I never thought it would be possible, but now I'm even more glad that I'm carfree by choice.
While I don't live in Virginia, this wouldn't affect me even if I did drive, but mark my words: this will very quickly spread to the other 49 states. As soon as this passes, you're going to see the federal gov't threaten to withold highway funding from states until they adopt it...
Just like how IE uses its own toolkit, separate from other Windows apps? Just like how Office uses its own toolkit, separate from not only other Windows apps but from other versions of Office, as well?
Windows UI consistency is a myth.
Mac OS X is a little more consistent, but there are separate Aqua and Brushed Metal styles, with some apps using one style and other apps using the other style. Plus, there are X11 apps that use neither.
Heh. ``Asshat'' is the perfect word to describe what Sean acted like there.
I found that out a few months ago, and it's one of the two reasons I no longer use Gaim.
The other reason I've switched is that, as of KDE 3.3, Kopete has become far more usable--it's not as mature as Gaim yet, but it's certainly better than it was, and it's sufficient for what I use it for.
You, sir, are lying. My D-Link DI-604 router works perfectly with Linux. In fact, I don't think I've ever even touched the configuration interface under Windows.
It works beautifully, and I'd recommend one to anyone who needs a NAT. It's a tiny (5.5" wide, 4" long, 1" tall) silver box that sits in the corner of my desk, surrounded by whatever junk I have. I don't have a second machine to use as a router, and if I were to buy one, I'd be spending far more money--I bought this thing for $20. Not to mention the fact that another machine would take up far more space.
And you know what? It just works. I plug it in between my machine and my cable modem, and assuming my machine is set up to use DHCP, it's working. If I want to open some ports to my machine so I can have my servers publically accessible, it takes me about 10 seconds to do so. It's also never dropped me. Ever.
Of course, it depends on what kind of router you own. For example, I would never touch a Linksys product with a 10-foot pole. I have a friend with one...that piece of crap frequently stops working, and won't come back up for a couple of hours, even after it's unplugged and re-plugged into the wall multiple times (it's not the connection--plugging the machine into the cable modem works fine..it's just the piece of crap router that's a piece of crap). Of course, she's refused to listen to me when I constantly told her to get a D-Link router, so I've refused to ever help her on anything network-related until she does.
And I'd also say that if you do have a dedicated NAT machine, and it works, then there's no need to replace it. If it's not broken...
Well, my main problem with the UI is that it doesn't switch focus properly with tabs.
When I have multiple tabs open, and I switch to a different tab, the focus will sometimes stay on the first tab, the one that's no longer visible. That means that if I start scrolling with the keyboard (which I frequently do), it'll scroll the now-invisible page on the first tab, not the page on the current tab.
It's not a major problem, but it is annoying. Also, for some reason, it doesn't happen all the time. Sometimes it will, sometimes it won't.
Fortunately, KPart has emerged as the best of both worlds.
Thesis: small applications doing specific tasks.
Antithesis: large applications that do everything.
Synthesis: apps seamlessly integrated via an open framework.
Indeed. In fact, I'd say that the KPart architecture is actually closer to the Unix philosophy than standalone small apps. KPart reminds me so much of the pipes and output redirection that make Unix shells so good. It's the closest GUI equivalent to the Unix CLI environment that I've seen.
Take Konqueror, for example. By itself, it doesn't do anything--it's just a frame. All the functionality--the file manager, web browser, fish, all the other viewers--are KParts independent of Konqueror. Konqueror is a graphical shell--a frame that holds those KParts, and provides interoperability features.
You missed nothing=-there's no such thing. There is, however, a GTK2 engine that uses Qt as a drawing backend. It's called the gtk-qt-engine, and while it's still in the early stages, it's coming along quite nicely. Combine that with some other tweaks like changing your.gtkrc to use the same fonts and icons as KDE, and you've got a decent level of visual integration (not nearly perfect, but not bad either).
It's only for GTK2, however--GTK1 apps don't have that, although some GTK1 themes, such as Plastig, use the QtPixmap backend to draw your colours from your KDE settings, so GTK1 is part of the way there.
On Linux, you can compile Mozilla (and related products, like Firefox, Thunderbird, Sunbird, etc.) to bind for GTK1 or GTK2 (and now, hopefully, Qt). On Mac and Windows, it binds to the native toolkit.
True, it still uses XPFE, but it uses the other toolkit as a backend and to get certain information (colours, fonts, and dialog widgets if the Moz theme isn't comprehensive).
It's one of Mozilla's greatest strengths--it still has its own theming capability and cross-platform compatibility, but it also integrates with the native desktop. Adding another toolkit (i.e. Qt) to the possible options will only help increase its acceptance, without sacrificing anything.
And it doesn't matter whether it's a dorm or an apartment block, all it needs is line-of-site and an open access point, and suddenly someone's spamming from campus.
And that doesn't matter because there are no private APs connecting to UTD's network. Not only is it such a piece of crap that no one uses it, but UTD already has their own APs. The only way to get into UTD's network is by wireless--it's completely redundant to set up your own AP into UTD's network.
Do they prevent you from using wired connections to competitors in your apartments? Clearly not, because that's what they're having you move to... so they don't have any objections to competition.
Except that I wouldn't be able to get wireless then. Therefore, UTD is offering a service that they bar people from getting from anyone else. Think of a Mafia thug saying: ``you're getting wireless from me, and if you try to get it from anyone else, I'll break your legs''.
Putting APs behind posters, built into sculptures, etc...
Considering APs are essentially static fixtures, why not make them art?
Oh, that sounds like fun. Great idea.
Of course, that's not really necessary, since they can't search apartments without either permission or a warrant. Just stick it in your dresser or in a cabinet or something, and they'll never find it.
Okay, so maybe the dorm room is only 8 feet wide, and my laptop sits right next to the access point, but I still want it!
Except that UTD does not have dorms or access points.
We have full apartments here. You know, as in living room, full kitchen, laundry room (except in phase 1), between one and four bedrooms, one or two bathrooms, etc. All of it the same size as you'd find in a normal apartment.
Furthermore, UTD only has wireless connections to their network, no wired--what they're trying to ban is APs that are connected to privately owned connections. Almost no one here uses the campus network because it's a horrible piece of crap. If people can afford it, they buy a cable or DSL line.
Two things here--I'm not explaining this to you, but to non-UTD students who might not understand:
1) PAs are not RAs. They have no power, and are there solely to advise students and coordinate events.
2) The only apartments here that have PAs are the Phase 8 apartments. Phase 8 is the only phase not owned by First Worthing--UTD actually owns it, and it's only available to freshmen. Phases 1-7, which are open to all students (and faculty/professors too, now), don't have PAs.
move out... You can live off campus for much the same price as living on campus plus you don't have to deal with all the B.S. like this or getting kicked out on holidays etc.
What getting kicked out on holidays? Apartments don't do that. I have a full-year lease here.
The sole reason I don't move off campus is that all the other apartments are so far away and Dallas' bus system sucks so badly.
The idea that people would be allowed to put a backdoor that could be abused by any spammer with a wok or pringles can and line-of-site to the dorms, well, I cannot conceive of the confusion in the mind that would lead people to consider this even vaguely acceptable.
Except that these aren't connected to the campus network. They're connected to private cable and DSL lines.
In fact, UTD has no problem with wireless access to their network--in fact, the only way to access their network is via wireless. They simply don't want people being able to get better service from a competitor, so they decide to illegally blackmail their students.
Oh, and there are no dorms at UTD. We have apartments.
They can pull that out altogether and go back to 'computer labs', with no dial in or drop point access at all. Just like the olde days! How wonderfully retro!
That is completely fine with me. I don't use their shitty campus network anyway, I have a Comcast line in my apartment.
Cool...another college banning wireless routers in the dorms. I don't see the big deal, I go to Georgia Tech, and they have had them banned for a while now. At least the past few years. Even at a high ranked tech school, people are stupid. If 1 out of 5 dorm rooms had a wireless router, more than likely 1 out of 5 would be open for attacking. And that leaves a large amount of access points to the internal network for people who might happen to be wanting to get into the network. I heard about a few years ago someone hacked in and got everyones credit card numbers. It is just to risky to have the wellfare of the entire school dependant on whether or not some crack head can configure his wireless router properly.
Except you've completely got it wrong. Here's why:
- UTD does not have dorms. These are privately owned apartments, next to campus.
- UTD is not banning wireless connections to their network. In fact, UTD provides its own wireless connection, and does not provide any form of wired connectivity. Their wireless network is also notoriously horrible, which is why every single person who lives here who can afford a cable or DSL line has one.
- What UTD is banning are wireless APs that are connected to a private cable or DSL line and have nothing to do with the university network. In other words, this is a snow job to illegally blackmail people into using UTD's horrid wireless network if they want a wireless connection.
You've never lived in a dorm have you. My wife was a RA and has had to call campus police to be there when she had to go into a room.
Except for one thing: This. Is. Not. A. Dorm.
This is a normal apartment. They only difference is that they don't accept tenants unless they're a student at UTD (and I think they recently expanded it to include faculty and professors as well).
The students have no leg to stand on. They are interfering with the network (9 User APs and one University AP on Channel 1 means no APs working) and they are most likely providing network services to non-University personnel. The first violates our AUP and the second is an offense with punishments ranging up to dismissal from the University.
Dear Zod, man, get your facts straight. These are private cable/DSL connections we're talking about here, not the university network.
In fact, UTD's network doesn't have any wired connections. It's all wireless, and their network sucks so horribly that everyone who can afford a Comcast line has one.
And read the FCC decision. Only the FCC has the power to restrict use of unlicensed public airwaves. The decision clearly says ``the rules prohibit [...] landlords [...] from making restrictions''. That means that UTD is the one breaking the law here--unlicensed spectrum is just that, unlicensed, and if interference happens, tough.
A dorm/student apartment is totally different. If a RA or whatever they're called at whatever school can check your room for pot if they smell it walking by. You can't do that in a normal apartment.
Except that these are normal apartments. UTD does not have dorms. UTD does not have RAs. In fact UTD doesn't even own these apartments--they're owned by a private company.
I personally am happy to see a phone like this hit the states.
The only problem with combination phone/PDA devices is that it can never be the right size. A phone is supposed to be small and compact. A PDA is supposed to have a larger screen so you can actually do stuff on it. If you combine the devices into one, it's never going to be adequately sized.
OTOH, that's the only combination I dislike. Combine other things, sure. Thanks to my cellphone, I save money not buying a watch. If I had the money to buy that Zaurus I've been drooling over, I'd use it as a combination PDA/music player/whatever else I can think of.
Slashdot Mirror
I never thought it would be possible, but now I'm even more glad that I'm carfree by choice.
While I don't live in Virginia, this wouldn't affect me even if I did drive, but mark my words: this will very quickly spread to the other 49 states. As soon as this passes, you're going to see the federal gov't threaten to withold highway funding from states until they adopt it...
10. ???
11. Profit!
Just like how IE uses its own toolkit, separate from other Windows apps? Just like how Office uses its own toolkit, separate from not only other Windows apps but from other versions of Office, as well?
Windows UI consistency is a myth.
Mac OS X is a little more consistent, but there are separate Aqua and Brushed Metal styles, with some apps using one style and other apps using the other style. Plus, there are X11 apps that use neither.
Heh. ``Asshat'' is the perfect word to describe what Sean acted like there.
I found that out a few months ago, and it's one of the two reasons I no longer use Gaim.
The other reason I've switched is that, as of KDE 3.3, Kopete has become far more usable--it's not as mature as Gaim yet, but it's certainly better than it was, and it's sufficient for what I use it for.
Well, I know that AIM has SmarterChild. Dunno about other networks tho.
The link ``Slashdotess'' points to is a goatse image. Do NOT click it.
guaranteed to work only with Windows
You, sir, are lying. My D-Link DI-604 router works perfectly with Linux. In fact, I don't think I've ever even touched the configuration interface under Windows.
It works beautifully, and I'd recommend one to anyone who needs a NAT. It's a tiny (5.5" wide, 4" long, 1" tall) silver box that sits in the corner of my desk, surrounded by whatever junk I have. I don't have a second machine to use as a router, and if I were to buy one, I'd be spending far more money--I bought this thing for $20. Not to mention the fact that another machine would take up far more space.
And you know what? It just works. I plug it in between my machine and my cable modem, and assuming my machine is set up to use DHCP, it's working. If I want to open some ports to my machine so I can have my servers publically accessible, it takes me about 10 seconds to do so. It's also never dropped me. Ever.
Of course, it depends on what kind of router you own. For example, I would never touch a Linksys product with a 10-foot pole. I have a friend with one...that piece of crap frequently stops working, and won't come back up for a couple of hours, even after it's unplugged and re-plugged into the wall multiple times (it's not the connection--plugging the machine into the cable modem works fine..it's just the piece of crap router that's a piece of crap). Of course, she's refused to listen to me when I constantly told her to get a D-Link router, so I've refused to ever help her on anything network-related until she does.
And I'd also say that if you do have a dedicated NAT machine, and it works, then there's no need to replace it. If it's not broken...
Well, my main problem with the UI is that it doesn't switch focus properly with tabs.
When I have multiple tabs open, and I switch to a different tab, the focus will sometimes stay on the first tab, the one that's no longer visible. That means that if I start scrolling with the keyboard (which I frequently do), it'll scroll the now-invisible page on the first tab, not the page on the current tab.
It's not a major problem, but it is annoying. Also, for some reason, it doesn't happen all the time. Sometimes it will, sometimes it won't.
Fortunately, KPart has emerged as the best of both worlds.
Thesis: small applications doing specific tasks.
Antithesis: large applications that do everything.
Synthesis: apps seamlessly integrated via an open framework.
Indeed. In fact, I'd say that the KPart architecture is actually closer to the Unix philosophy than standalone small apps. KPart reminds me so much of the pipes and output redirection that make Unix shells so good. It's the closest GUI equivalent to the Unix CLI environment that I've seen.
Take Konqueror, for example. By itself, it doesn't do anything--it's just a frame. All the functionality--the file manager, web browser, fish, all the other viewers--are KParts independent of Konqueror. Konqueror is a graphical shell--a frame that holds those KParts, and provides interoperability features.
KDE frontend for GIMP? What did I miss?
.gtkrc to use the same fonts and icons as KDE, and you've got a decent level of visual integration (not nearly perfect, but not bad either).
You missed nothing=-there's no such thing. There is, however, a GTK2 engine that uses Qt as a drawing backend. It's called the gtk-qt-engine, and while it's still in the early stages, it's coming along quite nicely. Combine that with some other tweaks like changing your
It's only for GTK2, however--GTK1 apps don't have that, although some GTK1 themes, such as Plastig, use the QtPixmap backend to draw your colours from your KDE settings, so GTK1 is part of the way there.
On Linux, you can compile Mozilla (and related products, like Firefox, Thunderbird, Sunbird, etc.) to bind for GTK1 or GTK2 (and now, hopefully, Qt). On Mac and Windows, it binds to the native toolkit.
True, it still uses XPFE, but it uses the other toolkit as a backend and to get certain information (colours, fonts, and dialog widgets if the Moz theme isn't comprehensive).
It's one of Mozilla's greatest strengths--it still has its own theming capability and cross-platform compatibility, but it also integrates with the native desktop. Adding another toolkit (i.e. Qt) to the possible options will only help increase its acceptance, without sacrificing anything.
And it doesn't matter whether it's a dorm or an apartment block, all it needs is line-of-site and an open access point, and suddenly someone's spamming from campus.
And that doesn't matter because there are no private APs connecting to UTD's network. Not only is it such a piece of crap that no one uses it, but UTD already has their own APs. The only way to get into UTD's network is by wireless--it's completely redundant to set up your own AP into UTD's network.
Do they prevent you from using wired connections to competitors in your apartments? Clearly not, because that's what they're having you move to... so they don't have any objections to competition.
Except that I wouldn't be able to get wireless then. Therefore, UTD is offering a service that they bar people from getting from anyone else. Think of a Mafia thug saying: ``you're getting wireless from me, and if you try to get it from anyone else, I'll break your legs''.
Putting APs behind posters, built into sculptures, etc... Considering APs are essentially static fixtures, why not make them art?
Oh, that sounds like fun. Great idea.
Of course, that's not really necessary, since they can't search apartments without either permission or a warrant. Just stick it in your dresser or in a cabinet or something, and they'll never find it.
Okay, so maybe the dorm room is only 8 feet wide, and my laptop sits right next to the access point, but I still want it!
Except that UTD does not have dorms or access points.
We have full apartments here. You know, as in living room, full kitchen, laundry room (except in phase 1), between one and four bedrooms, one or two bathrooms, etc. All of it the same size as you'd find in a normal apartment.
Furthermore, UTD only has wireless connections to their network, no wired--what they're trying to ban is APs that are connected to privately owned connections. Almost no one here uses the campus network because it's a horrible piece of crap. If people can afford it, they buy a cable or DSL line.
I'm a PA (same as an RA) at UTD.
Two things here--I'm not explaining this to you, but to non-UTD students who might not understand:
1) PAs are not RAs. They have no power, and are there solely to advise students and coordinate events.
2) The only apartments here that have PAs are the Phase 8 apartments. Phase 8 is the only phase not owned by First Worthing--UTD actually owns it, and it's only available to freshmen. Phases 1-7, which are open to all students (and faculty/professors too, now), don't have PAs.
move out... You can live off campus for much the same price as living on campus plus you don't have to deal with all the B.S. like this or getting kicked out on holidays etc.
What getting kicked out on holidays? Apartments don't do that. I have a full-year lease here.
The sole reason I don't move off campus is that all the other apartments are so far away and Dallas' bus system sucks so badly.
I think that you would be entitled to operate your wireless device as long as it remains unconnected to their network.
Exactly. This is what this whole thing is about. UTD is trying to ban wireless devices that aren't connected to UTD's network.
The idea that people would be allowed to put a backdoor that could be abused by any spammer with a wok or pringles can and line-of-site to the dorms, well, I cannot conceive of the confusion in the mind that would lead people to consider this even vaguely acceptable.
Except that these aren't connected to the campus network. They're connected to private cable and DSL lines.
In fact, UTD has no problem with wireless access to their network--in fact, the only way to access their network is via wireless. They simply don't want people being able to get better service from a competitor, so they decide to illegally blackmail their students.
Oh, and there are no dorms at UTD. We have apartments.
They can pull that out altogether and go back to 'computer labs', with no dial in or drop point access at all. Just like the olde days! How wonderfully retro!
That is completely fine with me. I don't use their shitty campus network anyway, I have a Comcast line in my apartment.
Cool...another college banning wireless routers in the dorms. I don't see the big deal, I go to Georgia Tech, and they have had them banned for a while now. At least the past few years. Even at a high ranked tech school, people are stupid. If 1 out of 5 dorm rooms had a wireless router, more than likely 1 out of 5 would be open for attacking. And that leaves a large amount of access points to the internal network for people who might happen to be wanting to get into the network. I heard about a few years ago someone hacked in and got everyones credit card numbers. It is just to risky to have the wellfare of the entire school dependant on whether or not some crack head can configure his wireless router properly.
Except you've completely got it wrong. Here's why:
- UTD does not have dorms. These are privately owned apartments, next to campus.
- UTD is not banning wireless connections to their network. In fact, UTD provides its own wireless connection, and does not provide any form of wired connectivity. Their wireless network is also notoriously horrible, which is why every single person who lives here who can afford a cable or DSL line has one.
- What UTD is banning are wireless APs that are connected to a private cable or DSL line and have nothing to do with the university network. In other words, this is a snow job to illegally blackmail people into using UTD's horrid wireless network if they want a wireless connection.
You've never lived in a dorm have you. My wife was a RA and has had to call campus police to be there when she had to go into a room.
Except for one thing: This. Is. Not. A. Dorm.
This is a normal apartment. They only difference is that they don't accept tenants unless they're a student at UTD (and I think they recently expanded it to include faculty and professors as well).
The students have no leg to stand on. They are interfering with the network (9 User APs and one University AP on Channel 1 means no APs working) and they are most likely providing network services to non-University personnel. The first violates our AUP and the second is an offense with punishments ranging up to dismissal from the University.
Dear Zod, man, get your facts straight. These are private cable/DSL connections we're talking about here, not the university network.
In fact, UTD's network doesn't have any wired connections. It's all wireless, and their network sucks so horribly that everyone who can afford a Comcast line has one.
And read the FCC decision. Only the FCC has the power to restrict use of unlicensed public airwaves. The decision clearly says ``the rules prohibit [...] landlords [...] from making restrictions''. That means that UTD is the one breaking the law here--unlicensed spectrum is just that, unlicensed, and if interference happens, tough.
A dorm/student apartment is totally different. If a RA or whatever they're called at whatever school can check your room for pot if they smell it walking by. You can't do that in a normal apartment.
Except that these are normal apartments. UTD does not have dorms. UTD does not have RAs. In fact UTD doesn't even own these apartments--they're owned by a private company.
If you choose to live on campus, you have to follow their rules of conduct or get kicked off from the dorm.
UTD does not have dorms. Get your facts straight before you post.
I personally am happy to see a phone like this hit the states.
The only problem with combination phone/PDA devices is that it can never be the right size. A phone is supposed to be small and compact. A PDA is supposed to have a larger screen so you can actually do stuff on it. If you combine the devices into one, it's never going to be adequately sized.
OTOH, that's the only combination I dislike. Combine other things, sure. Thanks to my cellphone, I save money not buying a watch. If I had the money to buy that Zaurus I've been drooling over, I'd use it as a combination PDA/music player/whatever else I can think of.