I'm just going to come out and say it...senior citizens are cheapskates and typically vote down any referendum that would provide adequate funding to the schools.
However, I can't totally blame them because...The other big problem is with school districts. Schools should be administered at the county level. Where I live, it's done locally, creating a ton of redundancy all within a few miles. The county above me runs schools on a county level and pays less real estate taxes. Discuss.
If this helps, I recently burned an audio CD with iTunes for my car stereo. The songs came from a mix of 192kbps VBR MP3s I had ripped with Cyberlink MP3 PowerEncoder and 128kbps fixed rate AACs downloaded from iTMS. The songs that originated from AAC files sounded pretty darn near CD quality (and didn't make me cringe), while the songs that originated from MP3 files sounded muddled relative to the AAC-originating files. As a result, I'm using AAC as my preferred ripping format (albeit bumped up to 192kbps b/c I have the space).
Yes, you do own it, just as you own a CD. However, copyright law says you cannot distribute copies to others unless the copyright owner gives you permission (and they typically don't).
If you've ever licensed data (ie for work/research purposes), then you'll know that the transaction is significantly different than an outright purchase.
Since I heard Apple offers discounts to government employees and my dad works for the state govt, I looked at the "government employee discounted" version of Apple's online store. OS X Panther can be had for $65 bucks by state govt. employees! Hardware discounts are much more modest, however.
iTunes needs to see a "CDROM loaded in a CDROM drive," meaning you can't just open up an ISO file in iTunes. If Alcohol 120% lets you create a virtual CDROM drive that iTunes will recognize as just another hardware drive, then you should be good to go.
Even in the electronic age, we've had things like the Visa Buxx card that lets parents charge up a card for the kids. Before that, banks (through their own systems and by customers using Quicken) have been able to automate weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, etc. transfers into other accounts.
You should have previewed the whole album before buying just 1 track, then the whole thing. The main advantages of iTMS is that it greatly shortens the gap between "try it" and "buy it".
I have a Linux box with Samba serving my tunes. My Windows computer accesses it as a mapped drive. I can rip, listen and burn with my setup with no problems.
Hmm? My MP3 collection is on my Linux/Samba server. Windows XP mounts the share as the S drive (for shared!). I told iTunes that my music folder is s:\music. It just works for me.
I wish. This is the only thing I don't like about TiVo. At least it's a bullet point at the bottom of the menu that you can pretty much ignore. They should at least let you pick the general types of sponsors...or give you Google text ads like the latest free version of Opera now sports.
Your information is erroneous. TiVo units cost as little as $200 for a 40-hour Series 2 unit. There are other units that cost much more, but most people don't need anything beyond 40 hours.
A lifetime subscription was $250, but is now $300. However, if you sell your TiVo down the road, the lifetime subscription would go with it and you'll get your $300 back (it has no reason to depreciate). No one on eBay sells their lifetime subscription for less than what they paid. Hardware depreciates, naturally.
Series 2 units take a USB ethernet adapter. A USB NIC is $25 or so...you can choose from several models, including 802.11b now.
If you don't want to buy the Home Media Option software for $50, then don't buy it. It is for viewing photos and streaming MP3s from another computer. It has no relationship whatsoever to the core functionality of TiVo.
"- Record shows as favorites (just like season passes) or let SageTV record things based on my past viewing habits (much like tivo's suggestions only I don't have to bother with thumbs up and down buttons)"
How does it know to not record programming that sucks if you can't give something a thumbs-down or equivalent?
"- Do all of the above with an integrated schedule, which is free. No need to pay a monthly fee."
Putting aside the fact that you can pay a one-time fee for TiVo's service...your integrated schedule is not free. Maybe you don't pay for it, but someone is paying. How sustainable is such a setup? Out of curiousity, who produces your guide data?
Short answer: Because there is a *lot* of potential in having a consistent, cross referenced database of shows, descriptions, actors, directors and genres sitting on your hard drive. It's how TiVo manages and prioritizes "Season Passes" for shows I watch regularly and finds on its own tons of good (for me, educational) shows that I'd otherwise miss or never hear about.
Besides, one typically pays the lifetime service fee doesn't have to pay a monthly subscription. Even though the hardware will depreciate to $0 value in a couple years, the lifetime service never goes down in value if you decide to resell.
TiVo comes pre-built in a sleek case with all the software up and running and it updates itself (program guide + OS) by itself...this makes it much more accessible to the public.
E-Lad: I went to the link you provided. Based upon what I read, it looks like Mail.app is going to use Outlook Web Access as a workaround to using the Exchange server directly. That's the same way Ximian Connector works for Evolution. IMO, actual, native Exchange support should be the way to go.
...but I'm the kind of guy that likes the ease of use systems like XP Pro and Mandrake Linux (both of which I currently use). Windows and Mandrake provide me with a flexible and simple to configure desktop environment.
Short of switching to OS X, is there any FreeBSD-based distribution that is as simple to install as Windows or Mandrake Linux?
Apple is *always* my first recommendation when people ask me. I specifically recommend the 17" widescreen iMac. Then, when they complain about how expensive it is, I follow-up with Dell.
Given the ubiquity of the RIAA's music, most consumers of music undoubtedly have a long-standing relationship with the RIAA. IMO, the RIAA is being incredibly short-sighted in approaching their marketing relationships with consumers. If they start suing consumers who would otherwise provide a long-term (30+years) revenue stream, despite some odd spots of file-sharing, they will produce angry consumers and greatly reduce and possibly lose those long-term revenues.
As for myself, I've committed to avoid purchasing RIAA music and only steer my dollars toward independent labels. I don't use P2P, but I'm personally disgusted that children and elderly are being sued, irregardless of the technical legality of their actions.
Perhaps a smaller, niche market OEM could start marketing "Security-Enhanced" desktop computers that come with built-in firewall software (a la Zone Alarm) and either Moz or Opera as the default browser. Then, instead of recommending someone like Dell or Gateway to friends and family (to get them out of our hair for support issues), we could recommend this special OEM's "Security-Enhanced" computers. Hell, Alienware could do it since they're into selling bleeding-edge systems for a premium.
Well, he did switch to the good side when he found out he was Austin's brother, so that makes perfect sense to me. Of course, he'd be using the new Zeta (www.yellowtab.com) distribution of BeOS.
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I'm just going to come out and say it...senior citizens are cheapskates and typically vote down any referendum that would provide adequate funding to the schools.
However, I can't totally blame them because...The other big problem is with school districts. Schools should be administered at the county level. Where I live, it's done locally, creating a ton of redundancy all within a few miles. The county above me runs schools on a county level and pays less real estate taxes. Discuss.
If this helps, I recently burned an audio CD with iTunes for my car stereo. The songs came from a mix of 192kbps VBR MP3s I had ripped with Cyberlink MP3 PowerEncoder and 128kbps fixed rate AACs downloaded from iTMS. The songs that originated from AAC files sounded pretty darn near CD quality (and didn't make me cringe), while the songs that originated from MP3 files sounded muddled relative to the AAC-originating files. As a result, I'm using AAC as my preferred ripping format (albeit bumped up to 192kbps b/c I have the space).
Yes, you do own it, just as you own a CD. However, copyright law says you cannot distribute copies to others unless the copyright owner gives you permission (and they typically don't).
If you've ever licensed data (ie for work/research purposes), then you'll know that the transaction is significantly different than an outright purchase.
Since I heard Apple offers discounts to government employees and my dad works for the state govt, I looked at the "government employee discounted" version of Apple's online store. OS X Panther can be had for $65 bucks by state govt. employees! Hardware discounts are much more modest, however.
Just replace "consumer" with "citizen" and you've got a winner!
"It may need to run IE for some ActiveX crud."
Their own self-imposed technological restrictions don't amount to a legitimate excuse, IMO.
iTunes needs to see a "CDROM loaded in a CDROM drive," meaning you can't just open up an ISO file in iTunes. If Alcohol 120% lets you create a virtual CDROM drive that iTunes will recognize as just another hardware drive, then you should be good to go.
Even in the electronic age, we've had things like the Visa Buxx card that lets parents charge up a card for the kids. Before that, banks (through their own systems and by customers using Quicken) have been able to automate weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, etc. transfers into other accounts.
You should have previewed the whole album before buying just 1 track, then the whole thing. The main advantages of iTMS is that it greatly shortens the gap between "try it" and "buy it".
I have a Linux box with Samba serving my tunes. My Windows computer accesses it as a mapped drive. I can rip, listen and burn with my setup with no problems.
Hmm? My MP3 collection is on my Linux/Samba server. Windows XP mounts the share as the S drive (for shared!). I told iTunes that my music folder is s:\music. It just works for me.
Because I prefer to use the MP3 format, which I know will work on any platform/device I choose.
Yes, you can. I bought the Cyberlink MP3 Powerencoder plugin for 10 bucks, but there's probably a less expensive option. It goes up to 320kbps.
I believe you meant to say "Verisign." Verizon is the (slightly less evil) phone company for much of the Northeastern US.
I wish. This is the only thing I don't like about TiVo. At least it's a bullet point at the bottom of the menu that you can pretty much ignore. They should at least let you pick the general types of sponsors...or give you Google text ads like the latest free version of Opera now sports.
Your information is erroneous. TiVo units cost as little as $200 for a 40-hour Series 2 unit. There are other units that cost much more, but most people don't need anything beyond 40 hours.
A lifetime subscription was $250, but is now $300. However, if you sell your TiVo down the road, the lifetime subscription would go with it and you'll get your $300 back (it has no reason to depreciate). No one on eBay sells their lifetime subscription for less than what they paid. Hardware depreciates, naturally.
Series 2 units take a USB ethernet adapter. A USB NIC is $25 or so...you can choose from several models, including 802.11b now.
If you don't want to buy the Home Media Option software for $50, then don't buy it. It is for viewing photos and streaming MP3s from another computer. It has no relationship whatsoever to the core functionality of TiVo.
"- Record shows as favorites (just like season passes) or let SageTV record things based on my past viewing habits (much like tivo's suggestions only I don't have to bother with thumbs up and down buttons)"
How does it know to not record programming that sucks if you can't give something a thumbs-down or equivalent?
"- Do all of the above with an integrated schedule, which is free. No need to pay a monthly fee."
Putting aside the fact that you can pay a one-time fee for TiVo's service...your integrated schedule is not free. Maybe you don't pay for it, but someone is paying. How sustainable is such a setup? Out of curiousity, who produces your guide data?
Short answer: Because there is a *lot* of potential in having a consistent, cross referenced database of shows, descriptions, actors, directors and genres sitting on your hard drive. It's how TiVo manages and prioritizes "Season Passes" for shows I watch regularly and finds on its own tons of good (for me, educational) shows that I'd otherwise miss or never hear about.
Besides, one typically pays the lifetime service fee doesn't have to pay a monthly subscription. Even though the hardware will depreciate to $0 value in a couple years, the lifetime service never goes down in value if you decide to resell.
TiVo comes pre-built in a sleek case with all the software up and running and it updates itself (program guide + OS) by itself...this makes it much more accessible to the public.
E-Lad: I went to the link you provided. Based upon what I read, it looks like Mail.app is going to use Outlook Web Access as a workaround to using the Exchange server directly. That's the same way Ximian Connector works for Evolution. IMO, actual, native Exchange support should be the way to go.
...but I'm the kind of guy that likes the ease of use systems like XP Pro and Mandrake Linux (both of which I currently use). Windows and Mandrake provide me with a flexible and simple to configure desktop environment.
Short of switching to OS X, is there any FreeBSD-based distribution that is as simple to install as Windows or Mandrake Linux?
Apple is *always* my first recommendation when people ask me. I specifically recommend the 17" widescreen iMac. Then, when they complain about how expensive it is, I follow-up with Dell.
Given the ubiquity of the RIAA's music, most consumers of music undoubtedly have a long-standing relationship with the RIAA. IMO, the RIAA is being incredibly short-sighted in approaching their marketing relationships with consumers. If they start suing consumers who would otherwise provide a long-term (30+years) revenue stream, despite some odd spots of file-sharing, they will produce angry consumers and greatly reduce and possibly lose those long-term revenues.
As for myself, I've committed to avoid purchasing RIAA music and only steer my dollars toward independent labels. I don't use P2P, but I'm personally disgusted that children and elderly are being sued, irregardless of the technical legality of their actions.
That's because they sue *other* lawyer's customers.
Perhaps a smaller, niche market OEM could start marketing "Security-Enhanced" desktop computers that come with built-in firewall software (a la Zone Alarm) and either Moz or Opera as the default browser. Then, instead of recommending someone like Dell or Gateway to friends and family (to get them out of our hair for support issues), we could recommend this special OEM's "Security-Enhanced" computers. Hell, Alienware could do it since they're into selling bleeding-edge systems for a premium.
Well, he did switch to the good side when he found out he was Austin's brother, so that makes perfect sense to me. Of course, he'd be using the new Zeta (www.yellowtab.com) distribution of BeOS.