Just think if people had patented things like "a method of repeating a process in a computer program" or "a method of branching a decision in a computer program" sometime years ago and then lobbied government to extend patent periods.
I've yet to find a feature of macros in Office that can't be done another way. Sandboxing would be great so that you'd know if it was going outside of the workbook/document. Some little game from someone or something with some calculations should only work within the document. I haven't tried macros in OOo. Can they go out or not?
And hidden filetypes are an "arggghhhh!" for me when I go onto a PC that isn't mine.
On say a Fedora install, you set up a user and an admin. If I set up a machine for my non-techie parents, I'd get the stuff they need, and give them user rights. Admin would be for me.
On Windows, the default is that they set up a password, which has admin rights. No guy at any computer store I've been in says "I'll set up a user and an admin". No-one ever teaches anyone that. Correct me if I'm wrong, but there's no such default behaviour in the XP installation.
The great thing about running as user rather than admin is that if you are tricked, you've got more of a chance of being warned.
Also, why is the default behaviour on something like XP Home to have Windows Update switched off? The name XP Home should give people a clue. These users typically need their hands holding. They want to read email, surf for holidays, manage their digital photos and type the odd letter. Give them a "switch off Windows update" too.
But there's plenty of people unknowingly running executable content. Whether because of hidden filetypes (yuk!), opening office documents with macros or unpatched software.
There should be a far more sandboxed approach to VBS, so it doesn't just say "there's a macro in here", but that it determines that the macro is outside of the current document, and warning people. Blanket warnings about macros are just clicked on.
Could you/is there any game support in Jabber? It seems to me that an open protocol gives people the opportunity for turn-based games such as chess or backgammon.
The main thing is the perception. If people perceive they've got a helpline that's paid for, then the support will be there.
Relying on a community is fine, but it's a risk. What if the community get bored and move on? What if the good guy on there leaves?
I'm not saying it's not an acceptable risk, or even a risk that can be calculated.
Saying that, I'd really have thought that for schools use, Open Office would be a low risk case. OTOH, it's money and kudos for Sun that means they'll hopefully keep putting money into it.
I don't support the "destroy Microsoft" line, but creating a genuine choice based on open standards would be a very good thing.
The problem I can see for Microsoft is that once something like Open/Star Office reaches a certain point (say 20%), Microsoft could get into deep trouble. At that point, everyone will know someone who uses Star/Open Office.
The biggest challenge for Open Office isn't quality of product. It's awareness and confidence.
For anyone who owned a ZX81 though, the name "16K Ram Pack" probably raises a smile.
It kinda 'hung' off the back of the machine and if you touched it, you could wipe out what you were doing. Most people I knew had put a block of wood under it or even rubber bands around it.
If I had to call it anything, I'd call it the "software service" boom.
Throughout history, consumers demand more for their money. Frequently, they get hoodwinked, but generally get there in the end.
The thing is, people are going to more away from software as product to something more managed. Maybe the software will be free and they'll pay for support. Similar spend to now, but with support. More user service will be delivered by the web, rather than installed as software.
I look at old products like Cinemania. Everyone uses the IMDB now. I don't use Autoroute because I can save some hard disk space and use an online routefinder (and get traffic info at the same time). Many people I know just use webmail, not a mail client. GMail could make this the norm.
The more things are taken off the desktop, the more the desktop operating system becomes utilitarian.
Also, I imagine a lot of people are choosing to buy a machine without a new Office CD and just use the old one.
And yes, most people view Office 97/2K as good enough. The danger with OSS to Microsoft is that people may upgrade off these to the next version of Open Office rather than paying a huge upgrade fee for the next MS Office.
And you are right about Hardware. I'm typing this on an 1800 Athlon, which is now coming up to 3 years old, and I have no plans to upgrade whatsoever.
The problem with PFI is that it's just putting more costs onto the next generation.
Personally, I'd like to privatise most of government but privatise it so that end users have choices. When things are privatised but supply government, it just seems to raise prices.
How does an Air Traffic Control centre cost that much? What is it? 400million quid? That's a lot of software engineers for that money. I don't think HM Government have a clue how much stuff really costs (but then most of them are ex-councillors, lawyers, union reps - not many ex-businessmen).
I don't know the law in such a situation, and I would generally return it.
But, I think the line I would draw is about will. Someone doesn't leave money in the till on purpose. Canon don't accidentally put these features in the cameras.
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IBM have been more than patient and reasonable with SCO. And SCO have produced zilch to support their claims.
Imagine a beowulf cluster of...
Microsoft would probably never have happened.
Hidden filetypes or macros?
I've yet to find a feature of macros in Office that can't be done another way. Sandboxing would be great so that you'd know if it was going outside of the workbook/document. Some little game from someone or something with some calculations should only work within the document. I haven't tried macros in OOo. Can they go out or not?
And hidden filetypes are an "arggghhhh!" for me when I go onto a PC that isn't mine.
That's nearly 4 months ago, with no patch. Of course, Microsoft are taking security VERY seriously.
On say a Fedora install, you set up a user and an admin. If I set up a machine for my non-techie parents, I'd get the stuff they need, and give them user rights. Admin would be for me.
On Windows, the default is that they set up a password, which has admin rights. No guy at any computer store I've been in says "I'll set up a user and an admin". No-one ever teaches anyone that. Correct me if I'm wrong, but there's no such default behaviour in the XP installation.
The great thing about running as user rather than admin is that if you are tricked, you've got more of a chance of being warned.
Also, why is the default behaviour on something like XP Home to have Windows Update switched off? The name XP Home should give people a clue. These users typically need their hands holding. They want to read email, surf for holidays, manage their digital photos and type the odd letter. Give them a "switch off Windows update" too.
There should be a far more sandboxed approach to VBS, so it doesn't just say "there's a macro in here", but that it determines that the macro is outside of the current document, and warning people. Blanket warnings about macros are just clicked on.
Could you/is there any game support in Jabber? It seems to me that an open protocol gives people the opportunity for turn-based games such as chess or backgammon.
Relying on a community is fine, but it's a risk. What if the community get bored and move on? What if the good guy on there leaves?
I'm not saying it's not an acceptable risk, or even a risk that can be calculated.
Saying that, I'd really have thought that for schools use, Open Office would be a low risk case. OTOH, it's money and kudos for Sun that means they'll hopefully keep putting money into it.
How about sending the file in PDF format?
A lot of people are taking the government's money to do train (presumably BEds) and then doing something else!
The problem I can see for Microsoft is that once something like Open/Star Office reaches a certain point (say 20%), Microsoft could get into deep trouble. At that point, everyone will know someone who uses Star/Open Office.
The biggest challenge for Open Office isn't quality of product. It's awareness and confidence.
It must have been the Americans who saved the day.
But their code would also have to be OSS, wouldn't it?
I don't see many forks of Open Office or Perl out there.
It kinda 'hung' off the back of the machine and if you touched it, you could wipe out what you were doing. Most people I knew had put a block of wood under it or even rubber bands around it.
By now, I was expecting Microsoft to start hitting Mono, either legally or verbally.
So, why aren't they?
Throughout history, consumers demand more for their money. Frequently, they get hoodwinked, but generally get there in the end.
The thing is, people are going to more away from software as product to something more managed. Maybe the software will be free and they'll pay for support. Similar spend to now, but with support. More user service will be delivered by the web, rather than installed as software.
I look at old products like Cinemania. Everyone uses the IMDB now. I don't use Autoroute because I can save some hard disk space and use an online routefinder (and get traffic info at the same time). Many people I know just use webmail, not a mail client. GMail could make this the norm.
The more things are taken off the desktop, the more the desktop operating system becomes utilitarian.
Maybe start raiding the reserves, do you think?
And yes, most people view Office 97/2K as good enough. The danger with OSS to Microsoft is that people may upgrade off these to the next version of Open Office rather than paying a huge upgrade fee for the next MS Office.
And you are right about Hardware. I'm typing this on an 1800 Athlon, which is now coming up to 3 years old, and I have no plans to upgrade whatsoever.
Personally, I'd like to privatise most of government but privatise it so that end users have choices. When things are privatised but supply government, it just seems to raise prices.
How does an Air Traffic Control centre cost that much? What is it? 400million quid? That's a lot of software engineers for that money. I don't think HM Government have a clue how much stuff really costs (but then most of them are ex-councillors, lawyers, union reps - not many ex-businessmen).
16K Ram Pack is a reference to a box that fitted onto the back of a Sinclair/Timex computer which was well known for a number of reasons.
Their voting shows they were against the "obvious" bollocks.
Personally, I'll probably vote LD anyway. Howard's weasly backpeddling on the war makes me as sick as Blair's continued support.
Is this a question of "areas" though. I thought that this was a PR vote (otherwise the UKIP would have got no seats).
But, I think the line I would draw is about will. Someone doesn't leave money in the till on purpose. Canon don't accidentally put these features in the cameras.