I have a question. A couple of years ago I purchased a computer with
Windows NT preinstalled, and the first thing I did was reformat the hard
drive and install Linux instead. I have purchased a new computer, and I
would like to donate my old machine to a local high school's computer
club.
I noticed on your website
(http://www.microsoft.com/education/?id=DonatedCom puters) that you state,
"It is a legal requirement that pre-installed operating systems remain
with a machine for the life of the machine. If a company or individual
donates a machine to your school, it must be donated with the operating
system that was installed on the PC."
I do not even have the backup disks that came with my computer. I deleted
Windows as soon as I received the machine, implicitly rejecting your
EULA. Moreover, the computer club wishes to run Linux on this machine.
Therefore, can I not donate the machine that I own to the computer club?
As far as I can reason, by completely removing Windows from it and
destroying the associated documentation I have removed any
Microsoft-related control over this machine.
[OT] I don't want my PC integrated with my media system. My computer is in my office, and I use it for work (and reading/.). My stereo system and TV are in the living room. I like it that way. If I want to listen to music, I play records or CD's; they sound far better than MP3's, anyway.
Supposing AAPL earns $0.60/share for the fiscal year ending in September, the stock is trading at 41 times forward earnings. Moreover, I don't see how they can grow more than 20% or so per year, so the stock relatively little upside from here.
Yes, I think Apple makes great products; and I may buy one later this year. The stock, however, is fully valued.
Is there any way to unstuff a StuffIt file without a Mac? I want to download his software just to see what's involved with iPod hacking, but I don't have a Mac:-(
Selling boxed sets of workstation-class distributions is just a small part of their revenue, though. Except for the cost of bandwidth, offering ISO's free for download isn't that big of a deal to them anymore. They've got bigger fish to fry.
How hard is it to install KDE 3 on an older system? Most of my libraries, etc. are still from RH 6.2. Will this compile (or will RPM's work) with older libraries and xfree86 3.3.6, or is this the ultimate reason to upgrade my whole computer?
P.S. Attn hackers: the kernel and all programs with known security flaws have been kept up to date. Don't bother trying.
How does this compare to the regular version of Applixware?
I love Applixware, but I was under the impression that the company was halting further development of their office suite, mainly because of the plethora of free suites available cutting into sales.
Now that StarOffice, perhaps it's best rival, is going to cost money, maybe we'll see a revival of Applixware's popularity. Hope and pray, anyway.
Agreed. I'm still using the Riva TNT2 that came with my machine two years ago. It displays 1600x1200 at 24 bit color just fine. What more do I need? My xterms, xdvi, and Mozilla look just fine, thank you.
Can someone please explain to me why the RIAA insists on treating webcasters differently than FM broadcasters? Sure, perhaps a small number of people might record the music onto their hard drives as it is played, but generally webcasts don't sound as good as CD's anyway. Moreover, this would be no different than someone recording an FM broadcast onto a cassette tape.
It seems to me that webcasters should simply have to pay the licensing fees to ASCAP, BMI, and the other organization I can't think of just as FM broadcasters do. IIRC, these fees are based on listenership, so the fees probably wouldn't be that high for most webcasters.
I just don't see why the RIAA cannot treat them equally!
They already have something to compete with the $799 Gateways and Dells -- a $799 iMac. Although l337 g33ks may find it sluggish, for the average user it's a great deal. It does everything PC's do, and it's (flame suit on) easier for mom and dad to figure out how to use than a Windows box.
I have always found monitors with FD Trinitron CRT's (with the flat surface) to be especially easy to look at for extended periods of time. I have had a 19" Dell P991 monitor for well over two years, and it still looks great.
Do not be tempted to just run your video at low resolution. I would instead suggest running at a higher resolution, and use better fonts at a larger scale to read; this way they won't look so ragged. Also, anti-aliased fonts might be easier to look at as well.
I know that Redibook and Island have Windows API's available for directly connecting to their networks.
The big question, though, is how much trading volume you do. To support that type of direct access to an ECN, you need an account with a clearing firm; and they probably have steep account minimums and capital requirements. I doubt if there is anything out there that will let you just open an account for $50,000 and place orders with your own programs. In short, sure it's possible, but it would probably be uneconomical unless you are running a full-time trading operation.
I've never swapped an IDE hard drive, but I have hot-swapped IDE CD-ROM's out of shear laziness.
Just be sure to unmount the drive first and disconnect the power cable. Then disconnect the IDE ribbon. Reverse the process with the new drive, then mount it.
If you've already got a couple of drives without mission critical data on them, you could try this. I doubt if it would damage the drives as long as you're careful. I'm not sure how Linux gets the drive's parameters, but I would guess that it can get them during the mounting, perhaps with a few command-line options if needed.
But even having to ask for permission is despicable. Employers do not own people; fortunately we have the 13th amendment. They have absolutely no business prying into your private life as long as it doesn't interfere with your work habits.
I've got a small bash script that every 10 seconds automatically reruns latex on my file and sends a signal to xdvi to update. Whenever I want to see what I just wrote, I just press ctrl-o to save the text file (I use pico), and in the window just to the left of my xterm, I see the actual document. Email me if you want my script.
Right now I am writing the third and final chapter of my thesis (in economics), and I must say that LaTeX is a godsend.
I think this GNU thing suffers from the same problems as LyX, Scientific Workplace, and every other GUI front-end to (La)TeX -- it relies on menus and the mouse.
In the time it takes someone to remove his hand from the keyboard, search through a menu or click a button to make a fraction, and search through another menu or palette to find a gamma, I could have typed \frac{\gamma}{2} ten times.
My experience has been that people look to these things so they don't have to be bothered by knowing all the commands. I think that's a waste of time. After writing one paper using LaTeX, you will have memorized all of the symbols commonly used in your discipline, and you'll soon discover that LaTeX is so much faster than a GUI application.
Spending a couple of hours learning LaTeX is time well spent, and you will certainly be repaid many times over in the long run.
before they've hatched. The official tally may take as long as six weeks to be completed, and until then this is just speculation. It's still too close to call. All of these media reports remind me of, ahem, Florida.
Actually, if a competitor can prove that he was harmed by the anticompetitive behavior, he is entitled to treble damages. So in some sense there is a punitive aspect.
As a fellow economist, I'd say don't upgrade until you really have a need to. I'm still running RedHat 6.2, though I have updated the kernel and some of the services known to have security exploits. If MDK 8.1 does everything you need and doesn't pose a security risk, don't bother.
I don't claim to know anything about this type of hacking, but it seems to me that using an app courtesy of VMWare and NT is just an added layer of complexity.
Are there open source programs available for Windows that interface to the iPod or any other mp3 player? I'd be inclined to look through that code and try porting it to Linux.
Applix is still available, but my impression (based on past/. reports) is that the parent company isn't marketing it very heavily or planning on making major new releases. I think the real problem is that they got clobbered by StarOffice and all the other free packages available.
It's a shame, really, since I have always liked it better than all of the other office suites available. Fortunately, the current version is very mature, so the lack of future development isn't a problem -- I'll be using it for years to come just the way it is now.
Cutting plexiglas can be done several different ways. For large, straight cuts a table saw with a fine blade is best. You can also buy special knives at most hardware stores; in this case you score the Plexiglas several times and then snap it. For small cuts, a drill or Dremel tool is fine; a file can be used to smooth edges.
There is a special glue, again available at good hardware stores, that basically melts the two pieces of plastic and welds them together. When done properly, it makes a watertight seal. The trick is being very neat about not getting this stuff where you don't want it. Otherwise you'll see it forever.
The trickiest part of working with Plexiglas is bending it. Tools are available which are really nothing more than a long, straight heating element. You put the part of the Plexiglas you want to bend over the heating element for just a few seconds, then you remove it and bend it. You can repeat this a few times, working a bit at a time if need be. It helps if you have a good, square edge on your workbench to make nice 90 degree angles.
I'd suggest setting up just one lab using the Linux Terminal Server Project software and seeing how it goes; it's free. If the machines are used for email and web browsing only, then this is certainly a very cost-effective route.
I've always found Linux terminals to work great. Quite honestly, though, I've found that trying to use a remote Windows machine with Citrix Terminal Server is not nearly as smooth, fast, or polished as Linux (or other UNIX) setups.
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I have a question. A couple of years ago I purchased a computer with Windows NT preinstalled, and the first thing I did was reformat the hard drive and install Linux instead. I have purchased a new computer, and I would like to donate my old machine to a local high school's computer club.
I noticed on your website (http://www.microsoft.com/education/?id=DonatedCom puters) that you state,
"It is a legal requirement that pre-installed operating systems remain
with a machine for the life of the machine. If a company or individual
donates a machine to your school, it must be donated with the operating
system that was installed on the PC."
I do not even have the backup disks that came with my computer. I deleted Windows as soon as I received the machine, implicitly rejecting your EULA. Moreover, the computer club wishes to run Linux on this machine.
Therefore, can I not donate the machine that I own to the computer club? As far as I can reason, by completely removing Windows from it and destroying the associated documentation I have removed any Microsoft-related control over this machine.
Please clarify this for me.
Sincerely,
Brian Poi
[OT] I don't want my PC integrated with my media system. My computer is in my office, and I use it for work (and reading /.). My stereo system and TV are in the living room. I like it that way. If I want to listen to music, I play records or CD's; they sound far better than MP3's, anyway.
Yes, I think Apple makes great products; and I may buy one later this year. The stock, however, is fully valued.
Is there any way to unstuff a StuffIt file without a Mac? I want to download his software just to see what's involved with iPod hacking, but I don't have a Mac :-(
Selling boxed sets of workstation-class distributions is just a small part of their revenue, though. Except for the cost of bandwidth, offering ISO's free for download isn't that big of a deal to them anymore. They've got bigger fish to fry.
why's this modded as flamebait? He's at least 90% correct, and I don't see how any of this can be argued by intelligent people.
P.S. Attn hackers: the kernel and all programs with known security flaws have been kept up to date. Don't bother trying.
This is absolutely hilarious. Too bad you're an AC -- no karma for you.
I love Applixware, but I was under the impression that the company was halting further development of their office suite, mainly because of the plethora of free suites available cutting into sales.
Now that StarOffice, perhaps it's best rival, is going to cost money, maybe we'll see a revival of Applixware's popularity. Hope and pray, anyway.
Agreed. I'm still using the Riva TNT2 that came with my machine two years ago. It displays 1600x1200 at 24 bit color just fine. What more do I need? My xterms, xdvi, and Mozilla look just fine, thank you.
It seems to me that webcasters should simply have to pay the licensing fees to ASCAP, BMI, and the other organization I can't think of just as FM broadcasters do. IIRC, these fees are based on listenership, so the fees probably wouldn't be that high for most webcasters.
I just don't see why the RIAA cannot treat them equally!
They already have something to compete with the $799 Gateways and Dells -- a $799 iMac. Although l337 g33ks may find it sluggish, for the average user it's a great deal. It does everything PC's do, and it's (flame suit on) easier for mom and dad to figure out how to use than a Windows box.
Do not be tempted to just run your video at low resolution. I would instead suggest running at a higher resolution, and use better fonts at a larger scale to read; this way they won't look so ragged. Also, anti-aliased fonts might be easier to look at as well.
The big question, though, is how much trading volume you do. To support that type of direct access to an ECN, you need an account with a clearing firm; and they probably have steep account minimums and capital requirements. I doubt if there is anything out there that will let you just open an account for $50,000 and place orders with your own programs. In short, sure it's possible, but it would probably be uneconomical unless you are running a full-time trading operation.
Just be sure to unmount the drive first and disconnect the power cable. Then disconnect the IDE ribbon. Reverse the process with the new drive, then mount it.
If you've already got a couple of drives without mission critical data on them, you could try this. I doubt if it would damage the drives as long as you're careful. I'm not sure how Linux gets the drive's parameters, but I would guess that it can get them during the mounting, perhaps with a few command-line options if needed.
But even having to ask for permission is despicable. Employers do not own people; fortunately we have the 13th amendment. They have absolutely no business prying into your private life as long as it doesn't interfere with your work habits.
I've got a small bash script that every 10 seconds automatically reruns latex on my file and sends a signal to xdvi to update. Whenever I want to see what I just wrote, I just press ctrl-o to save the text file (I use pico), and in the window just to the left of my xterm, I see the actual document. Email me if you want my script.
I think this GNU thing suffers from the same problems as LyX, Scientific Workplace, and every other GUI front-end to (La)TeX -- it relies on menus and the mouse.
In the time it takes someone to remove his hand from the keyboard, search through a menu or click a button to make a fraction, and search through another menu or palette to find a gamma, I could have typed \frac{\gamma}{2} ten times.
My experience has been that people look to these things so they don't have to be bothered by knowing all the commands. I think that's a waste of time. After writing one paper using LaTeX, you will have memorized all of the symbols commonly used in your discipline, and you'll soon discover that LaTeX is so much faster than a GUI application.
Spending a couple of hours learning LaTeX is time well spent, and you will certainly be repaid many times over in the long run.
before they've hatched. The official tally may take as long as six weeks to be completed, and until then this is just speculation. It's still too close to call. All of these media reports remind me of, ahem, Florida.
Actually, if a competitor can prove that he was harmed by the anticompetitive behavior, he is entitled to treble damages. So in some sense there is a punitive aspect.
As a fellow economist, I'd say don't upgrade until you really have a need to. I'm still running RedHat 6.2, though I have updated the kernel and some of the services known to have security exploits. If MDK 8.1 does everything you need and doesn't pose a security risk, don't bother.
Are there open source programs available for Windows that interface to the iPod or any other mp3 player? I'd be inclined to look through that code and try porting it to Linux.
Applix is still available, but my impression (based on past /. reports) is that the parent company isn't marketing it very heavily or planning on making major new releases. I think the real problem is that they got clobbered by StarOffice and all the other free packages available.
It's a shame, really, since I have always liked it better than all of the other office suites available. Fortunately, the current version is very mature, so the lack of future development isn't a problem -- I'll be using it for years to come just the way it is now.
There is a special glue, again available at good hardware stores, that basically melts the two pieces of plastic and welds them together. When done properly, it makes a watertight seal. The trick is being very neat about not getting this stuff where you don't want it. Otherwise you'll see it forever.
The trickiest part of working with Plexiglas is bending it. Tools are available which are really nothing more than a long, straight heating element. You put the part of the Plexiglas you want to bend over the heating element for just a few seconds, then you remove it and bend it. You can repeat this a few times, working a bit at a time if need be. It helps if you have a good, square edge on your workbench to make nice 90 degree angles.
I've always found Linux terminals to work great. Quite honestly, though, I've found that trying to use a remote Windows machine with Citrix Terminal Server is not nearly as smooth, fast, or polished as Linux (or other UNIX) setups.