I agree. For the price, it should at least be an option. Hell, for the price they should give you one of each, and a fat discount on a decent tablet. To be honest, I think Apple got used to supplying computers that were often people's first contact with a computer, so they kept it simple... And advanced users would rather choose their mouse based on their particular needs.
Now I wonder if they stick to one button just because they would never hear the end of it from anti mac "four buttons good, one button bad" types...
Personally, I love Apple's mouse. Nothing, and I've tried many, tracks like that Apple mouse. Granted, my biased opinion is based on my extensive use of Photoshop, but for me that's what counts. Your needs might be different. If Apple were to release a four button, scroll wheel mouse... it would be bad as hell.
I'm too lazy to go digging for it, but I thought there was a longer version of this article floating around last week... In it, he mentions that he's currently working on a better interface. So, are we going to ignore the fact that he's getting a head start on trashing the product he's about to compete with?
As to the interfaces that we're trapped in... I use OSX, OS9, NT, and XP pretty much every day. I'm the kind of Mac user that will break a bottle on the bar and cut you for trashing my preferred OS. Even so, I will say that I am perfectly functional in Windows, and don't mind using it. I prefer OSX. I have fewer problems with it and I find it to be organized in a way that works better for me.
They are similar enough now, that if a Windows user sits down at a Mac, and their IQ is above room temperature, they should be able to navigate it just fine. Same goes for Mac users sitting down at an XP box.
What I don't get, is how the UI is supposedly so oppressive... The desktop metaphor was a good one because it related to real-world environments that we were familiar with... files go in folders, things go on your desktop... pretty simple. Behind the scenes, there are improvements that could be made, like using metadata to help you relate files to one another, etc. Other than things like that, I'm just not seeing how there needs to be such a huge revolutionary change in user interfaces. Maybe I lack 'vision', but I just don't see what the big hassle is. If the work you're doing is held up by the fact that you have to open two folders to get at it, maybe you're in the wrong line of work.
As to the never ending 1 button vs. 2 button debate... give it a rest. Macs can use just as many buttons on their mice as Windows. If you need more buttons, as many of us do, GO BUY A 3RD PARTY MOUSE. It just isn't an issue anymore.
In the early 80's, I was as big a fan of BBSs as anyone else, but 7 hours? Is there an interview with every single person who ever dialed into one? Yikes.
That was easily the best episode of Crossfire I have ever seen. John Stewart was right on the money about what is wrong with this system... The sad part is that neither of those two dipshits really understood what he was saying. They're too self-important to get it. Though I normally think Paul Begala is a tapeworm, I have to give him credit for passing his pre-show IQ test and keeping his mouth shut... He knew he was bringing a knife to a gunfight. Tucker, also a tapeworm, just couldn't step on those landmines fast enough.
We need more of this. How about a smart "comedian" goon squad to fight on our behalf? I'd like to see George Carlin on Crossfire. Or let's see Tucker argue with Henry Rollins (not really a comedian, but great for the job).
I love all of my Apple products, but I always thought that the last few years worth of designs (iMac, G3, G4, iBook, & especially the iLamp) looked like set dressing from A Clockwork Orange... which in my book isn't a bad thing, just sort of odd. I'm not thrilled with the all white lineup... It starts looking shabby after all of the handling. This is particularly annoying in the case of the iPod and iBook...
I still work for The Deathstar.... oooops, I mean AOL/TW (Go easy on me, I work on the less evil side... Time Warner Cable). We use these RSA IDs. They're not so bad. The part of the login that asks for the number actually goes faster than the normal login procedure. I know you need it to access that account from any computer via AOL or their Webmail interface...
As for using it for other systems (VPN, etc.) I would be really surprised if they would let you do that, even for an extra fee. Tinfoil helmets and extreme security paranoia are rampant in our IT people, mostly AOL guys. Our network is built on the 'Security Through Confusion' model. Their answer to getting me intranet access from my video production machine was to ship me a low end Dell that they would allow on the network. It still doesn't address the issue of my need to take:30 TV ads from the production machine, and send them to people on the network.
So, no, I wouldn't expect that they would help you use the RSA fob for anything other than getting your spam, er.... email.
I agree about the aesthetic changes to the skyline. Personally, I think they look cool. My dad is not a bird enthusiast in the least. His concern is primarily the cost/benefit ratio. The other points are just, at least in his mind, additional reasons not to use the locations they're looking at.
All he and his group are looking to do is
a)make sure that the taxpayers are not burdened by it if the company goes under again,
b)make sure that they are worth the trouble.
c)make sure that the location is right.
I live about 2 1/2 hours from Toronto, and have been there many times... I don't recall ever seeing the windmills. Maybe I'll pack my dad in the car and take him up there. That would be the quickest way to solve the issue... at least here.
Re:1... I agree. But this project isn't going to contribute enough to sell off any surplus. (IIRC it's 3% of the total.)
Re:2... I don't think it's a case of policymakers interfering. It seems more like once they get their money, they split.
Re:3...Good point.
Re:4...The database was over 200,000 entries from two different NWS stations. I don't recall the exact speed needed for these turbines to be worthwhile, I just remember that the end result was that there were not many days that produced enough wind.
Re:5...Again, if ice keeps it from spinning, building a wind farm in a location where ice is an issue for 6 months out of the year seems foolish.
Re:6... You're right, it's been a number of years since I've personally heard a wind farm. I've lived in Portland OR, and Yonkers NY... City noise doesn't bother me. I was refering more the the weird low frequency throbbing sound that they made.
This doesn't seem to be breaking along political lines. The big concern is that the local taxpayers are going to be stuck with a deteriorating wind farm that eventually will generate more rust than power. I personally am not involved with any of it. I literally just took 2 huge dBase files and imported them into Excel for my dad. Just thought I would share what little info I had on the topic.
Just passing along the info that I was given. I don't claim to be an expert or even an enthusiast. We have a lot of mental patients around here, so I'll mention your concerns about the giants.
Re:1... The proponents of the turbines are using the blackout as a selling point on these.
Re:3... I'm not sure what the source of his info is, just passing along what I was told. The fact that eagles live in very close proximity to the project is of some concern.
Re:4... This may indeed be a wind corridor, but not at 400 feet. Gliding/soaring is pretty popular around here, so I'll take the word of pilots who spend time in that wind over the word of the company that stands to gain from the project. The turbines are not in the approach to the airport, so it isn't a case of soaring enthusiasts wanting clear skies.
Re:5... Interesting. But, if you've ever been to western NY, you'll notice that we spend about 6 months out of the year with snow, ice,and freezing rain. That cuts the number of useful generating days down quite a bit.
Re:7... The only time I've spent around these was several years ago in Washington (State, not DC). There were three of them not too far from the road, and they were annoying. Maybe that was due to poor repair, I don't know.
This is not a case of 'Not In My Backyard'. Having been a military/commercial pilot for 30 years, my dad finds them visually appealing. They'll be a couple of miles from his home, and he won't be able to see them. He's resisting it because the plan is poorly implemented, poorly located, and of little or no real benefit to the community and a potential tax burden if the company goes under. Right idea... wrong place.
Currently, there is a proposal in place in Westfield, NY to build a shitload of these 400 foot turbines. My dad, a pilot and weather freak for the last 30 years, is spearheading the campaign to stop this project. There are some factors that are important to the disussion...
1. Westfield was one of the only places in the northeast that did not lose power during the big blackout. Their power infrastructure doesn't need any help.
2. The company that is planning to build these things is promising to "rent" land from the locals to build the towers... What they aren't advertising is the fact that they've gone bankrupt a number of times. They collect huge grants for the project, and then bail out, leaving landowners with 400 foot towers that aren't being serviced, or paid for. Property values will drop like a rock.
3. Westfield is right smack in the middle of a whole pile of migratory bird paths... There are also a number of eagles that live in the area. There are a number of sources, including the nearby Roger Tory Peterson Institute that confirm these towers will kill birds in massive numbers.
4. I helped him organize the collected databases from the National Weather Service for almost 30 years worth of hourly wind readings from the two nearest stations. The wind speed needed to make these things worth building, even on the edge of Lake Erie, was rarely achieved for more than an hour or two, and only a few days a month.
5. Just like the propellers on airplanes, the blades of these turbines collect ice... LOTS OF IT. It will of course eventually fly off of the blade. I'm sure there are some people here who can calculate for us the distance that a few hundred pounds of ice can be thrown from one of these turbines. While I secretly think it would be kind of funny to see a 400 pound slab of ice smash through a trailer half a mile away, in reality it would not be cool.
6. Have you ever heard these things when they're operational? LOUD. My dad is currently collecting information about rates of depression and anxiety in people who live near the constant sound of these things... Not just the whooshing sound they make, but also the noise from the blades passing by the tower itself. It's somewhat like the air compresssion sound from the tail boom of a Huey.
What it boils down to, is that it's an intersting idea, but poorly implemented by shady cocksuckers. Pretty much everyone is in agreement that we need alternative power sources, but these turbines don't add enough to the output to cover the costs, let alone free us from fossil fuel dependency. Anyone who has further information, or would like copies of the information that my dad has collected, can contact me at my screen name at excite dot com.
Damn. Here's what you do... I'll sit on a barstool drinking HOT coffee in your driveway. Then, when intruders approach, Afrosheen will shine a flashlight on them, and make comments like above. The potential burglars will be scalded horribly by the spray of lava-hot coffee that spews from my mouth... much like the clipboard-copystand that I am currently drying off. Thankfully, my keyboard was spared this time.
Doesn't IROC stand for Italian Retard Out Cruisin'? Seriously... that was the funniest comment I've read in weeks.
Hello? What the hell happened to the rest of my comment? There was a disclaimer pointing out the fact that the first part of my comment was said in jest. Not that I particularly care if I get modded as a troll, but come on. That's some bullshit.
Sooo.... somehow you managed to install Windows on an iBook? And it works, you say? Sweet. Now I can go to Wal Mart and buy all the great software titles that are 'Windows Only'!
Attention Windows-Lovin' Flamers and Trolls:
This is a joke. Maybe not a super funny joke, but a joke. So, don't get your shorts in a twist over it. Take a deep breath...Hold it...Keep holding it....Aaaaaand release.
I think they get together in the boardroom once in a while and come up with stories to mess with people. Apple has a history of setting the bar on new tech, yet they don't (for various reasons) often get the credit for doing so. Perhaps it's a dual effort... Their "competitors" get thrown into confusion trying to figure out who they'll need to reverse engineer the product as soon as it's available, and the forums on places like/. go crazy trying to speculate what it is, and how it will perform... despite complete ignorance to what the product is.
If I were running Apple, I would do it just to read what all of us armchair quarterback types have to say about it. Think about it... People's guesses may be combinations of tech that Apple didn't think of yet, and they get free market feasability research at the same time. Plus, it's funny.
Of course, if I were running Apple I'd stop making products that get handled a lot out of white plastic (iPods, keyboards, and the like).
Son of a bitch... You came so close to owing me a new keyboard for that one... Buggy-whip holder... Fucking priceless. I agree with your point, by the way.
The Zebra Mussels issue is a good point... They've caused all kinds of problems everywhere they have popped up. Could they interfere with this system? And as far as "biomass" goes... I don't know how close to a lake you live, but more biomass usually means more putrid stench... which translates to lost dollars for the community closest to the biomass. If lakeside communities lose their tourism dollars so that an urban area can have cheap air conditioning, that would be a Bad Thing.
In Western NY, we have cheap electric. There have been efforts over the years to build more (and larger) power plants here, to export that cheap electric to downstate NY, and even Canada. Thankfully, it's been stopped every time. This end of the state is already barely making it. If we become a foul smelling industrial wasteland, we lose our tourist income too...
I guess the pros/cons argument in the Lake Ontario situation depends on what effect it will have on the community that ends up with the plant/pumping station/whatever.
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GRUMPKINS
Amen.
Now I wonder if they stick to one button just because they would never hear the end of it from anti mac "four buttons good, one button bad" types...
Personally, I love Apple's mouse. Nothing, and I've tried many, tracks like that Apple mouse. Granted, my biased opinion is based on my extensive use of Photoshop, but for me that's what counts. Your needs might be different. If Apple were to release a four button, scroll wheel mouse... it would be bad as hell.
As to the interfaces that we're trapped in... I use OSX, OS9, NT, and XP pretty much every day. I'm the kind of Mac user that will break a bottle on the bar and cut you for trashing my preferred OS. Even so, I will say that I am perfectly functional in Windows, and don't mind using it. I prefer OSX. I have fewer problems with it and I find it to be organized in a way that works better for me.
They are similar enough now, that if a Windows user sits down at a Mac, and their IQ is above room temperature, they should be able to navigate it just fine. Same goes for Mac users sitting down at an XP box.
What I don't get, is how the UI is supposedly so oppressive... The desktop metaphor was a good one because it related to real-world environments that we were familiar with... files go in folders, things go on your desktop... pretty simple. Behind the scenes, there are improvements that could be made, like using metadata to help you relate files to one another, etc. Other than things like that, I'm just not seeing how there needs to be such a huge revolutionary change in user interfaces. Maybe I lack 'vision', but I just don't see what the big hassle is. If the work you're doing is held up by the fact that you have to open two folders to get at it, maybe you're in the wrong line of work.
As to the never ending 1 button vs. 2 button debate... give it a rest. Macs can use just as many buttons on their mice as Windows. If you need more buttons, as many of us do, GO BUY A 3RD PARTY MOUSE. It just isn't an issue anymore.
In the early 80's, I was as big a fan of BBSs as anyone else, but 7 hours? Is there an interview with every single person who ever dialed into one? Yikes.
We need more of this. How about a smart "comedian" goon squad to fight on our behalf? I'd like to see George Carlin on Crossfire. Or let's see Tucker argue with Henry Rollins (not really a comedian, but great for the job).
Worry? I think I'd like to see Dvorak receive a beating to "Singin' In The Rain"... or how about Steve Ballmer getting one in the yarbles...
I love all of my Apple products, but I always thought that the last few years worth of designs (iMac, G3, G4, iBook, & especially the iLamp) looked like set dressing from A Clockwork Orange... which in my book isn't a bad thing, just sort of odd. I'm not thrilled with the all white lineup... It starts looking shabby after all of the handling. This is particularly annoying in the case of the iPod and iBook...
Doesn't Apple have a pending patent on "beleaguered"? Go get 'em Steve!
As for using it for other systems (VPN, etc.) I would be really surprised if they would let you do that, even for an extra fee. Tinfoil helmets and extreme security paranoia are rampant in our IT people, mostly AOL guys. Our network is built on the 'Security Through Confusion' model. Their answer to getting me intranet access from my video production machine was to ship me a low end Dell that they would allow on the network. It still doesn't address the issue of my need to take :30 TV ads from the production machine, and send them to people on the network.
So, no, I wouldn't expect that they would help you use the RSA fob for anything other than getting your spam, er.... email.
Cool. I'm going to check it out. It's a good excuse to visit Toronto again.
All he and his group are looking to do is
a)make sure that the taxpayers are not burdened by it if the company goes under again,
b)make sure that they are worth the trouble.
c)make sure that the location is right.
I live about 2 1/2 hours from Toronto, and have been there many times... I don't recall ever seeing the windmills. Maybe I'll pack my dad in the car and take him up there. That would be the quickest way to solve the issue... at least here.
Re:2... I don't think it's a case of policymakers interfering. It seems more like once they get their money, they split.
Re:3...Good point.
Re:4...The database was over 200,000 entries from two different NWS stations. I don't recall the exact speed needed for these turbines to be worthwhile, I just remember that the end result was that there were not many days that produced enough wind.
Re:5...Again, if ice keeps it from spinning, building a wind farm in a location where ice is an issue for 6 months out of the year seems foolish.
Re:6... You're right, it's been a number of years since I've personally heard a wind farm. I've lived in Portland OR, and Yonkers NY... City noise doesn't bother me. I was refering more the the weird low frequency throbbing sound that they made.
This doesn't seem to be breaking along political lines. The big concern is that the local taxpayers are going to be stuck with a deteriorating wind farm that eventually will generate more rust than power. I personally am not involved with any of it. I literally just took 2 huge dBase files and imported them into Excel for my dad. Just thought I would share what little info I had on the topic.
Just passing along the info that I was given. I don't claim to be an expert or even an enthusiast. We have a lot of mental patients around here, so I'll mention your concerns about the giants.
Re:1... The proponents of the turbines are using the blackout as a selling point on these. Re:3... I'm not sure what the source of his info is, just passing along what I was told. The fact that eagles live in very close proximity to the project is of some concern. Re:4... This may indeed be a wind corridor, but not at 400 feet. Gliding/soaring is pretty popular around here, so I'll take the word of pilots who spend time in that wind over the word of the company that stands to gain from the project. The turbines are not in the approach to the airport, so it isn't a case of soaring enthusiasts wanting clear skies. Re:5... Interesting. But, if you've ever been to western NY, you'll notice that we spend about 6 months out of the year with snow, ice,and freezing rain. That cuts the number of useful generating days down quite a bit. Re:7... The only time I've spent around these was several years ago in Washington (State, not DC). There were three of them not too far from the road, and they were annoying. Maybe that was due to poor repair, I don't know. This is not a case of 'Not In My Backyard'. Having been a military/commercial pilot for 30 years, my dad finds them visually appealing. They'll be a couple of miles from his home, and he won't be able to see them. He's resisting it because the plan is poorly implemented, poorly located, and of little or no real benefit to the community and a potential tax burden if the company goes under. Right idea... wrong place.
Also... in regards to global warming, check out the info on the effects of volcanic activity on the situation.
1. Westfield was one of the only places in the northeast that did not lose power during the big blackout. Their power infrastructure doesn't need any help.
2. The company that is planning to build these things is promising to "rent" land from the locals to build the towers... What they aren't advertising is the fact that they've gone bankrupt a number of times. They collect huge grants for the project, and then bail out, leaving landowners with 400 foot towers that aren't being serviced, or paid for. Property values will drop like a rock.
3. Westfield is right smack in the middle of a whole pile of migratory bird paths... There are also a number of eagles that live in the area. There are a number of sources, including the nearby Roger Tory Peterson Institute that confirm these towers will kill birds in massive numbers.
4. I helped him organize the collected databases from the National Weather Service for almost 30 years worth of hourly wind readings from the two nearest stations. The wind speed needed to make these things worth building, even on the edge of Lake Erie, was rarely achieved for more than an hour or two, and only a few days a month.
5. Just like the propellers on airplanes, the blades of these turbines collect ice... LOTS OF IT. It will of course eventually fly off of the blade. I'm sure there are some people here who can calculate for us the distance that a few hundred pounds of ice can be thrown from one of these turbines. While I secretly think it would be kind of funny to see a 400 pound slab of ice smash through a trailer half a mile away, in reality it would not be cool.
6. Have you ever heard these things when they're operational? LOUD. My dad is currently collecting information about rates of depression and anxiety in people who live near the constant sound of these things... Not just the whooshing sound they make, but also the noise from the blades passing by the tower itself. It's somewhat like the air compresssion sound from the tail boom of a Huey.
What it boils down to, is that it's an intersting idea, but poorly implemented by shady cocksuckers. Pretty much everyone is in agreement that we need alternative power sources, but these turbines don't add enough to the output to cover the costs, let alone free us from fossil fuel dependency. Anyone who has further information, or would like copies of the information that my dad has collected, can contact me at my screen name at excite dot com.
Doesn't IROC stand for Italian Retard Out Cruisin'? Seriously... that was the funniest comment I've read in weeks.
Hello? What the hell happened to the rest of my comment? There was a disclaimer pointing out the fact that the first part of my comment was said in jest. Not that I particularly care if I get modded as a troll, but come on. That's some bullshit.
That the only thing blocked by default will be the iPod?
Attention Windows-Lovin' Flamers and Trolls:
This is a joke. Maybe not a super funny joke, but a joke. So, don't get your shorts in a twist over it. Take a deep breath...Hold it...Keep holding it....Aaaaaand release.
If I were running Apple, I would do it just to read what all of us armchair quarterback types have to say about it. Think about it... People's guesses may be combinations of tech that Apple didn't think of yet, and they get free market feasability research at the same time. Plus, it's funny.
Of course, if I were running Apple I'd stop making products that get handled a lot out of white plastic (iPods, keyboards, and the like).
Son of a bitch... You came so close to owing me a new keyboard for that one... Buggy-whip holder... Fucking priceless. I agree with your point, by the way.
Hey! It's not "dim"... It's either "Handicapable", or "Differently Abled"... or were you talking about the picture?
In Western NY, we have cheap electric. There have been efforts over the years to build more (and larger) power plants here, to export that cheap electric to downstate NY, and even Canada. Thankfully, it's been stopped every time. This end of the state is already barely making it. If we become a foul smelling industrial wasteland, we lose our tourist income too...
I guess the pros/cons argument in the Lake Ontario situation depends on what effect it will have on the community that ends up with the plant/pumping station/whatever.