Well, I was wondering what the Slashdot community at large thinks is wrong (or right) with the U.S. and technological innovation?"
Well, that's easy. Big business doesn't like innovation. They like the semblance (sp?) of innovation to encourage you to buy "new" things, but completely and truly new things cost money, take away from the bottom line, and transition periods are where big companies tend to get replaced. Thus, we have to fight for innovative products, no matter how useful they are, and we only get them because some company "goes rogue" - such as portable MP3 players.
The only innovation we get is innovative ways to protect the old guard - like copy protection that arguably erodes consumer rights (I say consumer in the global sense, being a non-USian so I can't really say my rights as a US citizen:).
Re:Not a search engine..
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HotBot Returns
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· Score: 4, Funny
To me that is the equivalent of sticking slashdot in a frameset with your name on the top frame, and claiming you have a new news site for geeks.
To me, it's like getting people to submit tech news to your site, linking it, and encouraging them to discuss. Yeah, that would be stupid. [/playful troll]
Re:This is really great news
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DSL Rising
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· Score: 2
Sorry, should have indicated that my gf, while being quite intelligent, is no computer genius and generally leaves all PC related tasks to me.
I didn't mean that to sound like "if a girl can do it, anyone can":)
Re:This is really great news
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DSL Rising
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· Score: 2
The problem here, is that only the rich can afford an easy to use web publishing package like FrontPage running on Windoes XP/2000.
Most people communicate on the web using web bulletin boards, IM clients, email, etc - and publishing to the web is easy and cheap (my girlfriend can do well formed HTML in notepad easily enough and host it on angelfire if she desires).
Nothing entitles you to a christmas bonus, but nothing would have been better than a stupid toy. A bonus is a sign of respect for you as an employee and that shows a complete lack of respect.
Considering how the economy is right now, I expect you will see a bunch of "you're lucky you have a job" flames.
Incidently, I got turkey money - a gift certificate for a major supermarket chain. We usually get a bonus if the company sells a certain amount of product, but due to extenuating circumstances (drawn out price negotiations with a major customer which means we'll sell a lot of product next year but didn't hit our forecast at all this year) we won't be getting anything.
And we're fighting off a hostile takeover right now, so I may just get a pink slip for christmas (or have to move to another city, if I'm lucky).
"In fact, MS catches a lot of flack for maintaining backwards compatibility"
No, actually MS catches flack for breaking compabtibility.
I meant (for example) they way they try to maintain support for legacy apps (ie/ DOS, Win 3.1) when Windows would be much more stable if they just made a clean break. In other words, they're damned if they do and damned if they don't.
"Could it be, perhaps, that they only use Linux where they feel it is strong (webserver, etc) and that is the reason it isn't as popular as zealots think it should be?"
No, while Linux has its problems that's not the reason its not so popular. Let me explain something to you about Windows and why its popular. [snip convincing argument as to why MS dominates the desktop environment]
You are absolutely right, but only in reference to the desktop environment (and you don't need to be so snide - everyone with half a brain knows that MS is a monopoly and just how they abuse that power - well, except the US justice system:).
In that particular section I was referring to the server environment (though I admit I had blurred the line in my arguments between server and desktop), where switching operating systems and hardware platforms is much easier and more common. Linux is a big player there - ORACLE runs on Linux and Apache runs on Linux. Many of the enterprise apps out there are not MS exclusive (well, not on the server, I mean). But I'm tired and I don't feel like arguing this point (its been rehashed on Slashdot far too many times) so I will leave it at that.
The fact is, MS is scared right now. They could have lost out during the "Internet revolution" (forgive the buzzwords) and only won by leveraging their desktop monopoly. That's why they have their fingers into EVERYTHING right now - game consoles, pdas, cell phones, tablet pcs - they don't want to be caught with their pants down so they will happily lose money to make sure they survive the next computing transition. It would be cool if Linux could jump in, but Linux has no direction or guiding focus (at least, no central one) - hey, maybe there is something to the whole "united Linux" argument, in that Linux would certainly benefit from more focus (don't mistake this for a million code-monkeys on a million computers argument, I mean focus in the "man with a vision" sense).
I hate it when I go in a big circle and end up on the other side. I think I will just shut up now.
Microsoft users are an interesting lot. They have systems that they have NO control over. They have systems they have to reboot every sixteen minutes. They freely pay Bill Gates obscene amounts of money for buggy programs that they can't use when they upgrade to the next operating system. It's almost laughable. But they are united, and most don't know the first thing about Linux.
Not one of these statements is true (except perhaps the control over the OS statement, depending on how you define control).
I never have to reboot W2k or XP, except during the occasional (hehe) patch.
I know people that still use Office 97 on new operating systems. In fact, MS catches a lot of flack for maintaining backwards compatibility. And now we're claiming that they don't?
Microsoft users are not united. We are just customers that use the (arguably) best (or only) tool for the job (exchange, 2000 for desktop PCs, office, etc). There is basically no sense of community for MS users that I have ever stumbled across. Microsoft developers have a few hangouts, but most of us just hit MSDN when we need info.
Most (if not all) of the Microsoft users I know of (developers, admins) not only know of Linux, but have used it when appropriate. Given that UNIX is still quite pervasive, finding the robust, free version isn't that hard. Could it be, perhaps, that they only use Linux where they feel it is strong (webserver, etc) and that is the reason it isn't as popular as zealots think it should be?
As for standards... people seem to forget that Windows is top of the heap, and the Windows environment is the least standardized environment I have ever seen. Every app has to be skinnable. Every save dialog and open dialog customized beyond recognition. Just go to the Interface Hall of Shame to see what I mean.
Yes, I have no love for this aspect of Nintendo (nor their anti-competitive actions in the past).
My favourite part:
Are Game Copying Devices Illegal?
Yes. Game copiers enable users to illegally copy video game software onto floppy disks, writeable compact disks or the hard drive of a personal computer. They enable the user to make, play and distribute illegal copies of video game software which violates Nintendo's copyrights and trademarks. These devices also allow for the uploading and downloading of ROMs to and from the Internet. Based upon the functions of these devices, they are illegal.
They say "yes, game copying devices are illegal" by defining the illegal acts you can do with one. That's like saying "yes, car's are illegal based on the functional capabilities it provides to run down school children."
Yes, the article I linked says that there could be a marginal (5%) improvement in typing speed for average people but for expert typists, switching to dvorak did not increase their speed.
At least you are making a claim about Dvorak that perhaps makes sense (contrary to popular belief, Dvorak layout does not lead to superior typing speeds - see this) - has anyone researched whether Dvorak would help with RSI's? No offence to the parent, but I can't just go on one anecodote here:)
I personally can't switch as I need to be able to sit down on anyones PC and just start typing... I don't seem to get RSI pain at all, but I'm sure it will start in a few years, given I am a gamer and a programmer...
If a company produces 50,000 items and 100 fail, that's not bad. But if all of those 100 come onto slashdot to bitch (pretend it was sold at ThinkGeek) then the perception of lower quality will be stronger among their target audience because of the ability for a few people to communicate directly with a larger number of others.
What you are asking for is anecdotes. Has anyone studied this phenomenon (if it even exists)?
Everyone has bad experiences with electronics (and consumer goods in general) and we tend to remember the bad.
People buy more electronics with less money. So the odds of having bad experiences has probably increased because we have more shoddy stuff.
Now, if you asked about a specific component (large or small) such as a hard drive by a specific brand, then we may be able to say something intelligent. Asking for an opinion about "consumer electronics" is sure to result in plenty of emotional and individual responses that are mostly useless.
Or the guy who sells weapons and armor, he makes a good living.
Dragon Warrior IV lets you be a merchant and set up a shop. Breath of Fire 2 did this as well, I believe. And of course, the MMORPGs mostly have this option too...
2) I truly believe the not so great quality of the recent Star Wars films was the result of Lucas' directing ability rather than with his script.
Right, and how would you direct a script like this:
[Anakin and Padme are about to be carted into the arena.]
Anakin: Don't be afraid. Padme: I'm not afraid to die. I've been dying a little bit each day since you came back into my life. Anakin: What are you talking about? Padme: I love you. Anakin: You love me? I thought we had decided not to fall in love. That we'd be forced to love a lie and that it would destroy our lives. Padme: I think our lives are about to be destroyed anyway. I truly... deeply... love you and before we die I want you to know.
In other words, you can put a coat of polish on a turd, but it's still shit.
stupid moderators. If you're going to mod me down, do it right!
Say it with me now: Offtopic, yes Funny, maybe Overrated, sure Redundant - it's the soviet russia jokes that are redundant and that was the WHOLE FUCKING POINT of my post! I don't see about fifteen posts bitching about the soviet russia jokes above mine, therefore I counter-moderate you as (-1, Functionally Illiterate Dunderhead)
Slashdot Mirror
Well, that's easy. Big business doesn't like innovation. They like the semblance (sp?) of innovation to encourage you to buy "new" things, but completely and truly new things cost money, take away from the bottom line, and transition periods are where big companies tend to get replaced. Thus, we have to fight for innovative products, no matter how useful they are, and we only get them because some company "goes rogue" - such as portable MP3 players.
The only innovation we get is innovative ways to protect the old guard - like copy protection that arguably erodes consumer rights (I say consumer in the global sense, being a non-USian so I can't really say my rights as a US citizen
To me, it's like getting people to submit tech news to your site, linking it, and encouraging them to discuss. Yeah, that would be stupid.
[/playful troll]
Sorry, should have indicated that my gf, while being quite intelligent, is no computer genius and generally leaves all PC related tasks to me.
:)
I didn't mean that to sound like "if a girl can do it, anyone can"
Most people communicate on the web using web bulletin boards, IM clients, email, etc - and publishing to the web is easy and cheap (my girlfriend can do well formed HTML in notepad easily enough and host it on angelfire if she desires).
I smells a troll....
Nothing entitles you to a christmas bonus, but nothing would have been better than a stupid toy. A bonus is a sign of respect for you as an employee and that shows a complete lack of respect.
:)
Considering how the economy is right now, I expect you will see a bunch of "you're lucky you have a job" flames.
Incidently, I got turkey money - a gift certificate for a major supermarket chain. We usually get a bonus if the company sells a certain amount of product, but due to extenuating circumstances (drawn out price negotiations with a major customer which means we'll sell a lot of product next year but didn't hit our forecast at all this year) we won't be getting anything.
And we're fighting off a hostile takeover right now, so I may just get a pink slip for christmas (or have to move to another city, if I'm lucky).
Merry fucking Christmas everyone
Oh, and this is funny too.
Happy Birthday Quantum Physics! :)
I meant (for example) they way they try to maintain support for legacy apps (ie/ DOS, Win 3.1) when Windows would be much more stable if they just made a clean break. In other words, they're damned if they do and damned if they don't.
You are absolutely right, but only in reference to the desktop environment (and you don't need to be so snide - everyone with half a brain knows that MS is a monopoly and just how they abuse that power - well, except the US justice system
In that particular section I was referring to the server environment (though I admit I had blurred the line in my arguments between server and desktop), where switching operating systems and hardware platforms is much easier and more common. Linux is a big player there - ORACLE runs on Linux and Apache runs on Linux. Many of the enterprise apps out there are not MS exclusive (well, not on the server, I mean). But I'm tired and I don't feel like arguing this point (its been rehashed on Slashdot far too many times) so I will leave it at that.
The fact is, MS is scared right now. They could have lost out during the "Internet revolution" (forgive the buzzwords) and only won by leveraging their desktop monopoly. That's why they have their fingers into EVERYTHING right now - game consoles, pdas, cell phones, tablet pcs - they don't want to be caught with their pants down so they will happily lose money to make sure they survive the next computing transition. It would be cool if Linux could jump in, but Linux has no direction or guiding focus (at least, no central one) - hey, maybe there is something to the whole "united Linux" argument, in that Linux would certainly benefit from more focus (don't mistake this for a million code-monkeys on a million computers argument, I mean focus in the "man with a vision" sense).
I hate it when I go in a big circle and end up on the other side. I think I will just shut up now.
Not one of these statements is true (except perhaps the control over the OS statement, depending on how you define control).
I never have to reboot W2k or XP, except during the occasional (hehe) patch.
I know people that still use Office 97 on new operating systems. In fact, MS catches a lot of flack for maintaining backwards compatibility. And now we're claiming that they don't?
Microsoft users are not united. We are just customers that use the (arguably) best (or only) tool for the job (exchange, 2000 for desktop PCs, office, etc). There is basically no sense of community for MS users that I have ever stumbled across. Microsoft developers have a few hangouts, but most of us just hit MSDN when we need info.
Most (if not all) of the Microsoft users I know of (developers, admins) not only know of Linux, but have used it when appropriate. Given that UNIX is still quite pervasive, finding the robust, free version isn't that hard. Could it be, perhaps, that they only use Linux where they feel it is strong (webserver, etc) and that is the reason it isn't as popular as zealots think it should be?
As for standards... people seem to forget that Windows is top of the heap, and the Windows environment is the least standardized environment I have ever seen. Every app has to be skinnable. Every save dialog and open dialog customized beyond recognition. Just go to the Interface Hall of Shame to see what I mean.
My favourite part:
They say "yes, game copying devices are illegal" by defining the illegal acts you can do with one. That's like saying "yes, car's are illegal based on the functional capabilities it provides to run down school children."
Metroid Prime still rox tho
Story is right here dude
Nintendo isn't taking a loss on the gamecube or gba, according to industry buzz (which is notoriously inaccurate :)
Banana bucks aren't a prize?
The simulator doesn't let me use my favoured method of killing pop-ups - alt+f4 :)
That's a good way to kill those unclosable ones (at least, the seemingly unclosable ones I have ever encountered)
They fill up 90% of the screen sometimes as it is and they spawn several popups at a time.
;)
As far as I am concerned, Internet adverts are just like magazine adverts. I don't notice those ones either (unlike TV adverts).
Has anyone done a study to compare the various advertising models and their effectiveness?
Ok, now I'll go read the article
Yes, the article I linked says that there could be a marginal (5%) improvement in typing speed for average people but for expert typists, switching to dvorak did not increase their speed.
At least you are making a claim about Dvorak that perhaps makes sense (contrary to popular belief, Dvorak layout does not lead to superior typing speeds - see this) - has anyone researched whether Dvorak would help with RSI's? No offence to the parent, but I can't just go on one anecodote here :)
I personally can't switch as I need to be able to sit down on anyones PC and just start typing... I don't seem to get RSI pain at all, but I'm sure it will start in a few years, given I am a gamer and a programmer...
Oh, and one last thing:
We are talking more now (thanks to the Internet).
If a company produces 50,000 items and 100 fail, that's not bad. But if all of those 100 come onto slashdot to bitch (pretend it was sold at ThinkGeek) then the perception of lower quality will be stronger among their target audience because of the ability for a few people to communicate directly with a larger number of others.
Just a thought.
Dragon Warrior IV lets you be a merchant and set up a shop. Breath of Fire 2 did this as well, I believe. And of course, the MMORPGs mostly have this option too...
Right, and how would you direct a script like this:
In other words, you can put a coat of polish on a turd, but it's still shit.
Who wants to reboot to play a game?
That would be like doing all your productive stuff in one operating system and all your game playing in anot-
Uhm, nevermind.
You can still find the Ultima Collection in a lot of stores.
Or you can hit some abandonware sites, if you really can't find it anywhere... it is getting harder and harder to find.
Damn, I was gonna post that.
:)
1.0 was just released last month too
stupid moderators. If you're going to mod me down, do it right!
:)
Say it with me now:
Offtopic, yes
Funny, maybe
Overrated, sure
Redundant - it's the soviet russia jokes that are redundant and that was the WHOLE FUCKING POINT of my post! I don't see about fifteen posts bitching about the soviet russia jokes above mine, therefore I counter-moderate you as (-1, Functionally Illiterate Dunderhead)
*sniff* smell the Karma burning