Those for a non-executable stack argue it is one more level of protection on the system.
Those against it argue the protection is illusionary (it just changes the form the
attack takes) so all a non-executable stack adds is kernel bloat. I won't go further into
either side here. Please see the aforementioned link for more detail.
I think the reviewer himself made that pretty clear near the top with his disclaimer:
First, in the interest of full disclosure, a comment or two about the reviewer. I do not currently use a WinCE device. I used a Palm III from August 1998 until just last week, when I upgraded to a new TRGpro (a PalmPilot clone that looks almost identical to a Palm IIIx, but has PalmOS 3.3, 8 MB RAM, the new Palm screen with reverse backlighting, and a type II CompactFlash slot). I am also the Secretary for the DePaul Linux Users Group at DePaul University, Chicago. There is no love lost between me and Microsoft, and I would be perfectly happy to see the company broken up, but I do acknowledge that, on occasion, Microsoft has done something useful or beneficial.
If you read the page as a summary of the first, brief impressions a TRGpro user received as he looked at two new PocketPC devices, you'll likely be less disappointed. It's not an exhaustive, objective comparison, and from what the disclaimer says, it's not meant to be.
The writer prefers the smaller size, longer battery life, and slightly increased speed Palm devices provide. In contrast, you want something "like [your] home PC", and that's the PocketPC platform. I own neither a Palm or Windows CE/PocketPC device, but I am researching my options in preparation for buying one. At the moment, I'm leaning toward a Palm device, but I'm interested to read more of why Windows CE/PocketPC devices are better, if you're willing.
Thus far I've found the Palm devices more interesting because precisely because they're smaller and lighter. I decided these were my priorities after looking at the notebook computer I use: a Compaq Contura Aero 4/33c. Though dating from early 1995 and boasting only 486SX-33, 20MB of RAM, and a 640x480x16 display, the Aero is small, weighs only 4 lbs., and gives me more than 4 hours of use off one battery. I have no need for sound, don't need more than 16 colors for a Linux console, and certainly don't want to lug more than 4 lbs. around with me. If I had the cash, I might replace my Aero with a late model Libretto to shed some more weight, but it's not worth it right now. Anyway, to me I think I'd be happier with a small, lightweight Palm device than a PocketPC, but I may not be considering everything I should.
As a side note, am I the only one who keeps typing "Poqet PC" instead of "PocketPC"? Maybe not too many others remember the Poqet PCs.
After Realmedia claimed to have fixed the "bugs" in the last version, I have seen a comment that RealPlayer quietly installs the dreaded Comet Cursor with it.
"First to set the record straight, the version of Comet Cursor distributed with RealPlayer does NOT transmit GUIDs."
"In addition, it is very important to understand that selecting the RealPlayer version with Comet Cursor is entirely optional during the download process and that Comet Cursor's existence as part of some RealPlayer bundles is clearly disclosed when you download, along with links to Comet's privacy statement."
No, I don't work for RealNetworks. Neither does my cat.
My wife is an avid console gamer, so we have several game systems and probably several hundred games. While I'm not familiar with recalls of any of the systems*, she's certainly run into stability problems.
N64: The N64 works well for the most part. I can only think of two problems:
Her Killer Instinct Gold cart won't load if a rumble pack is installed in the controller.
The cheap, Electronic Boutique-brand expansion RAM pack we bought randomly freezes games when used.
PlayStation: Early U.S. models of the PlayStation are known to overheat. While her's is a later, "fixed" model, it still suffers from overheating. It will only work when standing vertically on its side. We were quite amused when we saw that position is now normal for the PlayStation 2.
Saturn: Suffers from overheats after several hours use. Works well when two objects--such as books--are placed so the edges of the Saturn rest just on them providing increased air space below the game system.
Genesis, SegaCD, 32x: The Genesis by itself rarely suffers problems, but the SegaCD unit overheats very quickly. The same book trick used with the Saturn works on the SegaCD. Or, you can do what I did and purchase some large, adhesive rubber feet to attach to it. I'm sure this would work with the Saturn as well, but she doesn't use that system enough for me to bother.
Super NES: No problems of which I am aware.
NES, R.O.B: We actually have two Nintendo Entertainment Systems, one of which came in the deluxe pack with Duck Hunt, Gyromite, a light gun, and R.O.B. The other NES is newer, from the packaged-with-Super Mario Brothers era. It sometimes takes a few tries to get games to start up in the newer NES. The older NES, R.O.B., and the light gun still work beautifully.
Atari 2600: No problems at all. It's getting harder to find the RF converter at Radio Shacks though.
GameBoy Color: No problems of which I am aware.
GameBoy: I've read lots of complaints online about failing displays, but I've never actually seen a GameBoy with that problem. For a time, her GameBoy would only work when held absolutely horizontal, but I disassembled it and fixed that.
From our experience, game systems seem to do okay unless compact discs are involved. Somehow basing a system around a CD drive leads to overheating problems. On the other hand, it allows for some visually stunning games.
* From what I understand the early U.S. Dreamcasts had some problems, but I don't know too much about that. My wife mainly plays RPGs, and there aren't enough for the Dreamcast yet for her to buy it.
More like, I want them to know I own the CDs, so I can go to work, and access the MP3s...
That's the feature I like. Before seeing this Slashdot story, my only experience with mp3.com was a sample CD they sent me. There wasn't a single MP3 I found listenable on the entire disk, which soured me towards their company, so this new service is a pleasant surprise. Sure, it's prolly all so they can sell marketing information about me, but oh well. At least this way I can have (some of) my CD collection online so I can listen to what I like at work as the mood strikes me. With papers, books, a notebook, lunch, and assorted other extras to carry back and forth to work each day, eliminating the audio CDs suits me just fine.
Of course, as I said, it's only some of my CDs. Thus far I've only "beamed" approximately 1/6th (72 albums) of my collection, and the service has recognised the albums 58% of the time. Is this on par with what others are finding? Since the service is apparently in beta, this doesn't seem too bad right now, but I do hope it improves. I'd like to have access to all my disks from work.
Distressed or threatened by my cats? I want one of these for my cats!
They've become too darn smug of late, and I want to rattle them just a little. A vacuum cleaner that springs to life occasionally to dash about the apartment by itself would be just the thing.
Let's see them find the time to steal my wife's PlayStation memory cards now!
I'm not a gamer and have never played or even installed DOOM, but I would guess it uses svgalib to run full screen. From what I understand, running such programs is a security risk because they need to run setuid root to gain direct access to the video hardware.
A quick search reveals several sites which offer a patch, svga_patch.tar.gz. I have not looked at the patch though, so I can't speak as to what it does.
Perhaps someone else can provide more information on both the original security hole and the patch.
Geos is still available for the desktop as NewDeal. See the NewDeal, Inc. website. Their online store offers NewDeal Release 3, plus an office suite and web browser, for less than a Windows 98 upgrade.
I do find it rather saddening that their web site is served out by IIS. I liked Geos so much more than Windows, but I had to switch due to a lack of applications.
distributed.net used to host a mailing list for the discussing the possiblity of a distributed chess system; however, all references to the list seem to have disappeared from their web site. Also missing are any archives of the list discussions, which is unfortunate because a great many very smart people involved themselves in some wonderful discussions on that list.*
The web page does provide the email address of one Remy de Ruysscher, who may be contacted regarding work on the creation of a distributed chess module for the v3 Bovine clients. You may be able to obtain more information that way.
* This is not to to imply that I in any way participated in those discussions. My knowledge of both chess and distributed computing are limited enough that silently lurking was my most helpful contribution.
[Off Topic] OpenGL & Mesa on OS X (was: Re:A call
on
John Carmack Answers
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· Score: 1
According to the web site, it uses something called Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA). More information on this technique is available on another web page at colorado.edu.
The GameBoy Light has thus far only been released in Japan, but it does exist. It uses a backlight similar to those found in certain Timex watches. See http://www.nintendo.co. jp/n02/dmg/hardware/light/index.html for more information (in Japanese) and photos (language independant).
Imported units are available in the U.S., you just need to search a bit. For instance, I've seen them listed in National Console Support's product pages.
I've no idea if Nintendo intends to release a U.S. version.
Windows 1.1 was definately available separately from Excel. I ran it on my Laser Turbo XT. Well, I didn't run it often. It didn't recognise my mouse, was a pain to use with just a keyboard, and I didn't have any applications for it, but I did have it installed. I ran Geos most of the time.
I actually owned two copies of Windows 1.1 (both given two me, so I don't know how much it cost), and darn but I wish I hadn't wiped those floppies and used them for other things. I'd love to install it again just as a conversation piece.
The marketing job is only one of two Linux jobs at Microsoft. Perform a keyword search for "linux" using their job search engine. The second job is in their "Developer Group." The job title is "Software Test Engineer," and the relevant line is:
Qualifications should include: familiarity with a variety of computer hardware configurations, Internet browsers, and operating systems (Microsoft Windows as well as Apple OS, Unix, or Linux); and a minimum of 1 year testing experience.
> Another good question would be if there really _is_ a way > to determine if someone is a true Geek. And, if there is, > should we bother using it, or even try to find it.
Exactly. Why should there be a way to determine a geek from a non-geek? Is there a good way of determining the members of any group? Hard boundaries are very artificial. The boundaries of most any set are fuzzy, and they seem to only get fuzzier as we look harder.
The book "Fuzzy Thinking" by Bart Kosko springs to mind. In it Kosko goes over the idea of the fuzziness of sets with many examples. He writes of the fuzzy boundary between houses and not houses, happily married and not happily married, happy with one's job and not happy with one's job. Even the fuzzy boundary between the atoms that make up a person's body and the atoms that make up the things around that body. It's not the best book on the subject, but like I said, it sprang to mind.
Similarly, somewhere out there on the net is a MP3 of a song that essentially asks: If a hat is something worn on the head, couldn't most anything be a hat? I remember the name of neither the song nor the group, but the message sticks with me.
You, or I, or JonKatz, or anyone else could define the set of all geeks by any number of criteria, but we'd always be wrong. We'd miss on some elusive but important point. Just the same as if we define a hat as something worn on the head. Somewhere out there, right at this very moment, there is a lady with a jellyfish on her head. We can change the definition, but we'll just miss again.
Unfortunately, definitions are such wonderful things. In college one of the first pieces of information people exchange when they meet for the first time is their majors. After college, it's what they do for a living. Ideally, it shouldn't be. No two computer science majors or elementary education majors are alike. Nor are any two used car salespersons or particle physicists, but the question still gets asked. The answer lets people know what to expect from one another. The expectations are wrong--at least partially and possibly wholly--but it gives people somewhere to start.
The quest to absolutely define "geek" can be viewed as an attempt to take a part of our very fuzzy natural language and impose on it a firm, either-or order. Maybe it's not a surprising goal considering the population of Slashdot. A majority of Slashdot's readers were raised in the west on Aristotle's logic and spend much of their time working with, or even programming, binary machines. Maybe we're just not used "true and false."
From what I understand, moderators are not allowed to reveal their identities. Since the person to whom you are replying wished to post a message saying "I am a moderator", he or she did so as an Anonymous Coward to keep his or her identity secret. I suppose otherwise he or she would incur the wrath of CmdrTaco.
Arg! Why can't the Borders near me carry shrinkwrapped Slackware? All they ever have is RedHat. The best I can do is Slackware 3.4 in the back of a book. I don't need that on CD--it fits on floppies.
Shrinkwrapped Slackware with my wife's Borders employee discount would be ever so nice.
Of course, I could always go to Barnes & Noble and get the nifty book that comes with an un-named Linux distribution including the "new 1.0.2 kernel."
Re:Am I getting paranoid ?
on
Distro News
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· Score: 1
Amusing link. I think I've seen it before.
Following your example, I do agree that on the roads today there are still a large number of people (users) who haven't had the driving lessons (computer training) they need. But then, personal computers have not been around as long and are not in as widespread use as personal motor vehicals.
I would guess that in most countries more households own a car than own a computer. As I say, it's only a guess, but I'm fairly confident it's correct. Even in those areas (large cities) where many people rely upon public transportation rather than a personal motor vehicals, I'd guess that in a good-sized, random sample more people would know how to operate a car than a computer.
Motor vehicals have been around longer. Most of us probably grew up in a family with a car and got to watch how they were driven on a fairly regular basis. We may not have picked up all the details and probably needed some learning time before we were licensed, but we knew most of it. A smaller percentage of people grow up with a computer in the house. More people grow up to be familiar with cars than computers.
In the early days of motor vehical development, cars required more tinkering, more knowledge, and more work. I believe computers--being a relatively new technology--are still close to that stage. I don't mind, in fact I love it. There's little I enjoy more than tinkering with one of my computers, but I don't mind the people who don't want to tinker. Afterall, I don't want to have to tinker with my car. I know how to drive it, I add gas, oil, and transmission fluid as appropriate, and I'm happy that it gets me to where I want to go. However, I don't know how to rebuild it's engine, and I don't really want to learn. When the engine makes a funny noise, I take it in to the shop. Afterall, why should I be tuning my car when I have better things to do like tuning my computer?
Similarly, why should anyone who just wants to read email and browse the web at home have to know how to build a kernel or perform a complex install for an application? I want to do those things, but they don't. The car manufacturers and mechanics should make things easy for me, and the OS manufacturers/distributers and techs should make things easy for the computer users who want them easy. The car buffs can still tinkering under the hood of their cars, and I can still tinkering under the hood of my PC.
Tinkering should always be an option, never a necessity.
> Last I heard, this thing could also double as a DVD player.
Unfortunately, "could" is the operative word here. It could double as a DVD player, but reports are it won't. Sony is justifiably afraid of canabalizing its DVD player sales, so the Playstation II will not work as a DVD player--at least not right away. Sony is looking into selling an add-on that will allow the unit to play DVDs. That way they can sell the PSII at a low price to capture the gaming market and charge enough for the DVD playing add-on to avoid shooting themselves in the foot.
From what I've read, plans for the add-on aren't firm. Afterall, history shows that most gamers aren't willing to pay for expensive add-ons. However, console games are reaching a much larger audience than they were even just a few years ago, and that audience includes a growing number of adults. Kids with $2.50/week in allowance may not have been able to afford expensive add-ons in the past, but Sony may be able to sell the DVD add-on to adult gamers with real money.
It was chosen in our tradition of selecting names that make marketeers wince. We also wished to pay homage to the famous film,/Plan 9 From Outer Space/.
Slashdot Mirror
No, and this is the topic of seemingly continual discussion on the kernel development list. See http://kt.linuxcare.com/ kernel-traffic/kt20000117_51.epl#1.
Those for a non-executable stack argue it is one more level of protection on the system. Those against it argue the protection is illusionary (it just changes the form the attack takes) so all a non-executable stack adds is kernel bloat. I won't go further into either side here. Please see the aforementioned link for more detail.
I think the reviewer himself made that pretty clear near the top with his disclaimer:
If you read the page as a summary of the first, brief impressions a TRGpro user received as he looked at two new PocketPC devices, you'll likely be less disappointed. It's not an exhaustive, objective comparison, and from what the disclaimer says, it's not meant to be.
The writer prefers the smaller size, longer battery life, and slightly increased speed Palm devices provide. In contrast, you want something "like [your] home PC", and that's the PocketPC platform. I own neither a Palm or Windows CE/PocketPC device, but I am researching my options in preparation for buying one. At the moment, I'm leaning toward a Palm device, but I'm interested to read more of why Windows CE/PocketPC devices are better, if you're willing.
Thus far I've found the Palm devices more interesting because precisely because they're smaller and lighter. I decided these were my priorities after looking at the notebook computer I use: a Compaq Contura Aero 4/33c. Though dating from early 1995 and boasting only 486SX-33, 20MB of RAM, and a 640x480x16 display, the Aero is small, weighs only 4 lbs., and gives me more than 4 hours of use off one battery. I have no need for sound, don't need more than 16 colors for a Linux console, and certainly don't want to lug more than 4 lbs. around with me. If I had the cash, I might replace my Aero with a late model Libretto to shed some more weight, but it's not worth it right now. Anyway, to me I think I'd be happier with a small, lightweight Palm device than a PocketPC, but I may not be considering everything I should.
As a side note, am I the only one who keeps typing "Poqet PC" instead of "PocketPC"? Maybe not too many others remember the Poqet PCs.
d. can't find webgear cards anywhere online!
See http://shopper.cnet.com/shopping/search/results/1, 102 14,0-1257,00.html?tag=st%2Esh%2E1257%2Esbsr&qt=web gear&cn=&ca=1257. At least a few online stores--including a few such as TechStore, Inc. that claim realtime inventory--seem to have WebGear equipment in stock. Good luck.
I remember the Pippin. At the time it was predicted to destroy its competition, namely the likes of Nintendo and Sega. Oops.
A great deal of information on the Pippin--including technical specifications and photos--can be found at http://www.online-impact.com /144int/pippin/pippin.html. From the web site:
After Realmedia claimed to have fixed the "bugs" in the last version, I have seen a comment that RealPlayer quietly installs the dreaded Comet Cursor with it.
If you follow BUGTRAQ, you've already seen this, but for the benefit of those who don't, the following URL leads to RealNetwork's response to this exact issue: http://www.securityfocus.com/templates/archive. pike?list=1&date=2000-03-08&msg=3.0.5.32.200003091 91004.00832cc0@mail.real.com. For those not interested in following the link, the two essential bits of the RealNetwork response are:
No, I don't work for RealNetworks. Neither does my cat.
My wife is an avid console gamer, so we have several game systems and probably several hundred games. While I'm not familiar with recalls of any of the systems*, she's certainly run into stability problems.
From our experience, game systems seem to do okay unless compact discs are involved. Somehow basing a system around a CD drive leads to overheating problems. On the other hand, it allows for some visually stunning games.
* From what I understand the early U.S. Dreamcasts had some problems, but I don't know too much about that. My wife mainly plays RPGs, and there aren't enough for the Dreamcast yet for her to buy it.
More like, I want them to know I own the CDs, so I can go to work, and access the MP3s...
That's the feature I like. Before seeing this Slashdot story, my only experience with mp3.com was a sample CD they sent me. There wasn't a single MP3 I found listenable on the entire disk, which soured me towards their company, so this new service is a pleasant surprise. Sure, it's prolly all so they can sell marketing information about me, but oh well. At least this way I can have (some of) my CD collection online so I can listen to what I like at work as the mood strikes me. With papers, books, a notebook, lunch, and assorted other extras to carry back and forth to work each day, eliminating the audio CDs suits me just fine.
Of course, as I said, it's only some of my CDs. Thus far I've only "beamed" approximately 1/6th (72 albums) of my collection, and the service has recognised the albums 58% of the time. Is this on par with what others are finding? Since the service is apparently in beta, this doesn't seem too bad right now, but I do hope it improves. I'd like to have access to all my disks from work.
Distressed or threatened by my cats? I want one of these for my cats!
They've become too darn smug of late, and I want to rattle them just a little. A vacuum cleaner that springs to life occasionally to dash about the apartment by itself would be just the thing.
Let's see them find the time to steal my wife's PlayStation memory cards now!
I'm not a gamer and have never played or even installed DOOM, but I would guess it uses svgalib to run full screen. From what I understand, running such programs is a security risk because they need to run setuid root to gain direct access to the video hardware.
A quick search reveals several sites which offer a patch, svga_patch.tar.gz. I have not looked at the patch though, so I can't speak as to what it does.
Perhaps someone else can provide more information on both the original security hole and the patch.
Geos is still available for the desktop as NewDeal. See the NewDeal, Inc. website. Their online store offers NewDeal Release 3, plus an office suite and web browser, for less than a Windows 98 upgrade.
I do find it rather saddening that their web site is served out by IIS. I liked Geos so much more than Windows, but I had to switch due to a lack of applications.
See the distributed.net Projects page. Specifically, scroll down a bit to the "Possible Projects" section.
distributed.net used to host a mailing list for the discussing the possiblity of a distributed chess system; however, all references to the list seem to have disappeared from their web site. Also missing are any archives of the list discussions, which is unfortunate because a great many very smart people involved themselves in some wonderful discussions on that list.*
The web page does provide the email address of one Remy de Ruysscher, who may be contacted regarding work on the creation of a distributed chess module for the v3 Bovine clients. You may be able to obtain more information that way.
* This is not to to imply that I in any way participated in those discussions. My knowledge of both chess and distributed computing are limited enough that silently lurking was my most helpful contribution.
GLUT and Mesa have been ported to Mac OS X Server. See http://www.peanuts.org/p eanuts/MacOSX/developer/framework/.
According to the web site, it uses something called Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA). More information on this technique is available on another web page at colorado.edu.
The GameBoy Light has thus far only been released in Japan, but it does exist. It uses a backlight similar to those found in certain Timex watches. See http://www.nintendo.co. jp/n02/dmg/hardware/light/index.html for more information (in Japanese) and photos (language independant).
Imported units are available in the U.S., you just need to search a bit. For instance, I've seen them listed in National Console Support's product pages.
I've no idea if Nintendo intends to release a U.S. version.
Actually, I don't have a desk chair at home right now, so I'm using an old tower case instead. Works pretty well.
Thanks for the link. That article fits much better with my memory of Wired than the Katz piece.
Wired was fun to pick up and look at occasionally in the same way a Kaleidoscope is, and it was just as lacking in content.
Windows 1.1 was definately available separately from Excel. I ran it on my Laser Turbo XT. Well, I didn't run it often. It didn't recognise my mouse, was a pain to use with just a keyboard, and I didn't have any applications for it, but I did have it installed. I ran Geos most of the time.
I actually owned two copies of Windows 1.1 (both given two me, so I don't know how much it cost), and darn but I wish I hadn't wiped those floppies and used them for other things. I'd love to install it again just as a conversation piece.
Looks like July.
k eyword=nudist+on+the+late+shift
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/results.cgi?
The marketing job is only one of two Linux jobs at Microsoft. Perform a keyword search for "linux" using their job search engine. The second job is in their "Developer Group." The job title is "Software Test Engineer," and the relevant line is:
Qualifications should include: familiarity with a variety of computer hardware configurations, Internet browsers, and operating systems (Microsoft Windows as well as Apple OS, Unix, or Linux); and a minimum of 1 year testing experience.
> Another good question would be if there really _is_ a way
> to determine if someone is a true Geek. And, if there is,
> should we bother using it, or even try to find it.
Exactly. Why should there be a way to determine a geek
from a non-geek? Is there a good way of determining the
members of any group? Hard boundaries are very artificial.
The boundaries of most any set are fuzzy, and they seem to
only get fuzzier as we look harder.
The book "Fuzzy Thinking" by Bart Kosko springs to mind.
In it Kosko goes over the idea of the fuzziness of sets
with many examples. He writes of the fuzzy boundary between
houses and not houses, happily married and not happily
married, happy with one's job and not happy with one's job.
Even the fuzzy boundary between the atoms that make up a
person's body and the atoms that make up the things around
that body. It's not the best book on the subject, but like
I said, it sprang to mind.
Similarly, somewhere out there on the net is a MP3 of
a song that essentially asks: If a hat is something worn
on the head, couldn't most anything be a hat? I remember
the name of neither the song nor the group, but the
message sticks with me.
You, or I, or JonKatz, or anyone else could define the
set of all geeks by any number of criteria, but we'd always
be wrong. We'd miss on some elusive but important point.
Just the same as if we define a hat as something worn on
the head. Somewhere out there, right at this very moment,
there is a lady with a jellyfish on her head. We can change
the definition, but we'll just miss again.
Unfortunately, definitions are such wonderful things. In
college one of the first pieces of information people
exchange when they meet for the first time is their majors.
After college, it's what they do for a living. Ideally, it
shouldn't be. No two computer science majors or elementary
education majors are alike. Nor are any two used car
salespersons or particle physicists, but the question still
gets asked. The answer lets people know what to expect from
one another. The expectations are wrong--at least
partially and possibly wholly--but it gives people somewhere
to start.
The quest to absolutely define "geek" can be viewed as an
attempt to take a part of our very fuzzy natural language
and impose on it a firm, either-or order. Maybe it's not a
surprising goal considering the population of Slashdot. A
majority of Slashdot's readers were raised in the west on
Aristotle's logic and spend much of their time working with,
or even programming, binary machines. Maybe we're just not
used "true and false."
From what I understand, moderators are not allowed to reveal their identities. Since the person to whom you are replying wished to post a message saying "I am a moderator", he or she did so as an Anonymous Coward to keep his or her identity secret. I suppose otherwise he or she would incur the wrath of CmdrTaco.
Arg! Why can't the Borders near me carry shrinkwrapped Slackware? All they ever have is RedHat. The best I can do is Slackware 3.4 in the back of a book. I don't need that on CD--it fits on floppies.
Shrinkwrapped Slackware with my wife's Borders employee discount would be ever so nice.
Of course, I could always go to Barnes & Noble and get the nifty book that comes with an un-named Linux distribution including the "new 1.0.2 kernel."
Amusing link. I think I've seen it before.
Following your example, I do agree that on the roads today there are still a large number of people (users) who haven't had the driving lessons (computer training) they need. But then, personal computers have not been around as long and are not in as widespread use as personal motor vehicals.
I would guess that in most countries more households own a car than own a computer. As I say, it's only a guess, but I'm fairly confident it's correct. Even in those areas (large cities) where many people rely upon public transportation rather than a personal motor vehicals, I'd guess that in a good-sized, random sample more people would know how to operate a car than a computer.
Motor vehicals have been around longer. Most of us probably grew up in a family with a car and got to watch how they were driven on a fairly regular basis. We may not have picked up all the details and probably needed some learning time before we were licensed, but we knew most of it. A smaller percentage of people grow up with a computer in the house. More people grow up to be familiar with cars than computers.
In the early days of motor vehical development, cars required more tinkering, more knowledge, and more work. I believe computers--being a relatively new technology--are still close to that stage. I don't mind, in fact I love it. There's little I enjoy more than tinkering with one of my computers, but I don't mind the people who don't want to tinker. Afterall, I don't want to have to tinker with my car. I know how to drive it, I add gas, oil, and transmission fluid as appropriate, and I'm happy that it gets me to where I want to go. However, I don't know how to rebuild it's engine, and I don't really want to learn. When the engine makes a funny noise, I take it in to the shop. Afterall, why should I be tuning my car when I have better things to do like tuning my computer?
Similarly, why should anyone who just wants to read email and browse the web at home have to know how to build a kernel or perform a complex install for an application? I want to do those things, but they don't. The car manufacturers and mechanics should make things easy for me, and the OS manufacturers/distributers and techs should make things easy for the computer users who want them easy. The car buffs can still tinkering under the hood of their cars, and I can still tinkering under the hood of my PC.
Tinkering should always be an option, never a necessity.
> Last I heard, this thing could also double as a DVD player.
Unfortunately, "could" is the operative word here. It could double as a DVD player, but reports are it won't. Sony is justifiably afraid of canabalizing its DVD player sales, so the Playstation II will not work as a DVD player--at least not right away. Sony is looking into selling an add-on that will allow the unit to play DVDs. That way they can sell the PSII at a low price to capture the gaming market and charge enough for the DVD playing add-on to avoid shooting themselves in the foot.
From what I've read, plans for the add-on aren't firm. Afterall, history shows that most gamers aren't willing to pay for expensive add-ons. However, console games are reaching a much larger audience than they were even just a few years ago, and that audience includes a growing number of adults. Kids with $2.50/week in allowance may not have been able to afford expensive add-ons in the past, but Sony may be able to sell the DVD add-on to adult gamers with real money.
From the Plan 9 FAQ:
/Plan 9 From Outer Space/.
Where did the name come from?
It was chosen in our tradition of selecting names that make marketeers wince. We also wished to pay homage to the famous film,
FAQ URL: http://plan9.bell-labs.com/plan9/faq.html