The way we're going to do it is I'll install a temp copy of 7 on my laptop, show a few things I know, and then let my guests play with it. We're also hosting a BBQ, playing some GH, RB, Wii Sports, and just plain chilling out.
This sounds like fun.
It also sounds like you have an instinct for this sort of thing.
The geek sees only the gimmick.
But hand a salesman the simplest of props and he'll be off and running - drawing in the crowds - and making them his own.
1 Office Home & Student 2007. 1020 Days in the top 100.
3 Office Home & Student 2008 Mac. 705 Days.
6 Outlook 2007. 1018 Days.
17 Small Business Upgrade 2007. 1003 Days
18 Professional Full Version 2007. 593 Days
23 Standard Full Version 2007. 1008 Days
24 Small Business Full Version 2077. 577 Days
25 MS Works 9. 796 Days
26 Office Pro Academic 2007. 91 days
31 Office Standard Upgrade 2007. 1017 Days
36 One Note 2007. 1003 Days
37 Publisher 2007. 1011 Days
41 Outlook 2007 with Contact Manager. 606 Days
43 Project Standard 2007. 972 Days
44 Office Ultimate 2007. Full Version 824 Days
45 Access 2007. 979 Days
47 Office 2008. Mac 662 Days
Treating customers like dirt, redefining what "demand" is in terms of the business model, and shaping the services you supply sure is a lot easier than actually scaling infrastructure to meet real-life demand.
The business model is to keep the mass market consumer product affordable and drive the geek who wants "unlimited" broadband into paying the going rate for business or professional grade service.
In Asimov's actual stories, the Three Laws were NEVER violated, and nobody ever was killed by a robot.
The missing word here is "knowingly."
The killer in the novel uses robots as his proxies. The Three Laws can be violated if the robot can't foresee the consequences of his actions.
The victim is an amateur chemist who routinely uses common household glassware for his experiments.
Robot A is instructed to prepare a mixture in the lab. Robot B is instructed to retrieve a decanter of wine from the lab and return it to the dining room table.
My view is the deep fear of random flash mobs on any given topic. The more cops can just watch, the more they can build connections into protest groups.
Sedate the peasants with low wage jobs, cheap cars, short cheap holidays, cheap housing, free speech for all and the dream of a better life. If they are chasing beads and mirrors all day, no need for tanks in the streets.
It's really quite easy to spot the losers in the American political game: Embittered, cynical, and with bottomless contempt for the masses.
All of the most likable characters in the games are either killed, betray you or are "straight men" - The GTA games seem to guide you to the message that not only is the world better off without your enemies...but also without you (the killer).
This had me thinking of James Cagney's "Angels With Dirty Faces." Rocky Sullivan fully embodies the gangster myth and that makes him all the more corrupting and dangerous to the kids who idolize him. But the only one who can break the spell is Rocky himself.
I remember a story in europe where a magazine did get free blog hosting from ~40 providers. They published a novel by Victor Hugo - ie: In the public domain for centuries
The novel as originally published is in the public domain. That almost certainly isn't true for every translation, illustrated or academic [critically annotated] edition.
It doesn't surprise me that MySpace would be more comfortable working within the established framework provided by a major label or licensing agency than a lone artist.
Interesting that inmates have access to computers and TV. I'm glad we pay for that for them while normal citizens are having a hard time finding a job..
The management of a prison is easier - cheaper - and safer - when you have rewards to offer as well as punishment.
Most prisoners will be released.
That gives you two choices; either you prepare them for a successful re-entry into society or you accept that they will be returning - probably after conviction on a much more serious felony charge.
I'm probably being excessively pedantic, but you don't need a class action suit to have "legal recourse." It's just easier as a class
American courts don't much like class action suits. They tend to mask very real differences in the law and facts of a particular case. The first hurdle then is to convince a judge that this is really the way he ought to go - and it will not be easy.
Engineering loved the name Armageddon and we always wanted to call it that. From the very top came the message, "We can't use that name, nobody'll know what it means and nobody can spell it."
I guess this is why I prefer abstract games which have little connection to anything - like Pacman or Missile Command or Metroid
In 1993 Microsoft published Arcade and Return of Arcade - Atari arcade hits adapted for Windows 3.1.
The entire collection filled all of four floppy disks. Brief essays sketched the history of the each game, with comments from the developers. Missile Command had a visceral impact that few games have ever matched:
The escape from reality could have frightful consequences. The horrifying subject matter of Missile Command had an affect on the developers.
Dave Theuner: "It was pretty scary. During the project and for six months after the project, I'd wake up in a cold sweat because I's have these dreams where I'd see the missile streak coming in and I'd see the impact. I'd be up on top of a mountain and I'd see the missiles coming in, and I'd know it would be about 30 seconds until the blast hit and fried me to a crisp."
Steve Calfee: "Everyone I knew who got really into the game had nightmares about nuclear war."
"We had this big thing about the name of the game. From the beginning it was called Armageddon. The management, themselves, didn't know what the word meant and they thought none of the kids would. Engineering loved the name Armageddon and we always wanted to call it that. From the very top came the message Ed Rotberg said "The thing about Missile Command is that the world was not nearly as stable politically as it is now. There is a little bit of a spooky message in that whole game when you have that final cloud at the end."
It just seems amazing that France would have been for all intents and purposes be broadcasting 57 years ago what we American's are being sold as HD TV today
It might sound a little less amazing if you asked how many channels were available.
Yes, you're right, the manufacturing cost of a "Key" is miniscule. Guess what, it's just like the cost of building a car... The nerve of car companies covering design and R&D costs and they expect to cover the costs of marketing their product in the sales price!? Well, that's outrageous!
Every product has hidden costs embedded into the price
I would like to hammer that thought into the head of every geek who thinks he is entitled to his free movie fix - even when the production costs alone for a film like Wall-E or The Dark Knight can easily top $185 million.
I don't see why it would be so difficult to have a website where you can buy Windows 7; download it as a customised ISO wrapped into a CD-burner program
The DVD that arrives by post will be stamped not burned.
You'll have what the geek always claims he wants - a staple, permanent, back-up copy of your initial install.
Slashdot Mirror
The way we're going to do it is I'll install a temp copy of 7 on my laptop, show a few things I know, and then let my guests play with it. We're also hosting a BBQ, playing some GH, RB, Wii Sports, and just plain chilling out.
This sounds like fun.
It also sounds like you have an instinct for this sort of thing.
The geek sees only the gimmick.
But hand a salesman the simplest of props and he'll be off and running - drawing in the crowds - and making them his own.
I wonder how many of the Windows 7 "parties" will really be Linux install fests.
Win 7 ended the 2008 holiday shopping season in January with a 0.13% share of the desktop. Linux with 0.91%.
Linux begins the 2009 holiday season with 0.95% of the desktop and Win 7 with 1.5%. Top Operating System Share Trend
The W3Schools OS Platform Statistics are no more cheering:
at its present 1% a month growth, Win 7 needs only a month to overtake Linux even there.
WalMart.com alone lists over fifty laptop and desktop systems eligible for a free upgrade to Win 7. $400-$1700.
That's a broad spectrum of product for the middle class market - and there are going be a lot of folks looking for help with their Win 7 install.
Microsoft's "sucky" office products sell very, very well: Amazon Bestsellers In Business &Software [Updated Hourly]
1 Office Home & Student 2007. 1020 Days in the top 100.
3 Office Home & Student 2008 Mac. 705 Days.
6 Outlook 2007. 1018 Days.
17 Small Business Upgrade 2007. 1003 Days
18 Professional Full Version 2007. 593 Days
23 Standard Full Version 2007. 1008 Days
24 Small Business Full Version 2077. 577 Days
25 MS Works 9. 796 Days
26 Office Pro Academic 2007. 91 days
31 Office Standard Upgrade 2007. 1017 Days
36 One Note 2007. 1003 Days
37 Publisher 2007. 1011 Days
41 Outlook 2007 with Contact Manager. 606 Days
43 Project Standard 2007. 972 Days
44 Office Ultimate 2007. Full Version 824 Days
45 Access 2007. 979 Days 47 Office 2008. Mac 662 Days
Or quite often turned off and never used again.
How many users do you - really - think care enough to turn it off?
Treating customers like dirt, redefining what "demand" is in terms of the business model, and shaping the services you supply sure is a lot easier than actually scaling infrastructure to meet real-life demand.
The business model is to keep the mass market consumer product affordable and drive the geek who wants "unlimited" broadband into paying the going rate for business or professional grade service.
I'm guessing windows 2000 isn't one of the operating systems that will be patched?
You're guessing wrong.
For details and a full listing of the affected software:
Microsoft Security Bulletin Advance Notification for October 2009 [Oct 8]
It's a very good security strategy to piss off all your customers with WGA and Windows Media bullshit until they all turn off automatic updates.
The geek is pissed off by what to anyone else is over and done with one or two clicks of the mouse.
In Asimov's actual stories, the Three Laws were NEVER violated, and nobody ever was killed by a robot.
The missing word here is "knowingly."
The killer in the novel uses robots as his proxies. The Three Laws can be violated if the robot can't foresee the consequences of his actions.
The victim is an amateur chemist who routinely uses common household glassware for his experiments.
Robot A is instructed to prepare a mixture in the lab.
Robot B is instructed to retrieve a decanter of wine from the lab and return it to the dining room table.
The XBox is an appealing target because XBL has 17 million paying subscribers.
Sit in chat rooms, forums and social networking sites trying to connect nerds and geeks in pics to real life.
There are times when I wonder if the chat room nerd has any anchorage in real life.
That is the danger: Caught in the web [Oct 1]
My view is the deep fear of random flash mobs on any given topic. The more cops can just watch, the more they can build connections into protest groups.
The geek as revolutionary is ripe for satire.
I'm not convinced he could draw a crowd if he were handing out free beer in Munich during the Oktoberfest. Free Software Foundation - Windows 7 Sins
Sedate the peasants with low wage jobs, cheap cars, short cheap holidays, cheap housing, free speech for all and the dream of a better life. If they are chasing beads and mirrors all day, no need for tanks in the streets.
It's really quite easy to spot the losers in the American political game: Embittered, cynical, and with bottomless contempt for the masses.
All of the most likable characters in the games are either killed, betray you or are "straight men" - The GTA games seem to guide you to the message that not only is the world better off without your enemies...but also without you (the killer).
This had me thinking of James Cagney's "Angels With Dirty Faces." Rocky Sullivan fully embodies the gangster myth and that makes him all the more corrupting and dangerous to the kids who idolize him. But the only one who can break the spell is Rocky himself.
Dammit you made me lose The Game!
The full list of Microsoft Arcade games:
Asteroids
Battlezone
Centipede
Missile Command
Tempest
Dig Dug
Galaxian
Pac Man
Pole Position
I remember a story in europe where a magazine did get free blog hosting from ~40 providers. They published a novel by Victor Hugo - ie: In the public domain for centuries
The novel as originally published is in the public domain.
That almost certainly isn't true for every translation, illustrated or academic [critically annotated] edition.
It doesn't surprise me that MySpace would be more comfortable working within the established framework provided by a major label or licensing agency than a lone artist.
Interesting that inmates have access to computers and TV. I'm glad we pay for that for them while normal citizens are having a hard time finding a job..
The management of a prison is easier - cheaper - and safer - when you have rewards to offer as well as punishment.
Most prisoners will be released.
That gives you two choices; either you prepare them for a successful re-entry into society or you accept that they will be returning -
probably after conviction on a much more serious felony charge.
I'm probably being excessively pedantic, but you don't need a class action suit to have "legal recourse." It's just easier as a class
American courts don't much like class action suits. They tend to mask very real differences in the law and facts of a particular case. The first hurdle then is to convince a judge that this is really the way he ought to go - and it will not be easy.
Engineering loved the name Armageddon and we always wanted to call it that. From the very top came the message, "We can't use that name, nobody'll know what it means and nobody can spell it."
I guess this is why I prefer abstract games which have little connection to anything - like Pacman or Missile Command or Metroid
In 1993 Microsoft published Arcade and Return of Arcade - Atari arcade hits adapted for Windows 3.1.
The entire collection filled all of four floppy disks. Brief essays sketched the history of the each game, with comments from the developers. Missile Command had a visceral impact that few games have ever matched:
The escape from reality could have frightful consequences. The horrifying subject matter of Missile Command had an affect on the developers.
Dave Theuner: "It was pretty scary. During the project and for six months after the project, I'd wake up in a cold sweat because I's have these dreams where I'd see the missile streak coming in and I'd see the impact. I'd be up on top of a mountain and I'd see the missiles coming in, and I'd know it would be about 30 seconds until the blast hit and fried me to a crisp."
Steve Calfee: "Everyone I knew who got really into the game had nightmares about nuclear war."
"We had this big thing about the name of the game. From the beginning it was called Armageddon. The management, themselves, didn't know what the word meant and they thought none of the kids would. Engineering loved the name Armageddon and we always wanted to call it that. From the very top came the message
Ed Rotberg said "The thing about Missile Command is that the world was not nearly as stable politically as it is now. There is a little bit of a spooky message in that whole game when you have that final cloud at the end."
It just seems amazing that France would have been for all intents and purposes be broadcasting 57 years ago what we American's are being sold as HD TV today
It might sound a little less amazing if you asked how many channels were available.
Yes, you're right, the manufacturing cost of a "Key" is miniscule. Guess what, it's just like the cost of building a car... The nerve of car companies covering design and R&D costs and they expect to cover the costs of marketing their product in the sales price!? Well, that's outrageous!
Every product has hidden costs embedded into the price
I would like to hammer that thought into the head of every geek who thinks he is entitled to his free movie fix - even when the production costs alone for a film like Wall-E or The Dark Knight can easily top $185 million.
At least they could throw a torrent out there...
The torrent simply passes the cost along to others. Nothing in life comes free.
I don't see why it would be so difficult to have a website where you can buy Windows 7; download it as a customised ISO wrapped into a CD-burner program
The DVD that arrives by post will be stamped not burned.
You'll have what the geek always claims he wants - a staple, permanent, back-up copy of your initial install.
Open source projects can charge reasonable fees for distribution of source code. Why are these any different?
How many users will demand gigabytes of source? Probably not so many that your project is threatened with bankruptcy.
In nine months the Win 7 RC took a 1.5% share of the desktop. Distribution of DVD-sized ISOs on that scale cost serious money.
Let us not forget Windows Bob.
The elephant can remember - but the geek can't forget.
MS Bob, Clippy, Slashdot's Borg icon and stained glass window - all of these familiar geek memes get in the way of clear-headed thinking.
Linux on the netbook made a faster exit from public consciousness than My Mother The Car.
Vista as a mid-line consumer product took about 20% of the market - despite significantly more demanding hardware requirements than XP.
The Win 7 RC has been tested across a broad range of systems and by an astonishing number of users - and there are no show-stoppers.
While Linux loses it's grip on the 1% share of the market it held in March.
In other words, Windows Vista market share is falling before it ever hit 20%, and Linux has more market share than the latest version of Windows. ;-)
Linux broke into the single digit in the Net Applications stats in March. But has not been able to hold the ground.
They can force DRM down the customer's throat
This is what DRM means to anyone but a geek:
The PC with a Blu-Ray drive ships with a licensed Blu-Ray player.
DVD play out of the retail box.
No searching for the gray market codec.
The single cable HDMI solution for audio and video. HDMI 1.4 adds support for Ethernet, 4K x 2K video, and 3D.
Subscription and rental services of every sort - if he wants them.
"Trusted Computing" solutions for his employer or small business.