I think most people would agree that iOS is a more polished, reliable product than Android. The main problems with iOS, AFAICT, are:
-AppStore restrictions. It's fine to not accept apps that don't work, but I think the precedent set by rejecting the official Google Voice app is what's really bothering people. And lord knows we'll never see Flash, even when the devices become more than capable. I only hope that we'll get Google Maps Navigation one day, though that could be Google's withholding instead of Apple's
-AT&T. Seriously.
Basically, the restrictions that stifle what we can do with the device and OS for no sound technical reason.
I think the problem is that Debian is trying to be the "Universal OS," so it's trying to cater not just to people who want an easy install for their standard x86 desktop machine, but also to people who want the ENTIRE Debian archive on CD/DVD (maybe their machine will never connect to the 'net?), people who need to run on twelve different architectures, etc. When you try to please everyone, you often end up pissing everyone off.
On the other hand, I'd say Debian does a fantastic job at trying to be the right OS for everyone. If you sift through all the info on those saturated pages, it IS possible to get what you want. For instance, I did this:
debian.org -> Getting Debian (./distrib/) -> CD Images over BitTorrent (./CD/torrent-cd), BTW this page tells you you only really need the first CD -> amd64 -> CD1 and boom I'm downloading an ISO. Along the way they also link you to the install guide which, again, contains a lot of info for a lot of different installation types. I guess the main problem with Debian is that it tries to do too much and doesn't have enough on its website to direct people towards targeted info for their specific type of install. On the other hand, sometimes Debian can do things you thought no OS could do, precisely because it IS the "Universal OS." I'm a fan.
Re:Oh good! The trolls are out in full force!
on
iOS 4 Releases Today
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· Score: 1
Good job getting it to work with wine, and verily I say that wine has come a *long* way since I started using it six years ago, but we all know what we'd really like to see: a native port of the application.
but unfortunately Shuttleworth isn't the boss of Linux and other Linux people might (read: probably will) take offense to his trying to be the great leader of what is undoubtedly a good idea.
If Dell does it right and includes Flash, Java, DVD-playback and other common video codecs, and charges the same as or less than the Windows-based systems, I'll jump. I'm assuming that proper driver support is a given.
Flash, Java, OK. Some video codecs and definitely DVD-playback support, however, are dependent on illegal software. Not non-free, illegal. I see no easy way for Dell/Canonical to ship this stuff by default.
On the bright side, IIRC, Windows doesn't by default include a DVD player or codecs for most video. So the people who are watching videos on their computers are still a pretty 1337 crowd who actually went to the piratebay and downloade-er... I mean, bought a DVD player and codec pack. I wish there was a better option right now, but, well, we can thank at least in part the MPAA for our current situation.
The difference between Reiserfs and Linux is that Linux has contributions from tons of developers worldwide. In fact, though Linus is the BDFL, I don't think he writes huge portions of the code (anymore). If this happened to Linus, Linux would just need a new leader (first mate gets promoted) and maybe a name change (though I bet there are more people who know about Linux than there are people who know who Linus is, so maybe not), whereas now that Hans is in deep doo-doo, there's no obvious person to take his place.
I don't think we should lose any of the innovations Hans contributed either, and I hope someone worthy comes along to continue his work, but I don't know if Hans ever really had a "second in command."
try ubuntu. it's the best desktop operating system out there, it just needs hardware made for it and proprietary software that people like written for it (which is pretty much the only edge that windows has right now).
yeah. it's also great for people who are new to linux and unsure if they actually want to install it on their machine. i tell all my n00b friends that if knoppix works fine on their box, then, theoretically when they install a distro on their harddisk it should work as well (especially if it is debian-based).
If your email provider doesn't have a spam filter, switch...or use a client program (like thunderbird) with spam detection abilities. it's not hard. seriously.
As a general paradigm: Do NOT just click "yes to every dialog that flies your way. This is how you ended up in the state you're in.
Because you're bound to get some buildup, use Adaware.
Be happy and profitable on the 'net.
Don't give up folks, you NEED the internet! Seriously.
Hehe, have you read Maddox's websense fiasco. It is, as usual entertaining.
More on topic: I'm so glad that my parents didn't let me play video games when I was a kid because it's that much more exciting when all the new games/systems come out as an adult. Seriously, I'm already fairly strongly addicted to HL2. Games are good, they give us something to look forward to.
PS, I like your sig.
i don't think ruthlessness and evilness are mutually exclusive. seriously. it's just that M$ is guided solely by their desire to make money. that's not inherently evil, sure, it causes a lot of bad stuff (and software), but...yeah. i don't think there's anything evil about that. unless you get into saying "well, capitalism is evil" but that's a whole 'nother discussion not fit for us nerds. don't get me wrong, i hate m$ as much as the rest of us.
of course this is to be expected. i mean, microsoft, though they may not admit it, knows that linux is a big block in the way of their domination of the software market (how many sane people use microsoft on any kind of serious server?). it's not that M$ is evil either, they're just another capitalist corporation. just because they've been hugely sucessful doesn't make them evil. but they are ruthless and that's probably how they got to the top.
if these people don't have access to clean water, i think they'll trust the cleaning method and go for this. the only reason they would have for not accepting it would be if they were rich enough to buy clean water from a more reliable/comforting source (like, one with water that hasn't been in a toilet). either way, people need water right?
Why is part of the treasury website have the URL moneyfactory.com? It really seems like a silly URL for an official government to have. Maybe I misunderstand exactly what they are. But even still, why would our government hire the kind of goofballs that would buy moneyfactory.com? at least they run linux:-)
is that really our goal? i already think oss is superior to anything M$ puts out. the only reason microsoft is still dominant is because it's what everyone is used to. all their favorite commercial products (games, office apps, etc.) are written for windows. i don't want a big unified all-powerful linux, i like it the way it is, with tons of highly specialized choices so i can pick the distro that suits my needs best. the question is, do you want choice or not?
seriously, can we forget about "beating" microsoft. what's the point?
Specifically for us geeks it means cheaper cellular phones and laptops due to an oversupply of LCD manufacturing.
I think LCDs are the kind of things that attract non-geeks too. I mean, we've been trying to use eye-candy to lure people into using linux for ages (and by ages I mean...a couple of years). So I think a lot of people are going to start buying LCDs if they become cheap. I mean, I know plenty of geeks who would love to have a 21" LCD too. Maybe I just hang around all geeks and so I have no true perception of what "normal" people are like. In any event it's good that the prices are being lowered.
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I think most people would agree that iOS is a more polished, reliable product than Android. The main problems with iOS, AFAICT, are:
-AppStore restrictions. It's fine to not accept apps that don't work, but I think the precedent set by rejecting the official Google Voice app is what's really bothering people. And lord knows we'll never see Flash, even when the devices become more than capable. I only hope that we'll get Google Maps Navigation one day, though that could be Google's withholding instead of Apple's
-AT&T. Seriously.
Basically, the restrictions that stifle what we can do with the device and OS for no sound technical reason.
I think the problem is that Debian is trying to be the "Universal OS," so it's trying to cater not just to people who want an easy install for their standard x86 desktop machine, but also to people who want the ENTIRE Debian archive on CD/DVD (maybe their machine will never connect to the 'net?), people who need to run on twelve different architectures, etc. When you try to please everyone, you often end up pissing everyone off.
On the other hand, I'd say Debian does a fantastic job at trying to be the right OS for everyone. If you sift through all the info on those saturated pages, it IS possible to get what you want. For instance, I did this:
debian.org -> Getting Debian (./distrib/) -> CD Images over BitTorrent (./CD/torrent-cd), BTW this page tells you you only really need the first CD -> amd64 -> CD1 and boom I'm downloading an ISO. Along the way they also link you to the install guide which, again, contains a lot of info for a lot of different installation types. I guess the main problem with Debian is that it tries to do too much and doesn't have enough on its website to direct people towards targeted info for their specific type of install. On the other hand, sometimes Debian can do things you thought no OS could do, precisely because it IS the "Universal OS." I'm a fan.
Are you telling us to think...different?
Good job getting it to work with wine, and verily I say that wine has come a *long* way since I started using it six years ago, but we all know what we'd really like to see: a native port of the application.
I put on my robe and wizard hat..
but unfortunately Shuttleworth isn't the boss of Linux and other Linux people might (read: probably will) take offense to his trying to be the great leader of what is undoubtedly a good idea.
This bug is still the worst I've seen: http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=155873
Flash, Java, OK. Some video codecs and definitely DVD-playback support, however, are dependent on illegal software. Not non-free, illegal. I see no easy way for Dell/Canonical to ship this stuff by default.
On the bright side, IIRC, Windows doesn't by default include a DVD player or codecs for most video. So the people who are watching videos on their computers are still a pretty 1337 crowd who actually went to the piratebay and downloade-er... I mean, bought a DVD player and codec pack. I wish there was a better option right now, but, well, we can thank at least in part the MPAA for our current situation.
The difference between Reiserfs and Linux is that Linux has contributions from tons of developers worldwide. In fact, though Linus is the BDFL, I don't think he writes huge portions of the code (anymore). If this happened to Linus, Linux would just need a new leader (first mate gets promoted) and maybe a name change (though I bet there are more people who know about Linux than there are people who know who Linus is, so maybe not), whereas now that Hans is in deep doo-doo, there's no obvious person to take his place.
I don't think we should lose any of the innovations Hans contributed either, and I hope someone worthy comes along to continue his work, but I don't know if Hans ever really had a "second in command."
Kyle: Aw no...
......You wanna get high?
Towlie: When you're playin' sports, the sweat can get in your face. That's why Towlie says "Always keep an extra towel in your duffle bag."
Stan: OK...we will...
Towlie: All right!
Kyle: No we don't want to get high!
Towlie: OK...you sure?
Cartman: Yes, go away you stupid towel!
Stan: Oh dude, did you see that? I cut off your face and ate it!
Cartman: That's so...kewl!
try ubuntu. it's the best desktop operating system out there, it just needs hardware made for it and proprietary software that people like written for it (which is pretty much the only edge that windows has right now).
why would anyone pay $22/month for dialup when you can get some sort of broadband for $10/month more (or dialup somewhere else for so much less?)?
am i missing something?
does this mean that all the warez d00dz using comcast are in deep deep trouble?
yeah. it's also great for people who are new to linux and unsure if they actually want to install it on their machine. i tell all my n00b friends that if knoppix works fine on their box, then, theoretically when they install a distro on their harddisk it should work as well (especially if it is debian-based).
every time i hear about beowulf i instantly flash back to 10th grade english class and start drifting off to sleep.
i'm gonna cast my vote right now for the neil gaiman version right now just because i love everything i've read by him.
if you really have to, it isn't all that difficult to run the windows flash studio mx with wine.
Don't give up folks, you NEED the internet! Seriously.
Hehe, have you read Maddox's websense fiasco. It is, as usual entertaining. More on topic: I'm so glad that my parents didn't let me play video games when I was a kid because it's that much more exciting when all the new games/systems come out as an adult. Seriously, I'm already fairly strongly addicted to HL2. Games are good, they give us something to look forward to. PS, I like your sig.
i don't think ruthlessness and evilness are mutually exclusive. seriously. it's just that M$ is guided solely by their desire to make money. that's not inherently evil, sure, it causes a lot of bad stuff (and software), but...yeah. i don't think there's anything evil about that. unless you get into saying "well, capitalism is evil" but that's a whole 'nother discussion not fit for us nerds. don't get me wrong, i hate m$ as much as the rest of us.
of course this is to be expected. i mean, microsoft, though they may not admit it, knows that linux is a big block in the way of their domination of the software market (how many sane people use microsoft on any kind of serious server?). it's not that M$ is evil either, they're just another capitalist corporation. just because they've been hugely sucessful doesn't make them evil. but they are ruthless and that's probably how they got to the top.
if these people don't have access to clean water, i think they'll trust the cleaning method and go for this. the only reason they would have for not accepting it would be if they were rich enough to buy clean water from a more reliable/comforting source (like, one with water that hasn't been in a toilet). either way, people need water right?
Why is part of the treasury website have the URL moneyfactory.com? It really seems like a silly URL for an official government to have. Maybe I misunderstand exactly what they are. But even still, why would our government hire the kind of goofballs that would buy moneyfactory.com? at least they run linux :-)
when are they gonna find gollum!!??
is that really our goal? i already think oss is superior to anything M$ puts out. the only reason microsoft is still dominant is because it's what everyone is used to. all their favorite commercial products (games, office apps, etc.) are written for windows. i don't want a big unified all-powerful linux, i like it the way it is, with tons of highly specialized choices so i can pick the distro that suits my needs best. the question is, do you want choice or not?
seriously, can we forget about "beating" microsoft. what's the point?
Specifically for us geeks it means cheaper cellular phones and laptops due to an oversupply of LCD manufacturing.
I think LCDs are the kind of things that attract non-geeks too. I mean, we've been trying to use eye-candy to lure people into using linux for ages (and by ages I mean...a couple of years). So I think a lot of people are going to start buying LCDs if they become cheap. I mean, I know plenty of geeks who would love to have a 21" LCD too. Maybe I just hang around all geeks and so I have no true perception of what "normal" people are like. In any event it's good that the prices are being lowered.