If it's in school, they don't need to compete very hard in the entertainment arena. It's a captive audience.
I think that's why number crunchers worked so well. I'd never chose to play it at home when I was a kid, but at school it was better than memorizing tables on paper.
I learned that it's wasteful to shoot 300 buffalo for one family... half of which have already died from dysentery. Though it may have laid the groundwork for some excellent Call of Duty skills.
I'm pushing 30 and when I was in elementary school we regularly played games like PAWS, Number Crunchers, Oregon Trail, and a host of other games of varied educational value.
The most important thing I learned? How to reinstall DOS on old machine that belonged to my dad before he found out and whooped me for screwing up a $5k machine. Longest night of my life, pre-High School days.
Good lord, I'm going to have to find some old episodes of Mr. Wizard, an Apple II emulator and a copy of Number Crunchers... have myself a back-in-my-day weekend. Everyone who misses Don Herbert and green monitors is invited! Only no booze for this party, only Capri Sun juice pouches.
I'd say releasing 1 project under open source license is a "pro open source step".
But that aside, there are at least hundreds (thousands?) of examples of open source code available from MS. Many MS platform developers know this.
Now, that's not to say MS is what anyone would call an open source supporter, but it often benefits them to release tons of source code under very liberal licenses. You provide me with truly free framework for a particular kind of application, I'm more likely to accept your platform for development. That means anyone who wants to consume it has to use a closed product that makes them gobs of money. It doesn't make the original project any less open, though.
Unfortunately there are no good ways to handle it, that I know of. They all allow for harvesting or backscatter. The only way to avoid both would be to accept everything and never respond. But then every blackholed email is potentially a genuine error for which there is no indication.
I've heard about your replicating printer problem, and thought I might be able to help. I'm going to recommend time dilation and superconductors for this one. It's the answer to everything really.
As much as I'd like to agree, there are very few places I can think of where Microsoft isn't the standard.
They're weak in places like CRM. Other options like Salesforce put a beating on them. Their gateway and security product is not particularly popular either, as far as I can tell (I've never heard of it being deployed anywhere). Appliances really seem to have that market nailed down hard.
But when it comes to the desktop OS, office productivity suite and collaboration services... it's still quite risky in most places I've been to even recommend alternatives.
Again, I wish it weren't that way... I don't want to buy Vista, and I REALLY don't want to support it... but I don't feel I have a working parallel option in FOSS software. Maybe some day.
Cough, cough... Exchange/Outlook and virtually all Adobe products? I can't switch one of our graphic artists to Linux and I could never get our users off Outlook. They'd firebomb my car... with me in it.
But don't tell me it's Office 2007 and VS 2008 or nothing. For most users that's not the case. If you need it, spend the money on it and be happy.
In my experience, it's exactly that.
Try prying Outlook from my users' cold dead hands. And really, anyone who thinks Evolution is a usable Exchange client is trying too hard to make the case. It isn't close. The suggestion to run Outlook in a VM must be a joke I don't get. Corporate America LIVES out of the Outlook Inbox, and anything getting in between their desktop and Outlook is like making them use a window to get in to their living room.
Unfortunately, ditching Exchange all together isn't an option either. No combination of client and server groupware apps that I've ever seen is anywhere near Exchange/Outlook, and my users already have it... making anything else a downgrade at this point.
Now, I'd be perfectly within my scope of authority (and would like to) replace anything in our buildings with FOSS options without much more than a couple days notice. But unfortunately I also have to deal with the fallout. So if ANYONE knows of an option that does everything they do, do it well, and look as pretty (not kidding) on the client side, then PLEASE let me know and I'd be all over it.
For bonus points, figure out how to replace the rest of Office without the discomfort of converting every single document that comes in to and goes out of the building.
I'd pay considerable company dollars for good options that I know my users would find to be acceptable replacements for what they already have. And that's the problem. Nobody needs to convince me to use all the options I've seen. I need options that would undoubtedly convince my users. Unfortunately it's much like the old saying, "Nobody gets fired for buying IBM". Well nowadays it's "Nobody gets fired for buying Microsoft". Their solutions are the standard, and nobody really gets chastised by management for having chosen them.
I have to say I've always thought that, at least compared to most other companies, they're a good example of one that is not a shareholder drivin corporation.
I probably shouldn't be piggy-backing your post, but WOW customers should check on this ASAP. Per the articles reference to cookie usage for tracking services on WOW customers through NebuAd, I checked my cookies list. I do, in fact, have ones set by nebuad.adjuggler.com.
I contacted Wide Open West about this, and the customer service rep had no concept of what I was talking about, was disconnected, and can't get in touch with them since I mentioned the Washington Post article and the implications of it.
Since then their general number has been non-functional, though oddly I can call anyone else just fine. I hope other customers would take this opportunity to call in and ask about the policy changes and monitoring practices.
Their number is 1-866-496-9669. None of the menu options really applies, so I used 4 for internet problems. I'd be interested to see what they tell other customers.:)
Beware... and read the license. The Heros Happen Here disc, except for VS2008 and Vista Ultimate, everything else was trialware. The windows server, sql server, etc. were all 1 year trial licenses if I remember correctly.
Slashdot Mirror
Crap, I've been calling it Number "Crunchers" for years. Who would have guessed I'd get corrected in a /. thread in 2008? :)
If it's in school, they don't need to compete very hard in the entertainment arena. It's a captive audience.
I think that's why number crunchers worked so well. I'd never chose to play it at home when I was a kid, but at school it was better than memorizing tables on paper.
Oh yeah, I know that one...
http://forums.cisco.com/CertCom/game/binary_game.swf
Good fun.
Oh wow, I forgot Carmen Sandiego... honorable mention!
I learned that it's wasteful to shoot 300 buffalo for one family... half of which have already died from dysentery. Though it may have laid the groundwork for some excellent Call of Duty skills.
I'm pushing 30 and when I was in elementary school we regularly played games like PAWS, Number Crunchers, Oregon Trail, and a host of other games of varied educational value.
The most important thing I learned? How to reinstall DOS on old machine that belonged to my dad before he found out and whooped me for screwing up a $5k machine. Longest night of my life, pre-High School days.
Good lord, I'm going to have to find some old episodes of Mr. Wizard, an Apple II emulator and a copy of Number Crunchers... have myself a back-in-my-day weekend. Everyone who misses Don Herbert and green monitors is invited! Only no booze for this party, only Capri Sun juice pouches.
I'd say releasing 1 project under open source license is a "pro open source step".
But that aside, there are at least hundreds (thousands?) of examples of open source code available from MS. Many MS platform developers know this.
Now, that's not to say MS is what anyone would call an open source supporter, but it often benefits them to release tons of source code under very liberal licenses. You provide me with truly free framework for a particular kind of application, I'm more likely to accept your platform for development. That means anyone who wants to consume it has to use a closed product that makes them gobs of money. It doesn't make the original project any less open, though.
I can't believe you didn't go for the "insensitive clod" angle on that.
No, that went over your head.
So gray on gray? I think my head just exploded.
Actually both are crap.
Unfortunately there are no good ways to handle it, that I know of. They all allow for harvesting or backscatter. The only way to avoid both would be to accept everything and never respond. But then every blackholed email is potentially a genuine error for which there is no indication.
I wouldn't know about kids, I avoid them, but that sounds perfect for my adult sales staff.
Someone had to say it...
:)
"Well then fork the project!"
Sorry.
Oh lord, HP is going to be all over this new consumables market.
I've heard about your replicating printer problem, and thought I might be able to help. I'm going to recommend time dilation and superconductors for this one. It's the answer to everything really.
Hugs n' Kisses,
Sam
As much as I'd like to agree, there are very few places I can think of where Microsoft isn't the standard.
They're weak in places like CRM. Other options like Salesforce put a beating on them. Their gateway and security product is not particularly popular either, as far as I can tell (I've never heard of it being deployed anywhere). Appliances really seem to have that market nailed down hard.
But when it comes to the desktop OS, office productivity suite and collaboration services... it's still quite risky in most places I've been to even recommend alternatives.
Again, I wish it weren't that way... I don't want to buy Vista, and I REALLY don't want to support it... but I don't feel I have a working parallel option in FOSS software. Maybe some day.
Pffft... I'd SO oppress you.
Cough, cough... Exchange/Outlook and virtually all Adobe products? I can't switch one of our graphic artists to Linux and I could never get our users off Outlook. They'd firebomb my car... with me in it.
But don't tell me it's Office 2007 and VS 2008 or nothing. For most users that's not the case. If you need it, spend the money on it and be happy.
In my experience, it's exactly that.
Try prying Outlook from my users' cold dead hands. And really, anyone who thinks Evolution is a usable Exchange client is trying too hard to make the case. It isn't close. The suggestion to run Outlook in a VM must be a joke I don't get. Corporate America LIVES out of the Outlook Inbox, and anything getting in between their desktop and Outlook is like making them use a window to get in to their living room.
Unfortunately, ditching Exchange all together isn't an option either. No combination of client and server groupware apps that I've ever seen is anywhere near Exchange/Outlook, and my users already have it... making anything else a downgrade at this point.
Now, I'd be perfectly within my scope of authority (and would like to) replace anything in our buildings with FOSS options without much more than a couple days notice. But unfortunately I also have to deal with the fallout. So if ANYONE knows of an option that does everything they do, do it well, and look as pretty (not kidding) on the client side, then PLEASE let me know and I'd be all over it.
For bonus points, figure out how to replace the rest of Office without the discomfort of converting every single document that comes in to and goes out of the building.
I'd pay considerable company dollars for good options that I know my users would find to be acceptable replacements for what they already have. And that's the problem. Nobody needs to convince me to use all the options I've seen. I need options that would undoubtedly convince my users. Unfortunately it's much like the old saying, "Nobody gets fired for buying IBM". Well nowadays it's "Nobody gets fired for buying Microsoft". Their solutions are the standard, and nobody really gets chastised by management for having chosen them.
I have to say I've always thought that, at least compared to most other companies, they're a good example of one that is not a shareholder drivin corporation.
A little more research for WOW customers... Internet Use Terms and Conditions http://www1.wowway.com/wow/wow.aspx?ConIdent=28&RCView=False&TermID=11 In there you'll find the section on NebuAd, and their opt-out page.
I probably shouldn't be piggy-backing your post, but WOW customers should check on this ASAP. Per the articles reference to cookie usage for tracking services on WOW customers through NebuAd, I checked my cookies list. I do, in fact, have ones set by nebuad.adjuggler.com. I contacted Wide Open West about this, and the customer service rep had no concept of what I was talking about, was disconnected, and can't get in touch with them since I mentioned the Washington Post article and the implications of it. Since then their general number has been non-functional, though oddly I can call anyone else just fine. I hope other customers would take this opportunity to call in and ask about the policy changes and monitoring practices. Their number is 1-866-496-9669. None of the menu options really applies, so I used 4 for internet problems. I'd be interested to see what they tell other customers. :)
Beware... and read the license. The Heros Happen Here disc, except for VS2008 and Vista Ultimate, everything else was trialware. The windows server, sql server, etc. were all 1 year trial licenses if I remember correctly.
Oh man, you're a dick. :)
I'm so going to love group policy and internal DNS today!!!
It's like a reverse April Fools prank, I was sure it was a prank but apparently it wasn't.