Just today, I was bashing my head against the wall, trying to make Linux do what I want, and I am a technical person.
I was using a home computer at work for a few weeks, and had installed RedHat 9 on it. It worked beautifully and with no problems. A couple of weeks ago the computer came back home, and I've only used the Windows partition to play games, and install a wireless network card.
This morning, I needed some files off the Linux partition, so I booted to Linux. Only, when gdm attempts to start X on the box, my LCD display at home can't handle it (the settings weren't right for it). Is there a way to correct this? Does it drop down to the lowest common denominator so I can fix the problem? Nope! Being a geek, I fortunately KNOW that Ctrl-Alt-F1 will switch me to a console... I'd hate to think what Grandma would do.
I tried modifying XF86Config (being the geek I am) to put in more reasonable sync values. This didn't seem to work though. Redhat also conveniently got rid of xf86config, and the data file containing sync settings for most monitors.
All this, so I could go in and use the GUI to set up my new wireless network card (sorry, I never learned the command-line commands and files to edit to set this up manually).
I never did get that to work. Fortunately, I know the "mount/mnt/floppy" command, so I could at least write them to disk.
And this system is supposed to replace Windows and OS X for the masses? Don't get me started on setting up dual-headed displays under Linux at work...
I love Linux, especially developing under it. However, it is NOT ready as a Windows replacement. Gnome and KDE are fine, but some of the lower-levels such as X are still an issue.
"I'm sorry, but this is simply a silly idea. Do you really think that there is actually a physical "account" in your bank with bills stacked in it?"
Do you actually think that physical cash in your bank account would be required?
How about: whenever I got to the ATM or bank teller to withdraw cash, they record the RFID on the bills they give me, and link it to my bank account number.
Let's say the police have a drug bust, with lots of cash found. If they found any cash with your bank account as the last known source, they'd probably have good probable cause to search your house.
"And why would retailers spend their hard earned money hiding rf readers throughout the store? They know that if you leave with the product, you have to go through the Point of Sale."
Let's see, they might put such scanners in dressing rooms and bathrooms, to discretely check for shoplifting... "item XYZ went into the bathroom, but didn't come out again!". And as others have pointed out, they might be interested in what you bought at OTHER stores, so they can decide how to stock their shelves with merchandise that will sell faster.
However, you missed the point. The point was that scanning bar codes can't be done covertly (by the store or anyone else). In addition, bar codes don't STAY on the product, as it is contained on the packaging. RFIDs will, and can be incorporated into the product as easily as on the packaging.
What's worse is that RFIDs can be scanned without having to see the product, or even really knowing it is there. What happens if my new laptop comes RFID tagged? Sure, it might make RMA handling easier for the laptop company, but it might also allow a thief to detect it in my car trunk, just by walking by and scanning for it.
This technology has the potential of ending anonymous transactions. Even transactions that are LEGAL can be socially frowned upon. Are you 15 and buying condoms? You might not even be able to anonymously do that even with cash. How about anti-abortionists standing outside a clinic with an RFID scanner? Maybe they'll be able to determine exactly who you are by scanning what clothes you are wearing when you walk past them into the clinic? Discretely going to a gay bar, because you aren't openly homosexual?
Drink when you were underage? If the police found an RFID tagged beer can or wine bottle in your GARBAGE (publicly searchable) or even the trunk of your car, they could potentially track it back to the person who bought it, and what store it was sold at.
It isn't even that each RFID has a unique serial number. It's that they are so EASY to scan and digitally match with database entries. No human intervention or help is necessary, which is untrue of bar codes. THAT is what is going to make this technology so easy to use to the detriment of all.
Actually, Inuit (Eskimos) and some in the Perivian highlands have evolved a slightly better system than the standard constriction of the blood vessels.
Their bodies cycle the vascular constriction, causing a little more heat loss in their bodies, but helping to prevent frostbite and loss of manual dexterity. I'd say this was a good tradeoff, and shows evolution in action...
The second choice is best and will result in the long-term gain of jobs for Americans. The United States of America (USA) is a big market, and companies will set up shop in the USA once their share of the market reaches a certain critical size. As well, domestic content laws facilitate this trend. Toyota and Honda are excellent examples; they have built huge manufacturing and design facilities in the USA.
You are missing a serious difference here. Honda and Toyota moved their assembly plants here to get around the heavy tariffs levied against their cars when produced out-of-country. There are no such tariffs levied against software development, so companies will have no incentive to do this.
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Just today, I was bashing my head against the wall, trying to make Linux do what I want, and I am a technical person. I was using a home computer at work for a few weeks, and had installed RedHat 9 on it. It worked beautifully and with no problems. A couple of weeks ago the computer came back home, and I've only used the Windows partition to play games, and install a wireless network card.
/mnt/floppy" command, so I could at least write them to disk.
This morning, I needed some files off the Linux partition, so I booted to Linux. Only, when gdm attempts to start X on the box, my LCD display at home can't handle it (the settings weren't right for it). Is there a way to correct this? Does it drop down to the lowest common denominator so I can fix the problem? Nope! Being a geek, I fortunately KNOW that Ctrl-Alt-F1 will switch me to a console... I'd hate to think what Grandma would do.
I tried modifying XF86Config (being the geek I am) to put in more reasonable sync values. This didn't seem to work though. Redhat also conveniently got rid of xf86config, and the data file containing sync settings for most monitors.
All this, so I could go in and use the GUI to set up my new wireless network card (sorry, I never learned the command-line commands and files to edit to set this up manually).
I never did get that to work. Fortunately, I know the "mount
And this system is supposed to replace Windows and OS X for the masses? Don't get me started on setting up dual-headed displays under Linux at work...
I love Linux, especially developing under it. However, it is NOT ready as a Windows replacement. Gnome and KDE are fine, but some of the lower-levels such as X are still an issue.
John
"I'm sorry, but this is simply a silly idea. Do you really think that there is actually a physical "account" in your bank with bills stacked in it?"
Do you actually think that physical cash in your bank account would be required?
How about: whenever I got to the ATM or bank teller to withdraw cash, they record the RFID on the bills they give me, and link it to my bank account number.
Let's say the police have a drug bust, with lots of cash found. If they found any cash with your bank account as the last known source, they'd probably have good probable cause to search your house.
"And why would retailers spend their hard earned money hiding rf readers throughout the store? They know that if you leave with the product, you have to go through the Point of Sale."
Let's see, they might put such scanners in dressing rooms and bathrooms, to discretely check for shoplifting... "item XYZ went into the bathroom, but didn't come out again!". And as others have pointed out, they might be interested in what you bought at OTHER stores, so they can decide how to stock their shelves with merchandise that will sell faster.
However, you missed the point. The point was that scanning bar codes can't be done covertly (by the store or anyone else). In addition, bar codes don't STAY on the product, as it is contained on the packaging. RFIDs will, and can be incorporated into the product as easily as on the packaging.
What's worse is that RFIDs can be scanned without having to see the product, or even really knowing it is there. What happens if my new laptop comes RFID tagged? Sure, it might make RMA handling easier for the laptop company, but it might also allow a thief to detect it in my car trunk, just by walking by and scanning for it.
This technology has the potential of ending anonymous transactions. Even transactions that are LEGAL can be socially frowned upon. Are you 15 and buying condoms? You might not even be able to anonymously do that even with cash. How about anti-abortionists standing outside a clinic with an RFID scanner? Maybe they'll be able to determine exactly who you are by scanning what clothes you are wearing when you walk past them into the clinic? Discretely going to a gay bar, because you aren't openly homosexual?
Drink when you were underage? If the police found an RFID tagged beer can or wine bottle in your GARBAGE (publicly searchable) or even the trunk of your car, they could potentially track it back to the person who bought it, and what store it was sold at.
It isn't even that each RFID has a unique serial number. It's that they are so EASY to scan and digitally match with database entries. No human intervention or help is necessary, which is untrue of bar codes. THAT is what is going to make this technology so easy to use to the detriment of all.
John
Actually, Inuit (Eskimos) and some in the Perivian highlands have evolved a slightly better system than the standard constriction of the blood vessels.
Their bodies cycle the vascular constriction, causing a little more heat loss in their bodies, but helping to prevent frostbite and loss of manual dexterity. I'd say this was a good tradeoff, and shows evolution in action...