Let's be fair and admit you're just anti-Microsoft, ok?
The market doesn't "hate" MS phones. The market isn't buying MS phones. There's a subtle difference in your wording but a massive difference in perception.
Those that actually have tried the platform have seemed to enjoy it quite well - especially those here on slashdot, so I'd trust their judgement over someone who likely hasn't touched one of these devices.
I'm not disagreeing that Nokia made some very large mistakes but to imply this is written by someone with bias while you obviously have a strong bias yourself...it's hypocritical.
I'd just recommend not chopping off their balls at every idea. From your initial statement(s) it sounded like that was the case. Once you stifle that creativity the motivation to do a good job flies out the window with it.
Five bucks says his admins are doing it anyway and not telling him.
Realistically you've got at least a dev/test environment to tinker with stuff like this. That's what it's for! Break things, figure out what works, what doesn't. Allow for some innovation!
Eh, I think this is more like an extension of scripting - at least how I'm looking at it.
I've taken some C++ classes in the past and had the opportunity to finally use it a few years back in a practical sense when working a support-type role. Basically created a menu that'd install a set of printers and network shares based on where the person was located. I didn't have the rights to push anything elegant down through policy or similar (a whole separate issue) and batch scripting only did so much of was needed. I'm sure there were better ways but that was what I knew and it saved me hours upon hours of having to do that process by hand.
So maybe while it may not be "true" coding, I was still able to create a tool that the team could use that basically saved a shit ton of time. Totally worth it.
I've got an Android, had the Nokia E71x, and also have a Blackberry Bold 9900. Hands down the 9900 is my favorite phone out of the bunch, the E71x being my second favorite - the major difference is that the E71x doesn't have a touch screen.
For me I don't need some pop culture device with a ton of apps. I primarily need a phone that works as a phone and secondary one that can receive email. The main app I use is Pandora which is on there. Also, "How to Tie a Tie" comes in handy when you're like me and tie them once and forget it.
Just because some scenesters think my phone sucks despite never using it doesn't affect me. It does what I need it to do. I don't need an icon.
Well that's nice until a facebook comes along to crush the myspace. "Public data" isn't something to be owned. But a specific distribution method or implementation of it can be. Yellowpages anyone?
If they're trying to make a living off this there is the real world factor of keeping this info someone secured and then following up with a business model of some sort. Just because it says non-profit doesn't mean everyone works for free.
I'm a Windows guy for the most part so I'll give you my various insights from that world.
First things first - have you tried WineX/Cedega or whatever evolution it's on to try running these things on your nix boxes? I've heard of various successes and I'd assume there's got to be a write up somewhere for how to do this - at least for WoW. Not sure about LoL.
"Getting Windows 7 from a shop is surprisingly expensive, but I have found a place where they sell used software (legally) and can live with that one-time cost."
OEM copies are a cheap route and the only main difference is that Microsoft wont provide support directly. You're basically buying as a computer builder and saying you'll provide the support yourself. If you're anything like me you've probably never even considered that option for a consumer machine and would likely just google it or...ask slashdot.:p If you've got a domain/ldap set up at home to manage your gear and want these machines under that you'll want the professional version (home doesnt support joining a domain). Otherwise Home edition is probably fine for the kiddos. Also make sure you get the proper architecture you need (32 bit or 64bit) depending on your gear. Last I saw you could get the OEM ones through Newegg and haven't had problems with the ones I've gotten from there. Note, make sure you don't accidentally buy an upgrade version - you'll need full. ($99 from Newegg here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986&name=Operating-Systems )
However, I understand that I need to protect the Windows installation against viruses and malware and whatnot. The problem is, I have no clue how. One shop wants to sell me a subscription-based solution from Norton, but this cost will take a huge dip into my kid's monthly allowance — he is required to cover the costs of playing himself, so given that playing WoW is not exactly free, this is a non-trivial expense for him. On the other hand, he has plenty of time, so I guess he could use that time to learn something, and protect his system at the same time.
Screw the paid route. Use Microsoft Security Essentials and be done with it. It's actually not a bad product surprisingly. The only changes I make after installing is going into settings and having it scan removable media when inserted and also creating a system restore point during each scan (VERY handy when things get jacked up). Also, your kid is 12, so chances are good some internet training will go a LONG way. Teach them about about all the evils of the information super highway and let them know it's ok to simply ask you if they're unsure.
Also, he's at that age where he's totally going to be looking for porn. Let's just admit that can get that out of the way. Go ahead and install Spybot and Ad Block Plus as that'll help a bit. Spybot you/he will need to run manually periodically unless you set up scheduled jobs for it. You can either go the route of "if you're going to surf, surf safe" or you could try blocking those kinds of sites via whatever software works for you (I've got no experience with this). Chances are good they're going to find the stuff one way or another so I'd assume the worst and protect the machine from such environments. I'm sure other slashdotters will have better input for this topic. It'll also help to make them a lower privilege user - though that takes away from their autonomy and thus ability to learn how to admin their own box. Your call though - you're the parent.
How do other Slashdotters provide Windows installations for their kids? What kind of protection is needed? Are there any open source/free protection systems that can be used? Should the security issues be ignored, and instead dump the Windows install to an external disk, and restore every two weeks? Is there a 'Windows for Linux users'
I've got to say it's certainly an interesting enough of an idea and interface to make me at least give it a shot. This is the kind of stuff that AOL is going to need to do if they want to have any shot at getting back into the market instead of resting on their rears and hoping the seniors keep paying out to them for a 15 year old service.
Just a different business model of course. But would you be going after the large fish and trying to open source your stuff? Probably not. I guess the OP just needs to figure out what's more important to them.
And +1 for actual civil conversation on the internet. Where's the AC to ruin everything?:)
Depends on the nature of the business. I'd operate as an LLC at least and market myself as a business, not an individual. When a company is seeking out business from you and not the other way around you're the one who can initiate the legalese. Also, a lot of small businesses would likely be fine with this as long as they get some "discount" and a working product. For those who don't want those terms charge some fee (be reasonable, of course). Sure you may not be able to open source every gig but you'll likely get plenty of folks willing to work with that arrangement for a discount. I get the impression a lot of geeks don't know how to operate like a business and end up coming off as just wandering consultants which causes them to lose all kinds leverage. Be a shop who creates solutions, not some gun for hire.
There was a slashdot article a while back explaining exactly what that difference would be. It was somewhere in the ballpark of $20-40 more per device.
Apple's comment regarding the topic "we're in the business of making phones, not creating jobs".
Alternatively one could write up a contract that states the company is merely licensing the code and that the coder retains the rights to the original, non-company specific parts of it. The "licensing" covers the customizations and support for a given length of time (1 year?). Of course this would have to be in finely worded legalese to substantially cover your ass.
Agreed. While I think this guy's heart may be in the right place he needs to realize that his branch isnt the executive branch. However, this is an interesting application of checks and balances so if congress truly does think they're over stepping their boundaries then this may be a justified course of action.
How about international collaboration on having some self restraint and not causing others physical harm to others any time something in the world doesn't go your way?
However this is referring to the rapid change from no wind to 800 mph (the pilot's estimate if I heard correctly) of wind smashing his entire body. Pretty sure Felix wont be feeling this. But interesting story nonetheless.
Slashdot Mirror
Let's be fair and admit you're just anti-Microsoft, ok?
The market doesn't "hate" MS phones. The market isn't buying MS phones. There's a subtle difference in your wording but a massive difference in perception.
Those that actually have tried the platform have seemed to enjoy it quite well - especially those here on slashdot, so I'd trust their judgement over someone who likely hasn't touched one of these devices.
I'm not disagreeing that Nokia made some very large mistakes but to imply this is written by someone with bias while you obviously have a strong bias yourself...it's hypocritical.
Of course, of course.
I'd just recommend not chopping off their balls at every idea. From your initial statement(s) it sounded like that was the case. Once you stifle that creativity the motivation to do a good job flies out the window with it.
Five bucks says his admins are doing it anyway and not telling him.
Realistically you've got at least a dev/test environment to tinker with stuff like this. That's what it's for! Break things, figure out what works, what doesn't. Allow for some innovation!
Hey now, I resemble that remark! ;) /weenie.
Eh, I think this is more like an extension of scripting - at least how I'm looking at it.
I've taken some C++ classes in the past and had the opportunity to finally use it a few years back in a practical sense when working a support-type role. Basically created a menu that'd install a set of printers and network shares based on where the person was located. I didn't have the rights to push anything elegant down through policy or similar (a whole separate issue) and batch scripting only did so much of was needed. I'm sure there were better ways but that was what I knew and it saved me hours upon hours of having to do that process by hand.
So maybe while it may not be "true" coding, I was still able to create a tool that the team could use that basically saved a shit ton of time. Totally worth it.
I took one for the team and looked. We're safe.
Of course, but why give someone else a headstart and piss away all of your efforts?
I've got an Android, had the Nokia E71x, and also have a Blackberry Bold 9900. Hands down the 9900 is my favorite phone out of the bunch, the E71x being my second favorite - the major difference is that the E71x doesn't have a touch screen.
For me I don't need some pop culture device with a ton of apps. I primarily need a phone that works as a phone and secondary one that can receive email. The main app I use is Pandora which is on there. Also, "How to Tie a Tie" comes in handy when you're like me and tie them once and forget it.
Just because some scenesters think my phone sucks despite never using it doesn't affect me. It does what I need it to do. I don't need an icon.
Well that's nice until a facebook comes along to crush the myspace. "Public data" isn't something to be owned. But a specific distribution method or implementation of it can be. Yellowpages anyone?
If they're trying to make a living off this there is the real world factor of keeping this info someone secured and then following up with a business model of some sort. Just because it says non-profit doesn't mean everyone works for free.
"it isn't a full-fledged laptop, it's not a tablet (doesn't even have a touch screen); and by design it's not very good as a stand-alone device."
So....it's a crappy piece of tech? I don't get who they expect to market this to. Business customers? Really? Pipe dream if you ask me.
I'm a Windows guy for the most part so I'll give you my various insights from that world.
First things first - have you tried WineX/Cedega or whatever evolution it's on to try running these things on your nix boxes? I've heard of various successes and I'd assume there's got to be a write up somewhere for how to do this - at least for WoW. Not sure about LoL.
"Getting Windows 7 from a shop is surprisingly expensive, but I have found a place where they sell used software (legally) and can live with that one-time cost."
OEM copies are a cheap route and the only main difference is that Microsoft wont provide support directly. You're basically buying as a computer builder and saying you'll provide the support yourself. If you're anything like me you've probably never even considered that option for a consumer machine and would likely just google it or...ask slashdot. :p If you've got a domain/ldap set up at home to manage your gear and want these machines under that you'll want the professional version (home doesnt support joining a domain). Otherwise Home edition is probably fine for the kiddos. Also make sure you get the proper architecture you need (32 bit or 64bit) depending on your gear. Last I saw you could get the OEM ones through Newegg and haven't had problems with the ones I've gotten from there. Note, make sure you don't accidentally buy an upgrade version - you'll need full. ($99 from Newegg here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986&name=Operating-Systems )
However, I understand that I need to protect the Windows installation against viruses and malware and whatnot. The problem is, I have no clue how. One shop wants to sell me a subscription-based solution from Norton, but this cost will take a huge dip into my kid's monthly allowance — he is required to cover the costs of playing himself, so given that playing WoW is not exactly free, this is a non-trivial expense for him. On the other hand, he has plenty of time, so I guess he could use that time to learn something, and protect his system at the same time.
Screw the paid route. Use Microsoft Security Essentials and be done with it. It's actually not a bad product surprisingly. The only changes I make after installing is going into settings and having it scan removable media when inserted and also creating a system restore point during each scan (VERY handy when things get jacked up). Also, your kid is 12, so chances are good some internet training will go a LONG way. Teach them about about all the evils of the information super highway and let them know it's ok to simply ask you if they're unsure.
Also, he's at that age where he's totally going to be looking for porn. Let's just admit that can get that out of the way. Go ahead and install Spybot and Ad Block Plus as that'll help a bit. Spybot you/he will need to run manually periodically unless you set up scheduled jobs for it. You can either go the route of "if you're going to surf, surf safe" or you could try blocking those kinds of sites via whatever software works for you (I've got no experience with this). Chances are good they're going to find the stuff one way or another so I'd assume the worst and protect the machine from such environments. I'm sure other slashdotters will have better input for this topic. It'll also help to make them a lower privilege user - though that takes away from their autonomy and thus ability to learn how to admin their own box. Your call though - you're the parent.
How do other Slashdotters provide Windows installations for their kids? What kind of protection is needed? Are there any open source/free protection systems that can be used? Should the security issues be ignored, and instead dump the Windows install to an external disk, and restore every two weeks? Is there a 'Windows for Linux users'
I've got to say it's certainly an interesting enough of an idea and interface to make me at least give it a shot. This is the kind of stuff that AOL is going to need to do if they want to have any shot at getting back into the market instead of resting on their rears and hoping the seniors keep paying out to them for a 15 year old service.
Same here - though instead of SVN, Windows Servers.
I'm not sure if I follow your comparison. Mind clarifying?
Just a different business model of course. But would you be going after the large fish and trying to open source your stuff? Probably not. I guess the OP just needs to figure out what's more important to them.
And +1 for actual civil conversation on the internet. Where's the AC to ruin everything? :)
Depends on the nature of the business. I'd operate as an LLC at least and market myself as a business, not an individual. When a company is seeking out business from you and not the other way around you're the one who can initiate the legalese. Also, a lot of small businesses would likely be fine with this as long as they get some "discount" and a working product. For those who don't want those terms charge some fee (be reasonable, of course). Sure you may not be able to open source every gig but you'll likely get plenty of folks willing to work with that arrangement for a discount. I get the impression a lot of geeks don't know how to operate like a business and end up coming off as just wandering consultants which causes them to lose all kinds leverage. Be a shop who creates solutions, not some gun for hire.
There was a slashdot article a while back explaining exactly what that difference would be. It was somewhere in the ballpark of $20-40 more per device.
Apple's comment regarding the topic "we're in the business of making phones, not creating jobs".
Alternatively one could write up a contract that states the company is merely licensing the code and that the coder retains the rights to the original, non-company specific parts of it. The "licensing" covers the customizations and support for a given length of time (1 year?). Of course this would have to be in finely worded legalese to substantially cover your ass.
Agreed. While I think this guy's heart may be in the right place he needs to realize that his branch isnt the executive branch. However, this is an interesting application of checks and balances so if congress truly does think they're over stepping their boundaries then this may be a justified course of action.
How about international collaboration on having some self restraint and not causing others physical harm to others any time something in the world doesn't go your way?
This is insane. I can't even comprehend how a government can even make a claim like this.
Thirded. Came here to say the same thing.
"except for".
However this is referring to the rapid change from no wind to 800 mph (the pilot's estimate if I heard correctly) of wind smashing his entire body. Pretty sure Felix wont be feeling this. But interesting story nonetheless.
Which only perpetuates the problem... Not that I necessarily disagree with your sentiment.