I hate MS and Adobe as much as the next geek, and will gleefully point out F/OSS solutions like OpenOffice.Org, Kino and The GIMP, but let's face it, what will someone completely unhip to F/OSS rather have in front of them: the F/OSS workalike or the reassuring name-brand?
This assumes that you're "hip" alternative does the job just as well as the brand name products? I hate to burst your bubble, but OpenOffice.org, Kino and The GIMP are toys... Fine for basic stuff and messing around, but more diffficult to actually do work on a deadline and that makes you money. Deadlines and money are common factors in business that brand name products actually deliver on much better than most F/OSS solutions.
I think what the original post was saying about "innovation" is based on user experience, not price. Businesses will gladly pay for something if they see that its worth it.
For example, compare the user experience between Mac OS X, Linux and Windows. I can tell you that Mac OS X is far superior in this race. Windows has been playing catch up to Mac OS ever since it existed, and Linux has a long way to go to get to the same level.
I recently started my own company and went out and bought a Mac to do all the business work on. I see great value for money in investing in a Mac. It is easy to use (my wife (and business partner) loves it), and I can get work done without fiddling with anything! Priceless.
It certainly costs more initially, but the saving in time and pain later down the track will certainly pay for it.
I'm sorry, but this really makes me angry. Companies scared because people who can't afford to pay for Internet access are getting a free wireless connection? What a joke. How can they loose business from people who'd never be able to afford Internet access?
I don't live in the US, and I don't particularly like the shows listed in the 10 best shows. BUT many of the 10 worst shows are pretty bad for the exact reasons they give on their website.
The saddest thing is nearly every show in the 10 worst category is sold to free to air television stations in Australia. I guess we can see what sells.
Actually a better URL is:
http://www2.arnes.si/~sopjsimo/gimp/unstable.html
But it looks like the pre packages haven't made it there yet.
The fonts didn't work for me either (XP) but I was able to fix it too, see:
http://www.wingimp.org/forum/read.php?f=1&i=144&t= 142#reply_144 for details.
> In the near future we will have two kinds of platforms. One platform will be a fully integrated appliance that runs Windows in DRM-nightmare mode with BIOS lockin. These will be for those who just want a computer to type letters and check e-mail. They will use it like they use their microwave. Microsoft will take care of all updates and security configuration, and they will track your usage and use it for marketing purposes.
The other camp will be composed of business users, hackers, and those curious enough to want to do more with their computer than what the manufacturer tells them to.
Here are some stats about Dr. Howard Strauss, he seems to have brains, but this article obviously must have been a bad hair day for Straussy:
source:
http://www.marietta.edu/~mcevents/IMC_2_12_03.pdf
manager of Technology Strategy and Outreach at Princeton University.
A graduate of Drexel University and Carnegie Mellon University
previously employed by the Johnson Space Center of NASA and by Bell Telephone Laboratories
And the scariest one of all:
Strauss has authored several IT courses and is an information technology consultant for many companies and universities.
Slashdot Mirror
This assumes that you're "hip" alternative does the job just as well as the brand name products? I hate to burst your bubble, but OpenOffice.org, Kino and The GIMP are toys... Fine for basic stuff and messing around, but more diffficult to actually do work on a deadline and that makes you money. Deadlines and money are common factors in business that brand name products actually deliver on much better than most F/OSS solutions.
Um... buy a Mac.
I think what the original post was saying about "innovation" is based on user experience, not price. Businesses will gladly pay for something if they see that its worth it.
For example, compare the user experience between Mac OS X, Linux and Windows. I can tell you that Mac OS X is far superior in this race. Windows has been playing catch up to Mac OS ever since it existed, and Linux has a long way to go to get to the same level.
I recently started my own company and went out and bought a Mac to do all the business work on. I see great value for money in investing in a Mac. It is easy to use (my wife (and business partner) loves it), and I can get work done without fiddling with anything! Priceless.
It certainly costs more initially, but the saving in time and pain later down the track will certainly pay for it.
http://www.kingdomsolutions.com.au/Um, AC, OK, RTFA.
This is NUTS!
I'm sorry, but this really makes me angry. Companies scared because people who can't afford to pay for Internet access are getting a free wireless connection? What a joke. How can they loose business from people who'd never be able to afford Internet access?
Greedy, dirt bag, scum sucking companies, grumnble, grumble..
Simple translation: It's plain butt ugly!
And it's still butt ugly!
I don't live in the US, and I don't particularly like the shows listed in the 10 best shows. BUT many of the 10 worst shows are pretty bad for the exact reasons they give on their website.
The saddest thing is nearly every show in the 10 worst category is sold to free to air television stations in Australia. I guess we can see what sells.
Yeah right, except that you cannot correspond with Dell via anything but phone systems, and if you're lucky, e-mail.
Even then, you're dealing with India, so they're not exactly accessible.
You're worse off in Australia too.
Actually a better URL is:
= 142#reply_144 for details.
http://www2.arnes.si/~sopjsimo/gimp/unstable.html
But it looks like the pre packages haven't made it there yet.
The fonts didn't work for me either (XP) but I was able to fix it too, see:
http://www.wingimp.org/forum/read.php?f=1&i=144&t
Dan
> In the near future we will have two kinds of platforms. One platform will be a fully integrated appliance that runs Windows in DRM-nightmare mode with BIOS lockin. These will be for those who just want a computer to type letters and check e-mail. They will use it like they use their microwave. Microsoft will take care of all updates and security configuration, and they will track your usage and use it for marketing purposes.
The other camp will be composed of business users, hackers, and those curious enough to want to do more with their computer than what the manufacturer tells them to.
Oh crap! It's the Matrix for real!
Results 1-15 of about 644493 containing "netscape is the best browser out there"
Although, maybe you're right:
Results 1-11 of about 11 containing "mozilla kicks internet explorer's butt"
To save some time, go here for the specs without the HTML junk.
source:
http://www.marietta.edu/~mcevents/IMC_2_12_03.pdf
manager of Technology Strategy and Outreach at Princeton University.
A graduate of Drexel University and Carnegie Mellon University
previously employed by the Johnson Space Center of NASA and by Bell Telephone Laboratories
And the scariest one of all:
Strauss has authored several IT courses and is an information technology consultant for many companies and universities.
Yikes!