It seems you may have counted the roundtrip twice.
You have to count twice. The delay is 0.24 seconds just for the packet to go from your PC to the satellite and then to the web server or other internet resource. Once the resource on the other end sends it back, it has to go back up to the satellite and then back down to your PC.
Eventually, someone will come up with a kick-ass IDE for developers to write once, run anywhere. A linux application will merely need a DirectLinux layer to run under Windows. As hardware gets faster and faster, the Linux layer will become seamless. The world will be without Windows and we'll all live happily ever after.
This is huge for Linux. Now if we could get the desktop situation sorted out, we can start implmenting Linux on the desktop.
The whole problem was that people weren't pirating Microsoft products in these places. A good deal of piracy is actually healthy for Microsoft. For example, many Linux zealots still have a bootable Windows partition somewhere so that they can play games. Most of these installs (at lease the ones that I'm aware of) are pirated. After all, who wants to pay hundreds of dollars for an OS from a convicted monopoly simply for the sake of playing games.
In the end, these people are happy and MS are happy because it keeps the developers from being coerced into creating software for Linux or other platforms. While there are certainly a few companies that do make software for alternate platforms, there would many more if Windows was impossible to pirate.
In the end, these third-world countries weren't even trying to pirate Microsoft software so Microsoft had to force their hand and give it to them. Since they are a convicted monopoly, this is illegal and they should be sued for this. However, they 0wn3d the government so that will be unlikely.
Surely, the answer has to lie in getting the hydrogen from water - we just need a massive breakthrough in solar panel technology.
There doesn't need to be a breakthrough because that has already happened. Stan Ovshinsky, pioneer of disordered materials, has developed a thin-film solar technology that is competitive with grid-supplied fossil fuel electricity. Now, he believes that they can achieve this feat with 100MW of production economy so they aren't quite there yet (they currently run a 30MW machine).
They just partnered with HaveBlue to develop a fuel cell hydrogen sailboat with solid hydrogen storage. The sailboats sit in the harbor most of the time so they are perfect vessels to soak up the sun and convert it to hydrogen.
Water is the best battery. We just need an affordable fuel cell to convert it back into electricity. Stan is working on that too.
Here's a company that has part of the contract on this. They are developing the solid (hydride) hydrogen storage system for these tanks. The hydride is like a hydrogen sponge that holds more hydrogen than high-pressure tanks. The biggest problem with hydrogen really is storing it since it is so low in density. Liquid hydrogen is actually lighter than air...
This kind of attitude is one of the reasons that Microsoft is where it is today.
There is currently a *large* market for someone that can create a simple solution to the security problem that exists with complex operating systems. For example: I work for a large financial company that does not allow any corporate access from non-corporate PCs because of obvious security reasons (i.e. - it would be easy to install a keystroke logger on just about any PC, Windows, Apple or otherwise). So everyone is stuck lugging their laptops around.
its not like some else will/can step in to take over.
This is very far from the truth.
Using the previous example, if someone created a Knoppix-like bootable "secure" distro that allowed a user to bypass the existing OS on a given PC, a company could allow users to use most any PC for access. Install some VPN software, simple self-checking environment, and perhaps a user-specific token and things become very secure. There would even be a market for a network bootable version.
But we are all going to sit on the sidelines while MS fixes the problem with trusted computing. All because of a lousy attitude problem.
How is his input vital for desktops which are KDE/GNOME dominated now, projects he is not involved with...
He's going to pick either KDE or Gnome and merge it with his tree. IMHO, that will be the only way that Linux can succeed on the desktop. Multiple GUI environments are the bane of both programmer and end-user. While I do agree that it is nice to have choices in certain cases, "Desktop Linux" is not helped at all.
Linus needs to pick one and create a "desktop" tree. Otherwise, Joe and Joeanne User will stick with Windows. I know that I will.
Unfortunately, I see a lot of perfectly good PCs get tossed because the owner has hosed Windows with some sort of adware/spyware/Kazaa. Most of these PCs have WinME or 98 on them. As long as they have 128 megs of RAM (256 better) and a ~500Mhz processor, they are good machines. Unfortuately, WinME an 98 are unacceptable operating systems and XP is prohibitive in cost when you can buy a new PC for $350. Why bother?
If someone made a distro to displace ME and 98, then there would be a huge market out there. And I'm not talking about some bootable thing. We need a distro that will back up the current hard drive, install Linux and then bring down some of the known backup (like Favorites, My Docs, etc).
I'm thinking of starting a PC recycling business because most trashed PCs these days are still acceptable performers. I'll take all these PCs, install Linux and then donate them to churches and schools. Brilliant!
LG thought that they were going to steal the show at CES with their puny 65" model but then Samsung dropped the bomb with an 80 incher... 1920x1080p... Wow...
I've always ranted here about how we could use an industry standard chassis and AC/DC power spec for mini-ITX. If LCD monitor vendors could simply stick their panels into an open spec laptop chassis, we'd have oodles of cheap, interchangable laptops out there. And they wouldn't cost $900 to fix when you spill your free beer on them...
So, you'll have a 64-bit module sitting on top of your 32-bit CPU?
I've been speculating (here and elsewhere) that this stackable thing is not going to be Intel's next big thing. I believe that the stacked module will simply contain NVRAM and not a 64-bit coprocessor. Why NVRAM? Well, it opens up some interesting possibilities. For example, if you had enough NVRAM on-chip (or reasonably close in terms of latentcy and bandwidth), you could simply shut down portions of the processor on-the-fly to save power. You could also stick the entire operating system on the stuff. The possibilities are amazing. If you haven't looked already, see my journal for much information on the subject as it relates to Intel.
Of recent interest are somepresentations by Intel on NVRAM. Of interest is that they've announced that they've found that OUM will take them beyond transistors in one presentation while another presentation actually shows a transistorless cell that is quite simple (two electrodes and a programming material sandwiched in between).
A transistorless storage device could be the piece that stacks onto the P5.
I think that Intel have some other tricks up their sleeve. See my journal for some screwy wishful thinking. What is cool about loads of on-chip NVRAM is that it opens up the possibility for Intel to ship an embedded operating system. The Wintel duopoly will reach new heights with DRM and Trusted Computing.
Intel is currently working furiously on a cellular chip that will seamlessly roam to WiFi networks. They also want it to carry prodigous amounts of data. Known as the Digital Briefcase specification, any compliant PC will automagically recognize the phone and allow you to log into the PC as if it were your own. Mail, favorites, documents/music and even wallpaper and settings will appear seamlessly. Check out my sig for more...
POTS will die a quick death unless the big TelCos start lobbying for taxes. Slashdotters move these companies up on the list of Evil entities.
Check out the link in my sig. If I am speculating correctly, then Intel will be manufacturing processors that will come with oodles of NVRAM. Oddly, Microsoft is launching a version of Windows called Elements to go along with Intel's upcoming "stackable" Pentium 5. While the market believes that the stacking design is for the addition of 64-bit expansion, I believe it is for NVRAM expansion.
Elements will reside completely in NVRAM. Not only will this allow for great enhancements to power consumption, it also eliminates the need for a BIOS.
Slashdot Mirror
>There is no point in applying for a patent if
>you are going to put it in the public domain.
>Doing that dissolves the patent.
No... It keeps others from patenting the idea and charging for it.
It seems you may have counted the roundtrip twice.
You have to count twice. The delay is 0.24 seconds just for the packet to go from your PC to the satellite and then to the web server or other internet resource. Once the resource on the other end sends it back, it has to go back up to the satellite and then back down to your PC.
= 0.48 second
That is substantial delay on everything.
Distance to geostationary satellite: 22,000 miles (44,000 total round trip)
Speed of Light: 186,000 miles/second
Total delay: 44/186 = 0.23 sec = 0.46 for response a two way conversation
Unacceptable
Think of it this way:
Eventually, someone will come up with a kick-ass IDE for developers to write once, run anywhere. A linux application will merely need a DirectLinux layer to run under Windows. As hardware gets faster and faster, the Linux layer will become seamless. The world will be without Windows and we'll all live happily ever after.
This is huge for Linux. Now if we could get the desktop situation sorted out, we can start implmenting Linux on the desktop.
Here's the real story on the 12 year old.
They just reincarnated as Desktop Linux Working Group. No SCO this time...
The whole problem was that people weren't pirating Microsoft products in these places. A good deal of piracy is actually healthy for Microsoft. For example, many Linux zealots still have a bootable Windows partition somewhere so that they can play games. Most of these installs (at lease the ones that I'm aware of) are pirated. After all, who wants to pay hundreds of dollars for an OS from a convicted monopoly simply for the sake of playing games.
In the end, these people are happy and MS are happy because it keeps the developers from being coerced into creating software for Linux or other platforms. While there are certainly a few companies that do make software for alternate platforms, there would many more if Windows was impossible to pirate.
In the end, these third-world countries weren't even trying to pirate Microsoft software so Microsoft had to force their hand and give it to them. Since they are a convicted monopoly, this is illegal and they should be sued for this. However, they 0wn3d the government so that will be unlikely.
I could use some of these gloves for Anti-Burnination!
Surely, the answer has to lie in getting the hydrogen from water - we just need a massive breakthrough in solar panel technology.
There doesn't need to be a breakthrough because that has already happened. Stan Ovshinsky, pioneer of disordered materials, has developed a thin-film solar technology that is competitive with grid-supplied fossil fuel electricity. Now, he believes that they can achieve this feat with 100MW of production economy so they aren't quite there yet (they currently run a 30MW machine).
They just partnered with HaveBlue to develop a fuel cell hydrogen sailboat with solid hydrogen storage. The sailboats sit in the harbor most of the time so they are perfect vessels to soak up the sun and convert it to hydrogen.
Water is the best battery. We just need an affordable fuel cell to convert it back into electricity. Stan is working on that too.
Here's a company that has part of the contract on this. They are developing the solid (hydride) hydrogen storage system for these tanks. The hydride is like a hydrogen sponge that holds more hydrogen than high-pressure tanks. The biggest problem with hydrogen really is storing it since it is so low in density. Liquid hydrogen is actually lighter than air...
SCO has a plan to counter this. It is called the "Open Sores" program.
This kind of attitude is one of the reasons that Microsoft is where it is today.
There is currently a *large* market for someone that can create a simple solution to the security problem that exists with complex operating systems. For example: I work for a large financial company that does not allow any corporate access from non-corporate PCs because of obvious security reasons (i.e. - it would be easy to install a keystroke logger on just about any PC, Windows, Apple or otherwise). So everyone is stuck lugging their laptops around.
its not like some else will/can step in to take over.
This is very far from the truth.
Using the previous example, if someone created a Knoppix-like bootable "secure" distro that allowed a user to bypass the existing OS on a given PC, a company could allow users to use most any PC for access. Install some VPN software, simple self-checking environment, and perhaps a user-specific token and things become very secure. There would even be a market for a network bootable version.
But we are all going to sit on the sidelines while MS fixes the problem with trusted computing. All because of a lousy attitude problem.
How is his input vital for desktops which are KDE/GNOME dominated now, projects he is not involved with...
He's going to pick either KDE or Gnome and merge it with his tree. IMHO, that will be the only way that Linux can succeed on the desktop. Multiple GUI environments are the bane of both programmer and end-user. While I do agree that it is nice to have choices in certain cases, "Desktop Linux" is not helped at all.
Linus needs to pick one and create a "desktop" tree. Otherwise, Joe and Joeanne User will stick with Windows. I know that I will.
... will upgrade Windows XP to Debian 4.0.
I'm not sure why this is funny...
Unfortunately, I see a lot of perfectly good PCs get tossed because the owner has hosed Windows with some sort of adware/spyware/Kazaa. Most of these PCs have WinME or 98 on them. As long as they have 128 megs of RAM (256 better) and a ~500Mhz processor, they are good machines. Unfortuately, WinME an 98 are unacceptable operating systems and XP is prohibitive in cost when you can buy a new PC for $350. Why bother?
If someone made a distro to displace ME and 98, then there would be a huge market out there. And I'm not talking about some bootable thing. We need a distro that will back up the current hard drive, install Linux and then bring down some of the known backup (like Favorites, My Docs, etc).
I'm thinking of starting a PC recycling business because most trashed PCs these days are still acceptable performers. I'll take all these PCs, install Linux and then donate them to churches and schools. Brilliant!
LG thought that they were going to steal the show at CES with their puny 65" model but then Samsung dropped the bomb with an 80 incher... 1920x1080p... Wow...
But none of the latest hand-held submersable GPS equipment can play OGG, damnit.
How will this kill the Ipod without Itunes...
Itunes or not, even Apple have realized that the average Joe doesn't have anywhere near 40 gigs of music.
I've always ranted here about how we could use an industry standard chassis and AC/DC power spec for mini-ITX. If LCD monitor vendors could simply stick their panels into an open spec laptop chassis, we'd have oodles of cheap, interchangable laptops out there. And they wouldn't cost $900 to fix when you spill your free beer on them...
They should give this thing a try. Looks fun. They brought it to Detroit once and I was going to ride on it until someone puked all over.
Business Week had a good article on this a while back. Problem solved. The water will seek its own level.
So, you'll have a 64-bit module sitting on top of your 32-bit CPU?
I've been speculating (here and elsewhere) that this stackable thing is not going to be Intel's next big thing. I believe that the stacked module will simply contain NVRAM and not a 64-bit coprocessor. Why NVRAM? Well, it opens up some interesting possibilities. For example, if you had enough NVRAM on-chip (or reasonably close in terms of latentcy and bandwidth), you could simply shut down portions of the processor on-the-fly to save power. You could also stick the entire operating system on the stuff. The possibilities are amazing. If you haven't looked already, see my journal for much information on the subject as it relates to Intel.
Of recent interest are some presentations by Intel on NVRAM. Of interest is that they've announced that they've found that OUM will take them beyond transistors in one presentation while another presentation actually shows a transistorless cell that is quite simple (two electrodes and a programming material sandwiched in between).
A transistorless storage device could be the piece that stacks onto the P5.
I think that Intel have some other tricks up their sleeve. See my journal for some screwy wishful thinking. What is cool about loads of on-chip NVRAM is that it opens up the possibility for Intel to ship an embedded operating system. The Wintel duopoly will reach new heights with DRM and Trusted Computing.
Intel is currently working furiously on a cellular chip that will seamlessly roam to WiFi networks. They also want it to carry prodigous amounts of data. Known as the Digital Briefcase specification, any compliant PC will automagically recognize the phone and allow you to log into the PC as if it were your own. Mail, favorites, documents/music and even wallpaper and settings will appear seamlessly. Check out my sig for more...
POTS will die a quick death unless the big TelCos start lobbying for taxes. Slashdotters move these companies up on the list of Evil entities.
Well, ok maybe he doesn't deserve death. But he definitely deserves a very hefty fine and prison cell with Bubba.
But if someone did want to hunt him down at his home address, then I certainly wouldn't step in the way...
Check out the link in my sig. If I am speculating correctly, then Intel will be manufacturing processors that will come with oodles of NVRAM. Oddly, Microsoft is launching a version of Windows called Elements to go along with Intel's upcoming "stackable" Pentium 5. While the market believes that the stacking design is for the addition of 64-bit expansion, I believe it is for NVRAM expansion.
Elements will reside completely in NVRAM. Not only will this allow for great enhancements to power consumption, it also eliminates the need for a BIOS.