Microsoft rep shouting while pointing to the desk of the corporate bigiwg, "Well there's a paperclip on your desktop, and it's not Windows! You owe us!!!"
If you read the first post It was in relation to that. And not to unfamiliar with the current legal tactics some of the big boys are plying, as in claiming rights without offering substantial proof, and then trying to get those people they casually accuse to figure out what (if) they violated without providing any real proof.
RIAA, SCO, Microsoft, all seem to have taken actions to put the burden of proof of guilt on the defendants with little effort or corroboration on their part. And in their defense they say that if no proof is offered they obviously must be guilty of hiding something.
Look we should not be playing any guessing game, if MS knows whats possibly infringing and states in public that they know then there should not be any reason not to reveal it unless it is a false number or they plan to use it as a form of extortion to sway customers to their products.
BTW: me and my lawyer say you owe me $450 for much of much of the same reasons Slashdot owes me $800, you're smart, you can figure out for what.
At the same time, Smith was having Microsoft's lawyers figure out how many of its patents were being infringed by free and open-source software. Gutierrez refuses to identify specific patents or explain how they're being infringed, lest FOSS advocates start filing challenges to them.
But he does break down the total number allegedly violated - 235 - into categories. He says that the Linux kernel - the deepest layer of the free operating system, which interacts most directly with the computer hardware - violates 42 Microsoft patents. The Linux graphical user interfaces - essentially, the way design elements like menus and toolbars are set up - run afoul of another 65, he claims. The Open Office suite of programs, which is analogous to Microsoft Office, infringes 45 more. E-mail programs infringe 15, while other assorted FOSS programs allegedly transgress 68.
Still numbers out of thin air - and the real reason is more likely that the Linux groups would work on rectifying the patent conflicts much to the disadvantage of Microsoft.
I would count no infringement until Microsoft tells us what we are infringing on. Kind of like me telling you guys on Slashdot you owe me $800, $500 is for my time and the other $300 is for stuff I provided. without offering any proof besides a mention of a lawyer verifying my amount (yep, he said it was $800 too). Hmm, kind of sounds like the RIAA come to think of it....
People are getting themselves killed because of the gaps in the accuracy of the maps or in other human interface elements in in the units, that sounds like a pretty serious software/hardware glitch to me.
On a technical standpoint, the GPS makers need to fix their bugs regardless of the legal blame game (in the long run it will result in a better system for all). Whether it tells people to "look up and make sure not to sit on any nearby railroad tracks" or something else I think it is an issue that needs to be resolved. No matter how much warnings you write in the manual or on the system there is a big percentage of people that don't read manuals or just click "ok" without reading the warning screen.
But even beyond that, the way advertising works these days is all about the visual. You promote a game through screen shots and videos and such.
There's another thing I have (and maybe others too) about these game previews - that is showing the ultra-rendered cut scenes instead of the actual game play, I watched the E3 coverage on G4 a while back and was pretty ticked that all the big upcomming announcements showed primarily these cut scenes, which many times has no bearing on gameplay or environment. I wonder how many kids feel suckered in when they saw those cool Final Fantasy VII (IIRC) cut scenes on TV ads and didn't know the game was something else entirely.
Most of those cut scenes were done on PCs not game systems ands hooked to render farms to grind out the video in pixel perfect detail. At least it would be more balanced if the cut scenes were rendered by the game engine instead (Harry Potter comes to mind here as an example).
He specifically looked at recent comments by Microsoft's Robbie Bach
A competitors review of a product, real informative.
Though I think the real issue is that the Wii is getting the market share of consumer attention in spite of the superior graphics processing power of the XBox and the PS3, and maybe they should do an article on not the resolution and frame rates but on the human interaction and game play of the consoles.
Now that RIAA is keeping a good record of all the music being played (one would assume) and raking in the bux and having the government enforce *cough* artists rights *cough* I figure the next step is the government will start taxing the RIAA revenues and require some sort of accounting of their collections/distribution to make sure everything is legit.
Sonner or later all these dumb regulations will be needed to be funded by related taxes of some sort.
Right. And the partitioning of data is something anyone who has worked with DBs have either considered or implemented, not really news in the structure change either.
The main reasons Microsoft is like McDonalds is not particiularly because it is good but it is: - convinent (theres one on just about every corner) so when people are hungry they can do a shopping cooking or just eat. - inexpensive, it doesn't cost much, nor does it offer much beyond filling your belly. - well marketed: kids are bombarded with advertising, drivers are constantly seeing the signs or billboards, etc. - and in part for some, a treadition (you can always get a big mac at mcdonalds.) - caters to the buy it now, eat it quick market (not really suited for the long term diet) - an employer of a lot of young people
Microsoft plays on the same things, fast easy, convinent, though many experts will say it may be bad for you (security, monoculture, non-adherance to popular standards, etc.) it's all a natter of preference.
Because the current OS/apps 'everyone' uses (Windows) has some serious problems that in spite of all that support out there have still yet to be fixed.
It sounds to me like it is pretty well broken and I should look for something better.
The only problem with color laser are all the parts, on the Xerox there is the OCP cartridge, Fuser, Charge Grid, Fuser Pad, each color toner etc. Some of the manufacturers hide the fact of all the bits by only offering say the toner and drum and the rest are a site maintenance stuff.
After the first color laser we are using a Xerox Solid Ink printer (I call it a "Crayon Jet" as the 'ink sticks' are very similar crayon material) It prints fast, the colors are as vibrant on a laser and it is darn fast (I think it has page-wide printheads) Besides the ink there is a maintenance kit (cleaning roller) which is replaces ever 30,000 copies (we're upto 69,000 on one of em). Cost per page (inks+maintenance kits) come to about 5.6 cents a page.
There is a downside though, given it is a wax based more then a toner based ink the ink is not as abrasion or heat resistant (I.e. if you use it for bus cards some color rubs off on the adjacent card, or if you heat-laminate it you get a really awful bleed from the ink liquefying during lamination.)
Most of what we do is short term signage, certificates, reports and brochures which is just fine.
At work we have really-good printers (like the Phaser 8550 solid ink, or HP laserjet B&W) which are networked and get the brand name stuff and are the standard for high quality prints. Then for the desktops (that don't need laser) I pick up Epson Stylus 740,750, 760 etc. printers (the 740 has USB, Apple Serial and Parallel, very versatile) used and buy the $4 ink tanks (inkresq) the speed is not as fast but the cost per page is realistic and the tanks aren't chipped.
Of the time I started doing this I think I have only found one true 740 dud (most are recoverable from complete clogage). The other departments have gone through several of the later Epson models (C82, C84, and the fancy scanner ones - which the vacuum tube slips out on like the 5?00) I try not to deal with HP/Lexmark they seem to make their carts overly complex to retain control and the HP bottom feed printers seem to be notorious for the paper feed failing.
I like how you translate Microsoft dropping support for a product to such as "It is also Apple's fault" Microsoft dropping support is not the fault of anyone but MS, it may be the case that Apple changed hardware and Microsoft not willing to put the effort in updating thier codebase.
Same goes for anything else that is non-microsoft, if the some state or country wants to use something like ODF, I bet in your book its all thier fault because Microsoft doesn't support it, right?
If the cost per print is good I thin k it has a chance. Our copiers are on a "per copy" supplies/maintenence plan (At work we pay our copier co. per the number of copies a month, then the toner drum, maintenece, etc. are provided just by a phone call.)
Quote from the WMP Mac website: "...Microsoft will continue to offer Windows Media Player 9 as a free download for Macintosh users, but has no plans to provide future updates or product support for Windows Media Player for Mac...."
This is not something uncommon for Microsoft to do to Mac users (well, actually it is because they usually drop all hope of support on thier Mac versions, not just crucial parts.)
And you think everyone will dump all thier software and replace all thier content just because Microsoft says it's a good idea? Homey don't play that no more.
Those SID chips are still in big demand, especially in the garage music scene (as thewre are a bunch of custom 64s and SID powered music boxes.
If you are going to part out a 64, best to get all the 'big chips' which includes the processorr, video, sound, and interface chips (as us old timers need those for repair parts).
Good luck, like they did for 10.3? Want to run the latest Java? Well you have to buy 10.4, as Apple didin't produce an installer for 10.3 (yeah, go to the Java site to get the installer for 10.3, and it says go to Apple to install), Thisa goes the same for a lot of bug fix~h~h~h er, feature enhancements.
I am sure the same will happen with 10.4, justr a maytter of time befor some new whiz bang innovation (or necessary bug-fix) is 10.5 only.
Glad you could read my post, my typing really sucks lately (Slashdot needs a spelling check).;-)
Sure they have Computers in them, but Apple has a bunch of computers people really like or would really like more if they fixed some nagging issues. A phone and a thing for the TV does not fix my problems. Fixing shortcommings in the OS and putting out some nice inexpensive mid-range boxes would be really nice in my book.
For evrey thing that BSD in Mac OSX offers there are aspects in Apple's implementaion of OSX that seem to thwart those advantages (Samba - good, Finder's use of it - bad.) In all the years of using OS 9 , it may not have been as 'compatible' but it wasn't the seemingly half-promise of it being able to 'just work' either.
A Lot of people went to MacWorld (empahsize Mac as in MACINTOSH) and did not see a new version of the OS or hardware enhancements but a Phone and a box that hooks to a TV. And the announcement that Apple is taking "Computer" out of thier company name, great news for all thopse computer show attendees, eh?.
Of course Apple said, "Just wait till spring, we'll annouce all that computing goodness you paid to hear about" , which has now become, "Well, expect it later in the year, the Phne this is more important to us now than those old computer updates anyway."
Yeah I really miss the Apple of a few years back, before they became another MicroSoft, jumping on every market but thier core one (you know, computers and OSs). But I am really glad to see all the software/interoperability innovations in the GNU/Linux community though. These companies should be conneting the dots, offering more consumer-oriented music/video whiz-bang eye candy (and relatede DRM) is certainly turing off the "let's get stuff done" IT types who just wand a SMB protocol that works and a Finder that does not have the dreaded "Pinwheel of wait" features..
Yep IT planning may not have Apple or MS in the picture, at least for for those looking for long-term solutions not Zunes and iPhones.
Dungeon Master, yeah, now that was something. I'll add to the list
- ArmourGeddon - switch between piloting one of several combat machines (heavy tank, light tank, helicopter, strike fighter, stealth bomber, and armored hovercraft) combat against the computer or another player via serial. All the simulators were quite fun to control. Sure with the BZFlag guys would get ideas from it.
- Gauntlet I and II - FOUR Players at the same time with all the good sound and graphics! Sure did the arcade version justice also of note were the Amiga versions of the Arcade hits Star Wars and Empire Stries back too.
- Vroom - Very nice Formula one racing, hit the wheels of your opponent right and you can sail over them (in arcode race mode). Not much high-detail but well done visuals and mechanics.
- Elite: Frontier - The best sequel there is, it was a showstopper of Elite goodness.
And before that system software designers were commonly working around late-discovered hardware bugs. (since the bords were commonly produced before the software was final)
Slashdot Mirror
Microsoft rep shouting while pointing to the desk of the corporate bigiwg, "Well there's a paperclip on your desktop, and it's not Windows! You owe us!!!"
If you read the first post It was in relation to that. And not to unfamiliar with the current legal tactics some of the big boys are plying, as in claiming rights without offering substantial proof, and then trying to get those people they casually accuse to figure out what (if) they violated without providing any real proof.
RIAA, SCO, Microsoft, all seem to have taken actions to put the burden of proof of guilt on the defendants with little effort or corroboration on their part. And in their defense they say that if no proof is offered they obviously must be guilty of hiding something.
Look we should not be playing any guessing game, if MS knows whats possibly infringing and states in public that they know then there should not be any reason not to reveal it unless it is a false number or they plan to use it as a form of extortion to sway customers to their products.
BTW: me and my lawyer say you owe me $450 for much of much of the same reasons Slashdot owes me $800, you're smart, you can figure out for what.
At the same time, Smith was having Microsoft's lawyers figure out how many of its patents were being infringed by free and open-source software. Gutierrez refuses to identify specific patents or explain how they're being infringed, lest FOSS advocates start filing challenges to them.
But he does break down the total number allegedly violated - 235 - into categories. He says that the Linux kernel - the deepest layer of the free operating system, which interacts most directly with the computer hardware - violates 42 Microsoft patents. The Linux graphical user interfaces - essentially, the way design elements like menus and toolbars are set up - run afoul of another 65, he claims. The Open Office suite of programs, which is analogous to Microsoft Office, infringes 45 more. E-mail programs infringe 15, while other assorted FOSS programs allegedly transgress 68.
Still numbers out of thin air - and the real reason is more likely that the Linux groups would work on rectifying the patent conflicts much to the disadvantage of Microsoft.
I would count no infringement until Microsoft tells us what we are infringing on. Kind of like me telling you guys on Slashdot you owe me $800, $500 is for my time and the other $300 is for stuff I provided. without offering any proof besides a mention of a lawyer verifying my amount (yep, he said it was $800 too). Hmm, kind of sounds like the RIAA come to think of it....
People are getting themselves killed because of the gaps in the accuracy of the maps or in other human interface elements in in the units, that sounds like a pretty serious software/hardware glitch to me.
On a technical standpoint, the GPS makers need to fix their bugs regardless of the legal blame game (in the long run it will result in a better system for all). Whether it tells people to "look up and make sure not to sit on any nearby railroad tracks" or something else I think it is an issue that needs to be resolved. No matter how much warnings you write in the manual or on the system there is a big percentage of people that don't read manuals or just click "ok" without reading the warning screen.
But even beyond that, the way advertising works these days is all about the visual. You promote a game through screen shots and videos and such.
There's another thing I have (and maybe others too) about these game previews - that is showing the ultra-rendered cut scenes instead of the actual game play, I watched the E3 coverage on G4 a while back and was pretty ticked that all the big upcomming announcements showed primarily these cut scenes, which many times has no bearing on gameplay or environment. I wonder how many kids feel suckered in when they saw those cool Final Fantasy VII (IIRC) cut scenes on TV ads and didn't know the game was something else entirely.
Most of those cut scenes were done on PCs not game systems ands hooked to render farms to grind out the video in pixel perfect detail. At least it would be more balanced if the cut scenes were rendered by the game engine instead (Harry Potter comes to mind here as an example).
He specifically looked at recent comments by Microsoft's Robbie Bach
A competitors review of a product, real informative.
Though I think the real issue is that the Wii is getting the market share of consumer attention in spite of the superior graphics processing power of the XBox and the PS3, and maybe they should do an article on not the resolution and frame rates but on the human interaction and game play of the consoles.
Sounds like somebody is having a case of the Mondays!
Now that RIAA is keeping a good record of all the music being played (one would assume) and raking in the bux and having the government enforce *cough* artists rights *cough* I figure the next step is the government will start taxing the RIAA revenues and require some sort of accounting of their collections/distribution to make sure everything is legit.
Sonner or later all these dumb regulations will be needed to be funded by related taxes of some sort.
Right. And the partitioning of data is something anyone who has worked with DBs have either considered or implemented, not really news in the structure change either.
It's a massive peer-to-peer collection of interconnected computers storing and sharing various bits of data among the whole.
The main reasons Microsoft is like McDonalds is not particiularly because it is good but it is:
- convinent (theres one on just about every corner) so when people are hungry they can do a shopping cooking or just eat.
- inexpensive, it doesn't cost much, nor does it offer much beyond filling your belly.
- well marketed: kids are bombarded with advertising, drivers are constantly seeing the signs or billboards, etc.
- and in part for some, a treadition (you can always get a big mac at mcdonalds.)
- caters to the buy it now, eat it quick market (not really suited for the long term diet)
- an employer of a lot of young people
Microsoft plays on the same things, fast easy, convinent, though many experts will say it may be bad for you (security, monoculture, non-adherance to popular standards, etc.) it's all a natter of preference.
I guess I'm not a 'fast tech' computerist.
So in your analogy McDonalds food is better because more people tend to buy it than something healthier.
Many people don't know/care what is good fo them in the long term. Those that do make informed decisions like I did.
Because the current OS/apps 'everyone' uses (Windows)
has some serious problems
that in spite of all that support out there
have still yet to be fixed.
It sounds to me like it is pretty well broken
and I should look for something better.
The only problem with color laser are all the parts, on the Xerox there is the OCP cartridge, Fuser, Charge Grid, Fuser Pad, each color toner etc. Some of the manufacturers hide the fact of all the bits by only offering say the toner and drum and the rest are a site maintenance stuff.
After the first color laser we are using a Xerox Solid Ink printer (I call it a "Crayon Jet" as the 'ink sticks' are very similar crayon material) It prints fast, the colors are as vibrant on a laser and it is darn fast (I think it has page-wide printheads) Besides the ink there is a maintenance kit (cleaning roller) which is replaces ever 30,000 copies (we're upto 69,000 on one of em). Cost per page (inks+maintenance kits) come to about 5.6 cents a page.
There is a downside though, given it is a wax based more then a toner based ink the ink is not as abrasion or heat resistant (I.e. if you use it for bus cards some color rubs off on the adjacent card, or if you heat-laminate it you get a really awful bleed from the ink liquefying during lamination.)
Most of what we do is short term signage, certificates, reports and brochures which is just fine.
At work we have really-good printers (like the Phaser 8550 solid ink, or HP laserjet B&W) which are networked and get the brand name stuff and are the standard for high quality prints. Then for the desktops (that don't need laser) I pick up Epson Stylus 740,750, 760 etc. printers (the 740 has USB, Apple Serial and Parallel, very versatile) used and buy the $4 ink tanks (inkresq) the speed is not as fast but the cost per page is realistic and the tanks aren't chipped.
Of the time I started doing this I think I have only found one true 740 dud (most are recoverable from complete clogage). The other departments have gone through several of the later Epson models (C82, C84, and the fancy scanner ones - which the vacuum tube slips out on like the 5?00) I try not to deal with HP/Lexmark they seem to make their carts overly complex to retain control and the HP bottom feed printers seem to be notorious for the paper feed failing.
I like how you translate Microsoft dropping support for a product to such as "It is also Apple's fault" Microsoft dropping support is not the fault of anyone but MS, it may be the case that Apple changed hardware and Microsoft not willing to put the effort in updating thier codebase.
Same goes for anything else that is non-microsoft, if the some state or country wants to use something like ODF, I bet in your book its all thier fault because Microsoft doesn't support it, right?
If the cost per print is good I thin k it has a chance. Our copiers are on a "per copy" supplies/maintenence plan (At work we pay our copier co. per the number of copies a month, then the toner drum, maintenece, etc. are provided just by a phone call.)
Quote from the WMP Mac website: "...Microsoft will continue to offer Windows Media Player 9 as a free download for Macintosh users, but has no plans to provide future updates or product support for Windows Media Player for Mac...."
This is not something uncommon for Microsoft to do to Mac users (well, actually it is because they usually drop all hope of support on thier Mac versions, not just crucial parts.)
And you think everyone will dump all thier software and replace all thier content just because Microsoft says it's a good idea? Homey don't play that no more.Those SID chips are still in big demand, especially in the garage music scene (as thewre are a bunch of custom 64s and SID powered music boxes. If you are going to part out a 64, best to get all the 'big chips' which includes the processorr, video, sound, and interface chips (as us old timers need those for repair parts).
Good luck, like they did for 10.3? Want to run the latest Java? Well you have to buy 10.4, as Apple didin't produce an installer for 10.3 (yeah, go to the Java site to get the installer for 10.3, and it says go to Apple to install), Thisa goes the same for a lot of bug fix~h~h~h er, feature enhancements.
I am sure the same will happen with 10.4, justr a maytter of time befor some new whiz bang innovation (or necessary bug-fix) is 10.5 only.
Glad you could read my post, my typing really sucks lately (Slashdot needs a spelling check). ;-)
Sure they have Computers in them, but Apple has a bunch of computers people really like or would really like more if they fixed some nagging issues. A phone and a thing for the TV does not fix my problems. Fixing shortcommings in the OS and putting out some nice inexpensive mid-range boxes would be really nice in my book.
For evrey thing that BSD in Mac OSX offers there are aspects in Apple's implementaion of OSX that seem to thwart those advantages (Samba - good, Finder's use of it - bad.) In all the years of using OS 9 , it may not have been as 'compatible' but it wasn't the seemingly half-promise of it being able to 'just work' either.
A Lot of people went to MacWorld (empahsize Mac as in MACINTOSH) and did not see a new version of the OS or hardware enhancements but a Phone and a box that hooks to a TV. And the announcement that Apple is taking "Computer" out of thier company name, great news for all thopse computer show attendees, eh?.
Of course Apple said, "Just wait till spring, we'll annouce all that computing goodness you paid to hear about" , which has now become, "Well, expect it later in the year, the Phne this is more important to us now than those old computer updates anyway."
Yeah I really miss the Apple of a few years back, before they became another MicroSoft, jumping on every market but thier core one (you know, computers and OSs). But I am really glad to see all the software/interoperability innovations in the GNU/Linux community though. These companies should be conneting the dots, offering more consumer-oriented music/video whiz-bang eye candy (and relatede DRM) is certainly turing off the "let's get stuff done" IT types who just wand a SMB protocol that works and a Finder that does not have the dreaded "Pinwheel of wait" features..
Yep IT planning may not have Apple or MS in the picture, at least for for those looking for long-term solutions not Zunes and iPhones.
Dungeon Master, yeah, now that was something. I'll add to the list
- ArmourGeddon - switch between piloting one of several combat machines (heavy tank, light tank, helicopter, strike fighter, stealth bomber, and armored hovercraft) combat against the computer or another player via serial. All the simulators were quite fun to control. Sure with the BZFlag guys would get ideas from it.
- Gauntlet I and II - FOUR Players at the same time with all the good sound and graphics! Sure did the arcade version justice also of note were the Amiga versions of the Arcade hits Star Wars and Empire Stries back too.
- Vroom - Very nice Formula one racing, hit the wheels of your opponent right and you can sail over them (in arcode race mode). Not much high-detail but well done visuals and mechanics.
- Elite: Frontier - The best sequel there is, it was a showstopper of Elite goodness.
And before that system software designers were commonly working around late-discovered hardware bugs. (since the bords were commonly produced before the software was final)