Having programmed games and used DirectX a lot (I assume that's what you're referring to) I still had no idea what COM was. You use it the same as using a class in C++ pretty much, except for the reference count thing, so why learn more?
A lot of goodwill/good PR from the slashdot and techie crowd (if they produced true open source drivers). This may count for more later on than now - imagine if Linux is big on desktops in say 2010, being able to claim that they were big with open source driver support "from the 'early' days in 2004" may be quite handy, whereas I don't quite see how support like this could have a negative effect (apart from the cost of supplying it).
Dammit, I ruined my own witty one-liner by mis-reading your message and malphrasing mine. So I guess it was ruined from the outset. I read your message as referring to O(log(n)) sorting algorithms (them being impossible of course), and then missed out the word sorting in my reply. So sorry bout that, I was clearly off thinking about something else at the time!
I admit I should have prepared for it properly, but I'd forgotten moving MBs could do this sort of thing. The machine wouldnt boot from using the 2k disk, i.e. I couldnt put the drivers on by just using the cd from what I recall (a little hazy now). And because I used ntfs, knoppix and the like couldnt help me at all. I just wanted to give an example of when reinstalling wasnt too silly a solution (I know people that will reinstall if the PC starts to go slow, a hangover from 95/98 days when reinstalling was a good idea every now and then)
Yeah I thought I'd be able to fix it if I moved all the stuff back, but that would have involved moving CPU, memory and drives back. CPU was the main potential annoyance.
Even experienced users can have to reinstall, its just a matter of the cost of reinstalling vs the mess you're in. Case in point - last month I changed motherboard on my windows PC (to move to a shuttle). I moved everything over to the new case, then win2k wouldnt boot - the IDE chipset was different. I couldnt get the 2k machine to boot by using the cd or any form of rescue disk, I had no other windows machines to put the disk in, I just wanted to use my PC so... reinstall:)
I personally am running a 2400 XP (until not so long ago a 1600 XP, I didn't need to upgrade but the chance came up for a cheap CPU upgrade) with 512mb RAM and although I have just ordered a new Radeon 9800, a GeForce 2 MX. Despite being below min spec on most modern games (hence the upgrade) if I turn everything down, all games Ive tried still run fine. They look bad but hence the upgrade. I disagree that most games (disclaimer: I have not played or heard of planetside) will swap with 512mb RAM. Painkiller, Far Cry, UT2004 - none of these do. And none have any processor speed problems except for trying to compensate for my gfx card (which won't happen with the new one).
Personally I think its about how often you have to upgrade. I did a major upgrade just over two years ago, since then I have fairly recently upgraded m/board, CPU, and now gfx. So I went two years between major upgrades and I think that that worked out fine for me. I think it's a shame that PC gaming requires such fast paced upgrades of systems but I realise the benefits that come from it. But maybe I'll post again and agree with you entirely once Ive seen the new gfx;)
A CPU I bought over a year ago [new, for 60 UKP at the time] was over 2.0 Ghz! These are really tight people we are talking about IMO
What? Is your post just "I'm so rich and into PCs"? A CPU under 2 ghz will run all modern games without any trouble with a good gfx card. So why are users that don't need to upgrade and aren't "tight"? Perhaps just pragmatic?
I was working on the exchange rate of 2 dollars to the pound (it went just over 2 at the weekend), so 20 dollars was about a tenner. Although you can get lots of new and popular music for about that price, I find that to buy older albums (say Pink Floyd or Beatlesthat sort of age) you still seem to have to pay around 15 quid in places, though they seem to be appearing in sales a lot more now on places like Amazon.
Lol, well in the UK we don't have real money then - CDs are 20 (to 30) dollars here. But yes I agree, that amount of CDs is perfectly affordable by 21, with a minimum wage job.
Not a single link to IE on the first page of results for "web browser"? Fishy.
Actually, if you search google for that there isn't either. Must be a terminology thing, or no-one rates IE as a worthwhile web browser so its not high on the pagerank...
It is my belief that one of the major stumbling blocks for Free Software is the English language (having free mean both of those). It just confuses people time and time again. Someone suggested Freedom Software at some point, that sounds a bit more specific to me if a bit cornily patriotic.
Slashdot Mirror
I think he means free beer in a bar!
I believe in the UK that would still technically be illegal, but presumably in the US it might well be legal.
You may know where you are, but surely you must be new here ;-)
(PS Your post was right)
Having programmed games and used DirectX a lot (I assume that's what you're referring to) I still had no idea what COM was. You use it the same as using a class in C++ pretty much, except for the reference count thing, so why learn more?
a) patenting breaks the GPL if I remember
b) publishing OSS establishes prior art, so no need to patent to protect yourself, only to go after others, against the idea of OSS I feel
Or is your post worded wrongly?
A lot of people seem to but it is not necessary. You can go from a BSc straight into a PhD, as long as the university believes you are good enough.
Now Cheney invented the internet too! Sheesh, what's the world coming to ;-)
320 x 249 sure is a funny kinda resolution ;-)
A lot of goodwill/good PR from the slashdot and techie crowd (if they produced true open source drivers). This may count for more later on than now - imagine if Linux is big on desktops in say 2010, being able to claim that they were big with open source driver support "from the 'early' days in 2004" may be quite handy, whereas I don't quite see how support like this could have a negative effect (apart from the cost of supplying it).
Dammit, I ruined my own witty one-liner by mis-reading your message and malphrasing mine. So I guess it was ruined from the outset. I read your message as referring to O(log(n)) sorting algorithms (them being impossible of course), and then missed out the word sorting in my reply. So sorry bout that, I was clearly off thinking about something else at the time!
Yep, those fantastical O(log (n)) algorithms sure can't be beat ;-)
I admit I should have prepared for it properly, but I'd forgotten moving MBs could do this sort of thing. The machine wouldnt boot from using the 2k disk, i.e. I couldnt put the drivers on by just using the cd from what I recall (a little hazy now). And because I used ntfs, knoppix and the like couldnt help me at all. I just wanted to give an example of when reinstalling wasnt too silly a solution (I know people that will reinstall if the PC starts to go slow, a hangover from 95/98 days when reinstalling was a good idea every now and then)
Yeah I thought I'd be able to fix it if I moved all the stuff back, but that would have involved moving CPU, memory and drives back. CPU was the main potential annoyance.
Even experienced users can have to reinstall, its just a matter of the cost of reinstalling vs the mess you're in. Case in point - last month I changed motherboard on my windows PC (to move to a shuttle). I moved everything over to the new case, then win2k wouldnt boot - the IDE chipset was different. I couldnt get the 2k machine to boot by using the cd or any form of rescue disk, I had no other windows machines to put the disk in, I just wanted to use my PC so... reinstall :)
Personally I think its about how often you have to upgrade. I did a major upgrade just over two years ago, since then I have fairly recently upgraded m/board, CPU, and now gfx. So I went two years between major upgrades and I think that that worked out fine for me. I think it's a shame that PC gaming requires such fast paced upgrades of systems but I realise the benefits that come from it. But maybe I'll post again and agree with you entirely once Ive seen the new gfx ;)
What? Is your post just "I'm so rich and into PCs"? A CPU under 2 ghz will run all modern games without any trouble with a good gfx card. So why are users that don't need to upgrade and aren't "tight"? Perhaps just pragmatic?
I was working on the exchange rate of 2 dollars to the pound (it went just over 2 at the weekend), so 20 dollars was about a tenner. Although you can get lots of new and popular music for about that price, I find that to buy older albums (say Pink Floyd or Beatlesthat sort of age) you still seem to have to pay around 15 quid in places, though they seem to be appearing in sales a lot more now on places like Amazon.
Lol, well in the UK we don't have real money then - CDs are 20 (to 30) dollars here. But yes I agree, that amount of CDs is perfectly affordable by 21, with a minimum wage job.
Given that Doom, Quake and Quake II have all been GPLed, presumably it literally is a matter of time until Quake 3 goes the same way.
Character I believe.
Firefox does that for me anyway - it refuses to install flash ;) Which I'm actually fine with :)
Actually, if you search google for that there isn't either. Must be a terminology thing, or no-one rates IE as a worthwhile web browser so its not high on the pagerank...
It is my belief that one of the major stumbling blocks for Free Software is the English language (having free mean both of those). It just confuses people time and time again. Someone suggested Freedom Software at some point, that sounds a bit more specific to me if a bit cornily patriotic.
I think RMS would probably say that Free Software is open source, but not Open Source.
*ducks*