While Linux is just a kernel which can run on a variety of processors, a full OS is another story. Distros are available for several platforms, but let's face it, if you want to be sure a Linux app works on your box or is even available, you'd best be running Linux on some form of x86.
Seeing as they'd never ship source for their game, I'm sure it's x86 binaries.
I guess that kills my plans of firing it up on my DEC Alpha...
Pixar hasn't used Macs every for primary work to my knowledge and Steve Jobs has been CEO there for YEARS. He's smart enough to let them pick the best horsepower to do the job.
Steve's been back at Apple since 1997 (nearly 6 years), and hasn't mandated a switch to Macs. If he did, you'd have heard an anonymous outpouring of complaints. But what you hear is, the G5 smokes and that they're migrating to Macs. This looks like the people doing the work made the decision.
Now, that isn't to say that in a year or 2 they don't switch to Itanium 2s or Opterons. I'm sure Pixar will continue to choose the most powerful machines for their type of work as they have done so in the past (SGI, Sun, Linux, Apple, etc)...
Pixar is migrating to OS X, primarily because of the G5. Pixar's OS/machine of choice seems to vary with the wind, whatever is the most powerful at the time. It seems that they believe the G5 is where it's at in the near future.
They're posting jobs for techs to assist in a migration to OS X.
I worked at Stanford back in 95 for a year and there were alot of stunningly gorgeous gals walking by my desk to go into the computer lab all the time.
I must admit that maintaining a professional demeanor was difficult at times, but somehow I managed.
I don't know what your experience is, but I've worked at several companies that relied on off-shore resources for some engineering. Sometimes it was collaborating on a project and in some cases entire mini projects were assigned to the off-shore engineers.
In every case, massive re-engineering needed to be done.
It sounds stupid to say this, but these guys just aren't as good as the seasoned tech people we have in the US. They can't see the big picture. They lack the comprehensive technical immersion that we in the US have. This immersion gives us a greater understanding of technology, how it works, how to architect it, etc. Most off-shore engineers were in non-technical jobs before they managed to go to college and learn how to program. They just don't have the background that we do. In 20, 50, 100 years I'm sure this technology gap will fade and perhaps even vanish, but certainly not in the short term.
Some of these suggestions are not tech oriented in the least, but they are things I'd try to see on a North American Trip:
- Yosemite National Park - Grand Canyon - Computer History Museum in Mountain View, Ca - Disneyland in the Los Angeles Area (sorry DisneyWorld in FL is NOT the same!) - any place with a big IMAX screen, such as Paramount's Great America in Santa Clara, Ca. - The Tech, in downtown San Jose, Ca - Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. You'll see bear and buffalo and Old Faithful.
Hell, there's a zillion places and I know I can't think of them all, but I'm sure this thread will have alot of good suggestions. I hope that I was able to add at least one good one that wasn't already posted.
Sounds like you'll be having a great time on the trip, I wish I could do something similar...
Since when does QA set the release date in open OR closed software? Certainly not with any company I've worked for.
The role of QA is, unfortunately for the state of software, rapidly diminishing. Open Source has only rarely done QA in a professional manner due to it's very nature. And in closed source in today's economy something has to give between time, money and quality. We all know it's not going to be money and time to market is viewed as the all-important element, leaving one thing to suffer.
I have literally worked for a startup where it was essentially "It boots? SHIP IT NOW!" That's how sad it is with respect to professional development these days.
These days the only people that care about Quality are the customer and QA.
flurry of updates for clients such as Trillain, Gaim, Proteus and the like to support (and possibly appear like) the new MSN client.
I think it would be friggin hilarious to get a message on Proteus that I'd won $1000 for using the MSN client.
After all, what's so wrong about that? I'm using their system, aren't I? Why should I have to use THEIR client if I'm still hooked in to their system and their network of users?
It'd still be friggin hilarious, though. And so classically Microsoft to fark it up like that.
Given Microsoft's record of continual failure with regards to security, I've always thought putting MS in charge of security (as with Palladium) was like asking the wolf to guard the sheep.
If it's over the internet, just SSL the connect to a secure server/db system and let the voting commence!
Then it's just a matter of browser compatibility and for something as simple as voting and FORM and POST, that's not that tough. Hell, it wouldn't be that hard to dynamically generate the form based on location and registered party using PHP. Building the database to enable all this is really the big task.
grapple in this. If I can't be Tarzan, it just won't be the same...
Linux is still waiting in the wings
on
Linux on the Desktop
·
· Score: 3, Insightful
"they expect adoption of desktop Linux to increase over the next few years"
That's what they said a few years ago. And that's probably what they'll be saying a few years from now. Don't get me wrong, I like Linux. But it's just not for mom and pop and I doubt it ever will be given who is working on it and what they've been doing.
Linux innovates very little except in technological areas. It's GUIs even today fall short of Windows and Mac GUIs, and several years from now I don't expect Linux will catch up. I don't see MS or Apple kicking back sipping pina coladas at the poolside.
I think alot of great work has been done in Linux and I'm a Linux user myself, but not as my primary desktop. Linux is an OS made for geeks by geeks that love to push the geek envelope. That's great stuff in and of itself, but it's not going to put Linux in the mainstream.
And does it want to be mainstream? Do Linux users want it to be mainstream? For the most part, I think not. When asking a technical question in Linux circles, the responses you get range from apathetic to offensive. RTFM! NEWB! It's pretty rare you actually get someone with a little compassion that has felt your pain and is willing to help you out.
Everything about Linux (and Unix in general) seems to be as if it is some kind of rite of passage. You must fight the bear without weapons, then you must walk the fire barefooted and then you must master Unix! It is that final task at which the brave warrior often stumbles...
I've often felt that 1 year on a motorcycle should be a requirement for a driver's license. It teaches you to watch the road conditions better and be FAR more observant of people's actions.
I'm glad to see someone else feels the same way. Let's start a petition and make it happen!
Duct tape: It's like The Force, there is a light side and a dark side and it binds the world around us.
If ya can't Duct it, fuck it!
Gnumeric is ok, but not THAT hot
on
Gnumeric Turns 5
·
· Score: 1
I used Gnumeric at my last gig since I had a Linux box as my main system. I had to launch it from shell since you need an environment variable set in order to write Excel files. That was kind of annoying, plus I had to dig around on the net to find out what that variable was.
Gnumeric is just enough spreadsheet to get you by. It's pretty streamlined compared to Excel, which is the polar opposite, a bloated piece of corporateware.
And for the humorous part of this post, lines still in use:
#include stdio.h/* Gnumeric is licensed under the GPL */ i++ void main();
what kind of RAM is on the Dell? Not the high end RAM that's on the Mac, I'm sure.
A DVD-R on the Cac is far superior to the CD on the PC
I've seen those $50.00 monitors... I'd rather buy mine separate
Don't forget to add FireWire to the PC
And the Dell comes in a case that's a bitch to open and work on, so figure another $100-300 on a REAL case, not some plastic $60 PoS.
Sure, if you want the cheapest piece of shit you can buy, you can do better with the PC. But if you want something that you can admire, be productive on and work on with ease, the Mac is a better choice against comparable high end PCs.
I just love it when PC myopics try to compare a bottom of the line PC vs a mid range or high end Mac. They always forget that you GET MORE WITH A MAC. The SuperDrive, the case, the RAM, the larger Drive, built-in FireWire and on some models, wireless and bluetooth.
You can't compare Apples and Oranges. You have to re-spec the PC to match what comes stock on the Mac to even be in the ballpark for a valid comparison.
It was not rendered without CG effects. The nuclear destruction scene you describe is in T2 and was rendered on a Macintosh using Electric Image (although most of the movie's CGI was done with Alias).
The internet is a public resource, like a city street. You step on that street, you can't control who takes your picture from a window across the street or who sees you or watches what you do.
That doesn't excuse the slimeball tactics of 'renting' your information when their policy says it will never be sold. In my opinion, recieving money for you info equates to a sale. The term sale doesn't necessarily mean transfer of ownership.
There will always be unethical people and companies that will stoop to anything to make a buck in this greed driven world we live in. You cannot escape from it, but you can limit your vulnerability by being away of the public nature of the net and people's desire to exploit others for their own gain and adjusting your activities accordingly.
Slashdot Mirror
While Linux is just a kernel which can run on a variety of processors, a full OS is another story. Distros are available for several platforms, but let's face it, if you want to be sure a Linux app works on your box or is even available, you'd best be running Linux on some form of x86.
Seeing as they'd never ship source for their game, I'm sure it's x86 binaries.
I guess that kills my plans of firing it up on my DEC Alpha...
The job title is: Mac OS X Migration Contractor
Pixar hasn't used Macs every for primary work to my knowledge and Steve Jobs has been CEO there for YEARS. He's smart enough to let them pick the best horsepower to do the job.
Steve's been back at Apple since 1997 (nearly 6 years), and hasn't mandated a switch to Macs. If he did, you'd have heard an anonymous outpouring of complaints. But what you hear is, the G5 smokes and that they're migrating to Macs. This looks like the people doing the work made the decision.
Now, that isn't to say that in a year or 2 they don't switch to Itanium 2s or Opterons. I'm sure Pixar will continue to choose the most powerful machines for their type of work as they have done so in the past (SGI, Sun, Linux, Apple, etc)...
Pixar is migrating to OS X, primarily because of the G5. Pixar's OS/machine of choice seems to vary with the wind, whatever is the most powerful at the time. It seems that they believe the G5 is where it's at in the near future.
They're posting jobs for techs to assist in a migration to OS X.
I worked at Stanford back in 95 for a year and there were alot of stunningly gorgeous gals walking by my desk to go into the computer lab all the time.
I must admit that maintaining a professional demeanor was difficult at times, but somehow I managed.
I don't know what your experience is, but I've worked at several companies that relied on off-shore resources for some engineering. Sometimes it was collaborating on a project and in some cases entire mini projects were assigned to the off-shore engineers.
In every case, massive re-engineering needed to be done.
It sounds stupid to say this, but these guys just aren't as good as the seasoned tech people we have in the US. They can't see the big picture. They lack the comprehensive technical immersion that we in the US have. This immersion gives us a greater understanding of technology, how it works, how to architect it, etc. Most off-shore engineers were in non-technical jobs before they managed to go to college and learn how to program. They just don't have the background that we do. In 20, 50, 100 years I'm sure this technology gap will fade and perhaps even vanish, but certainly not in the short term.
Cringely has always struck me as a moron.
A simple perusal of copyright laws would show anyone with half a brain that what he proposes is illegal.
Fair use allows for the end user to make a copy for PERSONAL use. Not corporate use, not public use, not any other use. Personal, baby.
Survey says....
BZZZT!
Some of these suggestions are not tech oriented in the least, but they are things I'd try to see on a North American Trip:
- Yosemite National Park
- Grand Canyon
- Computer History Museum in Mountain View, Ca
- Disneyland in the Los Angeles Area (sorry DisneyWorld in FL is NOT the same!)
- any place with a big IMAX screen, such as Paramount's Great America in Santa Clara, Ca.
- The Tech, in downtown San Jose, Ca
- Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. You'll see bear and buffalo and Old Faithful.
Hell, there's a zillion places and I know I can't think of them all, but I'm sure this thread will have alot of good suggestions. I hope that I was able to add at least one good one that wasn't already posted.
Sounds like you'll be having a great time on the trip, I wish I could do something similar...
Since when does QA set the release date in open OR closed software? Certainly not with any company I've worked for.
The role of QA is, unfortunately for the state of software, rapidly diminishing. Open Source has only rarely done QA in a professional manner due to it's very nature. And in closed source in today's economy something has to give between time, money and quality. We all know it's not going to be money and time to market is viewed as the all-important element, leaving one thing to suffer.
I have literally worked for a startup where it was essentially "It boots? SHIP IT NOW!" That's how sad it is with respect to professional development these days.
These days the only people that care about Quality are the customer and QA.
flurry of updates for clients such as Trillain, Gaim, Proteus and the like to support (and possibly appear like) the new MSN client.
I think it would be friggin hilarious to get a message on Proteus that I'd won $1000 for using the MSN client.
After all, what's so wrong about that? I'm using their system, aren't I? Why should I have to use THEIR client if I'm still hooked in to their system and their network of users?
It'd still be friggin hilarious, though. And so classically Microsoft to fark it up like that.
So much for security in our homeland...
Given Microsoft's record of continual failure with regards to security, I've always thought putting MS in charge of security (as with Palladium) was like asking the wolf to guard the sheep.
And the site is essentially down for the count.
Could Slashdot be just a front for an evil empire that unleashes DOS attacks on their enemies?
Tonight on Inside Edition!
So if the spammer weighs as much as a duck....
then he's made of wood?
and therefore?
A WITCH!
BURN HIM! BURN HIM!
If it's over the internet, just SSL the connect to a secure server/db system and let the voting commence!
Then it's just a matter of browser compatibility and for something as simple as voting and FORM and POST, that's not that tough. Hell, it wouldn't be that hard to dynamically generate the form based on location and registered party using PHP. Building the database to enable all this is really the big task.
But there's no reason it should be Windows only.
Are you laughing at the economic woes of other Americans? Have plenty of money to blow?
This THIS is the toy for you!
grapple in this. If I can't be Tarzan, it just won't be the same...
"they expect adoption of desktop Linux to increase over the next few years"
That's what they said a few years ago. And that's probably what they'll be saying a few years from now. Don't get me wrong, I like Linux. But it's just not for mom and pop and I doubt it ever will be given who is working on it and what they've been doing.
Linux innovates very little except in technological areas. It's GUIs even today fall short of Windows and Mac GUIs, and several years from now I don't expect Linux will catch up. I don't see MS or Apple kicking back sipping pina coladas at the poolside.
I think alot of great work has been done in Linux and I'm a Linux user myself, but not as my primary desktop. Linux is an OS made for geeks by geeks that love to push the geek envelope. That's great stuff in and of itself, but it's not going to put Linux in the mainstream.
And does it want to be mainstream? Do Linux users want it to be mainstream? For the most part, I think not. When asking a technical question in Linux circles, the responses you get range from apathetic to offensive. RTFM! NEWB! It's pretty rare you actually get someone with a little compassion that has felt your pain and is willing to help you out.
Everything about Linux (and Unix in general) seems to be as if it is some kind of rite of passage. You must fight the bear without weapons, then you must walk the fire barefooted and then you must master Unix! It is that final task at which the brave warrior often stumbles...
yeah, I know it doesn't stand for front side bus.
That's called a J O K E.
I'm sure the Russian FSB (Front Side Bus?) would be happy to allow users, on request, to continue to have their cell phone usage encrypted...
From their new home in Siberia....
I've often felt that 1 year on a motorcycle should be a requirement for a driver's license. It teaches you to watch the road conditions better and be FAR more observant of people's actions.
I'm glad to see someone else feels the same way. Let's start a petition and make it happen!
Duct tape:
It's like The Force, there is a light side and a dark side and it binds the world around us.
If ya can't Duct it, fuck it!
I used Gnumeric at my last gig since I had a Linux box as my main system. I had to launch it from shell since you need an environment variable set in order to write Excel files. That was kind of annoying, plus I had to dig around on the net to find out what that variable was.
/* Gnumeric is licensed under the GPL */
Gnumeric is just enough spreadsheet to get you by. It's pretty streamlined compared to Excel, which is the polar opposite, a bloated piece of corporateware.
And for the humorous part of this post, lines still in use:
#include stdio.h
i++
void main();
what kind of RAM is on the Dell? Not the high end RAM that's on the Mac, I'm sure.
A DVD-R on the Cac is far superior to the CD on the PC
I've seen those $50.00 monitors... I'd rather buy mine separate
Don't forget to add FireWire to the PC
And the Dell comes in a case that's a bitch to open and work on, so figure another $100-300 on a REAL case, not some plastic $60 PoS.
Sure, if you want the cheapest piece of shit you can buy, you can do better with the PC. But if you want something that you can admire, be productive on and work on with ease, the Mac is a better choice against comparable high end PCs.
I just love it when PC myopics try to compare a bottom of the line PC vs a mid range or high end Mac. They always forget that you GET MORE WITH A MAC. The SuperDrive, the case, the RAM, the larger Drive, built-in FireWire and on some models, wireless and bluetooth.
You can't compare Apples and Oranges. You have to re-spec the PC to match what comes stock on the Mac to even be in the ballpark for a valid comparison.
It was not rendered without CG effects. The nuclear destruction scene you describe is in T2 and was rendered on a Macintosh using Electric Image (although most of the movie's CGI was done with Alias).
The internet is a public resource, like a city street. You step on that street, you can't control who takes your picture from a window across the street or who sees you or watches what you do.
That doesn't excuse the slimeball tactics of 'renting' your information when their policy says it will never be sold. In my opinion, recieving money for you info equates to a sale. The term sale doesn't necessarily mean transfer of ownership.
There will always be unethical people and companies that will stoop to anything to make a buck in this greed driven world we live in. You cannot escape from it, but you can limit your vulnerability by being away of the public nature of the net and people's desire to exploit others for their own gain and adjusting your activities accordingly.