so your saying a real bridge engineer also builds the bridge with his own hands?
For the most part.
You've chosen a strategic example to reinforce your argument. In the days of Edison, bridge-building engineers didn't have the proper tools so they were at a disadvantage. Hence the Tacoma Narrows Bridge Collapse. I won't say that a computer might help out with bridge building today, but I won't say that prototype testing doesn't *still* happen either.
Allow me to give a better example.
I live in the Detroit area. Without getting into the performance of the Lions football team (sigh...), witness Ford Field. When the roof was hoisted into position, it set the record for the largest one-piece modular construction object. I was there.
There were more engineers there than there were construction workers. Unless construction workers are wearing collars these days.
The computer is a tool but nothing more. For the most part, you can get yourself in the "ballpark" with good tools but nothing can replace real world testing. A good engineer will come home with their sleeves rolled up and their hands dirty.
I'm not sure why the collar is necessary at that point.
I've always wondered what makes classroom instruction so damn expensive. After the need to *cough*repeat*cough* some classes over, I thought about something:
Why can't a professor just video tape the damn lesson and catalogue the class participation? After a few years, I'd assume that there would be a complete class as well as the entire set of questions/clarification that could possibly be asked.
I also had a prof that made his own book. It'd be real cool if the gov't could create an "open" text book initiative. Books could be freely available online, while other profs could use them, modify them as long as the new version was also freely available.
Once the material was created, I don't see why there couldn't be an "open university" to be used freely by everyone. Obviously, there'd need to be testing centers created, but that is another topic.
Bill Gates: Althought their food is reasonably priced, they require that you eat it at their fancy restaurant and they charge a fortune just to sit down."
It would be really cool if someone who previously DL'ed the movie could cache the movie for others in the local network. This is where STB technology will really make things like this affordable/profitable. Imagine a box that anticipates your viewing and downloads stuff overnight...
First of all, Apple has never strictly enforced the licensing systems they have in place. Nearly all Mac users I've dealt with are lax about it too, usually installing the copy they get with their new computer on their older equipment, or borrowing a copy from a friend.
Uhhh... I think that this applies to all software - not just Apple OSs. This is why the new XP stuff has the online product activation. If Apple followed suit, I don't see how they'd lose any money. The bottom line is that Apple initially planned an OS for x86. Microsoft got scared so they made an "investment" in Apple and then OSX for Intel mysteriously disappears.
OSX on Intel would be extremely profitable for Apple. Unfortunately, I think that Microsoft makes it extremely profitable for Apple's management not to release it.
I'm still curious as to why OSX support for X86-based processors was dropped. I mean, I like OSX, but I hate the way that Apple rapes people with the hardware. I *want* another OS, but Linux is too fragmented for *me*.
I'd pay $200/license for OSX on X86 if they kept away from all the the new MS spyware tactics. I suppose that Linux is likey close to where I need it to be so I guess that I'll hafta wait for that.
Many of the people who want to harm this country via terrorism, have no reason to fear a national ID card. Heck, some of the 911 "terrorists" were here legally and a national ID card could not have stopped them.
The US Gov't just wants people to feel safer so that they spend money and be a good consumer. They aren't fixing the root of the problem (which, ironically, would save us a fortune... see my sig...)
"I mean, if 10 years from now, when you are doing something quick and dirty, you suddenly visualize that I am looking over your shoulders and say to yourself, "Dijkstra would not have liked this", well that would be enough immortality for me"
I've always wondered why they don't ask for participatory commercial effectiveness voting. The Tivo would be an ideal device for this type of system. It would work like this:
When a commercial comes on, the viewer(s) are allowed to rate it on something like a 1 - 10 system. The results could be compiled and bad commercials could be automatically blocked (as a viewer preference) while good commercials could be compiled on the Tivo's drive and watched in a manner that the late adcritic.com had assembled.
I *watch* the Superbowl for the commercials. If this kind of system was implemented and widespread, commercials would become more effective and entertaining (or even informative). As a sidenote, it'd be cool if slashdot did something similar. I'm hesitant to mod down a post that I might disagree with even though I still might find it interesting. I.E. - INTERESTING+1, DISAGREE+1.
Not yet but soon. Microsoft is working on their version of TiVo. You wonder why the Nforce2 has dual ethernet ports? Well, basically, Microsoft is going to take over the loose ends that are hanging in various markets.
Hollywood doesn't want you copying their crap, the cableco's don't want you using more than a single PC on their crap (without paying extra for it) and Microsoft doesn't want you doing anything without paying for their crap.
In the end, you get a set-top box with a built in web-server, network router, PVR features / AV features, gaming, etc, etc, etc. It is a wonderful idea and will likely take everything by storm. The cableco's will stick one of these MS boxes on your TV for free. In return, you'll be able to rent games and movies from them. If you want to add another PC - no problem - the system will automatically run a wizard which will register the system with the cableco, and most importantly - your bill.
Funny you mention the VCR. The floppy was invented by Sony in the late 70s and is likely the ONLY thing that has been a constant throughout PC history. Certainly the 5.25" was more dominant, but that has fallen by the wayside while the 3.5" has stood the test of time.
So where am I going with all of this?
Betamax! Sony lost their shorts on the Betamax - a superior technology that was expensive to license. VHS moved in and stole the show with cheap licensing despite the fact that it was an inferior product.
Linux: Betamax quality with VHS licensing
It is only a matter of time before Linus sees dominance like the 3.5 incher.
Now we can all play games at 3x the refresh rate of the monitor.
We don't need faster anymore. We need cheaper and more integrated. Get rid of the DIMM and PCI slots and all the legacy hardware. Put the memory on the motherboard and create a disposable form factor and an open laptop standard.
No... This relates to Xbox2. Microsoft will be getting with cablecos in order to provide an integrated set top box/router so customers can have multiple PCs through a connection that can be managed/supported by the cableco. It is a great idea, if you ask me.
Xbox/Tivo/Router/Web Server - all managed by Big Brother and everyone will pay extra. MS and cableco will have a piece of the additional revenue.
This has everything to do with MS's scheduled death of Win2k. They've realized that it is a great operating system and could likely support most businesses for the next decade or even more. What happens when everyone on the planet gets a Win2k license? No more money for Microsoft.
With WinXP, they've got this shifty licensing program that will likely confuse consumers into purchasing multiple copies when they don't need to. Steady revenue for Microsoft.
The gov't needs to intervene here - MS had better not drop support for the OS as long as it is viable, damnit. We bought it so we will use it for as long as we need to. We *had to* upgrade from Win95 when they played that card (they offered to support it but each incident was going to be $150k up front).
Slashdot Mirror
so your saying a real bridge engineer also builds the bridge with his own hands?
For the most part.
You've chosen a strategic example to reinforce your argument. In the days of Edison, bridge-building engineers didn't have the proper tools so they were at a disadvantage. Hence the Tacoma Narrows Bridge Collapse. I won't say that a computer might help out with bridge building today, but I won't say that prototype testing doesn't *still* happen either.
Allow me to give a better example.
I live in the Detroit area. Without getting into the performance of the Lions football team (sigh...), witness Ford Field. When the roof was hoisted into position, it set the record for the largest one-piece modular construction object. I was there.
There were more engineers there than there were construction workers. Unless construction workers are wearing collars these days.
Like a big fucking set of Legos.
The computer is a tool but nothing more. For the most part, you can get yourself in the "ballpark" with good tools but nothing can replace real world testing. A good engineer will come home with their sleeves rolled up and their hands dirty.
I'm not sure why the collar is necessary at that point.
I've always wondered what makes classroom instruction so damn expensive. After the need to *cough*repeat*cough* some classes over, I thought about something:
Why can't a professor just video tape the damn lesson and catalogue the class participation? After a few years, I'd assume that there would be a complete class as well as the entire set of questions/clarification that could possibly be asked.
I also had a prof that made his own book. It'd be real cool if the gov't could create an "open" text book initiative. Books could be freely available online, while other profs could use them, modify them as long as the new version was also freely available.
Once the material was created, I don't see why there couldn't be an "open university" to be used freely by everyone. Obviously, there'd need to be testing centers created, but that is another topic.
College is too expensive. It doesn't have to be.
Bill Gates: Althought their food is reasonably priced, they require that you eat it at their fancy restaurant and they charge a fortune just to sit down."
did you know the oil industry owns the patent on NiMH battery technology?
I thought that Energy Conversion Devices did?
*That* worked great. Thanks for posting that at the top of a slashdot thread.
It would be really cool if someone who previously DL'ed the movie could cache the movie for others in the local network. This is where STB technology will really make things like this affordable/profitable. Imagine a box that anticipates your viewing and downloads stuff overnight...
of homer...
I've always referred to earthquakes as a "geological slashdotting". I think that this backs up my theory.
First of all, Apple has never strictly enforced the licensing systems they have in place. Nearly all Mac users I've dealt with are lax about it too, usually installing the copy they get with their new computer on their older equipment, or borrowing a copy from a friend.
Uhhh... I think that this applies to all software - not just Apple OSs. This is why the new XP stuff has the online product activation. If Apple followed suit, I don't see how they'd lose any money. The bottom line is that Apple initially planned an OS for x86. Microsoft got scared so they made an "investment" in Apple and then OSX for Intel mysteriously disappears.
OSX on Intel would be extremely profitable for Apple. Unfortunately, I think that Microsoft makes it extremely profitable for Apple's management not to release it.
I'm still curious as to why OSX support for X86-based processors was dropped. I mean, I like OSX, but I hate the way that Apple rapes people with the hardware. I *want* another OS, but Linux is too fragmented for *me*.
I'd pay $200/license for OSX on X86 if they kept away from all the the new MS spyware tactics. I suppose that Linux is likey close to where I need it to be so I guess that I'll hafta wait for that.
Many of the people who want to harm this country via terrorism, have no reason to fear a national ID card. Heck, some of the 911 "terrorists" were here legally and a national ID card could not have stopped them.
The US Gov't just wants people to feel safer so that they spend money and be a good consumer. They aren't fixing the root of the problem (which, ironically, would save us a fortune... see my sig...)
As long as they aren't pop up ads...
'Dude' builds himself a new webserver, as the Slashdot crowd help him melt his after only a few minutes! :)
If he knows what's good for him, he'll put some of them built-in cup holders on the new web server in order to prepare for future slashdottings.
Sigh...
This isn't a campaign against *open source* but rather a campaign against *open source only laws*. I can fully agree with that. Freedom of choice.
Stop loading the headlines.
First page of the instruction manual that comes with a laser:
CAUTION: DO NOT LOOK INTO LASER WITH REMAINING EYE!
"I mean, if 10 years from now, when you are doing something quick and dirty, you suddenly visualize that I am looking over your shoulders and say to yourself, "Dijkstra would not have liked this", well that would be enough immortality for me"
Was he still talking about programming here?
Linux sales down, but the RIAA believes that piracy is the cause.
I've always wondered why they don't ask for participatory commercial effectiveness voting. The Tivo would be an ideal device for this type of system. It would work like this:
When a commercial comes on, the viewer(s) are allowed to rate it on something like a 1 - 10 system. The results could be compiled and bad commercials could be automatically blocked (as a viewer preference) while good commercials could be compiled on the Tivo's drive and watched in a manner that the late adcritic.com had assembled.
I *watch* the Superbowl for the commercials. If this kind of system was implemented and widespread, commercials would become more effective and entertaining (or even informative). As a sidenote, it'd be cool if slashdot did something similar. I'm hesitant to mod down a post that I might disagree with even though I still might find it interesting. I.E. - INTERESTING+1, DISAGREE+1.
The world could be a better place, eh?
No one does it quite right yet...
Not yet but soon. Microsoft is working on their version of TiVo. You wonder why the Nforce2 has dual ethernet ports? Well, basically, Microsoft is going to take over the loose ends that are hanging in various markets.
Hollywood doesn't want you copying their crap, the cableco's don't want you using more than a single PC on their crap (without paying extra for it) and Microsoft doesn't want you doing anything without paying for their crap.
In the end, you get a set-top box with a built in web-server, network router, PVR features / AV features, gaming, etc, etc, etc. It is a wonderful idea and will likely take everything by storm. The cableco's will stick one of these MS boxes on your TV for free. In return, you'll be able to rent games and movies from them. If you want to add another PC - no problem - the system will automatically run a wizard which will register the system with the cableco, and most importantly - your bill.
It had to happen sooner or later.
You make this sound like a bad thing. As long as it doesn't affect my current service, I like having the option of jumping up a notch in performance.
The next week my VCR also suffered the same fate.
Funny you mention the VCR. The floppy was invented by Sony in the late 70s and is likely the ONLY thing that has been a constant throughout PC history. Certainly the 5.25" was more dominant, but that has fallen by the wayside while the 3.5" has stood the test of time.
So where am I going with all of this?
Betamax! Sony lost their shorts on the Betamax - a superior technology that was expensive to license. VHS moved in and stole the show with cheap licensing despite the fact that it was an inferior product.
Linux: Betamax quality with VHS licensing
It is only a matter of time before Linus sees dominance like the 3.5 incher.
Now we can all play games at 3x the refresh rate of the monitor.
We don't need faster anymore. We need cheaper and more integrated. Get rid of the DIMM and PCI slots and all the legacy hardware. Put the memory on the motherboard and create a disposable form factor and an open laptop standard.
Hello? Anyone listening?
No... This relates to Xbox2. Microsoft will be getting with cablecos in order to provide an integrated set top box/router so customers can have multiple PCs through a connection that can be managed/supported by the cableco. It is a great idea, if you ask me.
Xbox/Tivo/Router/Web Server - all managed by Big Brother and everyone will pay extra. MS and cableco will have a piece of the additional revenue.
This has very little to do with the death of w2k.
This has everything to do with MS's scheduled death of Win2k. They've realized that it is a great operating system and could likely support most businesses for the next decade or even more. What happens when everyone on the planet gets a Win2k license? No more money for Microsoft.
With WinXP, they've got this shifty licensing program that will likely confuse consumers into purchasing multiple copies when they don't need to. Steady revenue for Microsoft.
The gov't needs to intervene here - MS had better not drop support for the OS as long as it is viable, damnit. We bought it so we will use it for as long as we need to. We *had to* upgrade from Win95 when they played that card (they offered to support it but each incident was going to be $150k up front).