I want free or at least very-very cheap energy to power my car, by boat, my hover cycle.
I want the end of Cubicle farms (and prairie-dogging for that matter). Doors would stop all of the casual interruptions that eat all of the time in my day on nothing. I would actually get to do more interesting and useful development, learning and programming (life is too damn short - and its getting shorter every day...). I want true respect from my employer - instead of lipservice.
I want true voice recognition. Coupled with doors, a good voice recognition system, that would allow me to write programs, would increase productivity immensely. This would allow us to build all of the vantastic technology everyone wants, quickly.
DRM must encrypt the data, which would make reading the document, even with a hex editor, a losing proposition.
If we agree that it is encrypted, then reading M$ documents will require duplicating their domain authentication and encryption for DRM - not likely to be released by M$.
Needless to say, someone will probably break it anyway. I have to laugh at some of these folks who are saying 'this is the solution to all of my document exposure problems'. DRM is not a panacea; your documents are only secure if you keep them off of electronic media, off of the net, and locked up in a vault. Once you send it off into the ether, all bets are off - DRM or no DRM.
You don't have a properly developed bullshit, or BS, filter.
I would guess you were born in the 1950s or earlier, and so never developed one.
With a properly developed BS filter, you would have zeroed in on the bathroom sign right away.
Unfortunately, a well developed BS filter is in direct conflict with self preservation in most urban settings. Many times I find myself stepping off of the curb into oncoming traffic, mistaking the flashing lights of the ambulance as BS - to my eternal regret.
Goals and meaning in life have to flow from you. Looking around you and bemoaning the lack of goals and seeming self-gratification of society also serves little purpose.
If you have a dream you have a duty to follow it - no matter what. If you don't, there are plenty of others who will - and many times their goals are far darker than anything their peers ever imagined (Hitler, Saddam, BinLadin, the WTO, Mafia, Drug Lords, etc...).
If you are a counterbalance, get out there and start doing what you were meant to do. Even if its just telling stories with a message, helping feed the hungry, working to sway politicians - whatever - get out there and make it happen. Build the world you envision. Life is not easy; life is a constant struggle - until your dieing day.
I guess I'll get on the speculation bandwagon (tongue in cheek):
They are waiting for the SCO case, which they bankrolled, to clear the courts so they can determine the legality of releasing 'Longhorn' - internal code for 'Linux-we-ripped-because-it-R0X0RZ-0UR-S0X0RZ' - based on the liscenses they bought from SCO.
Art is esthetic. Therefore, there is no right or wrong answer to the question of what is the best. Its like saying vanilla is better than chocolate.
All we can do is come to some consensus about it in order to 'pick' one over another. By its nature consensus (or voting for that matter) is just a compromise since there will always be those that will not change their view, and those that will change an original opinion based on argument, politics, or some other criteria (magic 8-ball?).
Free software goes underground. Geeks start sharing software through encrypted peer to peer networks. Non-geeks end up buying high priced crud from M$.
M$ and the RIAA companies get richer, and root out the last vestiges of free software on the net. Geeks build elaborate screen savers that look like a M$ windoze box - for when guests are around, but run Linux and free software underneath the hood.
The Senate convenes a new 'Un-American Activities' commitee, and brings prominent geeks in for public 'questioning' (ridicule). These geeks are blacklisted, and can not find work. This serves to make other geeks 'tow the line', or at least pretend to.
After a decade of low wages, persecution, and social programs intent on 'Microsoftizing' the populance, the well of available geeks runs dry. Geeks, themselves, no longer pass on the arcane subjects of computers to their children, instead opting to teach them candle making, and send them to seminary.
Over the next 20 years all remaining geeks retire from the workforce. There are no new systems built. All existing systems are kept running by non-geeks who use cargo-cult methods, not really understanding how it works. If a system breaks down - it does not get fixed. Slowly the network deteriorates; world wide communications become extinct. The Digital Dark Age lasts for ten thousand years, until some proto-geek reinvents the computer and the silicon chip.
Is this the future we want for our children? Make a difference - now!
Most 'Free Enterprise' governments are members of the WTO (world trade organization).
Most 'Large' media conglomerates are members of the WTO.
Most 'Large' corporations are members of the WTO.
Now, given that the WTO meets once a year, in private, and from leaks from past meetings we have seen the focus is on two things: instability in revenue streams, and Terrorism (which causes instability in revenue streams), is it any wonder that these organizations are making a concerted effort to protect their revenue?
We are niave if we think that a sea-change that is taking place in the most profitable business in the world (software development and sales) will not be fought against by the people who benefit from the old way of doing business. Since they have contacts in high places (WTO etc.) is it any wonder that they are courting governments in various ways to artificially maintain the status quo? If you can't beat them fair and square, then throw litigation at them is their current mode (patent laws, copyright laws, SCO lawsuit, etc...).
How can we combat this if they succeed in making free software illegal? Are those of us with families willing to put it all on the line - to be subject to censure, loss of the ability to find work, arrest, and persecution? I would have to think long and hard about my carreer choice. It would be the dawn of a digital dark age - when technologists truely become serfs of the corporations that employ them and hold all of the software patents.
Now is the time to do something if we truely value our freedom. Something that impacts everyone in the world would probably do the trick:
On a certain date, all IT workers, programmers, network gurus, web masters, technical support - anyone who considers themselves techno-geeks - everyone the world over arrive at work, and after checking in, simply walk out for a week - take sick leave, or vacation.
No phone support. No servers brought back up. No network routers configured. No communications corrected. No batches run. No software written. NOTHING; NADA; ZIP.
If everyone did this (no scabs) it would send a clear signal to Governments, Businesses, and the Media - as well as the public in general, that the geeks deserve a little respect and consideration for all they do to keep modern society humming along. Perhaps software patents are a bad thing. Perhaps we should reconsider how we view software as a key component of growth and development for society and the public good, instead of as a money making proposition, to be kept locked up in a vault for strategic purposes by rich corporations.
Of course, this is all fantasy, just a plot for a novel. Geeks don't have what it takes to change the course of history, and it would be stupid to think they did.
I Don't think its a 'dilemma' because the open source / free software developers will never standardize the GUI interfaces - precisely because people have come to like particulars of their given environment, or want the flexibility to change.
Commercial Linux packaging companies might decide to create a 'standard' GUI - but that will not slow down current and future interfaces from continuing to be developed.
"First demonstrated publicly in 1993, this invention lifted the glass for the first time from the hypermedia browser, enabling Web browsers for the first time to act as platforms for fully-interactive embedded applications. The patent covers Web browsers that support such currently popular technologies as ActiveX components, Java applets, and Navigator plug-ins. Eolas' advanced browser technology makes possible rich interactive online experiences for over 500 million Web users, worldwide." - Eolas
Given that - I think Sun and Netscape have alot to worry about.
M$ generates many years of bad karma, sticking it to the little guy.
Come full circle, some little guy sticks it to Microsloth.
Karma balances out (though I don't think M$'s bad karma bank has been quite emptied yet, and so expect to see more 'bad' things happen to a bad company).
I have tried KDE and GNOME (as well as a plethora of other non-contenders), and I have come to the conclusion that GNOME is the best.
Initially, I was a bit put-off by the interface. However, I soon found that I could do some interesting things that were not available under KDE. I also found GNOME faster than KDE given the same tasks.
I am much more efficient with GNOME than I ever was with KDE. Perhaps that is just personal taste - but that is how I see it.
Unfortunately, to create 'mass market' appeal for Linux, I agree you will need a 'standardized' interface. The development of this interface should not close the door on innovation in interface design; there should always be choice where Linux is concerned.
- poor planning on your part does not equate to an emergency on my part
- take a number (then I point to the handgrenade with the 'number 1' number attached to the pin)
- I am doing x, y, and z today - there is no time to accomplish your request until (searching through calendar), December 2003...
Now, if the request is a bonafide emergency (mailserver down, voicemail down, etc...something alot of people depend upon), then I will shuffle the priorities to make it happen. In all cases, something doesn't get done as a result - which I make quite clear to the requester:
Requester: The flux capacitor just went down and we don't know how to fix it! Help!
Me: Yes - the FC takes priority. However, this is going to delay that script you wanted to generate sales data by a day - is that acceptable to you?
Requester: Yes-yes! Just get the flux capacitor back on line!
My plan is to avoid entering 'executive' level management, if at all possible. Ideally, I will produce a string of novels, or win the lottery, thus freeing me of all responsiblity other than to my own conscience , and the Federal Government (in the form of the IRS).
At that point I can make as many people look bad as I want, without the nagging worry of maintaining employment via office politics.
True independence = $, there is no getting around that - unless you are happy to live in a cardboard box under the freeway. Of course, there are variations to that; however, I have to have my rack of servers and DSL connection - which wouldn't weather very well in a cardboard box...
I bought my daughter a Playstation II last year. My wife acquired it, and plays it almost every day.
Most of what she plays is either quest type games with swords and sorcery, or scary games with vampires, monsters and ghosts.
I used to spend alot of time playing military FPS games, but since wiping Windoze and loading Linux have been too busy writing, building applications, and poking around the OS to play any online games. She has me beat at overall game-time now. But I am actually getting things done that I have always wanted to do, so I think its a good tradeoff.
My 'leet 40wpm touchtyping kungfu is stronger than your puny 20wpm!
If you program or write to any degree, touchtyping is a prerequisite, imho.
Given that, I don't have much use for a secretary. One day, when I get arthritis, I'll probably hum a different tune. However, voice recognition software will be more adept at putting word to 'paper' by then. Problem solved.
The next killer app, in my opinion, is the application that allows you to not only save content, but also the context (or contexts, even - human beings don't keep things in their head under one strict association - there are multiple pointers to the same information) behind that word doc, picture, etc.
I would love to be able to quickly find items that I need that were saved years ago. Almost every day I have to find such things on my disk, and having a searchable interface (particularly for binary encoded files, such as executable or graphics files - which have little searchable text inside of them) that works would save hours every week.
Instead of only having a limited amount of information, filename and directory, you would be able to search over multiple hierarchies as well as descriptive text - even for binaries. This would put the user in the driver's seat, allowing her to build relationships within the data that have meaning to her.
Slashdot Mirror
I want free or at least very-very cheap energy to power my car, by boat, my hover cycle.
I want the end of Cubicle farms (and prairie-dogging for that matter). Doors would stop all of the casual interruptions that eat all of the time in my day on nothing. I would actually get to do more interesting and useful development, learning and programming (life is too damn short - and its getting shorter every day...). I want true respect from my employer - instead of lipservice.
I want true voice recognition. Coupled with doors, a good voice recognition system, that would allow me to write programs, would increase productivity immensely. This would allow us to build all of the vantastic technology everyone wants, quickly.
Finally, "I want peace on Earth, and goodwill towards men." If this would come true, I could forego all the rest...
Try the smart mug, combined with the PC cigarette lighter mod, and you can have a perfect cup o'tea delivered by your PC...
DRM must encrypt the data, which would make reading the document, even with a hex editor, a losing proposition.
If we agree that it is encrypted, then reading M$ documents will require duplicating their domain authentication and encryption for DRM - not likely to be released by M$.
Needless to say, someone will probably break it anyway. I have to laugh at some of these folks who are saying 'this is the solution to all of my document exposure problems'. DRM is not a panacea; your documents are only secure if you keep them off of electronic media, off of the net, and locked up in a vault. Once you send it off into the ether, all bets are off - DRM or no DRM.
You don't have a properly developed bullshit, or BS, filter.
I would guess you were born in the 1950s or earlier, and so never developed one.
With a properly developed BS filter, you would have zeroed in on the bathroom sign right away.
Unfortunately, a well developed BS filter is in direct conflict with self preservation in most urban settings. Many times I find myself stepping off of the curb into oncoming traffic, mistaking the flashing lights of the ambulance as BS - to my eternal regret.
Goals and meaning in life have to flow from you. Looking around you and bemoaning the lack of goals and seeming self-gratification of society also serves little purpose.
If you have a dream you have a duty to follow it - no matter what. If you don't, there are plenty of others who will - and many times their goals are far darker than anything their peers ever imagined (Hitler, Saddam, BinLadin, the WTO, Mafia, Drug Lords, etc...).
If you are a counterbalance, get out there and start doing what you were meant to do. Even if its just telling stories with a message, helping feed the hungry, working to sway politicians - whatever - get out there and make it happen. Build the world you envision. Life is not easy; life is a constant struggle - until your dieing day.
Damn the torpedoes; full speed ahead!
I guess I'll get on the speculation bandwagon (tongue in cheek):
They are waiting for the SCO case, which they bankrolled, to clear the courts so they can determine the legality of releasing 'Longhorn' - internal code for 'Linux-we-ripped-because-it-R0X0RZ-0UR-S0X0RZ' - based on the liscenses they bought from SCO.
Art is esthetic. Therefore, there is no right or wrong answer to the question of what is the best. Its like saying vanilla is better than chocolate.
All we can do is come to some consensus about it in order to 'pick' one over another. By its nature consensus (or voting for that matter) is just a compromise since there will always be those that will not change their view, and those that will change an original opinion based on argument, politics, or some other criteria (magic 8-ball?).
I can't see getting all worked up over it.
Ain't it the truth...If I was a duffer I would have it made...
Don't take it so seriously, Hamstaus. This was just a HHOS post...
Both 'The Brain' and 'Where-is-it' are non-portable Windoze applications.
:p
I run Linux (Slackware).
I see this application as working via a standard web browser client from a server on my network.
I guess I should build it, then. (probably will use Zope/python for it - quick and solid).
I'll keep you posted on my progress...
I think your idea is already embodied in 'Freenet'...
Worse case senario: Free software is defeated.
Free software goes underground. Geeks start sharing software through encrypted peer to peer networks. Non-geeks end up buying high priced crud from M$.
M$ and the RIAA companies get richer, and root out the last vestiges of free software on the net. Geeks build elaborate screen savers that look like a M$ windoze box - for when guests are around, but run Linux and free software underneath the hood.
The Senate convenes a new 'Un-American Activities' commitee, and brings prominent geeks in for public 'questioning' (ridicule). These geeks are blacklisted, and can not find work. This serves to make other geeks 'tow the line', or at least pretend to.
After a decade of low wages, persecution, and social programs intent on 'Microsoftizing' the populance, the well of available geeks runs dry. Geeks, themselves, no longer pass on the arcane subjects of computers to their children, instead opting to teach them candle making, and send them to seminary.
Over the next 20 years all remaining geeks retire from the workforce. There are no new systems built. All existing systems are kept running by non-geeks who use cargo-cult methods, not really understanding how it works. If a system breaks down - it does not get fixed. Slowly the network deteriorates; world wide communications become extinct. The Digital Dark Age lasts for ten thousand years, until some proto-geek reinvents the computer and the silicon chip.
Is this the future we want for our children? Make a difference - now!
Hmmm, lets think about this logically:
Most 'Free Enterprise' governments are members of the WTO (world trade organization).
Most 'Large' media conglomerates are members of the WTO.
Most 'Large' corporations are members of the WTO.
Now, given that the WTO meets once a year, in private, and from leaks from past meetings we have seen the focus is on two things: instability in revenue streams, and Terrorism (which causes instability in revenue streams), is it any wonder that these organizations are making a concerted effort to protect their revenue?
We are niave if we think that a sea-change that is taking place in the most profitable business in the world (software development and sales) will not be fought against by the people who benefit from the old way of doing business. Since they have contacts in high places (WTO etc.) is it any wonder that they are courting governments in various ways to artificially maintain the status quo? If you can't beat them fair and square, then throw litigation at them is their current mode (patent laws, copyright laws, SCO lawsuit, etc...).
How can we combat this if they succeed in making free software illegal? Are those of us with families willing to put it all on the line - to be subject to censure, loss of the ability to find work, arrest, and persecution? I would have to think long and hard about my carreer choice. It would be the dawn of a digital dark age - when technologists truely become serfs of the corporations that employ them and hold all of the software patents.
Now is the time to do something if we truely value our freedom. Something that impacts everyone in the world would probably do the trick:
On a certain date, all IT workers, programmers, network gurus, web masters, technical support - anyone who considers themselves techno-geeks - everyone the world over arrive at work, and after checking in, simply walk out for a week - take sick leave, or vacation.
No phone support.
No servers brought back up.
No network routers configured.
No communications corrected.
No batches run.
No software written.
NOTHING; NADA; ZIP.
If everyone did this (no scabs) it would send a clear signal to Governments, Businesses, and the Media - as well as the public in general, that the geeks deserve a little respect and consideration for all they do to keep modern society humming along. Perhaps software patents are a bad thing. Perhaps we should reconsider how we view software as a key component of growth and development for society and the public good, instead of as a money making proposition, to be kept locked up in a vault for strategic purposes by rich corporations.
Of course, this is all fantasy, just a plot for a novel. Geeks don't have what it takes to change the course of history, and it would be stupid to think they did.
I Don't think its a 'dilemma' because the open source / free software developers will never standardize the GUI interfaces - precisely because people have come to like particulars of their given environment, or want the flexibility to change.
Commercial Linux packaging companies might decide to create a 'standard' GUI - but that will not slow down current and future interfaces from continuing to be developed.
This is what Eolas says about their patent:
"First demonstrated publicly in 1993, this invention lifted the glass for the first time from the hypermedia browser, enabling Web browsers for the first time to act as platforms for fully-interactive embedded applications. The patent covers Web browsers that support such currently popular technologies as ActiveX components, Java applets, and Navigator plug-ins. Eolas' advanced browser technology makes possible rich interactive online experiences for over 500 million Web users, worldwide." - Eolas
Given that - I think Sun and Netscape have alot to worry about.
Its called karma.
M$ generates many years of bad karma, sticking it to the little guy.
Come full circle, some little guy sticks it to Microsloth.
Karma balances out (though I don't think M$'s bad karma bank has been quite emptied yet, and so expect to see more 'bad' things happen to a bad company).
I have tried KDE and GNOME (as well as a plethora of other non-contenders), and I have come to the conclusion that GNOME is the best.
Initially, I was a bit put-off by the interface. However, I soon found that I could do some interesting things that were not available under KDE. I also found GNOME faster than KDE given the same tasks.
I am much more efficient with GNOME than I ever was with KDE. Perhaps that is just personal taste - but that is how I see it.
Unfortunately, to create 'mass market' appeal for Linux, I agree you will need a 'standardized' interface. The development of this interface should not close the door on innovation in interface design; there should always be choice where Linux is concerned.
'Technically competent windows user' is an oxymoron.
Here is how I say 'no':
:)
Requester: I need you to load x on my y today.
Me: No.
With a variation of these to follow:
- poor planning on your part does not equate to an emergency on my part
- take a number (then I point to the handgrenade with the 'number 1' number attached to the pin)
- I am doing x, y, and z today - there is no time to accomplish your request until (searching through calendar), December 2003...
Now, if the request is a bonafide emergency (mailserver down, voicemail down, etc...something alot of people depend upon), then I will shuffle the priorities to make it happen. In all cases, something doesn't get done as a result - which I make quite clear to the requester:
Requester: The flux capacitor just went down and we don't know how to fix it! Help!
Me: Yes - the FC takes priority. However, this is going to delay that script you wanted to generate sales data by a day - is that acceptable to you?
Requester: Yes-yes! Just get the flux capacitor back on line!
Me: I need to have that in writing...
My plan is to avoid entering 'executive' level management, if at all possible. Ideally, I will produce a string of novels, or win the lottery, thus freeing me of all responsiblity other than to my own conscience , and the Federal Government (in the form of the IRS).
At that point I can make as many people look bad as I want, without the nagging worry of maintaining employment via office politics.
True independence = $, there is no getting around that - unless you are happy to live in a cardboard box under the freeway. Of course, there are variations to that; however, I have to have my rack of servers and DSL connection - which wouldn't weather very well in a cardboard box...
I bought my daughter a Playstation II last year. My wife acquired it, and plays it almost every day.
Most of what she plays is either quest type games with swords and sorcery, or scary games with vampires, monsters and ghosts.
I used to spend alot of time playing military FPS games, but since wiping Windoze and loading Linux have been too busy writing, building applications, and poking around the OS to play any online games. She has me beat at overall game-time now. But I am actually getting things done that I have always wanted to do, so I think its a good tradeoff.
My 'leet 40wpm touchtyping kungfu is stronger than your puny 20wpm!
If you program or write to any degree, touchtyping is a prerequisite, imho.
Given that, I don't have much use for a secretary. One day, when I get arthritis, I'll probably hum a different tune. However, voice recognition software will be more adept at putting word to 'paper' by then. Problem solved.
The next killer app, in my opinion, is the application that allows you to not only save content, but also the context (or contexts, even - human beings don't keep things in their head under one strict association - there are multiple pointers to the same information) behind that word doc, picture, etc.
I would love to be able to quickly find items that I need that were saved years ago. Almost every day I have to find such things on my disk, and having a searchable interface (particularly for binary encoded files, such as executable or graphics files - which have little searchable text inside of them) that works would save hours every week.
Instead of only having a limited amount of information, filename and directory, you would be able to search over multiple hierarchies as well as descriptive text - even for binaries. This would put the user in the driver's seat, allowing her to build relationships within the data that have meaning to her.
I read this a couple of days ago, and found it rather refreshing.
Eric only said what is on the mind of everyone in the free software/open source movement.
SCO is hitting below the belt, playing dirty ball against free software. It is about time someone vents their outrage.
To paraphrase McBride, the GPL is null and void, and those free/open source guys need to rethink their whole world view, or pay the consequences.
How can you not get upset in the face of such meglomania?
"...before he eats ie anyway..." - AC
Was that a Freudian slip? We know SCO is being bankrolled by Microsloth, but I didn't know it went as far as having to ingest M$ product...yuck!