Actually, for once, I'd say that's an area in which Microsoft is uniquely qualified. I am certain they know all about user frustration and how to detect it. In fact, I'm sure the very top of the logic chart reads: "Is user attempting to run Microsoft Windows? YES: Highly frustrated. NO: Must be a Linux or Mac user, attempt to convert."
Things could get interesting if you also endow the robots with a sense of self-preservation and the ability to evolve. They would NEED the sperm to survive, and thus evolve ever more interesting methods to obtain it. The only drawback would be when they evolve to the point of realizing they don't need _human_ sperm... bummer.
I'm of the opinion we should keep the POLITICIANS away from the Internet. And all other forms of media as well. In fact, why don't we shove 'em in the capitol and then NAIL the damn door shut so they'll actually DO their fricken jobs for a change.
I went to buy a power adapter today to fix a monitor I bought second-hand that didn't come with one. I know the power requirements (from the back of the monitor): 12V at 500ma. Not sure the plug size, its not quite the same as the ones on the various adapters I have around, but it is a regular coax-style power connector. So okay, I'm thinking-- I'll go buy one. So I fire up amazon and type in various things like "power adapater", "12V power adapter", "universal power adapter" and spent some time browsing through the various units they had to offer. Of the 40-50 listings that were there, probably around half didn't even bother to list either the current or the voltage rating. A good number of the others only listed current or voltage but not both. And none of them had any information at all about the actual connector(s). Sure, I could have fired-up digikey or mouser-- but this shouldn't be that hard to find. (And in the end I did get what I needed, no biggie) but the experience left me really curious about how these things can be sold without any information whatsoever about their ratings and how someone not versed in electricity could ever get what they need except by pure luck or happenstance. It may be a $5-10 part but it probably connects to a $50-500 part that can easily be damaged with the wrong voltage / current / connector polarity / etc.
In response to your comment-- there were some items that were pretty well marked. But there were a lot more that were not. So clearly there exists plenty of room for inferiority and confusion. Having a better product does not necessarily mean the world will beat a path to your door-- this is the part of the conversation where the Sony Betamax is inevitably referenced-- and worse, having TWO good products will create gridlock in the industry -- witness the HD / Blueray debate. Consumers aren't really lining-up for either one but are instead waiting for one to "win out" over the other so they don't have to choose.
This is probably a bit off-topic for the EV conversation, but I'm sure there are plenty of analogs there as well.
Yes, but that's good for the tool-manufacturer (battery-supplier) since the batteries fail sooner resulting in more sales in replacement batteries. There is no built-in incentive to improve the model.
The problem I've always seen with EVs is what do you do when you run out of gas (metaphorically speaking)? With a standard gasoline/diesel engine, you just carry some jerry-cans with extra fuel for reserve/emergencies. What do you do when you're stuck on the side of the road in an EV and no way to give it a quick boost to get to the nearest recharging station? I think its gonna need just a tad bit more than one of those $50 solar rechargers you stick on the dashboard. Sure, obviously some portion of this problem will be ameliorated by changes in trip-planning (making more frequent recharging stops, etc) along with a similar change in the distance between recharging stations. But the basic problem still exists-- what do you do when you're stuck on the side of the road without power? Its not as easy to hike a few miles to the gas station and cart back a can of gas. Batteries are both heavier and bulkier, not to mention that its probably not a good idea for Harry Homeowner (beer-gut and plumber's crack) to be messing with the high-power end of the electrical system.
Yes, but that presupposes the use of the current delivery mechanism as the prototype for refueling (recharging). Why make that assumption? Its a new machine with new requirements. Why not simply permit the vehicle to drive up over a set of contacts that spring up (or some such), make electrical contact in a completely mechanized manner, wait while the batteries are recharged, and then drive away again. A new delivery system for a new vehicle. Humans don't have to handle or come into contact with it at all. Even better, the whole operation could be transacted from the comfort of the driver's seat. No need to even get out of the car on a frosty cold morning.
"But a word of warning, the story notes that Microsoft is collecting and storing users' word associations."
Well, that only makes sense. They can simply assign each association an index and store the index instead. A great space savings there.
To illustrate this principle, consider that they will now only need to store the assigned Id value (probably '1') to user's recorded association response "FUCK YOU" as one byte.
Then to further save on space, they'll use another compression technique, known as "Run Length Limiting" (or RLL) to save space by encoding the number of times that value has been recorded, which will be implemented in a bit of code along the lines of "For (Every_User) DO {... }". So if they select prudent sizes for their integers, they can probably encode their entire response catalog in 5 bytes.
Actually I wrote that. In the early 70's. It took me nearly two weeks of 20-hour days to get that right. I really resent it being re-posted without the original copyright. Some 'tard nicked it just as I was finished with it... removed the copyright and I've been hosed ever since. I had originally intended to use it as leverage to start my global business ("MicroSloth") and dominate the world. Unfortunately the 'tard that ripped it got the business plan too. (Shrug) What can you do?
Slashdot Mirror
So write your own and
Shut the fuck up.
Geez.
Its always been about OS stability and Apps availability.
Actually, for once, I'd say that's an area in which Microsoft is uniquely qualified. I am certain they know all about user frustration and how to detect it. In fact, I'm sure the very top of the logic chart reads: "Is user attempting to run Microsoft Windows? YES: Highly frustrated. NO: Must be a Linux or Mac user, attempt to convert."
Things could get interesting if you also endow the robots with a sense of self-preservation and the ability to evolve. They would NEED the sperm to survive, and thus evolve ever more interesting methods to obtain it. The only drawback would be when they evolve to the point of realizing they don't need _human_ sperm... bummer.
You asked a question, I answered. IMO, the large pile of cash he's seeking pretty much answers your second question.
I'm of the opinion we should keep the POLITICIANS away from the Internet. And all other forms of media as well. In fact, why don't we shove 'em in the capitol and then NAIL the damn door shut so they'll actually DO their fricken jobs for a change.
Because suing for millions of dollars is a lot more money.
If only they'd toss all that stuff into the public domain and bit-torrent. Then it would circulate forever "on-the-net" and not cost them a dime.
Especially when writing OO modular code. Its way to easy to become a $self abuser.
Geez, you got that right. Why couldn't they just stick with switch / case ???
IMO, the main reason for Vista was to shove DRM down your throat.
Its that first choice-- slashdot editors are lousy buffons.
And the best part is that the larger it grows, the more it can hold, which makes it great for storing p0rn.
That's Rhodidiom.
I'm unclear, who died, the dog or the guy?
In Soviet America, the law shoots YOU.
(Oh wait, that's what you said)
I went to buy a power adapter today to fix a monitor I bought second-hand that didn't come with one. I know the power requirements (from the back of the monitor): 12V at 500ma. Not sure the plug size, its not quite the same as the ones on the various adapters I have around, but it is a regular coax-style power connector. So okay, I'm thinking-- I'll go buy one. So I fire up amazon and type in various things like "power adapater", "12V power adapter", "universal power adapter" and spent some time browsing through the various units they had to offer. Of the 40-50 listings that were there, probably around half didn't even bother to list either the current or the voltage rating. A good number of the others only listed current or voltage but not both. And none of them had any information at all about the actual connector(s). Sure, I could have fired-up digikey or mouser-- but this shouldn't be that hard to find. (And in the end I did get what I needed, no biggie) but the experience left me really curious about how these things can be sold without any information whatsoever about their ratings and how someone not versed in electricity could ever get what they need except by pure luck or happenstance. It may be a $5-10 part but it probably connects to a $50-500 part that can easily be damaged with the wrong voltage / current / connector polarity / etc.
In response to your comment-- there were some items that were pretty well marked. But there were a lot more that were not. So clearly there exists plenty of room for inferiority and confusion. Having a better product does not necessarily mean the world will beat a path to your door-- this is the part of the conversation where the Sony Betamax is inevitably referenced-- and worse, having TWO good products will create gridlock in the industry -- witness the HD / Blueray debate. Consumers aren't really lining-up for either one but are instead waiting for one to "win out" over the other so they don't have to choose.
This is probably a bit off-topic for the EV conversation, but I'm sure there are plenty of analogs there as well.
Yes, but that's good for the tool-manufacturer (battery-supplier) since the batteries fail sooner resulting in more sales in replacement batteries. There is no built-in incentive to improve the model.
The problem I've always seen with EVs is what do you do when you run out of gas (metaphorically speaking)? With a standard gasoline/diesel engine, you just carry some jerry-cans with extra fuel for reserve/emergencies. What do you do when you're stuck on the side of the road in an EV and no way to give it a quick boost to get to the nearest recharging station? I think its gonna need just a tad bit more than one of those $50 solar rechargers you stick on the dashboard. Sure, obviously some portion of this problem will be ameliorated by changes in trip-planning (making more frequent recharging stops, etc) along with a similar change in the distance between recharging stations. But the basic problem still exists-- what do you do when you're stuck on the side of the road without power? Its not as easy to hike a few miles to the gas station and cart back a can of gas. Batteries are both heavier and bulkier, not to mention that its probably not a good idea for Harry Homeowner (beer-gut and plumber's crack) to be messing with the high-power end of the electrical system.
Yes, but that presupposes the use of the current delivery mechanism as the prototype for refueling (recharging). Why make that assumption? Its a new machine with new requirements. Why not simply permit the vehicle to drive up over a set of contacts that spring up (or some such), make electrical contact in a completely mechanized manner, wait while the batteries are recharged, and then drive away again. A new delivery system for a new vehicle. Humans don't have to handle or come into contact with it at all. Even better, the whole operation could be transacted from the comfort of the driver's seat. No need to even get out of the car on a frosty cold morning.
(BTW-- when this gets implemented, I get 10%)
Sorry, zero is as low as it goes.
"But a word of warning, the story notes that Microsoft is collecting and storing users' word associations."
... }". So if they select prudent sizes for their integers, they can probably encode their entire response catalog in 5 bytes.
Well, that only makes sense. They can simply assign each association an index and store the index instead. A great space savings there.
To illustrate this principle, consider that they will now only need to store the assigned Id value (probably '1') to user's recorded association response "FUCK YOU" as one byte.
Then to further save on space, they'll use another compression technique, known as "Run Length Limiting" (or RLL) to save space by encoding the number of times that value has been recorded, which will be implemented in a bit of code along the lines of "For (Every_User) DO {
Well Gee Wally, they share our data with everybody damned else.
Actually I wrote that. In the early 70's. It took me nearly two weeks of 20-hour days to get that right. I really resent it being re-posted without the original copyright. Some 'tard nicked it just as I was finished with it... removed the copyright and I've been hosed ever since. I had originally intended to use it as leverage to start my global business ("MicroSloth") and dominate the world. Unfortunately the 'tard that ripped it got the business plan too. (Shrug) What can you do?
"I'm sure as hell not going to tell them."
Uh... I think you just did.