As long as people don't whine and bitch about not being able to upgrade their already-too-fast-for-their-own-good G4 machines to G5s, that is.
Hey, anybody want to sell me their "useless" "non-upgradable" blue and white G3? Since the machine is obviously so out-of-date and nonexpandable, I'll give you $500 for it.
Now, as for the G5, provided it supports the same kind of multiprocessor architecture as the G4, I can only guess at what this could mean for applications like Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, After Effects, and Quake. "Omigod!" would be my guess, though.:-]
Nobody else seems to have brought this up: once you've logged in as someone else, you can set up the service to allow you to send messages using a different address (to "create the appearance of sending mail from your other accounts" - taken directly from their Preferences page). So, apparently all you have to do is add the address listed as the contact address in the WHOIS table, make it the default, and bingo! You've just become that person. You're not user@dotcommail.com, you're user@microsoft.com or user@yahoo.com or user@earthlink.net or user@whitehouse.gov or whatever. If you somehow got ahold of that person's POP settings, you can even have their mail forwarded to the dotcommail account.
Wheee! I haven't been this tempted to screw my former employer since I heard about the NT/IIS4.0 bug!
In fairness, the main reason they did this IIRC is that WebSTAR doesn't really offer the same level of remote access and administration that Apache does. It is entirely feasible that Apache/Linux could be made just as secure.
Still, this is pretty damn cool, especially after seeing the G4 commercial. I hope Apple doesn't blow this marketing opportunity as they have blown many others in the past.
The Paris date has been suggested by several Mac rumor sites, but the LCD part is way off base. Apple just poured US$100 million into Samsung to help ramp up production of the iBook (IIRC, one of the reasons the iBook sells for US$1599 was because of unexpected increases in the costs of flat-panel screens). It's very unlikely that in the middle of a screen shortage now expected to last until 2001 they would add one to their best-selling machine.
Besides, adding an LCD would pretty much necessitate a total redesign of the machine; after all, what's the point of having a giant empty shell around where the monitor used to be? Again, doubtful in the short term.
Now, once they've got enough iBooks floating around, and the Cinema Display is unbundled from the G4 machines, then perhaps it will be time to look at this issue again.
Wouldn't mind upgrading my rev. B to a G4, though, I can tell you that.:-]
Not when it does 2.4 GHz, it's not...
on
Is firewire dying?
·
· Score: 2
It's not really a net mapper, but once upon a time when Apple still had an Advanced Technology Group, they developed a thing called "ProjectX" which allowed for a 3D representation of hypertext....sort of. It allowed you to navigate around your hard drive as well; drag your drive icon onto the program and explore in a 3D space. The technology didn't really go anywhere, although parts of it might have wound up in Cyberdog. I still have a copy floating around somewhere.
I'm with you on the Gibson angle. Remember "Johnny Mnemonic"? Best part of the movie was the (admittedly fanciful) surf-the-net sequence. Why *shouldn't* it be that easy?
> If I encase my computer and colored gel and > sell it to a friend will I be sued to?
Depends. Are you going to style it as close to an iMac as possible in an attempt to confuse your friend into thinking he's buying one, or will it look more like one of those weird Intel boxes (which Apple apparently doesn't see as a threat)?
There's a fine line between imitating a trend and ripping it off in the hope of a cheap sale. The eMachines and Daewoo models simply look too much like an iMac for Apple's comfort.
Before anybody gets the chance to burn me to a crisp, I worked in retail from 1994-1998 and I can say with assuredness that most people couldn't tell the difference between the machines, and most salespeople couldn't tell the difference either. In fact, most of them couldn't tell the difference between Whizzo butter and a dead crab. In both cases, you are typically dealing with, shall we say, knowledge-disadvantaged people.(My time was not a happy one, so perhaps I'm slightly biased.)
It'll be very interesting to see if anybody comes up with a translucent-and-orange or translucent-and-blue laptop computer with a built-in handle, eh?
> Maybe I should ask Lego what they think about ppl pluralizing lego.
They disapprove - the company prefers the terms "Lego bricks" or "Lego blocks" or even "Lego toys."
How do I know? Well, I'm half-Danish (born in Aeroskobing, Aero - I forget the &-tags for the special characters) so I've had them around me literally all my life. In my closet are enough bricks to fill two large moving boxes, some of which date back to the 60's when Samsonite held a license to manufacture them. (Then again, how many/. readers have similar-sized collections? Probably lots.)
If only we got to see half the cool stuff they make for the European market, like the extensive trainsets...sigh. Still, I'd love to have a tower case made out of Lego bricks. Not only expandable, but thoroughly customizable: suffering from iMac envy? Go grab a bucket from Toys-R-Us and change colors!
Hmmmmm....perhaps a Lego tux? Shouldn't be too hard.
Good God, yes! I've still got my old PEEKs and POKEs chart, the one with the 16 hi-res colors on the back. I also have the Extra K and Pro[Filer|Byter] (can't remember the exact name) disks somewhere for my//c.
Ahhh, Beagle Bros. Some of the sickest, most twisted AppleSoft code I'd ever seen, from ttheir utilities to their demos to their throwaway extras on the disks. Of course, I had to use it wherever I could. I certainly hope they're all still coding somewhere today. Software should be creative, unusual or just plain funny sometimes. Besides, they were into one-liners almost as hairy as those of the Obfuscated C contests....
Like another poster, I also had a DecMate for a while courtesy of my dad, a 20+ year DEC employee. RSTS/E, baby. I stayed up all night writing programs to generate TRON-esque printouts on an LA36, the loudest line printer available at the time.
Of course, now that I'm 28, I'm too old for that sort of nonsense. Why, I can barely stay awake long enough to take my Metamucil and creak my way out onto the front porch rocking chair, where I sit and tell stories about how we didn't have this fancy-schmancy OOP stuff. Why, we were lucky to have a copy of Merlin 8/16...:-]
In leaps and bounds. The interface is a lot cleaner than M6 (the last build I tried). It really is as fast as people say, too. Glad to see they're not just optimizing it for the x86. Of course, I'm on a fast connection at work; I'm keen to test it at home on the iMac over dialup to see if it's as speedy over PPP.
Minor quibbles:
1. The fullcircle version creates almost 900 separate files, a lot of which are just 1-2 lines of configuration stuff. That's a lot of wasted space, even on an HFS+ drive. Perhaps some of those options could be combined?
2. It takes a bit of time to open, during which there's no perceptible activity. I almost Command-Control-Powered the machine because I thought it had hosed itself.
3. Double-clicking a word doesn't automatically select it. Yeah, it's a little thing, but after 15+ years you get used to it.:-] And yes, I would fix it myself if I had the knowledge (I'm working on getting it now).
If the finished version is as big an improvement over M8 as M8 was over M6, maybe it can replace IE as Steve's browser of choice. Now, if they can start supporting Mac OS Runtime for Java....
Re:Linux is not the fastest. No excuses.
on
NT vs. Linux: Again
·
· Score: 1
> How does Linux compare to Mac OS X?
There haven't been many comparisons yet of Mac OS X's overall capabilities to the other major OSs, partially because OS X is still in its infancy and partly because there's still some lingering doubt over Apple's long-term plans for the system (the scientific term is Coplandophobia, a fear of dead-end business decisions spurred on by a lack of a clear strategy; not fatal if caught in time).
It appears that it will improve (eventually) over AppleShare IP for file/web sharing, although granted that's a long way from replacing NT as your server of choice.
I know, I know, MacWorld looked at it in their July issue. However, IMHO that review shouldn't count for much; I find it troubling that they had to compare it with a multiprocessor IIS/NT box because a machine comparable to the G3/400 used in testing wasn't "available at press time". Sigh. Not that one necessarily expects much from the magazine that over-trumpeted its exclusive coverage of Apple's purchase of Be, but why bother testing it if you're going to stack the odds like this? It would be like testing X Server against netBSD on an SE/30; they both work great, but one is obviously going to outpower the other.
Hopefully, by the time major publications and organizations get around to looking at OS X and/or Darwin as an option along with the other BSDs or Linux or even NT, the hardware will have caught up to the promise of the software (viva la AltiVec, baby, yeah!) and Apple will finally be a viable alternative to Windows in the higher-end again.
Please, no flames about the netBSD crack; I'm shopping for an SE/30 on eBay even as you read this for the sole purpose of proving to my nonbeliever friends that a 10-year-old computer smaller than a 13" monitor can still be useful to society.
True, although the stock owned by Microsoft is non-voting, and will continue to be so for at least the next 2-3 years IIRC. And as you pointed out, there's very little danger of Microsoft forcing Apple out of business entirely since that might pique the interest of Dave Boies and crew.
"David Boies, David Boies, riding through the land," "David Boies, David Boies, the government's right hand," "He argues for the feds, and makes lots of noise," "David Boies," "David Boies," "David Boies..."
- sung to the tune of "Dennis Moore", and if you don't know the tune, you were never here.
Er, where was I? Oh yes. Anyway, the stock thing isn't that significant (yet); Apple certainly didn't need the money but it could have used the clout that Wall Street blindly flings at anybody who receives the Wintel benediction. Now, they can focus on doing things their own way again and it's too late for Wall Street to back down (in fact, while many Internet stocks are flagging, Apple's continues to hold strong).
Of course, this could be a bigger deal if MS eventually tries to sway stockholder opinion. But that's a whole other government investigation.
Wow, I've only been reading/. for a few weeks and already I'm a "dear" member. Not only that, but they're always thinking of me, too. And, according to the link, they're even willing to offer me a free PC. Who says Linux users aren't friendly?
I sent an email to eEye this evening asking about plans for porting the Retina tool to Mac OS X Server, and just got a reply a few minutes ago (!) stating that there are plans for both X Server and Linux versions in the future, although they state that it's a ways off at present (and no mention of source availability). Still, pretty fast turnaround time on their email, that's encouraging in any company.
Slashdot Mirror
As long as people don't whine and bitch about not being able to upgrade their already-too-fast-for-their-own-good G4 machines to G5s, that is.
:-]
Hey, anybody want to sell me their "useless" "non-upgradable" blue and white G3? Since the machine is obviously so out-of-date and nonexpandable, I'll give you $500 for it.
Now, as for the G5, provided it supports the same kind of multiprocessor architecture as the G4, I can only guess at what this could mean for applications like Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, After Effects, and Quake. "Omigod!" would be my guess, though.
Wheee! I haven't been this tempted to screw my former employer since I heard about the NT/IIS4.0 bug!
In fairness, the main reason they did this IIRC is that WebSTAR doesn't really offer the same level of remote access and administration that Apache does. It is entirely feasible that Apache/Linux could be made just as secure.
Still, this is pretty damn cool, especially after seeing the G4 commercial. I hope Apple doesn't blow this marketing opportunity as they have blown many others in the past.
The Paris date has been suggested by several Mac rumor sites, but the LCD part is way off base. Apple just poured US$100 million into Samsung to help ramp up production of the iBook (IIRC, one of the reasons the iBook sells for US$1599 was because of unexpected increases in the costs of flat-panel screens). It's very unlikely that in the middle of a screen shortage now expected to last until 2001 they would add one to their best-selling machine.
:-]
Besides, adding an LCD would pretty much necessitate a total redesign of the machine; after all, what's the point of having a giant empty shell around where the monitor used to be? Again, doubtful in the short term.
Now, once they've got enough iBooks floating around, and the Cinema Display is unbundled from the G4 machines, then perhaps it will be time to look at this issue again.
Wouldn't mind upgrading my rev. B to a G4, though, I can tell you that.
http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG19990 827S0032
Basically, it looks like several companies banded together to produce 1394 transmissions at 2.4 gigahertz. Let's see USB 2.0 do that.
Firewire isn't going anywhere, this is more lame "news" from an increasingly biased source (Infoworld).
It's not really a net mapper, but once upon a time when Apple still had an Advanced Technology Group, they developed a thing called "ProjectX" which allowed for a 3D representation of hypertext....sort of. It allowed you to navigate around your hard drive as well; drag your drive icon onto the program and explore in a 3D space. The technology didn't really go anywhere, although parts of it might have wound up in Cyberdog. I still have a copy floating around somewhere.
I'm with you on the Gibson angle. Remember "Johnny Mnemonic"? Best part of the movie was the (admittedly fanciful) surf-the-net sequence. Why *shouldn't* it be that easy?
> If I encase my computer and colored gel and
> sell it to a friend will I be sued to?
Depends. Are you going to style it as close to an iMac as possible in an attempt to confuse your friend into thinking he's buying one, or will it look more like one of those weird Intel boxes (which Apple apparently doesn't see as a threat)?
There's a fine line between imitating a trend and ripping it off in the hope of a cheap sale. The eMachines and Daewoo models simply look too much like an iMac for Apple's comfort.
Before anybody gets the chance to burn me to a crisp, I worked in retail from 1994-1998 and I can say with assuredness that most people couldn't tell the difference between the machines, and most salespeople couldn't tell the difference either. In fact, most of them couldn't tell the difference between Whizzo butter and a dead crab. In both cases, you are typically dealing with, shall we say, knowledge-disadvantaged people.(My time was not a happy one, so perhaps I'm slightly biased.)
It'll be very interesting to see if anybody comes up with a translucent-and-orange or translucent-and-blue laptop computer with a built-in handle, eh?
> Maybe I should ask Lego what they think about ppl pluralizing lego.
/. readers have similar-sized collections? Probably lots.)
They disapprove - the company prefers the terms "Lego bricks" or "Lego blocks" or even "Lego toys."
How do I know? Well, I'm half-Danish (born in Aeroskobing, Aero - I forget the &-tags for the special characters) so I've had them around me literally all my life. In my closet are enough bricks to fill two large moving boxes, some of which date back to the 60's when Samsonite held a license to manufacture them. (Then again, how many
If only we got to see half the cool stuff they make for the European market, like the extensive trainsets...sigh. Still, I'd love to have a tower case made out of Lego bricks. Not only expandable, but thoroughly customizable: suffering from iMac envy? Go grab a bucket from Toys-R-Us and change colors!
Hmmmmm....perhaps a Lego tux? Shouldn't be too hard.
> li> causes blindness in laboratory tests with Mac users.
Hmmmm. Well, I do have really bad eyesight. I can't even see the bullet in the list item.
Re the screensaver issue: I wonder if somebody could convince Berkeley Systems to port After Dark to Linux?
Good God, yes! I've still got my old PEEKs and POKEs chart, the one with the 16 hi-res colors on the back. I also have the Extra K and Pro[Filer|Byter] (can't remember the exact name) disks somewhere for my //c.
:-]
Ahhh, Beagle Bros. Some of the sickest, most twisted AppleSoft code I'd ever seen, from ttheir utilities to their demos to their throwaway extras on the disks. Of course, I had to use it wherever I could. I certainly hope they're all still coding somewhere today. Software should be creative, unusual or just plain funny sometimes. Besides, they were into one-liners almost as hairy as those of the Obfuscated C contests....
Like another poster, I also had a DecMate for a while courtesy of my dad, a 20+ year DEC employee. RSTS/E, baby. I stayed up all night writing programs to generate TRON-esque printouts on an LA36, the loudest line printer available at the time.
Of course, now that I'm 28, I'm too old for that sort of nonsense. Why, I can barely stay awake long enough to take my Metamucil and creak my way out onto the front porch rocking chair, where I sit and tell stories about how we didn't have this fancy-schmancy OOP stuff. Why, we were lucky to have a copy of Merlin 8/16...
]PR#6
Minor quibbles:
1. The fullcircle version creates almost 900 separate files, a lot of which are just 1-2 lines of configuration stuff. That's a lot of wasted space, even on an HFS+ drive. Perhaps some of those options could be combined?
2. It takes a bit of time to open, during which there's no perceptible activity. I almost Command-Control-Powered the machine because I thought it had hosed itself.
3. Double-clicking a word doesn't automatically select it. Yeah, it's a little thing, but after 15+ years you get used to it. :-] And yes, I would fix it myself if I had the knowledge (I'm working on getting it now).
If the finished version is as big an improvement over M8 as M8 was over M6, maybe it can replace IE as Steve's browser of choice. Now, if they can start supporting Mac OS Runtime for Java....
> How does Linux compare to Mac OS X?
There haven't been many comparisons yet of Mac OS X's overall capabilities to the other major OSs, partially because OS X is still in its infancy and partly because there's still some lingering doubt over Apple's long-term plans for the system (the scientific term is Coplandophobia, a fear of dead-end business decisions spurred on by a lack of a clear strategy; not fatal if caught in time).
It appears that it will improve (eventually) over AppleShare IP for file/web sharing, although granted that's a long way from replacing NT as your server of choice.
I know, I know, MacWorld looked at it in their July issue. However, IMHO that review shouldn't count for much; I find it troubling that they had to compare it with a multiprocessor IIS/NT box because a machine comparable to the G3/400 used in testing wasn't "available at press time". Sigh. Not that one necessarily expects much from the magazine that over-trumpeted its exclusive coverage of Apple's purchase of Be, but why bother testing it if you're going to stack the odds like this? It would be like testing X Server against netBSD on an SE/30; they both work great, but one is obviously going to outpower the other.
Hopefully, by the time major publications and organizations get around to looking at OS X and/or Darwin as an option along with the other BSDs or Linux or even NT, the hardware will have caught up to the promise of the software (viva la AltiVec, baby, yeah!) and Apple will finally be a viable alternative to Windows in the higher-end again.
Please, no flames about the netBSD crack; I'm shopping for an SE/30 on eBay even as you read this for the sole purpose of proving to my nonbeliever friends that a 10-year-old computer smaller than a 13" monitor can still be useful to society.
True, although the stock owned by Microsoft is non-voting, and will continue to be so for at least the next 2-3 years IIRC. And as you pointed out, there's very little danger of Microsoft forcing Apple out of business entirely since that might pique the interest of Dave Boies and crew.
"David Boies, David Boies, riding through the land,"
"David Boies, David Boies, the government's right hand,"
"He argues for the feds, and makes lots of noise,"
"David Boies,"
"David Boies,"
"David Boies..."
- sung to the tune of "Dennis Moore", and if you don't know the tune, you were never here.
Er, where was I? Oh yes. Anyway, the stock thing isn't that significant (yet); Apple certainly didn't need the money but it could have used the clout that Wall Street blindly flings at anybody who receives the Wintel benediction. Now, they can focus on doing things their own way again and it's too late for Wall Street to back down (in fact, while many Internet stocks are flagging, Apple's continues to hold strong).
Of course, this could be a bigger deal if MS eventually tries to sway stockholder opinion. But that's a whole other government investigation.
Wow, I've only been reading /. for a few weeks and already I'm a "dear" member. Not only that, but they're always thinking of me, too. And, according to the link, they're even willing to offer me a free PC. Who says Linux users aren't friendly?
Thank god I already obfuscated my email address.
I sent an email to eEye this evening asking about plans for porting the Retina tool to Mac OS X Server, and just got a reply a few minutes ago (!) stating that there are plans for both X Server and Linux versions in the future, although they state that it's a ways off at present (and no mention of source availability). Still, pretty fast turnaround time on their email, that's encouraging in any company.