Methinks that bands who have already cashed in and have as much money as they're likely to need (Bowie, the Dead) are going to lead the way in making mp3 a more popular "legit" format.
Personally, I think it'd be cool if this all pans out in the bands having to tour more and make their money that way. I'm sick of bands showing up once every two years for a two-month tour of six major cities to promote a new album and raking it in through record sales.
Not to worry, friends. Your friendly dealer of high-quality operating systems and applications would never stoop so low as to try and fool the public by paying people to support it in online forums. Why, that would be as bad as, say, sending fake "letters to the editor" in major newspapers or trying to fake a video for a major antitrust trial!
The hard working men and women of Microsoft are the best of the best in their fields. They've been working for better than two decades to bring you stable and easy-to-use systems.
If a product gets delayed, say, or promised features aren't delivered, who can say that Microsoft isn't just protecting the consumer? And this nonsense we've all heard lately about how Microsoft isn't lowering their prices and how you must purchase Microsoft products if you want a PC; what's the problem? After all, it's not as if there's any other operating system out there that treats you better.
(Although it should be noted that MacOS and Linux and BeOS and the C64 operating system are all very complete and powerful systems that could strip Microsoft of it's marketshare and leave its employees out on the street with their children starving if Microsoft's right to innovate is taken away by the Evil United States Government).
Now, forget about this silly and obviously overblown side-show and return to the protective cocoon that is Microsoft and its products. Log on to your Windows 98(tm) or Windows NT(tm) machines, fire up MSN(tm), and have a good 'ol time using Hotmail(tm) or "surfin' the web" and checking out Slate(tm) with Microsoft Internet Explorer(tm).
To say this is the end of proprietary games is nonsense when we have yet to see one modern blockbuster game that was developed under (L)GPL. I mean, even games like Golgatha has a great deal of work done on them when they were proprietary software.
Why stop with car chase notification? So long as we're pandering to the LCD, why not just go all the way and introduce:
THE SPORTS INJURY PAGING SERVICE: For only 99 cents per month, our team of experts will watch every professional football, basketball, hockey, baseball, lacrosse and foozeball game and page you whenever a "Oh, my God!" injury occurs so you can be sure to watch SportsCenter that night and see the incident along with witty commentary. For a small extra fee, we'll also alert you if Dennis Rodman assaults anyone else.
THE SOAP-OPERA SEX PAGER: For a mere 99 cents per month, our team of highly trained housewives will watch all your favorite daytime dramas and alert you whenever two of the characters end up in bed together. For a small extra fee, we'll also alert you whenever a hunky male lead takes off his shirt (warning: this service may cause severe pager battery drain).
THE SLASHDOT PAGER: Never miss another chance at a FIRST COMMENT! This handy-dandy paging service will alert you whenever Rob Malda or any of his merry men post an article to Slashdot. For a small extra fee, we'll only page you when there's actually geek news posted (note: you may have to call our 800 number every so often to confirm that this additional service is actually working).
Allowing anonymous posts on a popular, unedited site will eventually lead to it being almost impossible to read through.
Witness what's happened with/. lately.
Can anyone bear to read through the terrible signal to noise ratio that has evolved here lately? For every worthwhile post, you see at least ten "Aw, that's bullshit, you suck" or "I obviously didn't read the article, but here's my opinion anyway" posts.
The reason for this ought to be obvious: the real idiots out there can post with impunity; they can use anonymity as an excuse. Realistically, AC's rarely contribute anything of substance. They have no motivation to say anything important or even related to the article.
There ought to at least be a way to filter out all AC comments so you have a better chance of getting some value out of a discussion. Katz can deal with their crap, I don't want to anymore.
Interesting that an article about Linux and commercialization brings up a quote from the Art of War. I guess TNT timed their playing of "Wall Street" better than they could have guessed...
Okay, it's true that they messed up. Wine Is Not and Emulator, but it's not an emulator for a rather technical reason that the target audience of the piece both don't care about and wouldn't understand.
You have to lighten up on mainstream information a bit -- they can't always be 100% technically accurate because they're writing for everybody. If this were an ACM publication, I'd be upset. It's not. They have a lot of info to impart and very little space to do it in (as well as limited reader attention span).
I mean, what if stories on astronomy focused on complex physics equations rather than on cool photos and a simplified description? I'd stop reading 'cause I don't care about physics. Same deal here.
Sites like this are proof positive that we ought to begin requiring some kind of test before we allow people to buy computers.
Think about it: it'd keep the net from becoming sucked down by the lowest common denomonator(sp?). Someone walks into Best Buy and asks to buy a Packard Bell, for instance, and they automatically fail the test and are condemned to Silicon Hell for all eternity.
We could be nice, have five-month training courses and the like for smart people who just have never used a computer. The truly stupid people out there would still fail and not be allowed to own a computer. Maybe we could sterilize them while we're at it...
You'd stop hearing things like "I'm having a problem with my microsoft" (because MS would be out of business). No more "I think AOL gives fine service".
What? A monopoly giving poor service to its customers? Why, who ever could have seen something like that happening?
Personally, I still believe that big monopolies are the best thing for the computer industry. I mean, look at what a terrific company MS is (not that they're a monopoly, mind you!). You never see them taking advantage of their monopoly status to push half-assed and buggy products or excuse lousy support and sky-high licensing fees. For example, the cost of Windows hasn't gone up all that much, and look what you get in return!
Well, I'd think that Stephen Hawking ought to be happy about this one; I hear that ALS would eventually break down his ability to move that last finger or direct his eyes.
At least he won't get cut off. That always struck me as being really horrifying; to have so much to say and no way to say it....
I'm not sure that Sony has a chance here. I mean, how do you claim to own an API? I'm sort of shocked that the companies that produce games for the Playstation aren't upset at this -- this can only increase their potential market.
Anyhow, I think this is bull; imagine if Bill Gates were to sue a company whose software allowed you to emulate Windows and run Windows applications on Linux (aka, shut down WINE through whatever means). This isn't that different; Sony enjoys a monopoly in the sense that if you want to play certain titles, you must own a playstation.
Sounds like it would work, but the $12k price tag is a turn-off for me.
I'll probably just have to take a page out of the Hamas handbook and pack a $200 car full of explosives. I can lodge a brick on top of the gas and make a run for it before the explosion hits.
The question is: what kind of explosives should I be looking to use? The feds are looking at big fertilizer purchases, C4 is hard to get and expensive...
Okay, time to strap a hundred pounds of C-4 to my body and take out the local Circuit City.
Hey, it works for religious terrorists. Unless someone out there can set me up with a government surplus cruise missle and aiming system (actually, I think I'd prefer that)...
What I really want to know is this: Who the hell is disposing of all their stuff in an open flame? By this, I mean people who aren't high school age boys who look at the warning labels, smile, and yell "Chemical fire time, guys!" -- I assume they don't heed the warnings anyhow.
You know there has to be some dumbass who dumps all the cans of Glade that they used in their double-wide into a big 'ol fire in back and then tries to make s'mores. We gotta find 'em and pour some chlorine in that gene pool....
Thank God they're not decommissioning MIR. I mean, it seems to me that the way to keep folks in orbit safe is to have more places in orbit that they can flee to. Decommissioning MIR seems purely political, if they can afford and practically keep it operating after all.
The US is just looking to validate the overly-expensive ISS. We would have been better off spending the money on a Mars mission or elsewise going where No One Has Gone Before, and the dipshits at NASA know it. $50 billion is way too much money for a simple space station.
Slashdot Mirror
God, I can't wait for Mozilla.
----
Methinks that bands who have already cashed in and have as much money as they're likely to need (Bowie, the Dead) are going to lead the way in making mp3 a more popular "legit" format.
Personally, I think it'd be cool if this all pans out in the bands having to tour more and make their money that way. I'm sick of bands showing up once every two years for a two-month tour of six major cities to promote a new album and raking it in through record sales.
----
----
The hard working men and women of Microsoft are the best of the best in their fields. They've been working for better than two decades to bring you stable and easy-to-use systems.
If a product gets delayed, say, or promised features aren't delivered, who can say that Microsoft isn't just protecting the consumer? And this nonsense we've all heard lately about how Microsoft isn't lowering their prices and how you must purchase Microsoft products if you want a PC; what's the problem? After all, it's not as if there's any other operating system out there that treats you better.
(Although it should be noted that MacOS and Linux and BeOS and the C64 operating system are all very complete and powerful systems that could strip Microsoft of it's marketshare and leave its employees out on the street with their children starving if Microsoft's right to innovate is taken away by the Evil United States Government).
Now, forget about this silly and obviously overblown side-show and return to the protective cocoon that is Microsoft and its products. Log on to your Windows 98(tm) or Windows NT(tm) machines, fire up MSN(tm), and have a good 'ol time using Hotmail(tm) or "surfin' the web" and checking out Slate(tm) with Microsoft Internet Explorer(tm).
----
----
THE SPORTS INJURY PAGING SERVICE: For only 99 cents per month, our team of experts will watch every professional football, basketball, hockey, baseball, lacrosse and foozeball game and page you whenever a "Oh, my God!" injury occurs so you can be sure to watch SportsCenter that night and see the incident along with witty commentary. For a small extra fee, we'll also alert you if Dennis Rodman assaults anyone else.
THE SOAP-OPERA SEX PAGER: For a mere 99 cents per month, our team of highly trained housewives will watch all your favorite daytime dramas and alert you whenever two of the characters end up in bed together. For a small extra fee, we'll also alert you whenever a hunky male lead takes off his shirt (warning: this service may cause severe pager battery drain).
THE SLASHDOT PAGER: Never miss another chance at a FIRST COMMENT! This handy-dandy paging service will alert you whenever Rob Malda or any of his merry men post an article to Slashdot. For a small extra fee, we'll only page you when there's actually geek news posted (note: you may have to call our 800 number every so often to confirm that this additional service is actually working).
----
Witness what's happened with /. lately.
Can anyone bear to read through the terrible signal to noise ratio that has evolved here lately? For every worthwhile post, you see at least ten "Aw, that's bullshit, you suck" or "I obviously didn't read the article, but here's my opinion anyway" posts.
The reason for this ought to be obvious: the real idiots out there can post with impunity; they can use anonymity as an excuse. Realistically, AC's rarely contribute anything of substance. They have no motivation to say anything important or even related to the article.
There ought to at least be a way to filter out all AC comments so you have a better chance of getting some value out of a discussion. Katz can deal with their crap, I don't want to anymore.
----
commercialization brings up a quote from the Art
of War. I guess TNT timed their playing of "Wall
Street" better than they could have guessed...
"Greed is Good"... =)
----
----
You have to lighten up on mainstream information a bit -- they can't always be 100% technically accurate because they're writing for everybody. If this were an ACM publication, I'd be upset. It's not. They have a lot of info to impart and very little space to do it in (as well as limited reader attention span).
I mean, what if stories on astronomy focused on complex physics equations rather than on cool photos and a simplified description? I'd stop reading 'cause I don't care about physics. Same deal here.
----
I know that you and I aren't on the best of terms
and all, what with me agreeing with Jody Foster's
character in that one movie and all, but I have a
prayer to offer up if you're listening:
Please, kill DIVX.
Maybe slaying the first-born of every Circuit City
ad exec would do it. Maybe raining brimstone
inside each Circuit City would do it (assuming the
sale isn't that great -- I bet people would deal
with the brimstone for a $80 scanner).
I know you're trying to help, but just giving the
salespeople facial blemishes doesn't seem to be
helping.
Amen.
----
----
to begin requiring some kind of test before we
allow people to buy computers.
Think about it: it'd keep the net from becoming
sucked down by the lowest common denomonator(sp?).
Someone walks into Best Buy and asks to buy a
Packard Bell, for instance, and they automatically
fail the test and are condemned to Silicon Hell
for all eternity.
We could be nice, have five-month training courses
and the like for smart people who just have never
used a computer. The truly stupid people out there
would still fail and not be allowed to own a
computer. Maybe we could sterilize them while
we're at it...
You'd stop hearing things like "I'm having a
problem with my microsoft" (because MS would be
out of business). No more "I think AOL gives fine
service".
Better yet -- dare I hope? -- no more "FIRST!!".
I can dream, damnit.
----
customers? Why, who ever could have seen something
like that happening?
Personally, I still believe that big monopolies
are the best thing for the computer industry. I
mean, look at what a terrific company MS is (not
that they're a monopoly, mind you!). You never see
them taking advantage of their monopoly status to
push half-assed and buggy products or excuse lousy
support and sky-high licensing fees. For example,
the cost of Windows hasn't gone up all that much,
and look what you get in return!
----
happy about this one; I hear that ALS would
eventually break down his ability to move that
last finger or direct his eyes.
At least he won't get cut off. That always struck
me as being really horrifying; to have so much to
say and no way to say it....
----
how do you claim to own an API? I'm sort of
shocked that the companies that produce games for
the Playstation aren't upset at this -- this can
only increase their potential market.
Anyhow, I think this is bull; imagine if Bill
Gates were to sue a company whose software allowed
you to emulate Windows and run Windows
applications on Linux (aka, shut down WINE through
whatever means). This isn't that different; Sony
enjoys a monopoly in the sense that if you want to
play certain titles, you must own a playstation.
----
magnesium case...
----
is a turn-off for me.
I'll probably just have to take a page out of the
Hamas handbook and pack a $200 car full of
explosives. I can lodge a brick on top of the gas
and make a run for it before the explosion hits.
The question is: what kind of explosives should I
be looking to use? The feds are looking at big
fertilizer purchases, C4 is hard to get and
expensive...
Maybe a fuel-air bomb. Anyone got schematics?
----
body and take out the local Circuit City.
Hey, it works for religious terrorists. Unless
someone out there can set me up with a government
surplus cruise missle and aiming system (actually,
I think I'd prefer that)...
----
airplane knowing that the penguin is watching
over me.
Even though penguins can't fly.
Anyhow, it's good to know that really mission-
critical applications are being entrusted to real
stable systems and development paradigms.
----
timeline is this quote (quoted from memory):
"All the open source movement needs is a grown-up
to step in and lead it without all the petty
bickering".
Hmm, sounds like he saw a /. KDE/Gnome flamewar...
----
What I really want to know is this: Who the hell
is disposing of all their stuff in an open flame?
By this, I mean people who aren't high school age
boys who look at the warning labels, smile, and
yell "Chemical fire time, guys!" -- I assume they
don't heed the warnings anyhow.
You know there has to be some dumbass who dumps
all the cans of Glade that they used in their
double-wide into a big 'ol fire in back and then
tries to make s'mores. We gotta find 'em and pour
some chlorine in that gene pool....
----
it seems to me that the way to keep folks in orbit
safe is to have more places in orbit that they can
flee to. Decommissioning MIR seems purely
political, if they can afford and practically keep
it operating after all.
The US is just looking to validate the
overly-expensive ISS. We would have been better
off spending the money on a Mars mission or
elsewise going where No One Has Gone Before, and
the dipshits at NASA know it. $50 billion is way
too much money for a simple space station.
Go MIR!
----