It's more about people getting realistic and seeing that quarter-after-quarter some of these goofy web ideas were losing tons of money.
That is not entirely true. Even the solid operators are having trouble getting funds these days. Also, many of the good operations relied on the bad ones as customers, and they are drying up like spilled bong water (the moisture goes away, but the stench hangs around if you don't get the mop out and clean it up). On the other hand, I do agree with your basic premise, and clearly the reason "the good ideas" are having problems is due to all the failures that sucked the wells dry before them.
I guess my major point is the economy IS bad, even the good operations are having trouble as a result.
I don't see how Microsoft fits in on this issue," snip,"As long as MS doesn't take over the cell phone company it can be done completely independent of them;-)".
Be warned, they are working on it. See: http://www.microsoft.com/MOBILE/pocketpc/columns/C TIA1jd.asp or just hit their site and search for "Stinger"
Which brings me to my point - the only way to stop this sort of thing is by generating a large public outcry. If politicians feel heat (read - worry about getting re-elected), they'll put a stop to this. (of course, one could be hoist by his/her own petard when their caught with a non-spousal companion). It's all about how you frame the issue and build public support.
I personally agree with you, with one exception. The public outcry is probably most useful to make sure the technology is used correctly and reasonably. I think I am reading most (not all) of the comments to say the basic premise is OK as long as it is not abused. I would agree (though I share the concern it could be easily abused).
In most of the US, Western Europe and Oz/NZ (as well as other "enlightened" places) the public outcry usually (not always, of course) will keep the police practices reasonable. Also, most police are good people too.
I will give an example of the town next to where I grew up. They had a reputation as a speed trap and it got out of hand. At first the residents thought it was good as their streets were safe. Then, after a few years of this, they started realizing their town had a bad reputation. The Police Chief was asked to tone it down, he didn't, he was fired. Most of the street cops didn't like being considered assholes (they lived there too) and were more than happy to tone it down a bit. The town is now pretty normal in their enforcement practices and everyone is happy.
I believe (perhaps a bit naively) that the same practice will keep things reasonable in Tampa. If they over-enforce and get reckless they are likely to get slapped around by the populace, the ACLU, the courts and the business owners in Y'bor city. If not, they will get voted out and/or finding judges that toss out their cases or order them to cease and desist. Heck, even the mighty IRS has been slapped around lately for being too aggressive.
I don't mean to say the citizens should be complacent, they should definitely watch to ensure that things don't get out of hand. But, technology being used in Law Enforcement is inevitable, and overall a good thing, as long as the watchdogs keep vigilant, the system is not abused, and when it is, the overzealous cops are reprimanded appropriately.
Actually, quite a few things are wrong with a drug test. Most of the really bad drugs (coke/crack, heroin, etc.) are not detectable a day or so after the last time you did them. The least harmful (pot) is detectable 30-45 days after the last time you smoked, and about a week after the last time you were in close quarters with someone who was (2nd hand smoke). Probably the most dangerous, alcohol, is not even considered a failure. Basically, the most evil aspect to drug tests is that you have a false sense of security and eliminate many candidates that are likely to be great employees. Most small or medium sized companies (those that are more likely to be attuned to their employees) have stopped, or never have, done drug testing. They rely on job performance.
I personally believe that a company has a right to administer them, but I think they are doing themselves a disservice (as a rule, there are some exceptions like pilots, bus-drivers, etc. that have a public safety responsibility and need to be above reproach).
There certainly is a sale going on, see http://www.valinux.com/systems/serversale.html . I saw the "Model 1000" on sale for US$800! That is a 1U, dual P3-750, 512M RAM, 18Gig SCSI powerhouse. I had bought 3 about 9 months ago at US$3500 each (only difference was they had 2Gig RAM) and was more than pleased at that price. Most of their other products, though not marked as "closeouts", are definitely discounted also. It is really dissapointing to see them go, I loved their products and service.
From what I understand from several Engineers I know working on this stuff that is exactly the issue that has prevented this technology from being released. The FCC (and FCC-like organizations in other countries) have rejected approvals. To make it worse, the frequencies being used are in the range that will easily "skip" (bounce off the ionisphere), giving them very long range (global), similar to Shortwave and long-range HAM radios.
On top of that, the average home electrical system makes an excellent full-wave antenna for this frequency range. I have never seen this brought up in the articles on the HomePlug-type HomeLAN technologies, but it is supposed to be the issue most likely to prevent it from being released.
Flytech makes a similar, probably cheaper, device
on
Cappuccino PC Round 2
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· Score: 1
I have a couple similar PCs from another Taiwanese company called Flytech http://www.flytech.com.tw/product-1.htm . Much cheaper as it is a bit (not much) larger and can take standard sized components. I use one as an e-smith server and another as a portable RedHat server for demos. Very nice. I also have a version that has 2 PCI slots, which have come in handy. I never have found anyone that will sell onesy-twosey though, you have to buy qty through the manufacturer (I got mine from an OEM friend).
but I'd see it as being a year or two off before there's really any sort of serious demand for this kind of speed.
OK, no argument, but if you think you might want it 2 years from now, you better start building it (yesterday). This kind of thing is hard to do given all the infrastructure issues involved.
This is not just an issue for the online world. Another example that is quite similar is all the companies that register toll-free numbers based on typos. For example, 1-800-OPERATOR is run by (I believe) MCI. Some of their competitors (AT&T I believe) then went out and grabbed several 800 numbers that were common mis-spellings/typos such as 1-800-OPRATOR, etc. There are several other examples that evade me right now.
I guess that must be OK because it is big "legit" companies and not pr0n sites;)
Actually, as an ironic sidenote to that comment. USR had to cease marketing "x2" products in Brazil as some company down there was already producing a product by that name. It was a tape drive or something like that. It only caused a little stress as V.90 was just about out by then so they pulled the product and did special packaging for that country only that did not mention x2, just V.90. Goes to show it is hard to find a name that is not used somewhere these days.
dont let them use linux. please!!! no one i know wants to add to evil bills riches, but the only thing you'll archive by "trying" to teach linux to a senior with no prior computer knowledge, is one less senior using computers and the net.
No argument on the "no Linux", but there is a decent option to MS, and that would be Apple. I don't use them personally, but many have found them to be a good blend of power and simplicity.
Slashdot Mirror
It's more about people getting realistic and seeing that quarter-after-quarter some of these goofy web ideas were losing tons of money.
That is not entirely true. Even the solid operators are having trouble getting funds these days. Also, many of the good operations relied on the bad ones as customers, and they are drying up like spilled bong water (the moisture goes away, but the stench hangs around if you don't get the mop out and clean it up). On the other hand, I do agree with your basic premise, and clearly the reason "the good ideas" are having problems is due to all the failures that sucked the wells dry before them.
I guess my major point is the economy IS bad, even the good operations are having trouble as a result.
I don't see how Microsoft fits in on this issue," snip,"As long as MS doesn't take over the cell phone company it can be done completely independent of them ;-)".
C TIA1jd.asp
Be warned, they are working on it. See:
http://www.microsoft.com/MOBILE/pocketpc/columns/
or just hit their site and search for "Stinger"
I don't think the companies are concerned about marijuana users so much as people who do crack
;)
And to your "point taken".....point taken
Which brings me to my point - the only way to stop this sort of thing is by generating a large public outcry. If politicians feel heat (read - worry about getting re-elected), they'll put a stop to this. (of course, one could be hoist by his/her own petard when their caught with a non-spousal companion). It's all about how you frame the issue and build public support.
I personally agree with you, with one exception. The public outcry is probably most useful to make sure the technology is used correctly and reasonably. I think I am reading most (not all) of the comments to say the basic premise is OK as long as it is not abused. I would agree (though I share the concern it could be easily abused).
In most of the US, Western Europe and Oz/NZ (as well as other "enlightened" places) the public outcry usually (not always, of course) will keep the police practices reasonable. Also, most police are good people too.
I will give an example of the town next to where I grew up. They had a reputation as a speed trap and it got out of hand. At first the residents thought it was good as their streets were safe. Then, after a few years of this, they started realizing their town had a bad reputation. The Police Chief was asked to tone it down, he didn't, he was fired. Most of the street cops didn't like being considered assholes (they lived there too) and were more than happy to tone it down a bit. The town is now pretty normal in their enforcement practices and everyone is happy.
I believe (perhaps a bit naively) that the same practice will keep things reasonable in Tampa. If they over-enforce and get reckless they are likely to get slapped around by the populace, the ACLU, the courts and the business owners in Y'bor city. If not, they will get voted out and/or finding judges that toss out their cases or order them to cease and desist. Heck, even the mighty IRS has been slapped around lately for being too aggressive.
I don't mean to say the citizens should be complacent, they should definitely watch to ensure that things don't get out of hand. But, technology being used in Law Enforcement is inevitable, and overall a good thing, as long as the watchdogs keep vigilant, the system is not abused, and when it is, the overzealous cops are reprimanded appropriately.
And just what the heck is wrong with a drug test?
Actually, quite a few things are wrong with a drug test. Most of the really bad drugs (coke/crack, heroin, etc.) are not detectable a day or so after the last time you did them. The least harmful (pot) is detectable 30-45 days after the last time you smoked, and about a week after the last time you were in close quarters with someone who was (2nd hand smoke). Probably the most dangerous, alcohol, is not even considered a failure. Basically, the most evil aspect to drug tests is that you have a false sense of security and eliminate many candidates that are likely to be great employees. Most small or medium sized companies (those that are more likely to be attuned to their employees) have stopped, or never have, done drug testing. They rely on job performance.
I personally believe that a company has a right to administer them, but I think they are doing themselves a disservice (as a rule, there are some exceptions like pilots, bus-drivers, etc. that have a public safety responsibility and need to be above reproach).
There certainly is a sale going on, see http://www.valinux.com/systems/serversale.html . I saw the "Model 1000" on sale for US$800! That is a 1U, dual P3-750, 512M RAM, 18Gig SCSI powerhouse. I had bought 3 about 9 months ago at US$3500 each (only difference was they had 2Gig RAM) and was more than pleased at that price. Most of their other products, though not marked as "closeouts", are definitely discounted also. It is really dissapointing to see them go, I loved their products and service.
From what I understand from several Engineers I know working on this stuff that is exactly the issue that has prevented this technology from being released. The FCC (and FCC-like organizations in other countries) have rejected approvals. To make it worse, the frequencies being used are in the range that will easily "skip" (bounce off the ionisphere), giving them very long range (global), similar to Shortwave and long-range HAM radios.
On top of that, the average home electrical system makes an excellent full-wave antenna for this frequency range. I have never seen this brought up in the articles on the HomePlug-type HomeLAN technologies, but it is supposed to be the issue most likely to prevent it from being released.
I have a couple similar PCs from another Taiwanese company called Flytech http://www.flytech.com.tw/product-1.htm . Much cheaper as it is a bit (not much) larger and can take standard sized components. I use one as an e-smith server and another as a portable RedHat server for demos. Very nice. I also have a version that has 2 PCI slots, which have come in handy. I never have found anyone that will sell onesy-twosey though, you have to buy qty through the manufacturer (I got mine from an OEM friend).
but I'd see it as being a year or two off before there's really any sort of serious demand for this kind of speed.
OK, no argument, but if you think you might want it 2 years from now, you better start building it (yesterday). This kind of thing is hard to do given all the infrastructure issues involved.
This is not just an issue for the online world. Another example that is quite similar is all the companies that register toll-free numbers based on typos. For example, 1-800-OPERATOR is run by (I believe) MCI. Some of their competitors (AT&T I believe) then went out and grabbed several 800 numbers that were common mis-spellings/typos such as 1-800-OPRATOR, etc. There are several other examples that evade me right now. I guess that must be OK because it is big "legit" companies and not pr0n sites ;)
Actually, as an ironic sidenote to that comment. USR had to cease marketing "x2" products in Brazil as some company down there was already producing a product by that name. It was a tape drive or something like that. It only caused a little stress as V.90 was just about out by then so they pulled the product and did special packaging for that country only that did not mention x2, just V.90. Goes to show it is hard to find a name that is not used somewhere these days.
dont let them use linux. please!!! no one i know wants to add to evil bills riches, but the only thing you'll archive by "trying" to teach linux to a senior with no prior computer knowledge, is one less senior using computers and the net.
No argument on the "no Linux", but there is a decent option to MS, and that would be Apple. I don't use them personally, but many have found them to be a good blend of power and simplicity.