If/when I have kids, the computer I use will be in a study that remains locked/offlimits, so the kids dont mess with. They'll have whatever old P-2 system I can throw together so they can play Freddy Fish VI or whatever they've innovated by then. Thats the setup we've got for my uncle with his two toddlers, and for my grandmother who routinely has grandkids of all ages in her house.
Seconded. LOVE the MX Duo. Much better on batteries than my old Mouseman Cordless Freedom combo, and the cradle just rocks. And you can get the thing for the price of just an MX700 now if u catch a sale at Best Buy or Staples.
My Logitech Cordless Duo MX does *quite* well on batteries...the keyboard is still on the original 2 AA batteries that came with it 8 months ago, and the mouse lasts a full days usage, then just drop it into the cradle when you goto bed and its ready for a new day. Or just drop it in the cradle on the coffee break to ensure its good for an all nighter. That is *much* improved performance over my previous wireless keyboard (4 AAs lasted 6 months), and the cradle-recharging mouse is convenience itself.
As for losing stuff...keep it on the desk? I mean...really. Do you worry about losing your CDs or your palm pilot? No difference compared to any other device thats not wired in place; except its much easier to rearrange wireless devices into a new configuration.
Net users aren't lusers! Multinational study confirms what most everyone already knows! Overrated geek stereotypes shattered! Everyone will forget this shortly however!
Frivolity aside, I am confused by the increase in 'trusted' content perception of most people surveyed...as the 'net has grown larger, most geeks trust less and less of the content, in my experience. The more that any old Joe is allowed to just throw online, the higher the signal to noise ratio goes...
Indeed. When I was first learning PHP and doing a lot of local testing, I just downloaded the whole doc to my PDA. Easy searching, and remembers my place even if I close the cover;)
I will admit I've got 2 O'Reilly books on PHP (Programming and the Cookbook) but more often than not its easier to just hop on their site and search there. The books are there to look cool with the rest of my O'Reilly collection.
Personally I like the user comments in the online docs the best. Half the time someone's already written some small function that I'm looking for, or quite adequately explained all the various cases of some esoteric function return.
"...if they leave people like Borrayo with the impression that they're actual law enforcement, that's a mistake."
Its a mistake they want people to make, so they can intimidate them even easier into giving up what little rights the average citizen has versus a group of pigs like the RIAA. The ex-cops working for them are probably the rejects drummed out of the force for lack of morals, otherwise I don't see how they could accept such misleading representation of themselves.
The only bit of Sony hardware I own is a nice 19" Trinitron CRT. I learned to stay away from most of their other stuff after tech supporting some of it. A lot of people share your luck in dealing with their products, in my experience.
Although I do enjoy the PS2, I waited till it was cheap-ish (relatively speaking).
After 6 years of tech support, Toshiba is the most problem free of the laptops I've dealt with, and IBM/Dell tied for the worst. Apple laptops are also sweet, but I've had more limited dealings with those.
Just got a Toshiba Satellite M35-S359. Something like 1.4" thick, 15.4" screen, ~7lbs. *Very* sweet laptop, and heat is no issue with the Centrino proc in there. Forget IBM's fragile creation, get something with some panache:)
Just curious, did you see the extended versions of the first two movies? I disliked TTT in theatres but the extended edition redeemed itself. Mainly because it went back to the book a lot, just like the FotR extended ed.
Tell them that Mr Harrison is drastically wrong in his stance. I really can't believe that guy is a VP of Marketing, since he seems to have no conception that extra features that everyone wants == more sales of said console. That guy needs some reeducating.
I just sent a nice long email to nintendo@noa.nintendo.com explaining why my PS2 goes everywhere and why I buy more games for it, versus my Gamecube. It was polite, well reasoned, with evidence from mine and my friends' game habits. I doubt anyone of importance sees it ever, but efforts had to be made.
I have hope for Nintendo, but only if they educate or sack guys like Mr Harrison, and occasionally listen to what the customers want instead.
Really though...suspension of belief is required to enjoy any movie, technologically based or not. We might laugh about inaccuracies and impossibilities after the fact, but remembering the era its from, and what was impressive then, its not such a big deal. Gotta take it in context.
I however refuse to vote unless I have the time to fully research and understand the issues of contention and each side's stand on them (I dont have that kinda time as college student with 2 jobs). Not voting is not always bad, if its being done out of a sense of responsibility and not apathy. Some of us refuse to make uninformed choices on candidates, and simply don't have the time allotment to become informed. However, I also won't get into the rant-fests, for the same reason.
Your encouragement for reckless voting seems contrary to our system's whole intent of giving people the choice, IMO. If someone doesnt care, they shouldnt just vote for a random person...the should stay out of it. Apathy, for better or worse, remains the majority vote-getter in America.
"End users may not like dealing with techs but it's no picnic for us either"
Oh, believe me, I agree. I'm actually rather glad...when I graduate this winter I'll move on to programming full time, rather than tech support. My tolerance for stupidity in the human race has almost been reached, and I'm only in my twenties...
Having done 6 years of tech support, I can conclusively agree with the contents of the article. We do suck.
I've seen so many coworkers come and go, and only a small fraction of them possessed true technical ability. And a small fraction of those were actually able to communicate effectively to pass that knowledge on when it was needed. And even fewer had the temperment to do it for years at a time.
Which is a real shame. There are a lot of people out there that need help, and by my calculations, maybe 0.1% of tech support personnel are truly able to provide the level of support needed in all cases. But remember, 87.375% of all statistics are made up on the spot too, so take it with a grain of salt.
Slashdot Mirror
If/when I have kids, the computer I use will be in a study that remains locked/offlimits, so the kids dont mess with. They'll have whatever old P-2 system I can throw together so they can play Freddy Fish VI or whatever they've innovated by then. Thats the setup we've got for my uncle with his two toddlers, and for my grandmother who routinely has grandkids of all ages in her house.
:shrug: I never used it, I just have some friends who did. I suppose using emacs you never actually need the arrow keys, after all ;)
Seconded. LOVE the MX Duo. Much better on batteries than my old Mouseman Cordless Freedom combo, and the cradle just rocks. And you can get the thing for the price of just an MX700 now if u catch a sale at Best Buy or Staples.
Doesn't have all you wanted...but I've got some programming buddies who swear by the Happy Hacking Keyboard
My Logitech Cordless Duo MX does *quite* well on batteries...the keyboard is still on the original 2 AA batteries that came with it 8 months ago, and the mouse lasts a full days usage, then just drop it into the cradle when you goto bed and its ready for a new day. Or just drop it in the cradle on the coffee break to ensure its good for an all nighter. That is *much* improved performance over my previous wireless keyboard (4 AAs lasted 6 months), and the cradle-recharging mouse is convenience itself.
As for losing stuff...keep it on the desk? I mean...really. Do you worry about losing your CDs or your palm pilot? No difference compared to any other device thats not wired in place; except its much easier to rearrange wireless devices into a new configuration.
Net users aren't lusers! Multinational study confirms what most everyone already knows! Overrated geek stereotypes shattered! Everyone will forget this shortly however!
Frivolity aside, I am confused by the increase in 'trusted' content perception of most people surveyed...as the 'net has grown larger, most geeks trust less and less of the content, in my experience. The more that any old Joe is allowed to just throw online, the higher the signal to noise ratio goes...
Indeed. When I was first learning PHP and doing a lot of local testing, I just downloaded the whole doc to my PDA. Easy searching, and remembers my place even if I close the cover ;)
I will admit I've got 2 O'Reilly books on PHP (Programming and the Cookbook) but more often than not its easier to just hop on their site and search there. The books are there to look cool with the rest of my O'Reilly collection.
Personally I like the user comments in the online docs the best. Half the time someone's already written some small function that I'm looking for, or quite adequately explained all the various cases of some esoteric function return.
"...if they leave people like Borrayo with the impression that they're actual law enforcement, that's a mistake."
Its a mistake they want people to make, so they can intimidate them even easier into giving up what little rights the average citizen has versus a group of pigs like the RIAA. The ex-cops working for them are probably the rejects drummed out of the force for lack of morals, otherwise I don't see how they could accept such misleading representation of themselves.
"I'd like to which ThinkPad's you were using?"
/. after all :)
Too many to list. Been dealing with them for years, a lot of professors at my university had them.
"I agree Toshibia has made good machine in the past put there recent efforts are severly lacking."
Aside from getting a defective power plug out of the box, this Satellite has offered no trouble at all. YMMV of course.
"Opionion's are like A-holes, eveyone's got them"
Well, yeah. This is
Merely offering my insight from doing generalized tech support.
The only bit of Sony hardware I own is a nice 19" Trinitron CRT. I learned to stay away from most of their other stuff after tech supporting some of it. A lot of people share your luck in dealing with their products, in my experience.
Although I do enjoy the PS2, I waited till it was cheap-ish (relatively speaking).
After 6 years of tech support, Toshiba is the most problem free of the laptops I've dealt with, and IBM/Dell tied for the worst. Apple laptops are also sweet, but I've had more limited dealings with those.
:)
Just got a Toshiba Satellite M35-S359. Something like 1.4" thick, 15.4" screen, ~7lbs. *Very* sweet laptop, and heat is no issue with the Centrino proc in there. Forget IBM's fragile creation, get something with some panache
LOL. I used to say the same kinda thing about various transliterations of Russian Cyrillic to English when I misspelled :)
Just curious, did you see the extended versions of the first two movies? I disliked TTT in theatres but the extended edition redeemed itself. Mainly because it went back to the book a lot, just like the FotR extended ed.
Dude, I just choked on my pizza. That was hilarious.
I bought Hitman2 and Kingdom Hearts for $45 each not too long ago...but long enough that I couldnt return them for a price swap. Curse my bad timing!!
At least I can finally buy FFX and DOA.
Tell them that Mr Harrison is drastically wrong in his stance. I really can't believe that guy is a VP of Marketing, since he seems to have no conception that extra features that everyone wants == more sales of said console. That guy needs some reeducating.
I just sent a nice long email to nintendo@noa.nintendo.com explaining why my PS2 goes everywhere and why I buy more games for it, versus my Gamecube. It was polite, well reasoned, with evidence from mine and my friends' game habits. I doubt anyone of importance sees it ever, but efforts had to be made.
I have hope for Nintendo, but only if they educate or sack guys like Mr Harrison, and occasionally listen to what the customers want instead.
What kinda sword? /me is a collector of sharp and pointy things
That explains why I'm suddenly unable to access the webserver in Canada for a project I'm working on...
That is about the funniest thing I've read all week. Almost spewed Dr Pepper all over my monitor. Well done.
Really though...suspension of belief is required to enjoy any movie, technologically based or not. We might laugh about inaccuracies and impossibilities after the fact, but remembering the era its from, and what was impressive then, its not such a big deal. Gotta take it in context.
No disassemble!
Heh...I think I'll make that my sig for a while.
I however refuse to vote unless I have the time to fully research and understand the issues of contention and each side's stand on them (I dont have that kinda time as college student with 2 jobs). Not voting is not always bad, if its being done out of a sense of responsibility and not apathy. Some of us refuse to make uninformed choices on candidates, and simply don't have the time allotment to become informed. However, I also won't get into the rant-fests, for the same reason.
Your encouragement for reckless voting seems contrary to our system's whole intent of giving people the choice, IMO. If someone doesnt care, they shouldnt just vote for a random person...the should stay out of it. Apathy, for better or worse, remains the majority vote-getter in America.
"End users may not like dealing with techs but it's no picnic for us either"
Oh, believe me, I agree. I'm actually rather glad...when I graduate this winter I'll move on to programming full time, rather than tech support. My tolerance for stupidity in the human race has almost been reached, and I'm only in my twenties...
Having done 6 years of tech support, I can conclusively agree with the contents of the article. We do suck.
I've seen so many coworkers come and go, and only a small fraction of them possessed true technical ability. And a small fraction of those were actually able to communicate effectively to pass that knowledge on when it was needed. And even fewer had the temperment to do it for years at a time.
Which is a real shame. There are a lot of people out there that need help, and by my calculations, maybe 0.1% of tech support personnel are truly able to provide the level of support needed in all cases. But remember, 87.375% of all statistics are made up on the spot too, so take it with a grain of salt.
I have to say, at least in Red Hat, that wc -w returns 3 for said statement.
Finally some decent action outta Big Blue. And coming soon, 1200+ /. comments to keep me busy reading for the rest of the day!