This is REALLY weird. I used to fear Communism and nuclear war from our 'enemies'; now I fear databases from my own government. How ironic; maybe the Cold War should have just kept going.
....may posters have said that they wonder if the owners of these new boxen will replace Mandrake or Lindows with XP; is this even possible given XP's minimum requirements? At 800 MHz I would think the PC would be pushed, at a minimum, to its maximum level of performance utilizing the OS alone besides whatever software would otherwise be installed by the consumer. Hell, one (high end) game installation and there you go, BOOM. Now you start running programs in the background (AV, firewall, etc...). Is this even possible?
I'm not sure I agree entirely with the generalization that most people just want to surf the web, email and have word processing. The vicious circle of software, hardware, software, hardware usually stems from (I believe) people discovering what they can do with their computers and various software applications. My dad (who has an issue just logging on to the PC) completely hates it; however when he discovered through a magazine he subscribes that he could buy a software program that lets him fly virtual RC planes (he builds them as a hobby), he went NUTS! You can crash the plane and not have to rebuild it! YEAHH! He figured he may as well use that $1200 piece of 'junk' in the den for something useful; albeit to him. He purchased the software, I installed and configured for him (no small task with XP) and now he's happy as a clam and wanting to find out more. Point being, these programs generally need specific requirements which don't come on stripped down PCs (video, audio and memory). I think the general populous is moving to higher end systems because they HAVE to; not that they NEED to. Just my 2 cents.
I have to agree with you completely. I have posted on slashdot several times now about the 'uncomfortableness' in switching over to Linux from MS because of my lack of knowledge and/or experience with the system. However, now that an inexpensive alternative has presented itself, I may as well give it a shot; hell, what do I have to lose? Besides, I sometimes pay more than $199 just for some of the SOFTWARE I'm using. This marketing and sales function just gave me the kick in the butt I was waiting for to try it out!
BS.....history has shown (more specifically the US) that the more money you throw at a project the faster it is completed (space program, atom bomb, subs, etc...). The second point I can't disagree with.
You're right; government workers need jobs too. Too bad they're over paid, under work and for the most part unionized. I wish I had that kind of job security for the next 18 years. The point here is whether or not the 40B was worth it and who was ultimately in charge? I'm glad that a $25.00/hr cafeteria worker had a job at NASA but where does that leave me now that I'm unemployed? If I would get the chance to go into space myself, I guess I would'nt mind; however that cafeteria worker won't either......so screw 'em.
Oh don't be ridiculous, that's exactly how legislation gets passed in this country; they're just practicing to be a senator or congressman. That way, when they get bought off by some lobbyist, they can claim: "...but look; I wrote this AWESOME paper back in college where I protested this stuff!" At least that way their conscience is it ease. No better or worse than smoking pot in college and running off to Moscow during a war and eventually becoming president.
One thing I've always wondered about in switching from Windows to Linux is how do I truly know my boxen is safe? I'm not a sysadmin; I'm a home user. I'm also NOT a programmer. With that in mind, I realize that I fall under the general premise of the MS 'umbrella' of security but I know even less about protecting my privacy using Linux. With MS, I read, screen my updates, try not to use IE whenever possible (although some websites make it difficult) and keep my AV services and definitions up to date; automatically. I'm not scared to try something new, just worried about something I have little experience, training and knowledge about.
I don't disagree with you, however you left out one important fact. America, at the time, was also anti-semitic to a different degree. Remember the Japanese concentration camps after Pearl Harbor? Blacks still had it pretty rough around that time too...hell, they could not be anything more than a mess attendant in the Navy DURING the war. My grandfather, born in Germany, moved to the US in 1933 when Hitler took power; however after the war started he was subsequently fired from his job as a machinist. I really didn't want to go down this path for this forum but I needed to respond to your comment.
Maybe you're right.....but for $79.95/mo versus $12.50/mo (in my area anyway) for this service, I think my wife would agree that the little things are not worth the difference.
You're right; for Joe Consumer the 'Web' is the 'Internet', so when a DoS attack happens it does essentially shut them down. Denial of service is just that; Denial of Service.
If you're the 'spender' like you say, then you obviously know about the potential business you're losing by taking this stance, right? I'm by no means saying you're wrong by 'voting with your wallet', but you have to admit that limiting your options is like cutting off your nose to spite your face. Vote with your wallet but don't think with your heart.
The only reason I have a cell phone is for emergencies; which is exactly what I use it for. Is there REALLY a good reason why people find it necessary to talk in a restaurant, in a movie theatre or in their car? Jeez....what DID people DO before cell phones? Do they REALLY NEED to talk to someone else on the planet THAT badly? If so, can't they get out of their car to do it? Maybe we, as a civilization, should reevaluate our meaningless lives so that we don't concentrate on the trivial issues like 'Am I being charged for roaming rates?' Not only do we want fast, cheap service but we want it at the expense of the people around us. Get a grip people; it's just a PHONE SERVICE for Christ's sake!
I was the Quality Manager/Engineer for a local manufacturing company and we went through 7 or 8 sets of layoffs; 3 of which affected my department (since we were considered 'indirect' labor, it was easy for execs to target us for SG&A purposes). Ultimately that meant my workload grew exponentially and when the Director of Manufacturing finally figured out that Quality was suffering, he re-hired an Inspector of mine (who does not even have a High School diploma) and down-sized me (with several degrees).....now isn't THAT ironic. I had absolutely NO say in who I could keep and they end up letting me go; wow. I hope the next Quality guru they hire realizes that the company is technically run through a misleading spreadsheet generated by the very same people who get a large bonus for 'saving' the company financially. Oh who am I kidding; I hope they sink. Then that $100,000.00 paycheck to the DoM won't mean shit for him either. One can only hope.
Slashdot Mirror
This is REALLY weird. I used to fear Communism and nuclear war from our 'enemies'; now I fear databases from my own government. How ironic; maybe the Cold War should have just kept going.
....may posters have said that they wonder if the owners of these new boxen will replace Mandrake or Lindows with XP; is this even possible given XP's minimum requirements? At 800 MHz I would think the PC would be pushed, at a minimum, to its maximum level of performance utilizing the OS alone besides whatever software would otherwise be installed by the consumer. Hell, one (high end) game installation and there you go, BOOM. Now you start running programs in the background (AV, firewall, etc...). Is this even possible?
I'm not sure I agree entirely with the generalization that most people just want to surf the web, email and have word processing. The vicious circle of software, hardware, software, hardware usually stems from (I believe) people discovering what they can do with their computers and various software applications. My dad (who has an issue just logging on to the PC) completely hates it; however when he discovered through a magazine he subscribes that he could buy a software program that lets him fly virtual RC planes (he builds them as a hobby), he went NUTS! You can crash the plane and not have to rebuild it! YEAHH! He figured he may as well use that $1200 piece of 'junk' in the den for something useful; albeit to him. He purchased the software, I installed and configured for him (no small task with XP) and now he's happy as a clam and wanting to find out more. Point being, these programs generally need specific requirements which don't come on stripped down PCs (video, audio and memory). I think the general populous is moving to higher end systems because they HAVE to; not that they NEED to. Just my 2 cents.
I have to agree with you completely. I have posted on slashdot several times now about the 'uncomfortableness' in switching over to Linux from MS because of my lack of knowledge and/or experience with the system. However, now that an inexpensive alternative has presented itself, I may as well give it a shot; hell, what do I have to lose? Besides, I sometimes pay more than $199 just for some of the SOFTWARE I'm using. This marketing and sales function just gave me the kick in the butt I was waiting for to try it out!
It depends on if they were using MS systems....then the TCO is right on line with; or exceeds inflation.
BS.....history has shown (more specifically the US) that the more money you throw at a project the faster it is completed (space program, atom bomb, subs, etc...). The second point I can't disagree with.
Well, the ISS is pretty much a scrap project at this point....I don't think a minimum of $200B will be to destroy SH and his monarchy (yes, monarchy).
Wow, you either need some serious spelling assistance or an attitude adjustment; probably both.
Good, then you won't mind relinquishing the insurance money from your dead family members to the space program. I'm sure NASA will love you for it.
You're right; government workers need jobs too. Too bad they're over paid, under work and for the most part unionized. I wish I had that kind of job security for the next 18 years. The point here is whether or not the 40B was worth it and who was ultimately in charge? I'm glad that a $25.00/hr cafeteria worker had a job at NASA but where does that leave me now that I'm unemployed? If I would get the chance to go into space myself, I guess I would'nt mind; however that cafeteria worker won't either......so screw 'em.
Oh don't be ridiculous, that's exactly how legislation gets passed in this country; they're just practicing to be a senator or congressman. That way, when they get bought off by some lobbyist, they can claim: "...but look; I wrote this AWESOME paper back in college where I protested this stuff!" At least that way their conscience is it ease. No better or worse than smoking pot in college and running off to Moscow during a war and eventually becoming president.
One thing I've always wondered about in switching from Windows to Linux is how do I truly know my boxen is safe? I'm not a sysadmin; I'm a home user. I'm also NOT a programmer. With that in mind, I realize that I fall under the general premise of the MS 'umbrella' of security but I know even less about protecting my privacy using Linux. With MS, I read, screen my updates, try not to use IE whenever possible (although some websites make it difficult) and keep my AV services and definitions up to date; automatically. I'm not scared to try something new, just worried about something I have little experience, training and knowledge about.
I could not agree with you more!
I don't disagree with you, however you left out one important fact. America, at the time, was also anti-semitic to a different degree. Remember the Japanese concentration camps after Pearl Harbor? Blacks still had it pretty rough around that time too...hell, they could not be anything more than a mess attendant in the Navy DURING the war. My grandfather, born in Germany, moved to the US in 1933 when Hitler took power; however after the war started he was subsequently fired from his job as a machinist. I really didn't want to go down this path for this forum but I needed to respond to your comment.
I thought that viewing 'flash' sites put the surfer in some sort of catatonic state; well, at least it has one good use.
I totally agree with you. Eventually, T1 will be $12.50/month and almost obsolete. Too bad I probably won't be around to see it though.
Maybe you're right.....but for $79.95/mo versus $12.50/mo (in my area anyway) for this service, I think my wife would agree that the little things are not worth the difference.
I don't disagree with you, however you'd be very surprised to know that 1 or 2 points makes a BIG difference to shareholders; not just Bill himself.
God......let's hope these people actually DO that and weed themselves out of society.
Yes, but cell phone antennas are set up by square mile coverage; not per capita.
You're right; for Joe Consumer the 'Web' is the 'Internet', so when a DoS attack happens it does essentially shut them down. Denial of service is just that; Denial of Service.
If you're the 'spender' like you say, then you obviously know about the potential business you're losing by taking this stance, right? I'm by no means saying you're wrong by 'voting with your wallet', but you have to admit that limiting your options is like cutting off your nose to spite your face. Vote with your wallet but don't think with your heart.
Now THAT sig is funny; I love it!
The only reason I have a cell phone is for emergencies; which is exactly what I use it for. Is there REALLY a good reason why people find it necessary to talk in a restaurant, in a movie theatre or in their car? Jeez....what DID people DO before cell phones? Do they REALLY NEED to talk to someone else on the planet THAT badly? If so, can't they get out of their car to do it? Maybe we, as a civilization, should reevaluate our meaningless lives so that we don't concentrate on the trivial issues like 'Am I being charged for roaming rates?' Not only do we want fast, cheap service but we want it at the expense of the people around us. Get a grip people; it's just a PHONE SERVICE for Christ's sake!
I was the Quality Manager/Engineer for a local manufacturing company and we went through 7 or 8 sets of layoffs; 3 of which affected my department (since we were considered 'indirect' labor, it was easy for execs to target us for SG&A purposes). Ultimately that meant my workload grew exponentially and when the Director of Manufacturing finally figured out that Quality was suffering, he re-hired an Inspector of mine (who does not even have a High School diploma) and down-sized me (with several degrees).....now isn't THAT ironic. I had absolutely NO say in who I could keep and they end up letting me go; wow. I hope the next Quality guru they hire realizes that the company is technically run through a misleading spreadsheet generated by the very same people who get a large bonus for 'saving' the company financially. Oh who am I kidding; I hope they sink. Then that $100,000.00 paycheck to the DoM won't mean shit for him either. One can only hope.