As we get more technologically superior with our weapons, we are increasingly finding ourselves in situation where they are not particularly useful. Specifically, guerilla warfare seems to be difficult to defeat with such weapons. Rumsfeld's doctrine on using advanced technology to created a slim, efficient force works well when the enemy has tanks, aircraft, and well define building that can easily distinguished for attack. But when faced with a insurgents who blend in the civilian population and use schools and mosques as bases, the doctrine becomes less applicable. This is evident in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict where often a strike against militants often cause unintended collateral.
Perhaps what the military needs is less emphasis on technology and more on tactics. As we becoming increasing superior in both military and resources, our enemies are going to increasingly rely on guerilla warfare and terrorism. So, our military should put more effort in its most reliable system- the soldier. No technology developed is as versatile as the human mind. They should focus mobilizing efforts on preparing the soldier for the battlefield environment that he is entering. This includes basic education in the local language with techniques to expand their skills once they are there. Also, they should give soldier better access to surveilance with a realtime view of the battefield as that they can track enemies using hit and run tactics as well as ambushes. Ultimately, they should develop a toolkit of general tactics that the soldier can then hone into a specific strategy to suit their current situation.
The technologies we should give particular focus are those that augment the soldier. Examples include body are that protects not just center mass but also the limbs, a selection of weapons that have strength in certain areas of combat such as long-range (open field) and medium/short range combat (urban), a lightweight computer that they can use to get realtime information.
Maybe they don't have to cooperate. Graphics card gennerally support the same standard (vga/directx/opengl). Perhaps, the video array will have its own driver/software component to receive the game data then parcel the data to each card.
I guess now I have to get a girlfriend. Damn ASHCROFT!!! Damn those REPUBLICANS!!! VICTIMS they say!? Yeah, only if they count the occasional cramping I get in my hands. I want Clinton back damnit!!! Then, I can be a pervert in peace and not feel shameful about it.
We send probes to farthest reaches of our solar system. We built very high yield thermonuclear weapons that wipeout whole cities. We can mine just about any rock on this planet. Call me silly, but don't we have all the pieces to handle any extraterrestrial body up to 1 mile in diameter? Maybe we need to just put them together. Is it so hard just blow the damn thing away? Come on here- send a probe, drill a hole, set the timer, watch the fireworks. Is that really so hard nowadays?
I know what the naysayers would argue. Probes have a high failure rate (Beagle II anyone). The body would blow small pieces raining down bite size destruction. But I would argue:
Probes fail-yes; but hey, we are still practicing. Practice makes perfect.
As for the blowing into small pieces.
Umm
...small pieces can burn up in the atmosphere
...small pieces don't do as much damage.
... a great many will be sent on a vector leading away from earth; density is inversely proprtional to radius squared. (ie less mass, less destruction)
... who says we can't blow up the small pieces.
Could it hurt so much to try it once? Just pick some benign asteroid minding his own business and blow the f**ker away? Then, see what happens. At least, simulate it!!!
I have to agree with the author on a certain point. Though I firmly believe Mac OSX is far superior to Linux when it come to my desktop needs, I feel that the quality of Apple's hardware is suspect. Though I really want to use OSX, I dismay that Apple is only vendor that can offer the computers for it. I feel that their leadership in innovative design has come at a price of quality. I don't know of any statistics about Pwerbook/iBook failures or lifespans but I do know my experiences. My Powerbook died after 3 years of use with failures in DVD player after the 1st year. My boss Titanium Powerbook is a far cry from when it was first bought. The screen is defective and the DVD is dead. His previous notebook had screen failure after 2.5 years. For the money we invest in these notebooks ($3000+). One would expect to have them a little longer. There is a huge price beyond the initial premium one pays just to use Mac OsX.
I feel that his viewpoint is worthy of slashdot. For instance, I am a Slashdot reader and I do need to use a server at work for basic file and print services for clients on multiple platforms. I am by no means a trained server administator. I am a physics researcher. But it doesn't change the fact I still need a server. With my sparse background, I need a server that I can intuitively setup without a lot of hassle because my time is suppose to be dedicated to my primary duties and not reading man pages or how-tos. I would find this review valuable because the reviewer is inexperience like me and he would be best able to relate to my situtation.
I do believe they have thought about those things. You don't need the gui to boot up or VNC to configure the server remotely. Apple includes the GUI admin tools on a separate disc for installing on a separate computer with MacOSX (server or client). They are the same gui tools that come with the server. You just use the server's address to configure. Maybe the gui doesn't boot but the services do. In the end that is all you need anyway because the gui takes up resources that maybe be better utilized by the services provided by the server. That connector was probably intended for old Macintosh G3 Servers that ran Appleshare IP or pre-OSX server.
I believe your print-sharing problem arose because you were using a non-postscript usb printer. The administrator manual says, in these cases, to use the client mechanism to share (ie Sharing in System Preferences). The print server is intended for postscript printers (even if they are connected via USB).
A clear example of slashdotters obscuring a point with useless factoids just to look smart.
Solaris is commercial OS with two supported desktop environments. GIVE THE MAN A CIGAR. Has that fact help Sun maintain profits? Has it given them a large user base? But I'll give to you, I hereby amend my statement to replace COMMERCIAL with SUCCESSFUL AND MAINSTREAM. PS: You can keep it I got better ways waste time like read Slashdot.
As far as Apple is concern, there is only ONE desktop environment (AQUA). X11, though it is self-sufficient, is not quite the same as KDE or Gnome. They provide extra functionality over the x11 layer. I guess that is maybe why some people even bother developing them. Apple mainly provides it, like Classic, as an appendage to expand the list of available software with the purpose of selling computers to a larger market. Apple is not giving it users the same kind of choice as *nix users have when choosing KDE or Gnome. For instance, it doesn't seem to be intend for you you to use x11 or Classic in place of Aqua
Please save fingers! If it is not useful don't type it.
Certainly, with the express purpose to develop a user friendly desktop linux, one should settle on one user interface. As I read some of these replies, I feel some in the slashdot crowd overlook the fact the basic user may not have the desire or the spare time to tinker with different desktops to understand their various idiosyncrasies. A pretty destop may not be necessary but a consistent one is. A person who uses a computer as part of their profession would require a consistent layout. Commercial operating systems don't waste time with supporting different gui, so why should open spource developers, with less resources and who are working voluntarily on this project, be required to accomodate? Just because it is out there isn't a valid reason with respect to this goal.
Now, which gui is a different matter all together. KDE or Gnome seem to have equal support and function (at least from my perspective). One could just a as well flip a coin rather than do a comprehensive comparison of their various features.
For all who question backward compatibility.
Microsoft does have an emulator for PowerPC (Apple) system. It is VirtualPC. Virtual PC doesn't currently support 3d hardware but we are not talking about a system that will be out by this Christmas. Microsoft could in time optimized the VirtualPC technology for the 64-bit G5 and add 3D support. This way they can support older games at current speeds and possibly (although not likely) use it to run the xbox operating system + directx. As an added bonus, not only can we spectulate Apple will get a lower power processor for Powerbooks but they can get a better pc emulator.
We have beige G3 all-in-one with similar specs. running Mac OSX is slow. Internet Explorer is the only really usable program. I would never in a million even think about quark or photoshop. Its probably 5 years old (a good lifespan for a computer) and putting in new upgrades will be waste of money when compare to investing towards a new tower. The upgrades may get you another year but cost half as much as a new tower. Breakdown, take out loan and get a G4. The G4 towers start at 1299. I know I can get another 5 years out of those.
350 K in legal fees. Considering a new Powerbok costs between 2000 and 3000, wouldn't it be cheaper to buy a new computer. This guy must have been really attached to his Wallstreet.
My experience with Powerbooks are usually something fails after a year or two. On my Powerbook, my DVD failed after a two years. For my boss, his screen died on his earlier Powerbook after two years. Then, on his replacement Titanium powerbook, the dvd died and his screen has static line going through it. For me, it would cost $400 to replace. He would pay about $1200 to $1400. So, obviously, the apple care plan would have save us money. I will probably recommend he gets the plan for his next laptop.
This doesn't suprise me
How can someone justify charging to fix a bug that should have been there in the first place? Simply, they have peaked in their market and now in order to produce growth they will have to get their existing customer base to pay more for less. We seen this with their changing liscensing schemes. However. ultimately, their own practices are going to lead to their decline. Joe Average is eventually going to catch on. Then, they will be looking for competitor. Linux and Apple just has to hold on.
One it has 10.6 in display compare to 12" apple. I ll need a magnifying glass just to read the text. Why so small? Does an inch of screen weigh that much?
Intel on board graphics with 64 mg Shared memory vs a 32 MB Geforce 4. You can forget about games with that Intel crap. Just work. work, work.
Processors are about even. I won't bother arguing this.
Battery Life: 2-7 hours. This is a wide range. lets just average it. 2+7/2=4.5 Hours. What do you know? This is what apple quotes.
Price: starts at 2199 vs 1599 for powerbook.
Is slower graphics, microscopic screen, $600 (lets not forget the biggest handicap: the ubiquitous Windows XP) worth a pound of weight? Powerbook Killer? Yuk Yuk Yuk, silly grasshopper. Keep practicing though, you are bound to get it right one of these days.
If it is an old game like quake 3, your emac should be ok. My PowerBook does a decent job with ati rage 128. However, for anything recent , you will have to look to spend more than what the emac costs. For gaming, I decided against the mac and went with a Dell for $1500. Its ok but even this doesn't do the games I play justice not to mention it crashes alot. Forget about emac, save your pennies for a G5 or high end PC.
One -How do we know this is a rocky planet? Ever heard of Juptier, Saturn- gaseous planets. If a star made of hydrogen formed, would it then be unsual for a lower mass gas planet to form as well
Two- How do we know how old universe is?
Educated guess? If heavy elements like silicon lead, Uranium need to be formed in stars and considering that our star is projected to have life of 10 billion years before it supernova, wouldn't it take longer for heavy elements to formed and then be reaccummulated into new star systems. Thus increasing the life of the universe?
Three- How are we certain where the universe began? since matter cannot travel faster light, would not all the radiation emitted from the big bang have passed us by now? So, where is the indicator that tells that where it originated?
With theory built upon theory, is there a chance we may get something wrong in the process? Would laymen really be able to pick it up on it?
First, the cat is out of the bag. If terrorists were interested then they have guys on it now collecting the same information.
Second, trying to keep information classified would be a huge undertaking. From the examples mentioned, we have to get security clearance for every trucker, technician, engineer, or architect that has access and knowledge of these key areas. I don't think the fbi is up to the challenge of doing all those background checks.
Third, I am sure that there is not one key target mentioned in that document that is this country's Archilles heel. Thus terrorist would have to be able to sustain multiple attack in short window of time to cause real trouble. They haven't demonstrated this ability to do that. Their attacks, even in the Middle East and Asia, have been isolated over a few months.
So, it would best to make it available (if not publicly) to those who could best use that information to sure up those vulnerabilities through redundacies, or contingency plans.
This is advantage of our open society. Someone can find mistakes and be able to speak up openly so someone can deal with it. Don't let fear that cut off.
If apple keeps the G3 in the iBook for another year, it may not be able to compete against other sub 1000 notebooks with desktop 2.2 Ghz P4, 15 inch displays, and combo drives. You can argue small size and battery life (I would agree), but that would still be a tough sell to those on a slim budget and don't look that far down the spec sheet. Unless Apple leverages the low power capabilities of the G3 and built a sub 5 pound notebook with a 14 inch display to replace 12 inch, I wont be able to recommend it.
Our society is a little bipolar. We lose a 7 people in space accident. The first in sixteen years. It is a "national trauma". We lose that many in Iraq in two days and no one is hawking "national trauma".
So, since the human race will eventually outgrow this planet, we need keep sending people into space. Make the mistakes and learn from them, so we can continue to push the boundaries further out. I know the mistakes can be tragic. But, just as we are willing to send young men to die to give Iraqis freedom so too should we accept and honor the sacrifices of those we send in space. Because, when human population swells to the point that the earth can't sustain it, we won't be talking about national trauma but global.
PS-For those worried about their tax money being wasted. Nasa budget is very small part of the national budget. I don't think it is going to improve your tax return greatly if we abandon it. Let's just keep this in this community for a little while longer before we hand it over to greedy corporations
Slashdot Mirror
As we get more technologically superior with our weapons, we are increasingly finding ourselves in situation where they are not particularly useful. Specifically, guerilla warfare seems to be difficult to defeat with such weapons. Rumsfeld's doctrine on using advanced technology to created a slim, efficient force works well when the enemy has tanks, aircraft, and well define building that can easily distinguished for attack. But when faced with a insurgents who blend in the civilian population and use schools and mosques as bases, the doctrine becomes less applicable. This is evident in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict where often a strike against militants often cause unintended collateral.
Perhaps what the military needs is less emphasis on technology and more on tactics. As we becoming increasing superior in both military and resources, our enemies are going to increasingly rely on guerilla warfare and terrorism. So, our military should put more effort in its most reliable system- the soldier. No technology developed is as versatile as the human mind. They should focus mobilizing efforts on preparing the soldier for the battlefield environment that he is entering. This includes basic education in the local language with techniques to expand their skills once they are there. Also, they should give soldier better access to surveilance with a realtime view of the battefield as that they can track enemies using hit and run tactics as well as ambushes. Ultimately, they should develop a toolkit of general tactics that the soldier can then hone into a specific strategy to suit their current situation.
The technologies we should give particular focus are those that augment the soldier. Examples include body are that protects not just center mass but also the limbs, a selection of weapons that have strength in certain areas of combat such as long-range (open field) and medium/short range combat (urban), a lightweight computer that they can use to get realtime information.
Maybe they don't have to cooperate. Graphics card gennerally support the same standard (vga/directx/opengl). Perhaps, the video array will have its own driver/software component to receive the game data then parcel the data to each card.
I guess now I have to get a girlfriend. Damn ASHCROFT!!! Damn those REPUBLICANS!!! VICTIMS they say!? Yeah, only if they count the occasional cramping I get in my hands. I want Clinton back damnit!!! Then, I can be a pervert in peace and not feel shameful about it.
I know what the naysayers would argue. Probes have a high failure rate (Beagle II anyone). The body would blow small pieces raining down bite size destruction. But I would argue:
Probes fail-yes; but hey, we are still practicing. Practice makes perfect.As for the blowing into small pieces.
Umm
...small pieces can burn up in the atmosphere
...small pieces don't do as much damage.
... a great many will be sent on a vector leading away from earth; density is inversely proprtional to radius squared. (ie less mass, less destruction)
... who says we can't blow up the small pieces.
Could it hurt so much to try it once? Just pick some benign asteroid minding his own business and blow the f**ker away? Then, see what happens. At least, simulate it!!!I have to agree with the author on a certain point. Though I firmly believe Mac OSX is far superior to Linux when it come to my desktop needs, I feel that the quality of Apple's hardware is suspect. Though I really want to use OSX, I dismay that Apple is only vendor that can offer the computers for it. I feel that their leadership in innovative design has come at a price of quality. I don't know of any statistics about Pwerbook/iBook failures or lifespans but I do know my experiences. My Powerbook died after 3 years of use with failures in DVD player after the 1st year. My boss Titanium Powerbook is a far cry from when it was first bought. The screen is defective and the DVD is dead. His previous notebook had screen failure after 2.5 years. For the money we invest in these notebooks ($3000+). One would expect to have them a little longer. There is a huge price beyond the initial premium one pays just to use Mac OsX.
I feel that his viewpoint is worthy of slashdot. For instance, I am a Slashdot reader and I do need to use a server at work for basic file and print services for clients on multiple platforms. I am by no means a trained server administator. I am a physics researcher. But it doesn't change the fact I still need a server. With my sparse background, I need a server that I can intuitively setup without a lot of hassle because my time is suppose to be dedicated to my primary duties and not reading man pages or how-tos. I would find this review valuable because the reviewer is inexperience like me and he would be best able to relate to my situtation.
I do believe they have thought about those things. You don't need the gui to boot up or VNC to configure the server remotely. Apple includes the GUI admin tools on a separate disc for installing on a separate computer with MacOSX (server or client). They are the same gui tools that come with the server. You just use the server's address to configure. Maybe the gui doesn't boot but the services do. In the end that is all you need anyway because the gui takes up resources that maybe be better utilized by the services provided by the server. That connector was probably intended for old Macintosh G3 Servers that ran Appleshare IP or pre-OSX server.
I believe your print-sharing problem arose because you were using a non-postscript usb printer. The administrator manual says, in these cases, to use the client mechanism to share (ie Sharing in System Preferences). The print server is intended for postscript printers (even if they are connected via USB).
the new one is a RADEON 7500
Small corecction: the new Ibook uses a Radeon 9200. It is much better than the 7500.
A clear example of slashdotters obscuring a point with useless factoids just to look smart. Solaris is commercial OS with two supported desktop environments. GIVE THE MAN A CIGAR. Has that fact help Sun maintain profits? Has it given them a large user base? But I'll give to you, I hereby amend my statement to replace COMMERCIAL with SUCCESSFUL AND MAINSTREAM. PS: You can keep it I got better ways waste time like read Slashdot. As far as Apple is concern, there is only ONE desktop environment (AQUA). X11, though it is self-sufficient, is not quite the same as KDE or Gnome. They provide extra functionality over the x11 layer. I guess that is maybe why some people even bother developing them. Apple mainly provides it, like Classic, as an appendage to expand the list of available software with the purpose of selling computers to a larger market. Apple is not giving it users the same kind of choice as *nix users have when choosing KDE or Gnome. For instance, it doesn't seem to be intend for you you to use x11 or Classic in place of Aqua Please save fingers! If it is not useful don't type it.
Certainly, with the express purpose to develop a user friendly desktop linux, one should settle on one user interface. As I read some of these replies, I feel some in the slashdot crowd overlook the fact the basic user may not have the desire or the spare time to tinker with different desktops to understand their various idiosyncrasies. A pretty destop may not be necessary but a consistent one is. A person who uses a computer as part of their profession would require a consistent layout. Commercial operating systems don't waste time with supporting different gui, so why should open spource developers, with less resources and who are working voluntarily on this project, be required to accomodate? Just because it is out there isn't a valid reason with respect to this goal.
Now, which gui is a different matter all together. KDE or Gnome seem to have equal support and function (at least from my perspective). One could just a as well flip a coin rather than do a comprehensive comparison of their various features.
For all who question backward compatibility. Microsoft does have an emulator for PowerPC (Apple) system. It is VirtualPC. Virtual PC doesn't currently support 3d hardware but we are not talking about a system that will be out by this Christmas. Microsoft could in time optimized the VirtualPC technology for the 64-bit G5 and add 3D support. This way they can support older games at current speeds and possibly (although not likely) use it to run the xbox operating system + directx. As an added bonus, not only can we spectulate Apple will get a lower power processor for Powerbooks but they can get a better pc emulator.
Omg I think that G3 only maxes out at 196 Mb Ram. You can forget about the new versions of photoshop and quark. Get a G4. Check out this link
We have beige G3 all-in-one with similar specs. running Mac OSX is slow. Internet Explorer is the only really usable program. I would never in a million even think about quark or photoshop. Its probably 5 years old (a good lifespan for a computer) and putting in new upgrades will be waste of money when compare to investing towards a new tower. The upgrades may get you another year but cost half as much as a new tower. Breakdown, take out loan and get a G4. The G4 towers start at 1299. I know I can get another 5 years out of those.
Exact comment I was looking for. I didn't know iron rust and hypothetical microbes needed electricity. No wonder the Russians are broke.
350 K in legal fees. Considering a new Powerbok costs between 2000 and 3000, wouldn't it be cheaper to buy a new computer. This guy must have been really attached to his Wallstreet.
My experience with Powerbooks are usually something fails after a year or two. On my Powerbook, my DVD failed after a two years. For my boss, his screen died on his earlier Powerbook after two years. Then, on his replacement Titanium powerbook, the dvd died and his screen has static line going through it. For me, it would cost $400 to replace. He would pay about $1200 to $1400. So, obviously, the apple care plan would have save us money. I will probably recommend he gets the plan for his next laptop.
This doesn't suprise me How can someone justify charging to fix a bug that should have been there in the first place? Simply, they have peaked in their market and now in order to produce growth they will have to get their existing customer base to pay more for less. We seen this with their changing liscensing schemes. However. ultimately, their own practices are going to lead to their decline. Joe Average is eventually going to catch on. Then, they will be looking for competitor. Linux and Apple just has to hold on.
Intel on board graphics with 64 mg Shared memory vs a 32 MB Geforce 4. You can forget about games with that Intel crap. Just work. work, work.
Processors are about even. I won't bother arguing this.
Battery Life: 2-7 hours. This is a wide range. lets just average it. 2+7/2=4.5 Hours. What do you know? This is what apple quotes.
Price: starts at 2199 vs 1599 for powerbook.
Is slower graphics, microscopic screen, $600 (lets not forget the biggest handicap: the ubiquitous Windows XP) worth a pound of weight? Powerbook Killer? Yuk Yuk Yuk, silly grasshopper. Keep practicing though, you are bound to get it right one of these days.
Just get an Xbox
If it is an old game like quake 3, your emac should be ok. My PowerBook does a decent job with ati rage 128. However, for anything recent , you will have to look to spend more than what the emac costs. For gaming, I decided against the mac and went with a Dell for $1500. Its ok but even this doesn't do the games I play justice not to mention it crashes alot. Forget about emac, save your pennies for a G5 or high end PC.
One -How do we know this is a rocky planet? Ever heard of Juptier, Saturn- gaseous planets. If a star made of hydrogen formed, would it then be unsual for a lower mass gas planet to form as well Two- How do we know how old universe is? Educated guess? If heavy elements like silicon lead, Uranium need to be formed in stars and considering that our star is projected to have life of 10 billion years before it supernova, wouldn't it take longer for heavy elements to formed and then be reaccummulated into new star systems. Thus increasing the life of the universe? Three- How are we certain where the universe began? since matter cannot travel faster light, would not all the radiation emitted from the big bang have passed us by now? So, where is the indicator that tells that where it originated? With theory built upon theory, is there a chance we may get something wrong in the process? Would laymen really be able to pick it up on it?
First, the cat is out of the bag. If terrorists were interested then they have guys on it now collecting the same information.
Second, trying to keep information classified would be a huge undertaking. From the examples mentioned, we have to get security clearance for every trucker, technician, engineer, or architect that has access and knowledge of these key areas. I don't think the fbi is up to the challenge of doing all those background checks.
Third, I am sure that there is not one key target mentioned in that document that is this country's Archilles heel. Thus terrorist would have to be able to sustain multiple attack in short window of time to cause real trouble. They haven't demonstrated this ability to do that. Their attacks, even in the Middle East and Asia, have been isolated over a few months.
So, it would best to make it available (if not publicly) to those who could best use that information to sure up those vulnerabilities through redundacies, or contingency plans.
This is advantage of our open society. Someone can find mistakes and be able to speak up openly so someone can deal with it. Don't let fear that cut off.
If apple keeps the G3 in the iBook for another year, it may not be able to compete against other sub 1000 notebooks with desktop 2.2 Ghz P4, 15 inch displays, and combo drives. You can argue small size and battery life (I would agree), but that would still be a tough sell to those on a slim budget and don't look that far down the spec sheet. Unless Apple leverages the low power capabilities of the G3 and built a sub 5 pound notebook with a 14 inch display to replace 12 inch, I wont be able to recommend it.
So, since the human race will eventually outgrow this planet, we need keep sending people into space. Make the mistakes and learn from them, so we can continue to push the boundaries further out. I know the mistakes can be tragic. But, just as we are willing to send young men to die to give Iraqis freedom so too should we accept and honor the sacrifices of those we send in space. Because, when human population swells to the point that the earth can't sustain it, we won't be talking about national trauma but global.
PS-For those worried about their tax money being wasted. Nasa budget is very small part of the national budget. I don't think it is going to improve your tax return greatly if we abandon it. Let's just keep this in this community for a little while longer before we hand it over to greedy corporations