IBM can't create a Power processor that works well in Laptops. The Pentium M is currently the uncontested king of mobile processing due to heat/power efficiency.
I would imagine an operation as large as DirecTV is probably not going to be re-encoding an MPEG2 signal, but using a more raw format for HD and compressing it from the 'master' copy just as they do when they convert to mpeg2 now..
I had been using/following the Sveasoft firmware for some time.
Here are a few fun facts:
1. In a post on the sveasoft forum (a post long since deleted) Svea himself said that he had set up a paypal donation site. He claimed that this was opt in, and that he would NEVER charge for the firmware releases, but appreciated any donation. He has since done a complete 180, and decided that he owns this source. The removal of anyone who donated originally from the source distribution list seems to imply a breach of contract as svea obtained this money under false pretenses.
2. Svea is simply using the cross-compile environment to add functionality to the WRT. This firmware has almost no original software. Anyone with a working knowledge of linux could compile software for the WRT (as I have) and add any functionality they would like. He simply adds a few web pages that allow it to be configured without linux knowledge. To a non-techie this appears to be magic.... In reality he is profiting from much more GPL code.
3. Svea has always deleted any posts that questioned his GPL compliance. Back in April I voiced my concerns, and was silenced without so much as a single legitimate response to any of my concerns.
4. There are better firmwares. My personal favorite is Openwrt which supports the same level of functionality, AND has a writable filesystem.
GPL compliance or not, this project can be easily thwarted by lack of demand. If people stop wasting their money on it, the user base dries up, and Svea opens his project, or disappears.
IBM makes it extremely easy to order replacement parts directly from their Depot. If you wanted to build a thinkpad from scratch you could (albeit without a warranty). IBM also does cross shipping of replacement parts to end users. If you call the service dept, and sound as though you have a clue, they will cross ship many parts during your warranty period.
IBM also publishes their service manuals, which is of great help. I had a minor creak in my Thinkpad, so I downloaded a service manual, took it apart, and tightened the creaky part into place.
I don't mean to sound like an IBM evangelist, but they really do rule!
Here is another informative site on using Ephpod with Linux/wine. Ephpod is arguably one of the best iPod on windows apps, and has so far proven very stable under stock wine.
"Twin engines All systems have dual PowerPC G4 processors -- up to 1.25GHz -- and L3 cache for the ultimate in performance and productivity delivering up to 18.3 gigaflops of power."
That is quite nifty, but I want a desktop machine with 128 meg of ram, a recent G4 processor, and a monitor that is not built in.
My point is, that at a much lower cost I can customize a pc to my liking, and run more OSes to boot. (pun intended)
I do not expect it to be free, I did say I understand their business model.
But
When was the last time Microsoft charged you for a service pack? Apple has basically done this with X.2. I have a few coworkers that use Macs exclusively, and they are a bit upset with X.2, as it was touted as basically 'OS 11 without the name change' when it turned out to be a large service pack with Apple's own incarnation of Outlook Express.
Apple has not developed any new technology and given it back to the community from which they borrow so heavily. Name a single new open source project started by Apple since OSX was released.
Darwin does not count, as Mach and BSD both existed prior to OSX.
Apple is not competitive on portables or desktops, and yes, I did read the article. Their pricing for an entry level notebook is about half again the cost of an entry level PC notebook. The cost of a G4 (with equal specs) compared to a PC is borderline outrageous.
Unfortunately Apple also sticks with the 'one size fits all' mentality, which means special ordering all but the highest models of their systems is not possible.
It is understandable that they have to be a bit higher priced to support development costs, as their market is smaller, however the fact that I can buy a very capable product, often for half the cost of its mac counterpart is always the first problem I run across when considering the switch.
OSX is not free.
As much as Apple likes to tout their new position as open source loving folk, the fact remains that they will be charging for this OS. While I do not disagree with this business model, it feels as though Apple has taken a lot more than they have given back.
OSX is amusing.
Unfortunately, I think that after a few months with it I would long for a nice X server with WindowMaker. (more NeXT than OSX anyway;) While it is true that I could run Linux on my shiny new powerbook, I can also continue to do so on my shiny Thinkpad, which is just as solidly built.
Slashdot Mirror
Try this google cache link .. full article ..
w ww.flexbeta.net/main/printarticle.php%3Fid%3D106+& hl=en&lr=lang_en
http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:1CvlEjwElaUJ:
IBM can't create a Power processor that works well in Laptops. The Pentium M is currently the uncontested king of mobile processing due to heat/power efficiency.
Just something to consider...
I would imagine an operation as large as DirecTV is probably not going to be re-encoding an MPEG2 signal, but using a more raw format for HD and compressing it from the 'master' copy just as they do when they convert to mpeg2 now ..
If you release complete documentation of said hardware ...
I had been using/following the Sveasoft firmware for some time.
Here are a few fun facts:
1. In a post on the sveasoft forum (a post long since deleted) Svea himself said that he had set up a paypal donation site. He claimed that this was opt in, and that he would NEVER charge for the firmware releases, but appreciated any donation. He has since done a complete 180, and decided that he owns this source. The removal of anyone who donated originally from the source distribution list seems to imply a breach of contract as svea obtained this money under false pretenses.
2. Svea is simply using the cross-compile environment to add functionality to the WRT. This firmware has almost no original software. Anyone with a working knowledge of linux could compile software for the WRT (as I have) and add any functionality they would like. He simply adds a few web pages that allow it to be configured without linux knowledge. To a non-techie this appears to be magic.... In reality he is profiting from much more GPL code.
3. Svea has always deleted any posts that questioned his GPL compliance. Back in April I voiced my concerns, and was silenced without so much as a single legitimate response to any of my concerns.
4. There are better firmwares. My personal favorite is Openwrt which supports the same level of functionality, AND has a writable filesystem.
GPL compliance or not, this project can be easily thwarted by lack of demand. If people stop wasting their money on it, the user base dries up, and Svea opens his project, or disappears.
IBM makes it extremely easy to order replacement parts directly from their Depot. If you wanted to build a thinkpad from scratch you could (albeit without a warranty). IBM also does cross shipping of replacement parts to end users. If you call the service dept, and sound as though you have a clue, they will cross ship many parts during your warranty period.
IBM also publishes their service manuals, which is of great help. I had a minor creak in my Thinkpad, so I downloaded a service manual, took it apart, and tightened the creaky part into place.
I don't mean to sound like an IBM evangelist, but they really do rule!
Windows XP's Service Pack 1 has introduced a flaw into the operating system.
Drat, just when we all thought windows had achieved perfection. Back to the Visio board...
While java encapsulates many features not found in standard C/C++ it is still bloated and slow.
We will remain committed to selling large Sun Enterprise servers to power these applications, however we should be more practical internally.
Here is another informative site on using Ephpod with Linux/wine. Ephpod is arguably one of the best iPod on windows apps, and has so far proven very stable under stock wine.
Faster quartz, nifty -- speed improvement
Zoom, nifty -- existed in 3rd party, easy to do
Mail.app -- Junk filter is not terribly effective
Calculator -- OS with a calculator? that's worth $100 of the price alone.
Address book -- (see previous).
Rendezvous -- nifty, if anyone ever adopts it
Speed -- nifty -- another speed improvement to the somewhat slow OSX interface
Windows compatibility -- nifty, a front end to mounting smb shares.
Personal Firewall -- nifty, not terrubly effective though
Handwriting recognition -- for when the urge to run OSX on your Palm
Bluetooth -- the standard that thought it could
Section 508 -- probable needed this to keep the lucrative educational market.
What are some new components/programs/features they have added, I am genuinely curious.
Quoted from the page you sent:
"Twin engines
All systems have dual PowerPC G4 processors -- up to 1.25GHz -- and L3 cache for the ultimate in performance and productivity delivering up to 18.3 gigaflops of power."
That is quite nifty, but I want a desktop machine with 128 meg of ram, a recent G4 processor, and a monitor that is not built in.
My point is, that at a much lower cost I can customize a pc to my liking, and run more OSes to boot. (pun intended)
Find me a single processor G4 and I'll click order.
I do not expect it to be free, I did say I understand their business model.
But
When was the last time Microsoft charged you for a service pack? Apple has basically done this with X.2. I have a few coworkers that use Macs exclusively, and they are a bit upset with X.2, as it was touted as basically 'OS 11 without the name change' when it turned out to be a large service pack with Apple's own incarnation of Outlook Express.
Apple has not developed any new technology and given it back to the community from which they borrow so heavily. Name a single new open source project started by Apple since OSX was released.
Darwin does not count, as Mach and BSD both existed prior to OSX.
Apple is not competitive on portables or desktops, and yes, I did read the article. Their pricing for an entry level notebook is about half again the cost of an entry level PC notebook. The cost of a G4 (with equal specs) compared to a PC is borderline outrageous.
Unfortunately Apple also sticks with the 'one size fits all' mentality, which means special ordering all but the highest models of their systems is not possible.
Apple's hardware is expensive.
;) While it is true that I could run Linux on my shiny new powerbook, I can also continue to do so on my shiny Thinkpad, which is just as solidly built.
It is understandable that they have to be a bit higher priced to support development costs, as their market is smaller, however the fact that I can buy a very capable product, often for half the cost of its mac counterpart is always the first problem I run across when considering the switch.
OSX is not free.
As much as Apple likes to tout their new position as open source loving folk, the fact remains that they will be charging for this OS. While I do not disagree with this business model, it feels as though Apple has taken a lot more than they have given back.
OSX is amusing.
Unfortunately, I think that after a few months with it I would long for a nice X server with WindowMaker. (more NeXT than OSX anyway
Steve Jobs scares me.
He does.
never dribbles
You take over an abandoned military fortress and declare a soverign state.
......
You gain pseudo-recognition from the British govt.
You accept a business proposal to host *questionable* websites in your country.
You refuse access to your country, and as such your customers never visit their servers.
You host them in another location and use this hunk of junk in the middle of the Sea as a front.
Not a bad idea