I like you.
Basically what he said is what I believe. There would be some hardship for a little while, but one we got everything re-organized, it would be much better in the end. Of course, there's no need to shut down the UN so quickly. Start plans for a new organization, and when it's ready, THEN get rid of the UN.
bullshit. I think the UN is terrible, and not because anything they do or don't do, but HOW they do it. They're slow, inefficient, and make things FAR more costly than necessary. I agree, the UN does some useful things, but I honestly think it would be better for everyone to create a new worldwide committee meant for the things it does. The UN is really just meant to be a security and peacekeeping committee, and it's not even any good at that.
Actually, the cable provider is supported by the subscriptions. It's the stations that're supported by the advertisements. The two are different entities.
The whole point is that the developers AREN'T gonna switch OSs. It would be stupid for them to do so when something like 95% of all PC users are on Windows. If I'm trying to make money for my $randomApplication company, I would be a complete idiot to immediately alienate 90+% of my possible users. Yes, this works for some rare applications that have a small and specifically limited demographic, but for most things, it's just a bad strategy.
The whole problem here is that it's a self-perpetuating cycle... Most users are on windows, so developers make more programs for Windows. Most programs are on Windows, so users keep choosing Windows. It's not going to end barring something _very_ drastic. A subtle shift just isn't going to happen here.
Actually, moral stewardship is a Calvinistic holdover from the Puritans who came to America. The whole "we need to make sure everyone else does the right thing" way of thinking is what our country was founded on. Yay Puritanism!
Today's history lesson brought to you by the letters W, T, and F.
I _was_ a CS major for a year, but I dropped out. Why you ask? Your first guess would probably be the programming, yes? Not at all... In advanced programming courses, I was in the top of the class. Why did I leave CS? Because of CALCULUS. The course that any programmer you talk to will say they've never had to know, unless they're making physics engines. Why'd I fail calc? Because my failure of a professor had a failure of a T.A. neither of whom could speak english. At least the prof understood the material, because the TA would constantly get the wrong answer. Ridiculous.
The kinds of integration testing and modular coding that works for normal software does NOT work for OSs. As you said, OSs are incredibly large and complex, and as a result, bugs are a LOT harder to track. Haven't you ever had to hunt the source of a bug through several lines of code? Now imagine that within a piece of software that contains hundreds of thousands of lines of code, and you can imagine how easy it is to have to search manually. On top of that, having 4000+ coders working on a single project IS going to result on pieces of code gone wrong. We all have bad days when it comes to coding. The problem is, with that many developers, several people are having a bad day on any given day, resulting in pretty badly broken code.
OSs aren't your normal, run-of-the-mill programs. Especially with the backwards compatibility and feature set required nowadays.
There's been a beta 64-bit version of Windows available for download a while now, about a year, I believe.
As fas as the programs, are you trying to blame Microsoft for that? There will be programs when it becomes profitable for companies to make 64-bit programs, and in the meantime, you can use legacy 32-bit stuff, it works fine. Unlike people who make Linux programs, Windows developers are looking to actually make money, and *gasp* support themselves.
Do your homework before arbitrarily bashing things.
Oh, wait, it's slashdot.... Never mind, carry on.
I wouldn't switch for the same reason I use Windows instead of Linux: video games. I use my comp to browse the internet and for video games (occasionally for homework); I often do both at the same time, so not having all my video games wouldn't be acceptable.
Oh, the other reason I wouldn't switch is b/c if I did, I would have a pile of useless Windows software and would have to re-buy everything.
Maybe you're different, but I know that I would (and have) freak when my cable goes out. I'm not even at my comp most of the day, but it's important to me to know that I can get online anytime I want. I'd be willing to be that you (and mot other people on/.) are the same way. Are we addicts? Hell yes! I know I am. Does that stop me from having fun doing other things? Nope. Do I consider it to be a bad thing that I'm addicted? As a CS major, I'd say no to that, though video games/internet has been known to cut into my study/sleep time.
Being addicted isn't necessarily a bad thing. I'm addicted to breathing too, but is that bad?
BTW, I would also consider someone who smokes 3 cigs a day an addict.
Basically, what I'm saying is: just because there are varying levels of addiction doesn't mean you're not. You have to look at your life a lot closer to determine that, as well as whether it's a problem.
I, along with many, many other people, was promised a copy of HL2 via Steam as part of my Radeon 9800XT purchase. If I don't get that, I'm gonna be pissed, and I know other people will feel the same way.
Besides, with as many people as have already pre-downloaded HL2 from Steam and have been promised to have it, that would be a _terrible_ PR move.
In summary, I seriously doubt they would try pulling that.
A friend of mine gets tickets to certain preview showings of Paramount films, and he brought me to see Sky Captain. I loved it! It's done as a film noir, and feels very old-school detective. The retro cinematography gave it a very fresh feel. Not only did it have a cool visual theme, but the story itself was a good one, also done in the old detective style.
I recommend this movie for anyone, but especially those who enjoy film noir, as they did an excellent job with Sky Captain.
If the wireless access at UTD wasn't so horrendous, it wouldn't have been an issue in the first place.
Basically, what happened was, we were promised free internet access, and then about 20% of us actually managed to get it. And that 20% still randomly loses the connection fairly frequently. So, a bunch of people said "screw it," bought DSL/cable and set up internet for ourselves. Then UTD tries to come down and blame us for the lack of internet (which is mostly due to the fact that there aren't enough APs more than anything else) and shut down our internet. Basically, as far as I can tell, the university is opposed to its students (predominantly Computer Science/Engineering majors) having internet.
Besides all that, UTD doesn't own the apartments, and thus has no say in the matter. If their wireless sucks so much, they either need to fix it or deal with us getting our own ISPs.
Actually, if you bothered to find out anything about the way donations to academic institutions work, you'd know that Bill will have absolutely nothing to do with the way the building is run and nothing to do with anything taught inside of it (short of the broad "Computer Science" category). He paid $20 mil to get his name on a building and to help the academic community. It's pretty common, and it usually has little to do with the person's affiliations (ie the Erik Johnnson building at UTD. He was a rich guy that donated money to have building built at a university, so they named it for him.)
Yeah, Bill wanted his name on a building... I'm pretty sure this is true of most people, I know I damn well do, I just can't afford to make that happen. Bill can.
How, exactly, does Microsoft take it's sweet time? As far as I can tell, when a security issue is found, it's fixed pretty damn fast, plus it's auto-updated, so the user doesn't have to deal with it.
Don't get me wrong, I love Firefox, I've been using it for 2 years now, but it's not because Microsoft is 3V1L!!11!one!! It's because I like the way Firefox works better than IE. I tried to get my dad to use FF, but he didn't like it; he was used to IE and saw no reason to switch, as he wouldn't be using any of the improved things.
Don't just insult Microsoft for the hell of it, actually have an argument. In fact, of the OSS supporters didn't bitch about Microsoft over non-existant things so often, the general public might accept it more. I know I would.
I agree. Of course more holes will be found in MS products than in anything else. When 90% (just an estimate) of the world is using a single operating system or web browser, 99.99% of the jackass script-kiddies will be targetting it, that's just how it works.
If I were a "1337 H4X0R," and I wanted to piss off as many people as possible with my virus, I wouldn't make it for Mac or *nix, I'd make it for Windows!
"MS saw security geeks making this claim and their head of development saw this as a clear challenge. 2GB of binary code later, Windows XP proved at last that the impossible could be achieved, despite naysaying open-source geeks:.jpg can be a exploit vector!"
And, not to be outdone, the Moz dev team followed suit!
Does it not occur to you that you're insulting Microsoft for something your precious OSS did too?
I use Firefox and I love it, but I have nothing against Microsoft. I know it's a novel concept around here, but you should give it a try.
I agree, I love Thunderbird, there's just one problem though: I use hotmail. I know, I know, Microsoft is the devil an all that, but I've been using the same e-mail addy for 7 years and I don't want to have to change. And since nothing else will work with http mail serverc, outlook 2003 it is.
Of course, I just got a g-mail invite, so I'll probably take the plunge and move my main to it, but in the mean time...
We had 1hr 15min for the multiple choice, 1hr 45min for the free response, same as the exam for C++ was.
I thought it was overly easy, but then again, I do go to a top private school... I wasn't doing very well (low C) in the class, but I'm 90% sure I got a 5 on the exam. Basically, if you knew the marine biology case study, it was simple.
Slashdot Mirror
I like you. Basically what he said is what I believe. There would be some hardship for a little while, but one we got everything re-organized, it would be much better in the end. Of course, there's no need to shut down the UN so quickly. Start plans for a new organization, and when it's ready, THEN get rid of the UN.
Well said.
bullshit. I think the UN is terrible, and not because anything they do or don't do, but HOW they do it. They're slow, inefficient, and make things FAR more costly than necessary. I agree, the UN does some useful things, but I honestly think it would be better for everyone to create a new worldwide committee meant for the things it does. The UN is really just meant to be a security and peacekeeping committee, and it's not even any good at that.
Actually, the cable provider is supported by the subscriptions. It's the stations that're supported by the advertisements. The two are different entities.
Yeah, but I've never had a problem with AMD's naming scheme. Yet another example of AMD just doing it better than Intel.
Being as you're a poster on /., I'm calling BS on your use of future tense.
The whole point is that the developers AREN'T gonna switch OSs. It would be stupid for them to do so when something like 95% of all PC users are on Windows. If I'm trying to make money for my $randomApplication company, I would be a complete idiot to immediately alienate 90+% of my possible users. Yes, this works for some rare applications that have a small and specifically limited demographic, but for most things, it's just a bad strategy. The whole problem here is that it's a self-perpetuating cycle... Most users are on windows, so developers make more programs for Windows. Most programs are on Windows, so users keep choosing Windows. It's not going to end barring something _very_ drastic. A subtle shift just isn't going to happen here.
Actually, moral stewardship is a Calvinistic holdover from the Puritans who came to America. The whole "we need to make sure everyone else does the right thing" way of thinking is what our country was founded on. Yay Puritanism! Today's history lesson brought to you by the letters W, T, and F.
I _was_ a CS major for a year, but I dropped out. Why you ask? Your first guess would probably be the programming, yes? Not at all... In advanced programming courses, I was in the top of the class. Why did I leave CS? Because of CALCULUS. The course that any programmer you talk to will say they've never had to know, unless they're making physics engines. Why'd I fail calc? Because my failure of a professor had a failure of a T.A. neither of whom could speak english. At least the prof understood the material, because the TA would constantly get the wrong answer. Ridiculous.
The kinds of integration testing and modular coding that works for normal software does NOT work for OSs. As you said, OSs are incredibly large and complex, and as a result, bugs are a LOT harder to track. Haven't you ever had to hunt the source of a bug through several lines of code? Now imagine that within a piece of software that contains hundreds of thousands of lines of code, and you can imagine how easy it is to have to search manually. On top of that, having 4000+ coders working on a single project IS going to result on pieces of code gone wrong. We all have bad days when it comes to coding. The problem is, with that many developers, several people are having a bad day on any given day, resulting in pretty badly broken code. OSs aren't your normal, run-of-the-mill programs. Especially with the backwards compatibility and feature set required nowadays.
Agreed. My computer, almost single-handedly, blew a fuse in my friend's house. Granted, it's an old house, but that's ridiculous.
There's been a beta 64-bit version of Windows available for download a while now, about a year, I believe. As fas as the programs, are you trying to blame Microsoft for that? There will be programs when it becomes profitable for companies to make 64-bit programs, and in the meantime, you can use legacy 32-bit stuff, it works fine. Unlike people who make Linux programs, Windows developers are looking to actually make money, and *gasp* support themselves. Do your homework before arbitrarily bashing things. Oh, wait, it's slashdot.... Never mind, carry on.
I'd run BOINC for that! I'd offer to help code, but I'd probably screw the whole thing up. :-P
No kidding, think there's a moral in there somewhere?
:-P
Pot doesn't make you important, and free love just gets you the clap.
Besides, very few hippies actually cared about the moral side of all of that, they just saw it as a change to smoke pot and have sex a lot.
Damn hippies
I wouldn't switch for the same reason I use Windows instead of Linux: video games. I use my comp to browse the internet and for video games (occasionally for homework); I often do both at the same time, so not having all my video games wouldn't be acceptable.
Oh, the other reason I wouldn't switch is b/c if I did, I would have a pile of useless Windows software and would have to re-buy everything.
Maybe you're different, but I know that I would (and have) freak when my cable goes out. I'm not even at my comp most of the day, but it's important to me to know that I can get online anytime I want. I'd be willing to be that you (and mot other people on /.) are the same way. Are we addicts? Hell yes! I know I am. Does that stop me from having fun doing other things? Nope. Do I consider it to be a bad thing that I'm addicted? As a CS major, I'd say no to that, though video games/internet has been known to cut into my study/sleep time.
Being addicted isn't necessarily a bad thing. I'm addicted to breathing too, but is that bad?
BTW, I would also consider someone who smokes 3 cigs a day an addict.
Basically, what I'm saying is: just because there are varying levels of addiction doesn't mean you're not. You have to look at your life a lot closer to determine that, as well as whether it's a problem.
I, along with many, many other people, was promised a copy of HL2 via Steam as part of my Radeon 9800XT purchase. If I don't get that, I'm gonna be pissed, and I know other people will feel the same way.
Besides, with as many people as have already pre-downloaded HL2 from Steam and have been promised to have it, that would be a _terrible_ PR move.
In summary, I seriously doubt they would try pulling that.
A friend of mine gets tickets to certain preview showings of Paramount films, and he brought me to see Sky Captain. I loved it! It's done as a film noir, and feels very old-school detective. The retro cinematography gave it a very fresh feel. Not only did it have a cool visual theme, but the story itself was a good one, also done in the old detective style.
I recommend this movie for anyone, but especially those who enjoy film noir, as they did an excellent job with Sky Captain.
If the wireless access at UTD wasn't so horrendous, it wouldn't have been an issue in the first place.
Basically, what happened was, we were promised free internet access, and then about 20% of us actually managed to get it. And that 20% still randomly loses the connection fairly frequently. So, a bunch of people said "screw it," bought DSL/cable and set up internet for ourselves. Then UTD tries to come down and blame us for the lack of internet (which is mostly due to the fact that there aren't enough APs more than anything else) and shut down our internet. Basically, as far as I can tell, the university is opposed to its students (predominantly Computer Science/Engineering majors) having internet.
Besides all that, UTD doesn't own the apartments, and thus has no say in the matter. If their wireless sucks so much, they either need to fix it or deal with us getting our own ISPs.
Actually, if you bothered to find out anything about the way donations to academic institutions work, you'd know that Bill will have absolutely nothing to do with the way the building is run and nothing to do with anything taught inside of it (short of the broad "Computer Science" category). He paid $20 mil to get his name on a building and to help the academic community. It's pretty common, and it usually has little to do with the person's affiliations (ie the Erik Johnnson building at UTD. He was a rich guy that donated money to have building built at a university, so they named it for him.)
Yeah, Bill wanted his name on a building... I'm pretty sure this is true of most people, I know I damn well do, I just can't afford to make that happen. Bill can.
How, exactly, does Microsoft take it's sweet time? As far as I can tell, when a security issue is found, it's fixed pretty damn fast, plus it's auto-updated, so the user doesn't have to deal with it.
Don't get me wrong, I love Firefox, I've been using it for 2 years now, but it's not because Microsoft is 3V1L!!11!one!! It's because I like the way Firefox works better than IE. I tried to get my dad to use FF, but he didn't like it; he was used to IE and saw no reason to switch, as he wouldn't be using any of the improved things.
Don't just insult Microsoft for the hell of it, actually have an argument. In fact, of the OSS supporters didn't bitch about Microsoft over non-existant things so often, the general public might accept it more. I know I would.
I use Windows, and I'm proud of it.
I agree. Of course more holes will be found in MS products than in anything else. When 90% (just an estimate) of the world is using a single operating system or web browser, 99.99% of the jackass script-kiddies will be targetting it, that's just how it works.
If I were a "1337 H4X0R," and I wanted to piss off as many people as possible with my virus, I wouldn't make it for Mac or *nix, I'd make it for Windows!
"MS saw security geeks making this claim and their head of development saw this as a clear challenge. 2GB of binary code later, Windows XP proved at last that the impossible could be achieved, despite naysaying open-source geeks: .jpg can be a exploit vector!"
And, not to be outdone, the Moz dev team followed suit!
Does it not occur to you that you're insulting Microsoft for something your precious OSS did too?
I use Firefox and I love it, but I have nothing against Microsoft. I know it's a novel concept around here, but you should give it a try.
I agree, I love Thunderbird, there's just one problem though: I use hotmail. I know, I know, Microsoft is the devil an all that, but I've been using the same e-mail addy for 7 years and I don't want to have to change. And since nothing else will work with http mail serverc, outlook 2003 it is. Of course, I just got a g-mail invite, so I'll probably take the plunge and move my main to it, but in the mean time...
We had 1hr 15min for the multiple choice, 1hr 45min for the free response, same as the exam for C++ was.
I thought it was overly easy, but then again, I do go to a top private school... I wasn't doing very well (low C) in the class, but I'm 90% sure I got a 5 on the exam. Basically, if you knew the marine biology case study, it was simple.