It seems that you only look at KDE from a developer's point of view. The sad thing is potential users associating KDE with bad business practice.
This is (IMHO) one of the biggest issues when launching Linux for the desktop (which I believe is one of, if not the reason for doing KDE) - people not seeing the other users as customers. If KDE will ever make it to average Joe, most users will be users. Most probably don't know what a bug report is, neither do they want to fill one out, they want it to work or they'll user their feet (internet connection, whatever) and change to another brand.
Most emulators simply fake the entire environment. To allow interaction real devices are mapped to virtual ones.
One interesting point is the Transmeta's Crusoe translates code, line by line, and caches the results, thus has no need to re-translate any code. The biggest problem they had was to emulate the internal state (condition flags, etc.) of the emulated CPU in their own. To solve it they had to use special registers, otherwise they would have lost too much performance.
Also, it is irony. I'm sorry that I missed out to put the smiley at the end of the line.
What I'm trying to point out is that a robot that can replace a remote and take photos isn't more than a simple toy. If I was to buy a robot, I would want it to do something that I don't always enjoy (as indicated in the subject "Wash, clean, mown the lawn..."). I usually enjoy walking my dog, but when it is windy and rainy I really wish he'd learn to use a proper toilet:-)
Please notice the smiley at the end. I do not suggest training a dog to use a tiolet designed for humans as it would be cruel to the poor animal, and it'd probably just miss it, forcing me to clean the floor, but if I had a robot for that... hmm.:-P
From the specs (Dragonball EZ + USB) it aught to make a faily decent Linux unit. Perhaps you could even connect an USB kbd to it for proper typing (less portable though...).
By using Qtopia you could have proper hardwriting recognision too.
It's a shame that Palm insists on not letting the screen fill the entire front, but rather waste almost one third of the possible area with a static input area.
It is sad that the KDE project has to be associated with such business practice. I feel that this can bring down the credibility for the project, which is not only bad for KDE, but for the entire open source movement.
Judging from how much resistance M$ has put up against the modding of XBoxes (required to run XBox Linux currently), I don't think that they are trying to let the hacker community to do it for them.
In that case it would be easier to make the PS2 run XBox games, as it has a known HW (and an official Linux distro available). The biggest problem is that the XBox runs an x86 and the PS2 an MIPS CPU. This means that you have to some translation magic (either emulation or recompilation) in order to run stuff for one machine on the other.
One of the advantages of having Linux for both systems, and open source games is that you can recompile them for either system. Also propetary games can take advantage of this by having the same environment on both systems, just re-compile, make a CD (or DVD) with a small Linux kernel + drivers and the game for each platform. All they have to distribute is the Linux source. This removes the need for paying M$ for an expensive, restictively licensed, SDK.
If M$ was so determined to build a console and prevent people from running *nix and other fun stuff on it, *why* did they choose a (nearly) standard PC hardware platform. Please provide a more custom solution next time to give the hackers a real challenge;-)
I want a robot that can do more than take pictures of my house and switch channels on the TV. The company Husquarna has an automatic mower, Electrolux has an automatic vacuum cleaner. This is what I want at home. If it can walk the dog and wake me up in the morning too, I'll be really happy.
You'll need to know the format of the binaries, calling conventions etc. but except from that, I think that you can use gcc.
The guys working with uClinux (the uClinux directory, uCdot and an Arm emulator) has a precompiled toolchain and lots of tips. Imagine glibc + gcc on a cell phone... Now I can play xbill on the train!
I have to say that you can not learn to use a Word processor without using it. No exercises in the world can replace creating real documents. Make your students use the word processor to write reports for other subjects or something.
When we are discussing word processors in general, there are some points that are extremely important to learn. These are the points that (IMHO) differs an average user and a user who knows how to use a word processor properly:
* Use paragraph (and in text) formatting. Learn to define styles, how to change the apperance of a document after having written it. Proper use of the formatting tools also gives free indexes and TOCs.
* Use the different modes of the application to see the document: outline, preview, layout, etc.
* Learn to fully use tabs, align around them, define hanging sections, etc.
* Learn proper layout. Narrower columns, only one, perhaps two fonts. Less is more, etc.
There are several more points to add to this list, but these are the ones that I can take from the top of my head...
Ok, it is not a proof, sorry for using such a provocative word - I did not mean to start a flame war. However, I feel that it shows that a random process, with a selection of the fittest can provide good solutions to problems.
The basic process of producing enzymes from the DNA/RNA is just a simple chemical process, i.e. the laws of the nature (which are due to quantum effects if you want to go all the way, as far as we know it today anyway).
As for genetic programming, you are right, someone has to provide a set of common rules, building blocks, whatever, but a random process actually reaches a solution through selection of the fitest, which I find nice...
A simple proof of evolution is to look at genetic programming (for example here, here and here).
Just look at the classic example of ants collection food. It is beautifully described in John R. Koza's great books (1, 2 and 3) on the subject.
Just imagine adding a fermone layer to freeciv and let the random search for a superior player begin.
Biometrical systems are hard to fool, but it is not impossible.
I hope that they have a proper system with personal digital (hard to hack) ID cards and such to make sure that it is foolproof.
Yes, there will not be a Final Winner. But someone will be the best at doing 3D graphics for home PCs.
Lets argure that nVidia will win that fight, nothing then prevents ATI from integrating their solution into the chipset (or something else), thus eliminating the need of a PCI 3D graphics solution and regaining market shares.
What I am arguing is that if you can't compete, you will eventually lose if you can't target another audiense (look at cars, a BMW and a Fiat have different target groups with the same type of product).
I care for power consumption because it is/will be the main limiting factor. A light bulb can take far more heat than a CPU. If otherwise, why do everyone use cooling for the CPU. I do not think that it is because it is cool to have a humming fan running inside the chassis.
DirectX or not, competing and overtaking each other over and over again - still, one will win in the end.
As for DirectX, if you support it, but don't deliver performance, your dead.
Compete for a long time, yes, but I did not specify a time limit
I'm just saying that you have to deliver a good product to a good price, and anyone who can't deliver the best product to the best price (ratio, best does not mean cheapest) will lose in the long run.
It is all about how much performance per dollar you can deliver. If you only get a 50% yeild from your processes since the chip can't take the real world, you probably get a bad ratio.
There have been a similar discussion concering clock frequencies earlier today, and I'd say that the same arguments work here too.
This is what competition is all about. When a company cannot deliver the best product to the best price they don't get any income. If you don't have and income and spend alot without being able to overtake your competators, you will enventually run out of money. It is not fun, but reality in a market economy.
Eventually we will see this when it comes to ATI and nVidia, or they will find a niche market to survive in. The big profit will go to the one making the best product at the best price.
Note - I do not critisize market economy, without it we would probably not have hardware accelerated 3D for home computers at all!
Xilinx VirtexPro FPGAs can have up to four hard PPC cores + busdrivers etc. on one _configurable_ chip... I'd say that we see a movement, but still, I want the mainstream processors to use this technology (multiple cores).
As you say, it is most probably a marketing ploy from the start (remeber the old 486DX4 100MHz, that had an external frequency of 25MHz). But since Intel has painted themselves into a corner where they can't stop increasing the clock rates they now run into the heat problem...
I'm running a mini-itx at work. They consume less than 40 watts (not counting the HDDs) and can manage without active (fan) cooling. Also, they are small and have network integrated.
The reason the Japaneese use the wireless media so much is because they have good contents (in the meaning worth paying for) and a good, centralized system for distibuting the micro-payments to the contents providers.
This is the difference between the Japanees wireless market and the European and US markets. Why is this so? Because NTT DoCoMo has realized that they can't expect good contents if they take all the profit as our (EU+US) mobile service providers try to do.
I'm trying to say that there are easier ways to achieve performance. The problem is that people want to be able to run software for the 8088 from 1983. If you run a modern OS, you shouldn't need that so it is time to make a move and lose the history.
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It seems that you only look at KDE from a developer's point of view. The sad thing is potential users associating KDE with bad business practice.
This is (IMHO) one of the biggest issues when launching Linux for the desktop (which I believe is one of, if not the reason for doing KDE) - people not seeing the other users as customers. If KDE will ever make it to average Joe, most users will be users. Most probably don't know what a bug report is, neither do they want to fill one out, they want it to work or they'll user their feet (internet connection, whatever) and change to another brand.
Most emulators simply fake the entire environment. To allow interaction real devices are mapped to virtual ones.
One interesting point is the Transmeta's Crusoe translates code, line by line, and caches the results, thus has no need to re-translate any code. The biggest problem they had was to emulate the internal state (condition flags, etc.) of the emulated CPU in their own. To solve it they had to use special registers, otherwise they would have lost too much performance.
Also, it is irony. I'm sorry that I missed out to put the smiley at the end of the line. :-)
:-P
What I'm trying to point out is that a robot that can replace a remote and take photos isn't more than a simple toy. If I was to buy a robot, I would want it to do something that I don't always enjoy (as indicated in the subject "Wash, clean, mown the lawn..."). I usually enjoy walking my dog, but when it is windy and rainy I really wish he'd learn to use a proper toilet
Please notice the smiley at the end. I do not suggest training a dog to use a tiolet designed for humans as it would be cruel to the poor animal, and it'd probably just miss it, forcing me to clean the floor, but if I had a robot for that... hmm.
From the specs (Dragonball EZ + USB) it aught to make a faily decent Linux unit. Perhaps you could even connect an USB kbd to it for proper typing (less portable though...).
By using Qtopia you could have proper hardwriting recognision too.
It's a shame that Palm insists on not letting the screen fill the entire front, but rather waste almost one third of the possible area with a static input area.
It is sad that the KDE project has to be associated with such business practice. I feel that this can bring down the credibility for the project, which is not only bad for KDE, but for the entire open source movement.
Judging from how much resistance M$ has put up against the modding of XBoxes (required to run XBox Linux currently), I don't think that they are trying to let the hacker community to do it for them.
In that case it would be easier to make the PS2 run XBox games, as it has a known HW (and an official Linux distro available). The biggest problem is that the XBox runs an x86 and the PS2 an MIPS CPU. This means that you have to some translation magic (either emulation or recompilation) in order to run stuff for one machine on the other.
One of the advantages of having Linux for both systems, and open source games is that you can recompile them for either system. Also propetary games can take advantage of this by having the same environment on both systems, just re-compile, make a CD (or DVD) with a small Linux kernel + drivers and the game for each platform. All they have to distribute is the Linux source. This removes the need for paying M$ for an expensive, restictively licensed, SDK.
If M$ was so determined to build a console and prevent people from running *nix and other fun stuff on it, *why* did they choose a (nearly) standard PC hardware platform. Please provide a more custom solution next time to give the hackers a real challenge ;-)
I want a robot that can do more than take pictures of my house and switch channels on the TV. The company Husquarna has an automatic mower, Electrolux has an automatic vacuum cleaner. This is what I want at home. If it can walk the dog and wake me up in the morning too, I'll be really happy.
You'll need to know the format of the binaries, calling conventions etc. but except from that, I think that you can use gcc.
The guys working with uClinux (the uClinux directory, uCdot and an Arm emulator) has a precompiled toolchain and lots of tips. Imagine glibc + gcc on a cell phone... Now I can play xbill on the train!
I have to say that you can not learn to use a Word processor without using it. No exercises in the world can replace creating real documents. Make your students use the word processor to write reports for other subjects or something.
When we are discussing word processors in general, there are some points that are extremely important to learn. These are the points that (IMHO) differs an average user and a user who knows how to use a word processor properly:
* Use paragraph (and in text) formatting. Learn to define styles, how to change the apperance of a document after having written it. Proper use of the formatting tools also gives free indexes and TOCs.
* Use the different modes of the application to see the document: outline, preview, layout, etc.
* Learn to fully use tabs, align around them, define hanging sections, etc.
* Learn proper layout. Narrower columns, only one, perhaps two fonts. Less is more, etc.
There are several more points to add to this list, but these are the ones that I can take from the top of my head...
Ok, it is not a proof, sorry for using such a provocative word - I did not mean to start a flame war. However, I feel that it shows that a random process, with a selection of the fittest can provide good solutions to problems.
The basic process of producing enzymes from the DNA/RNA is just a simple chemical process, i.e. the laws of the nature (which are due to quantum effects if you want to go all the way, as far as we know it today anyway).
As for genetic programming, you are right, someone has to provide a set of common rules, building blocks, whatever, but a random process actually reaches a solution through selection of the fitest, which I find nice...
A simple proof of evolution is to look at genetic programming (for example here, here and here).
Just look at the classic example of ants collection food. It is beautifully described in John R. Koza's great books (1, 2 and 3) on the subject.
Just imagine adding a fermone layer to freeciv and let the random search for a superior player begin.
I'd go for a Mini ITX with the screen. This would yeild an even smaller solution.
Biometrical systems are hard to fool, but it is not impossible.
I hope that they have a proper system with personal digital (hard to hack) ID cards and such to make sure that it is foolproof.
Yes, there will not be a Final Winner. But someone will be the best at doing 3D graphics for home PCs.
Lets argure that nVidia will win that fight, nothing then prevents ATI from integrating their solution into the chipset (or something else), thus eliminating the need of a PCI 3D graphics solution and regaining market shares.
What I am arguing is that if you can't compete, you will eventually lose if you can't target another audiense (look at cars, a BMW and a Fiat have different target groups with the same type of product).
I care for power consumption because it is/will be the main limiting factor. A light bulb can take far more heat than a CPU. If otherwise, why do everyone use cooling for the CPU. I do not think that it is because it is cool to have a humming fan running inside the chassis.
I'll reply to all replies here.
DirectX or not, competing and overtaking each other over and over again - still, one will win in the end.
As for DirectX, if you support it, but don't deliver performance, your dead.
Compete for a long time, yes, but I did not specify a time limit
I'm just saying that you have to deliver a good product to a good price, and anyone who can't deliver the best product to the best price (ratio, best does not mean cheapest) will lose in the long run.
It is all about how much performance per dollar you can deliver. If you only get a 50% yeild from your processes since the chip can't take the real world, you probably get a bad ratio.
There have been a similar discussion concering clock frequencies earlier today, and I'd say that the same arguments work here too.
This is what competition is all about. When a company cannot deliver the best product to the best price they don't get any income. If you don't have and income and spend alot without being able to overtake your competators, you will enventually run out of money. It is not fun, but reality in a market economy.
Eventually we will see this when it comes to ATI and nVidia, or they will find a niche market to survive in. The big profit will go to the one making the best product at the best price.
Note - I do not critisize market economy, without it we would probably not have hardware accelerated 3D for home computers at all!
Xilinx VirtexPro FPGAs can have up to four hard PPC cores + busdrivers etc. on one _configurable_ chip... I'd say that we see a movement, but still, I want the mainstream processors to use this technology (multiple cores).
As you say, it is most probably a marketing ploy from the start (remeber the old 486DX4 100MHz, that had an external frequency of 25MHz). But since Intel has painted themselves into a corner where they can't stop increasing the clock rates they now run into the heat problem...
I'm running a mini-itx at work. They consume less than 40 watts (not counting the HDDs) and can manage without active (fan) cooling. Also, they are small and have network integrated.
The reason the Japaneese use the wireless media so much is because they have good contents (in the meaning worth paying for) and a good, centralized system for distibuting the micro-payments to the contents providers.
This is the difference between the Japanees wireless market and the European and US markets. Why is this so? Because NTT DoCoMo has realized that they can't expect good contents if they take all the profit as our (EU+US) mobile service providers try to do.
I'm trying to say that there are easier ways to achieve performance. The problem is that people want to be able to run software for the 8088 from 1983. If you run a modern OS, you shouldn't need that so it is time to make a move and lose the history.