You know, this is about the lamest excuse for losing a 90-odd million dollar investment that I've ever come across. It is so lame and came out so quickly that I'm almost paranoid enough to cry "coverup!". These are supposed to be rocket scientists for Goddess's sake, folks who have been dealing with systems of measurement since at least Physics 1. Do you really think someone just arbitrarily decided to start talking in a different system from everyone else? I have a hard time buying this.
When I heard the US congress-critters were attempting to slash a billion off the NASA budget in a year that has the biggest budget surplus in decades, I was sickened and felt like finding a less brain-dead country to live in. But if NASA seriously blew this mission over not keeping its units of measurement straight then Congress has a point. The bozos don't deserve funding.
I really like Computer Science. But after 20 years in the world of actual software practice I have to admit that CS has very little to do with the actual world of programming. Mostly I won't even dignify it by calling it "software engineering". We need another term. Maybe "slash and burn hacking"? Seriously. Most companies I've been in want sellable applications yesterday and could care less about building the necessary software infrastructure to improve future products. Put it out first, dazzle the consumers, scare your competitors and hope you can squeeze out the next release before too many customers yell too loudly.
Ever wonder why we manage to automate everyone else's work but our own? Many of our basic tools are antique technology that hasn't fundamentally changed much in a decade or two. Where are the good reverse engineering tools or libraries of software components or software analysis tools and repositories or excellent development environments? Answer: no startup can make money of these things fast enough to appease venture capital. So it doesn't happen.
So, I'm used to reading entire books on the Palm IIIx and I love this beast a lot. But what's next? Why does the thing run at such a ridiculously low processor speed? What is wrong with more memory or maybe a little mass storage card, stick, sliver or whatever? Why can't I dictate to the thing for hands free note taking?
The PP is nice but it ain't state of the art. It has some growing to do. And no, the VII isn't largely in the right direction. I want real full Internet access, not to pay through the nose for some speciality Internet services including even a per byte charge! Is this the third Millenium or what?
I do not think this article is particularly valid either. The government did not have to give away telephones and service or TV sets to have this staples of modern life become ubiquitous. At the most I believe well placed ad campaigns for the benefit of computers and exposure to computers in schools should be sufficient.
Slashdot Mirror
You know, this is about the lamest excuse for losing a 90-odd million dollar investment that I've ever come across. It is so lame and came out so quickly that I'm almost paranoid enough to cry "coverup!". These are supposed to be rocket scientists for Goddess's sake, folks who have been dealing with systems of measurement since at least Physics 1. Do you really think someone just arbitrarily decided to start talking in a different system from everyone else? I have a hard time buying this.
When I heard the US congress-critters were attempting to slash a billion off the NASA budget in a year that has the biggest budget surplus in decades, I was sickened and felt like finding a less brain-dead country to live in. But if NASA seriously blew this mission over not keeping its units of measurement straight then Congress has a point. The bozos don't deserve funding.
I really like Computer Science. But after 20 years in the world of actual software practice I have to admit that CS has very little to do with the actual world of programming. Mostly I won't even dignify it by calling it "software engineering". We need another term. Maybe "slash and burn hacking"? Seriously. Most companies I've been in want sellable applications yesterday and could care less about building the necessary software infrastructure to improve future products. Put it out first, dazzle the consumers, scare your competitors and hope you can squeeze out the next release before too many customers yell too loudly.
Ever wonder why we manage to automate everyone else's work but our own? Many of our basic tools are antique technology that hasn't fundamentally changed much in a decade or two. Where are the good reverse engineering tools or libraries of software components or software analysis tools and repositories or excellent development environments? Answer: no startup can make money of these things fast enough to appease venture capital. So it doesn't happen.
Do I sound a bit jaded?
So, I'm used to reading entire books on the Palm IIIx and I love this beast a lot. But what's next? Why does the thing run at such a ridiculously low processor speed? What is wrong with more memory or maybe a little mass storage card, stick, sliver or whatever? Why can't I dictate to the thing for hands free note taking?
The PP is nice but it ain't state of the art. It has some growing to do. And no, the VII isn't largely in the right direction. I want real full Internet access, not to pay through the nose for some speciality Internet services including even a per byte charge! Is this the third Millenium or what?
I do not think this article is particularly valid either. The government did not have to give away telephones and service or TV sets to have this staples of modern life become ubiquitous. At the most I believe well placed ad campaigns for the benefit of computers and exposure to computers in schools should be sufficient.