Releasing a Linux version legitimises Linux, at least in the eyes of Apple, which is not something they want to do. Apple is competing with Linux for the No. 2 operating system place behind Windows and anything that helps Linux, hurts themselves. For people who are, or become, dissatisfied with Windows, there are basically two choices: Mac or Linux. (I'll admit I'm simplifying slightly so dont complain about me ommitting the *BSDs etc.) Why should Apple give users one less reason to choose the Mac over Linux by porting iTunes over to Linux. It would be like Nintendo porting Mario Kart: Double Dash to the Xbox, it would be one more reason to choose the Xbox over the Gamecube. With Windows it makes financial sense to port to that platform because of the huge user base, the same can't be said for Linux since the market is relatively small and actually porting iTunes to linux is non-trivial since all of the libraries that iTunes relies on (e.g. QuickTime) would need porting as well.
In the short-term you are correct, but a major limiting factor for the introduction of electric cars is that no one wants to wait for an hour to recharge their car half-way through a long journey. Until an electric car can be recharged in the same amount of time as it takes to refuel a petrol or diesel car people are going to be put off by the inconvienience of long recharge times - this technology looks like it could solve that problem. Now, it doesn't mean that widespread use of electric cars is imminent, but it's one less hurdle on the path to their adoption.
This page explains it much better than I ever could. The great thing about the fact that it acts just like a USB hard disk is that you can put anything you want on there. Want to shift some ISO images to your friends house who doesn't have broadband? stick them on the iRiver and take it over to him. Although it's a USB2 device it will still work with USB1.1 only computers, just slower.
I keep a backup of my University work on mine, that way if my house burns down or my computer gets stolen while I'm out, chances are that I'll have the iRiver with me and so won't be inconvenienced by the loss of work. (Insurance may be able to replace a stolen computer, but try getting them to replace a 10,000 word report you spent weeks writing.)
Practically the same size (2-3mm thicker), exactly the same weight and capacity. about GBP40 cheaper than the 20GB iPod here in the UK and it comes with a built in FM radio and a great LCD remote.
It plays OGGs and WMVs but not AAC (plus MP3s obviously).
It'd interesting to investigate being able to print black n' white on specially treated paper without using ink or toner.
This is already possible, they are called thermal printers and use heat-sensitive paper that goes black when heated. they are commonly used in label printing and early fax-machines.
Are you sure scsi is broken? I just upgraded to 2.6.3-gentoo-r1 at the same time as adding the scsi modules so that I can access my iRiver mp3 player as a USB hard disk and it works fine.
I think what he is trying to say is that the actual launch into space is the most dangerous part of the whole space exploration adventure. Therefore implying that one mission of a year and a half's duration would be safer than making several launches over the same period.
I can see where he is coming from, but it's an overly simplistic view of the situation especially since, as you say, the astronauts wouldn't be sitting in orbit for a year and a half but attempting manned interplanetary travel for the first time.
You're wouldn't really be stealing satellite since you'd still be paying for it, you would just be watching it at an address different to the one you gave when signing up. When my dad was working in Slovenia for a year he enquired about the availabilty of Sky there and was encouraged (unofficially) to sign up in the UK and move the equipment out there by a Sky salesperson. They don't really care where you are watching from as long as you continue paying.
If you're going to say "mebibytes", you also have to use "gibibytes" and "kibibits". Consistency within your own post is at least as important as consistency between international units.
Only if he really means gibibytes and kibibits, he can mix and match between multiples of 2^10 and 1000 if he really wants to and still be correct he just needs to be careful when converting between the two.
Depends on your definition of connected. Some would argue that if there is no possibility of any traffic being exchanged by a computer and the net, then it's not connected, even if there is a physical (cable) connection.
Who said my monitor was monochrome? I certainly didn't. I was pointing out that you don't usually get decently sized, let alone widescreen, black and white TVs. So if I wanted to save money on my licence fee by getting a black and white TV I would have to have get an old, tiny-screened TV.
Last time I looked Dixons had sold out of 19" widescreen black and white TVs, besides I don't see the point in paying the BBC to use my XBox. I don't own a TV because there is never anything decent worth watching.
I dont have a TV either (being a student I can't afford a TV licence here in the UK). I have my XBox connected to a spare computer monitor I have on my desk.
CD-ROM drives are rated at ever increasing speeds, yet they barely mention the fact that they're calculating the maximum read speed it can ever achieve while reading the *inner-most* track of a CD.
CD-ROM drives read faster at the outer-edge since a constant angular velocity equates to a greater linear velocity the further you get from the centre of rotation.
I *Do* use it for only one network - MSN. Through some quirk of fate, all my friends have managed to standardise on MSN without really trying to.
It has a much cleaner interface than the official MSN client, and I dont miss the voice chat feature since I use TeamSpeak to talk to my brother over the 'net.
Re:My experiences with Gentoo
on
Gentoo Reviewed
·
· Score: 1
Another topic altogether though, is the thing that got me, the person in the article actually stated, "if you have three days a week to dedicate to Gentoo, its the best" or something along those lines.
The exact quote is "If you have three days to a week to devote to Gentoo", The author was referring to the initial setup time, rather than the ongoing maintenance time required.
Slashdot Mirror
Releasing a Linux version legitimises Linux, at least in the eyes of Apple, which is not something they want to do. Apple is competing with Linux for the No. 2 operating system place behind Windows and anything that helps Linux, hurts themselves. For people who are, or become, dissatisfied with Windows, there are basically two choices: Mac or Linux. (I'll admit I'm simplifying slightly so dont complain about me ommitting the *BSDs etc.) Why should Apple give users one less reason to choose the Mac over Linux by porting iTunes over to Linux. It would be like Nintendo porting Mario Kart: Double Dash to the Xbox, it would be one more reason to choose the Xbox over the Gamecube.
With Windows it makes financial sense to port to that platform because of the huge user base, the same can't be said for Linux since the market is relatively small and actually porting iTunes to linux is non-trivial since all of the libraries that iTunes relies on (e.g. QuickTime) would need porting as well.
Seeing as mosquitoes have the ability to fly they don't really need an Ark to survive a flood.
shouldn't that be 'martianoid'?
In the short-term you are correct, but a major limiting factor for the introduction of electric cars is that no one wants to wait for an hour to recharge their car half-way through a long journey. Until an electric car can be recharged in the same amount of time as it takes to refuel a petrol or diesel car people are going to be put off by the inconvienience of long recharge times - this technology looks like it could solve that problem. Now, it doesn't mean that widespread use of electric cars is imminent, but it's one less hurdle on the path to their adoption.
To devil with sorting ease. Clarity is what is important. A four digit year, and a text month (01-APR-2004) is completely unambiguous.
Until you start worrying about languages other than English.
How big's a rock?
This page explains it much better than I ever could. The great thing about the fact that it acts just like a USB hard disk is that you can put anything you want on there. Want to shift some ISO images to your friends house who doesn't have broadband? stick them on the iRiver and take it over to him. Although it's a USB2 device it will still work with USB1.1 only computers, just slower.
I keep a backup of my University work on mine, that way if my house burns down or my computer gets stolen while I'm out, chances are that I'll have the iRiver with me and so won't be inconvenienced by the loss of work. (Insurance may be able to replace a stolen computer, but try getting them to replace a 10,000 word report you spent weeks writing.)
iRiver iHP-120
Practically the same size (2-3mm thicker), exactly the same weight and capacity. about GBP40 cheaper than the 20GB iPod here in the UK and it comes with a built in FM radio and a great LCD remote.
It plays OGGs and WMVs but not AAC (plus MP3s obviously).
This is already possible, they are called thermal printers and use heat-sensitive paper that goes black when heated. they are commonly used in label printing and early fax-machines.
Are you sure scsi is broken? I just upgraded to 2.6.3-gentoo-r1 at the same time as adding the scsi modules so that I can access my iRiver mp3 player as a USB hard disk and it works fine.
Here's hoping its a movie.
I think what he is trying to say is that the actual launch into space is the most dangerous part of the whole space exploration adventure. Therefore implying that one mission of a year and a half's duration would be safer than making several launches over the same period. I can see where he is coming from, but it's an overly simplistic view of the situation especially since, as you say, the astronauts wouldn't be sitting in orbit for a year and a half but attempting manned interplanetary travel for the first time.
doing emerge -Up world on my 1.4 system lists (amoung other things) sys-kernel/gentoo-dev-sources-2.6.3-r1 so its gets you half way there at least.
You're wouldn't really be stealing satellite since you'd still be paying for it, you would just be watching it at an address different to the one you gave when signing up.
When my dad was working in Slovenia for a year he enquired about the availabilty of Sky there and was encouraged (unofficially) to sign up in the UK and move the equipment out there by a Sky salesperson. They don't really care where you are watching from as long as you continue paying.
Depends on how far away the server is.
Only if he really means gibibytes and kibibits, he can mix and match between multiples of 2^10 and 1000 if he really wants to and still be correct he just needs to be careful when converting between the two.
PS. isn't 'kibibits' a type of pet food?
Depends on your definition of connected. Some would argue that if there is no possibility of any traffic being exchanged by a computer and the net, then it's not connected, even if there is a physical (cable) connection.
Who said my monitor was monochrome? I certainly didn't. I was pointing out that you don't usually get decently sized, let alone widescreen, black and white TVs. So if I wanted to save money on my licence fee by getting a black and white TV I would have to have get an old, tiny-screened TV.
Last time I looked Dixons had sold out of 19" widescreen black and white TVs, besides I don't see the point in paying the BBC to use my XBox. I don't own a TV because there is never anything decent worth watching.
I dont have a TV either (being a student I can't afford a TV licence here in the UK). I have my XBox connected to a spare computer monitor I have on my desk.
CD-ROM drives read faster at the outer-edge since a constant angular velocity equates to a greater linear velocity the further you get from the centre of rotation.
I *Do* use it for only one network - MSN. Through some quirk of fate, all my friends have managed to standardise on MSN without really trying to. It has a much cleaner interface than the official MSN client, and I dont miss the voice chat feature since I use TeamSpeak to talk to my brother over the 'net.
The exact quote is "If you have three days to a week to devote to Gentoo", The author was referring to the initial setup time, rather than the ongoing maintenance time required.