You can pick up an 1watt fm transmitter for $30-40(US) and hook it up to the sound card of your music server.
Put cheap fm radios in every room of the house. You can control the music from your phone and the whole setup can be done for about $100, less if you have old fm radios lying around.
I did this for years because we moved around quite a bit and it works fine.
Naturally, the better the radio, the better the sound, but if you want whole house audio, it's the cheapest option.
1watt is the largest transmitter you can get without an FCC license and it'll stretch out into the yard, which is nice if you BBQ very often.
Average consumer purchases a Desktop from commercial retail store and it comes pre-installed with a version of Windows. This average consumer will not change the operating system for any reason. If it doesn't work, they'll call family tech-support. If it still can't be fixed, they'll take it in to a computer repair shop.
There isn't any compelling reason for a user of a pre-installed Windows computer to switch their operating system. The entire culture and market practically demands you have access to a Microsoft-operated PC, and Microsoft software.
Even if a linux distro had a completely identical UI, and it was binary compatible with Windows, what would be the point of switching operating systems (why go through all that work when it's exactly the same as what they already have)?
I run Linux on the desktop, have for over a decade. It's my primary OS, but you're just not going to get current Windows users to switch. The best chance Linux-as-desktop has of going mainstream is if Steam follows through with switching to Linux: http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Linux-Steam-Ubuntu-Native-Support,15444.html
...this entire conversation would have been considered a joke.
Consider that...
An upgrade to Windows2000 Professional runs about $219 US, $319 US for the standard, per seat.
The Server runs around $1000 for five client access licenses.
McAfee Enterprise level antivirus 5 User, 2 year license, 1 year support-$341
OfficeXP Professional $329 US upgrade, $579 US new user, per seat.
At a minimum, in order to lock your data into a proprietary format, and set your network onto a closed-source, virus-ridden network/OS you have the priveledge of paying approximately $4000 US for a 6 machine network. Which you will have to shell out again in, oh, say, two years. This also doesn't include employees tying up the network with installing unauthorized software such as instant messaging clients, and peer to peer clients (looks like your server makes a good file sharing node).
Consider the open source argument that...
Linux plays well with networks.
Linux software implements open standards so that your data won't be tied into a proprietary format that may not be supported with future software releases
Red Hat Linux 8.0 Professional $149.95 US
Red Hat Linux Advanced Server 2.1 - Premium Edition $2499.00 US
You pay for the above two if you're too clueless as to how to download and burn a few CD's
So, in order to go towards an open standards compliant, reliable, virus-free network/OS where the software is installed/configured by one authorized person, you can set up your software for free, or pay a $2700 idiot fee.
I mean, what are we really talking about here? Businesses need to email, write documents, maybe a spreadsheet here or there, database support, set their desktop wallpaper to a picture of "the wife, 2.5 kids and the dog" and.... and what else? Where's the chokehold Microsoft has? There's no reason to continue to pay an idiot tax for software. I set up a FTP server on an old G3 at work (ala Yellowdog, shoulda used Debian) on a mixed network (primarily Mac, couple of windows and linux) The FTP server shows up in Apple's chooser, as well as, Windows Network Neighborhood and I didn't pay a dime for the software to do it.
I'm still trying to fathom the accounting wizardry that must be performed in order to show that Microsoft can beat free.
Is it really the corporations fault for donating money? A large donation doesn't guarantee that a candidate will get elected (or re-elected).
It's our responsibility to follow the voting history of our individual state representatives and make sure that they behave as they promised us.
It's more difficult to claim responsibility for ourselves and be a responsible citizen than it is to bitch about who's taking bribes. Check your own voting history. Have you supported a candidate that has a history of taking bribes and vote contrary to the population he represents?
Legislation like this won't fix anything. Corrupt politicians will still find a way to get paid, it's up to us voters to weed them out.
What about downloading music from CD's I have already paid for but no longer have due to theft or misuse by friends. I bought Soundgarden's BadMotorFinger five times because my younger brother would sneak it out behind my back and get it confiscated at school, or scratched beyond usability. I've purchased the CD FIVE TIMES. And I should feel bad that I only have the MP3's now? I downloaded the MP3's to all of the other CD's that I have bought but have lost through the years due to lending them and never getting them back or getting them back so scratched from friends kids that a DiscDoctor won't fix 'em. If they consider this stealing, they can kiss my ass.
Not true, none of it. I use Mac's daily in an eletronic prepress, why? Because the only area Mac's are superior to PC's are printing.You got me there. I'll admit it.
And as for the benchmarking, check overclockers.com, hardocp.com and tomshardware.com. Mac's have had their asses handed to 'em in numerous independant benchmark results. There's no comparison, really.
I'm not slamming Mac's. I like 'em. They have their place in the whole computing scheme of things. BUT THEY ARE NOT A PANACEA! For most practical, every day, real-world applications a PC is far superior.
And in the photoshop test, there's no comparison. (course now you're going to say that the only fair test is Intel designed benchmarks.)
You pick the benchmark and bring the recipt, you'll get me when it comes to printing. True Type fonts are a joke, MS hosed themselves when they abandoned postscript fonts. But to say that Mac's are faster and better and they shit by immaculate conception is pure, unadulturated dogma.
The last big monopoly break-up resulted in a zillion different little phone companies, each with the intent of having me switch my long distance carrier, usually, right in the middle of dinner. What would happen if MS were actually broken up? Would I start getting OS CD's in the mail as frequently as I got invitations from MCI, AT&T, Sprint and all the rest? Screw it! I have enough AOL coasters to last me a lifetime.
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You can pick up an 1watt fm transmitter for $30-40(US) and hook it up to the sound card of your music server.
Put cheap fm radios in every room of the house. You can control the music from your phone and the whole setup can be done for about $100, less if you have old fm radios lying around.
I did this for years because we moved around quite a bit and it works fine.
Naturally, the better the radio, the better the sound, but if you want whole house audio, it's the cheapest option.
1watt is the largest transmitter you can get without an FCC license and it'll stretch out into the yard, which is nice if you BBQ very often.
This is simply not true.
Average consumer purchases a Desktop from commercial retail store and it comes pre-installed with a version of Windows. This average consumer will not change the operating system for any reason. If it doesn't work, they'll call family tech-support. If it still can't be fixed, they'll take it in to a computer repair shop.
There isn't any compelling reason for a user of a pre-installed Windows computer to switch their operating system. The entire culture and market practically demands you have access to a Microsoft-operated PC, and Microsoft software.
Even if a linux distro had a completely identical UI, and it was binary compatible with Windows, what would be the point of switching operating systems (why go through all that work when it's exactly the same as what they already have)?
I run Linux on the desktop, have for over a decade. It's my primary OS, but you're just not going to get current Windows users to switch. The best chance Linux-as-desktop has of going mainstream is if Steam follows through with switching to Linux: http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Linux-Steam-Ubuntu-Native-Support,15444.html
...and CSS 2 wouldn't hurt either.
Consider that...
- An upgrade to Windows2000 Professional runs about $219 US, $319 US for the standard, per seat.
- The Server runs around $1000 for five client access licenses.
- McAfee Enterprise level antivirus 5 User, 2 year license, 1 year support-$341
- OfficeXP Professional $329 US upgrade, $579 US new user, per seat.
At a minimum, in order to lock your data into a proprietary format, and set your network onto a closed-source, virus-ridden network/OS you have the priveledge of paying approximately $4000 US for a 6 machine network. Which you will have to shell out again in, oh, say, two years.This also doesn't include employees tying up the network with installing unauthorized software such as instant messaging clients, and peer to peer clients (looks like your server makes a good file sharing node).
Consider the open source argument that...
- Linux plays well with networks.
- Linux software implements open standards so that your data won't be tied into a proprietary format that may not be supported with future software releases
- Red Hat Linux 8.0 Professional $149.95 US
- Red Hat Linux Advanced Server 2.1 - Premium Edition $2499.00 US
- You pay for the above two if you're too clueless as to how to download and burn a few CD's
So, in order to go towards an open standards compliant, reliable, virus-free network/OS where the software is installed/configured by one authorized person, you can set up your software for free, or pay a $2700 idiot fee.I mean, what are we really talking about here? Businesses need to email, write documents, maybe a spreadsheet here or there, database support, set their desktop wallpaper to a picture of "the wife, 2.5 kids and the dog" and.... and what else? Where's the chokehold Microsoft has? There's no reason to continue to pay an idiot tax for software. I set up a FTP server on an old G3 at work (ala Yellowdog, shoulda used Debian) on a mixed network (primarily Mac, couple of windows and linux) The FTP server shows up in Apple's chooser, as well as, Windows Network Neighborhood and I didn't pay a dime for the software to do it.
I'm still trying to fathom the accounting wizardry that must be performed in order to show that Microsoft can beat free.
The cards they're using on the satellite services (directv, etc) already use smart cards. Where's the new technology?
Is it really the corporations fault for donating money? A large donation doesn't guarantee that a candidate will get elected (or re-elected).
It's our responsibility to follow the voting history of our individual state representatives and make sure that they behave as they promised us.
It's more difficult to claim responsibility for ourselves and be a responsible citizen than it is to bitch about who's taking bribes. Check your own voting history. Have you supported a candidate that has a history of taking bribes and vote contrary to the population he represents?
Legislation like this won't fix anything. Corrupt politicians will still find a way to get paid, it's up to us voters to weed them out.
What about downloading music from CD's I have already paid for but no longer have due to theft or misuse by friends. I bought Soundgarden's BadMotorFinger five times because my younger brother would sneak it out behind my back and get it confiscated at school, or scratched beyond usability. I've purchased the CD FIVE TIMES. And I should feel bad that I only have the MP3's now? I downloaded the MP3's to all of the other CD's that I have bought but have lost through the years due to lending them and never getting them back or getting them back so scratched from friends kids that a DiscDoctor won't fix 'em. If they consider this stealing, they can kiss my ass.
Not true, none of it. I use Mac's daily in an eletronic prepress, why? Because the only area Mac's are superior to PC's are printing.You got me there. I'll admit it. And as for the benchmarking, check overclockers.com, hardocp.com and tomshardware.com. Mac's have had their asses handed to 'em in numerous independant benchmark results. There's no comparison, really. I'm not slamming Mac's. I like 'em. They have their place in the whole computing scheme of things. BUT THEY ARE NOT A PANACEA! For most practical, every day, real-world applications a PC is far superior. And in the photoshop test, there's no comparison. (course now you're going to say that the only fair test is Intel designed benchmarks.) You pick the benchmark and bring the recipt, you'll get me when it comes to printing. True Type fonts are a joke, MS hosed themselves when they abandoned postscript fonts. But to say that Mac's are faster and better and they shit by immaculate conception is pure, unadulturated dogma.
For all Macs superiority, why do they not exceed PC's when it comes to accomplishing the same tasks quicker.
Bring the top of the line Mac, keep the reciept. I'll build a PC for the same price that'll outperform it.
I agree with you clock speed means nothing, AMD proved that. Let's go by benchmarks instead. Let me know what you think.
The last big monopoly break-up resulted in a zillion different little phone companies, each with the intent of having me switch my long distance carrier, usually, right in the middle of dinner. What would happen if MS were actually broken up? Would I start getting OS CD's in the mail as frequently as I got invitations from MCI, AT&T, Sprint and all the rest? Screw it! I have enough AOL coasters to last me a lifetime.