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  1. Re:Shouldn't internet access in a federal airport on WiFi At Logan Airport Leads To Turf War · · Score: 1

    Well, public internet access isn't vital to the operation of the airport, such as asphault, repair crews and lights are to the turnpike. This isn't a critical piece of infrastructure here, or at least not in the way it's being used/discussed. It should be free to the public in areas like this, simply for because of how it's used, and the overall benefit it has for the citizenry at large. I appreciate what you're saying, but I think there's probably more money to be had than just hiring a few janitors. Last time I looked at pay internet service it was somewhere in the range of like 20$ for 15 minutes. Multiply that by the number of people who come through an airport with computers every 24 hours, and how little bandwidth they probably use (email, web browsing, weather) and it would seem to me there's quite a few pennies to be had. Where they go, I haven't a clue, but I would guess it's going into someone's pockets, since the idea of free internet access in this place is what's ruffling feathers.

  2. Shouldn't internet access in a federal airport be on WiFi At Logan Airport Leads To Turf War · · Score: 1

    Sohuldn't access in a federal airport be free? Tax dollars funded their construction. Tax dollars help to pay for security and infrastructure. Tax dollars have helped to bail out airlines on more than 2 occasions. Add to that taxes, fees, etc.. and it is just like rubbing salt into the wound that is modern air travel. Considering the poor service, delays, bad food, cramped conditions and anything else one could complain about, the one thing that travelers shouldn't have to pay for in an airport, is internet access. (Tinfoil hat crowd read that :"pay to be spied on and monitored")

    The internet started out as a federally funded project, even if you beleive the legend that it was created back in the 70's by educated people, and not Al Gore. Paying for it in a federally subsidized institution (at least as an american) is sick, unless the ISP put in their own infrastructure, but apparently that's not the case. Especially since, charging someone somewhere for access seems to be the point of this whole problem. I mean, the best solution would be for the Airport authority to charge continental directly, and continental in turn could give their users a key of sorts to access the existing network.

  3. Re:I'm clearly missing something that Massport kno on WiFi At Logan Airport Leads To Turf War · · Score: 1

    Good to know. I didn't mean to sling mud, only to say that if the airports are concerned with a WAP fudging up security, I was assuming that other areas may not be that secure either. Obviously whoever has a problem with this didn't run it by someone who knows what they are doing, or get their facts straight, which makes me think this is just more of a "cash grab" instead of a legitimate beef.

  4. Re:I'm clearly missing something that Massport kno on WiFi At Logan Airport Leads To Turf War · · Score: 1

    I thought the same thing after reading this too. Perhaps I wasn't as irritated as you, but I totally agree. If Continental Airlines is going to have the screws put to it, for providing a service to it's customers, based on a seemingly silly notion that a wifi transmitter will cause problems with their security, then the same should be done to any carrier using Windows to operate their computers, from terminal all the way down to check in. I recently came back from Las Vegas at the begining of July. It was pretty late at night and some terminals were obviously empty, but upon walking around I noticed some of the terminals were running some version of windows (my guess was 98 or 2000), and had dialog boxes with errors popped up for anyone to see or just plain windows desktops, with no one around or seeming to care that this system was apparently wide open, and open for anyone to see on the monitors. To me, this kind of open access should worry them more than people getting free wifi. I think what should really disgust you, is that the same sort of people searching your bags and scanning you before you get to the terminal, are probably the ones designing and securing the network. :/

  5. played this game for a while on Hillary, GTA, and High School Football · · Score: 1

    Heh, like most of my fellow nerds, I love the GTA franchise. Untill my PS2 finally gave up living, it was my way of blwoing off steam. I'll decline to describe exactly what I do (it's not going around killing hookers and having sex), but it gives me a way to vent my frustrations in a way that while not productive, hurts no one else either. Granted I kinda had to stop playing so much when I found myself sitting at a stoplight, or behind another car, and checking out that empty sidewalk with a thought "hmmm I bet I could cut through there....."
    Granted, I'm not 12, I'm 26 and I know that if I start thinking like that, I just need to laugh and take some time off.
    Whatever the reasons for kids doing whatever it is kids do nowadays, legislation and finger wagging is no substitute for taking an active part in your kids lives (or friends kids, or your neighbors kids, etc...) and teaching them right from wrong. From the way I see it, it's like that old paradigm that kids are going to rebel against their parents in some form or another (i.e. doing what they are not told to do). So with a younger population having kids etc, they are rebelling, by behaving, because their role models don't care enough to instill proper values and judgment into them. So, they are rebelling against what they see in society. Sexually repressed? Dress like a whore. I could go on, but I think most sane slashdotters know what I'm getting at.
    As a father myself, I take pride in knowing that my son is well behaved and courteous (well, as well behaved and courteous as a three year old can be.... ;) especially compared to other people's chillens who have no respect for anyone or anything. All it takes is a little time and love, and if you don't have those, maybe you should keep it in your pants, or keep your legs closed.

  6. Re:That would make one *terrible* turntable on Old Floppy Drive Becomes New Turntable · · Score: 1

    actually, you're half right. Conventionally, with the record on hte platter, and sitting on a rubber matt, this is what would happen. What most people don't realize is that for DJ use, there's a third component. A "slipmat", which is basically just a 12" felt disc or pad, that allows the platter to continue spinning under the record when the DJ grabs the album and maniuplates it. Direct drive is going to be better for DJ applications for torque and response reasons, but belt drive isn't impossible to work with. It's just not pretty. If you look around there are some entry level DJ kits from makers like Numark that are belt drive and apparently work fine for those just getting into it.

  7. Re:Funny, that on TSA Violated Privacy Act · · Score: 1

    Funny you mention that. Ever since I've become a neocon tool, I get through airport security with ease.

  8. I'd comment on this but on TSA Violated Privacy Act · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Apparently it's illegal to stand up and incite my fellow countrymen to standup against the government and throw off the repressive shackles of tyrrany.

  9. Re:You get what you pay for -- by your logic... on Mac OS X Gaining Ground In Corporate Environs · · Score: 1

    Does this mean if Microsoft charged you $10,000 per desktop for Windows Next, that it would be the best operating system around?

    I'd sure hope so, that's a lot of money, or I'd be really stupid.

    Oh here we're talking about saving money now. So which is it?

    Saving money over time.

    And while we're on the subject of hardware not needing to be upgraded, what about Apple's entire platform shift to Intel starting next year. That hardly promises a long and happy life for your PPC based Macs.

    Maybe I'm way too slow, but I haven't read anything to say that they are going to abandon 2005 or earlier macs running Gx CPUs, so if/when they switch to x86, is going to be "how much is the OS Going to cost me, will it run on these older x86 boxes as well as on my G4 (it is only 1.67 ghz, those are 2ghz min...)" The investment in mac hardware is a cost savings over time, in that I could let that computer run 5 years in an office environment nearly trouble free, and people will say, "that was a good investment." If I saw a windows box operate the same way, after software updates etc.. I'd say "wow, you're lucky."

    If an x86 version of OS X comes out, that would be a savings in manhours supporting/cleaning/administering windows. Not only that, but from apple's track record, their software updates tend to make things FASTER.

    Maybe I'm wrong, but I can't see managment entrusting their business to free. I like linux and am not trying to slam it, but I agree with most folks, that it's not ready for primetime like OS X is, especially compared to windows.

    I guess your shortsightedness is why things seemed fuzzy.

  10. You get what you pay for on Mac OS X Gaining Ground In Corporate Environs · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Firstly, I don't mean to imply that my OS is better than yours, or vice versa (unless you're running windows, then yeah, I do), so please don't mod me a troll.
    I currently switched to Mac from windows, because I like it better. From performance to overall ease of use.
    I administer a WAN of five private practice physical therapy clinics consisting of about 15 clients + server. Currently we use Intergy Medical Manager as our medrec/billing software, which ONLY runs on windows and is client-server. It's not a bad program, but is very limited for our environment (especially costwise). The server I built for it, has been running win2k steady for almost a year now without fail or problems.
    However, the costs associated with paying Intergy for licensing, upgrading, and training really add up. Now, add on top of that, time and trouble from those pesky client pcs(windows xp) and adding other workstations. Costs start adding up when you have to scrap legacy hardware to run the latest OS to keep up with the latest upgrade. We all know the drill.
    Linux would be a GREAT solution to these kinds of problems for us, but my bosses are committed to this expensive investment of hardware and software . What comes to mind when I try to see it from their perspective is "you get what you pay for, no way am I taking a risk and flushing this invest ment down the drain, for something FREE." Would you risk your business on it? I certainly wouldn't. I think maybe in larger environments bean counters are starting to see more costs coming in supporting windows, bandwidth, etc. and encouraging the tech staff to find a solution. The solution being linux or unix. Well, in my mind, I can't see a PHB betting their job on "free" so will pay for an alternative, that they may feel is similar to windows (don't outcast me mac guys) and something they have to pay for gives them security, name recognition(it's a psych thing I know), and just plain works. Especially since Mac is making a name for itself as being "virus proof" in mainstream media. Linux too, but once again, it's "free, and you get what you pay for." Sure Mac systems aren't terribly cheap when placed against the PC market, but I think the savings becomes apparent when the hardware dosen't have to be upgraded as often, especially if all you're doing is running a thin client or web browser.
    I look forward to tossing all the windows machines out the door once I upgrade our systems again in another year or two.
    The WorldVista software something that I'm now seriously looking into to help make the switch.
    Networking Macs, I discovered is terribly easy, and just as easy to secure and lock down.
    Now, I've just taken and made a longer lasting and more secure investment and saved a TON of money. From Hardware on up. The best part is, the investment in our server gets paid off as it's lifetime is increased using linux (hey, if they don't need to work on it, they don't need to know ;).
    (email me if you'd like to know why they'd accept a free medrec/billing program and not OS).

    I'm not in a large enterprise environment, only because of lack of employees. I'd guess that appart from the cubicals and numbers, things are about the same everywhere.

  11. Re:WOW, not like this hasnt been out for.... 6 yea on Dialup Redeemed: The WiFlyer Modem+Hotspot · · Score: 1

    I was about to say the same thing. Maybe it's Apple's fault for not making it clearer that their products will work with pc's too. Oh well, fewer idiots on our platform. ;)

  12. Re:One Problem on Video iPod May Arrive in September · · Score: 1

    I agree with that sentiment totally, but Apple has a pretty keen eye for design and interface. Perhaps a screen the size of the current ipods (covering the whole face) with some sort of touch screen input. Hopefully whatever they do, it won't disappoint.

  13. Re:One Problem on Video iPod May Arrive in September · · Score: 2, Informative

    I do beleive they already have the A/V out on the iPod photo.

  14. Re:What would be really badass... on Update on the Optimus Keyboard · · Score: 1

    that's apple for some of us you insensitive clod.

  15. Re:get over it... on U.N. To Govern Internet? · · Score: 1

    well, I'm not sure what part of the country you're from, but you are guaranteed the right to openly carry a firearm pretty much anywhere you go. I guess from what I hear, there are some exceptions, which totally boggles the mind, but I suppose if that's what people in those communities support, then so be it.

    When it comes to freedom of speech and saying what you want, it also comes with heavy responsibility. Sure, I could say "I support Al Queda" and in doing so, I'd have to be prepared for the consequences of that action. We are at war you know. I mean, rewind about 60 or so years, and claim to support the nazi party in your blog. See how far that gets you.

    Tell ya what, call the cops, and get that illegal warrant. Let's see who gets shot first, me or the cops. I'd do what I could to make sure the state police know to bring some body bags when they come out here. Hell, at least I'll have your money for my legal fund.

    Maybe I'm still idealistic and would like to think the people I vote for had my best interests in mind, but I guess I am jaded enough to agree that it's more about money than ideals in the good ol' house.

    Oh yeah, someone said something about violently overthrowing the government and claiming that it's illegal to say... I could be wrong, but isn't there some kind of official document that basically says the same thing, only with different words. Something about "should the need arise" comes to mind, but I can't remember where I have heard that. ;)

    Anyways, I'm once again wicked hung over and ate waaay too much at Steak and Shake, and said waaaaay too much to our waitress. To sum up, there could be more oppressive places to live, say whatever you want though, you should expect to be questioned when you start preaching violence and hate. You're threatening to hurt others, or supporting a group that does, then the men in black suits are doing their job protecting me and my family from nutbags like you that would blow me up if given the chance. Sorry I' don't specifically mean you, just saying that as an example.

  16. Re:get over it... on U.N. To Govern Internet? · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I'm thinking this was meant as sarcsm, but I'll bite. The internet as we know it, is running along just fine. Why we should let it out of our hands and into the hands of a multinational organization is beyond my scope of reasoning. I'm a bit hungover this morning, but aren't oppressive countries (i.e. against freedom of speech and though in this case) part of the UN? China anyone? So, say we hand over root to Kofi. Then what? My freedoms to publish and say what I want on the internet could possibly make me an international criminal or worse yet A TERRORIST!!!! Not having lived in other countries, all I can say is that I enjoy my freedom of speech, and keeping the internet in the united states control really dosen't seem like such a bad thing.

    Seriously this is one Bad Idea. I'll keep my intarweb like I like my slaves. FREE.

  17. Zero is nice and all on Alex, The Brainy Parrot Who Knows About Zero · · Score: 2, Insightful

    While it's really cool that this parrot can understand the concept of something being missing, or not existing at all within it's limited scope of numbers and objects, I think it would be more interesting to find out if the parrot could understand the concept of "I."
    Another interesting question would be, does the parrot "miss" things when they aren't there? People, toys, etc. or develop some sort of attachment to something, and show something akin to emotion?

  18. Everybody wants to be a pimp on Major Hangups Over the iPod Phone · · Score: 1

    This is absolutely rediculous. The PHONE companies want to be major players in the digital music scene? I'd really like some of what they are smoking. What in the world should make them think people would want to listen to music from their phones. I don't have the numbers, but I seem to remember that the Nokia Music phone or whatever it was called, was/is a total flop and didn't take off like the phone companies expected.
    Now, the hottest (IMO) music player teams up with motorola to create a phone, and these guys think they have a foot in the door to selling music? How about sticking to your bread and butter and sell phone service, make it work right the first time, and give us what we want. You heard me cellbells. How about a decent network and fair pricing before you decide to dabble in online music. Also, why would I buy music over a slow unstable connection on a cell phone, when I can sit down and get what I want from my pc in an eigth of the time. Granted, maybe I'm out somewhere and I want to hear a certain song NOW. I could see having iTunes on my phone being a convenience, but using my phone as my music player plugged into my stereo isn't going to happen. What if I'm having a party? Everytime the phone rings, I have to tell the whole party 'oops, sorry bob's calling, you're going to have to stop dancing for a minute.'
    Sillyness. Stick to putting up towers and raping people for crappy service. Let the RIAA focus on raping people for music. There's plenty of assholes out there for everyone.
    It seems like these cell companies have forgotten it's not about what they want. It's about what the customer wants. Sell the phones at a profit instead of a loss. If people want it, they will buy it. If not, they won't. But don't strip your customers of options that they may want, because you'd like to expand your market into unrelated areas.
    At any rate, Business 2.0 had a concept design of an "ipod" phone, that if this is what they are making, I'll be first in line to buy one. I already have an iPod, but if I had a phone that looked like it too. It'd be in my pocket faster than your wallet on the subway. ;x

  19. Re:something that gets overlooked in all of this on Business Models: Napster to Go vs. iPod · · Score: 1

    what about linux? :)

    I keed I keeed.

    But seriously. Is there a benefeit to switching it to mac formatted from windows formatted? Can linux read mac formatted? Is there a way to format the ipod on the mac that it can be read by a windows pc? I'd hate to think that if I ever needed to 'redo' my iPod I'd have to start on a windows PC and then switch over to my (just shipped) powerbook. Or can VPC emulate this ?(still not a really great solution I don't think.)
    I mean, if a knoppix box could read a mac formatted ipod, then I could still share files with friends assuming I had my trusty knoppix disk with me.
    I'm a noobie to mac so I'm looking for all sorts of tips etc, so if anyone can share their experiences with me, that would be awesome. (sorry to be offtopic)

  20. something that gets overlooked in all of this on Business Models: Napster to Go vs. iPod · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Something I think that gets overlooked in all of this, is that hte iPod can function as more than just a music player. It can be (and from what i've read around here on /. is) used as portable storage for files photos etc. Wasn't LOTR saved to iPods during filming? Along with owning an iPod, there comes utility as well as function. I have actually gotten up to around 8000-8500 tracks on my ipod. Mostly because I've been collecting music since I was 16, not to mention my friends music, and checking out napster when it was illegit. I'm only 26 now. Maybe I'm uncommon, but I don't tend to delete music just because it's not in style anymore (Hall & Oates anyone?). Interestingly enough, I find that my 40gig iPod isn't nearly big enough. I'm going to eventually get a 60gig (or bigger iPod) sometime this year, because in addition to playing music anywhere I go, I can plug it into any computer and share information. Whether it's for helping a friend fix their computer, sharing the latest linux distro, a tv show, a movie, or whatever I may want/need at any given point. Saying that the iPod isn't worth it because it would take 10,000$ to fill it using iTunes, is incredibly short sighted and extremely misleading. Not to mention the fact that just because you have an iPod or any digital music player for that matter dosen't mean that you have to buy music online anyways or be locked into iTunes (ephpod anyone?). If I didn't have such a large music collection, I'd still want an ipod or some kind of digital music player because it simplifies things. Why carry around 20 cds (200$) in a large case (another 10-30$), and potentially scratch them (or the copies I've made), take a chance on having them stolen (that really sucks, I had 80 cds stolen from my car in chicago one time after comdex), or just in general mess with it. I can slip my music into my pocket and go. About the only thing I can't do, is let someone borrow a CD that I may be listening to, but I can always make a note to burn one for them later.
    I'm not an apple fanboy (though I'm getting a new powerbook after having used PC's for the past 10 years now) I have to say there is definately a coolness factor in owning it as well as just the way it feels in your hand.

  21. I sometimes wonder on Over a Million Zombie PCs · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I'm not the greatest security expert, but I follow the proper guidelines (running AV, firewall, patches etc) and I still find that my xp machine is constantly coming up with some sorts of odd processes or quirks. I am giving up on windows as a personal machine, simply because it's ridiculous to constantly be fighting off things like this. I'm not going to blame anyone but the virus/spam/malware writers. I do what I can to practice "safe computing" (sic) and don't download stuff willy nilly.
    I think it's a shame that it has to be like this. Unfortunately the only real solution would be genetically modifying everyone to get rid of the gene that makes people think it's ok to spam/hack/whatever people's machines. Impossible as it is, the best solution would be to shut down the internet for about 2 months, then all the spammers would have to give back their money to the people that paid them (as if they would). Not likely to happen though.

  22. Re:Here's a piece I found interesting. on Spyware Critics Respond to iDownload/iSearch · · Score: 1

    I was thinking something along the same lines. IANAL, but it seems to me, after reading the article, that there is no one standard to define spyware/adware/crapware/malware. Each company and/or individual seems to have it's own definition of what is and isn't. This would qualify as an opinion, IMHO, and should be considered protected free speech. Nobody is forcing users to download ad-aware or the like. People are voluntarily getting anti-crapware programs and following the opinions or suggestions of the provider of the software. However people are not IMO generally volunteering for things like iDownload or the like.
    This makes me think of the old idiom regarding computer security, and an unlocked house. Just because the door is unlocked, does that give you permission to walk in? In this case it would be like, "If the door is unlocked, can the traveling salesman come in, take a shower, eat your food, sleep in your bed, watch your tv, invite his/her friends over, pee in your pool, drink your beer, etc..." Granted, that's going to an extreme, but in the digital world it's not that different. CPU time, bandwidth, HDD space, RAM, and your time all wasted and/or being used most times without your permission or explicit knowledge. These things most likely cost you money. Users, shouldn't be paying to make someone else money. Which is really what this boils down to. Someone taking (stealing IMO) resources, to make money for themselves.

  23. Re:this is awesome on New Hitchhiker's Episodes Available Online · · Score: 1

    oh yeah, is there a way to rip the 5.1 stream?

  24. this is awesome on New Hitchhiker's Episodes Available Online · · Score: -1, Troll

    as a fan of this for the past 6 years or so, I think this is totally awesome! I can't wait to give it a listen. It's pretty neat that they are offering it up in 5.1 surround too, can't wait to check that out. I discovered the h2g2 one night about 6 years ago, while surfing the internet for streaming audio to listen to over dialup. I had found a site (evilkiwi.net I think it was) that had been constantly streaming all 12 of the original bbc eps and tuned into it out of curiousity while checking my head with a water pipe. |-D Cheers!

  25. Maybe I missed something on Verisign Develops Token for Age Verification · · Score: 1

    ....but are the schools just picking out who will get these, providing the information to verisign, and then getting the usb keys? Or are they taking volunteers? If it's the former, as a parent I'd be pissed. The school should not be a data mining warehouse. In fact, it shouldn't have anything to do with verifying the age of anyone who wants to use the internet. It should have to do with educating the children. It's up to parents to monitor their kids internet access, and if they choose for their kids to be a part of a system like this, then the parents themselves should be sending information to verisign. Not the principal, teacher, or superintendant chalmers.