I agree, it is sad that things are changing in this regard, but the world has changed. It is more hostile, and almost every avenue for customization is also a path for malware and viruses. And most users are not savvy, and become victim of external attacks. Unfortunately, no matter what the root cause, the vendor ends up getting the blame.
However, it would be nice if there was a switch that could be thrown, perhaps as part of the XCode install...
My dictionary definers 'manners' as 'polite or well-bred social behavior. It is learned to improve social integration. It is also based on individual decision making. The value is that I make a choice, my manners imply a respect for others. Not uncharacteristically, the Microsoft solution presumes to remove that freedom of choice, and thus limiting individual freedom. It also undermines the true meaning and value of conscious manners, without choice there is no conscious respect. This is not unlike an Orwellian society, which removes moral choice by simply making it impossible to make the wrong choice to begin with; means may include continuous surveillance and the removal of all potential implements of violence such as pocket knives and toiletry liquids more than 3 oz in volume...
I would check into Macromedia Breeze. We are looking at it seriously for a client, initially using the services from Macromedia, and later setting up our own servers with custom "Pods" - software modules - tied directly into the vendor's software.
Its use is extremely easy, it is efficient, and most importantyl, since it uses the Flash player, most customers or business partners will have an easy way to tie in.
Then set up a conference room with simple PCs for every participant (screens recessed), video cameras, or laptops (depending on budget.) You could get more fancy with cameras following participants, a screen projector and white board.
The key thing is that this is scalable starting from the desktop, and starting with a service to setting up yur own servers. And it really works.
I do agree that virtual meetings do not completely replace in person contact, but in complex situations they sure beat conference calls!
We were going to build a custom solution, but this is so much better. Cross platform, too!
I switched to a Sony Clie primarily for eBooks. Reasons are simply: - Awesome, large format screen, especially when using a Palm reader pro - Fantastic battery life - I was reading and listening to OGG music on a 12 hour plus trip, and did not run out. Without music play, it seems to go forever. - Works well with OS X (using 3rd party software) Of course, there are other nice features such as WiFi, camera, and the usual features for a Palm PDA.
I have used Newtons, other Palms, and PocketPCs. The Toshiba e740 was not bad, but the battery life is poor even with the big batteries.
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I agree, it is sad that things are changing in this regard, but the world has changed. It is more hostile, and almost every avenue for customization is also a path for malware and viruses. And most users are not savvy, and become victim of external attacks.
Unfortunately, no matter what the root cause, the vendor ends up getting the blame.
However, it would be nice if there was a switch that could be thrown, perhaps as part of the XCode install...
My dictionary definers 'manners' as 'polite or well-bred social behavior. It is learned to improve social integration. It is also based on individual decision making. The value is that I make a choice, my manners imply a respect for others.
Not uncharacteristically, the Microsoft solution presumes to remove that freedom of choice, and thus limiting individual freedom. It also undermines the true meaning and value of conscious manners, without choice there is no conscious respect.
This is not unlike an Orwellian society, which removes moral choice by simply making it impossible to make the wrong choice to begin with; means may include continuous surveillance and the removal of all potential implements of violence such as pocket knives and toiletry liquids more than 3 oz in volume...
I would check into Macromedia Breeze. We are looking at it seriously for a client, initially using the services from Macromedia, and later setting up our own servers with custom "Pods" - software modules - tied directly into the vendor's software.
Its use is extremely easy, it is efficient, and most importantyl, since it uses the Flash player, most customers or business partners will have an easy way to tie in.
Then set up a conference room with simple PCs for every participant (screens recessed), video cameras, or laptops (depending on budget.) You could get more fancy with cameras following participants, a screen projector and white board.
The key thing is that this is scalable starting from the desktop, and starting with a service to setting up yur own servers. And it really works.
I do agree that virtual meetings do not completely replace in person contact, but in complex situations they sure beat conference calls!
We were going to build a custom solution, but this is so much better. Cross platform, too!
I switched to a Sony Clie primarily for eBooks. Reasons are simply:
- Awesome, large format screen, especially when using a Palm reader pro
- Fantastic battery life - I was reading and listening to OGG music on a 12 hour plus trip, and did not run out. Without music play, it seems to go forever.
- Works well with OS X (using 3rd party software)
Of course, there are other nice features such as WiFi, camera, and the usual features for a Palm PDA.
I have used Newtons, other Palms, and PocketPCs. The Toshiba e740 was not bad, but the battery life is poor even with the big batteries.
Of course, this fun does not come cheaply...
-- Harald