Any given time I run Adaware after a day of surfing, I'll typically have 20+ adware cookies. And that's with IE6 set to ignore 3rd-party cookies. It's not something I fret about, 'cuz I've never gotten anything more serious than the cookies. So probably it isn't an average of 24 cookies and 4 spyware programs per PC, it's probably most people with 30+ cookies, and a few people with 10+ spyware programs.
Really, I don't consider tracking cookies to be much worse than, say, RFID tags in all my $100 bills or Walmart purchases. It's a public network, people are going to watch.
Frankly, the fact that he needed to do this shows that the aftermarket auto industry is not doing its job. My car and my handheld constellation need to talk to each other:
Very few audio head units have a front jack for aux input. You can dangle an adapter cable out the back (on most models this means you can't use a CD changer), but that's butt-ugly. Otherwise you're at low-fi FM transmitters or cassette adapters
For that matter, why shouldn't it be two-way on the audio link? Record off-the-air onto the MPS, eh?
My PDA should be able to get odometer readings from the car easily for expense reports (a GPS may substitute, but it doesn't talk to my PDA well either). [Hmmm... should the Mobil Speedpass let my PDA know what it's spending on gas and McD's?]
What kind of communication do I want with the car? I don't know. Perhaps just a USB 2.0 jack on the dash, although that's not peer-to-peer. IEEE 1394? Is Bluetooth good enough for hi-fi audio? Do I want all cars to be wardriving units?
I hesitate to mention M$'s AutoPC. Let's just leave it at that.
There's obviously lots of room for Automobile-Area Networks, but few folks are doing anything about it.
I'm not a desktop linux user, although I've got a Knoppix disk around for when I had a corporate machine and wanted to be able to play games when stuck in a hotel room and not violate the "don't install games" policy (among many other things).
Windows 'grew up' (OK, it's only in its adolescence, from how often its face breaks out) on a one-user framework. Linux' unix background has always had the root+users built into it. But are the 'desktop' users of Linux normally the root user?
Even with NT/2000/XP, I can't live without being "Administrator" because of the frequency of installing software, if only for a test drive. Logging off and on is a pain in the butt.
On the other hand, the inability to install software (as simple as Perl modules) in 'my' space on a shared host is one of my biggest incentives to leave my shared host for a dedicated server (not worth the 6X cost increase just for that).
In my mind, what Windows needs is a simple, "This requires Administrator Mode to continue. Please enter the Administrator password, or click cancel to prevent this from continuing." dialog.
That would let me run in a safer sandbox, with minimal hassle, and a pretty darn stern warning that isn't any less secure than leaving idjits in Admin level like they are now.
One of the reasons I bought a Dell is that by not having retail outlets, there was an 8+% savings over same-priced Gateway models. With stores in-state, Gateway had to charge sales tax to ship here.
So is eMachines a separate-enough entity that Gateway no longer has a 'physical presence'?
Meanwhile, Dell has a kiosk at a local mall. I didn't get close enough to see if they were actually selling there. But I just checked at Dell, and now their site collects my state's tax.
The miniature MP3 players, usually topping out at 256MB or 512MB due to the price of CF/SD cards, sell to a broader audience than the bigger jukeboxes. Even the bigger iPod is a bulky thing to carry around. The clones tend to be even bigger.
The one thing that Apple has gotten right over the years is ergonomics and human interface: the iPods -- like the iMac -- are small, easy to use (which prompts some to call them crippled), few options to confuse (do I need AFLAC? [no, that's that insurance with the duck] What's an Ogg?), and they're smooth: soothing on the eye, and easy on the fabric of the pocket, if not the wallet.
And what about the cases where.gov is a different organization than.com, such as "whitehouse" (to use a bad example) or "PDF" (.com is a process development consultant,.org is the Parkinsons Disease Foundation,.net is another consultant,.biz is a forms processing product PDFTyper...).
A PDA that can store the geocache descriptions (often critical for the tougher finds) is a lot more portable than a sheaf of printouts, and more ecological too with rechargable batteries. The camera is also useful for the same sport. The phone? I don't plan on calling anyone, but sometimes someone needs to get a hold of me.
Actually, the new Garmin 60CS can store cache comments (old models couldn't), and has some PIM functionality. The Garmin iQue has similar features, as it's integrated with a Palm. Both have insufficient storage for video or camera data, and don't play MP3s worth squat.
I am of course concerned with battery life -- and the price -- but this could be my next PDA. I can't live without a PDA. But I'm getting tired of looking like Batman when I go hiking: GPS, PDA, phone, camera. One of the reasons I haven't bought an MP3 player is that it's one more barnacle on my hip or pocket.
If this puppy has a CF or SD slot, I can easily use it as my GPS. I don't see using it to replace my cam, but knowing that I don't need to get home to the laptop when it's full is a nice thing.
Now what someone needs to market is a WiFi casette so that audio can be received in my car.
Sure, there's some stuff I wouldn't touch there, like a Mac, but
Curse that Ashcroft, I want to take my multitool along too!
Camera's very slick, although SD is ass.
If I wore a wristwatch, I'd get one of those things, if you could still get one.
Mmm, ZipLink cables? Would be nice to have. I'm sick of the wall warts I end up hauling around.
On the other hand, no GPS? It's like AMEX -- don't leave home without it. On the other hand, it doesn't have USB (few do), so that's another bulky cable adapter to haul around if there's data to exchange.
Cost to OEM should be considered a marketing cost
on
Is Windows Worth $45?
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· Score: 1
Frankly, you can't consider the customer (the OEM) to be the consumer (that's me) of the OS on the sold PC. They have one use for it: it sells the PC. Not to everybody, but certainly to the great majority. Most folks won't buy a PC without an OS, and aren't willing to take the effort to install one themselves.
I'd say that $45 is probably worth having the windows logo on my machine.
And when people pay $20 more for "Plus" or $79 for XP Pro, I'm betting a fair piece of that is profit for Dell/HP/Gateway/IBM.
So what does that $45 buy the consumer? * A well-known brand name * A pledge of trustworthyness and reliability. * A long cycle of pretty much free updates: service packs and patches don't cost you a penny, if you've got broadband already * Compatibility with just about every device you can buy, and a bunch you can't anymore * Compatibility with lots and lots of software
I have a relative with Parkinson's, and she recently received an implant of an electrode in each hemisphere of her brain to control the diskinesias (movements) and distonias (contractions) caused by Parkinson's. This is called "Deep Brain Stimulation" and is documented on the Parkinson's Foundation website.
The device has greatly lowered her dose of medications, and made it possible for her to sleep through the night and get up in the morning. The devices are connected by wire to pacemaker-like battery and control packs implanted beneath the skin of the shoulder. They can be toggled on and off with a remote control provided to the patient, and wirelessly adjusted as to frequency and strength of pulses by the doctor.
This is quite different from the surgery received by Michael J Fox, which actually involved removing a small section of brain -- the same one being stimulated by DBS -- so he is ineligible for that treatment.
On the other hand, the current generation of pro-level (11+ megapixel range) digital cameras take 35MB raw-mode photos. A 4GB Microdrive becomes indispensible.
A couple of the newest MP3 jukeboxes have 20GB and firewire for upload/download of not-neccessarily-music files and are even better.
Ok, it's a little bulky, and I don't really need a laser rangefinder (mmm... verify USGS benchmark towers... aaaaah). And maybe it's a little pricey.
But it's tough to get all this into one package. Most add-on cameras and GPSr's for PDAs take the same CF or SDIO slot, meaning one or the other. Being able to take a picture and know where and exactly when it was taken from the GPS is useful. Now, if it only had a QVGA or better screen (can't tell from the specs), high-quality audio reproduction (yes, WinCE supports MP3, but does the hardware have a decent response?), and a 20GB hard drive, it'd be perfect.
Palm's file formats are far from protected and closed. The basic PDB and PRC formats are well-documented, and there's lots of open-source software to create both executable programs and PDB's.
Now on the other hand, individual application file formats may be hidden by the vendors. Don't like it? Write your own PIM software, text-editor, etc. etc.
To me, open source is less critical than open-exchangability. Palm's conduits are a little obtuse to create and set up. I'd like to see the PIM data (contacts, e-mail and calendar) have higher-level API's to insert new conduits to work other apps.
Of course the other baffling half of this is, while Comcast is putting download hogs under their thumb, they're making it easier to be a download hog: At the end of January, they raised my cap from 1.5M/128K to 3.0M/256K (altho DSLreports only rated the up at about 160 at that moment).
Which would you rather have: possible bursts of 3MB/sec or dependable 1.5MB/sec? I'd rather have the latter if I want to do VOIP, streaming webcam conferences, etc.
Let me get this straight: 1) It has a simple text message plus a binary payload attachment. 2) It uses no M$ exploits (patched or unpatched) to install itself. 3) It depends on someone opening the attachment to start an infection.
And after all this time, people are still clicking on binary attachments? Great googly moogly. At least this sucker is only 20-40K. I'm sick of the 140-160K ones swamping my hotmail account. This one will barely be an annoyance.
Trektoday.com reported that they shortened this season, and will have a similar 24-episode season next year to reach the magic 100 episode count for syndication.
If they believe they can sell it to syndication, they'll keep going, by all means. If they don't think they'll sell it, it probably won't last out the season.
How can they keep it alive? Half-dressed Vulcans don't seem to be enough.
Nah, not really. I asked. Actually, a fair number of *last* year's games run OK: Warcraft III is runnable, f'rinstance. Of course, a fair number of the hot titles are late, late, late: Doom III, Half-Life 2, etc.
PC-based gaming is on a decline. My two teens asked for not a single game for their windows machines, only X-Box. That's probably a good thing, since they're running 450MHz machines with wimpy 3D cards, and they'd have demanded upgrades.
And yet, they play on those machines constantly: java/flash or small games from places like MSN, Weebl, Homestar Runner, etc., and "The Apprentice" to let them play MtG or other card games without owning the cards.
Occasionally they foray into their unfinished back stock too.
Meanwhile, the subscribe or die approach is hitting X-Box: X-Box Live is the only requirement listed for "Phantasy Star Online" until you open the package, at which point you find that a separate subscription is needed to play the online game!
Deep ones too? Nah, not too bad, but it's not a tiny device. According to the flyer from the show, it's 4.9" x 3.4" x 0l9" and 14 ounces. Metric? What's Metric?
Lots bigger than an iPaq or Palm, altho certainly smaller than a Newton.
But it's much too big for a shirt pocket, and probably too fragile for a pants pocket. Probably destined for a holster or coat.
Other details: Bluetooth, 802.11b, FireWire, 5" VGA screen w/ digitizer, TrackStik w/2 buttons on the keyboard left edge, microphone/speaker, bettery fuel gauge (3 lights), dock, external antenna jack, thumbwheel, USB 1.1, headphone jack.
$10/hr isn't too much if you're a corporate-type, assuming you can VPN into your corporate net and get your critical e-mail, calendar updates, etc, or just download the latest version of tomorrow's presentation.
Now there's probably cheaper options: cellphone-based (only 160KB for the best service out there), hotel-based broadband... but I'm sure the convenience wins out.
Now, I've never needed it, but if I had needed it, my boss wouldn't bat an eye on the expense account. The only problems with that? (1) there's no line item for that on the expense system, and (2) I no longer am employed by that company.
I personally liked Quicksilver. Not as much as some of his others, but quite enjoyable, and darnit, I actually learned some history (if only Mrs. Hahn from 9th grade was only as dull as the expositional parts of this book!).
On the other hand, I was rather disappointed by Orson Scott Card's "Crystal City." First off, on a sheer size scale, I felt I got ripped off: 1/3 the number of pages, and text nearly twice the size means I'm getting a lot less book than Quicksilver, at only $2 less MSRP (good thing I get wholesale prices). Card has definitely aimed at a lower reading level too: Quicksilver could be a challenge to get through in parts, and when following it with Crystal City, I felt like it was Dick and Jane by comparison.
It's got a couple of somewhat disconnected tales of Alvin and the other folks learning to be makers, and it's entertaining for the most part, but it doesn't end, and it's straining the believability limits for me for a historical fantasy. "Red Prophet" is still one of the finest fantasies I've ever read, but at volume 6, I still don't think he's got his end in sight. We're probably looking at 3 or 4 more volumes before a solid conclusion.
Slashdot Mirror
... is if they count the volume of "intranet" mail.
Corporations deal piles of mail on the inside, that never gets out to the genpop: HR crap, memos, meeting notices, etc. etc.
Customer relationships also generate piles of e-mail, but that should be visible to your average slashdotter who buys stuff.
I wonder if they're counting automated, machine-read e-mails such as SEC filings and other things that humans never read?
Any given time I run Adaware after a day of surfing, I'll typically have 20+ adware cookies. And that's with IE6 set to ignore 3rd-party cookies. It's not something I fret about, 'cuz I've never gotten anything more serious than the cookies. So probably it isn't an average of 24 cookies and 4 spyware programs per PC, it's probably most people with 30+ cookies, and a few people with 10+ spyware programs.
Really, I don't consider tracking cookies to be much worse than, say, RFID tags in all my $100 bills or Walmart purchases. It's a public network, people are going to watch.
That reminds me... time to run Adaware again.
There's obviously lots of room for Automobile-Area Networks, but few folks are doing anything about it.
I'm not a desktop linux user, although I've got a Knoppix disk around for when I had a corporate machine and wanted to be able to play games when stuck in a hotel room and not violate the "don't install games" policy (among many other things).
Windows 'grew up' (OK, it's only in its adolescence, from how often its face breaks out) on a one-user framework. Linux' unix background has always had the root+users built into it. But are the 'desktop' users of Linux normally the root user?
Even with NT/2000/XP, I can't live without being "Administrator" because of the frequency of installing software, if only for a test drive. Logging off and on is a pain in the butt.
On the other hand, the inability to install software (as simple as Perl modules) in 'my' space on a shared host is one of my biggest incentives to leave my shared host for a dedicated server (not worth the 6X cost increase just for that).
In my mind, what Windows needs is a simple, "This requires Administrator Mode to continue. Please enter the Administrator password, or click cancel to prevent this from continuing." dialog.
That would let me run in a safer sandbox, with minimal hassle, and a pretty darn stern warning that isn't any less secure than leaving idjits in Admin level like they are now.
One of the reasons I bought a Dell is that by not having retail outlets, there was an 8+% savings over same-priced Gateway models. With stores in-state, Gateway had to charge sales tax to ship here.
So is eMachines a separate-enough entity that Gateway no longer has a 'physical presence'?
Meanwhile, Dell has a kiosk at a local mall. I didn't get close enough to see if they were actually selling there. But I just checked at Dell, and now their site collects my state's tax.
... and not as a smaller jukebox.
The miniature MP3 players, usually topping out at 256MB or 512MB due to the price of CF/SD cards, sell to a broader audience than the bigger jukeboxes. Even the bigger iPod is a bulky thing to carry around. The clones tend to be even bigger.
The one thing that Apple has gotten right over the years is ergonomics and human interface: the iPods -- like the iMac -- are small, easy to use (which prompts some to call them crippled), few options to confuse (do I need AFLAC? [no, that's that insurance with the duck] What's an Ogg?), and they're smooth: soothing on the eye, and easy on the fabric of the pocket, if not the wallet.
And what about the cases where .gov is a different organization than .com, such as "whitehouse" (to use a bad example) or "PDF" (.com is a process development consultant, .org is the Parkinsons Disease Foundation, .net is another consultant, .biz is a forms processing product PDFTyper...).
.mail in those cases?
Who gets
A PDA that can store the geocache descriptions (often critical for the tougher finds) is a lot more portable than a sheaf of printouts, and more ecological too with rechargable batteries. The camera is also useful for the same sport. The phone? I don't plan on calling anyone, but sometimes someone needs to get a hold of me.
Actually, the new Garmin 60CS can store cache comments (old models couldn't), and has some PIM functionality. The Garmin iQue has similar features, as it's integrated with a Palm. Both have insufficient storage for video or camera data, and don't play MP3s worth squat.
I am of course concerned with battery life -- and the price -- but this could be my next PDA. I can't live without a PDA. But I'm getting tired of looking like Batman when I go hiking: GPS, PDA, phone, camera. One of the reasons I haven't bought an MP3 player is that it's one more barnacle on my hip or pocket.
If this puppy has a CF or SD slot, I can easily use it as my GPS. I don't see using it to replace my cam, but knowing that I don't need to get home to the laptop when it's full is a nice thing.
Now what someone needs to market is a WiFi casette so that audio can be received in my car.
On the other hand, no GPS? It's like AMEX -- don't leave home without it. On the other hand, it doesn't have USB (few do), so that's another bulky cable adapter to haul around if there's data to exchange.
Frankly, you can't consider the customer (the OEM) to be the consumer (that's me) of the OS on the sold PC. They have one use for it: it sells the PC. Not to everybody, but certainly to the great majority. Most folks won't buy a PC without an OS, and aren't willing to take the effort to install one themselves.
I'd say that $45 is probably worth having the windows logo on my machine.
And when people pay $20 more for "Plus" or $79 for XP Pro, I'm betting a fair piece of that is profit for Dell/HP/Gateway/IBM.
So what does that $45 buy the consumer?
* A well-known brand name
* A pledge of trustworthyness and reliability.
* A long cycle of pretty much free updates: service packs and patches don't cost you a penny, if you've got broadband already
* Compatibility with just about every device you can buy, and a bunch you can't anymore
* Compatibility with lots and lots of software
Yup, it's worth the $45 to me.
I have a relative with Parkinson's, and she recently received an implant of an electrode in each hemisphere of her brain to control the diskinesias (movements) and distonias (contractions) caused by Parkinson's. This is called "Deep Brain Stimulation" and is documented on the Parkinson's Foundation website.
The device has greatly lowered her dose of medications, and made it possible for her to sleep through the night and get up in the morning. The devices are connected by wire to pacemaker-like battery and control packs implanted beneath the skin of the shoulder. They can be toggled on and off with a remote control provided to the patient, and wirelessly adjusted as to frequency and strength of pulses by the doctor.
This is quite different from the surgery received by Michael J Fox, which actually involved removing a small section of brain -- the same one being stimulated by DBS -- so he is ineligible for that treatment.
On the other hand, the current generation of pro-level (11+ megapixel range) digital cameras take 35MB raw-mode photos. A 4GB Microdrive becomes indispensible.
A couple of the newest MP3 jukeboxes have 20GB and firewire for upload/download of not-neccessarily-music files and are even better.
Ok, it's a little bulky, and I don't really need a laser rangefinder (mmm... verify USGS benchmark towers... aaaaah). And maybe it's a little pricey.
But it's tough to get all this into one package. Most add-on cameras and GPSr's for PDAs take the same CF or SDIO slot, meaning one or the other. Being able to take a picture and know where and exactly when it was taken from the GPS is useful. Now, if it only had a QVGA or better screen (can't tell from the specs), high-quality audio reproduction (yes, WinCE supports MP3, but does the hardware have a decent response?), and a 20GB hard drive, it'd be perfect.
Palm's file formats are far from protected and closed. The basic PDB and PRC formats are well-documented, and there's lots of open-source software to create both executable programs and PDB's.
Now on the other hand, individual application file formats may be hidden by the vendors. Don't like it? Write your own PIM software, text-editor, etc. etc.
To me, open source is less critical than open-exchangability. Palm's conduits are a little obtuse to create and set up. I'd like to see the PIM data (contacts, e-mail and calendar) have higher-level API's to insert new conduits to work other apps.
Of course the other baffling half of this is, while Comcast is putting download hogs under their thumb, they're making it easier to be a download hog: At the end of January, they raised my cap from 1.5M/128K to 3.0M/256K (altho DSLreports only rated the up at about 160 at that moment).
Which would you rather have: possible bursts of 3MB/sec or dependable 1.5MB/sec? I'd rather have the latter if I want to do VOIP, streaming webcam conferences, etc.
Written in 1391 by Geoffrey Chauncer for his ten year old son
And thus setting the standard for dumbing-down technical information in consumer tech products
Let me get this straight:
1) It has a simple text message plus a binary payload attachment.
2) It uses no M$ exploits (patched or unpatched) to install itself.
3) It depends on someone opening the attachment to start an infection.
And after all this time, people are still clicking on binary attachments? Great googly moogly. At least this sucker is only 20-40K. I'm sick of the 140-160K ones swamping my hotmail account. This one will barely be an annoyance.
To quote Evil Willow Rosenberg: "Bored now."
Trektoday.com reported that they shortened this season, and will have a similar 24-episode season next year to reach the magic 100 episode count for syndication.
If they believe they can sell it to syndication, they'll keep going, by all means. If they don't think they'll sell it, it probably won't last out the season.
How can they keep it alive? Half-dressed Vulcans don't seem to be enough.
Nah, not really. I asked. Actually, a fair number of *last* year's games run OK: Warcraft III is runnable, f'rinstance. Of course, a fair number of the hot titles are late, late, late: Doom III, Half-Life 2, etc.
PC-based gaming is on a decline. My two teens asked for not a single game for their windows machines, only X-Box. That's probably a good thing, since they're running 450MHz machines with wimpy 3D cards, and they'd have demanded upgrades.
And yet, they play on those machines constantly: java/flash or small games from places like MSN, Weebl, Homestar Runner, etc., and "The Apprentice" to let them play MtG or other card games without owning the cards.
Occasionally they foray into their unfinished back stock too.
Meanwhile, the subscribe or die approach is hitting X-Box: X-Box Live is the only requirement listed for "Phantasy Star Online" until you open the package, at which point you find that a separate subscription is needed to play the online game!
Deep ones too? Nah, not too bad, but it's not a tiny device. According to the flyer from the show, it's 4.9" x 3.4" x 0l9" and 14 ounces. Metric? What's Metric?
Lots bigger than an iPaq or Palm, altho certainly smaller than a Newton.
But it's much too big for a shirt pocket, and probably too fragile for a pants pocket. Probably destined for a holster or coat.
Other details:
Bluetooth, 802.11b, FireWire, 5" VGA screen w/ digitizer, TrackStik w/2 buttons on the keyboard left edge, microphone/speaker, bettery fuel gauge (3 lights), dock, external antenna jack, thumbwheel, USB 1.1, headphone jack.
AOL regularly decides to block e-mail from me and/or my ISP, because of the amount of spoofed spam with my site as the domain name.
Very frustrating.
$10/hr isn't too much if you're a corporate-type, assuming you can VPN into your corporate net and get your critical e-mail, calendar updates, etc, or just download the latest version of tomorrow's presentation.
Now there's probably cheaper options: cellphone-based (only 160KB for the best service out there), hotel-based broadband... but I'm sure the convenience wins out.
Now, I've never needed it, but if I had needed it, my boss wouldn't bat an eye on the expense account. The only problems with that? (1) there's no line item for that on the expense system, and (2) I no longer am employed by that company.
I personally liked Quicksilver. Not as much as some of his others, but quite enjoyable, and darnit, I actually learned some history (if only Mrs. Hahn from 9th grade was only as dull as the expositional parts of this book!).
On the other hand, I was rather disappointed by Orson Scott Card's "Crystal City." First off, on a sheer size scale, I felt I got ripped off: 1/3 the number of pages, and text nearly twice the size means I'm getting a lot less book than Quicksilver, at only $2 less MSRP (good thing I get wholesale prices). Card has definitely aimed at a lower reading level too: Quicksilver could be a challenge to get through in parts, and when following it with Crystal City, I felt like it was Dick and Jane by comparison.
It's got a couple of somewhat disconnected tales of Alvin and the other folks learning to be makers, and it's entertaining for the most part, but it doesn't end, and it's straining the believability limits for me for a historical fantasy. "Red Prophet" is still one of the finest fantasies I've ever read, but at volume 6, I still don't think he's got his end in sight. We're probably looking at 3 or 4 more volumes before a solid conclusion.