your logic isn't 100%. Microsoft has a share of the market that affects users to a much higher degree than does Linux or Macs. Macs are rarely used for internet edge type applications like web servers, and let's be honest -- if Linux ran as an internet edge with 1.x versions... they would be just as bad as MS is now.
A *lot* of companies still run NT4 as their web servers and I agree, there should be an end of life for those servers entirely, as IT has an evolving cost and also helps to increase innovation in areas inside IT, by using more cutting edge technology. However, the example of Windows 2000 being pushed out is ludicrus, because many companies still use it widely since the difference between that and XP are few and far between.
Open source for Microsoft isn't really beneficial... the code is passed and reviewed many times internally and as said on/. before, this is usually just as good as open source. The Microsoft teams that review the OS code are dedicated to reviewing it and fixing it (hopefully), whereas with open source the majority of people will only open the CVS and just look at the code and steal bits and pieces for their own ideas. The open source model can work for some software, not all, imho.
The problem for Microsoft with patching their products to support users, is that they don't do it until it's necessary. If perhaps, laws were created to force Microsoft to expedite patches that breached security, then it would do a lot better in getting end-users protected. If Microsoft were given only a certain timeframe to patch a bug, else to face fines, then it would become more business savvy to fix those bugs. I would however, implement a certain timeline that could be judged based on severity and how widespread/fast infecting the issue is.
That, and Microsoft can't just abandon Windows 2000 users to force upgrades on the customers. There are many companies that run Windows 2000 as a base OS because it is not much different from XP and also, they have already bought licenses for those machines.
If a car has a defect that can cause damage, then it gets fixed via a recall -- which is also why cars are better and safer nowadays, more than they have ever been. However, if a product forces your company to lose money, then the product maker should be held liable for losses incurred by that defect. If you give them a timeframe they have to complete it in, then it will be fixed. Microsoft is not one needing of resources, and they have plenty of cash lying around, so they could easily put together a specialized patching team that would work to roll out patches as soon as they are needed.
Agreed on all points, and I *am* a graduate working for peanuts. There are perks working here though, and I'm learning a lot, and will get sent to classes for my MCSE as well as being very hands-on in what I'm doing. I am hoping that within two years, I can be in the 70k range as a full fledged MCSE. Not sure if it's wishful thinking or not, but it's where I'd like to be. I know I'm good at my job and I know I have as you said, the attitude to get ahead and succeed. There are so many paper MCSEs out there that don't know PCs at all, just what's on the test, and I know even without my MCSE currently, I can trounce them. Employers however, are very keen on those pieces of paper, so I will attain it at some point.
One caveat though, about college degrees. They aren't worthless -- they show an incentive to a company that you are willing to put in the time it takes to accomplish a goal. A lot of major companies out here in Jersey will not hire you for that specific reason -- they want dedicated employees.
The arguement can be made however, that a college degree isn't a test of dedication... but that's another arguement.
lies in its scroll wheel and simple interface. That, and it's now 'chic and cool' to get one -- which is idiocy beyond my understanding.
I want a device that acts like a hard drive, so I can 'sync' files without a headache on any machine. I like WMP10 but there is a syncronized folder option in Windows, and I'm sure there is one in OSX as well. Add a simple menu, a simple interface unit (joystick, scroll wheel, etc), good battery life and a plethora of music formats, then you have a perfect player.
The simple reason I won't buy the iPod is because it only works with iTunes -- which I hate. I also am locked into using iTunes for my music purchasing. If there's a sale at Microsoft's music site, or somewhere else -- I'm SOL. It's the real reason I'm buying the iRiver -- because I don't want to be locked into a specific program or site to purchase music or sync my device. The iRiver may not have the best interface, or the most intuitive joystick... but for a person like me, who hits play, selects random, and just skips songs he doesn't want to hear -- it really doesn't matter what type of joystick I have because it won't get much use.
Simplicity in this area is key. The iPod is very simple and to the point, and since it was first of its kind really, with a lot of marketing behind it, it's #1. People need to realize that the iPod isn't number 1 because it is the best player -- it's clearly not -- not in battery life, choice of format, syncing, or price -- but because the marketing budget on that device is bigger than all the other devices combined.
You want to beat iPod? Sink some money into getting TV ads comparing iPod to and I'm certain you will have people checking those devices out.
Oh, and make them available in colors too -- then stupid women who buy 'pink' will also be satisfied.
Drag and drop... it should pick up all the mp3 and ogg files it finds, and since it can be used as an external HD... you can easily use it for drag/drop.
I think the hype will be worth it, given that its physics engine rivals that of id software's, and actually does better because it's not so shadow-intensive.
That said... the gameplay is what I'm concerned about. Half Life was only a great game because of Counterstrike -- it was smart for Valve to port Counterstrike in its entirety to the new engine for the physics and eyecandy. Additionally, it's a good way to keep the same game and just update it -- some games try to do this in a fashion that simply won't work on a long term scale, like Ultima Online, but that's neither here nor there.
And I reiterated this point a few posts down -- mass adoption of FireFox won't come until it has features that allows Windows networks (ie, corporate intranets) to use this with ease of updates and distribution.
Until FireFox offers a centralized way to update. That is to say, in an organization that would roll out FireFox en masse, if a security update arises, there needs to be a secure method of pushing out that update to the end-user of the browser. Believe me when I say it, the VP of Information Systems (my boss) at my job was a proponent of an 'alternative' browser being used instead of IE. He had looked at Opera and I showed him Firefox (less impactful change for end-users) but at the time, Mozilla released a single fix for Firefox's security, and he asked how it would happen if everybody needed an update.
If Mozilla can solve that problem with security in mind with PUSHING the updates -- we are going to be in seriously good shape in a year or so. Companies can adopt and push the mainstream users to use it. After all, people use IE because "it's what I use at work" or at least, it's a good enough excuse for a lot of people.
That oil and gas doesn't come from the middle east, which is where the 'evil' comment came from. If you were so inclined and so able, you'd invest in making a great future for yourself using any means. There's more money in Saudi and Middle East oil and gas investments than there are in south america (which is where Turner's assets are), so he has invested in the resources that are well... lesser of the evils, and still making a buck.
I can't blame him. I'd do it too.
Good on gas, yes, definately.
However, in the car you're driving is essentially and will always contain... a battery. It's been proven (google it) that you can only recharge and charge a battery so many times before it loses its usefulness. In the long run, you cause more harm than good.
I'd personally tell you to get a manual transmission Corolla or Civic that will give you in the mid 30s and even 40s for gas mileage if you drive them sanely. Not to mention, they will drive forever and be cheaper to buy in the beginning.
The true change of engines will come when we have COMBUSTIBLE hydrogen fuel. These fuel cells that GM is developing is fine for crap cars, but in sports cars and things they are utterly useless because of the sheer weight they add. And the more weight you tow around in a car, the less miles per gallon you will achieve.
As a side note, my father's 1990 Nissan Sentra manual 4 banger gives him 32-36mpg on a constant basis. And considering he paid only 2 grand when he bought it used a few years back... it's a damn good and sound investment instead of jumping into a hybrid whose long term utility is not as good as a regular engine.
Is there a version for Windows too??? I hate to think since I'm running the 'inferior' OS that I'd be left out of the great revolution that could occur by my deleting of Windows Media Player, Quicktime, and all other associated annoyances.
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your logic isn't 100%. Microsoft has a share of the market that affects users to a much higher degree than does Linux or Macs. Macs are rarely used for internet edge type applications like web servers, and let's be honest -- if Linux ran as an internet edge with 1.x versions... they would be just as bad as MS is now.
A *lot* of companies still run NT4 as their web servers and I agree, there should be an end of life for those servers entirely, as IT has an evolving cost and also helps to increase innovation in areas inside IT, by using more cutting edge technology. However, the example of Windows 2000 being pushed out is ludicrus, because many companies still use it widely since the difference between that and XP are few and far between.
Open source for Microsoft isn't really beneficial... the code is passed and reviewed many times internally and as said on /. before, this is usually just as good as open source. The Microsoft teams that review the OS code are dedicated to reviewing it and fixing it (hopefully), whereas with open source the majority of people will only open the CVS and just look at the code and steal bits and pieces for their own ideas. The open source model can work for some software, not all, imho.
The problem for Microsoft with patching their products to support users, is that they don't do it until it's necessary. If perhaps, laws were created to force Microsoft to expedite patches that breached security, then it would do a lot better in getting end-users protected. If Microsoft were given only a certain timeframe to patch a bug, else to face fines, then it would become more business savvy to fix those bugs. I would however, implement a certain timeline that could be judged based on severity and how widespread/fast infecting the issue is. That, and Microsoft can't just abandon Windows 2000 users to force upgrades on the customers. There are many companies that run Windows 2000 as a base OS because it is not much different from XP and also, they have already bought licenses for those machines. If a car has a defect that can cause damage, then it gets fixed via a recall -- which is also why cars are better and safer nowadays, more than they have ever been. However, if a product forces your company to lose money, then the product maker should be held liable for losses incurred by that defect. If you give them a timeframe they have to complete it in, then it will be fixed. Microsoft is not one needing of resources, and they have plenty of cash lying around, so they could easily put together a specialized patching team that would work to roll out patches as soon as they are needed.
Agreed on all points, and I *am* a graduate working for peanuts. There are perks working here though, and I'm learning a lot, and will get sent to classes for my MCSE as well as being very hands-on in what I'm doing. I am hoping that within two years, I can be in the 70k range as a full fledged MCSE. Not sure if it's wishful thinking or not, but it's where I'd like to be. I know I'm good at my job and I know I have as you said, the attitude to get ahead and succeed. There are so many paper MCSEs out there that don't know PCs at all, just what's on the test, and I know even without my MCSE currently, I can trounce them. Employers however, are very keen on those pieces of paper, so I will attain it at some point.
One caveat though, about college degrees. They aren't worthless -- they show an incentive to a company that you are willing to put in the time it takes to accomplish a goal. A lot of major companies out here in Jersey will not hire you for that specific reason -- they want dedicated employees.
The arguement can be made however, that a college degree isn't a test of dedication... but that's another arguement.
lies in its scroll wheel and simple interface. That, and it's now 'chic and cool' to get one -- which is idiocy beyond my understanding.
I want a device that acts like a hard drive, so I can 'sync' files without a headache on any machine. I like WMP10 but there is a syncronized folder option in Windows, and I'm sure there is one in OSX as well. Add a simple menu, a simple interface unit (joystick, scroll wheel, etc), good battery life and a plethora of music formats, then you have a perfect player.
The simple reason I won't buy the iPod is because it only works with iTunes -- which I hate. I also am locked into using iTunes for my music purchasing. If there's a sale at Microsoft's music site, or somewhere else -- I'm SOL. It's the real reason I'm buying the iRiver -- because I don't want to be locked into a specific program or site to purchase music or sync my device. The iRiver may not have the best interface, or the most intuitive joystick... but for a person like me, who hits play, selects random, and just skips songs he doesn't want to hear -- it really doesn't matter what type of joystick I have because it won't get much use.
Simplicity in this area is key. The iPod is very simple and to the point, and since it was first of its kind really, with a lot of marketing behind it, it's #1. People need to realize that the iPod isn't number 1 because it is the best player -- it's clearly not -- not in battery life, choice of format, syncing, or price -- but because the marketing budget on that device is bigger than all the other devices combined.
You want to beat iPod? Sink some money into getting TV ads comparing iPod to and I'm certain you will have people checking those devices out.
Oh, and make them available in colors too -- then stupid women who buy 'pink' will also be satisfied.
Drag and drop... it should pick up all the mp3 and ogg files it finds, and since it can be used as an external HD... you can easily use it for drag/drop.
Suprisingly though, I can ask that same question at the age of 23, and still laugh. :)
Query: "Does AskJeeves suck?" First Hit Title: "10/19/1999: ASK JEEVES is the worst site on the internet" I'd say it works pretty well... :)
I think the hype will be worth it, given that its physics engine rivals that of id software's, and actually does better because it's not so shadow-intensive. That said... the gameplay is what I'm concerned about. Half Life was only a great game because of Counterstrike -- it was smart for Valve to port Counterstrike in its entirety to the new engine for the physics and eyecandy. Additionally, it's a good way to keep the same game and just update it -- some games try to do this in a fashion that simply won't work on a long term scale, like Ultima Online, but that's neither here nor there.
Given the fact there are an infinite amount of numbers, any murmur from your mouth or any written gibberish can be conveyed to a number.
:)
For example, 'sassdfadef' is a number I think is a 2 with one thousand 3s after it. It's really moot
And I reiterated this point a few posts down -- mass adoption of FireFox won't come until it has features that allows Windows networks (ie, corporate intranets) to use this with ease of updates and distribution.
Until FireFox offers a centralized way to update. That is to say, in an organization that would roll out FireFox en masse, if a security update arises, there needs to be a secure method of pushing out that update to the end-user of the browser. Believe me when I say it, the VP of Information Systems (my boss) at my job was a proponent of an 'alternative' browser being used instead of IE. He had looked at Opera and I showed him Firefox (less impactful change for end-users) but at the time, Mozilla released a single fix for Firefox's security, and he asked how it would happen if everybody needed an update. If Mozilla can solve that problem with security in mind with PUSHING the updates -- we are going to be in seriously good shape in a year or so. Companies can adopt and push the mainstream users to use it. After all, people use IE because "it's what I use at work" or at least, it's a good enough excuse for a lot of people.
That oil and gas doesn't come from the middle east, which is where the 'evil' comment came from. If you were so inclined and so able, you'd invest in making a great future for yourself using any means. There's more money in Saudi and Middle East oil and gas investments than there are in south america (which is where Turner's assets are), so he has invested in the resources that are well... lesser of the evils, and still making a buck. I can't blame him. I'd do it too.
Good on gas, yes, definately. However, in the car you're driving is essentially and will always contain... a battery. It's been proven (google it) that you can only recharge and charge a battery so many times before it loses its usefulness. In the long run, you cause more harm than good. I'd personally tell you to get a manual transmission Corolla or Civic that will give you in the mid 30s and even 40s for gas mileage if you drive them sanely. Not to mention, they will drive forever and be cheaper to buy in the beginning. The true change of engines will come when we have COMBUSTIBLE hydrogen fuel. These fuel cells that GM is developing is fine for crap cars, but in sports cars and things they are utterly useless because of the sheer weight they add. And the more weight you tow around in a car, the less miles per gallon you will achieve. As a side note, my father's 1990 Nissan Sentra manual 4 banger gives him 32-36mpg on a constant basis. And considering he paid only 2 grand when he bought it used a few years back... it's a damn good and sound investment instead of jumping into a hybrid whose long term utility is not as good as a regular engine.
If there is a Windows version, where is it on the site? I didn't see it there.
Is there a version for Windows too??? I hate to think since I'm running the 'inferior' OS that I'd be left out of the great revolution that could occur by my deleting of Windows Media Player, Quicktime, and all other associated annoyances.