I (and half of/.) complain about MS docs all the time....I understand that for users, doc files are fine, since they can read them with the default word proccesser on their windows box. No problem.
But what if I need to write an app to search and index thousands of docs? What if I need to exportion the docs to HTML/TeX/SGML or Pig Latin? Call MS and pay $$. Not a solution. I realize that there are open solutions to this paticular problem now, but they only exist after a lot of reverse engineering. I'm betting that your handy-dandy MS doc file viewer is MS Word, though.
In fact, I can't understand users who don't see this as a problem. Why the #$@@#! should we accept closed formats when better open ones exist?
Re X3D, of course the X3D data gets converted to cg and shaders before being sent to the card, that's what an X3D viewer does. My point was that one can put a description of a very complex scene into X3D into a pretty small space, and that even a big gain in compression means a lot less now than it did a few years ago. Trading space for portability and readability is well worth it.
But recent history has seen the world get behind various 'standards' that suck. For example, the practice of sending documents as MS.doc files. The question of which is technically better was never asked, since this simply resulted from MS's domination and marketing skills. IMO, it can't be called a standard if it's not open.
I do agree with the gist of your statment though, the best standard _will_ eventually win, it's just that we might have to go through another few rounds of propietary crap first.
I don't see that as being enough overhead to avoid using xml. Squirting a complex X3D file at a device will only take a fraction of a second with _todays_ speeds, why not make it human readable/easily edited/open ?
I've often thought it would be great if a large auto maker aproached car design like VW did with the Beetle.Using all the tech we have to make a dead simple car. You could still have EFI and the like, but the parts would have to be modular and easily swappable.
I discovered him through/. Cryptonomicon was the best book I've read in years. Action, suspense, historical acuracy, math, and computers. The Diamond Age was also stunningly good. Quicksilver wasn't very good, and I havn't yet read Snow Crash, but I've heard good things.
I found it darkly humorous. Since 9/11 the western media + U.S. 'homeland security' has been spuoting all kinds of usefull ideas for terrorists. For instance; attacking ferries, spreading hoof'n'mouth disease, and attacking the power grid. Put thousands of journalists to work tryng to sell papers and you've created an AQ think tank.
It's that fact that makes this era so dangerous, as it leading to laws being passed to restrict information and freedoms.:-(
Pretty much anything in the Debian tree will run fine on an Indy. There are drivers for most things that are built into the Indy, but not for many third party devices (ie; Phobos NIC). Regarding running Ximian, you'ld probably be happier running something a little more lightweight, like fluxbox.
The last time we saw someone ask this question it got 60 responses from people trying to show of some Sipmsons knowledge. It's the perfect troll.
Get of that computer and go watch some T.V. already.
Not only are you the most complete reply to the parent post, you also manage to get in a Kent Brockman quote. #3 is covering what everyone else missed.
Slashdot Mirror
Because nobody likes a smart ass, and because people really prefer to punish rather than reward with mod points.
But what if I need to write an app to search and index thousands of docs? What if I need to exportion the docs to HTML/TeX/SGML or Pig Latin? Call MS and pay $$. Not a solution. I realize that there are open solutions to this paticular problem now, but they only exist after a lot of reverse engineering. I'm betting that your handy-dandy MS doc file viewer is MS Word, though.
In fact, I can't understand users who don't see this as a problem. Why the #$@@#! should we accept closed formats when better open ones exist?
Re X3D, of course the X3D data gets converted to cg and shaders before being sent to the card, that's what an X3D viewer does. My point was that one can put a description of a very complex scene into X3D into a pretty small space, and that even a big gain in compression means a lot less now than it did a few years ago. Trading space for portability and readability is well worth it.
Who's talking about an 8-bit palette? Pretty much the only reason to work in 8 bit anymore is to make gifs for IE.
Your original posting? Oh! You're that Anonymous Coward character.
I do agree with the gist of your statment though, the best standard _will_ eventually win, it's just that we might have to go through another few rounds of propietary crap first.
I don't see that as being enough overhead to avoid using xml. Squirting a complex X3D file at a device will only take a fraction of a second with _todays_ speeds, why not make it human readable/easily edited/open ?
You're new here, aren't you?
Google has 4,480 pages with 'wind', and 7,220 for 'arrow'. I'm going with 'arrow'
I've often thought it would be great if a large auto maker aproached car design like VW did with the Beetle.Using all the tech we have to make a dead simple car. You could still have EFI and the like, but the parts would have to be modular and easily swappable.
I discovered him through /. Cryptonomicon was the best book I've read in years. Action, suspense, historical acuracy, math, and computers. The Diamond Age was also stunningly good. Quicksilver wasn't very good, and I havn't yet read Snow Crash, but I've heard good things.
A bit more than $1500. A one way, buisness class ticket, NY to London costs ~$4000 U.S. today, booked a month in advance.
It's that fact that makes this era so dangerous, as it leading to laws being passed to restrict information and freedoms. :-(
Because of vibration and emf problems are two reasons I've heard.
At least you didn't leave anything 'as an exercise for the reader'.
FUD. Of course there is. Enter '>console" as your login name and watch OS X unload and a framebuffer darwin console fire up.
Pretty much anything in the Debian tree will run fine on an Indy. There are drivers for most things that are built into the Indy, but not for many third party devices (ie; Phobos NIC). Regarding running Ximian, you'ld probably be happier running something a little more lightweight, like fluxbox.
The last time we saw someone ask this question it got 60 responses from people trying to show of some Sipmsons knowledge. It's the perfect troll.
Get of that computer and go watch some T.V. already.
In Soviet Union, dead horse beats you!
But still not enough time to actually realize that you created it.
Mod Parent Up!
I only offer this information in the hope that it will help these jokes die. Please God, let them die.
silicon melts at 1414 K
diamonds melt at ~4000 K
That's real hot.
Really, who is the shithead who mods crap like this 'funny'?
Very nice job Mr. RobotWisdom.
Because sitting in one place for a million years is really, really boring?