Hrm, you could add the following step and all your problems are solved:
Me: Ok, I'll burn all my personal files to a DVD and I'll have the computer back to you in an hour.
I was thinking the same thing... but then if DRM works (you can't just write a file to DVD and have it work in non-DRM hardware), then it may not be as easy. You may be able to write it to a DVD, but you'll only be able to read it in another MS box. Same goes for network connections---you can send it in an e-mail, etc., but only be able to read it on a DRM box.
Yeah, I remember. Those mini-black holes were supposed to be remnants from the creation of the universe, that have disapated so much that right now they're `mini-'.
ie: no collapsing sun, etc., but they still needed a major event to be created.
Actually, I think Hawkings once said that taking all the hydrogen from the Earth oceans to make a hydrogen bomb, might make a mini- black hole.
You probably won't buy it (because you know better), but at $50 it falls nicely under a casual gift option (something I could give my uncle for b-day, etc.)
ie: Eventhough many smart folks won't buy it, there are plenty of people who'll find the $50 price attractive (even if it comes with a TON of restrictions).
Also when you consider a `player that can play anything for $250' or a `restricted one for $50' the decision is heavily weighted towards the $50 purchase.
You're assuming they'll let you play any other format other than Windows Media. You're also assuming that they won't resitrict it to play ONLY files you buy from a Microsoft music website.
You're also assuming they won't make a subscription like service ('$9.99 per month, download everything you want to your player... in our DRM format').
And... you're also assuming they won't embed the whole thing on a SINGLE chip, with some proprietary HD, so hacking it would be a major major pain. (and if someone does... it will only be possible for 1% of the customers).
I've always thought that anyone who has 15GB worth of songs really has 14gb worth of crap.
Which is precicely the point why I think those HD based players are pointless.
(the battery only lasts at most 10 or so hours, needs to be changed every year, and you never even listen to 90% of the crap on the HD). Unless someone needs a portable HD, there really is no point to carry around 15Gigs worth of music around.
If they are pricing it at $50, they have to somehow make a profit on the songs; ie: at this price, I'd imagine they'd force everyone to use their online music store to buy music---and the player won't play anything else.
Don't worry. It will cost $50 just like iPod Mini cost $100.
Unless of course they force you to use a Microsoft online music service to get music (and not let you play your own MP3s). Then it makes sense for them to sell you a $400 item for $50, and make a killing on the actual songs... (kinda like they do with XBox).
There are folks doing this with range finders and digital images. They can get photorealistic 3D models of buildings (textures and everything). The process is _very_ slow though, and takes much human time to merge different scans into a single model.
You're talking about `evolution' of the genome. The DNA, etc. This is not the only evolution that goes on. There are social and cultural evolutions.
Humans are way beyond the DNA evolution. Without any sort of technology, majority of humans would just die. If you're just concerned with survival of the fittest, why not consider roaches? They seem to survive pretty well, and pass on their genes to future generations.
If considering evolution of culture, of ideas, of `knowledge' (independent of humans), then we are right there. Humans have made machines that calculate, etc. From our selfish perspective, it appears like they're helping us... from a more global perspective, we might be creating a new species of non-biological life that will succeed us.
Now, if this `life' is derived from our culture, and our ideas, and our knowledge, then in a sense, the human race (our body-free selves; the culture, etc.) isn't dying, it's evolving.
Oh, yeah, in evolution, there is very little regard for an individual. The goals of an individual may be totally contrary to what the whole population achieves.
You're talking about robots that take over the world, right...
Well, why shouldn't they? Evolution is survival of the fittest, and this `fittest' has many senses. For one: they will not take over unless they're just as smart as we are (if not smarter). I can certainly imagine them being much fitter physically (hey can already go to Mars!)
Humans place too much importance on themselves. What we can't get over is that we may just be a stepping stone on the evolutionary scale. Maybe it is our `destiny' (if there is such a thing) to create a `being' (robot, etc.) that's more advanced that we are, that can survive the harshness of space, and continue on our legacy for a billion years into the future possibly on another planet. I don't see humans surviving that long, but I can imagine that the machines we create might.
He can play the great-great-great-grand father of Kirk...
Of course, in theory, nobody will care who he is or who his children will become... but with all those time traveling weirdos, they can think of some story line of where he has to save himself (and the enterprise), so that his grand children father Kirk... or something.
oh... and KHAAAAAN!!! could also be part of the story...:-)
...when you believed that the stok was only a good investment
As if `investors' will be involved with the stock at the IPO. The only folks who will be buying/selling these things are gamblers (day-traders). Most investors will wait for a while (like maybe a year, or a few) for the price to settle down a bit...
To paraphrase Dogbert: `Fools shouldn't have money.' So let them all buy Google at $100 and get burned...:-)
What about the hogillion other frequencies that could be used to trigger the detonator?
Then maybe we shold jam all frequencies? (might be a bit hard to have a press conference thought...)
That might just explain why radio telescopes can't pickup anything... the aliens are blocking all frequencies with noise... possibly due to safety concerns.
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Hrm, you could add the following step and all your problems are solved:
Me: Ok, I'll burn all my personal files to a DVD and I'll have the computer back to you in an hour.
I was thinking the same thing... but then if DRM works (you can't just write a file to DVD and have it work in non-DRM hardware), then it may not be as easy. You may be able to write it to a DVD, but you'll only be able to read it in another MS box. Same goes for network connections---you can send it in an e-mail, etc., but only be able to read it on a DRM box.
...the idea of paying for software, because it doesn't take up space in their room and can be reproduced ad infinitum.
Notice that in StarTrek (ie: the future), they can't seem to make copies of programs, yet have the fastest computers (seemingly for free).
Is anyone researching fuel free launches?
...or possibly using a HUGE rubber band to send a capsule flying into space.
I mean things like shooting the payload from a cannon or something...
As long as we need 100*X pounds of fuel to launch X pounds into space, space travel will remain uneconomical for most purposes.
Yeah, I remember. Those mini-black holes were supposed to be remnants from the creation of the universe, that have disapated so much that right now they're `mini-'.
ie: no collapsing sun, etc., but they still needed a major event to be created.
Actually, I think Hawkings once said that taking all the hydrogen from the Earth oceans to make a hydrogen bomb, might make a mini- black hole.
Simply put, don't be a target.
And if you are a target, remember, the iPod and laptop are just things. If you get shot or stabbed, it would hurt much more than loosing a laptop.
And if you are of a warrior type... remember, a 7 pound laptop (or a lighter ipod/cellphone) can seriously hurt someone if you hit their head with it.
I think people have it to show off the white headphones... which kind of makes it dangerous in wrong crowds.
You probably won't buy it (because you know better), but at $50 it falls nicely under a casual gift option (something I could give my uncle for b-day, etc.)
ie: Eventhough many smart folks won't buy it, there are plenty of people who'll find the $50 price attractive (even if it comes with a TON of restrictions).
Also when you consider a `player that can play anything for $250' or a `restricted one for $50' the decision is heavily weighted towards the $50 purchase.
You're assuming they'll let you play any other format other than Windows Media. You're also assuming that they won't resitrict it to play ONLY files you buy from a Microsoft music website.
You're also assuming they won't make a subscription like service ('$9.99 per month, download everything you want to your player... in our DRM format').
And... you're also assuming they won't embed the whole thing on a SINGLE chip, with some proprietary HD, so hacking it would be a major major pain. (and if someone does... it will only be possible for 1% of the customers).
I've always thought that anyone who has 15GB worth of songs really has 14gb worth of crap.
Which is precicely the point why I think those HD based players are pointless.
(the battery only lasts at most 10 or so hours, needs to be changed every year, and you never even listen to 90% of the crap on the HD). Unless someone needs a portable HD, there really is no point to carry around 15Gigs worth of music around.
...put Linux on it so it can play music files without DRM restrictions
Well, XBox games are still selling pretty well. So what if 10% of the users break their security.
...the personal MP3 player
You're assuming it will even play MP3s.
If they are pricing it at $50, they have to somehow make a profit on the songs; ie: at this price, I'd imagine they'd force everyone to use their online music store to buy music---and the player won't play anything else.
Don't worry. It will cost $50 just like iPod Mini cost $100.
Unless of course they force you to use a Microsoft online music service to get music (and not let you play your own MP3s). Then it makes sense for them to sell you a $400 item for $50, and make a killing on the actual songs... (kinda like they do with XBox).
There are folks doing this with range finders and digital images. They can get photorealistic 3D models of buildings (textures and everything). The process is _very_ slow though, and takes much human time to merge different scans into a single model.
You're talking about `evolution' of the genome. The DNA, etc. This is not the only evolution that goes on. There are social and cultural evolutions.
Humans are way beyond the DNA evolution. Without any sort of technology, majority of humans would just die. If you're just concerned with survival of the fittest, why not consider roaches? They seem to survive pretty well, and pass on their genes to future generations.
If considering evolution of culture, of ideas, of `knowledge' (independent of humans), then we are right there. Humans have made machines that calculate, etc. From our selfish perspective, it appears like they're helping us... from a more global perspective, we might be creating a new species of non-biological life that will succeed us.
Now, if this `life' is derived from our culture, and our ideas, and our knowledge, then in a sense, the human race (our body-free selves; the culture, etc.) isn't dying, it's evolving.
Oh, yeah, in evolution, there is very little regard for an individual. The goals of an individual may be totally contrary to what the whole population achieves.
You're talking about robots that take over the world, right...
Well, why shouldn't they? Evolution is survival of the fittest, and this `fittest' has many senses. For one: they will not take over unless they're just as smart as we are (if not smarter). I can certainly imagine them being much fitter physically (hey can already go to Mars!)
Humans place too much importance on themselves. What we can't get over is that we may just be a stepping stone on the evolutionary scale. Maybe it is our `destiny' (if there is such a thing) to create a `being' (robot, etc.) that's more advanced that we are, that can survive the harshness of space, and continue on our legacy for a billion years into the future possibly on another planet. I don't see humans surviving that long, but I can imagine that the machines we create might.
Damn. I was hoping for a suit with 13" layer of lead to protect from radiation...
...every institution with a significant number of technical people has someone who stinks. A lot.
And this is why Extreme Programming (XP) doesn't work!
NASA would presumably want an insignia that extends beyond the immediate goal...
Possibly. But long-term insignia costs more---and they've already probably spend half ot heir budget coming up with this short-term one.
...are trying to hold onto what nature has bestowed upon...
Sorta like some countries like to protect their natural resources from getting out... like oil.
Shame on them!
He can play the great-great-great-grand father of Kirk...
:-)
Of course, in theory, nobody will care who he is or who his children will become... but with all those time traveling weirdos, they can think of some story line of where he has to save himself (and the enterprise), so that his grand children father Kirk... or something.
oh... and KHAAAAAN!!! could also be part of the story...
Exactly.
Especially considering that anyone can get a laptop to do all these things---much better!
If you wanna run Windows (and play games), get a small laptop instead of an oversized and uncomfortable to use PDA.
NASA doesn't get paid... they get funded. (you could argue that someone funded this launch too...)
Prolog... a Professional Log :-)
...when you believed that the stok was only a good investment
:-)
As if `investors' will be involved with the stock at the IPO. The only folks who will be buying/selling these things are gamblers (day-traders). Most investors will wait for a while (like maybe a year, or a few) for the price to settle down a bit...
To paraphrase Dogbert: `Fools shouldn't have money.' So let them all buy Google at $100 and get burned...
What about the hogillion other frequencies that could be used to trigger the detonator?
Then maybe we shold jam all frequencies? (might be a bit hard to have a press conference thought...)
That might just explain why radio telescopes can't pickup anything... the aliens are blocking all frequencies with noise... possibly due to safety concerns.