Is this the first time an MS story made it to Slashdot without a conspiracy about how they're evil in some way? Next, are we going to get a story about how Linux needs improvements here and there?
" The end result is you can't diagnose your Microsoft problem because you aren't using a certified Microsoft product. "
That's interesting? What, did everybody forget that in that unlikely scenario, there's plenty of places around the web (like Google Groups...) to get support for Windows or any other MS product ever made?
That's like modding me up for saying "Well, the McDonald's next door is closed. I can't eat."
"If a monopoly is the only way to bring service, then a monopoly should be allowed. Service to some people is better than no service at all."
Actually, that was the point I was trying to make, but I phrased it badly. It seems like you can only provide a service if other people can compete with you. If they can't compete with you, then they cry monopoly.
" If they thought they could make money from the network, they would have already developed it."
They're probably worried that as soon as they build it, they'll be forced to open it up to everybody else before they can recoup their investment in it. That's a legitimate argument. It's a very expensive investment to build a data network. What's the point in doing it if you're building it for your competitors to use?
I can certainly see that point of view. If you're the only one big enough to build something, and you build it, you're a monopoly and that just isn't fair.
"For example, the mere presence of words uttered by he who has a low user number shines forth radiantly upon all, bestowing in them great wisdom and happiness."
Don't forget post count, that Anonymous Coward guy is extremely active on Slashdot!
"I beg your pardon mods, but thiscomment is not insightful. It is, in fact, uninformed and irrelevant. Sony has been one of the first companies out there to do something about digital rights management in an unintrusive way..."
As long as you use Sony's products. Face it, they're worse than Microsoft. The only difference is that Sony's not as visible in our world as MS is.
Sony makes sure that you play by their rules. I'll give you an example: What's the standard format for a memory card on a Digital Camera? Compact Flash. What type of memory cards do Sony Digital Cameras use? Memory stick.
You can accept Sony if you like, but they're about as proprietary as you can get. For digital rights, that's Not Good(tm).
"Considering the sarcastic tone of your comment, is it at all surprising that someone would take it as the declaration that you insist it isn't? When you say things like "uh, wouldn't happen?" it's really the same as saying, "it would take a moron to not see that would happen.""
You might have had a point, except for a couple of things:
1.) The guy was obviously trolling. Don't believe me? Look at his moderations.
2.) Did you catch the last line of my post?
"When someone takes offense at a comment you make, intended or not, the proper response is to apologize, not to get defensive and insult the offended."
That's a fair comment, except I was dealing with a troll. Your point would be more valid if he had described at least one way that the safety of this technique was being considered.
I understand what you're saying, I even agree with you. Being tactful and diplomatic is very useful in getting your views understood. However, this was a situation that didn't warrant it.
"that's the cause/effect he was referring to, I believe. not that M$ directly will block; but its the popularization and embracement of their crap that will seep its way into the rest of the net and fsck us all up in the process."
Hmmm possibly. I'm not completely convinced of that, but I'm not ignoring it either.
Here's what gets me though, why is MS the bad guy here? Obviously there's some demand for MS to fill here. The chances are Hollywood is telling MS "we'll start making movies ready for PC when we have the protection we need". MS knows that content will provide a new interest in PCs. They're probably bending over backwards to get Hollywood's support.
I don't think MS is interested in locking up your data (their install CD's have trivial copy protection, btw...), I think they're interested in getting content creators on board. If you want to point a finger, point it at the MPAA. They (plus the RIAA) are the ones that think this type of thing is important. (SSSCA) MS wouldn't introduce these restrictions and piss off their customers (like an office setting wants to deal with more pain from their computers) unless they thought there was a huge benefit to it.
"The fact that these guys accidently created a search engine that blows all the other ones away kinda says something about the laughable state of search engine technology before google, don't it?"
You gotta admit, creating a search engine that doesn't spawn pop-ups is pretty innovative .
Is Linux the big deal here? Not at all. The big deal here is that they're using Open Source software to get their work done. As somebody planning to enter the VFX world soon, it's WONDERFUL that I can download this software and learn how to use it, therefore I can train myself before I get the job. The potential advantage here is that newbs to the industry aren't so newbish anymore.
Nobody should care that it's Linux. They should care that Film Gimp is available for Linux, and soon Windows (which most of us starting out are already using). Hopefully a 3D app like Maya will wander into the Open Source arena before too long. (Yes, I'm aware of Blender, it's not at Maya's quality yet.)
Note: I'm referring to the title of the page this article links to, not the Slashdot story itself.
"Seriously, don't you think they would have considered things like that before heavily funding this space elevator?"
Seriously, don't you think that's why I asked instead of declaring they shouldn't use it? Any reason you didn't just answer my question instead of weakly attempting to insult my intelligence?
"Obviously, there has to be a pretty good anchor in the ground for it not to go flying into space."
Question: The article mentions having a cable some 100,000 kms long. Uh, wouldn't that lap the planet a few times? What would keep (or cause) a Gary Larsonesque tragedy from occuring?
Granted I'm being leight hearted with my question, but in light of the recent shuttle tragedy one has to weigh the potential risk of something like this happening.
"Boot loaders are legitimate boot records. Software registration codes are not. They don't belong in the boot track, whether they write to the MBR or not."
Makes you wonder how many people were pirating TurboTax, duddn't it. *eyeroll*
Wow. I've been building that one up for a while now! Man you guys get into the dorkiest arguments here. No wonder the Valentine's advice didn't go over so well here, heh.
Seriously, put this argument to bed. It is not +1, Insightful. It is not +1, Interestinging. It is -1, Redundant. Viruses and Virii both are acceptable answers. Why? Not because anybody's declared it, but because we know what you're talking about. Those of us that had to take mandatory latin classes need a place to vent this stuff.
"I found this site [wildstorm.com], which sort of explains the origins."
I'm glad you posted that. It saved me from having to bitch about how inconsiderate the article poster was being by not providing at least some little scrap of info for the non-initiated.
" don't want the stuff used on my networks because I AM AN ASSHOLE, and I like to abuse my power, it is part of the job, it is why I became a sysadmin."
Well ya might be an asshole, but the reasoning you provided doesn't support it. Sounds to me you did what you needed to.
"Slashdot has a huge following. So does NSync, B Spears, and Moby. That doesn't mean that they are GOOD. It means they have a huge following."
That'd be a good answer to my comment if I had said "anime is good".
All I said was that he had plenty of evidence already that it wasn't 'just a cartooon'. That's why I suggested he rephrase his question, sounds more like a troll than a question.
Slashdot Mirror
Is this the first time an MS story made it to Slashdot without a conspiracy about how they're evil in some way? Next, are we going to get a story about how Linux needs improvements here and there?
"With the release of Doom III pending, both ATI and nVidia are scrambling to show their very best product on game day"
Did the day of release of Quake 3 cause a surge in video card sales? O_o
I can understand Doom III being the standard benchmark, but why's opening day such a big deal?
" The end result is you can't diagnose your Microsoft problem because you aren't using a certified Microsoft product. "
That's interesting? What, did everybody forget that in that unlikely scenario, there's plenty of places around the web (like Google Groups...) to get support for Windows or any other MS product ever made?
That's like modding me up for saying "Well, the McDonald's next door is closed. I can't eat."
Why are Nerds unpopular?
I think I can answer that. I saw this episode of Star Trek once where Mr. Data....
"If a monopoly is the only way to bring service, then a monopoly should be allowed. Service to some people is better than no service at all."
Actually, that was the point I was trying to make, but I phrased it badly. It seems like you can only provide a service if other people can compete with you. If they can't compete with you, then they cry monopoly.
"Damn white boys need to stay away from them computers!! "
I was wondering what Chef was up to these days.
" If they thought they could make money from the network, they would have already developed it."
They're probably worried that as soon as they build it, they'll be forced to open it up to everybody else before they can recoup their investment in it. That's a legitimate argument. It's a very expensive investment to build a data network. What's the point in doing it if you're building it for your competitors to use?
I can certainly see that point of view. If you're the only one big enough to build something, and you build it, you're a monopoly and that just isn't fair.
"For example, the mere presence of words uttered by he who has a low user number shines forth radiantly upon all, bestowing in them great wisdom and happiness."
Don't forget post count, that Anonymous Coward guy is extremely active on Slashdot!
"I beg your pardon mods, but thiscomment is not insightful. It is, in fact, uninformed and irrelevant. Sony has been one of the first companies out there to do something about digital rights management in an unintrusive way..."
As long as you use Sony's products. Face it, they're worse than Microsoft. The only difference is that Sony's not as visible in our world as MS is.
Sony makes sure that you play by their rules. I'll give you an example: What's the standard format for a memory card on a Digital Camera? Compact Flash. What type of memory cards do Sony Digital Cameras use? Memory stick.
You can accept Sony if you like, but they're about as proprietary as you can get. For digital rights, that's Not Good(tm).
"CEE2003: A One-Vendor Trade Show"
Bring on the anti-trust suits!
"Considering the sarcastic tone of your comment, is it at all surprising that someone would take it as the declaration that you insist it isn't? When you say things like "uh, wouldn't happen?" it's really the same as saying, "it would take a moron to not see that would happen.""
You might have had a point, except for a couple of things:
1.) The guy was obviously trolling. Don't believe me? Look at his moderations.
2.) Did you catch the last line of my post?
"When someone takes offense at a comment you make, intended or not, the proper response is to apologize, not to get defensive and insult the offended."
That's a fair comment, except I was dealing with a troll. Your point would be more valid if he had described at least one way that the safety of this technique was being considered.
I understand what you're saying, I even agree with you. Being tactful and diplomatic is very useful in getting your views understood. However, this was a situation that didn't warrant it.
"that's the cause/effect he was referring to, I believe. not that M$ directly will block; but its the popularization and embracement of their crap that will seep its way into the rest of the net and fsck us all up in the process."
Hmmm possibly. I'm not completely convinced of that, but I'm not ignoring it either.
Here's what gets me though, why is MS the bad guy here? Obviously there's some demand for MS to fill here. The chances are Hollywood is telling MS "we'll start making movies ready for PC when we have the protection we need". MS knows that content will provide a new interest in PCs. They're probably bending over backwards to get Hollywood's support.
I don't think MS is interested in locking up your data (their install CD's have trivial copy protection, btw...), I think they're interested in getting content creators on board. If you want to point a finger, point it at the MPAA. They (plus the RIAA) are the ones that think this type of thing is important. (SSSCA) MS wouldn't introduce these restrictions and piss off their customers (like an office setting wants to deal with more pain from their computers) unless they thought there was a huge benefit to it.
" How many people are buying this stuff to run directly against their DSL or Cable."
How many people with a laptop have a switch or a hub right in front of their cable modem or DSL line? Suddenly that 54mbs is useful.
'Microsoft could decide to lock everything up'
Isn't the reality that the content creators would be the ones locking everything up? Who says MS is going to for them?
Another stupid poke at MS I assume? Damn that's getting old.
"many great inventions/discoveries are accidentally invented/discovered.
Newton's Law, gravity constant, etc
Archimedes' buoyancy Law"
Bart Simpson's 'mixing acids and bases' law.... *SpLaT*
"The fact that these guys accidently created a search engine that blows all the other ones away kinda says something about the laughable state of search engine technology before google, don't it?"
You gotta admit, creating a search engine that doesn't spawn pop-ups is pretty innovative .
Is Linux the big deal here? Not at all. The big deal here is that they're using Open Source software to get their work done. As somebody planning to enter the VFX world soon, it's WONDERFUL that I can download this software and learn how to use it, therefore I can train myself before I get the job. The potential advantage here is that newbs to the industry aren't so newbish anymore.
Nobody should care that it's Linux. They should care that Film Gimp is available for Linux, and soon Windows (which most of us starting out are already using). Hopefully a 3D app like Maya will wander into the Open Source arena before too long. (Yes, I'm aware of Blender, it's not at Maya's quality yet.)
Note: I'm referring to the title of the page this article links to, not the Slashdot story itself.
"Seriously, don't you think they would have considered things like that before heavily funding this space elevator?"
Seriously, don't you think that's why I asked instead of declaring they shouldn't use it? Any reason you didn't just answer my question instead of weakly attempting to insult my intelligence?
"Obviously, there has to be a pretty good anchor in the ground for it not to go flying into space."
Question: The article mentions having a cable some 100,000 kms long. Uh, wouldn't that lap the planet a few times? What would keep (or cause) a Gary Larsonesque tragedy from occuring?
Granted I'm being leight hearted with my question, but in light of the recent shuttle tragedy one has to weigh the potential risk of something like this happening.
"thnx. dat's y i rite like dis. odder peeps complane, but i say dat u can reed it so dont wine. inglish magers complane to much. "
Um right. We're not talking about interenet shorthand here.
Insert coin and try again.
"Boot loaders are legitimate boot records. Software registration codes are not. They don't belong in the boot track, whether they write to the MBR or not."
Makes you wonder how many people were pirating TurboTax, duddn't it. *eyeroll*
"The OED disagrees with you. Viruses is the plural. "
SHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP!
Wow. I've been building that one up for a while now! Man you guys get into the dorkiest arguments here. No wonder the Valentine's advice didn't go over so well here, heh.
Seriously, put this argument to bed. It is not +1, Insightful. It is not +1, Interestinging. It is -1, Redundant. Viruses and Virii both are acceptable answers. Why? Not because anybody's declared it, but because we know what you're talking about. Those of us that had to take mandatory latin classes need a place to vent this stuff.
"I found this site [wildstorm.com], which sort of explains the origins."
I'm glad you posted that. It saved me from having to bitch about how inconsiderate the article poster was being by not providing at least some little scrap of info for the non-initiated.
" don't want the stuff used on my networks because I AM AN ASSHOLE, and I like to abuse my power, it is part of the job, it is why I became a sysadmin."
Well ya might be an asshole, but the reasoning you provided doesn't support it. Sounds to me you did what you needed to.
"Slashdot has a huge following. So does NSync, B Spears, and Moby. That doesn't mean that they are GOOD. It means they have a huge following."
That'd be a good answer to my comment if I had said "anime is good".
All I said was that he had plenty of evidence already that it wasn't 'just a cartooon'. That's why I suggested he rephrase his question, sounds more like a troll than a question.