My favorite memory of meeting Larry Niven was sitting next to him at a banquet table during a SF convention, and having him pronounce the names of all his species (up to that time), and a couple character names to boot. And he did it too.
I like the fact that I was able to read and enjoy both Ringworld, and the rest of Known Space, near to the time frame they were written. They may be dated now, but so am I (or at least I've just dated myself). I still remember feeling how it might have felt like to stand on the floor of the Ringworld myself when I first read it. I've never had that feeling from any of the following books, but still remember it fondly. I feel sorry for modern readers who may never have that experience.
I'll certainly read this new book at some point soon, though it is too much to hope that it can fully rekindle my first encounter with Mr. Niven's writing.
And what of the lowly floppy disc?
And CD/RW?
And DVD RW?
And USB keys that masquerade as a different device now?
And a drive that sits on the network connection rather than the USB connection?
And devices on your wireless link?
And Firewire[tm]?
My guess....
When the current generation of devices gets restricted, manufacturers will create devices to spoof Windows, bypass the blocks, and keep sales healthy. Isn't that always the way?
Besides, even when security is provided, shockingly few companies actively implement it properly.
Please don't turn this release into an E.T. Anniversary Edition where, among other things, the guns are replaced by flashlights. Mr. Lucas, stop the second guessing of yourself and minimize the political correctness. Just give us the film we remember!
I have quit using Real Player because every time I just wanted to install your audio/video player it seemed to insist on installing a seeming half dozen other apps I didn't want, and took over more Windows file extensions than I wanted to give it. Then it auto-started stuff on every boot I didn't need, or want, running all the time. And trying to uninstall all the unwanted extra crap, jukeboxes, and the like, is an exercise in unnecessary frustration when I just want a player.
As a result, I've given up on ever wanting to install any Real software on any Windows computer again for that precise reason, and have so advised my friends when they ask about using Real Player. Instead I get by on WinAmp, WMP, and an older version of QT.
I dont see how the RIAA lawyers can come down on this one.
Easy. Too easy. Doesn't matter if you're right -- if you can't afford to defend yourself. He'll likely cave, rather than pay what it would cost to win in court.
That's what's wrong with the USA legal system. Being right can still break you against a well-funded, throughly corrupt, opponent.
I see one small problem here. Just what happens if people don't want to license his patent from him for any of the myraid reasons people don't want to license patents:
1: Manufacture robots anyway, taking care not to step on his patent.
2: Sell your cheaper units (no royalities) on the competative market.
3: PROFIT!
4: Welcome to the I Robot future!!
The mistake led to the whole of the Windows 95 operating system being banned in the country, losing large sales. For its replacement, Microsoft, Office 97, Microsoft removed the colour coding and sold 100,000 copies in India.
And with Windows 95 banned, they ran Office 97 how?
Slashdot Mirror
Cost of Rio MP3 player: $249
Cost of trip to buy Rio: $5
Value of your time to disassemble Rio: $50
Having your hack featured on Slashdot: PRICELESS!
I hope it's a better tribute than Flash Gordon of a few years ago -- although the Queen sountrack was GREAT!
It doesn't just cost your $4 to save it on your Tivo forever. It's $4 + % of Tivo capacity used * Total Tivo cost.
At some point, just buying the DVD is more economic.
How about at least a "Save Until I Watch" feature?
And have you actually seen anything new or different on it any time after the first three months?
Just another reason to build your own.
So what is the current best open source PVR software?
(In "Kzinti", the "K" is silent.)
So you didn't like Rainbow Mars?
I thought that was the Robert A. Heinlein trap. [G]
I'll certainly read this new book at some point soon, though it is too much to hope that it can fully rekindle my first encounter with Mr. Niven's writing.
Sometimes there's an advantage to being older.
Of course he didn't. He always said, "640K IP addresses should be enough for anyone."
And CD/RW?
And DVD RW?
And USB keys that masquerade as a different device now?
And a drive that sits on the network connection rather than the USB connection?
And devices on your wireless link?
And Firewire[tm]?
My guess....
When the current generation of devices gets restricted, manufacturers will create devices to spoof Windows, bypass the blocks, and keep sales healthy. Isn't that always the way?
Besides, even when security is provided, shockingly few companies actively implement it properly.
Please don't turn this release into an E.T. Anniversary Edition where, among other things, the guns are replaced by flashlights. Mr. Lucas, stop the second guessing of yourself and minimize the political correctness. Just give us the film we remember!
You'd think if they knew who the 148 spammers were, just give them the list had have them gone today.
And they're going to keep re-coding the thing until they get it right!
Beta - no relationship to Betamax.
As a result, I've given up on ever wanting to install any Real software on any Windows computer again for that precise reason, and have so advised my friends when they ask about using Real Player. Instead I get by on WinAmp, WMP, and an older version of QT.
What do you have to say to someone like me?
And you thought I couldn't make my case, didn't you?
Excuse me, but I want my clicking under my fingertips, not in the palm of my hand, if you don't mind.
Easy. Too easy. Doesn't matter if you're right -- if you can't afford to defend yourself. He'll likely cave, rather than pay what it would cost to win in court. That's what's wrong with the USA legal system. Being right can still break you against a well-funded, throughly corrupt, opponent.
Forbidden Planet would have been on my list as well. Don't know what makes those guys better qualified to pick good SF movies than I am.
1: Manufacture robots anyway, taking care not to step on his patent.
2: Sell your cheaper units (no royalities) on the competative market.
3: PROFIT!
4: Welcome to the I Robot future!!
More specifically, how does he plan to make money in the next 17 years? Are self-motivating robots closer than we think?
Environmentalists take note, we now have the solution to your biggest fears of Global Warming. We just need to refine the technique a bit.
And with Windows 95 banned, they ran Office 97 how?
Too much reading Dune/watching Lexx.