Clerks and lots of other movies have thrived in the VHS/DVD market. They can sell well as the market works on word of mouth (look also at The Usual Suspects, the first Austin Powers movie and The Terminator).
Ever played "Lemmings"? I remember going to see a tech about something and he was playing it and I was like "what's that?". It was about the most addictive thing I'd ever played and was simply wonderful. It didn't have ads all over the TV, wasn't linked into a franchise and didn't need the voice of Pierce Brosnan to be a good game. It was just great fun. When I see games on TV being advertised, they just look tired.
I say we pay for an enormous light and aim it directly at the reflectors to block it. That will take advertisers offline (at least until the govt does the horrible thing and regulates space advertising).
There's no reason why many arenas and sports couldn't exist without ads and sponsors. They would just have to rely on either private donations, higher admission fees, or the amount of money going into sport/theatre would go down.
One thing I find odd is that I can go and see small bands play in 1000 person clubs and pay say 14 a ticket, but some mega band playing to 60,000 people charge 30 a ticket AND have their tour sponsored. I don't believe they couldn't go without sponsorship (in fact U2 do go without it).
This stuff is a really BAD idea. For two reasons...
Firstly, I don't think anyone deserves to have their homes picketed. Not even a scumbag like DMcB.
Secondly, posting his personal details just allows Darl to be let off the hook. He can claim 'victim' status and that he has an armed bodyguard. That is, SCO aren't a bunch of litigious bastards, they are the victims in all this.
You want to do something about SCO? Picket their offices, leaflet outside SCO conferences, write to the SEC, your congressman, post letters in journals whenever SCO is mentioned, correcting any innaccuracies and spin, write OSS software that strengthens Linux, give some dosh to sites like groklaw.net.
BTW, what exactly is innovative about *nix desktops that look like Windows and office suites that strive to replicate the functions of Microsoft Office?
Last time I looked, Office documents weren't native XML, Word doesn't export to PDF and Powerpoint doesn't export to Flash. Also, try running MS Office on Linux.
As for the examples of VB and Win3.11 and productivity, both could get something going quickly (VB can be used to write very fast programs). However, in the long term, and for things like scalability and reuse, the alternatives were better (eg Delphi).
I don't think that they can crush Linux in the same way as say Netscape. That's a corporation that depends on funding and sales.
Linux is free, and the money is made from distros and support.
Also, this is in many ways much more than about "alternative product". It's about open source, and the whole philosophy of that.
Even if Microsoft released a free Unix OS or a Linux Distro, not everyone would use it. They'd still want the source. Linux would live on, and as soon as Microsoft started charging for their OS, Linux would restart.
I've no doubt Microsoft will attack OSS at every turn. And they are not dummies.
I've thought about producing some Open Office CDs to share around, but the production costs of getting a proper CD done would require me to shell out real cash.
With one of these, I could put OOo artwork on it and give it to people, making it look more professional.
(Not to mention you get decent components for once)
That's a darn good reason for self-building. Pay for parts rather than cheaper parts+labour.
Anytime I build/upgrade, I do some research - check which HDDs are well rated, which Mobo, which GFX.
I've helped 2 friends out with their branded PCs that had problems, in both cases, finding the driver files were a nightmare. Also, I'm waiting for something on their machines to break next time they upgrade and their onboard Very Shitto Technologies modem doesn't have driver support.
I once bought a scanner from a smaller company, but when I needed drivers for an OS upgrade, their driver site was down for 2 weeks. Whereas, my old B&W Canon printer (7+years old) still has drivers available.
I have never ever once heard one of my users say, "Jeeze this Microsoft XP is really insecure, ever thought about trying linux?"
Reason... people expect things like security as a gimmee, or just don't care until they get hit. Think of how many people there are that don't do backups.
Also, does Linux really have higher support costs? Sure, there will be transition costs, but that's a one-off.
Not living near a major academic centre, the internet has been a big bonus for me. If I now hear about some science on the news, I can look it up. I also get more diverse opinions as I get reports from people who aren't just the regular and rather conservative print and TV media.
History is interesting for this, as often it gets taught to people based on current thinking and politics. Looking at the current UK history curriculum, there's an emphasis on multiculturism and equality that wasn't there 20 years ago (we were taught mostly about Dead White European Males;) ).
The trouble is, there are people who don't use better software, patch or take good security practices.
I have friends try and send me.EXE files all the time for games they've been emailed. Every one gets rejected by me and a "where did you download this from" request made.
The one benefit Linux can give, it seems is that locks down users (including yourself) by default. I love the 'admin'/'user' thing and I know that in Windows you can set one up, but the point is that it doesn't at install time.
I don't think that the software of Windows makes viruses easier, it's more that it makes it easier for users to shoot themselves.
Of the adults I know (over 30s mostly), a lot of them don't play games. Of those that do, some play things like shockwave/java games, some play card games, some just don't play at all, and some play games on their Xbox/PS2 as a preference.
In fact, of the over-30s I know, only 1 does quite serious gaming on his PC.
Slashdot Mirror
Ever played "Lemmings"? I remember going to see a tech about something and he was playing it and I was like "what's that?". It was about the most addictive thing I'd ever played and was simply wonderful. It didn't have ads all over the TV, wasn't linked into a franchise and didn't need the voice of Pierce Brosnan to be a good game. It was just great fun. When I see games on TV being advertised, they just look tired.
Which of the two types of football field are you referring to? Association or Rugby?
Sorry, missed the name bit and assumed it was part of the .sig.
I say we pay for an enormous light and aim it directly at the reflectors to block it. That will take advertisers offline (at least until the govt does the horrible thing and regulates space advertising).
One thing I find odd is that I can go and see small bands play in 1000 person clubs and pay say 14 a ticket, but some mega band playing to 60,000 people charge 30 a ticket AND have their tour sponsored. I don't believe they couldn't go without sponsorship (in fact U2 do go without it).
At least they didn't expect you to be Juliet ;)
Before any kid is given a book of a Shakespeare play, they should go and see it performed.
And a note to english teachers - these are stories and are meant to entertain people - remember that when you teach it.
petruchio: Hi Shrew A/S/L?
Firstly, I don't think anyone deserves to have their homes picketed. Not even a scumbag like DMcB.
Secondly, posting his personal details just allows Darl to be let off the hook. He can claim 'victim' status and that he has an armed bodyguard. That is, SCO aren't a bunch of litigious bastards, they are the victims in all this.
You want to do something about SCO? Picket their offices, leaflet outside SCO conferences, write to the SEC, your congressman, post letters in journals whenever SCO is mentioned, correcting any innaccuracies and spin, write OSS software that strengthens Linux, give some dosh to sites like groklaw.net.
Last time I looked, Office documents weren't native XML, Word doesn't export to PDF and Powerpoint doesn't export to Flash. Also, try running MS Office on Linux.
As for the examples of VB and Win3.11 and productivity, both could get something going quickly (VB can be used to write very fast programs). However, in the long term, and for things like scalability and reuse, the alternatives were better (eg Delphi).
Linux is free, and the money is made from distros and support.
Also, this is in many ways much more than about "alternative product". It's about open source, and the whole philosophy of that.
Even if Microsoft released a free Unix OS or a Linux Distro, not everyone would use it. They'd still want the source. Linux would live on, and as soon as Microsoft started charging for their OS, Linux would restart.
I've no doubt Microsoft will attack OSS at every turn. And they are not dummies.
In 5 years time, will something new come out?
Experience should be built on, so languages gradually improve, so the core of development experience gets better and better.
OSS is interesting, because I can see the languages gradually improving. PHP will fundamentally be the same in 5 years as it is now, I imagine.
Considering they sat on a known, serious security bug for 6 months, I'd say that it's mostly about lip service and self-protection.
Not forgetting .NET, SQL Server 2003, tablets and smartphones. Microsoft have been doing plenty.
A tool to do a "multiple convert" - take all your word/excel docs in a folder and convert them to OOo documents.
An add-in to Mozilla mail so you know if someone can receive OOo files.
Lots of work helping reluctant companies with macros to convert (on condition that the macros become open source).
If any of this is going on, let me know.
Something like "SCO Linux IP License: Unwanted gift".
Basically, they'd be dumping SCO's license and making a statement that they don't believe SCO's claims.
With one of these, I could put OOo artwork on it and give it to people, making it look more professional.
That's a darn good reason for self-building. Pay for parts rather than cheaper parts+labour.
Anytime I build/upgrade, I do some research - check which HDDs are well rated, which Mobo, which GFX.
I've helped 2 friends out with their branded PCs that had problems, in both cases, finding the driver files were a nightmare. Also, I'm waiting for something on their machines to break next time they upgrade and their onboard Very Shitto Technologies modem doesn't have driver support.
I once bought a scanner from a smaller company, but when I needed drivers for an OS upgrade, their driver site was down for 2 weeks. Whereas, my old B&W Canon printer (7+years old) still has drivers available.
When Dell or HP start selling Linux installed machines, then change is afoot.
Reason... people expect things like security as a gimmee, or just don't care until they get hit. Think of how many people there are that don't do backups.
Also, does Linux really have higher support costs? Sure, there will be transition costs, but that's a one-off.
Not living near a major academic centre, the internet has been a big bonus for me. If I now hear about some science on the news, I can look it up. I also get more diverse opinions as I get reports from people who aren't just the regular and rather conservative print and TV media.
Used to buy these every other year. Great big books on movies. Very well written. But for me, replaced by the IMDB.
History is interesting for this, as often it gets taught to people based on current thinking and politics. Looking at the current UK history curriculum, there's an emphasis on multiculturism and equality that wasn't there 20 years ago (we were taught mostly about Dead White European Males ;) ).
I have friends try and send me .EXE files all the time for games they've been emailed. Every one gets rejected by me and a "where did you download this from" request made.
The one benefit Linux can give, it seems is that locks down users (including yourself) by default. I love the 'admin'/'user' thing and I know that in Windows you can set one up, but the point is that it doesn't at install time.
I don't think that the software of Windows makes viruses easier, it's more that it makes it easier for users to shoot themselves.
Of the adults I know (over 30s mostly), a lot of them don't play games. Of those that do, some play things like shockwave/java games, some play card games, some just don't play at all, and some play games on their Xbox/PS2 as a preference.
In fact, of the over-30s I know, only 1 does quite serious gaming on his PC.