My only complaint is attachments. Attachments are limited to 10MB, so if you have more than 10MB of photos to send, you have to make separate messages. Why is this? I suspect because they don't actually want people to fill up their 2.6xxGB of space. Secondly, searching won't find attachments. If I have 500 e-mails from someone, and I remember someone sent me something as an attachment, my only recourse is to try to remember the approximate date they sent it and browse through e-mails from that time period... which reminds me of another gripe: the only way to browse messages is to start at the beginning, or the end, and page through. Meanwhile Gooooooooogle Web Search lets you click on an O to get to a certain page of results, which is useful I'm not sure how. Either a scroll box, or a "jump to page/date" combo box would be immensely useful.
If you want to turn your PC into a time-shifting, commercial-skipping, show-recording TV monster that can also handle DVDs, music, and photos, your best option is... Windows Media Center Edition.
Does anyone else think this is pathetic? I mean, MCE is good (on a scale of Good, Great, Excellent), but there's so much room for improvement:
Easily accessible options; CC ON/OFF, for example, requires multiple menu navigation.
The ability to FF AND Chapter Skip (rather than being forced to choose one or the other) a DVD.
CODEC options for recording.
A less crowded interface (the controls cover the video position indicator at the bottom.. WTF? Shift the controls down a tad and add some more buttons).
A REAL FF feature for scanning through por^h^h^hvideo in addition to 30 second skips would be nice.. VLC player has great FF (although marginal rewind) as an example, but no skip ability without using the clumsy slider at the bottom.
There's no PiP/PoP feature (maybe it just doesn't show up because I don't have dual tuners?). On-the-fly AR adjustment for ALL video would be nice, instead of just DVD, although it is nice for DVD.
Arbitrary AR adjustments would be nice so I could watch PAL recordings.
Virtual folders, so I could have the contents of c:\video and d:\video displayed in the same window
Additionally, there are some noticable delays in things like changing the channel (hit the #5, and it sometimes takes a second or two to show up onscreen, and sometimes it simultaneously changes the channel because the delay was so long). Even the folder navigation is slow and unresponsive at times.
Overall there's so much room for improvement in MCE that I can't believe there aren't any 3rd parties making MCE look like the My First Sony of PC PVRs.
I guess I don't really understand how you expect them to verify a schematic. I mean it sounds good in theory, but the reality is that it would be next to impossible for a human to verify the functionality of a schematic with any amount of complexity above a block diagram without a substantial time investment. Further, the burden would then shift to the USPTO to guarantee that the design is functional. Assuming they'd have to list the reasons it wouldn't work, you're essentially shifting half of the design process to the USPTO.
Example: "Reasons for patent 29384728 denial:
1. U35 would output a low on pin 17 when presented with a "Power On" +5V signal to pin 3, failing to trigger power to the display. 2. Q23/Q24 oscillator pair would function at 5Khz outside of the desired frequency, causing timing issues."
There's no easy way to say "Yeah, that would work," without either a) using block diagrams, b) getting down and dirty at the component and sub-component level, or c) evaluating a prototype.
Option C sounds good in theory as well, but then you're limiting patents to people who have the resources to produce a prototype in the first place. But maybe that's the only viable option.
Bob Armstrong, managing director of IT at Delaware North Cos. in Buffalo, N.Y., said he hasn't even evaluated running SQL Server in a virtual environment because of the license fees that would be required. Armstrong noted that with a virtualized quad-processor system, Delaware North would have to pay for four instances of the databases under Microsoft's previous policy, even if it used only two processors for SQL Server. "We were waiting for the change," he said.
They're not talking about virtual processors, they're talking about the number of actual processors used to run the virtual OS.
Detailed Schematic: (Due to lameness filter, I couldn't use ASCII art). Batteries -> Integrated Circuit -> Display
^
Input
Schematics are like source code: easier to design than to interpret. You basically depend on the author's comments, or spend a massive amount of time interpreting it on your own. This is especially true since you can think of ICs as libraries; all you really know is that the author/designer says if you give it input X, you'll get output Y.
How many times do you need to be duped before you learn one of the foundations of American citizenship, which is "a healthy distrust of government"?
Right.. I think sometimes people forget that "The Government" is run by people, and these people are no more trustworthy than any other person whom you've never met. Is some guy on the street going to be worried about my interests? Well, if I reverse the situation, and I'm the "some guy on the street," I can tell you I don't walk around thinking about other people's interests all day. People are self-centered, and that's okay -- it's just how we are. But when we give people power, we need to make sure that they're accountable for their actions and that they're acting in the best interests of the public. To assume that people will automatically act in the best interest of others is naive, to say the least.
for an article that's designed to be inflammatory? It could just be me, but it seems like posting pro MS articles on/. is like a white guy yelling "Up with the man!" in the middle of Harlem. I can almost hear half the/.ers thinking the nerdy equivelant of "Oh no he di'int."
Now if they'd just refrain from installing all the other crap like Easy Internet Setup, 30 WildTangent Spywa^h^h^h^h^hGames, Compaq Control Center, Crippled AntiVirus, and 3 Day Trial MS Office.
On that note, I'll go ahead and start forgiving people who sin. Big or small, white lie or capital offense, just call me at 1-900-4GIVE-ME. If you call in the next 30 minutes, you'll lock in our special rate of $4.95 for the first sin, and only $2.99 each additional sin. Why feel guilty when you can get it all off your chest? That's 1-900-4GIVE-ME.
Offer not valid in CA, ME, or where prohibited by law. This is not an offer of redemption or salvation, but merely personal forgiveness on the part of the operator(s) who take(s) your call. Best before 2/16/2008.
Being religious does not make you more or less likely to be happy.
The article (and my experiences) would suggest otherwise.
Craig believes that the dark, forbidding nature of Calvinist religion is responsible for the dour Scottish psyche. "We're a culture that encourages feelings of lack of self-worth. We're a culture that goes out of its way to make sure people don't feel good about themselves," says Craig.
In their brief review of the service a Neowin user also offers a word of caution with regards to their extremely short terms of service and privacy policy, calling them "shady".
So let me get this straight.. you're saying I shouldn't entrust an unknown startup to store all my important files and personal information? I personally went to the website, and after I gave my credit card informatin to the talking moose in a popup, it seemed perfectly fine to me. I went ahead and cut-and-paste My Documents to MyFiles on the website, and now I have all this free hard drive space to download Elf Bowling! Oooo, this other popup wants to install MyWebSearch.exe any time I put my mouse over it. How many times do I have to click OK before it goes away?!?!
The contrast ratio of staring directly at the sun: the dimmest light we can see is about 1e13:1, so this display has a long way to go to duplicate contrasts visible IRL.
I really don't think you're going to see warnings not to stare directly at a TV screen anytime soon.
"Remember kids, just take pictures of the TV and look at those, or you'll burn out your retinas!!"
Gradual braking only really helps fuel economy when you can successfully avoid coming to a stop, such as when there's a red light ahead on a timer with no cars waiting, and slowing down gives it enough time to turn green. Unless you're accelerating up until the point you slam on the brakes, it won't make a meaningful difference.
(Although hard braking will of course go through pads and rotors faster, and anyone who brakes so hard as to leave little or no margin of error is driving recklessly anyway).
Slashdot Mirror
My only complaint is attachments. Attachments are limited to 10MB, so if you have more than 10MB of photos to send, you have to make separate messages. Why is this? I suspect because they don't actually want people to fill up their 2.6xxGB of space. Secondly, searching won't find attachments. If I have 500 e-mails from someone, and I remember someone sent me something as an attachment, my only recourse is to try to remember the approximate date they sent it and browse through e-mails from that time period... which reminds me of another gripe: the only way to browse messages is to start at the beginning, or the end, and page through. Meanwhile Gooooooooogle Web Search lets you click on an O to get to a certain page of results, which is useful I'm not sure how. Either a scroll box, or a "jump to page/date" combo box would be immensely useful.
Ok, who gave mod points to the Hobbits?
Should try v!agra.
Don't tell anyone, but 20 years ago, I was hobbit-sized. I know, you wouldn't think it by looking at me, but it's true.
Does anyone else think this is pathetic? I mean, MCE is good (on a scale of Good, Great, Excellent), but there's so much room for improvement:
Additionally, there are some noticable delays in things like changing the channel (hit the #5, and it sometimes takes a second or two to show up onscreen, and sometimes it simultaneously changes the channel because the delay was so long). Even the folder navigation is slow and unresponsive at times.
Overall there's so much room for improvement in MCE that I can't believe there aren't any 3rd parties making MCE look like the My First Sony of PC PVRs.
...or cover some part of the house while you're painting :) Try that with Flash ads.
Actually, the Flash ads worked fine, but removing the paint from my laptop afterwards was a bitch.
Some people will laugh with you, but the rest of us are laughing at you while we get bargain prices on quarks and bessel functions.
I guess I don't really understand how you expect them to verify a schematic. I mean it sounds good in theory, but the reality is that it would be next to impossible for a human to verify the functionality of a schematic with any amount of complexity above a block diagram without a substantial time investment. Further, the burden would then shift to the USPTO to guarantee that the design is functional. Assuming they'd have to list the reasons it wouldn't work, you're essentially shifting half of the design process to the USPTO.
Example:
"Reasons for patent 29384728 denial:
1. U35 would output a low on pin 17 when presented with a "Power On" +5V signal to pin 3, failing to trigger power to the display.
2. Q23/Q24 oscillator pair would function at 5Khz outside of the desired frequency, causing timing issues."
There's no easy way to say "Yeah, that would work," without either a) using block diagrams, b) getting down and dirty at the component and sub-component level, or c) evaluating a prototype.
Option C sounds good in theory as well, but then you're limiting patents to people who have the resources to produce a prototype in the first place. But maybe that's the only viable option.
Except you're thinking of it bass ackwards..
Bob Armstrong, managing director of IT at Delaware North Cos. in Buffalo, N.Y., said he hasn't even evaluated running SQL Server in a virtual environment because of the license fees that would be required. Armstrong noted that with a virtualized quad-processor system, Delaware North would have to pay for four instances of the databases under Microsoft's previous policy, even if it used only two processors for SQL Server. "We were waiting for the change," he said.
They're not talking about virtual processors, they're talking about the number of actual processors used to run the virtual OS.
Detailed Schematic: (Due to lameness filter, I couldn't use ASCII art).
Batteries -> Integrated Circuit -> Display
^
Input
Schematics are like source code: easier to design than to interpret. You basically depend on the author's comments, or spend a massive amount of time interpreting it on your own. This is especially true since you can think of ICs as libraries; all you really know is that the author/designer says if you give it input X, you'll get output Y.
Right, and playing Yahoo Poker will make you a World Series of Poker champion.
Oh, wait..
You tell me, it's your absurd claim.
How many times do you need to be duped before you learn one of the foundations of American citizenship, which is "a healthy distrust of government"?
Right.. I think sometimes people forget that "The Government" is run by people, and these people are no more trustworthy than any other person whom you've never met. Is some guy on the street going to be worried about my interests? Well, if I reverse the situation, and I'm the "some guy on the street," I can tell you I don't walk around thinking about other people's interests all day. People are self-centered, and that's okay -- it's just how we are. But when we give people power, we need to make sure that they're accountable for their actions and that they're acting in the best interests of the public. To assume that people will automatically act in the best interest of others is naive, to say the least.
for an article that's designed to be inflammatory? It could just be me, but it seems like posting pro MS articles on /. is like a white guy yelling "Up with the man!" in the middle of Harlem. I can almost hear half the /.ers thinking the nerdy equivelant of "Oh no he di'int."
Very few professional athletes make enough money to live off.
2 -2003-nba-salaries-numbers.htm
No kidding...
Years in NBA - 0
Minimum salary - $349,458
Maximum salary - $10,067,750
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/200
It's amazing they can even afford Cristal on that sort of pittance.
Heck, my mailbox is over 1/4 mile away from my house and I have no problem walking out to it.
Yeah, but is it uphill both ways?
Now if they'd just refrain from installing all the other crap like Easy Internet Setup, 30 WildTangent Spywa^h^h^h^h^hGames, Compaq Control Center, Crippled AntiVirus, and 3 Day Trial MS Office.
"Money may not buy happiness, but try being happy without it," is how I've always heard it phrased.
On that note, I'll go ahead and start forgiving people who sin. Big or small, white lie or capital offense, just call me at 1-900-4GIVE-ME. If you call in the next 30 minutes, you'll lock in our special rate of $4.95 for the first sin, and only $2.99 each additional sin. Why feel guilty when you can get it all off your chest? That's 1-900-4GIVE-ME.
Offer not valid in CA, ME, or where prohibited by law. This is not an offer of redemption or salvation, but merely personal forgiveness on the part of the operator(s) who take(s) your call. Best before 2/16/2008.
The article (and my experiences) would suggest otherwise.
What if the moon had a cavity, or sponge structure, (or sponge-structured cavity) when it formed, and then one or more impacts caused it to collapse?
In their brief review of the service a Neowin user also offers a word of caution with regards to their extremely short terms of service and privacy policy, calling them "shady".
So let me get this straight.. you're saying I shouldn't entrust an unknown startup to store all my important files and personal information? I personally went to the website, and after I gave my credit card informatin to the talking moose in a popup, it seemed perfectly fine to me. I went ahead and cut-and-paste My Documents to MyFiles on the website, and now I have all this free hard drive space to download Elf Bowling! Oooo, this other popup wants to install MyWebSearch.exe any time I put my mouse over it. How many times do I have to click OK before it goes away?!?!
Just be happy the pixels aren't this size.
The contrast ratio of staring directly at the sun: the dimmest light we can see is about 1e13:1, so this display has a long way to go to duplicate contrasts visible IRL.
I really don't think you're going to see warnings not to stare directly at a TV screen anytime soon.
"Remember kids, just take pictures of the TV and look at those, or you'll burn out your retinas!!"
Gradual braking only really helps fuel economy when you can successfully avoid coming to a stop, such as when there's a red light ahead on a timer with no cars waiting, and slowing down gives it enough time to turn green. Unless you're accelerating up until the point you slam on the brakes, it won't make a meaningful difference.
(Although hard braking will of course go through pads and rotors faster, and anyone who brakes so hard as to leave little or no margin of error is driving recklessly anyway).