However, it can't afford to get picked up in the press because of a massive worldwide effort to crack its IIS servers. Imagine if a team were to hit as many M$ IIS servers as possible leaving only a comment that M$ isn't as great as the billions of people on earth believe.. there's no way M$ and M$NBC and M$-funded CNN and its M$-funded investments can cover up the truth.
oh yeah btw.. like most irresponsible internet columnists, crabb is just pulling out the good ole' flamebait rumor tactic to draw all these people to his site to read the article, start a platform war, then rack up on all the advertising hits to the page (quick way to get massive hits your site is to post bullsh*t flames about the mac). sheesh, crabb doesn't even have to sleep his fatass up the corporate ladder. he just has to run his mouth off with total BS.
After reading a number of Crabb's columns, it's pretty obvious he's just posting beaten-down flamebait that can almost be categorized as urban legend spam. No company is going make a purchase of Apple at this point which has over a billion dollars in liquid spending cash, over two years worth of technology still to introduce, and a marketing momentum that has just started to rain down on consumers. In addition, after reading all these posts I notice all the platform-bashing kiddies in all their penis-envy are out in full force with their "this/that sucks" jive. It's just funny to see how they end up signing off as what they are... anonymous cowards without a clue.
I would love to run the PPC linux distributions on my PowerBook G3. As for the incredibly intellectual assertions that G3s are slow and "suck" well then I offer this: My PowerBook G3/266 eats through SETI@Home work units at an average of 12.8 hrs each. Now I know that isn't exactly a fair benchmark (everyone seems to cry foul when Apple comes ahead) but it goes to show how good crunching is when an app is written almost correctly for the system. LinuxPPC (if there was a SETI client) would completely blow the doors off in speed.
I have a Macintosh PowerBook G3/266 laptop (1MB L2 cache 192MB RAM) and it will rip through a work unit at an average of about __13_hrs__. I (ThunderCorp) originally posted my suggestion on MacAddict, MacSoldiers, and the O'Grady web page and it works well. Along with running your Mac at 800x600x16bit, use Peek-A-Boo to assign SETI high CPU priority. Change the SETI blank function to 0 or 1 minute. Go to the Energy Saver Control Panel and put Sleep to Never.. set Display and HD sleep to its minimum time.. Move the SETI@Home Data folder from the System>Preferences folder to a RAM disk. Then alias that folder back to the original Preferences area. With this setting my PowerBook G3 is completely silent, no fan noise (all PowerPC G3s are cool and low-voltage anyway app. 5W I think), no hard drive noise.. nothing! All the while it's fierecly computing the work unit. If only the other MacAddict team members got this technique down, our average time could be shaved in half. We'd be as quick as the Slashdot team!!
Although I don't do any hacking/cracking, I see why it could be useful. If we were to live so complacently in society, someone else would exploit our weaknesses. Hackers (sometimes for the wrong reasons) find the holes that need fixing in networks and Internet systems. Imagine how lame that HP/Microsoft NT kung fu commercial ("HP with Microsoft NT cannot be defeated") may sound when someone hacks their systems.. yah, just as bad as when WinNT got the Aegis-class missile cruiser USS Yorktown stuck dead at sea. Hacking/cracking serves a great purpose when used for the right reasons.
Somehow (in a future world) mail servers should detect e-mail that has been forwarded a certain amount of times or that is being forwarded to certain numbers of recipients and add a prefix to the subject such as CHAIN: or CHM:
That way people can catch on and set their filters to intercept a majority of chain mail. If anyone finds this concept useful please tell someone or fwd it to 20 of your friends hehehe
I just went to the starwars site and viewed the streaming QT4 video..not bad. So I got into the http source and found the MOV file and pasted its URL into the Quicktime Player. Since I own the Pro version, I was able to select Present Movie > Current (Full Screen) and voila!! Full screen T1 music video streaming to my PowerMac 7600/120 (upgraded to a G3/305 of course). It's amazing what hardware scaling can do. Too bad RealVideo is shackled to that postage-stamp size. If anyone can post a screenshot please do. The shareware Snapz Pro v1.1.1 got the whole screen but the window for the video was black. hmmm.... oh well! Now I'm almost positive that the only other scenes we're gonna see in the real movie are the credz --what a bummer.
In reply to the anonymous coward who thinks laptop video is 16-bit.. No sir, my laptop's video is 24-bit. I'm not sure.. maybe you're referring to those IBM Stinkpads or some other Wintel laptops. What I'm talking about is an Apple Powerbook G3/266 hooked up to a widescreen Toshiba TV using the S-Video port in the back at 1024x768. The built-in ATI Rage Pro 4MB chip drives the graphics and the laptop is also feeding the audio through a surround sound system at 44KHz. The QT4 commercials are smooth as silk and have a poetic monologue feel to them. Nice. Then again, I'm beginning to believe that the all these trailers show about 75% of the movie's real content and the rest is crap. Hopefully not.
I downloaded the files directly from the Star Wars site after clicking each preview movie (the larger resolution ones). They're awesome.. I don't know what everyone is trippin' about. Maybe some people have too much garbage screwing up their computers. My trusty Powerbook G3/266 had the commercials presented full screen in all its 44KHz stereo glory. No frame skips, nothing. All that quality for an average of 4.5MB. Maybe the whiners should clear out their system folder of extraneous interface hacks, screensavers, Norton junk, and Microsoft extensions. There's nothing like a full-screen 1024x768 30fps Quicktime 4 movie blaring out of surround sound speakers hooked up to a laptop.
Slashdot Mirror
We should start getting prepared for some kind of Windows fallout, considering the DOJ is already working on how to split up MS. MicroSlop is trying to turn its OS into something easier "for consumers" (geez I guess they figured out that WinXX was getting way overbloated and complicated).
It's my impression that the Amiga is WAY too late to stage a comeback and it doesn't have a major cash/marketing arm to reinvent itself in the major marketplace (no flames, I used an Amiga for 10 years and loved it although I didn't get any work done for lack of industry software).
Linux, although it packs a mighty punch, has a long way to go in terms of capturing desktop marketshare. It needs to somehow operate in modes that make it transparent to the user, especially in environments where production work is the use, not tweaking text variables from a CLI. However, since the code is constantly being worked on by external parties, I'm sure someone will program an update to make it something like MacOS X.
MacOS X is probably the first attempt at a UNIX variant that is in competition with WinXX. It combines the strengths of both UNIX and the MacOS while keeping the complexity away from the user (unless configured to allow it).
Intel/MS is corroding from the simple fact that they're infighting with technology, trying to backwards-compatibilize itself to its DOS roots and antiquated CISC technology. If it ever tried to break its ties to those old technologies to move on, MS would be forced to rewrite its entire OS to the new hardware and get thousands of software companies to port their warez over. WinXX is so pathetic that it actually needs to be reinstalled regularly (what the F? What kind of OS is that?) The only time I ever had to reinstall MacOS was three years ago when I actually accidentally screwed up the HD messing with a beta version of Norton. Other than disasters, most Mac users only install system software when updates are released. Linux people don't suffer like WinXX people, either, because their OS is just smart like that!
-----
Linux user: if (nt == unstable) { switchTo.linux() }
Cost of maintaining Win boxes where I work: Plenty.. plus those guys who sit in the IS department need to get out in the sun sheesh they need tans!
We in the Creatives Services (graphics) department spend ZERO in support for our Macs, since we pretty much can troubleshoot our machines ourselves. Usually problems will occur but they're always just isolated to extension files installed by stupid shareware someone downloaded (toss it in the trash) or just download patches to programs recently released.
It's funny to hear the WinXX people (database and cataloging folks) across the partitions complain "Oh no, my computer crashed. Let's call tech support quick!"
-----
Linux user: if (nt == unstable) { switchTo.linux() }
Oh yea, USB is great.. it's about as easy as Apple ADB. If I don't like using the trackpad on my PowerBook G3 laptop, I just plug a mouse in the back, the OS pauses for about 1/2 second, then the mouse works. I guess the Mac thinks "hmm, oh wow there's a new mouse plugged in, let's use it." Just like when I stick a CH GamePad into the port, it starts to work right when I plug it in. USB works about the same except sometimes it needs a driver for the specific device, whereas most ADB devices for the Mac just "work" right when they're plugged in because the MacOS is just smart enough to know what just got shoved into the box.
-----
Linux user: if (nt == unstable) { switchTo.linux() }
Mouse like a breast? Fondling? Damn, I wish my computing experience was so sensual.. it sure would make work more interesting. At the very least, good industrial design from the iMac and this Amiga prototype make for more compelling computers.. more so than for plain boxes that only look good next to your grandmother's beige undergarment collection.
I'm a former Amiga fan and now I'm a Mac fanatic (got a 7600/G3 with snowboarding stickers all over it, a curvaceous black PowerBook G3, and a Strawberry iMac). I think it would be awesome if the Amiga came through as a smoky gray or navy.. something to signify power, speed, or performance -- as most car makers do. Hopefully the new 550 MHz G3 minitowers (to be announced on Thursday) will sport some dark, sporty colors.
-----
Linux user: if (nt == unstable) { switchTo.linux() }
Well, considering that most PCs ship with a shoddy mono speaker (yes, just one) that goes "beep" or "blip".. the iMac sounds pretty good. Don't most computer owners who want better sound go out and get externals anyway? So if you're not impressed with the stock iMac's SRS Surround stereo speakers, just go to CompUSA and get some other ones to add on!
-----
Linux user: if (nt == unstable) { switchTo.linux() }
Pardon me for asking.. I'm a full-time Mac user (hey, no flames pls) so excuse my ignorance.. how long have desktop PCs had the ability to boot from anything other than their floppy drive (well, at least without a major hack to their startup sequence script)? I know most Macintoshes can boot from a CD by holding down "C" for a few seconds after powerup/restart.
-----
Linux user: if (nt == unstable) { switchTo.linux() }
No wonder Compaq needs some crazy idea like this.. the CPU sucks energy like mad. It's bad enough that Intel needs to castrate its 25W Pentiums into a 9W weakling CPU just to save energy on laptops. Adding such regenerative "technology" would only add to the already-exorbitant price of the Armada line. All Apple PowerBook G3s use the same CPU as in the desktop line.. the G3 only uses about 5W of power and the batteries last about 5 hours each. Oh yeah, laptops are used for more things than just executive work. I'm a graphic designer and my PB G3/266 is great for Photoshop or Flash 4. However, lately it's been a grand portable Playstation (Connectix VGS) and Starcraft box.. on batteries it tends to last about 3 1/4 hours playing Gran Turismo while hooked up to an S-Video Toshiba widescreen TV
-----
Linux user: if (nt == unstable) { switchTo.linux() }
Okay I see it's quite futile to please anyone on this forum. No matter what is announced everyone in the Linux community will find it offensive, lacking, or insufficient. As much as I admire the Linux community for having a rebel attitude similar to the Mac community, it's starting to seem like there's a Linux "not-invented-here" attitude brewing. You guys have all kinds of open source code being spoonfed to you.. use it. Give developers feedback and give feedback to the companies providing you the code. As we all know, bitching and whining about source code graciously handed to you won't make companies feel any more compelled to continue. If you want some more change, instead of flaming and bitching why not put up a highly visible, public petition/forum which Apple may pay attention to. Please no flames.. only constructive criticism (besides, this discussion is moving way too far away from the original topic). I've been fascinated by UNIX ever since the good ole days when they replaced the green VAX terminals at SDSU with X Terms.. cool except configuring the sucker was a nightmare compared to a desktop computer OS.
-----
Linux user: if (nt == unstable) { switchTo.linux() }
Apple didn't steal ideas from Xerox if that's what you're implying. What's up with that story.. it's so played out it qualifies as an urban legend. For the real story read the article from About.com:= home
http://macos.a bout.com/library/weekly/mcurrent.htm?pid=2801&cob
or these articles:
http://www.mackido.com/Interface/ui_ horn1.html
http://www.mackido.com/Interface/ui_ raskin.html
M$ will most likely use its massive M$-controlled media and news networks to cover up its mess. However, it can't afford to get picked up in the press because of a massive worldwide effort to crack its IIS servers. Imagine if a team were to hit as many M$ IIS servers as possible leaving only a comment that M$ isn't as great as the billions of people on earth believe.. there's no way M$ and M$NBC and M$-funded CNN and its M$-funded investments can cover up the truth.
oh yeah btw.. like most irresponsible internet columnists, crabb is just pulling out the good ole' flamebait rumor tactic to draw all these people to his site to read the article, start a platform war, then rack up on all the advertising hits to the page (quick way to get massive hits your site is to post bullsh*t flames about the mac). sheesh, crabb doesn't even have to sleep his fatass up the corporate ladder. he just has to run his mouth off with total BS.
After reading a number of Crabb's columns, it's pretty obvious he's just posting beaten-down flamebait that can almost be categorized as urban legend spam. No company is going make a purchase of Apple at this point which has over a billion dollars in liquid spending cash, over two years worth of technology still to introduce, and a marketing momentum that has just started to rain down on consumers. In addition, after reading all these posts I notice all the platform-bashing kiddies in all their penis-envy are out in full force with their "this/that sucks" jive. It's just funny to see how they end up signing off as what they are... anonymous cowards without a clue.
I would love to run the PPC linux distributions on my PowerBook G3. As for the incredibly intellectual assertions that G3s are slow and "suck" well then I offer this:
My PowerBook G3/266 eats through SETI@Home work units at an average of 12.8 hrs each. Now I know that isn't exactly a fair benchmark (everyone seems to cry foul when Apple comes ahead) but it goes to show how good crunching is when an app is written almost correctly for the system. LinuxPPC (if there was a SETI client) would completely blow the doors off in speed.
I have a Macintosh PowerBook G3/266 laptop (1MB L2 cache 192MB RAM) and it will rip through a work unit at an average of about __13_hrs__. I (ThunderCorp) originally posted my suggestion on MacAddict, MacSoldiers, and the O'Grady web page and it works well. Along with running your Mac at 800x600x16bit, use Peek-A-Boo to assign SETI high CPU priority. Change the SETI blank function to 0 or 1 minute. Go to the Energy Saver Control Panel and put Sleep to Never.. set Display and HD sleep to its minimum time.. Move the SETI@Home Data folder from the System>Preferences folder to a RAM disk. Then alias that folder back to the original Preferences area. With this setting my PowerBook G3 is completely silent, no fan noise (all PowerPC G3s are cool and low-voltage anyway app. 5W I think), no hard drive noise.. nothing! All the while it's fierecly computing the work unit. If only the other MacAddict team members got this technique down, our average time could be shaved in half. We'd be as quick as the Slashdot team!!
Although I don't do any hacking/cracking, I see why it could be useful. If we were to live so complacently in society, someone else would exploit our weaknesses. Hackers (sometimes for the wrong reasons) find the holes that need fixing in networks and Internet systems. Imagine how lame that HP/Microsoft NT kung fu commercial ("HP with Microsoft NT cannot be defeated") may sound when someone hacks their systems.. yah, just as bad as when WinNT got the Aegis-class missile cruiser USS Yorktown stuck dead at sea. Hacking/cracking serves a great purpose when used for the right reasons.
Somehow (in a future world) mail servers should detect e-mail that has been forwarded a certain amount of times or that is being forwarded to certain numbers of recipients and add a prefix to the subject such as CHAIN: or CHM:
That way people can catch on and set their filters to intercept a majority of chain mail. If anyone finds this concept useful please tell someone or fwd it to 20 of your friends hehehe
I just went to the starwars site and viewed the streaming QT4 video ..not bad. So I got into the http source and found the MOV file and pasted its URL into the Quicktime Player. Since I own the Pro version, I was able to select Present Movie > Current (Full Screen) and voila!! Full screen T1 music video streaming to my PowerMac 7600/120 (upgraded to a G3/305 of course). It's amazing what hardware scaling can do. Too bad RealVideo is shackled to that postage-stamp size. If anyone can post a screenshot please do. The shareware Snapz Pro v1.1.1 got the whole screen but the window for the video was black. hmmm.... oh well! Now I'm almost positive that the only other scenes we're gonna see in the real movie are the credz --what a bummer.
In reply to the anonymous coward who thinks laptop video is 16-bit..
No sir, my laptop's video is 24-bit. I'm not sure.. maybe you're referring to those IBM Stinkpads or some other Wintel laptops. What I'm talking about is an Apple Powerbook G3/266 hooked up to a widescreen Toshiba TV using the S-Video port in the back at 1024x768. The built-in ATI Rage Pro 4MB chip drives the graphics and the laptop is also feeding the audio through a surround sound system at 44KHz. The QT4 commercials are smooth as silk and have a poetic monologue feel to them. Nice. Then again, I'm beginning to believe that the all these trailers show about 75% of the movie's real content and the rest is crap. Hopefully not.
I downloaded the files directly from the Star Wars site after clicking each preview movie (the larger resolution ones). They're awesome.. I don't know what everyone is trippin' about. Maybe some people have too much garbage screwing up their computers. My trusty Powerbook G3/266 had the commercials presented full screen in all its 44KHz stereo glory. No frame skips, nothing. All that quality for an average of 4.5MB. Maybe the whiners should clear out their system folder of extraneous interface hacks, screensavers, Norton junk, and Microsoft extensions. There's nothing like a full-screen 1024x768 30fps Quicktime 4 movie blaring out of surround sound speakers hooked up to a laptop.