I'm am very disappointed by the widespread misuse of the term "dongle".
A dongle is a hardware security device to prevent software piracy. It plugs into your PC's Parallel port. It was named after its creator, Don Gall. I mostly blame Xircom for propagating this mistake. They advertise a PCMCIA network card that "eliminates the dongle".
Just because it DANGLES, it doesn't mean it is a DONGLE.
Why would it fail? Look how quickly some existing protocols have been adopted.... Such as ICQ, AIM, Gnutella. Are there alternatives? Of course. You could use IRC instead of ICQ or AIM. You could use FTP instead of Gnutella.
The people (sometimes just one person) who developed those protocols and standards didn't say "It will never happen".
...but it isn't "slathered" throughout the software. There has always been a special place for credits.
Click Help, About.
What is plastering your name and visage all over the software gonna do? It's going to make the users know who to hate. For example:
"HI! I'm Peter Norton. My fantastic diagnostic software has detected a segment fault, and your program will now close, and all data will be lost. You can prevent these problems by using my fantastic optimization software, my fantastic Backup Software, and my fantastic hard disk software."
Peter Norton made one really useful program in 1990, and then his ego exploded. Since then, the quality of the software has suffered, and the users now have to suffer seeing his big ugly mug everytime they run defrag.
Oh well, it seems everything is becoming more superficial. Computer case modding has become a little out of control, and the quality of the hardware has suffered. My computer doesn't work right because it tends to overheat (no, I'm *NOT* overclocking it). I can't even buy an effective fan and heat-sink because all the fans have blinky lights, neon colored plastic, and grills in the shape of an alien head. I don't need any of those features... it's going to be INSIDE my plain beige RECTANGULAR case. I want it to Just Plain Work(TM). Same for software. It should Just Plain Work!
It would seem to me that the first and most important laws would be those pertaining to PHYSICAL property. I don't think mp3 file sharing is on the minds of all those LOOTERS!
It's worthless to me until it supports my Time Warner Digital cable system. That seems to be the problem with Tivo and ReplayTV. What good is a PVR that records all your favorite shows no matter what channel/time they are on, when all you see is channel 3 coming from your tuner?
The only time I have ever heard my BIOS talk to me is when it said "CPU Failed due to overclocking". It's nothing more than an audio version of the post code readers. That's right, a post code reader consists of 2 PAL chips for address decoding, and 2 seven segment displays. Now, how much for the DAC, ROM for digitized speech, analog circuitry, and speakers?
I just imagine what the security personnel at the airport would think when they discover you are carrying an electronic drug delivery system.
I have just been thinking about things like this because I have been traveling a lot lately (not basketball!).
Slashdot Mirror
"The Laptop is getting away!"
Just make sure that all of your coders are using the same measurment system.
I'm am very disappointed by the widespread misuse of the term "dongle".
A dongle is a hardware security device to prevent software piracy. It plugs into your PC's Parallel port. It was named after its creator, Don Gall.
I mostly blame Xircom for propagating this mistake. They advertise a PCMCIA network card that "eliminates the dongle".
Just because it DANGLES, it doesn't mean it is a DONGLE.
Remember when DRAM was $40 a MEGABYTE?!?!
Why would it fail? Look how quickly some existing protocols have been adopted.... Such as ICQ, AIM, Gnutella. Are there alternatives? Of course. You could use IRC instead of ICQ or AIM. You could use FTP instead of Gnutella.
The people (sometimes just one person) who developed those protocols and standards didn't say "It will never happen".
Tip off the RIAA to some students at a LAW SCHOOL! In the words of Sark: "Wait! Let him fight one of his own kind."
...but it isn't "slathered" throughout the software. There has always been a special place for credits.
Click Help, About.
What is plastering your name and visage all over the software gonna do? It's going to make the users know who to hate. For example:
"HI! I'm Peter Norton. My fantastic diagnostic software has detected a segment fault, and your program will now close, and all data will be lost.
You can prevent these problems by using my fantastic optimization software, my fantastic Backup Software, and my fantastic hard disk software."
Peter Norton made one really useful program in 1990, and then his ego exploded. Since then, the quality of the software has suffered, and the users now have to suffer seeing his big ugly mug everytime they run defrag.
Oh well, it seems everything is becoming more superficial. Computer case modding has become a little out of control, and the quality of the hardware has suffered. My computer doesn't work right because it tends to overheat (no, I'm *NOT* overclocking it). I can't even buy an effective fan and heat-sink because all the fans have blinky lights, neon colored plastic, and grills in the shape of an alien head. I don't need any of those features... it's going to be INSIDE my plain beige RECTANGULAR case. I want it to Just Plain Work(TM).
Same for software. It should Just Plain Work!
Try to enter today's date in Appleworks.
It's OK if you're an OB/GYN....
It would seem to me that the first and most important laws would be those pertaining to PHYSICAL property. I don't think mp3 file sharing is on the minds of all those LOOTERS!
Maybe you could write CHAIRFACE on the moon's surface...
It's the big intrusive flash animation at wired.com that puts all other pop-up ads to shame.
Yeah, but can you OVERCLOCK it? :)
It's worthless to me until it supports my Time Warner Digital cable system. That seems to be the problem with Tivo and ReplayTV. What good is a PVR that records all your favorite shows no matter what channel/time they are on, when all you see is channel 3 coming from your tuner?
This means that all of their existing products that do not meet the XP logo requirements will be found at a discount in the clearance bins....
I have trouble reading math books once! Who has enough time to read one five or six times?
It will take forever for the 3d holograms to load over a broadband cable connection. Also, the psychic popup ads will be a real pain....
Hey! My aunt died from breast cancer, you insensitive clod!
Because it's so HARD to come up with good examples when the only variables that you can use are "foo" and "bar".
What does every 12 year old need more than advice???? *MONEY*
Hey kid, here is my life's savings. Go nuts.
The only time I have ever heard my BIOS talk to me is when it said "CPU Failed due to overclocking".
It's nothing more than an audio version of the post code readers. That's right, a post code reader consists of 2 PAL chips for address decoding, and 2 seven segment displays. Now, how much for the DAC, ROM for digitized speech, analog circuitry, and speakers?
It still can't tell you to turn your speakers up!
*RING*
Tech support guy: "EA Tech support. How can I help you?"
MAN: "Yes, I forgot my password."
TS: "Okay, what's your name?"
MAN: "Jane Doe."
Does anyone else see the problem with that?
Maybe they are dropping the production of CD-R/RW disks, not CD-R/RW drives.
Didn't I see that figure 3 photo in Die Hard with a vengance?
I just imagine what the security personnel at the airport would think when they discover you are carrying an electronic drug delivery system. I have just been thinking about things like this because I have been traveling a lot lately (not basketball!).