I would argue that certs with practicals (CCIE, JNCIE, RHCE, etc) tend to hold their value much better than those that can simply be gotten by taking tests.
BSA or just BS? May 19th 2005 From The Economist print edition
Software theft is bad; so is misstating the evidence
IT SOUNDS too bad to be true; but, then, it might not be true. Up to 35% of all PC software installed in 2004 was pirated, resulting in a staggering $33 billion loss to the industry, according to an annual study released this week by the Business Software Alliance (BSA), a trade association and lobby group.
Such jaw-dropping figures are regularly cited in government documents and used to justify new laws and tough penalties for pirates--this month in Britain, for example, two people convicted of piracy got lengthy prison sentences, even though they had not sought to earn money. The BSA provided its data. The judge chose to describe the effects of piracy as nothing less than "catastrophic".
But while the losses due to software copyright violations are large and serious, the crime is certainly not as costly as the BSA portrays. The association's figures rely on sample data that may not be representative, assumptions about the average amount of software on PCs and, for some countries, guesses rather than hard data. Moreover, the figures are presented in an exaggerated way by the BSA and International Data Corporation (IDC), a research firm that conducts the study. They dubiously presume that each piece of software pirated equals a direct loss of revenue to software firms.
To derive its piracy rate, IDC estimates the average amount of software that is installed on a PC per country, using data from surveys, interviews and other studies. That figure is then reduced by the known quantity of software sold per country--a calculation in which IDC specialises. The result: a (supposed) amount of piracy per country. Multiplying that figure by the revenue from legitimate sales thus yields the retail value of the unpaid-for software. This, IDC and BSA claim, equals the amount of lost revenue.
The problem is that the economic impact of global software piracy is far harder to calculate. Some academics have shown that some piracy actually increases software sales, by introducing products to people who would not otherwise become customers. Indeed, Bill Gates chirped in the 1990s that piracy in China was useful to Microsoft, because once the nation was hooked, the software giant would eventually figure out a way to monetise the trend. (Lately Microsoft has kept quiet on this issue.)
The BSA's bold claims are surprising, given that last year the group was severely criticised for inflating its figures to suit its political aims. "Absurd on its face" and "patently obscene" is how Gary Shapiro, boss of the Consumer Electronics Association, another lobby group, describes the new ranking.
Not sure why this is considered "off-topic." I think it's a good question. Does Belkin let you hack up their OS like Linksys? Cause if so, I'd like to see someone implement the "wireless switching" that 802.11n is supposed to have.
If I make some weird cable and transfer data at 100mb, is it ethernet? No, not if it doesn't use the same wires to send/receive data, collision avoidance, etc.
My guess is that they're not be fully abiding by the IEEE standard. Anyone have any details as to what they are(n't) following?
800% greater coverage than standard 802.11g - Belkin Pre-N provides the industry's best wireless coverage, extending your range with improved reliability and fewer drops.
600% greater speeds than standard 802.11g - Belkin Pre-N provides the industry's fastest wireless connection for gaming, streaming video, Voice over IP, and moving large files efficiently and quickly between all the devices in your networked home.
Improved performance of standard 802.11g and 802.11b networking devices - Using a Belkin Pre-N Router or Card with an older 802.11g or 802.11b networking product increases wireless coverage up to 20%.
Improved resistance to wireless interference - Belkin Pre-N products sense potential interference and dynamically shift to the clearest wireless channel available.
Belkin Pre-N products do not drop to the lowest networking speed in a mixed-mode environment - If a standard 802.11g or 802.11b device is introduced into a Belkin Pre-N network.
The Belkin Pre-N product will not drop to the standard 802.11g or 802.11b speeds - Belkin Pre-N products will continue to transmit at a link rate of 108Mbps, a result competing products cannot achieve.
Advanced Security - Wi-Fi® Protected Access (WPA) support provides enhanced encryption protecting your wireless network.
Pop-up Blocker - 6 months of free pop-up, adware, and spyware stopper
Web Content/Parental Control Filter - Web Content/Parental Control Filter 6 months of free built-in parental Control/Web Content Filter provides over 50 fully configurable filters that allow you to block websites and images.
Are they using real "n" technology? Or is it just their particular flavor of "n"?
For what it's worth, here is what MS' AntiSpyware program removed off my friend's computer. This is *after* I scanned it both with SpyBot and Adaware with updated sig files. I'm kinda surprised that the other two didn't already remove these.
This is slightly off topic, but here's a cool site to add to your bookmarks: Rikai.com. Pop in the URL of a Japanese website, and when you wave your mouse over the kanji, it tells you the meaning/translation. Very cool!
What is the best way to record what these sites are doing? I mostly use Firefox and Konquerer. In both of them there are ways to fake your browser and make it look like you have IE installed when you really don't.
What's the best way to sandbox these programs to study them later?
I'd like to see an article where someone takes popular "Windows fix it tools for admins" (like this one) and write an easy-to-undertand tutorial for newbies.
Until then, these hacks will only be available to the uber geeks (not that that's a always a bad thing).
Ultimate Boot CD
on
Knoppix Hacks
·
· Score: 2, Informative
Many of these tools are on Knoppix, but useful nonetheless: Ultimate Boot CD
Yeah, but it's still got a headset that plugs into your computer.
I'd much rather have a service like Vonage. It's simple to use, has a nice web GUI, is incredibly clear, and can work seemlessly with your existing telephone number.
Slashdot Mirror
I would argue that certs with practicals (CCIE, JNCIE, RHCE, etc) tend to hold their value much better than those that can simply be gotten by taking tests.
Believe me, there's no worse cantankerous group of people on this earth than fat guys with calls signs on their hats.
Yep, it's obviously affecting the editors' performance.
A blind friend of mine uses JAWS on his computer. He says he can't use Firefox because of JAWS' inability to work well with anything but IE.
BSA or just BS?
May 19th 2005
From The Economist print edition
Software theft is bad; so is misstating the evidence
IT SOUNDS too bad to be true; but, then, it might not be true. Up to 35% of all PC software installed in 2004 was pirated, resulting in a staggering $33 billion loss to the industry, according to an annual study released this week by the Business Software Alliance (BSA), a trade association and lobby group.
Such jaw-dropping figures are regularly cited in government documents and used to justify new laws and tough penalties for pirates--this month in Britain, for example, two people convicted of piracy got lengthy prison sentences, even though they had not sought to earn money. The BSA provided its data. The judge chose to describe the effects of piracy as nothing less than "catastrophic".
But while the losses due to software copyright violations are large and serious, the crime is certainly not as costly as the BSA portrays. The association's figures rely on sample data that may not be representative, assumptions about the average amount of software on PCs and, for some countries, guesses rather than hard data. Moreover, the figures are presented in an exaggerated way by the BSA and International Data Corporation (IDC), a research firm that conducts the study. They dubiously presume that each piece of software pirated equals a direct loss of revenue to software firms.
To derive its piracy rate, IDC estimates the average amount of software that is installed on a PC per country, using data from surveys, interviews and other studies. That figure is then reduced by the known quantity of software sold per country--a calculation in which IDC specialises. The result: a (supposed) amount of piracy per country. Multiplying that figure by the revenue from legitimate sales thus yields the retail value of the unpaid-for software. This, IDC and BSA claim, equals the amount of lost revenue.
The problem is that the economic impact of global software piracy is far harder to calculate. Some academics have shown that some piracy actually increases software sales, by introducing products to people who would not otherwise become customers. Indeed, Bill Gates chirped in the 1990s that piracy in China was useful to Microsoft, because once the nation was hooked, the software giant would eventually figure out a way to monetise the trend. (Lately Microsoft has kept quiet on this issue.)
The BSA's bold claims are surprising, given that last year the group was severely criticised for inflating its figures to suit its political aims. "Absurd on its face" and "patently obscene" is how Gary Shapiro, boss of the Consumer Electronics Association, another lobby group, describes the new ranking.
I emerged KDE and it took over 24 hours.
Hmmmm, could it be that it's a dupe?
My guess is that they're not be fully abiding by the IEEE standard. Anyone have any details as to what they are(n't) following?
Are they using real "n" technology? Or is it just their particular flavor of "n"?
What's the best way to sandbox these programs to study them later?
Anyone have any links to these sites?
Until then, these hacks will only be available to the uber geeks (not that that's a always a bad thing).
I'd much rather have a service like Vonage. It's simple to use, has a nice web GUI, is incredibly clear, and can work seemlessly with your existing telephone number.
"How many times have you been arrested, Mr. President?"*
*$2315.36 Bounty to the first person to ask George W. Bush this question in a public forum.
Contact john_goldstone@nospamyahoo.com with documentation to claim your reward!