Sorry, Comic Life is totally amazing. It's one of those apps that as soon as you start using it, you realize you intuitively know what to do, and you are delighted at the results. In fact, you realize you never before were able to do these things, and you love doing it. I've had lots of fun amazing friends and relatives with it. "How did you do that?!"
Not a productivity app? Too bad. It's too much fun for me to care. That creative energy is what later enables me to be more productive elsewhere when I work. And yes, I only use Comic Life at home, so don't make assumptions. Try it, it's that good.
"Microsoft behave much the same way every other company does in the computing world. "
That wouldn't excuse a thing, even if it were true. But it's not true. They have behaved shamefully, and to a worse degree than other companies. Perhaps it's only because of the power they wield, but they have behaved in a shameful manner.
"If you want to get into a global scale and move outside of the computing world, Microsoft are practically a *saint* in comparison to the/real/ "big nasty corporations. Thousands of babies have not died because of a deceptive Microsoft marketing campaign. Wars have not been started because Microsoft wanted to make some more money."
Nobody said they were, but we are talking about computers here. This isn't the Politics section. Just because there are awful corporate actions elsewhere doesn't excuse a thing Microsoft has done. "He does it too!" is a kindergarten excuse.
I will take you at your word that you are a decent guy and that your query was genuine. Can I dislike Microsoft while still liking individuals who work there or who work with their products? Sure. Just as I can criticize the actions of the government while being good friends with my neighbor Joe Civic Servant down the street. We are all familiar with how groups of decent individuals can come together in an organization that then causes them to act in ways that perpetuate the organization, even if those ways wind up being bad.
Has Microsoft changed? I don't see much of a change. Their attack on Linux hasn't gained much traction, so in recent months and years they have occasionally tried the carrot instead of the stick and said nice things about Open Source and Free Software. But since the GPL is antithetical to their business model, it seems to be just words. Their actions continue to show that they have not changed.
I spent 15 minutes with Google to come up with some recent relevant examples that show their current attitude. Is every story below accurate? Maybe not. But when there's that much smoke...
"What would be the motivation for people suddenly liking Microsoft if they 'haven't changed'?"
Cash. That's how astroturfing works. You hire a PR agency with cash and voila! You have hired people to say nice things about you, or try to obscure the words of others who say bad things about you.
"So Linux will gain a marketshare to go with that mindshare after the IT equivalent of the KT Boundary?
How is that constructive? Effectively, using the 'dinosaurs versus the mammals' analogy, we're waiting for a much bigger version of some natural event that is already happening (in the case of the dinosaur extinction a massive impact from a meteorite).
Can you extend your analogy to fill in the blank as to what that event is for Microsoft versus Open Source systems?"
It already happened. The meteor is the GPL. You cannot do business as usual (if you are a rapacious beast, that is, intent on devouring all in your path) with the GPL. Microsoft has come to an almost dead halt in its efforts to fight Free and Open Source Software. Everything they have tried has failed, to a greater or lesser degree. They are gradually losing market share. They are rapidly losing mind share.
/. has always been sensationalistic, but the response has definitely changed in recent years. I can't prove any given mod is astroturfing, but I am convinced it is happening overall.
Slashdot certainly has always been a traditional MS haters club, yes. But/. has been paying attention to all the Microsoft stories, so no surprise there.
What has surprised me is that in the last year or two, I've noticed a real change around here. Now if you post something knocking Microsoft, you are equally likely to get modded to oblivion as modded up. Since Microsoft hasn't changed, I can attribute this shift to one of two things:
1. Lots of new people reading/. who don't know (or don't care) about Microsoft's shady behavior, and get offended if you say anyting bad about them.
2. Microsoft astroturfing. People who scope out anti-Microsoft talk and mod down accordingly.
"Don't tell me you actually believed that the "GNU/Linux revolution" would somehow change the rules of the game and that future business would be conducted on the basis of competence/performance alone instead of politics and money?"
Actually, the GNU/Linux revolution is a revolution. That means it didn't change the rules of the game, it created a whole new game and dared anyone else to play on their turf. Microsoft is deeply entrenched in the wallets of the corporate and political world. But FOSS has taken off despite that, and now has a great mindshare, far more than you would expect. But hey, they give you freedom, and never underestimate the power of freedom.
So yes, the old powers can play the old games of power and money. And dinosaurs are remarkably successful despite the gnawing of little mammals. Until one day they aren't. And a new era begins.
100 years? I don't understand. That paper was published just two years ago, right before I embarked on my intersteller voyage travelling near the speed of light. I've only been gone two years, so clearly one of us has calendar issues.
Astounding display of cynicism on/. People keep thinking I was trying to brown nose him, when all I was doing was expressing how I actually feel. So what am I supposed to do? Keep my opinion to myself? Conform to the view everyone else has around here?
Serious questions. What would you have me do? Lie?
What part of opinion is unclear to you? I have one, and you have one. There's nothing wrong with me expressing mine, so for you to attack me verbally for doing so, for essentially me not sharing your opinion, is weird. Everyone has to agree with you?
You're right, you shouldn't have been modded as harshly as you were. Happens to me sometimes when I express a contrarian view on the subject at hand. Especially happens to me nowadays if I say something negative about Windows or Microsoft.
I disagree with your opinion, and meant what I said sincerely, but I respect your right to think the opposite.
Thank you, Wil. Thank you for taking a difficult role on TNG to pull off without annoying people, and pulling it off (at least to me). I enjoy the character Wesley. Thank you for then having the temerity to turn out to be a normal, seemingly well-adjusted adult in real life. Thank you for taking the path of the writer and showing people how words can be used to thrill and inform. And thank you for being such a funny/. poster, and for such great answers to these questions.
Cost overruns: We are pleased to announce that the bidding process will be open -- er, closed to all but our friends in industry. But they will bring it under budget -- I mean way, way over budget. But they will take the money and use it well, except for all the money they funnel away for private use.
The Australia effect: They had a pest problem in Australia, so they imported predators for those pests...and then the predators multiplied beyond imagination and formed a new problem. So too a space ring will block the sun -- yaaaa! Oh wait, I never expected this side effect from blocking the sun! Ahhhhh!
Target Anyone?: Oh sure, this won't be a target for terrorism. Whee! Space ring debris raining down on us.
Not Needed: Just start cutting down on our wasteful ways -- er, what am I saying?! Never mind, just keep on having fun and we'll build a giant boondoggle to solve your problems while you buy a Hummer H5, This Time We Really Mean BIG!
"Still, this is ubercreepy. Even the electrical shock at the end bit... sounds like 50s sci-fi. What's next? "The shock required is quite intense, so facilities doing this work will need to affix a lightning rod to their roof and wait for a storm..."?
Then go to Manybooks.net and pick a different format. They have the Gutenberg collection, but in a wide variety of formats. I personally use the iSolo format for my palm pilot (a T3 with the wide screen which means I get a full page of book text per screen), and I rarely have formatting issues. In fact, books are a pleasure to read.
"Unfortunately, you forgot to include your address, so I don't know where I can send my data and the money."
My most esteemed colleague,
Please excuse my unforgiveable oversight in neglecting to put a return address. In my excitement to be making such excellent contacts in your country, I was clearly negligent. Please remit all sums to:
Post Office Stop A
Lagos State
Nigeria
I cannot tell you how grateful I am to find such a kind and professional person such as yourself, and I look forward to a mutually beneficial financial arrangement. Please send the money right away!
Slashdot Mirror
Not a productivity app? Too bad. It's too much fun for me to care. That creative energy is what later enables me to be more productive elsewhere when I work. And yes, I only use Comic Life at home, so don't make assumptions. Try it, it's that good.
That wouldn't excuse a thing, even if it were true. But it's not true. They have behaved shamefully, and to a worse degree than other companies. Perhaps it's only because of the power they wield, but they have behaved in a shameful manner.
"If you want to get into a global scale and move outside of the computing world, Microsoft are practically a *saint* in comparison to the /real/ "big nasty corporations. Thousands of babies have not died because of a deceptive Microsoft marketing campaign. Wars have not been started because Microsoft wanted to make some more money."
Nobody said they were, but we are talking about computers here. This isn't the Politics section. Just because there are awful corporate actions elsewhere doesn't excuse a thing Microsoft has done. "He does it too!" is a kindergarten excuse.
"Get some fucking perspective."
Get some manners.
Government To Fix...
I will take you at your word that you are a decent guy and that your query was genuine. Can I dislike Microsoft while still liking individuals who work there or who work with their products? Sure. Just as I can criticize the actions of the government while being good friends with my neighbor Joe Civic Servant down the street. We are all familiar with how groups of decent individuals can come together in an organization that then causes them to act in ways that perpetuate the organization, even if those ways wind up being bad.
Has Microsoft changed? I don't see much of a change. Their attack on Linux hasn't gained much traction, so in recent months and years they have occasionally tried the carrot instead of the stick and said nice things about Open Source and Free Software. But since the GPL is antithetical to their business model, it seems to be just words. Their actions continue to show that they have not changed.
I spent 15 minutes with Google to come up with some recent relevant examples that show their current attitude. Is every story below accurate? Maybe not. But when there's that much smoke...
Ballmer: Linux violates patents; use it and you will be sued by somebody
MS Office XML Format licence is incompatible with the GPL
HP Memo: "Microsoft will soon be launching a patent-based legal offensive against Linux"
Microsoft using the WTO as a proxy to fight free software
Microsoft's antitrust offering 'blocks Samba'
Microsoft's New Monopoly
Microsoft remains unrepentant, says antitrust judge
Rivals Say Microsoft Flouts Antitrust Settlement
...they will nonchalantly point out, "Yeah, well, you should have seen the one that got away!"
Cash. That's how astroturfing works. You hire a PR agency with cash and voila! You have hired people to say nice things about you, or try to obscure the words of others who say bad things about you.
How is that constructive? Effectively, using the 'dinosaurs versus the mammals' analogy, we're waiting for a much bigger version of some natural event that is already happening (in the case of the dinosaur extinction a massive impact from a meteorite).
Can you extend your analogy to fill in the blank as to what that event is for Microsoft versus Open Source systems?"
It already happened. The meteor is the GPL. You cannot do business as usual (if you are a rapacious beast, that is, intent on devouring all in your path) with the GPL. Microsoft has come to an almost dead halt in its efforts to fight Free and Open Source Software. Everything they have tried has failed, to a greater or lesser degree. They are gradually losing market share. They are rapidly losing mind share.
/. has always been sensationalistic, but the response has definitely changed in recent years. I can't prove any given mod is astroturfing, but I am convinced it is happening overall.
What has surprised me is that in the last year or two, I've noticed a real change around here. Now if you post something knocking Microsoft, you are equally likely to get modded to oblivion as modded up. Since Microsoft hasn't changed, I can attribute this shift to one of two things:
1. Lots of new people reading /. who don't know (or don't care) about Microsoft's shady behavior, and get offended if you say anyting bad about them.
2. Microsoft astroturfing. People who scope out anti-Microsoft talk and mod down accordingly.
Actually, the GNU/Linux revolution is a revolution. That means it didn't change the rules of the game, it created a whole new game and dared anyone else to play on their turf. Microsoft is deeply entrenched in the wallets of the corporate and political world. But FOSS has taken off despite that, and now has a great mindshare, far more than you would expect. But hey, they give you freedom, and never underestimate the power of freedom.
So yes, the old powers can play the old games of power and money. And dinosaurs are remarkably successful despite the gnawing of little mammals. Until one day they aren't. And a new era begins.
Fanboys? All you have to do in order to become anti-Microsoft is pay attention.
Cute.
100 years? I don't understand. That paper was published just two years ago, right before I embarked on my intersteller voyage travelling near the speed of light. I've only been gone two years, so clearly one of us has calendar issues.
"Grand Slam Breakfast! Grand Slam Breakfast! Grand Slam Breakfast! Grand Slam Breakfast!!"
Serious questions. What would you have me do? Lie?
What part of opinion is unclear to you? I have one, and you have one. There's nothing wrong with me expressing mine, so for you to attack me verbally for doing so, for essentially me not sharing your opinion, is weird. Everyone has to agree with you?
I disagree with your opinion, and meant what I said sincerely, but I respect your right to think the opposite.
We'll see. Since it seems to be graphic card related, the Intel Macs might be more standard in that department and thus available for this service.
"We currently do not offer a Macintosh version of Google Earth."
Maybe next year with the Intel OS X boxes.
Thank you, Wil. Thank you for taking a difficult role on TNG to pull off without annoying people, and pulling it off (at least to me). I enjoy the character Wesley. Thank you for then having the temerity to turn out to be a normal, seemingly well-adjusted adult in real life. Thank you for taking the path of the writer and showing people how words can be used to thrill and inform. And thank you for being such a funny /. poster, and for such great answers to these questions.
"Woof!"
"Fluffy's alive! It's ALIVE! IT'S ALIIIIIVVEEE!!"
Then go to Manybooks.net and pick a different format. They have the Gutenberg collection, but in a wide variety of formats. I personally use the iSolo format for my palm pilot (a T3 with the wide screen which means I get a full page of book text per screen), and I rarely have formatting issues. In fact, books are a pleasure to read.
MySql will have to get in line behind IBM, Red Hat, AutoZone, Chrylser, and SCO's own hand now forcfully grinding its knife into its own body.
My most esteemed colleague,
Please excuse my unforgiveable oversight in neglecting to put a return address. In my excitement to be making such excellent contacts in your country, I was clearly negligent. Please remit all sums to:
Post Office Stop A
Lagos State
Nigeria
I cannot tell you how grateful I am to find such a kind and professional person such as yourself, and I look forward to a mutually beneficial financial arrangement. Please send the money right away!