What's so damn great about a large touch screen, when you could have a keyboard to go with it and it would be the perfect device for surfing, writign and communicating?!
Think of the millions of computers users who cannot type (well, with more than 1 finger at a time).
For a time, I was seriously considering getting a portable keyboard for my PDA---but nearly all of them are crappily small, one might as well just peck with that pointer thingie than type with 1 finger on them small keyboards.
Why can't a PDA come with -standard- keyboard/mouse interfaces? (ie: like a PDA with 5 USB ports to plugin whatever, as well as a VGA out port---in case you need to plug it into a monitor, or projector).
When you get past the misinformation, errors and outright lies, trusted computing is not as bad as people think it is.
I don't think you realize that "trusted computing" generally means "distrust the USER/OWNER of the computer". I think what everyone is afraid of is losing control of THEIR computer to some government/corporate organization.
And yes, you have a point, it's not as bad as it may appear... if you're the one in control of what trust. Unfortunately, from the talk that's going around, it's likely users won't be in control (ie: hardware vendor ensures that any OS that runs on the box must be signed by some authority, etc.)---I franky cannot see how that benefits anyone but some corporation.
And slowly but surely this technology is getting here. Music players, etc., many of them already restrict their owners. In a few years, it's not unlikely this will happen to PCs.
I don't see what the big deal is. I mean really, if you have the source code, it is implied that you should be able to tweak how things work. What's the point of having the source code without the ability to tweak things (ie: if the hardware is locked to not accept your tweaks?).
This leads to "trusted computing"---while this discussion is centered around `devices', it might find its way into computers. Imagine all the motherboard manufacturers being forced (by the paid off politicians?) to not allow you to run non-signed operating system. Obviously MS will get a signature, as well as major Linux distributions, but... What's the use of having the entire source for Linux, if you cannot compile and run your own version?
I see GPL3 as an extention and realization that hardware now a days is exactly like software. General purpose microcontrollers running some software is NOT a `device' in the same sense it was a few years back, it's a computer running software. Very few devices are `custom built'---most are just microcontrollers with software determining how the thing works and `what it is'. GPL3 essentially says hardware = software as far as licensing is concerned. You cannot close hardware if you use open software on it. I think it makes sense.
Anyone who disagrees with this isn't a consumer of hardware/software. They're hardware vendors looking to lock out users, while at the same time getting a free ride from open software.
What I don't get is why can't they make 1-2 `powerful' cores, and maybe 32-128 much simpler cores. Like for example, you can only run 2 `big' things (like Quake4)... but can run hunreds of really simple apps very efficiently.
Maybe include a multi-core `map' function---and maybe folks will finally start using functional languages for everyday software.
Re:When will gas go down to $5/gallon again ?
on
The Hybrid Scooter
·
· Score: 1
The US should add $2 per gallon in tax, and send that to research in better energy sources.
More likely, the money will be used to raid another country. It's the government we're talking about!!! Do you really expect them to do the right thing???
Invest in Internet corps stocks! That seems to have worked well for many folks.
Seriously though, it all depends on how much risk you're willing to take. If you want no risk, buy 3 months CDs every month... (usually better rates than most money market accounts). If you wanna be slightly risky (for maybe better rates) buy a mutual fund, or an index), if you wanna be very risky (with possibly high rates), buy stocks. Look into top picks on money.cnn.com, buy those, hold'em for a year... don't buy just one---usually if you buy the whole few dozen of them, chances are, some of them will do well. If you wanna be -very- risky (but possibly quadrupling your money in a few months), buy into options. (sell'em during earnings season, when volatility jumps:-). If you wanna be stupidly-risky, buy thousands of lottery tickets.
Still, I'd recommend paying off the loan first. The ``safe'' investments don't usually give you higher rates than you'll be paying on your loan. (unless of course your loan is at 5%... which is highly unlikely)---then it would be a crime to pay it off!
Also, try to graduate with 0 debt. That gives a better start on life than money in the bank.
While most corps screw up with UML, that's only 'cause they don't use it properly. It's not about the ``UML'', it's about the process---and knowing how to draw boxes has nothing to do with knowing and following the process.
I've been on many projects (and managed quite a few myself) that successfully used UML in requirements gathering (use cases---so business folks can sign off on them; leading to less problems later on), object modeling (database schema generation, php, c#, java, etc., code generation, ado code generation, etc., UI generation [similar to MS Access wizard forms]) and general documentation.
On projects where I used UML, it becomes the -source- of everything. If you need to add an attribute (or field in a form), you change the diagram, not the source code. You then have tools (in my case, almost always written in Perl) that generate the source code from the diagram. UML in essense becomes the single place for all non-logic related changes (sorta like a visual domain language).
Obviously there are still huge chunks of glue code that cannot be done in UML---but those can often be reused from project to project---so most DB/UI projects I do now basically involve creating a UML diagram, generating some code (with/without networking support, etc.) and playing with VisualStudio to tweak default generated forms to look nice. (and handling some exception cases that don't lend themselves to generation).
You'd be surprised, but 95% of all database apps are exactly the same. Why bother hand-coding all that over and over again?
Also, managing the HUGE number items (and changes) via UML is much easier than... well... with just about anything. Try managing 10 developers working on a single project without some coordination thingie like UML.
The problems that most corps have with UML revolve around using UML just for documentation (that's an overkill, and will get out of sync). Also, non-programmers (``System Architects''---the non-techy types; or managers) tend to think they can build stuff with UML, and almost always get things very wrong.
Consider QuakeII. Stupidly easy, yet really fun to play (especially in coop mode!). Run through the game in like an hour with your friends... lots of fun! (who cares for challenges?, it's entertainment!)
Ironically, around that same time someone ``predicted'' that the clock speed would stop increasing after 6Ghz (or possibly half that). And strangely, it has.
...fewer teachers and probably lower pay for teachers as well.
Do you really think it's possible to decrease their pay? You likely don't realize how much public teachers make... it's bordering on poverty. (no, I'm not public school teacher; but I've considered becoming one, and it's simply NOT possible to live well on that salary---barely pay rent + food; unless of course you're a teacher for many many many years, and manage to build up your salary to what computer science majors get on their first job).
1) Send their kids to public schools where they'll either become criminals or get beat up by them, or 2) Use this virtual school
This is just BS. Millions of kids go to the public school system, and nearly all of them turn out just fine. If someone is going to become a criminal, they'll do it in a private school, or elsewhere as well.
That line of ``public schools are bad'' is a myth spread by private schools, that are in reality are worse than any public school around. Virtual schools aren't the answer. Private schools aren't the answer. If some public school district is falling behind, then improving -that- is the answer (not creating a market opportunity for someone to rip off kids).
Consider most politicians who went to private schools, yet somehow ended up using drugs pretty early in their lives.
And yes, I did go through the public school system, and actually taught in a private school; and there's a HUGE difference in quality: in public schools, YOU are responsible for learning; in private school, THEY are responsible to get money from you every semester (whether you learn or not is irrelevant).
I'd also like to point out that Brooklyn College is introducing ``Exploring Robotics'' as a ``core'' (specifically for non-CS-majors; more like an upper level basic computers class for everyone). I believe it's planned to use Lego stuff---and it's being offered starting this Fall.
For majors, there are other options (as in, taking an AI class with a professor who uses robots, or joining a group and programming AIBOs, etc.)
One of two things will happen from this
Unless of course the multiverse theory is true, in which case two of two things will happen (along with a an infinite number of alternate universes:-)
More likely solely 'cause of the stylish design. CS professors/students are not beyond getting something 'cause it looks cool---without thinking too much about how it works. I know many people who think Apple's stuff looks cool... but then find them impossible to use. Over time, they get used to it ('cause if you buy one, you sort of have to live with it for a few years---and many do get used to it eventually---many even start saying it's functional!).
And yes, I tried to use OSX (forced myself to use it for a few weeks, in fact), and no, I don't find the interface intuitive. Not at all! Everything is ``in the wrong place''; at least that's how -I- see it. I use Linux as my primary box, and Windows on my laptop.
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What's so damn great about a large touch screen, when you could have a keyboard to go with it and it would be the perfect device for surfing, writign and communicating?!
Think of the millions of computers users who cannot type (well, with more than 1 finger at a time).
For a time, I was seriously considering getting a portable keyboard for my PDA---but nearly all of them are crappily small, one might as well just peck with that pointer thingie than type with 1 finger on them small keyboards.
Why can't a PDA come with -standard- keyboard/mouse interfaces? (ie: like a PDA with 5 USB ports to plugin whatever, as well as a VGA out port---in case you need to plug it into a monitor, or projector).
When you get past the misinformation, errors and outright lies, trusted computing is not as bad as people think it is.
I don't think you realize that "trusted computing" generally means "distrust the USER/OWNER of the computer". I think what everyone is afraid of is losing control of THEIR computer to some government/corporate organization.
And yes, you have a point, it's not as bad as it may appear... if you're the one in control of what trust. Unfortunately, from the talk that's going around, it's likely users won't be in control (ie: hardware vendor ensures that any OS that runs on the box must be signed by some authority, etc.)---I franky cannot see how that benefits anyone but some corporation.
And slowly but surely this technology is getting here. Music players, etc., many of them already restrict their owners. In a few years, it's not unlikely this will happen to PCs.
I don't see what the big deal is. I mean really, if you have the source code, it is implied that you should be able to tweak how things work. What's the point of having the source code without the ability to tweak things (ie: if the hardware is locked to not accept your tweaks?).
This leads to "trusted computing"---while this discussion is centered around `devices', it might find its way into computers. Imagine all the motherboard manufacturers being forced (by the paid off politicians?) to not allow you to run non-signed operating system. Obviously MS will get a signature, as well as major Linux distributions, but... What's the use of having the entire source for Linux, if you cannot compile and run your own version?
I see GPL3 as an extention and realization that hardware now a days is exactly like software. General purpose microcontrollers running some software is NOT a `device' in the same sense it was a few years back, it's a computer running software. Very few devices are `custom built'---most are just microcontrollers with software determining how the thing works and `what it is'. GPL3 essentially says hardware = software as far as licensing is concerned. You cannot close hardware if you use open software on it. I think it makes sense.
Anyone who disagrees with this isn't a consumer of hardware/software. They're hardware vendors looking to lock out users, while at the same time getting a free ride from open software.
What I don't get is why can't they make 1-2 `powerful' cores, and maybe 32-128 much simpler cores. Like for example, you can only run 2 `big' things (like Quake4)... but can run hunreds of really simple apps very efficiently.
Maybe include a multi-core `map' function---and maybe folks will finally start using functional languages for everyday software.
The US should add $2 per gallon in tax, and send that to research in better energy sources.
More likely, the money will be used to raid another country. It's the government we're talking about!!! Do you really expect them to do the right thing???
Invest in Internet corps stocks! That seems to have worked well for many folks.
:-). If you wanna be stupidly-risky, buy thousands of lottery tickets.
Seriously though, it all depends on how much risk you're willing to take. If you want no risk, buy 3 months CDs every month... (usually better rates than most money market accounts). If you wanna be slightly risky (for maybe better rates) buy a mutual fund, or an index), if you wanna be very risky (with possibly high rates), buy stocks. Look into top picks on money.cnn.com, buy those, hold'em for a year... don't buy just one---usually if you buy the whole few dozen of them, chances are, some of them will do well. If you wanna be -very- risky (but possibly quadrupling your money in a few months), buy into options. (sell'em during earnings season, when volatility jumps
Still, I'd recommend paying off the loan first. The ``safe'' investments don't usually give you higher rates than you'll be paying on your loan. (unless of course your loan is at 5%... which is highly unlikely)---then it would be a crime to pay it off!
Also, try to graduate with 0 debt. That gives a better start on life than money in the bank.
It's yet another way to go to an undeveloped country and convince the locals that you are a god.
I thought giving away $100 laptops was going to do that.
While most corps screw up with UML, that's only 'cause they don't use it properly. It's not about the ``UML'', it's about the process---and knowing how to draw boxes has nothing to do with knowing and following the process.
I've been on many projects (and managed quite a few myself) that successfully used UML in requirements gathering (use cases---so business folks can sign off on them; leading to less problems later on), object modeling (database schema generation, php, c#, java, etc., code generation, ado code generation, etc., UI generation [similar to MS Access wizard forms]) and general documentation.
On projects where I used UML, it becomes the -source- of everything. If you need to add an attribute (or field in a form), you change the diagram, not the source code. You then have tools (in my case, almost always written in Perl) that generate the source code from the diagram. UML in essense becomes the single place for all non-logic related changes (sorta like a visual domain language).
Obviously there are still huge chunks of glue code that cannot be done in UML---but those can often be reused from project to project---so most DB/UI projects I do now basically involve creating a UML diagram, generating some code (with/without networking support, etc.) and playing with VisualStudio to tweak default generated forms to look nice. (and handling some exception cases that don't lend themselves to generation).
You'd be surprised, but 95% of all database apps are exactly the same. Why bother hand-coding all that over and over again?
Also, managing the HUGE number items (and changes) via UML is much easier than... well... with just about anything. Try managing 10 developers working on a single project without some coordination thingie like UML.
The problems that most corps have with UML revolve around using UML just for documentation (that's an overkill, and will get out of sync). Also, non-programmers (``System Architects''---the non-techy types; or managers) tend to think they can build stuff with UML, and almost always get things very wrong.
They are here, being used and will be ready for commercialization in 3 - 4 years.
Yes. Any day now. Also flying cars.
offtopic, but the DVD of Pinky & The Brain, season 1, is coming out today :-D
Consider QuakeII. Stupidly easy, yet really fun to play (especially in coop mode!). Run through the game in like an hour with your friends... lots of fun! (who cares for challenges?, it's entertainment!)
Indeed. But were they really snakes if they had legs?
I'm looking at my AMD/nVidia dev machine and my Intel/ATI laptop and I'm thinking... oh crap.
Exactly what I was thinking. This is a pretty weird combination of corps. I would've thought AMD would sooner buy nvidia than ATI.
It reminds me of the race to 1 Ghz back in 2000.
Ironically, around that same time someone ``predicted'' that the clock speed would stop increasing after 6Ghz (or possibly half that). And strangely, it has.
Search 2.0!
But it won't really become popular until Search 3.1
The only reason the Earth's weather seems hard to predict now is that we haven't (yet) experienced a run-away feedback loop.
You mean like building a supercomputer that heats the earth that raises a need for yet hotter supercomputer?
Pfft. Chaos is so predictable.
It's funny 'cause it's true.
Chaotic processes can be predicted with great accuracy for short time into the future, but can't be predicted a long time into the future.
Random processes cannot be predicted in the immediate future, but generally can be predicted a long time into the future.
Not only that, but chaotic processes can be controlled with minimal force and be predictable forever.
is that even remotely as significant as the fact that someone is finally standing up to microsoft?
I'll believe it when they actually get and cash the check. For all this might turn out to be, they'll get millions of Windows98 licenses.
I'm guessing Microsoft just hasn't found the right people to pay off yet. I'm sure they will.
...fewer teachers and probably lower pay for teachers as well.
Do you really think it's possible to decrease their pay? You likely don't realize how much public teachers make... it's bordering on poverty. (no, I'm not public school teacher; but I've considered becoming one, and it's simply NOT possible to live well on that salary---barely pay rent + food; unless of course you're a teacher for many many many years, and manage to build up your salary to what computer science majors get on their first job).
1) Send their kids to public schools where they'll either become criminals or get beat up by them, or 2) Use this virtual school
This is just BS. Millions of kids go to the public school system, and nearly all of them turn out just fine. If someone is going to become a criminal, they'll do it in a private school, or elsewhere as well.
That line of ``public schools are bad'' is a myth spread by private schools, that are in reality are worse than any public school around. Virtual schools aren't the answer. Private schools aren't the answer. If some public school district is falling behind, then improving -that- is the answer (not creating a market opportunity for someone to rip off kids).
Consider most politicians who went to private schools, yet somehow ended up using drugs pretty early in their lives.
And yes, I did go through the public school system, and actually taught in a private school; and there's a HUGE difference in quality: in public schools, YOU are responsible for learning; in private school, THEY are responsible to get money from you every semester (whether you learn or not is irrelevant).
I'd also like to point out that Brooklyn College is introducing ``Exploring Robotics'' as a ``core'' (specifically for non-CS-majors; more like an upper level basic computers class for everyone). I believe it's planned to use Lego stuff---and it's being offered starting this Fall.
For majors, there are other options (as in, taking an AI class with a professor who uses robots, or joining a group and programming AIBOs, etc.)
One of two things will happen from this Unless of course the multiverse theory is true, in which case two of two things will happen (along with a an infinite number of alternate universes :-)
Will you or I survive the next hundred years? Most likely not. Will our children? Most likely. Will some human? Almost definitely.
:-/
Unless of course Hawking knows something we don't about the ``big crunch''
"Two wrongs don't make a right".
``But three lefts do.''
...solely because of OS X
More likely solely 'cause of the stylish design. CS professors/students are not beyond getting something 'cause it looks cool---without thinking too much about how it works. I know many people who think Apple's stuff looks cool... but then find them impossible to use. Over time, they get used to it ('cause if you buy one, you sort of have to live with it for a few years---and many do get used to it eventually---many even start saying it's functional!).
And yes, I tried to use OSX (forced myself to use it for a few weeks, in fact), and no, I don't find the interface intuitive. Not at all! Everything is ``in the wrong place''; at least that's how -I- see it. I use Linux as my primary box, and Windows on my laptop.