Check out Good Technologies. They have software that works on both Palm and PocketPC OSes that does much the same of what Blackberry does except that, you have the option of getting different devices for each user.
Granted though, given the nature of the suit against RIM... I don't see how Good would be able to stay out of it either.
This story? The article contained within simply points out the fact that it still costs Apple only $90.18 to make the Nano. And I'm going to assume that this price is based on "analysts" cost review at "market" pricing.
So now for "analysts" to speculate that Samsung sold Apple flash memory at a discount, couldn't they have speculated the converse -- that Apple reduced its profit margins to enter a different market that's held pretty well by iRiver's and other flash MP3 players?
It makes room for one of two things. That "analysts" are right in both cases, or they are fucking morons. I am leaning to the latter, myself.
Being a newbie to Linux in general, I had some hopes of installing Nessus onto RedHat but I kept getting errors. I got the RPMs from atrpms (I think that's the site) however, it keeps prompting me saying there are dependancies and that I can't install before THOSE are installed. And then I wind up trying to install everything I can, with no luck -- and I keep having issues.
So if anybody wants to give me a hand installing it or some pointers, and keep in mind, I'm a Windows-only user (trying to make the switch!), I'd really appreciate it!
Shuttle XPC SN41G2BV3 Athlon XP/Duron/Sempron Sempron 2500 512MB Crucial RAM 200GB Seagate IDE drive Windows XP MCE 2005 (OEM) PVR-150MCE MCE Remote nVIDIA DVD Decoder ATI 9200LE (fanless) with TV Out Chaintech AV710 VIA ENVY 24PT Sound Card
That's about it... granted it will probably run a tad over $350 (more like $450) but I had existing parts like the RAM, hard drive, and graphics card. My setup is hooked up to a Yamaha Dolby Digital reciever that allows me to play my DVDs in 5.1 surround, and I have a Gyration wireless keyboard/mouse setup that I use if I ever need it. Primarily though, my HTPC is for recording TV but I also love to play MP3s thru it because the stereo system in my room kicks some nice butt, and sounds pretty darned nice.
If you want a few tips.. BUY USED STUFF! You can find tons of stuff available at Anandtech or HardOCP's forums by visiting the For Sale/Trade section. Lots of times you can trade stuff you have for stuff you need -- it's not how I built THIS system, but it is how you can build one.
Regardless though, that should give you a good heads-up on how to start building a system for yourself. PCAlchemy.com is a store dedicated to HTPC supplies, so you might want to check them out as they have good bundle deals (and sometimes not! Shop around!) on the MCE, MCE Remote, PVR Card and DVD Decoder.
Hope this is helpful to those of you who are looking to start a system build. It will even work for MythTV, you can just drop the MCE remote, get a USB-UIRT (do a Google for it), and drop MCE and install your flavor of Linux.
It ends when "I wonder if Open Source can do what Microsoft did."
There alone, explains the author's lack of grasp on the subject. The Open Source movement is riddled with people that once upon a time, made Microsoft a great company. And I will give credit, even as taboo as it may be on Slashdot with the large followers of Microsoft *cough cough*.
Microsoft's ability to innovate does not lie at the OS level, or the application level. It lies at a fundamentally different area, one that's not related to software in and of itself. Microsoft's brilliance is simple -- they made it possible for a business to conduct complete workflow thru their software, from beginning to end. Businesses will always mandate what the future of consumers will buy, and their decisions. If you work for a finance firm and they tell you "Okay Johnson, we are switching to Linux to save $2523432!".. do you think that Johnson is going to go home and buy another Windows PC for his home? He will need a Linux PC to mirror his work environment. Then he will have a friend who comes over and says "wow, what's that?", where Johnson will explain the benefits (as explained to him by his company) of Linux on his desktop, and will thus propogate the use of Linux on the desktop.
Microsoft made Windows -- arguably a crap OS, arguably not. But with the combination of Exchange, Biztalk, Sharepoint, the Office Suite and Windows working in (relative) harmony under Active Directory well.. I'll argue it takes some vision to bring a company that far, and innovation to boot.
But I wouldn't count out Linux as the author did... the people who made MS what it is are who are working in Open Source, working at Google, working at Yahoo, working at IBM. And they will tell us how innovative open source can be, or hell, not even Open Source... but MS alternatives:) Google seems to be doin a great job so far.
I know the arguements about MythTV and MCE and blah blah blah. The simple fact of the matter is that you have to use what you are comfortable with. If you are comfortable paying $13 a month (or whatever Tivo charges now) in addition to $100-$200 for the set top box with no control over what happens to its software, then that's the option you take.
If you are comfortable using Linux and feel confident in setting up MythTV to work properly, then you get yourself a cheap system and build a MythTV HTPC.
And if you are comfortable with Windows (as I am), want something simple to use for your family and friends, then you go with Media Center Edition.
I'll even voice my praise for Media Center because while it may not be the most powerful, most bug free, fastest, or even prettiest (compared to some skins from Meedio), it works pretty simply and has a nice remote.
I know the arguements about them all, and I've tried them all. MythTV, SageTV, BeyondTV, Meedio, and finally MCE (it took a long time to get to this point). Before that, I used ReplayTV and then Tivo (both of which I modded with hard drives and sold for a profit on eBay). MCE for me, is the best solution there is. It gets the TV times, changes the channels on my cable box, records easily, and has a GREAT remote. And in the end the fact I can surf the web on my TV or some other stuff on my television (in my bedroom) makes MCE a winner.
If you want a SILENT solution, it's pretty simple. Get yourself a Shuttle box, get a nice mobile processor (Sempron should do just fine), replace the bearing fan in the Shuttle with a Silen-X fan, and your PC is deadly silent. Then just learn how to use the STANDBY feature of your PC, and it's completely silent. A good hard drive is also key, as the crappier ones will make more noise. Then buy a $15 sound card with an optical out so you can pass sound to a proper reciever. Get a passively cooled video card with TV out (unless you are doing hardcore gaming, in which case you aren't really building an HTPC), and a copy of Windows MCE (or MythTV or whatever you want).
The total cost for my box, with the OS was around $350 -- and it runs perfectly though with Windows on it, I have it set on a schedule to reboot once a week. I know the Tivo users will always say how cheap it is in comparison to have their box and just make it easy for themselves but in the end.. I can browse the web, check my email, play some games, check the weather, set an alarm, AND watch and record television for my $350 budget. You paid say, $300 with the lifetime subscription for for $50 more, I have oodles more features and STILL have a snazzy remote.
The day I may use Linux as freely as I am forced to use Windows to play my games, do my work, etc... is coming closer. If Google can make a concerted push to use OpenOffice then the document exchange I need done on a regular basis will be easy between Linux and Windows users.
Now if only Linux was as EASY to use as Windows, and we are there. I'm thinking something Mac OSX-esque for Linux -- Google has the means to deliver it. They don't need to release their own distro of Linux, but they can release a KDE/GNOME competitor that makes using Linux a BREEZE.
As long as I keep my subscription going, I find it totally legit. It just allows me to listen to my tunes on my iPod, and I have no intention of cancelling the subscription any time soon.
I have long since been a subscriber of Yahoo's Launchcast -- their internet radio station that could play music based on your ratings. And as a work day went on, I would tag songs 1, 2, 3 or 4 stars, or even "Never Play Again". Yahoo would learn my tastes and has since then, recommended countless songs that I'd never have heard before. Bands like Nightwish, Evanescence, Lacuna Coil are bands I heard of before many, many people.
Now with the advent of the Yahoo Music Store, the same great benefits exist except that I can put them into my MP3 player and take it all to go. I admit freely however, that I convert all my music OUT of the.WMV format using Tunebite and back into MP3 so the music is *mine*. Yahoo's Music Store ALSO recommends music to me based on the same ratings I've made over the last three years, and I see the technology of recommending songs getting better and better as my choices are getting more broad, and now with the Music store, even easier to acquire. Before the YMS, I would listen to a song on Launchcast and then scour the P2P networks or the web to find the song to add to my collection. Many times, and I'd say more often than not, I would go out and buy the CD.
Now I'm paying a low monthly fee ($4.99 prepaid one year in advance) to get my grubbies on all the music I can handle. And probably, there are people that take advantage of the $5 price a LOT more than I do. But as a casual music listener, who is always looking to find new types of music that might pique my interest, Yahoo's Music Store has nailed my needs on the head solidly, and I'm glad to pay for that benefit. If you don't want to pay $5 a month to get unlimited downloads, then the RIAA has a good reason to go after you; however given their greed they want to come after me as well.
Oh well... at least if they bust down my door I can prove I'm legit:)
Sorry, it was meant as a courtesy because of habit with respect to other sites. I don't really consider this however, 'ripping' your content because everybody knows where it comes from and I've added no commentary to it, nor edited it from your site.
I know however, that I didn't include your advertising so you may get the $.05 or whatever for the impression or click, but speaking for myself (and perhaps other Ars.Technica readers), I always visit your site and don't block any of the ads because I want to make sure you have the revenue to continue writing good articles. However, and I may be imagining things, your response is very idiotic and ignores the fact that thousands of Slashdotters are how your site can even TURN a profit and contine to be funded.
I figured that you can just look at my repost of your article as a courtesy mirror, but you had to act like a dick and make yourself look like an ass. Personally I would have let it slide entirely, but such snide remarks deserve an answer from time to time. I'll still visit your site because I enjoy the articles, but when a community (Slashdot) only promotes your site, don't add a comment trying to make them feel bad for doing something relatively benign.
Few were surprised when Microsoft (along with Intel) announced that they would back HD DVD over Blu-ray. While Microsoft's stance on the next-generation of optical storage media was officially neutral, their close working relationship with Toshiba led us to suspect that HD DVD would get the nod. The interesting question is, why?
It has been said that Microsoft simply wouldn't back something put out by Sony, but that argument doesn't have traction. First, Microsoft's VC-1 video codec is supported by both Blu-ray and HD DVD; there's no strategic edge there to speak of. Additionally, over-emphasizing the competition between the PlayStation and the Xbox ignores the fact that Sony and Microsoft have a substantial working relationship. Witness Sony's line of Vaio computers, as well as Sony's Microsoft-DRM-backed music store.
The decision to back HD DVD stems not from a dislike of Sony, but from the assessment of the maturity and consumer-friendliness of HD DVD. No, seriously. Managed Copy: what is it, and what it isn't
First, a little Realpolitik. We all know about CSS, the encryption scheme used to "protect" DVDs from unauthorized copying. It was cracked (famously), and both Blu-ray and HD DVD are designed to be much, much harder to circumvent. While calling anything crack-proof is pretty foolish, phenomena such as the iTunes Music Store demonstrate quite clearly that many people are comfortable with DRM if it allows for some flexibility. That is, DRM isn't going anywhere, and even the most pointy-haired geek should see that.
Making copies of a DVD is technically illegal in the United States, because circumventing access controls is forbidden by the US Code, except in rare instances. The problem with this, of course, is that it violates our Fair Use rights as citizens, and it punishes those of us who abide by the rules, while the real pirates (organized crime) go on largely unabated.
Microsoft, among others, wants to see this changed.
Currently, HD DVD is the only next-gen format to provide for the ability to legally make copies of optical content. Dubbed "Managed Copy," HD DVD implements part of the AACS control mechanism to allow for things such as putting digital copies of a disc on a hard drive, transferring a movie (legally) to a portable player, or streaming content on a home network. Furthermore, HD DVD makes Managed Copy mandatory: all content provided on HD DVD must give users the option of making at least one copy. Jordi Ribas, director of technical strategy for the Windows Digital Media Division, told me that while the feature is mandatory, the studios will have the option of charging for it. Ribas hopes that studios will allow at least a single copy "for free," but it may be market conditions that ultimately determine the cost of such features. The take-away, at least, is that studios have to offer something, and AACS is structured in such a way that the studios can tap into it to offer users more options.
Furthermore, because Managed Copy is part of the AACS specification, this isn't a feature exclusive to Microsoft or Intel solutions. While both companies believe that their respective products (Media Center Edition, and Viiv, respectively) will shine in a world were Managed Copy is available, AACS defines a set of requirements that technically any company could aspire to, be it Apple, Motorola, or another player in the game.
What about Blu-ray? Currently, Blu-ray has announced no such mandatory support. There are also plenty of questions about whether or not Blu-ray will entertain this option. The Blu-ray Disc Association so far has adopted AACS conditionally; it is still subject to review. Furthermore, Blu-ray to date has adopted content protections above and beyond AACS, adding BD+ and ROM-Mark to their arsenal. Such added protections appear to be part of an appeasement plan: the studios want more than AACS pr
There's a single reason we wouldn't migrate to StarOffice. Because when we save the document in "OpenDocument" format, there's no guarantee that the person that needs to recieve that document (outside the company) will be able to read it.
And that folks, is the crux of the problem. If we can't have compatibility outside the company, it's much harder for us to make use of the product. Fortunately, OpenOffice is free and we can always send a link with our document. "If you cannot open this file, please download OpenOffice, from OpenOffice.org -- a mere 2623523523 megabyte download."
There has to be a better way to start getting Office out of the workplace but I don't know what it is. Either way, I use Office at home and work ONLY because Outlook is in the suite of products. Maybe when Mozilla's lightning comes out, I can go completely open source but until then, Office it is.
Re:How about packaging a version with some extensi
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Firefox Momentum Slows
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· Score: 1
Some ISPs are already doing this. They add their logo, add a few extensions and toss it into an installer and release it to their clients.
Besides the *power* of the browser is only as good as its quality. And there are extensions that have caused havoc with Firefox before, I'd rather leave them out and make it easier to find and install them.
Because Firefox hasn't innovated in their browser with anything spectacular in some time. However with the upcoming 1.5, I think there will be yet another 'surge' of people flocking to Firefox yet again. Easy updating with some nifty new features will get some more market acceptance from would-be Firefox users.
Microsoft has largely made amends on a temporary basis with the MSN addons that allow for tabbed browsing built into Internet Explorer. However given the fact they are STILL not innovating and waiting for a 7.0 browser release to do so, Firefox has time yet to build up steam.
When Firefox releases proper corporate deployment and support tools for its browser, then we will see a HUGE shift. Right now however, my company won't change because the idea of running around to 400+ PCs doesn't thrill them, if something screws up in Firefox or there's an update to be deployed. It would be nice if Mozilla developed everything using the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) at least for use in Windows so that everything has a familiar and EASY look about it.
Even with Internet Explorer you need to pay a boatload more money to get SMS Server (which I admit is pretty damned useful) to get updates done properly, so this is a nice path Mozilla could follow just to nip at the heels of Internet Explorer. Besides with the heavy hitters making more and more progress ala Google, Yahoo, IBM, Sun, etc, and using Firefox so religiously, they give credence to what Microsoft dismisses, and also code their web applications (all of which are NOT.NET based) to function to *standards* (repeat it with me now!). Thus Firefox has no problem displaying them and *most* of the time, neither does Internet Explorer which means that the medium of a browser is going to be one that works fastest, and works best. Right now that's Firefox, and Internet Explorer has catching up to do. And given the nature of Firefox (open source, unlimited developers and bug testers), the development process is one likely to be more invigorated with ideas, and more likely to fix bugs on a timely basis.
That cannot be said of Microsoft as a whole, nevermind a single product they produce.
Ditto that... Apple has a bad habit of taking open source software and ideas, implementing it into their own software, and then shafting the developer of the open source version. That, and they make some really shitty software like iTunes, and lock you into using it. In that respect, they are almost the same as Microsoft though, Apple has made inroads into the desktop user experience that Microsoft can only dream of.
Because if Microsoft's history proves right, they will throw money at the problem, and that means money for *me*. If I dispay the MS "Adwords" equivalent on my site instead of the Google ads, I can take a bigger commission because Microsoft will give more money per click or impression or however they will do it, and that translates into me being able to have a better site for my end users.
We will see how the implementation goes, and how the rate structure may help my site.
We may not always be 100% sure in our positions, but we are 100% sure they are the opposite of Microsoft's:)
In a nutshell, it's an easy fix.
on
Pay vs. Happiness
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· Score: 2, Insightful
Pay your employees what they are worth, treat them well, put the stockholders SECOND (and make your employees know it), and strive for success. If you need to build a molehill, engage your employees to built a mountain.
The problem with most jobs is that (and it's true for me) I *know* I can do a better job than the person above me. And it's not the work itself -- I have ideas to make things work smoother, cheaper, more efficient, etc. Most companies fear change -- they do what they can to keep everything successful and change nothing for sake of their employees.
Why do you think Google is the 'job' that EVERYBODY wants (myself included)? Their environment is key to their success. They give their employees free food, let them wear whatever the fuck they want, and pay them well. The idea of companies getting more for less is proven false time and time again -- you will just have more people staying under the radar and doing the bare minimum, as the article suggests.
Here's a few tips from personal experience, that I can pass along to corporations: -- Don't have "End of the Month" meetings congratulating how great the company's 'numbers' were when 99% of the people in attendance gain NOTHING from it, and the 1% who do are the ones trying to "motivate" you to get better numbers for next month. -- Don't keep on incompetents, people with bad tempers, and just lazy fucking bastards just because they seem to be on a 'tenure' track and have a 'history' with your company. If you are detrimental to the employees in any way, get the fuck out. -- Offer a Christmas bonus, ever year. I don't care if I got a $10 gift certificate to Walmart, it's the THOUGHT (and yes folks, your parents taught you right) that counts here. To say after a year's work, in a time of holiday and giving, and that you KNOW the managers are getting HUGE bonuses, learn to give a little back to your employees. You have no idea how valuable that $10 may be. -- Offer advancement, even if it's fake. When I came in as "Janitor" (though I didn't but regardless), and I did a decent job and I earned my whopping (can you feel the sarcasm?) 4% raise, change my title too. I would love to be Janitor Level II -- head of vomit patrol for lavatories 1-4. Granted it was probably my job before but the fact I got a title change makes me feel just a little better. -- DO NOT EXPECT YOUR EMPLOYEES TO ABANDON THEIR FAMILIES/LIVES TO WORK FOR YOUR SHITTY COMPANY. I cannot stress this enough. I work a 50 hour work week. Unless somebody is about to die, do not call me on the weekend, do not ask me to finish up a project by staying only a half hour more, and learn that "results" are often measured in QUALITY and not QUANTITY of hours. If you stress that you want the best job that your employee can do, but NOT at the expense of their personal lives, then your company will benefit. Because employees will make sure to get their projects done in a timely fashion because they have ALL of the aforementioned 'tips' to look forward to, coming in to another day at work. -- And lastly, do not believe that YOU, as Management, are worthy of any praise. You are scum because you make boatloads more money than me for a LOT less work. Granted *some* of you worked to get there and some of you did not. As an employee, I don't give a flying fuck and I will always hold that against you. That's not negotiable. Your job as management is to be despised by all employees and looked at with scorn. So don't get mad about it -- just offer what you can to say that at the end of the day, with your fistfulls of cash, you are missing one dollar to give your employees an infinitely better workplace.
But we won't ever stop saying how useless and stupid you are because let's face it dude... you are a fat dumb bastard and we all aspire to be in your position as well.
Slashdot Mirror
Thanks for that bit of info on the way Good licenses, was informative. I'd mod you up but I can't as I've already posted in this discussion :)
Check out Good Technologies. They have software that works on both Palm and PocketPC OSes that does much the same of what Blackberry does except that, you have the option of getting different devices for each user.
Granted though, given the nature of the suit against RIM... I don't see how Good would be able to stay out of it either.
This story? The article contained within simply points out the fact that it still costs Apple only $90.18 to make the Nano. And I'm going to assume that this price is based on "analysts" cost review at "market" pricing.
So now for "analysts" to speculate that Samsung sold Apple flash memory at a discount, couldn't they have speculated the converse -- that Apple reduced its profit margins to enter a different market that's held pretty well by iRiver's and other flash MP3 players?
It makes room for one of two things. That "analysts" are right in both cases, or they are fucking morons. I am leaning to the latter, myself.
Why Metallica isn't listed on Yahoo's Music Store.
Being a newbie to Linux in general, I had some hopes of installing Nessus onto RedHat but I kept getting errors. I got the RPMs from atrpms (I think that's the site) however, it keeps prompting me saying there are dependancies and that I can't install before THOSE are installed. And then I wind up trying to install everything I can, with no luck -- and I keep having issues.
So if anybody wants to give me a hand installing it or some pointers, and keep in mind, I'm a Windows-only user (trying to make the switch!), I'd really appreciate it!
Sure..
Shuttle XPC SN41G2BV3 Athlon XP/Duron/Sempron
Sempron 2500
512MB Crucial RAM
200GB Seagate IDE drive
Windows XP MCE 2005 (OEM)
PVR-150MCE
MCE Remote
nVIDIA DVD Decoder
ATI 9200LE (fanless) with TV Out
Chaintech AV710 VIA ENVY 24PT Sound Card
That's about it... granted it will probably run a tad over $350 (more like $450) but I had existing parts like the RAM, hard drive, and graphics card. My setup is hooked up to a Yamaha Dolby Digital reciever that allows me to play my DVDs in 5.1 surround, and I have a Gyration wireless keyboard/mouse setup that I use if I ever need it. Primarily though, my HTPC is for recording TV but I also love to play MP3s thru it because the stereo system in my room kicks some nice butt, and sounds pretty darned nice.
If you want a few tips.. BUY USED STUFF! You can find tons of stuff available at Anandtech or HardOCP's forums by visiting the For Sale/Trade section. Lots of times you can trade stuff you have for stuff you need -- it's not how I built THIS system, but it is how you can build one.
Regardless though, that should give you a good heads-up on how to start building a system for yourself. PCAlchemy.com is a store dedicated to HTPC supplies, so you might want to check them out as they have good bundle deals (and sometimes not! Shop around!) on the MCE, MCE Remote, PVR Card and DVD Decoder.
Hope this is helpful to those of you who are looking to start a system build. It will even work for MythTV, you can just drop the MCE remote, get a USB-UIRT (do a Google for it), and drop MCE and install your flavor of Linux.
Good luck!
It ends when "I wonder if Open Source can do what Microsoft did."
:) Google seems to be doin a great job so far.
There alone, explains the author's lack of grasp on the subject. The Open Source movement is riddled with people that once upon a time, made Microsoft a great company. And I will give credit, even as taboo as it may be on Slashdot with the large followers of Microsoft *cough cough*.
Microsoft's ability to innovate does not lie at the OS level, or the application level. It lies at a fundamentally different area, one that's not related to software in and of itself. Microsoft's brilliance is simple -- they made it possible for a business to conduct complete workflow thru their software, from beginning to end. Businesses will always mandate what the future of consumers will buy, and their decisions. If you work for a finance firm and they tell you "Okay Johnson, we are switching to Linux to save $2523432!".. do you think that Johnson is going to go home and buy another Windows PC for his home? He will need a Linux PC to mirror his work environment. Then he will have a friend who comes over and says "wow, what's that?", where Johnson will explain the benefits (as explained to him by his company) of Linux on his desktop, and will thus propogate the use of Linux on the desktop.
Microsoft made Windows -- arguably a crap OS, arguably not. But with the combination of Exchange, Biztalk, Sharepoint, the Office Suite and Windows working in (relative) harmony under Active Directory well.. I'll argue it takes some vision to bring a company that far, and innovation to boot.
But I wouldn't count out Linux as the author did... the people who made MS what it is are who are working in Open Source, working at Google, working at Yahoo, working at IBM. And they will tell us how innovative open source can be, or hell, not even Open Source... but MS alternatives
The one that's IDEAL for YOU.
I know the arguements about MythTV and MCE and blah blah blah. The simple fact of the matter is that you have to use what you are comfortable with. If you are comfortable paying $13 a month (or whatever Tivo charges now) in addition to $100-$200 for the set top box with no control over what happens to its software, then that's the option you take.
If you are comfortable using Linux and feel confident in setting up MythTV to work properly, then you get yourself a cheap system and build a MythTV HTPC.
And if you are comfortable with Windows (as I am), want something simple to use for your family and friends, then you go with Media Center Edition.
I'll even voice my praise for Media Center because while it may not be the most powerful, most bug free, fastest, or even prettiest (compared to some skins from Meedio), it works pretty simply and has a nice remote.
I know the arguements about them all, and I've tried them all. MythTV, SageTV, BeyondTV, Meedio, and finally MCE (it took a long time to get to this point). Before that, I used ReplayTV and then Tivo (both of which I modded with hard drives and sold for a profit on eBay). MCE for me, is the best solution there is. It gets the TV times, changes the channels on my cable box, records easily, and has a GREAT remote. And in the end the fact I can surf the web on my TV or some other stuff on my television (in my bedroom) makes MCE a winner.
If you want a SILENT solution, it's pretty simple. Get yourself a Shuttle box, get a nice mobile processor (Sempron should do just fine), replace the bearing fan in the Shuttle with a Silen-X fan, and your PC is deadly silent. Then just learn how to use the STANDBY feature of your PC, and it's completely silent. A good hard drive is also key, as the crappier ones will make more noise. Then buy a $15 sound card with an optical out so you can pass sound to a proper reciever. Get a passively cooled video card with TV out (unless you are doing hardcore gaming, in which case you aren't really building an HTPC), and a copy of Windows MCE (or MythTV or whatever you want).
The total cost for my box, with the OS was around $350 -- and it runs perfectly though with Windows on it, I have it set on a schedule to reboot once a week. I know the Tivo users will always say how cheap it is in comparison to have their box and just make it easy for themselves but in the end.. I can browse the web, check my email, play some games, check the weather, set an alarm, AND watch and record television for my $350 budget. You paid say, $300 with the lifetime subscription for for $50 more, I have oodles more features and STILL have a snazzy remote.
So go enjoy Tivo... I'm happy with my solution.
The day I may use Linux as freely as I am forced to use Windows to play my games, do my work, etc... is coming closer. If Google can make a concerted push to use OpenOffice then the document exchange I need done on a regular basis will be easy between Linux and Windows users.
:)
Now if only Linux was as EASY to use as Windows, and we are there. I'm thinking something Mac OSX-esque for Linux -- Google has the means to deliver it. They don't need to release their own distro of Linux, but they can release a KDE/GNOME competitor that makes using Linux a BREEZE.
I'm just waiting for the day
As long as I keep my subscription going, I find it totally legit. It just allows me to listen to my tunes on my iPod, and I have no intention of cancelling the subscription any time soon.
Probably for the worse, however I still enjoy it.
.WMV format using Tunebite and back into MP3 so the music is *mine*. Yahoo's Music Store ALSO recommends music to me based on the same ratings I've made over the last three years, and I see the technology of recommending songs getting better and better as my choices are getting more broad, and now with the Music store, even easier to acquire. Before the YMS, I would listen to a song on Launchcast and then scour the P2P networks or the web to find the song to add to my collection. Many times, and I'd say more often than not, I would go out and buy the CD.
:)
I have long since been a subscriber of Yahoo's Launchcast -- their internet radio station that could play music based on your ratings. And as a work day went on, I would tag songs 1, 2, 3 or 4 stars, or even "Never Play Again". Yahoo would learn my tastes and has since then, recommended countless songs that I'd never have heard before. Bands like Nightwish, Evanescence, Lacuna Coil are bands I heard of before many, many people.
Now with the advent of the Yahoo Music Store, the same great benefits exist except that I can put them into my MP3 player and take it all to go. I admit freely however, that I convert all my music OUT of the
Now I'm paying a low monthly fee ($4.99 prepaid one year in advance) to get my grubbies on all the music I can handle. And probably, there are people that take advantage of the $5 price a LOT more than I do. But as a casual music listener, who is always looking to find new types of music that might pique my interest, Yahoo's Music Store has nailed my needs on the head solidly, and I'm glad to pay for that benefit. If you don't want to pay $5 a month to get unlimited downloads, then the RIAA has a good reason to go after you; however given their greed they want to come after me as well.
Oh well... at least if they bust down my door I can prove I'm legit
The US is just being the Microsoft of the world.
I wonder where a lot of our values come from and now I know... our government is a shadow of how corrupt our society is so welp... there you have it.
Boot off of a Linux CD and install. :)
They are usually financial data with raw feeds (via VBA scripts), so they are dynamic and thus, can't be sent as PDFs.
And I apologised for that. I just don't like being asked in a manner that makes me feel like I'm doing it purposely.
He could have just said "Hey, we can handle the traffic just fine, so please don't repost it next time, thanks!"
And that would have been a request I would have without hesitation, complied with happiness.
US Officials (generally clueless about "internet") pass regulations they don't know what means what.
...
Microsoft creates crappy software with closed standards
Profit!
Sorry, it was meant as a courtesy because of habit with respect to other sites. I don't really consider this however, 'ripping' your content because everybody knows where it comes from and I've added no commentary to it, nor edited it from your site.
I know however, that I didn't include your advertising so you may get the $.05 or whatever for the impression or click, but speaking for myself (and perhaps other Ars.Technica readers), I always visit your site and don't block any of the ads because I want to make sure you have the revenue to continue writing good articles. However, and I may be imagining things, your response is very idiotic and ignores the fact that thousands of Slashdotters are how your site can even TURN a profit and contine to be funded.
I figured that you can just look at my repost of your article as a courtesy mirror, but you had to act like a dick and make yourself look like an ass. Personally I would have let it slide entirely, but such snide remarks deserve an answer from time to time. I'll still visit your site because I enjoy the articles, but when a community (Slashdot) only promotes your site, don't add a comment trying to make them feel bad for doing something relatively benign.
Asshole.
The articles:
Inside Microsoft's decision to back HD DVD
By Ken "Caesar" Fisher
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Few were surprised when Microsoft (along with Intel) announced that they would back HD DVD over Blu-ray. While Microsoft's stance on the next-generation of optical storage media was officially neutral, their close working relationship with Toshiba led us to suspect that HD DVD would get the nod. The interesting question is, why?
It has been said that Microsoft simply wouldn't back something put out by Sony, but that argument doesn't have traction. First, Microsoft's VC-1 video codec is supported by both Blu-ray and HD DVD; there's no strategic edge there to speak of. Additionally, over-emphasizing the competition between the PlayStation and the Xbox ignores the fact that Sony and Microsoft have a substantial working relationship. Witness Sony's line of Vaio computers, as well as Sony's Microsoft-DRM-backed music store.
The decision to back HD DVD stems not from a dislike of Sony, but from the assessment of the maturity and consumer-friendliness of HD DVD. No, seriously.
Managed Copy: what is it, and what it isn't
First, a little Realpolitik. We all know about CSS, the encryption scheme used to "protect" DVDs from unauthorized copying. It was cracked (famously), and both Blu-ray and HD DVD are designed to be much, much harder to circumvent. While calling anything crack-proof is pretty foolish, phenomena such as the iTunes Music Store demonstrate quite clearly that many people are comfortable with DRM if it allows for some flexibility. That is, DRM isn't going anywhere, and even the most pointy-haired geek should see that.
Making copies of a DVD is technically illegal in the United States, because circumventing access controls is forbidden by the US Code, except in rare instances. The problem with this, of course, is that it violates our Fair Use rights as citizens, and it punishes those of us who abide by the rules, while the real pirates (organized crime) go on largely unabated.
Microsoft, among others, wants to see this changed.
Currently, HD DVD is the only next-gen format to provide for the ability to legally make copies of optical content. Dubbed "Managed Copy," HD DVD implements part of the AACS control mechanism to allow for things such as putting digital copies of a disc on a hard drive, transferring a movie (legally) to a portable player, or streaming content on a home network. Furthermore, HD DVD makes Managed Copy mandatory: all content provided on HD DVD must give users the option of making at least one copy. Jordi Ribas, director of technical strategy for the Windows Digital Media Division, told me that while the feature is mandatory, the studios will have the option of charging for it. Ribas hopes that studios will allow at least a single copy "for free," but it may be market conditions that ultimately determine the cost of such features. The take-away, at least, is that studios have to offer something, and AACS is structured in such a way that the studios can tap into it to offer users more options.
Furthermore, because Managed Copy is part of the AACS specification, this isn't a feature exclusive to Microsoft or Intel solutions. While both companies believe that their respective products (Media Center Edition, and Viiv, respectively) will shine in a world were Managed Copy is available, AACS defines a set of requirements that technically any company could aspire to, be it Apple, Motorola, or another player in the game.
What about Blu-ray? Currently, Blu-ray has announced no such mandatory support. There are also plenty of questions about whether or not Blu-ray will entertain this option. The Blu-ray Disc Association so far has adopted AACS conditionally; it is still subject to review. Furthermore, Blu-ray to date has adopted content protections above and beyond AACS, adding BD+ and ROM-Mark to their arsenal. Such added protections appear to be part of an appeasement plan: the studios want more than AACS pr
There's a single reason we wouldn't migrate to StarOffice. Because when we save the document in "OpenDocument" format, there's no guarantee that the person that needs to recieve that document (outside the company) will be able to read it.
And that folks, is the crux of the problem. If we can't have compatibility outside the company, it's much harder for us to make use of the product. Fortunately, OpenOffice is free and we can always send a link with our document. "If you cannot open this file, please download OpenOffice, from OpenOffice.org -- a mere 2623523523 megabyte download."
There has to be a better way to start getting Office out of the workplace but I don't know what it is. Either way, I use Office at home and work ONLY because Outlook is in the suite of products. Maybe when Mozilla's lightning comes out, I can go completely open source but until then, Office it is.
Some ISPs are already doing this. They add their logo, add a few extensions and toss it into an installer and release it to their clients.
Besides the *power* of the browser is only as good as its quality. And there are extensions that have caused havoc with Firefox before, I'd rather leave them out and make it easier to find and install them.
Because Firefox hasn't innovated in their browser with anything spectacular in some time. However with the upcoming 1.5, I think there will be yet another 'surge' of people flocking to Firefox yet again. Easy updating with some nifty new features will get some more market acceptance from would-be Firefox users.
.NET based) to function to *standards* (repeat it with me now!). Thus Firefox has no problem displaying them and *most* of the time, neither does Internet Explorer which means that the medium of a browser is going to be one that works fastest, and works best. Right now that's Firefox, and Internet Explorer has catching up to do. And given the nature of Firefox (open source, unlimited developers and bug testers), the development process is one likely to be more invigorated with ideas, and more likely to fix bugs on a timely basis.
Microsoft has largely made amends on a temporary basis with the MSN addons that allow for tabbed browsing built into Internet Explorer. However given the fact they are STILL not innovating and waiting for a 7.0 browser release to do so, Firefox has time yet to build up steam.
When Firefox releases proper corporate deployment and support tools for its browser, then we will see a HUGE shift. Right now however, my company won't change because the idea of running around to 400+ PCs doesn't thrill them, if something screws up in Firefox or there's an update to be deployed. It would be nice if Mozilla developed everything using the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) at least for use in Windows so that everything has a familiar and EASY look about it.
Even with Internet Explorer you need to pay a boatload more money to get SMS Server (which I admit is pretty damned useful) to get updates done properly, so this is a nice path Mozilla could follow just to nip at the heels of Internet Explorer. Besides with the heavy hitters making more and more progress ala Google, Yahoo, IBM, Sun, etc, and using Firefox so religiously, they give credence to what Microsoft dismisses, and also code their web applications (all of which are NOT
That cannot be said of Microsoft as a whole, nevermind a single product they produce.
Ditto that... Apple has a bad habit of taking open source software and ideas, implementing it into their own software, and then shafting the developer of the open source version. That, and they make some really shitty software like iTunes, and lock you into using it. In that respect, they are almost the same as Microsoft though, Apple has made inroads into the desktop user experience that Microsoft can only dream of.
Because if Microsoft's history proves right, they will throw money at the problem, and that means money for *me*. If I dispay the MS "Adwords" equivalent on my site instead of the Google ads, I can take a bigger commission because Microsoft will give more money per click or impression or however they will do it, and that translates into me being able to have a better site for my end users.
We will see how the implementation goes, and how the rate structure may help my site.
Can firmly support BLURAY.
:)
We may not always be 100% sure in our positions, but we are 100% sure they are the opposite of Microsoft's
Pay your employees what they are worth, treat them well, put the stockholders SECOND (and make your employees know it), and strive for success. If you need to build a molehill, engage your employees to built a mountain.
The problem with most jobs is that (and it's true for me) I *know* I can do a better job than the person above me. And it's not the work itself -- I have ideas to make things work smoother, cheaper, more efficient, etc. Most companies fear change -- they do what they can to keep everything successful and change nothing for sake of their employees.
Why do you think Google is the 'job' that EVERYBODY wants (myself included)? Their environment is key to their success. They give their employees free food, let them wear whatever the fuck they want, and pay them well. The idea of companies getting more for less is proven false time and time again -- you will just have more people staying under the radar and doing the bare minimum, as the article suggests.
Here's a few tips from personal experience, that I can pass along to corporations:
-- Don't have "End of the Month" meetings congratulating how great the company's 'numbers' were when 99% of the people in attendance gain NOTHING from it, and the 1% who do are the ones trying to "motivate" you to get better numbers for next month.
-- Don't keep on incompetents, people with bad tempers, and just lazy fucking bastards just because they seem to be on a 'tenure' track and have a 'history' with your company. If you are detrimental to the employees in any way, get the fuck out.
-- Offer a Christmas bonus, ever year. I don't care if I got a $10 gift certificate to Walmart, it's the THOUGHT (and yes folks, your parents taught you right) that counts here. To say after a year's work, in a time of holiday and giving, and that you KNOW the managers are getting HUGE bonuses, learn to give a little back to your employees. You have no idea how valuable that $10 may be.
-- Offer advancement, even if it's fake. When I came in as "Janitor" (though I didn't but regardless), and I did a decent job and I earned my whopping (can you feel the sarcasm?) 4% raise, change my title too. I would love to be Janitor Level II -- head of vomit patrol for lavatories 1-4. Granted it was probably my job before but the fact I got a title change makes me feel just a little better.
-- DO NOT EXPECT YOUR EMPLOYEES TO ABANDON THEIR FAMILIES/LIVES TO WORK FOR YOUR SHITTY COMPANY. I cannot stress this enough. I work a 50 hour work week. Unless somebody is about to die, do not call me on the weekend, do not ask me to finish up a project by staying only a half hour more, and learn that "results" are often measured in QUALITY and not QUANTITY of hours. If you stress that you want the best job that your employee can do, but NOT at the expense of their personal lives, then your company will benefit. Because employees will make sure to get their projects done in a timely fashion because they have ALL of the aforementioned 'tips' to look forward to, coming in to another day at work.
-- And lastly, do not believe that YOU, as Management, are worthy of any praise. You are scum because you make boatloads more money than me for a LOT less work. Granted *some* of you worked to get there and some of you did not. As an employee, I don't give a flying fuck and I will always hold that against you. That's not negotiable. Your job as management is to be despised by all employees and looked at with scorn. So don't get mad about it -- just offer what you can to say that at the end of the day, with your fistfulls of cash, you are missing one dollar to give your employees an infinitely better workplace.
But we won't ever stop saying how useless and stupid you are because let's face it dude... you are a fat dumb bastard and we all aspire to be in your position as well.