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User: rkischuk

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Comments · 136

  1. 'Wi-Fi'... on Will 802.11 Kill Bluetooth? · · Score: 1

    'Wi-Fi' = Wireless Firewire - recognizes the similarities between 802.11b and FireWire in that both are higher bandwidth, easily pluggable channels for communication between devices. 802.11b happens to also be wireless, hence 'Wi-Fi'.

  2. Re:Why would I want to give up MP3s? on Ogg The Conqueror? RC2 Is Out · · Score: 2, Interesting
    And there we have the reason that Ogg Vorbis will not gain broad-based acceptance for a long time.

    MP3 has mind-share with the public
    MP3 has a huge installed base of players and devices
    Users have no reason to stop using MP3

    Unless Ogg Vorbis can demonstrate massive storage space savings/technical advantages or MP3 is made completely unusable, users have no reason to switch, and users aren't going to switch without a reason. It's new, it's nifty, it's innovative, it's interesting to us, but like many other open-source initiatives, until it gives Average Computer User a real reason to change their habits, it's just an intresting niche.

  3. ultracrepidarian on Virus Scares and False Authority Syndrome · · Score: 5, Funny
    On the same page:

    ultracrepidarian: (n., adj.) a person who gives opinions beyond his scope of knowledge.

    I'll have to add this to my top ten words to use when talking over somebody's head.

  4. Quick look at PriceWatch on Court Decision Favors Rambus · · Score: 5, Interesting
    256 MB 800 mhz Rambus RDRAM - $87
    512 MB 800 mhz Rambus RDRAM - $380

    256 MB PC133 Micron SDRAM - $25
    512 MB PC133 Micron SDRAM - $77

    Remind me why I need this stuff? If you want to see the future of RAMBUS, reference "microchannel" expansion slots. It seems you can only strongarm an entire marketplace if you make software....

  5. Still a virus... on Fight Virus With Virus? · · Score: 0, Redundant
    Technically speaking, this is still a virus, and still costs companies bandwidth and processor time.

    Also, it opens the door for a whole new wave of confusion. Suppose I tweak the "good" virus, and add a little bit of insidious behavior? What if I send out a "bad" virus claiming it is a "good" one?

    Right now, we're fighting a losing battle to get users to STOP clicking on unknown attachments. Any progress we do make would be COMPLETELY destroyed by encouraging them to install "good" virii. Right now, the optimal virus protection might be a grammar checker. You'd think that the guys who wrote Zero Wing had found a new hobby.

  6. Absolutely baffling on Microsoft Appeals Anti-Trust to Supreme Court · · Score: 1
    You have to wonder what Microsoft's strategy is here. Here's some possibilities that come to mind:
    • This is going to suck no matter what, so let's just get it over with.
    • They were worried that the lower court might issue an injunction against Windows XP, and they're hoping the Supreme Court won't be bold enough to do this, or won't get to it in time.
    • An actual desire to expedite the justice process (!?)
    • They didn't want another lower court ruling possibly weighing against them.
    Any other suggestions?
  7. The origin of the term? on Distastful Advertising Continues: "Gatoring" · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm guessing it's called gatoring because of the way unwanted Florida Gator fans pop up and extol the virtues of Steve Spurrier during the discussion of anything related to college football?

  8. Blame the Bells, indeed on Covad Planning For Chapter 11 · · Score: 1
    It's no wonder broadband ISP's are floundering - the "baby" Bells, or at least BellSouth, are obviously out to screw them. When I moved, I signed up for an alternate provider for my local phone service (other than BellSouth). I endeavored to sign up for Telocity (now DirecTV) DSL, and was informed that they couldn't hook anybody up unless they were with BellSouth.

    Never mind that I was on the SAME CO as I would have been for BellSouth, using ALL of the same circuits. Why? I was told that BellSouth did not currently contractually allow DSL companies to connect users of other local carriers!

    Deregulation? Right...

  9. Ricochet network gone dark... on Covad Planning For Chapter 11 · · Score: 1
    In a related story, after filing chapter 11 in July, wireless network provider Metricom has finally decided to shut down.

    Forget Aeron chairs, check out the stuff in their auction.

  10. Learn the lesson of design... on Mac Rants · · Score: 1
    Companies and users should quit griping and take a lesson - the average american responds more to the packaging than the product. Macintosh, Microsoft, and boy bands all stand as testimony that an inferior product, packaged well, appeals to the common consumer.

    The music industry isn't worth addressing here, it's pretty much a lost cause. But just imagine what might happen if x86 manufacturers started trying to beat Apple at their own game? Or even more importantly, if the Linux community stopped griping about what a pack of lemmings we all are and started appealing to the public's odd sensibilities. Put some ease of use in there (well-designed GUIs, plug & play drivers, etc), instead of thumbing your nose at the people whose life doesn't center around computers.

    The root problem is that different people have different definitions of "superior", and techies often don't seem to understand that to the common user, ease-of-use is a lot more important than underlying technology.

  11. Someone beat them to it... on Microsoft To Delay IE "Smart Tags" Release · · Score: 2
    For your own free preview of the hell that is smart tags, download Napster-alternative KaZaA. If you allow the Hot Text to be enabled, it seems to invade Internet Explorer and match on certain keywords, putting a hideous green underline beneath the word, with no trace of the links in the source code. For them, it seems to be a form of paid advertising. Not only is it obnoxious as hell, it dramatically increases the instability of the browser.

    It seems that they've licensed some technology from eZula called HOTText.

    If you want to see just how obnoxious these smart tags will be, give it a whirl. You have to wonder if there's a patent suit coming up on this (M$ vs. eZula).