Just last night I was working on a relative's computer. She STILL has Win ME (oh God)! Well, Firefox no longer works on it. Chrome doesn't work. IE 7 is right out. But as it turned out, Opera worked PERFECTLY and quickly.
I'm planning on upgrading her soon, but as she just got of dial-up last night, this will do her for now.
Was anyone else reading this article reminded of 'Sunlight Gardener's Home For Wayward Boys' from 'The Talisman'?
In Stephen King's book, the lead character and his friend are picked up by the cops for no other reason than walking through their town, and then the Judge sends him off to the 'home' to be 'rehabilitated'.
The Judge and the cops get a kickback from the home, and it's clear that there are many boys there who don't belong there... Just like this story.
I was kinda hoping this was more fictitious than fact, but I guess this story shows it does indeed happen. Sad.
Now look! We've figured it 17 different ways, and each time we figured it, it was no good, because no matter how we figured it, somebody don't like the way we figured it! So now, there's only one way to figure it. And that is, every man, including the old bag, for himself!
You know, the thing is, everytime we hear the sky is falling, some new tech happens, and life is extended again.
BUT, it does seem that the miracles get fewer and farther between and it seems that they are getting more and more expensive as we go on. Yep, at some point it's all going to end, but at the end, will there be a beginning of something else entirely?
Optical computing? Quantum? Universal Will To Become?
The real news here is that even with these numbers, VIA will manage to blow whatever opportunity they have to gain advantage on netbooks.
It'll either be overpriced, hard to obtain in quantity or both. VIA seems to have a bad habit of showing stuff that, while it isn't vaporware, it's not something you'll actually SEE short of a consumer electronics show somewhere.
I seem to recall a Slashdot article around 6 months back that featured a German software company that had perfected separating tracks from a finished master.
The demo had them taking out the vocals and guitars, fixing them, and putting them back in - all this was done on a completed track.
I have no doubt this will happen, but I'm surprised no one's really gotten into doing this yet.
What REALLY needs developing is software that takes the vocals out of recordings. No, I don't mean the crappy 'vocal eliminators' that merely eliminate everything in center channel either. All that does nowadays is crappify the original music due to all the sound processing that's going on. That stuff stopped working on music around 1991.
But there is this misconception, or at least, incomplete understanding in management about the worth of good employees. Poor managers only think about the bottom line - how many people can be cut, etc. After all, everyone's replaceable, right?
I hear this time and time again, and you know, they're probably correct, everyone IS replaceable. BUT, for how much? And how many more inexperienced people will they need to obtain to do that one person's job?
I've seen this scenario played out again and again. Usually, the company will get through it, leaving management to think that, ultimately, they did the right thing. But how much pain will the company and the employees go through in the process? How badly was the bottom line hit, simply because of the inefficiencies caused by the loss of a key person?
If you are in management, and you care; you should take the long view and think about long term effects.
Yes, that is REALLY annoying, but Belkin are not the only ones who play this game.
Linksys and Netgear, for instance, had many versions of each of their USB wireless. Many of them share the same. exact. model number, but have COMPLETELY different drivers due to versioning and other VID/PID games. I wish these guys would just append the goddamn number and make it easier for people.
Oh, and I've found Belkins support site to be slow on occasion as well. Nothing like needing a driver yesterday and watching a 40+ MB file come in at 10 Kbps.:P
My continuing policy for repeat infected users is to install Ubuntu or Mandriva. Granted, I'm not sure if you're talking about a corporate user here or not, but all my friends and relatives are getting Linux now.
I'm tired of seeing the disappointment and terror of people who get this shitware on their computers. I'm tired of spending hours trying to fight the damn things, reinstall Windows, update Windows, reinstall apps, wash, rinse, repeat.
So I'm done - either Linux, I tell them, or buy a Mac. Those who have gone the Linux route have not looked back. I put on Wine for those few apps people need, and all is good.
Well yeah, we are going to go with someone else certainly. But the point is, I've been happy with Dell products until now. The Mini 9 has gotten great reviews.
I'm the tech director for a small girls' school and we've decided to experiment with the Dell Mini 9s... That is, until our rep at Dell informed us that we couldn't purchase the mini's in quantity as a school with Linux installed.
Now, we want Linux because I don't want the girls filling these things up with crap software, slowing them down, killing them with viruses, etc.
In addition, there's something to be said for such a quick startup time. Teachers want their students ready to be taught as soon as possible. What we don't need is little Ashley's Facebook virus-laden netbook taking 5 minutes to get to a usable state.
The end result (after some complaining) was that they would offer the netbook to us for the same cost as the XP version - which smells pretty suspicious to me, no?
Dell is not as serious about Linux as people seem to think they are. Just because consumer models are available does not mean corporate and educational versions are as well.
Do not brush off the importance of experience. Someone else earlier mentioned volunteering for non-profits. That's a great idea, and a terrific way to get fantastic references. If you're not working, the best thing you could do for yourself would be to gain experience ANY WAY you can and keep yourself fresh in the field.
Do not lose hope. I've seen people in even worse situations than your own, make it. Good luck.
For the past 9 years I've worked as the Technology Coordinator for a small all-girls school in PA. I had no degree (only a few certs), but I was hired for my experience in networking. The school was using teachers to do the job (poorly) previously. I presented myself well at the interviews and even gave them a prepared list of things that needed the most help on the second interview - that really impressed them!
I took a big drop in salary, but I live on campus for free, eat free, and have been able to save money as well. I was able to weather the dot-com crash, where I watched every single one of my friends in this business lose their jobs, their businesses, or worse. In short, I'm needed here no matter what the economy does - as long as we have students of course!
The best thing about this job is that, for the most part, the people are terrific to work with and everyday I see the improvements to the school that I was responsible for.
It's an unusual situation, and probably not for everyone, but for me it was ideal.
But this is my point - when Microsoft advertises Vista they show all the fancy-pants graphic effects and video in full force. By continuing to allow manufacturers like Intel to get away with some sort of 'Ready for Vista' sticker, it's deceptive at worst, not entirely accurate at best.
Slashdot Mirror
Just last night I was working on a relative's computer. She STILL has Win ME (oh God)! Well, Firefox no longer works on it. Chrome doesn't work. IE 7 is right out. But as it turned out, Opera worked PERFECTLY and quickly.
I'm planning on upgrading her soon, but as she just got of dial-up last night, this will do her for now.
Was anyone else reading this article reminded of 'Sunlight Gardener's Home For Wayward Boys' from 'The Talisman'?
In Stephen King's book, the lead character and his friend are picked up by the cops for no other reason than walking through their town, and then the Judge sends him off to the 'home' to be 'rehabilitated'.
The Judge and the cops get a kickback from the home, and it's clear that there are many boys there who don't belong there... Just like this story.
I was kinda hoping this was more fictitious than fact, but I guess this story shows it does indeed happen. Sad.
Now look! We've figured it 17 different ways, and each time we figured it, it was no good, because no matter how we figured it, somebody don't like the way we figured it! So now, there's only one way to figure it. And that is, every man, including the old bag, for himself!
You know, the thing is, everytime we hear the sky is falling, some new tech happens, and life is extended again.
BUT, it does seem that the miracles get fewer and farther between and it seems that they are getting more and more expensive as we go on. Yep, at some point it's all going to end, but at the end, will there be a beginning of something else entirely?
Optical computing? Quantum? Universal Will To Become?
At some point this roller coaster ride has to end. I mean, why not put off development until the NEXT iteration then?
No doubt for all those wi-fi access points you'll be cracking on your Acer Netbook, right?
The real news here is that even with these numbers, VIA will manage to blow whatever opportunity they have to gain advantage on netbooks.
It'll either be overpriced, hard to obtain in quantity or both. VIA seems to have a bad habit of showing stuff that, while it isn't vaporware, it's not something you'll actually SEE short of a consumer electronics show somewhere.
It's still fun to speculate though. You'll find it's no different in ANY industry - particularly technical. Examples:
"Well Earl, I'd say ya either got a clogged fuel filter or a busted timing chain..."
"Hey Axel, yer amp sounds like its got a 60hz hum, probably a bad ground loop... Or somethin..."
"Ashley, DEAR! If I was wearing those shoes I would've had the sense to put on a more appropriate hat!"
In a world where 20Gbit switches mean life or death...
A storm is coming...
Oh I wish I had mod points for that... :)
I seem to recall a Slashdot article around 6 months back that featured a German software company that had perfected separating tracks from a finished master.
The demo had them taking out the vocals and guitars, fixing them, and putting them back in - all this was done on a completed track.
I have no doubt this will happen, but I'm surprised no one's really gotten into doing this yet.
What REALLY needs developing is software that takes the vocals out of recordings. No, I don't mean the crappy 'vocal eliminators' that merely eliminate everything in center channel either. All that does nowadays is crappify the original music due to all the sound processing that's going on. That stuff stopped working on music around 1991.
Whoever develops this would make a mint.
Is it just me or does it seem that whenever there's a lesser version of some game, it has a longer name.
First we started off with 'Spore' on the PC.
Then it's 'Spore:Hero' on the Wii.
Finally, it's 'Spore: Hero Arena' on the DS.
Can we expect a 'Spore: Hero Arena - Electric Boogaloo' for the Atari 2600?
But there is this misconception, or at least, incomplete understanding in management about the worth of good employees. Poor managers only think about the bottom line - how many people can be cut, etc. After all, everyone's replaceable, right?
I hear this time and time again, and you know, they're probably correct, everyone IS replaceable. BUT, for how much? And how many more inexperienced people will they need to obtain to do that one person's job?
I've seen this scenario played out again and again. Usually, the company will get through it, leaving management to think that, ultimately, they did the right thing. But how much pain will the company and the employees go through in the process? How badly was the bottom line hit, simply because of the inefficiencies caused by the loss of a key person?
If you are in management, and you care; you should take the long view and think about long term effects.
Yes, that is REALLY annoying, but Belkin are not the only ones who play this game.
Linksys and Netgear, for instance, had many versions of each of their USB wireless. Many of them share the same. exact. model number, but have COMPLETELY different drivers due to versioning and other VID/PID games. I wish these guys would just append the goddamn number and make it easier for people.
Oh, and I've found Belkins support site to be slow on occasion as well. Nothing like needing a driver yesterday and watching a 40+ MB file come in at 10 Kbps. :P
My continuing policy for repeat infected users is to install Ubuntu or Mandriva. Granted, I'm not sure if you're talking about a corporate user here or not, but all my friends and relatives are getting Linux now.
I'm tired of seeing the disappointment and terror of people who get this shitware on their computers. I'm tired of spending hours trying to fight the damn things, reinstall Windows, update Windows, reinstall apps, wash, rinse, repeat.
So I'm done - either Linux, I tell them, or buy a Mac. Those who have gone the Linux route have not looked back. I put on Wine for those few apps people need, and all is good.
This.
I'm not sure , you may be right. However, we've had a pilot program going on here with 20 ASUS minis and had not ONE problem - hardware or software.
I would think with Linux there would be LESS issues, not more.
Well yeah, we are going to go with someone else certainly. But the point is, I've been happy with Dell products until now. The Mini 9 has gotten great reviews.
You know, this is the thing. I don't NEED support. If they gave me the machines without an OS I'd be cool with that and put Ubuntu Netbook on myself.
I just don't understand what their motivation is here - other than if someone else is leaning on them.
I'm the tech director for a small girls' school and we've decided to experiment with the Dell Mini 9s... That is, until our rep at Dell informed us that we couldn't purchase the mini's in quantity as a school with Linux installed.
Now, we want Linux because I don't want the girls filling these things up with crap software, slowing them down, killing them with viruses, etc.
In addition, there's something to be said for such a quick startup time. Teachers want their students ready to be taught as soon as possible. What we don't need is little Ashley's Facebook virus-laden netbook taking 5 minutes to get to a usable state.
The end result (after some complaining) was that they would offer the netbook to us for the same cost as the XP version - which smells pretty suspicious to me, no?
Dell is not as serious about Linux as people seem to think they are. Just because consumer models are available does not mean corporate and educational versions are as well.
I suppose he could play Chromium or Armegetron.
Better still, he could actually pretend he has a life and leave the basement once in a while.
There are always, ALWAYS alternatives.
Do not brush off the importance of experience. Someone else earlier mentioned volunteering for non-profits. That's a great idea, and a terrific way to get fantastic references. If you're not working, the best thing you could do for yourself would be to gain experience ANY WAY you can and keep yourself fresh in the field.
Do not lose hope. I've seen people in even worse situations than your own, make it. Good luck.
For the past 9 years I've worked as the Technology Coordinator for a small all-girls school in PA. I had no degree (only a few certs), but I was hired for my experience in networking. The school was using teachers to do the job (poorly) previously. I presented myself well at the interviews and even gave them a prepared list of things that needed the most help on the second interview - that really impressed them!
I took a big drop in salary, but I live on campus for free, eat free, and have been able to save money as well. I was able to weather the dot-com crash, where I watched every single one of my friends in this business lose their jobs, their businesses, or worse. In short, I'm needed here no matter what the economy does - as long as we have students of course!
The best thing about this job is that, for the most part, the people are terrific to work with and everyday I see the improvements to the school that I was responsible for.
It's an unusual situation, and probably not for everyone, but for me it was ideal.
But this is my point - when Microsoft advertises Vista they show all the fancy-pants graphic effects and video in full force. By continuing to allow manufacturers like Intel to get away with some sort of 'Ready for Vista' sticker, it's deceptive at worst, not entirely accurate at best.