I use AOL, simply because i don't even need to have an internet connection in the case of an emergency. Just dial up straight to them.
That's not a great plan, although I too once used their BYOA program - don't they charge you like $2.95 an hour if you dial in instead of using TCP/IP?
Is it just me, or does this seem unlikely? I know, I know, if it does happen you'll all be thinking "We told you so," but Transmeta seems to thrive on mystery... if they actually released a product, their popularity (such as it is) could disappear. I'm not saying it will, but where they've been keeping whatever it is they're doing a secret for so long, could it be too little, too late? Just a thought.
Ugh. That is a sad story indeed. But I think he meant a CMOS password, not a Windows password... of course, the sane thing to do would be to set the jumper on the mainboard that's designed to clear it...
Most people don't want to take the time to learn when they can just use windows instead.
I agree with your point, but if you think people don't have to learn Windows, you're sorely mistaken. While it seems ridiculously simple to the Linux ubergeeks (myself included), to people who've never used a computer before, Windows is daunting. ("I have to click Start to finish?" etc.)
Why should AOL allow Microsoft to use their *proprietary* database of users? Would you stand idly by while a competitor develops a program that can use your own long-standing userbase against you?
Reminds me of the time a few weeks ago when i got an instant message (I use AIM) from someone with the screen name "MSNmesengr" or something along those lines. He told me how big bad AOL was trying to shut out the poor Microsoft users from the AIM service and even told me I should write AOL a letter in protest (how thoughtful!) I had fun warning him as many times as I could, got him up to over 60%.... hehehe. I got a good chuckle out of this one.
You're not the only one who thinks that - but that doesn't mean it's right. I'm happy to be able to read Slashdot everyday, free of charge. It doesn't matter to me if they're making money off of it.
This may be a little offtopic, but I raise my hand. I think all the hype is to be expected though... Linux is now coming into the public eye. I'm a fairly recent convert myself; I had never even heard of Linux until the Wired feature. I admit, I downloaded a distribution right away just because it was "cool" and something other than Windows. But after the "coolness" wore off I began to appreciate that Linux wasn't about hype, and it wasn't about being "anti-Microsoft" or anti-anything, for that matter. It's not even about the Open Source movement. Linux is about serving the user's needs. It's an operating system. Plain and simple. I have grown to love it because, in most cases, it does serve my needs much better than Windows can. There's no need for hype - Linux survived for years without it, didn't it? The Internet used to be the "big thing" that supposed gurus would talk about, even if they had no clue WHAT they were talking about. The Internet itself has been ridiculously overhyped, even today. Now that everyone* is on the Net, we have people claiming to be journalists and simply latching on to the latest "big thing." This whole series of Linux-bashing and Linux-bashing-bashing could hardly be called journalism, although Evan's rebuttal makes more sense than anything I've ever read by Metcalfe (plus, I think he's right.) But the hype will die eventually. And no matter what they may say, Linux is not a fad or Y2K hype - it will go on.
*although i use the word "everyone" to illustrate a point, i realize that the majority of the world has yet to even place a phone call.
Isn't it amazing that 'irregardless' isn't a word?
Seriously though, email was never intended to be a private means of communication. I don't think there's anything wrong with going through a company's email for such a case, especially considering that they've found plenty of evidence in this case that may prove Microsoft did encourage deliberately creating incompatibilities. Microsoft should have wiped their old emails, especially if they were so incriminating.
Well, the mouse is actually a little bit different; it's not a circle. At this point I don't know whose side I'm on - after all, the beige box has been 'cloned' endlessly. But the beige box was never designed to get people to buy the product, which, presumably, the iMac was. I guess that'd be the difference, but in the end, does it really matter? The user bases are completely different.
Sure, they're nice, and we can get them with other OSs. But the great thing about Mac OS is the consistency of design. I know where I'm going on pretty much any Mac. I can't say the same for some other OSs.
Personally, I like not knowing what the hell to expect in Windows;-) The second USB version of Win95 was definitely a lot better than the original in terms of getting rid of bugs and standardizing hardware installations and such, but let's face it, the whole thing's still a circus. I love Linux but every once in a while it's fun to try to get something done in Windows. MacOS is too... sterile. In the beginning of course, the point-and-click GUI was a new concept to most people, but it hasn't changed at all. I'd hardly call it innovative.
Re:You realize that case design is expensive!!
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iMac Clone Gets Sued
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The GPL probably would hold up in court if it involved anyone besides Microsoft:-) But if Microsoft were to make an OS that looked and felt like Linux (I assume you mean the command line and not X) it would basically just be another UNIX clone, which wouldn't necessarily violate the GPL. Would this crush Linux? I doubt it - the people who only feel comfortable buying software from "established" companies like Microsoft aren't likely the same people who would want to use an interface like Linux's in the first place, and if they are, they're already using "real" UNIX. I agree with your main point though. Apple isn't the bad guy here - their engineers worked hard to create the new box and we do have copyright and patent laws designed to protect them against copycats. If they get away with this blatant ripoff of the iMac's design, it will be a tragedy. I can't stand the Mac interface, but that doesn't mean I think they should be put out of business by someone who copies their ideas! (Let them dig their own grave;-)
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No, I think they were saying that the "Linux zealots" have some uncalled for anger, not the author of the article.
Well, yeah, I think everyone here would agree that this case is getting stupider by the minute. You're preaching to the choir...
That's not a great plan, although I too once used their BYOA program - don't they charge you like $2.95 an hour if you dial in instead of using TCP/IP?
No, apparently Dan cracked the machine using said exploit and left a backdoor open for the script kiddies.
Excuse me? The original Game Boy runs on 4 AAs.
Is it just me, or does this seem unlikely? I know, I know, if it does happen you'll all be thinking "We told you so," but Transmeta seems to thrive on mystery... if they actually released a product, their popularity (such as it is) could disappear. I'm not saying it will, but where they've been keeping whatever it is they're doing a secret for so long, could it be too little, too late? Just a thought.
Let me guess, you'll just have a Tab?
Ugh. That is a sad story indeed. But I think he meant a CMOS password, not a Windows password... of course, the sane thing to do would be to set the jumper on the mainboard that's designed to clear it...
I agree with your point, but if you think people don't have to learn Windows, you're sorely mistaken. While it seems ridiculously simple to the Linux ubergeeks (myself included), to people who've never used a computer before, Windows is daunting. ("I have to click Start to finish?" etc.)
Why should AOL allow Microsoft to use their *proprietary* database of users? Would you stand idly by while a competitor develops a program that can use your own long-standing userbase against you?
My thoughts exactly! Moderate this one up! :)
Reminds me of the time a few weeks ago when i got an instant message (I use AIM) from someone with the screen name "MSNmesengr" or something along those lines. He told me how big bad AOL was trying to shut out the poor Microsoft users from the AIM service and even told me I should write AOL a letter in protest (how thoughtful!) I had fun warning him as many times as I could, got him up to over 60% .... hehehe. I got a good chuckle out of this one.
You're not the only one who thinks that - but that doesn't mean it's right. I'm happy to be able to read Slashdot everyday, free of charge. It doesn't matter to me if they're making money off of it.
*although i use the word "everyone" to illustrate a point, i realize that the majority of the world has yet to even place a phone call.
Seriously though, email was never intended to be a private means of communication. I don't think there's anything wrong with going through a company's email for such a case, especially considering that they've found plenty of evidence in this case that may prove Microsoft did encourage deliberately creating incompatibilities. Microsoft should have wiped their old emails, especially if they were so incriminating.
Hehehe me too!
Well, the mouse is actually a little bit different; it's not a circle. At this point I don't know whose side I'm on - after all, the beige box has been 'cloned' endlessly. But the beige box was never designed to get people to buy the product, which, presumably, the iMac was. I guess that'd be the difference, but in the end, does it really matter? The user bases are completely different.
It's times like this I wish I were a moderator so I could give that a 5 for "the most hilarious post I've seen all day"
Personally, I like not knowing what the hell to expect in Windows ;-) The second USB version of Win95 was definitely a lot better than the original in terms of getting rid of bugs and standardizing hardware installations and such, but let's face it, the whole thing's still a circus. I love Linux but every once in a while it's fun to try to get something done in Windows. MacOS is too... sterile. In the beginning of course, the point-and-click GUI was a new concept to most people, but it hasn't changed at all. I'd hardly call it innovative.
The GPL probably would hold up in court if it involved anyone besides Microsoft :-) But if Microsoft were to make an OS that looked and felt like Linux (I assume you mean the command line and not X) it would basically just be another UNIX clone, which wouldn't necessarily violate the GPL. Would this crush Linux? I doubt it - the people who only feel comfortable buying software from "established" companies like Microsoft aren't likely the same people who would want to use an interface like Linux's in the first place, and if they are, they're already using "real" UNIX. I agree with your main point though. Apple isn't the bad guy here - their engineers worked hard to create the new box and we do have copyright and patent laws designed to protect them against copycats. If they get away with this blatant ripoff of the iMac's design, it will be a tragedy. I can't stand the Mac interface, but that doesn't mean I think they should be put out of business by someone who copies their ideas! (Let them dig their own grave ;-)