Jimbo started by trying paid editors; it was called Nupedia [wikipedia.org]. After three years and... well, tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, I guess, they had a whole 24 articles!
Informative, eh?
What are you implying? That encyclopdias with paid editors couldn't possibly release a full encyclopedia in three years?
For what it's worth, the MIT folks said they couldn't unequivocally rule it out. They didn't say it happened. One of the main points on Mythbusters was that it seemed like it might work, but the fleet would have had to remain essentially motionless for the wood to get hot enough for ignition. The MIT folks did nothing to answer that as they the mirrors and the "ship" were motionless until ignition.
I grew up in New Orleans where ICEE was king. They were in each and every Time Saver (local convenience chain)and were heavily advertised outside of Time Saver ads. I always thought they were a New Orleans' product. So, when Slurpee started to show up in New Orleans in the early 1980s, I figured THEY were the usurper. How dare they come in and try to kill ICEE.
I really regret my boycotts and protests now, not to mention the dead cats outside of the stores. Sigh.
If the price were to get set based on other factors, like popularity, it wouldn't bother me too much.
It seems to me this latest rift is less about price and more about simple control. While one can argue well against CD prices and the industry has been cited for collusion and price-fixing, I've always felt that the industry never reacted out of worry over money, but rather loss of control -- of distibution, of demand, of need. If they lose the ability to push youngsters into a fervor over the next Gwen Stefani single, they've lost a hell of a lot more than CD sales. And, right now, Steve Jobs has managed to place himself as the frontman of the industry. So many people are buying iPods and using iTunes that he's pulling control away from the larger industry. He's the face of music.
I gotta think that scares the shit out of the industry moreso than.99 Coldplay songs.
Whenever my wife complains that I spend too much time on the computer, studying stuff during my off-days, I immediately remember a scene from Star Trek that went something like:
Scotty: I thought I'd catch up on my technical journals. Kirk: Don't you ever relax? Scotty: I am relaxin'!
Pretty sure it was the Trouble with Tribbles. When Scotty is later confined to quarters for the brawl, he exclaims that will give him time to catch up on his technical journals.
Computer Science as an industry is following that of the TV and VCR repair men. When TVs and VCRs are expensive they get em fixed. When they're cheap, they replace them.
One of the things you must consider when comparing TVs and Computers is that TVs (and VCRs) perform a small handful of functions without giving the user much in the way of customization.
A computer gives a user much more latitude and power. A computer can be a file server, a workstation, a video server, a game system, and more. One computer can perform each of these roles separately or any combination thereof.
I think that if users spent many months and years setting their TV to be just right and had the ability to save shows into the set which they would then lose or have to transfer after much expense to a new set, then you could compare the two.
Having said that, I do believe that computers will get to such a point that you will see systems easily replaced. I don't think, however, that's coming very soon. Perhaps when the computer is not the sum of its data but is something of a masseuse that massages the amorphous "data" available everywhere into usable chunks and then presents it to any "computer" that user cares to sit down and use.
Despite some protests to the contrary, Dvorak used to write some pretty interesting and technical stuff a long time ago. (A long, LONG time ago.) But he and many of his colleagues have simply turned from interesting insightful commentary to writing anything that will get eyeballs.
I used to be very naïve about this. I used to believe that columnists, through their transparant attempts for readership, tried to be fair and honest about what they did. Then I heard an interview with a pretty prominent columnist at an even more prominent newspaper say that she routinely wrote things SHE disagreed with because the point of writing a column is to get people talking.
So, they can and will say anything to get readers. Many of you may think this is a "duh" moment, but it was amazing for me. Dvorak could write an article about how "some people" think that, for instance, Linus is evil and should be dead. (Hey, it's plausible. I'm sure in the entire world there are two people that don't like Linus enough and wish he were dead.) That'll generate a lot of controversy and get more readers. But is it right?! Where's the line?
More and more often, it seems like there isn't any line.
It's clear to me now. Columnists are professional trolls.
(Heh. I guess this means that all those folks that get modded down will wind up working in "journalism" some day. Quite possible. Imagine! A G.N.A.A. feature. Some trolls can dream.)
But what most people don't realize is how much work they'll have if they get a new PC.
Consider all the things that you've accumulated on your system and how much you've tweaked it -- settings, bookmarks, documents, serial keys, music, etc. You've had it for at least a year. And in all that time, you've done a lot with their PC. Do they know how to get all those settings and data to the new PC?
Secondly, what about software? Most customers lose their original discs. Some systems don't even come with discs. Are they going to re-purchase everything? It's illegal to install an OEM Office onto a new PC. Will they buy a new Office? (No, they probably won't, but it's something you SHOULD bring up.)
Third, there's hardware changes. What have they added? They will have to move that to the new PC, if it will work! (If the new system, for instance, had 768MB RAM and the new system uses a different type of RAM.)
Fourth, what are they really getting with that system? There's a chance that the $199.99 powerhouse is anything but and may actually be SLOWER than what they have now!
Finally, there's preventing this from happening again. Do they know how?
They usually realize at this point that they're going to need help anyway. Since they can't perform these tasks, that means they're going to have to hire someone to do it. Suddenly a $199.99 PC is starting to look unrealistic.
Of course, my OPINION is that it's better to repair than replace. I'm sure someone more clever can offer valid contrary arguments. I think replacement-as-policy (and I also put "rebuilds" under this category) is ultimately a longer road. I suggest it only if the new system is going to be much better out of the box.
ENHANCEWARE MEMBER ALLIANCE TO START BETA TESTING LONGHORN
July 9, 2005
The Enhanceware Member Alliance has announced they will start beta testing Longhorn.
"We can't wait to see what great ideas Microsoft plans to implement with Longhorn. We are confident we can make a great operating system even BETTER!!!!" said Dewey, chief architect for ABetterInternet.
Longhorn promises major advances in security.
"We can't wait to work with Microsoft to help them to help us get our applications on Longhorn users' systems," said Cheatum, reintegration/reinstallation vice-president for Qoologic.
Indeed, the EMA will be working directly with Microsoft development teams to provide the best experience the EMA can offer.
"Longhorn promises to be the best operating system for EMA members. We're confident the enhancements Microsoft will certainly add to Longhorn will provide wonderful unforseen benefits for EMA members," said Howe, spokesperson for Claria.
If anyone is truly interesting in their rights in matters such as these, they should read this book.
Essentially, he makes a living suing collection agencies. I have very mixed feelings about what he does. On one hand, he uses the legal system to go after companies that most people don't like. On the other hand, he uses the legal system in ways most folks don't like. In a lot of cases, he goads the collection agenices into breaking the law so he can sue them.
Anyway, his book really does document your rights in these situations.
I used to work on production for Where Magazine in New Orleans. They would publish a map entitled "Where To Go In New Orleans" and I always wondered why they never published a map that showed areas where crimed occurred. At the time, New Orleans was pretty high on the murder-per-capita rates. But there were places that a tourist SHOULD KNOW ABOUT if they wanted to remain with their belongings and alive.
The magazine said they'd get sued out of existence.
Admittedly, publishing this kind of information in a magazine does push it under the umbrella of "opinion" unlike the Chicago Crime Maps, but it's a very thin hair to split. Chicago Crime Maps is merely publishing already available public data, but Where Magazine would have done that, too. What's to become of the tourist site that links to the maps?
Slashdot Mirror
do people simply not want an all-in-one for mobile media ... BINGO
:-)
To quote Joan Rivers, "How ffffffffffffffff-- dare you?!"
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs CLEARLY states:
Physiological
Safety
Love/Belonging
Esteem
Actualization
All-In-One for Mobile Media
You, my friend, have simply not satisfied all your sub-needs yet.
I might be on speed; I'm not sure. But this thing seems to render pretty damned fast in OS X. Faster than Firefox. Faster than Safari (what isn't?)
I get your point. :-)
Jimbo started by trying paid editors; it was called Nupedia [wikipedia.org]. After three years and... well, tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, I guess, they had a whole 24 articles!
Informative, eh?
What are you implying? That encyclopdias with paid editors couldn't possibly release a full encyclopedia in three years?
Is that what you're really saying?
Really?
Do you want to think about it again?
One last mulligan...
This is a really great site, though I sorta hoped that when I went there I would have seen this.
For what it's worth, the MIT folks said they couldn't unequivocally rule it out. They didn't say it happened. One of the main points on Mythbusters was that it seemed like it might work, but the fleet would have had to remain essentially motionless for the wood to get hot enough for ignition. The MIT folks did nothing to answer that as they the mirrors and the "ship" were motionless until ignition.
Why is "Paul is dead" written backwards on page three?
Does anyone know? [[shrugs]]
I've seen recent HP desktops come from Best Buy with MyWay searchbar pre-installed.
Dell does this, too.
fyi
Heh.
I grew up in New Orleans where ICEE was king. They were in each and every Time Saver (local convenience chain)and were heavily advertised outside of Time Saver ads. I always thought they were a New Orleans' product. So, when Slurpee started to show up in New Orleans in the early 1980s, I figured THEY were the usurper. How dare they come in and try to kill ICEE.
I really regret my boycotts and protests now, not to mention the dead cats outside of the stores. Sigh.
A Van De Graaf generator [amasci.com] is basically a band
Yeah, that Extreme guy totally ruined them...
Has anyone here actually run their software? Thoughts?
Butthead: "Hey Beavis..."
Beavis: "Yeah, yeah. Uh... what?"
Butthead: "I'd like to announce a bigger rocket."
Beavis: "Hehheh ehehhehee BOI-OI-OI-OING!"
"Krashed"
How appropriate.
I have a Laptop Bag of Holding. And inside, I have a car. And inside of that, I have a Powerbook.
If the price were to get set based on other factors, like popularity, it wouldn't bother me too much.
.99 Coldplay songs.
It seems to me this latest rift is less about price and more about simple control. While one can argue well against CD prices and the industry has been cited for collusion and price-fixing, I've always felt that the industry never reacted out of worry over money, but rather loss of control -- of distibution, of demand, of need. If they lose the ability to push youngsters into a fervor over the next Gwen Stefani single, they've lost a hell of a lot more than CD sales. And, right now, Steve Jobs has managed to place himself as the frontman of the industry. So many people are buying iPods and using iTunes that he's pulling control away from the larger industry. He's the face of music.
I gotta think that scares the shit out of the industry moreso than
I'll turn into a supernova and burn up everything. Well I'll turn into a black little hole and you'll turn into string
OMFG! You just stumbled upon a way to rid us of The Wonder Twins FOREVER!!!!
I'm not sure I understand. I'm not trolling here.
If it's, as some say, "inherently insecure" to tie a browser closely to an OS, how is it better when you're browser is the OS?
Wouldn't this provide extreme heck-potential?
Whenever my wife complains that I spend too much time on the computer, studying stuff during my off-days, I immediately remember a scene from Star Trek that went something like:
Scotty: I thought I'd catch up on my technical journals.
Kirk: Don't you ever relax?
Scotty: I am relaxin'!
Pretty sure it was the Trouble with Tribbles. When Scotty is later confined to quarters for the brawl, he exclaims that will give him time to catch up on his technical journals.
Computer Science as an industry is following that of the TV and VCR repair men. When TVs and VCRs are expensive they get em fixed. When they're cheap, they replace them.
One of the things you must consider when comparing TVs and Computers is that TVs (and VCRs) perform a small handful of functions without giving the user much in the way of customization.
A computer gives a user much more latitude and power. A computer can be a file server, a workstation, a video server, a game system, and more. One computer can perform each of these roles separately or any combination thereof.
I think that if users spent many months and years setting their TV to be just right and had the ability to save shows into the set which they would then lose or have to transfer after much expense to a new set, then you could compare the two.
Having said that, I do believe that computers will get to such a point that you will see systems easily replaced. I don't think, however, that's coming very soon. Perhaps when the computer is not the sum of its data but is something of a masseuse that massages the amorphous "data" available everywhere into usable chunks and then presents it to any "computer" that user cares to sit down and use.
Despite some protests to the contrary, Dvorak used to write some pretty interesting and technical stuff a long time ago. (A long, LONG time ago.) But he and many of his colleagues have simply turned from interesting insightful commentary to writing anything that will get eyeballs.
I used to be very naïve about this. I used to believe that columnists, through their transparant attempts for readership, tried to be fair and honest about what they did. Then I heard an interview with a pretty prominent columnist at an even more prominent newspaper say that she routinely wrote things SHE disagreed with because the point of writing a column is to get people talking.
So, they can and will say anything to get readers. Many of you may think this is a "duh" moment, but it was amazing for me. Dvorak could write an article about how "some people" think that, for instance, Linus is evil and should be dead. (Hey, it's plausible. I'm sure in the entire world there are two people that don't like Linus enough and wish he were dead.) That'll generate a lot of controversy and get more readers. But is it right?! Where's the line?
More and more often, it seems like there isn't any line.
It's clear to me now. Columnists are professional trolls.
(Heh. I guess this means that all those folks that get modded down will wind up working in "journalism" some day. Quite possible. Imagine! A G.N.A.A. feature. Some trolls can dream.)
I know what you mean. I work in the field, too.
But what most people don't realize is how much work they'll have if they get a new PC.
Consider all the things that you've accumulated on your system and how much you've tweaked it -- settings, bookmarks, documents, serial keys, music, etc. You've had it for at least a year. And in all that time, you've done a lot with their PC. Do they know how to get all those settings and data to the new PC?
Secondly, what about software? Most customers lose their original discs. Some systems don't even come with discs. Are they going to re-purchase everything? It's illegal to install an OEM Office onto a new PC. Will they buy a new Office? (No, they probably won't, but it's something you SHOULD bring up.)
Third, there's hardware changes. What have they added? They will have to move that to the new PC, if it will work! (If the new system, for instance, had 768MB RAM and the new system uses a different type of RAM.)
Fourth, what are they really getting with that system? There's a chance that the $199.99 powerhouse is anything but and may actually be SLOWER than what they have now!
Finally, there's preventing this from happening again. Do they know how?
They usually realize at this point that they're going to need help anyway. Since they can't perform these tasks, that means they're going to have to hire someone to do it. Suddenly a $199.99 PC is starting to look unrealistic.
Of course, my OPINION is that it's better to repair than replace. I'm sure someone more clever can offer valid contrary arguments. I think replacement-as-policy (and I also put "rebuilds" under this category) is ultimately a longer road. I suggest it only if the new system is going to be much better out of the box.
$100 4x4 for military, eh?
Certainly this will mean $150 for general consumers, $200 for elderly folks, and $700 for poor nations.
Sigh...
RELEASE
ENHANCEWARE MEMBER ALLIANCE TO START BETA TESTING LONGHORN
July 9, 2005
The Enhanceware Member Alliance has announced they will start beta testing Longhorn.
"We can't wait to see what great ideas Microsoft plans to implement with Longhorn. We are confident we can make a great operating system even BETTER!!!!" said Dewey, chief architect for ABetterInternet.
Longhorn promises major advances in security.
"We can't wait to work with Microsoft to help them to help us get our applications on Longhorn users' systems," said Cheatum, reintegration/reinstallation vice-president for Qoologic.
Indeed, the EMA will be working directly with Microsoft development teams to provide the best experience the EMA can offer.
"Longhorn promises to be the best operating system for EMA members. We're confident the enhancements Microsoft will certainly add to Longhorn will provide wonderful unforseen benefits for EMA members," said Howe, spokesperson for Claria.
If anyone is truly interesting in their rights in matters such as these, they should read this book.
Essentially, he makes a living suing collection agencies. I have very mixed feelings about what he does. On one hand, he uses the legal system to go after companies that most people don't like. On the other hand, he uses the legal system in ways most folks don't like. In a lot of cases, he goads the collection agenices into breaking the law so he can sue them.
Anyway, his book really does document your rights in these situations.
And it's a shame...
I used to work on production for Where Magazine in New Orleans. They would publish a map entitled "Where To Go In New Orleans" and I always wondered why they never published a map that showed areas where crimed occurred. At the time, New Orleans was pretty high on the murder-per-capita rates. But there were places that a tourist SHOULD KNOW ABOUT if they wanted to remain with their belongings and alive.
The magazine said they'd get sued out of existence.
Admittedly, publishing this kind of information in a magazine does push it under the umbrella of "opinion" unlike the Chicago Crime Maps, but it's a very thin hair to split. Chicago Crime Maps is merely publishing already available public data, but Where Magazine would have done that, too. What's to become of the tourist site that links to the maps?