"Web 2.0" to the web what "auteur" is to filmmaking. Sure, it's a loose term, but to those with a taste for it, the term definitely describes something.
So with the Dell you can get a 2" bigger display, a much better graphics card, and a dual layer DVD burner, plus Firewire 800, S-video out, and Windows Media Center. In fact, the Dell is not a comparable system; it is superior - for roughly the same price as the Macbook Pro. And only a fool would pay the price on Dell's site, so in fact the Dell is better equipped, as well as much cheaper.
Of course, the Mac looks cooler, is lighter, and runs OS X, any of which could make it a better value for a given user, but as anyone who has spent time shopping and comparing Mac and PC laptops knows all too well, Macs are not remotely competitive with PC prices, not even Dell.
>Does this mean you are under the deluded impression we are still evolving? If we are then the future of humanity is lost as the birthrate among successful intelligent and educated couple is far lower than the birthrate to single lazy state sponsored slags!
Humans don't need body hair anymore and are slowly going bald, but conventional wisdom would say that women generally aren't attracted to bald guys. Just because we don't understand how the advantageous traits work their way into the gene pool doesn't mean evolution isn't working.
That totally explains my tendency to run and swat everytime a giant eagle starts clawing at my skull. I thought it was just me, but I guess it's instinct.
I find it difficult to look at Konfabulator's widgets and look at Apple's widgets and believe that Konfabulator doesn't have something big to do with Dashboard.
It may or may not make perfect since for Apple to develop a javascript/HTML tool based on Webkit, but one that looks and feels almost identical to Konfabulator? Let's face it. If Windows had done Dashboard, Mac users worldwide wouldn't be able to shut up about how Windows ripped off poor Konfabulator.
On the flipside, if Dashboard's popularity made the Yahoo deal happen (which, come on, it probably did), then Konfabulator probably just made out better than they'd ever imagined.
I would need more convincing to say that either Cameron's or the Wachowski Brothers' movies had anything at all to do with this lady's work. I read the parts of her manuscript I could find, and the ideas that overlap with "The Terminator" or "The Matrix" are really generally sci-fi fodder. I mean, part of her evidence was a character called "The One". I guess she should go after George Lucas next.
Granted, Stephen King loses more copies in the mail than Doctorow sells, but that isn't the issue. The issue is whether the free e-books have hurt, helped, or had no effect on Doctorow's numbers. It seems that the giveaways help.
The status quo sometimes really does gets in the way, though. Sometimes it doesn't, but in this case (and in the case of new economic models) it stifles even the discussion of new ideas. The resistance to an author giving away a free book is a good example. People say it won't work long after it already has, because they're stuck in an old believe system.
Needless to say, venturing into new territory and new systems requires some devil's advocates, but it also requires some pioneers, those who challenge what we think we know - with action. Doctorow, for whatever reason (it doesn't matter), is doing that, testing out theories. He's putting his money where his mouth is, so what's the problem?
What if we find out that giving books, music, and movies away doesn't affect sales at all? And why are so many people resistant to even asking the question? Because they think they know what they don't.
There's a slight difference between what Doctorow's doing and what Metallica did. Metallica was trying to throw fans in jail. Doctorow is trying to give something away.
On the other hand, Doctorow has had success in the past by making books available in print and via free download. His success flies in the face of the assumption that downloads kill sales. That's what much of the anti-downloading argument hinges on, isn't it, an assumption? What if that assumption is wrong?
Regular wear and tear is a different issue. The issue here is a company's promising one thing and delivering something else. If you enjoy getting screwed or blame yourself when a seller breaks his promised to you, good luck to ya. But it's unfair to condemn others for defending themselves when it's their right to do.
You say, "The only problem I have is that Apple didn't initially provide a way to replace the batteries," and that "the current price point to do so is unfortunate" which are big problems these other customers have had. The only difference is that you err against the injured party.
Not only that, but consider this: we humans produce certain bacteria, because the waste of that bacteria is helpful to us. Who's to say that Nature didn't produce man because of the waste he produces? Maybe Nature's next Act will be seeded by nuclear waste or old AOL CD's.
"...humans will be irrelevant as Transhumans move off-planet..."
This off-planet stuff is confusing. If the population continues exploding, then even within my lifetime there will be a hundred billionish people on Earth. How the heck are we going to get even a million people off the planet, let alone billions of them?
I should be cast in the new movie as a vulcan. But not just a regular, boring vulcan. I'd be the illogical vulcan. Just a crazy, kooky guy who goes against the grain. I'd even question authority, answering to orders like, "Fire when they drop their cloak? Why don't you wake me up when that happens, Gov." For fun, I'd record the embarrassing things officers do in the holodeck and then play them for everyone in the cafeteria. I'm telling you, I could put some life back into "Star Trek". I'd even be willing to learn acting.
"So if they change all the actors, the writers and the style of the show, is it still Star Trek?"
Yes. Good fictional universes, like ST or SW, qualify almost as their own genres, with solid sets of settings, rules, and other structure, and good ones - like the Western genre - can incorporate virtually any story, character, or style.
Slashdot Mirror
"Web 2.0" to the web what "auteur" is to filmmaking. Sure, it's a loose term, but to those with a taste for it, the term definitely describes something.
So with the Dell you can get a 2" bigger display, a much better graphics card, and a dual layer DVD burner, plus Firewire 800, S-video out, and Windows Media Center. In fact, the Dell is not a comparable system; it is superior - for roughly the same price as the Macbook Pro. And only a fool would pay the price on Dell's site, so in fact the Dell is better equipped, as well as much cheaper.
Of course, the Mac looks cooler, is lighter, and runs OS X, any of which could make it a better value for a given user, but as anyone who has spent time shopping and comparing Mac and PC laptops knows all too well, Macs are not remotely competitive with PC prices, not even Dell.
>Does this mean you are under the deluded impression we are still evolving? If we are then the future of humanity is lost as the birthrate among successful intelligent and educated couple is far lower than the birthrate to single lazy state sponsored slags!
Humans don't need body hair anymore and are slowly going bald, but conventional wisdom would say that women generally aren't attracted to bald guys. Just because we don't understand how the advantageous traits work their way into the gene pool doesn't mean evolution isn't working.
That totally explains my tendency to run and swat everytime a giant eagle starts clawing at my skull. I thought it was just me, but I guess it's instinct.
Jerking off is intelligent? This news pleases me.
He's a witch!!!
"This could bring a whole new meaning to the porn industry."
Early 3D movies always had things shooting out at the camera. So, no, I don't see how this would affect porn.
Lay off. Widget technology doesn't direct itself.
I find it difficult to look at Konfabulator's widgets and look at Apple's widgets and believe that Konfabulator doesn't have something big to do with Dashboard.
It may or may not make perfect since for Apple to develop a javascript/HTML tool based on Webkit, but one that looks and feels almost identical to Konfabulator? Let's face it. If Windows had done Dashboard, Mac users worldwide wouldn't be able to shut up about how Windows ripped off poor Konfabulator.
On the flipside, if Dashboard's popularity made the Yahoo deal happen (which, come on, it probably did), then Konfabulator probably just made out better than they'd ever imagined.
(disclaimer: typing this in Tiger)
I would need more convincing to say that either Cameron's or the Wachowski Brothers' movies had anything at all to do with this lady's work. I read the parts of her manuscript I could find, and the ideas that overlap with "The Terminator" or "The Matrix" are really generally sci-fi fodder. I mean, part of her evidence was a character called "The One". I guess she should go after George Lucas next.
How is selling allot of something proof that that thing is not trendy?
P.S.: I'm typing this on a G5.
Oh, oops, my bad. I see what you mean.
Granted, Stephen King loses more copies in the mail than Doctorow sells, but that isn't the issue. The issue is whether the free e-books have hurt, helped, or had no effect on Doctorow's numbers. It seems that the giveaways help.
The status quo sometimes really does gets in the way, though. Sometimes it doesn't, but in this case (and in the case of new economic models) it stifles even the discussion of new ideas. The resistance to an author giving away a free book is a good example. People say it won't work long after it already has, because they're stuck in an old believe system.
Needless to say, venturing into new territory and new systems requires some devil's advocates, but it also requires some pioneers, those who challenge what we think we know - with action. Doctorow, for whatever reason (it doesn't matter), is doing that, testing out theories. He's putting his money where his mouth is, so what's the problem?
What if we find out that giving books, music, and movies away doesn't affect sales at all? And why are so many people resistant to even asking the question? Because they think they know what they don't.
There's a slight difference between what Doctorow's doing and what Metallica did. Metallica was trying to throw fans in jail. Doctorow is trying to give something away.
On the other hand, Doctorow has had success in the past by making books available in print and via free download. His success flies in the face of the assumption that downloads kill sales. That's what much of the anti-downloading argument hinges on, isn't it, an assumption? What if that assumption is wrong?
Regular wear and tear is a different issue. The issue here is a company's promising one thing and delivering something else. If you enjoy getting screwed or blame yourself when a seller breaks his promised to you, good luck to ya. But it's unfair to condemn others for defending themselves when it's their right to do.
You say, "The only problem I have is that Apple didn't initially provide a way to replace the batteries," and that "the current price point to do so is unfortunate" which are big problems these other customers have had. The only difference is that you err against the injured party.
I said "off this planet", not "off this mortal coil."
Thanks. The question still stands, though. How is the off-earth solution a solution at all?
Sure, the Earth will abide.
Not only that, but consider this: we humans produce certain bacteria, because the waste of that bacteria is helpful to us. Who's to say that Nature didn't produce man because of the waste he produces? Maybe Nature's next Act will be seeded by nuclear waste or old AOL CD's.
"...humans will be irrelevant as Transhumans move off-planet..."
This off-planet stuff is confusing. If the population continues exploding, then even within my lifetime there will be a hundred billionish people on Earth. How the heck are we going to get even a million people off the planet, let alone billions of them?
...is unstoppable!
I should be cast in the new movie as a vulcan. But not just a regular, boring vulcan. I'd be the illogical vulcan. Just a crazy, kooky guy who goes against the grain. I'd even question authority, answering to orders like, "Fire when they drop their cloak? Why don't you wake me up when that happens, Gov." For fun, I'd record the embarrassing things officers do in the holodeck and then play them for everyone in the cafeteria. I'm telling you, I could put some life back into "Star Trek". I'd even be willing to learn acting.
"So if they change all the actors, the writers and the style of the show, is it still Star Trek?"
Yes. Good fictional universes, like ST or SW, qualify almost as their own genres, with solid sets of settings, rules, and other structure, and good ones - like the Western genre - can incorporate virtually any story, character, or style.
Charles Foster Kane sorta got his ass kicked by life.