...and inherit 40 megs of shit required to run "Hello World"? This is the same reason I've avoided Java (besides the UI issues with Swing/etc.). Granted VB6 had the 1.6 megs of support DLLs required to run it (UPX-able down to 700k), but at least they were non-COM DLLs and therefore did not require an "install". All I want is a language that will compile down to an EXE with no (or VERY few) external dependences that you don't have to worry about installation/memory management/string manip./etc. I want to be able to compile my EXE and double click on it and have it run... <LoadedQuestion>is that too much to ask?</LoadedQuestion>
Granted I'm not familiar with Mono's footprint, but I've been very unimpressed with Microsoft's.NET implementation, so I'm not sure how Mono could improve upon it (namely with the large footprint and the inability to truly compile a native EXE). Not to mention their patients on core.NET technologies that could be leveraged at any time to kill off projects like Mono.
(Pausing for the boos and hisses...)...that is very interested in Linux on the desktop and beyond, this kind of development tool would be excellent! I looked a number of months ago when I realized that there were other *Basic providers but was unable to find anything that would compile to Linux (or even translate VB into a "real" language for later compilation).
Even though I despise VB (I program ASP/VB for work and PHP for my own stuff, wishing I knew another app-dev language replace VB), it's what I know best and what pays the bills, so ANYTHING that will allow me to use those skills on *nix is a welcome one!!
The more I read these stories about the abuse of the American (and now international) patent system(s), the more I believe things like HavenCo and Sealand have a good idea behind them. Until it gets really bad, I suppose you could simply move your site hosting from country to country, but for the love of god when will this end? As a little guy software developer with a site (shameless plug - NanoWeb, but it needs an update) I am beginning to fear that my after hours source of a little play money could get me into legal trouble for using techniques and technologies that have been used collectively on the net for years! We thought the "Microsoft Tax" was bad, how about making up for the 1.5% patent taxes?
I picked up a little USB 1.1 Laptop HDD case off of eBay some time back so that I could use an old Laptop drive as an external MP3 repository. As long as the case is plugged into a USB slot that has a full 5v of power it requires no external power supply. Of course since this one is USB 1.1 it's pretty damned slow, but there are USB 2.0 cases like this now a days.
Of course, you'd need to add USB capabilities to your sensor(s) and you wouldn't really FTP to the drive (I don't believe), but this would be a fairly cheap and modular way to solve your problem.
But, if you do roll your own HDD that can be dropped into any network with just a Cat5 connection, let us know!;)
Any proprietary code/internal documents/emails/etc he wanted are already safely in his possession. Why bother breaking in later when he has full access now? The only real reason would be to disrupt your business, but being as that is *highly illegal* (i.e.- goodbye BMW, hello federal prison) I would doubt that as a possibility. Anything he wanted or anything he thought he just might possibly need in the future has already been copied. This was probably the first thing he did once he knew there was a possibility that he would be leaving. Having him stay throughout his 2 weeks is a good and bad idea... Good in the fact that you can pick his brain and help in the transition, but bad in the fact that if there was anything he forgot to copy before, he can get at it now.
It's one of very few movies that do the same for me, but what tugs at my heart strings the most is the final thoughts, especially about the $100... Just sad that they shared so much and yet wanted nothing to do with each other afterwards because of those shared experiences I guess.
One other thought... am I the only one who feels as though they're watching it for the first time every time I see it? Or am I broken?
...so many good movies listed (but Space Truckers? Poor, poor, sick bastard;). A Midnight Clear is not exactly Brazil, Hudson Hawk or Buckaroo Bonzai... but those of you who like FILMS should see this one! It's on par with Shawshank IMHO!
Oh... and far from under appriciated (per its sceen showing at the Oscars) is A Fish Called Wanda!
Thanks for all of your input! I really appricate it! I have done some research previous to the posting. In a perfect world I would have included this info in the first post (stupid non-perfect world).
The best bet I've seen pricing and server host-ability wise (I've got a FTP/DNS/Web/etc server to throw on the line) is FunnelWeb. Anyone have any experience with them? I kinda fancy their 512/128 @ $67 AUD/month (although with that damned 500meg download limit), but it does include a static IP.
So... Canberra, least 128 downstream, least 500meg download/month, static IP? Anyone? I'll be checking out these providers in the next day or 2. Thanks again for all the help!
I too am an American going to live abroad, but in Canberra, Australia. How much for DSL? Who should I get it thru? And whgat the hell is the deal with metered accounts there?!? Everyplace I've been able to find thus far allows 500megs a month for a reasonable rate, then gouges you to high hell for anything over that!? What gives! Oh yea, and thanks!
This is mostly a rehash for my very first/. posting (attached to Building a DIY Home Office, which was the real last time this question was asked like a year or so ago), but it right in line with the topic...
I designed my own computer desk and after using it for nearly a year now, I must say that I really like it a lot! I decided to build my own after realizing a few things...
After much searching around town I came to the realization that I wanted the look and functionality of a cheap desk but made out of hardwood like the expensive, god awful ugly unfunctional executive style desks. So from this I realized that I would have to make my own. Luckily, my grandfather is very skilled at woodworking and has made pieces of furniture before. So after talking it over with him I began making plans for a computer desk with enough room for:
3 Desktops
3 Towers
3 Printers (a DeskJet, LaserJet, and Scanner/Printer/Copier dealie)
1 17" Monitor
1 21" Monitor
10 Feet of Bookshelf Space
2 Telephones
1 Stereo Receiver w/ Speakers
Enough room for a friend to setup his laptop for network gaming
I did the plans in MS Word 2000 (yea, try to keep the laughing to a minimum) in 1/12th scale (i.e. 1 inch = 1 foot). The plans show only the left side and the printer/server island. The second desk is a mirror of the left side. The plans are available here in PDF and Word 2000 versions. These plans are a little different from desk we eventually made, but the desktop area remained unchanged.
If you are truly interested in this design, I can take some photos of the finished product and provide modified plans for the version we built, along with a parts list (not to mention the "what not to do's" you only know after building one =). If you are so interested, just write a replay to this posting and I'll see what I can do. The approx cost of my desk for both sides and the server island was about $550-600 I believe (which included nearly $100 for some really nice drawer rails/slides/thingys).
Anyway this is the DIY home office solution I've came up with so I hope it either gives someone else ideas or the guts to do it themselves!
... wouldn't "solutions" like this hinder mozilla-esque support adoption amongst major sites? I mean ads are how most web sites pay for the content that we otherwise get for free. Except for the annoying as hell pop-over/iframe and Flash ads, I can't say I mind banners at all. If a lot of users implement this kind of thing (which is virtually undecidable from the web server's POV thanks to it being client-side CSS), what would stop the marketing drones from saying "if Mozilla won't show the ads, lets not allow access from Mozilla browsers"? Or worse implement the click-thru style of advertising that some site have already begun using!?
Do note that I am implementing this CSS on Phoenix as we speak;) But still, I'm happy with the current paradigm of banner ads, is it a good idea to futz with that paradigm for fear of something even more annoying?
How about using both of these ideas together? Have it to where even the correct username/password is not accepted unless the user clicks on the right section of the screen, or right sequence of sections of the screen in place of simply clicking "Ok"!? So in essence the "Ok" button would be a dummy and the correct "button" would be another portion of the screen entirely?
...have it under a password protected directory or only available to an Intranet. Then the users can still use it as they wish/need and the ass end of the company is at least mostly covered =)
Check out PHPbb, it allows for multiple admins and groups, not sure if it's exactly what you need, but if not I'm sure with a few extra lines of PHP you could get it to do what you need! Good luck!
DMP (Digital Media Player) - Like we need another acronym!
I was looking at my stack of stereo equipment this last week. My stack includes an A/V receiver, 5 disk CD changer, DVD player, 2 VCRs, cable box, MiniDisk Recorder, DAT Recorder, Tape Deck and a Turntable (not to mention the input for the computer). I remember having to shop around for some time in order to find an A/V receiver that had the number of connections that my system required. My epiphany came when I thought about what I would buy if I were shopping for the same system today.
I rarely use my MD or DAT deck anymore. They are more a throwback to a time when the only way to get a decent digital recording at home was to purchase a $500+ deck such as these. Most everything I listen to now is either off a CD-R that I recorded on my computer or MP3s streaming for it. I have thought for some time about getting a Tivo-like device what would essentially serve to do to my video what the computer has done for my audio. But I found that the off-the-shelf variants do not have the features I would want (namely DVD recording, network connectivity and MP3 playback). So when thinking of my A/V rack and what I would do differently today I came to this realization...
Almost all media is digital anymore, and most is prepackaged on a CD or DVD. So with this fact in mind, you would need only one A/V component to accomplish 90% of day-to-day A/V functionality. Many DVD decks are about 20 there now with DVD, Audio CD, PhotoCD, and MP3 playback. But what about the up-start OGG audio format? Or the DivX / MPEG 4 format? A closed system is unlikely to support new formats as they are released. Plus I have yet to see an A/V component DVD Recorder with Tivo-like functionality (though they are coming). The only digital entertainment form that we've not yet covered that now comes on CD / DVD is video games.
What I'm suggesting is a Digital Media Player that all you do is feed it a disk and it plays it, be it an MP3 collection, Audio CD, Blockbuster DVD or the latest PS2 release. Now I do not have delusions of grandeur, I know that the PS2 and XBox games of today will not run on current commodity PC hardware and I know that there would have to be SOME user intervention, but this is what I want! Besides, we can have the next best thing - the games of yesterday (Sega, Nintendo, Atari, etc.) thanks to projects like MAME.
So this is the type of functionality I have in mind. Add a 5-disk Carrousel and an A/V Component sized case to the features below and I'd have my ultimate convergence device.
Features Wishlist: * Data Sources
Inserted Disk Media (CD, CD-R, DVD, DVD±R, etc.)
Support for multiple CD / DVD Drives
Internal Hard Disk(s)
Mapped Network Share (10/100 or Wireless Connectivity)
Analog Audio/Video Input (Attached Cable, VCR, etc.)
Digital Audio/Video Input (FireWire Digital Camcorder, etc.)
Internet * Digital Video Playback
DVD (High Priority)
DivX / MPEG 4 (High Priority)
VCD
SVCD
Quicktime
Windows Media Player... * Digital Video Recording
Recording Qualities
MPEG 2 (DVD Quality)
DivX / MPEG 4
Other varying lower qualities (like EP on a VCR)
Recording Destination
Onto Inserted CD-R / DVD±R
Onto Internal Hard Disk(s)
Onto remaining free space (Hard Disk(s) or Inserted CD-R / DVD±R) * Digital Audio Playback
Formats
Audio CD
MP3
OGG...
Internet Radio Streams
AM / FM Radio Tuning (Optional) * Digital Audio Recording
Recording Sources
Inserted Audio CD
Internet Radio Streams
AM / FM Radio
Recording Qualities
Audio CD Quality (Lossless)
MP3 (user defined bitrates/etc.)
OGG (user defined bitrates/etc.)... * Digital Image Display/Slideshow
Assorted Thumbnail and Individual Image Views
PhotoCD (Lower Priority) * WebTV-esque Internet Via LAN Connectivity
Web Browser
Let users do their email on HotMail.com / etc! * User Interface
Onscreen (TV) Interface (Tivo / ReplayTV-esque)
Web enabled interface
Ability to do most/all functions available thru the standard interface via a web browser. Note webserver / website would need password protection. * IR Remote Compatibility * MAME Classic Video Game Emulation
So what have I missed? Is there anything you would add to this list of features? One could argue more PC-like functionality, like word processing and whatnot. But this is to be an A/V component after all. The web interface is more for access to streaming media then actual surfing. But what would add to this list? What could you live without?
Sure, there are a few projects out there that are trying to do this kind of thing. And there are a lot of people who would be interested in this sort of solution, but with responses like:
what you are trying to say is "i want a free PVR-like thingie, can someone make one?"
...these projects will have a difficult time getting off the ground. I don't remember where I read it now, but someone once said...
The biggest problem with Linux is its supporters.
As the stereotype (which has been beautifully microcosmed in this discussion, BTW) is that they are a bunch of socially in adept zealots who have delusions of grandeur. The parent comment put this quite well in a language they would understand (though I'm sure it could have been conveyed in one line of Perl, yes).
So my question is (like) that of the original poster... when will someone with computer knowledge (that is not necessarily a *nix guru, though not a moron either) be able to follow some instructions on a site (buy this encoder board, install that DVD recorder) and setup a Digital Media Player that will cover the popular requests like MAME, DVD Video, MP3 (and OGG, and...), Slideshow (Image Display), etc?
Leave the laptop at home, or at least in the hotel. But can I see that the laptop would give you some niceties: storage of digital photos (assuming you have a digital camera on the trip), email for family members so they know you've not been taken by FARC (or any other regional militants), a journal, and of course porn =)
One good way for you to power your laptop would be with a Auto AC Inverter. Course this requires a car with a cigarette lighter, but they are cheap ($20 at Frys), small (mine's a tank at 2"x5"x1") and light (less then a pound).
So in summary... don't take the laptop on the trail and get a Auto AC Inverter (and good luck avoiding FARC =).
...would SlashDot's own codebase work for this? All you would need to do is restrict who is allowed to sign up for an account and tweak the moderator point system, but other then that, wouldn't a SlashDot-esque site do you just fine? Funny revelation, considering this was asked on SlashDot!?!
Two Specific Points To Be Made...
on
More on Longhorn
·
· Score: 3, Interesting
One: "This could bring a higher level of security than anything we've ever seen. It will almost completely prevent the platform from being compromised." [Giga analyst Rob Enderle]
Did anyone else think of the 'unsinkable' Titanic when they read this? Being from the analyst or not, the arrogance in this statement alone about the command of our current technology is as scary as the statements made for the Titanic!
Two: "Microsoft doesn't think computer users should have to use one program to read and write a word-processing file, another to use a spreadsheet, and a third to correspond via e-mail. Rather, the company thinks, a single program should handle it all."
We have this already... it's called a WEB BROWSER! From what I can determine from this statement, they are seeking to make a common shell that has 'plugins' to run different files. Just like there's a flash plugin, a Quicktime plugin, etc in browsers today. Couple this with XML and basically all they would need to do is make a base parser application that accepted a specific XSLT to deal with a specific file-type. If it does boil down to a paradigm such as this, 'software as a service' via the net would be cheap and easy bandwidth wise (all they'd have to do is download/manage an XSLT or the property MS version of one). They already have this paradigm in Office (think of an embedded spreadsheet in a word doc), so I suppose that it's nature to make this the next logical step.
Both of these statements involve putting all a user's eggs in one basket. If everything was a plugin into a master parser app, imagine having that app with a vulnerability, crashing, etc! To a certain extent I say let Microsoft do this, let Microsoft auto-download and install the latest updates, let Microsoft manage Office over the net. Why? Because the first time they have a failure (like all the problems with Hotmail/Passport a year or so back) and it brings EVERYONE down with them, they'll be in a world of hurt from their own loyal customers. The first time a hot-patch corrupts the functionality of an in house app in a Fortune 500/1000, the first time a single virus takes down all MS apps (Office, Exchange...), the first time this happens and keeps even a few big companies from using their Microsoft systems for even a few hours they're sunk. How could they not be responsible legally? And even if they weren't, imagine having to fight 1000s of 'frivolous' lawsuits in 100s of jurisdictions in 10s of countries!
Just like the LotR relation mentioned above... with one ring, everyone has one foe. And when everyone has one foe, it's easier to band together and fight said foe no matter what their strength is. So in short, go ahead Microsoft... let them take just enough rope to hang themselves!
Anyway, I use removable HDDs for my network backup. I've got a little utility (Idem, shitty but it does what it needs to do) that is configured to make backups of the essential folders on my Win2k box:
Desktop (My Current Working Files)
My Documents (My Files)
Favorites (My Net Links)
SendTo (Cause I Have This Nicely Configured)
Start Menu (So I Know What I HAD Installed)
C:\~temp (My Personal Temp Dir)
This plus a little diligence in keeping all of my important files within this subset (including making local backups of program configuration files under 'My Docs') makes for a great backup strategy for me.
Then every Friday I switch the current backup rHDD with the one offsite. This way I have a current backup and a 'week ago' copy. So if I need an older version (though not more then a week older) or if my house is lost I've got my data that is no more then a week old.
I figure if both my home and the offsite location go down in flames (or what have you), I've got bigger problems to worry about.
...a friendly local computer dealer. One of the white-box shops (ie- they build their own). We have one where I'm at that has drivers for all of the stuff he's sold over the years simply for his own support. So if an old customer comes in and needs their system reformatted, he can re-install the components he sold them over the years.
Especially since you're a 'good cause' it shouldn't be too hard to talk one of the local shops into it! Offer a 'special thank to' on your site or fliers... you may even get more then drivers out of them =)
Slashdot Mirror
...and inherit 40 megs of shit required to run "Hello World"? This is the same reason I've avoided Java (besides the UI issues with Swing/etc.). Granted VB6 had the 1.6 megs of support DLLs required to run it (UPX-able down to 700k), but at least they were non-COM DLLs and therefore did not require an "install". All I want is a language that will compile down to an EXE with no (or VERY few) external dependences that you don't have to worry about installation/memory management/string manip./etc. I want to be able to compile my EXE and double click on it and have it run... <LoadedQuestion>is that too much to ask?</LoadedQuestion>
Granted I'm not familiar with Mono's footprint, but I've been very unimpressed with Microsoft's .NET implementation, so I'm not sure how Mono could improve upon it (namely with the large footprint and the inability to truly compile a native EXE). Not to mention their patients on core .NET technologies that could be leveraged at any time to kill off projects like Mono.
Even though I despise VB (I program ASP/VB for work and PHP for my own stuff, wishing I knew another app-dev language replace VB), it's what I know best and what pays the bills, so ANYTHING that will allow me to use those skills on *nix is a welcome one!!
The more I read these stories about the abuse of the American (and now international) patent system(s), the more I believe things like HavenCo and Sealand have a good idea behind them. Until it gets really bad, I suppose you could simply move your site hosting from country to country, but for the love of god when will this end? As a little guy software developer with a site (shameless plug - NanoWeb, but it needs an update) I am beginning to fear that my after hours source of a little play money could get me into legal trouble for using techniques and technologies that have been used collectively on the net for years! We thought the "Microsoft Tax" was bad, how about making up for the 1.5% patent taxes?
Of course, you'd need to add USB capabilities to your sensor(s) and you wouldn't really FTP to the drive (I don't believe), but this would be a fairly cheap and modular way to solve your problem.
But, if you do roll your own HDD that can be dropped into any network with just a Cat5 connection, let us know! ;)
Any proprietary code/internal documents/emails/etc he wanted are already safely in his possession. Why bother breaking in later when he has full access now? The only real reason would be to disrupt your business, but being as that is *highly illegal* (i.e.- goodbye BMW, hello federal prison) I would doubt that as a possibility. Anything he wanted or anything he thought he just might possibly need in the future has already been copied. This was probably the first thing he did once he knew there was a possibility that he would be leaving. Having him stay throughout his 2 weeks is a good and bad idea... Good in the fact that you can pick his brain and help in the transition, but bad in the fact that if there was anything he forgot to copy before, he can get at it now.
It's one of very few movies that do the same for me, but what tugs at my heart strings the most is the final thoughts, especially about the $100... Just sad that they shared so much and yet wanted nothing to do with each other afterwards because of those shared experiences I guess.
One other thought... am I the only one who feels as though they're watching it for the first time every time I see it? Or am I broken?
A Midnight Clear
...so many good movies listed (but Space Truckers? Poor, poor, sick bastard ;). A Midnight Clear is not exactly Brazil, Hudson Hawk or Buckaroo Bonzai... but those of you who like FILMS should see this one! It's on par with Shawshank IMHO!
Oh... and far from under appriciated (per its sceen showing at the Oscars) is A Fish Called Wanda!
iiNet is not as good as FunnelWeb's prices!?
Thanks for all of your input! I really appricate it! I have done some research previous to the posting. In a perfect world I would have included this info in the first post (stupid non-perfect world).
The best bet I've seen pricing and server host-ability wise (I've got a FTP/DNS/Web/etc server to throw on the line) is FunnelWeb. Anyone have any experience with them? I kinda fancy their 512/128 @ $67 AUD/month (although with that damned 500meg download limit), but it does include a static IP.
So... Canberra, least 128 downstream, least 500meg download/month, static IP? Anyone? I'll be checking out these providers in the next day or 2. Thanks again for all the help!
I too am an American going to live abroad, but in Canberra, Australia. How much for DSL? Who should I get it thru? And whgat the hell is the deal with metered accounts there?!? Everyplace I've been able to find thus far allows 500megs a month for a reasonable rate, then gouges you to high hell for anything over that!? What gives! Oh yea, and thanks!
View the JPGs here.
I designed my own computer desk and after using it for nearly a year now, I must say that I really like it a lot! I decided to build my own after realizing a few things...
After much searching around town I came to the realization that I wanted the look and functionality of a cheap desk but made out of hardwood like the expensive, god awful ugly unfunctional executive style desks. So from this I realized that I would have to make my own. Luckily, my grandfather is very skilled at woodworking and has made pieces of furniture before. So after talking it over with him I began making plans for a computer desk with enough room for:
I did the plans in MS Word 2000 (yea, try to keep the laughing to a minimum) in 1/12th scale (i.e. 1 inch = 1 foot). The plans show only the left side and the printer/server island. The second desk is a mirror of the left side. The plans are available here in PDF and Word 2000 versions. These plans are a little different from desk we eventually made, but the desktop area remained unchanged.
If you are truly interested in this design, I can take some photos of the finished product and provide modified plans for the version we built, along with a parts list (not to mention the "what not to do's" you only know after building one =). If you are so interested, just write a replay to this posting and I'll see what I can do. The approx cost of my desk for both sides and the server island was about $550-600 I believe (which included nearly $100 for some really nice drawer rails/slides/thingys).
Anyway this is the DIY home office solution I've came up with so I hope it either gives someone else ideas or the guts to do it themselves!
Do note that I am implementing this CSS on Phoenix as we speak ;) But still, I'm happy with the current paradigm of banner ads, is it a good idea to futz with that paradigm for fear of something even more annoying?
How about using both of these ideas together? Have it to where even the correct username/password is not accepted unless the user clicks on the right section of the screen, or right sequence of sections of the screen in place of simply clicking "Ok"!? So in essence the "Ok" button would be a dummy and the correct "button" would be another portion of the screen entirely?
OK, a lot of people don't read the articles before posting, but not reading the synopsis?
<Irony>Sure, everyone loves the obligatory "why didn't you google first" comment</Irony>, but common!
...have it under a password protected directory or only available to an Intranet. Then the users can still use it as they wish/need and the ass end of the company is at least mostly covered =)
Check out PHPbb, it allows for multiple admins and groups, not sure if it's exactly what you need, but if not I'm sure with a few extra lines of PHP you could get it to do what you need! Good luck!
DMP (Digital Media Player) - Like we need another acronym!
... ... ...
I was looking at my stack of stereo equipment this last week. My stack includes an A/V receiver, 5 disk CD changer, DVD player, 2 VCRs, cable box, MiniDisk Recorder, DAT Recorder, Tape Deck and a Turntable (not to mention the input for the computer). I remember having to shop around for some time in order to find an A/V receiver that had the number of connections that my system required. My epiphany came when I thought about what I would buy if I were shopping for the same system today.
I rarely use my MD or DAT deck anymore. They are more a throwback to a time when the only way to get a decent digital recording at home was to purchase a $500+ deck such as these. Most everything I listen to now is either off a CD-R that I recorded on my computer or MP3s streaming for it. I have thought for some time about getting a Tivo-like device what would essentially serve to do to my video what the computer has done for my audio. But I found that the off-the-shelf variants do not have the features I would want (namely DVD recording, network connectivity and MP3 playback). So when thinking of my A/V rack and what I would do differently today I came to this realization...
Almost all media is digital anymore, and most is prepackaged on a CD or DVD. So with this fact in mind, you would need only one A/V component to accomplish 90% of day-to-day A/V functionality. Many DVD decks are about 20 there now with DVD, Audio CD, PhotoCD, and MP3 playback. But what about the up-start OGG audio format? Or the DivX / MPEG 4 format? A closed system is unlikely to support new formats as they are released. Plus I have yet to see an A/V component DVD Recorder with Tivo-like functionality (though they are coming). The only digital entertainment form that we've not yet covered that now comes on CD / DVD is video games.
What I'm suggesting is a Digital Media Player that all you do is feed it a disk and it plays it, be it an MP3 collection, Audio CD, Blockbuster DVD or the latest PS2 release. Now I do not have delusions of grandeur, I know that the PS2 and XBox games of today will not run on current commodity PC hardware and I know that there would have to be SOME user intervention, but this is what I want! Besides, we can have the next best thing - the games of yesterday (Sega, Nintendo, Atari, etc.) thanks to projects like MAME.
So this is the type of functionality I have in mind. Add a 5-disk Carrousel and an A/V Component sized case to the features below and I'd have my ultimate convergence device.
Features Wishlist:
* Data Sources
Inserted Disk Media (CD, CD-R, DVD, DVD±R, etc.)
Support for multiple CD / DVD Drives
Internal Hard Disk(s)
Mapped Network Share (10/100 or Wireless Connectivity)
Analog Audio/Video Input (Attached Cable, VCR, etc.)
Digital Audio/Video Input (FireWire Digital Camcorder, etc.)
Internet
* Digital Video Playback
DVD (High Priority)
DivX / MPEG 4 (High Priority)
VCD
SVCD
Quicktime
Windows Media Player
* Digital Video Recording
Recording Qualities
MPEG 2 (DVD Quality)
DivX / MPEG 4
Other varying lower qualities (like EP on a VCR)
Recording Destination
Onto Inserted CD-R / DVD±R
Onto Internal Hard Disk(s)
Onto remaining free space (Hard Disk(s) or Inserted CD-R / DVD±R)
* Digital Audio Playback
Formats
Audio CD
MP3
OGG
Internet Radio Streams
AM / FM Radio Tuning (Optional)
* Digital Audio Recording
Recording Sources
Inserted Audio CD
Internet Radio Streams
AM / FM Radio
Recording Qualities
Audio CD Quality (Lossless)
MP3 (user defined bitrates/etc.)
OGG (user defined bitrates/etc.)
* Digital Image Display/Slideshow
Assorted Thumbnail and Individual Image Views
PhotoCD (Lower Priority)
* WebTV-esque Internet Via LAN Connectivity
Web Browser
Let users do their email on HotMail.com / etc!
* User Interface
Onscreen (TV) Interface (Tivo / ReplayTV-esque)
Web enabled interface
Ability to do most/all functions available thru the standard interface via a web browser. Note webserver / website would need password protection.
* IR Remote Compatibility
* MAME Classic Video Game Emulation
So what have I missed? Is there anything you would add to this list of features? One could argue more PC-like functionality, like word processing and whatnot. But this is to be an A/V component after all. The web interface is more for access to streaming media then actual surfing. But what would add to this list? What could you live without?
Sure, there are a few projects out there that are trying to do this kind of thing. And there are a lot of people who would be interested in this sort of solution, but with responses like:
what you are trying to say is "i want a free PVR-like thingie, can someone make one?"
...these projects will have a difficult time getting off the ground. I don't remember where I read it now, but someone once said...
The biggest problem with Linux is its supporters.
As the stereotype (which has been beautifully microcosmed in this discussion, BTW) is that they are a bunch of socially in adept zealots who have delusions of grandeur. The parent comment put this quite well in a language they would understand (though I'm sure it could have been conveyed in one line of Perl, yes).
So my question is (like) that of the original poster... when will someone with computer knowledge (that is not necessarily a *nix guru, though not a moron either) be able to follow some instructions on a site (buy this encoder board, install that DVD recorder) and setup a Digital Media Player that will cover the popular requests like MAME, DVD Video, MP3 (and OGG, and...), Slideshow (Image Display), etc?
Leave the laptop at home, or at least in the hotel. But can I see that the laptop would give you some niceties: storage of digital photos (assuming you have a digital camera on the trip), email for family members so they know you've not been taken by FARC (or any other regional militants), a journal, and of course porn =)
One good way for you to power your laptop would be with a Auto AC Inverter. Course this requires a car with a cigarette lighter, but they are cheap ($20 at Frys), small (mine's a tank at 2"x5"x1") and light (less then a pound).
So in summary... don't take the laptop on the trail and get a Auto AC Inverter (and good luck avoiding FARC =).
...and oh yea, my first 'first post'!?! It does feel as warm and fuzzy as I thought it would... (and I even had time to spell check! =)
...would SlashDot's own codebase work for this? All you would need to do is restrict who is allowed to sign up for an account and tweak the moderator point system, but other then that, wouldn't a SlashDot-esque site do you just fine?
Funny revelation, considering this was asked on SlashDot!?!
Did anyone else think of the 'unsinkable' Titanic when they read this? Being from the analyst or not, the arrogance in this statement alone about the command of our current technology is as scary as the statements made for the Titanic!
Two: "Microsoft doesn't think computer users should have to use one program to read and write a word-processing file, another to use a spreadsheet, and a third to correspond via e-mail. Rather, the company thinks, a single program should handle it all."
We have this already... it's called a WEB BROWSER! From what I can determine from this statement, they are seeking to make a common shell that has 'plugins' to run different files. Just like there's a flash plugin, a Quicktime plugin, etc in browsers today. Couple this with XML and basically all they would need to do is make a base parser application that accepted a specific XSLT to deal with a specific file-type. If it does boil down to a paradigm such as this, 'software as a service' via the net would be cheap and easy bandwidth wise (all they'd have to do is download/manage an XSLT or the property MS version of one). They already have this paradigm in Office (think of an embedded spreadsheet in a word doc), so I suppose that it's nature to make this the next logical step.
Both of these statements involve putting all a user's eggs in one basket. If everything was a plugin into a master parser app, imagine having that app with a vulnerability, crashing, etc! To a certain extent I say let Microsoft do this, let Microsoft auto-download and install the latest updates, let Microsoft manage Office over the net. Why? Because the first time they have a failure (like all the problems with Hotmail/Passport a year or so back) and it brings EVERYONE down with them, they'll be in a world of hurt from their own loyal customers. The first time a hot-patch corrupts the functionality of an in house app in a Fortune 500/1000, the first time a single virus takes down all MS apps (Office, Exchange...), the first time this happens and keeps even a few big companies from using their Microsoft systems for even a few hours they're sunk. How could they not be responsible legally? And even if they weren't, imagine having to fight 1000s of 'frivolous' lawsuits in 100s of jurisdictions in 10s of countries!
Just like the LotR relation mentioned above... with one ring, everyone has one foe. And when everyone has one foe, it's easier to band together and fight said foe no matter what their strength is. So in short, go ahead Microsoft... let them take just enough rope to hang themselves!
Anyway, I use removable HDDs for my network backup. I've got a little utility (Idem, shitty but it does what it needs to do) that is configured to make backups of the essential folders on my Win2k box:
This plus a little diligence in keeping all of my important files within this subset (including making local backups of program configuration files under 'My Docs') makes for a great backup strategy for me.
Then every Friday I switch the current backup rHDD with the one offsite. This way I have a current backup and a 'week ago' copy. So if I need an older version (though not more then a week older) or if my house is lost I've got my data that is no more then a week old.
I figure if both my home and the offsite location go down in flames (or what have you), I've got bigger problems to worry about.
Especially since you're a 'good cause' it shouldn't be too hard to talk one of the local shops into it! Offer a 'special thank to' on your site or fliers... you may even get more then drivers out of them =)
Good luck!