There are many operating systems out there that are not running a desktop computers. Doesn't make 'em less of an operating system. Saying that SkyOS and Syllable can't compete with Windows and OSX is like saying Ferrari and Maserati will never compete with Toyota & Chevy's market share! Apples & Oranges.
Even little 'ole DOS is still a great operating system. What was once used as a desktop system and had become outgrown is still a very useful OS and lives in places you'd be surprised.
People don't realize that it takes years if not decades of money and development to create a full featured "desktop operating system" usable by 90% of the world's computer users. Looking back we can all see how long it took Microsoft to go from a crash hound like Windows 3.0 to a polished Windows XP. Just about 11 years now. A small lifetime in computing, and thats with a multi-billion dollar company behind it. Money talks!
The moral is, not all good operating systems need to compete with Windows and the "one size fit's all" desktop paradigm. Who knows how long our known concept of a desktop will even be around for. Perhaps, sooner than you think, we'll all be using different OS's for different softwares in the future and the idea of a small, less featured (less hackable), OS will be an advantage.
> With Sony claiming that their PlayStation 3 hard drive will come with Linux by default, Linux could > very quickly become a significant power in end user "desktops".
1. They said the same thing when Linux was able to run on a hand held and look what happened... PocketPC!!
2. Sony Playstation is a system designed to do one thing. PLAY GAMES in a controlled environment, using specific hardware. Totally different than a multi-functional desktop pc.
3. Look, Linux is useful for some things (ie. web, file & database server) but the vast majority of users are just not buying into Linux.
Don't get me wrong, I like Linux. But I noticed a recurring trend. It seems companies jump on the Linux desktop bandwagon only to jump off afterwards? Even the BIG guys (IBM, Novell, SUN, SGI, Corel, etc) have had a crack at it and still no fireworks. Don't ya think it's time we just focus on some other system, or perhaps develop something new. Even the BSD's have made it to the desktop (MacOS) with more success than Linux. It's no surprise, look at the licensing differences. Let it go people. Let it go.
> Well I do believe the grand parent was right on the need to break up monopolies.
However, there are two kinds of monopolies.
1. The monopoly that is formed via geographical presence. An example, your local telephone company. Lets face it, there can only be ONE in any given area. So they can charge a rediculas price and get away with it because people have no choice. The government needs to crack down on these and allow competetion.
2. The monopoly formed by innovation. A company comes along and gives the people what they what. Period. There are other choices.
Microsoft is #2. Sure, like most successful businesses, they have gotten away with slick business deals ands such, but people are not locked in by any means to their system. Apple has been around for a long time. Linux is starting to come around to some degree. There are other choices. Microsoft is not the telephone company. Besides, maybe it's time people start developing newer systems. BeOS looked promising. Sure, perhaps MS's licensing agreements did not allow companies like DELL to ship their systems with BeOS, but hey, that's business! Got to find ways around these things.
> Examples are brought forward showing currently available Macintosh models selling for roughly the >same price as comparably configured Dells. Sometimes the Apple is slightly less than the > Dell. Sometimes the Apple is a fair bit higher -- but never anything like the 2X or 3X that >anti-Apple trolls keep shouting out.
?????? AND WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN SHOPPING? PLEASE TELL ME!! I'D LOVE TO SHOP WHERE YOU SHOP ?????
> Examples are brought forward showing currently available Macintosh models selling for roughly the >same price as comparably configured Dells.
If you reply to this, please attach a link to such examples. Thanks.
> Comparing prices between Apples and Dells is frustrating
hmmm... I don't see what you mean by frustrating. I was in an Apple store just recently and I saw a descent system with standard components (512 MB of memory, 100 GB hard drive, etc) and it went for over $1,200. Same thing in PC land costs roughly $500-$600. There is nothing frustrating about that. Either you spend $600 or $1200 and get the same functionality.
> anti-Apple trolls keep shouting out.
Uhhhhh, don't you mean "anti don't want to get ripped off" trolls? Or "anti don't need a fancy tangerine case for twice the money" trolls?
Besides, my television, stereo and DVD player aren't tangerine, purple or transparent! So why should Steve Jobs suggest my PC has to be (and for much more money to fill his wallet)? Don't get me wrong, I'm not against Apple computers. I used to own a IIe back in the day. But Jobs needs to wake up and smell the real prices.
> Sources have indicated that Apple will employ an EDID chip on the motherboard of Intel-based Macs > that Mac OS X will look for and must handshake with first in order to boot. Such an approach, > similar to hardware dongles, could theoretically be defeated, although it's unknown what level of > sophistication Apple will employ.
Makes sence. Apple has always sold average hardware at well above average prices. Why should they stop now just because they switched to Intel? PowerPC or Intel. They are not going to make money on the hardware. At today's market prices, hardware is sold in bulk in order to make a descent profit (ie. DELL). Today, money is made on the software. Why do you think there are so many software patent lawsuits? Besides, most people just don't care whats in the box. However, they will care if you rape 'em for three times the price of a normal PC. Do everyone a favor Jobs, quit playing games and sell your systems at normal prices. Better yet, just sell the stinkin OS by itself and let people choose their own hardware. We all know Apple is going to do that eventually anyways.
I'll bet these sites contain 100 different scripts, languages, Java applets and flash and shockwave advertisements, utilizing every ML language ever invented and getting it all to work on one page! Enough crap to slow down your computer and cause the router at your ISP to melt. In other words, CORPORATE WEB JUNK! No thanks, I'll stick with the other 90%.
I don't agree. First of all you seem to have a black & white (ie. extreme) view of this whole thing. Either it's a big company or open source. I'm afraid there is more gray area than that. There are lots of little companies out there creating apps (better apps) than the big guys and it's not all web browsers and office suites.
Sure maybe email, web browsing and word processors are popular softwares, but there are lots of other areas for programmers to work in. I think the drop in jobs your talking about is in the "shrink wrap" software sector. However, I believe the custom applications sector is booming! Don't beleive me? Just check out craigslist.org. You'll see 100 times more custom programming projects that need immediate development than you will when you look for "full time, sit at the cubicle doing nothing but collect benefits" type jobs.
Personally, I'm tired of those cubicle jobs. Sitting there and rotting away. I now own my own business and I do things the way I want. But hey, not everyone is a business owner.
Yes, I understand that a spreadsheet is a spreadsheet, where it's open office or Excel. Or a web browser is a web browser whether it's Konqueror or Internet Explorer. I'm not talking about usability once the machine is setup. KDE is a piece of cake. I'm talking about setting up the machine initially and installing new hardware when a user wants a new scanner or wants to add a bigger hard drive or a new sound card. This is where Linux falls short. Drivers amd hardware detectability. Sure, if you give someone a computer where they never have to install new software or hardware, than a mainframe would be easy to use too.
A great server OS. I've been using Linux since 1994 and it seems to me every so many years someone or some company pops out of nowhere and tries to somehow convice us, once again, that Linux is now "finally" ready for primetime. Lets face it, Linux is not going to take over the desktops. It's had well over a decade! Why can't this just be accepted as the way it is? Every major player in computing we know of (IBM, Sun, Novell, Corel, etc) has had a crack at it and still no fireworks.
I think what people misunderstand is that it's one thing to build a system that runs a handleful of relatively basic services (ie. web, ftp, database) and another to interactively play video games, watch movies and burn DVDs all without requiring a 1,000 page manual, compiling drivers, shared library dependencies and then expect mom, dad and little Billy to make all this work and be simple to use. For that, it takes decades of time and hundreds of millions in R&D to make happen.
Why can't we just accept Linux as a great server OS and put this whole rediculas "Linux vs Windows" desktop battle behind us once and for all?
I think we all knew the only way Apple was going to have a chance in competing head on with Microsoft was if they switched to the x86 architecture. It's obvious by now, Apple, over the past few years, has finally been trying desperately to reach the everyday consumers. (IPod, Mac Mini, Apple Store) Although the Apple store is nothing more than a museum with pricey computers. I think switching to the world's most dominant desktop/server CPU architecture (IA) is a last ditch effort and probably the one Apple dreaded the most.
If it works, don't be surprised if down the line, Apple decides to open up their system to 3rd party hardware vendors as they did before with Umax, DayStar, Power Computing. Focus on a making a good OS. Who cares about the hardware?? Hardware sales do not have high profit margins unless you either sell in tremendous bulk (ie, DELL) or your prices are really high (as Macs are now). Why do you think all the "mom and pop" PC shops are going out of business?
Years ago, companies like Big Blue used to give the software away for free when you bought their expensive mainframes. At that time, the hardware was the profit. As time went on tides turned. Today, the opposite is true. Software is everything. Microsoft and Linux proved that.
I think Apple is realizing that selling a complete closed system ala IBM, SUN, SGI to the general public is not going to take them to the next level in the consumer market. Sure, a "beefed up" G5 Mac may make some dork in his basement cream in his pants cause he has a "specialized" system no one in is his neighborhood has, but Mom, Dad and Uncle Henry, could care less. These people are simply not going to pay $1500 for a Mac when a $600 DELL DOES THE SAME DAMN THING!!
Bottom line is... the Moms, Dad's and Uncle Henry's of the computing world wan't variety in price, performance and competing vendors and Mac Mini doesn't cut it. These people don't need a $2000 G5 to browse web pages, check e-mail and play Solitaire. To put it frankly, I think Jobs finally woke up.
Our dear multi-billion dollar friends at Mobil, Exxon, Getty, Hess, Amaco, Chevron, BP and their friends namely G.W. Bush and his pal in Saudi Arabia will make sure this technology doesn't see primetime. Too much to lose.
Hopefully IBM will use part of it's $$$ to develop a serious development environment that will ultimately entice VB/C# developers to make the switch. Or at least, feel comfortable by letting them get down to developing a computer program rather than mess with installing 7,000 libraries only to find out that IDE version 1.0.3 needs library version 1.9.2.89.3, rather than 1.9.2.89.2!! I'm sure all you developers out there know EXACTLY what I'm talking about. vi, emacs and friends just are just too antiquated for serious GUI development. If Linux were to even approach what Microsoft has in the desktop world, It's going to need quality development tools because current open source tools suck royally and are too irritating to use.
Windows, Linux. They both systems support processes, threads, semaphores, shared memory, TCP/IP stacks, pipes and files, porting these structures was never that big of a deal. Why do you think most Linux apps still remain CLI? Because the real pain in the butt comes when one needs to port the GUI, since the bulk of the code always seem to be the GUI. Face it, for better or worse Windows remains the #1 windowing system. There are no *nix equivalents to MFC,.NET, VB or the Win32 API. If anyone knows of a good IBM article on how to port a full blown MFC app to GTK+, I'd love to hear about it.
and half of these companies' products still don't work 50% of the time. I call this the "Gates Epidemic"; Companies that make fortunes off of products that only have to work sometimes.
ActiveX is just another name attached to an already existing technology called COM. As subset of COM, ActiveX was designed to ease software development by allowing the developer to create a completely independent piece of software that can "attached" and controlled by another piece of software. These components usually take the form of DLL files. For example, instead of figuring out how to design a spell checker, a developer writing his own word processor can get hold of an existing spell checker ActiveX component and incorporate it into his program very easily. This saves tons of time and prevents reinvention of the wheel.
ActiveX is Windows. What most Windows users don't realize is that this technology is literally scattered throughout the system. Even in critical spots. The Windows Explorer uses it heavily. Internet Explorer, Excel, Word, and even our good friend Mozilla are all popular examples of ActiveX executable programs (Non-DLL versions).
Back in the mid-90s, Microsoft got somewhat over-zealous about the Internet and figured it would be a boon to allow someone's custom control to run inside of a web page. The control would be loaded by the browser itself. In a perfect world this actually would have stayed a great idea. Of course as we now know, this has proved to be dangerous. However, that doesn't mean we should dismiss ActiveX as a bad technology.
It's therefore my opinion that in today's hazardous world of viruses and spyware, people need to be more conscience of what they should and shouldn't be doing on their computers. In fact, most people (usually unnesessarily) get viruses or adware from not being careful enough to "READ" before they click OK. Or don't take the time to learn about their computer enough to secure it correctly. Perhaps it's the people and not the technology that needs the upgrade.
The days of put the tape in the VCR and press play are over. The simple "Point and Click" paradigm has to become "Think, Point and Click" in order for people to survive this new millenium. Fact is, if you read the article, most people really think computers are much like TVs. Just press power and adjust the volume. Unfortunately, our current state of technology and the way in which business affects it, prohibits any "real" safety measures to be implemented transparently to the user. In other words, Firewalls can't know everything we do on the computer. Someone is going to have to configure it properly. Same goes with navigating the Internet. People blindly download software and enter personal info.
Sure, owning a Macintosh will help considerably, for now, but what happens when the Macs installation numbers grow greater in the coming years? Same darn thing. Macs enjoy an ad free existence because of the sheer numbers. At this current time why should a company like 180solutions target a Mac? I've been using Windows for years and have hardly ever received any ads or viruses. Sure I'm a software developer and I may know a thing or two about the computer BUT that doesn't mean a non savvy person has to suffer. Here are a few tricks I've learned over the years...
1. Actually read all message boxes that pop up on your screen and don't answer yes or click OK BLINDLY. Especially the ones that say "install patch now?" When it doubt click Cancel. You'd be surprised how many people click OK without READING!!!
2. Learn how to use the Task Manager.
3. Keep the computer offline as much as possible if you have a broadband connection. Either shut down or disable the network connection when not in use.
4. Keep a minimal amount of programs running as possible. If you don't use AIM, shut it down.
5. Defrag your drive every now and then.
6. Keep up with updates, BUT AVOID SP2 on XP.
7. AVOID USING OTHER MICROSOFT PRODUCTS A MUCH AS POSSIBLE!! Replace Office, Outlook, Internet Explorer and Media Player with Open Office, Thunderbird, Mozilla and IrfanView or Winamp, etc. Sure this is a tall order, but keeps many a monitor from getting thrown out a window.
8. If you have children and a computer you use for critical business applications, DON'T LET THE TWO INTERACT!! Don't be cheap, get little Johnny his own computer!
Na, your startin to sound like my dad. He couldn't even afford arms and legs. As for myself, I just want Tom & Jerry back and the Apple IIe to come back.
Unfortunately, I have to agree with you. Apple has become sheek rather than innovative. Sure their OS is solid and they don't get infected with nearly as much spyware and viruses as a PC but thats because Macs are so sparse. It wouldn't make sence for hackers to write viruses for Macs. Not yet anyways.
Understandably, most people don't care if they own an Apple or PC (let alone know the difference). They mostly want to surf the Internet and check e-mail. Apple is still too expensive for the average user and it doesn't have a huge software base. Sure Apple is getting a nice boost from the recent Windows spyware frenzy and the 2004 iPod boom but in the end it's going to take much more than spyware and an iPod to convince people to dump their PC and all it's software and switch to a Mac.
Say goodbye to the days of the Commodore 64, school yard dodge ball, pay phone phreaking, "Good" MTV videos and hilarious saturday morning cartoons.
and say hello to...
big businesses, corporate scandals, small government, useless gadgets, retarted cell phone ringers, oversized SUVs, overly protective parents, obnoxious sports figures, obese children, school shootings, cyber bullies, horrible music, sucky movies, reality tv, media fear tactics, prescription drug commercials, low salaries, high insurance premiums, high oil prices, job offshoring and of course, my all-time personal favorite, ANNOYING ELECTRONIC ADVERTISEMENT!!!!!!!!!
How about a show where at the end of each episode you are given a binary number (0 or 1). After months of watching you collect the numbers to form an ASCII string. The first caller to call in with the string receives a free pass to change the channel because the network sucks!!
Slashdot Mirror
There are many operating systems out there that are not running a desktop computers. Doesn't make 'em less of an operating system. Saying that SkyOS and Syllable can't compete with Windows and OSX is like saying Ferrari and Maserati will never compete with Toyota & Chevy's market share! Apples & Oranges.
Even little 'ole DOS is still a great operating system. What was once used as a desktop system and had become outgrown is still a very useful OS and lives in places you'd be surprised.
People don't realize that it takes years if not decades of money and development to create a full featured "desktop operating system" usable by 90% of the world's computer users. Looking back we can all see how long it took Microsoft to go from a crash hound like Windows 3.0 to a polished Windows XP. Just about 11 years now. A small lifetime in computing, and thats with a multi-billion dollar company behind it. Money talks!
The moral is, not all good operating systems need to compete with Windows and the "one size fit's all" desktop paradigm. Who knows how long our known concept of a desktop will even be around for. Perhaps, sooner than you think, we'll all be using different OS's for different softwares in the future and the idea of a small, less featured (less hackable), OS will be an advantage.
> I'm not sure why the kernel's licensing need be relevant to the creation of a desktop system?
/ faq.html
It isn't relevant unless you mind sharing your code.
look for section entitled "Why is Darwin based on BSD UNIX?"
http://developer.apple.com/darwin/projects/darwin
> Yes, 2006 will most certainly be the year of linux.
...
The "supposed" years of Linux
1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
2006 ?????
> With Sony claiming that their PlayStation 3 hard drive will come with Linux by default, Linux could
> very quickly become a significant power in end user "desktops".
1. They said the same thing when Linux was able to run on a hand held and look what happened... PocketPC!!
2. Sony Playstation is a system designed to do one thing. PLAY GAMES in a controlled environment, using specific hardware. Totally different than a multi-functional desktop pc.
3. Look, Linux is useful for some things (ie. web, file & database server) but the vast majority of users are just not buying into Linux.
Don't get me wrong, I like Linux. But I noticed a recurring trend. It seems companies jump on the Linux desktop bandwagon only to jump off afterwards? Even the BIG guys (IBM, Novell, SUN, SGI, Corel, etc) have had a crack at it and still no fireworks. Don't ya think it's time we just focus on some other system, or perhaps develop something new. Even the BSD's have made it to the desktop (MacOS) with more success than Linux. It's no surprise, look at the licensing differences. Let it go people. Let it go.
> Well I do believe the grand parent was right on the need to break up monopolies.
However, there are two kinds of monopolies.
1. The monopoly that is formed via geographical presence. An example, your local telephone company. Lets face it, there can only be ONE in any given area. So they can charge a rediculas price and get away with it because people have no choice. The government needs to crack down on these and allow competetion.
2. The monopoly formed by innovation. A company comes along and gives the people what they what. Period. There are other choices.
Microsoft is #2. Sure, like most successful businesses, they have gotten away with slick business deals ands such, but people are not locked in by any means to their system. Apple has been around for a long time. Linux is starting to come around to some degree. There are other choices. Microsoft is not the telephone company. Besides, maybe it's time people start developing newer systems. BeOS looked promising. Sure, perhaps MS's licensing agreements did not allow companies like DELL to ship their systems with BeOS, but hey, that's business! Got to find ways around these things.
> Examples are brought forward showing currently available Macintosh models selling for roughly the
>same price as comparably configured Dells. Sometimes the Apple is slightly less than the
> Dell. Sometimes the Apple is a fair bit higher -- but never anything like the 2X or 3X that
>anti-Apple trolls keep shouting out.
?????? AND WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN SHOPPING? PLEASE TELL ME!! I'D LOVE TO SHOP WHERE YOU SHOP ?????
> Examples are brought forward showing currently available Macintosh models selling for roughly the
>same price as comparably configured Dells.
If you reply to this, please attach a link to such examples. Thanks.
> Comparing prices between Apples and Dells is frustrating
hmmm... I don't see what you mean by frustrating. I was in an Apple store just recently and I saw a descent system with standard components (512 MB of memory, 100 GB hard drive, etc) and it went for over $1,200. Same thing in PC land costs roughly $500-$600. There is nothing frustrating about that. Either you spend $600 or $1200 and get the same functionality.
> anti-Apple trolls keep shouting out.
Uhhhhh, don't you mean "anti don't want to get ripped off" trolls? Or "anti don't need a fancy tangerine case for twice the money" trolls?
Besides, my television, stereo and DVD player aren't tangerine, purple or transparent! So why should Steve Jobs suggest my PC has to be (and for much more money to fill his wallet)? Don't get me wrong, I'm not against Apple computers. I used to own a IIe back in the day. But Jobs needs to wake up and smell the real prices.
> Sources have indicated that Apple will employ an EDID chip on the motherboard of Intel-based Macs
> that Mac OS X will look for and must handshake with first in order to boot. Such an approach,
> similar to hardware dongles, could theoretically be defeated, although it's unknown what level of
> sophistication Apple will employ.
Makes sence. Apple has always sold average hardware at well above average prices. Why should they stop now just because they switched to Intel? PowerPC or Intel. They are not going to make money on the hardware. At today's market prices, hardware is sold in bulk in order to make a descent profit (ie. DELL). Today, money is made on the software. Why do you think there are so many software patent lawsuits? Besides, most people just don't care whats in the box. However, they will care if you rape 'em for three times the price of a normal PC. Do everyone a favor Jobs, quit playing games and sell your systems at normal prices. Better yet, just sell the stinkin OS by itself and let people choose their own hardware. We all know Apple is going to do that eventually anyways.
I'll bet these sites contain 100 different scripts, languages, Java applets and flash and shockwave advertisements, utilizing every ML language ever invented and getting it all to work on one page! Enough crap to slow down your computer and cause the router at your ISP to melt. In other words, CORPORATE WEB JUNK! No thanks, I'll stick with the other 90%.
I don't agree. First of all you seem to have a black & white (ie. extreme) view of this whole thing. Either it's a big company or open source. I'm afraid there is more gray area than that. There are lots of little companies out there creating apps (better apps) than the big guys and it's not all web browsers and office suites.
Sure maybe email, web browsing and word processors are popular softwares, but there are lots of other areas for programmers to work in. I think the drop in jobs your talking about is in the "shrink wrap" software sector. However, I believe the custom applications sector is booming! Don't beleive me? Just check out craigslist.org. You'll see 100 times more custom programming projects that need immediate development than you will when you look for "full time, sit at the cubicle doing nothing but collect benefits" type jobs.
Personally, I'm tired of those cubicle jobs. Sitting there and rotting away. I now own my own business and I do things the way I want. But hey, not everyone is a business owner.
Yes, I understand that a spreadsheet is a spreadsheet, where it's open office or Excel. Or a web browser is a web browser whether it's Konqueror or Internet Explorer. I'm not talking about usability once the machine is setup. KDE is a piece of cake. I'm talking about setting up the machine initially and installing new hardware when a user wants a new scanner or wants to add a bigger hard drive or a new sound card. This is where Linux falls short. Drivers amd hardware detectability. Sure, if you give someone a computer where they never have to install new software or hardware, than a mainframe would be easy to use too.
A great server OS. I've been using Linux since 1994 and it seems to me every so many years someone or some company pops out of nowhere and tries to somehow convice us, once again, that Linux is now "finally" ready for primetime. Lets face it, Linux is not going to take over the desktops. It's had well over a decade! Why can't this just be accepted as the way it is? Every major player in computing we know of (IBM, Sun, Novell, Corel, etc) has had a crack at it and still no fireworks.
I think what people misunderstand is that it's one thing to build a system that runs a handleful of relatively basic services (ie. web, ftp, database) and another to interactively play video games, watch movies and burn DVDs all without requiring a 1,000 page manual, compiling drivers, shared library dependencies and then expect mom, dad and little Billy to make all this work and be simple to use. For that, it takes decades of time and hundreds of millions in R&D to make happen.
Why can't we just accept Linux as a great server OS and put this whole rediculas "Linux vs Windows" desktop battle behind us once and for all?
I think we all knew the only way Apple was going to have a chance in competing head on with Microsoft was if they switched to the x86 architecture. It's obvious by now, Apple, over the past few years, has finally been trying desperately to reach the everyday consumers. (IPod, Mac Mini, Apple Store) Although the Apple store is nothing more than a museum with pricey computers. I think switching to the world's most dominant desktop/server CPU architecture (IA) is a last ditch effort and probably the one Apple dreaded the most.
If it works, don't be surprised if down the line, Apple decides to open up their system to 3rd party hardware vendors as they did before with Umax, DayStar, Power Computing. Focus on a making a good OS. Who cares about the hardware?? Hardware sales do not have high profit margins unless you either sell in tremendous bulk (ie, DELL) or your prices are really high (as Macs are now). Why do you think all the "mom and pop" PC shops are going out of business?
Years ago, companies like Big Blue used to give the software away for free when you bought their expensive mainframes. At that time, the hardware was the profit. As time went on tides turned. Today, the opposite is true. Software is everything. Microsoft and Linux proved that.
I think Apple is realizing that selling a complete closed system ala IBM, SUN, SGI to the general public is not going to take them to the next level in the consumer market. Sure, a "beefed up" G5 Mac may make some dork in his basement cream in his pants cause he has a "specialized" system no one in is his neighborhood has, but Mom, Dad and Uncle Henry, could care less. These people are simply not going to pay $1500 for a Mac when a $600 DELL DOES THE SAME DAMN THING!!
Bottom line is... the Moms, Dad's and Uncle Henry's of the computing world wan't variety in price, performance and competing vendors and Mac Mini doesn't cut it. These people don't need a $2000 G5 to browse web pages, check e-mail and play Solitaire. To put it frankly, I think Jobs finally woke up.
Our dear multi-billion dollar friends at Mobil, Exxon, Getty, Hess, Amaco, Chevron, BP and their friends namely G.W. Bush and his pal in Saudi Arabia will make sure this technology doesn't see primetime. Too much to lose.
Hopefully IBM will use part of it's $$$ to develop a serious development environment that will ultimately entice VB/C# developers to make the switch. Or at least, feel comfortable by letting them get down to developing a computer program rather than mess with installing 7,000 libraries only to find out that IDE version 1.0.3 needs library version 1.9.2.89.3, rather than 1.9.2.89.2!! I'm sure all you developers out there know EXACTLY what I'm talking about. vi, emacs and friends just are just too antiquated for serious GUI development. If Linux were to even approach what Microsoft has in the desktop world, It's going to need quality development tools because current open source tools suck royally and are too irritating to use.
Windows, Linux. They both systems support processes, threads, semaphores, shared memory, TCP/IP stacks, pipes and files, porting these structures was never that big of a deal. Why do you think most Linux apps still remain CLI? Because the real pain in the butt comes when one needs to port the GUI, since the bulk of the code always seem to be the GUI. Face it, for better or worse Windows remains the #1 windowing system. There are no *nix equivalents to MFC, .NET, VB or the Win32 API. If anyone knows of a good IBM article on how to port a full blown MFC app to GTK+, I'd love to hear about it.
and half of these companies' products still don't work 50% of the time. I call this the "Gates Epidemic"; Companies that make fortunes off of products that only have to work sometimes.
The parents are the ones nailing the illegal videos!! Thats like asking OJ to volunteer to take his own DNA test. Not very effective.
ActiveX is just another name attached to an already existing technology called COM. As subset of COM, ActiveX was designed to ease software development by allowing the developer to create a completely independent piece of software that can "attached" and controlled by another piece of software. These components usually take the form of DLL files. For example, instead of figuring out how to design a spell checker, a developer writing his own word processor can get hold of an existing spell checker ActiveX component and incorporate it into his program very easily. This saves tons of time and prevents reinvention of the wheel.
ActiveX is Windows. What most Windows users don't realize is that this technology is literally scattered throughout the system. Even in critical spots. The Windows Explorer uses it heavily. Internet Explorer, Excel, Word, and even our good friend Mozilla are all popular examples of ActiveX executable programs (Non-DLL versions).
Back in the mid-90s, Microsoft got somewhat over-zealous about the Internet and figured it would be a boon to allow someone's custom control to run inside of a web page. The control would be loaded by the browser itself. In a perfect world this actually would have stayed a great idea. Of course as we now know, this has proved to be dangerous. However, that doesn't mean we should dismiss ActiveX as a bad technology.
It's therefore my opinion that in today's hazardous world of viruses and spyware, people need to be more conscience of what they should and shouldn't be doing on their computers. In fact, most people (usually unnesessarily) get viruses or adware from not being careful enough to "READ" before they click OK. Or don't take the time to learn about their computer enough to secure it correctly. Perhaps it's the people and not the technology that needs the upgrade.
Couldn't agree more!!
The days of put the tape in the VCR and press play are over. The simple "Point and Click" paradigm has to become "Think, Point and Click" in order for people to survive this new millenium. Fact is, if you read the article, most people really think computers are much like TVs. Just press power and adjust the volume. Unfortunately, our current state of technology and the way in which business affects it, prohibits any "real" safety measures to be implemented transparently to the user. In other words, Firewalls can't know everything we do on the computer. Someone is going to have to configure it properly. Same goes with navigating the Internet. People blindly download software and enter personal info.
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Sure, owning a Macintosh will help considerably, for now, but what happens when the Macs installation numbers grow greater in the coming years? Same darn thing. Macs enjoy an ad free existence because of the sheer numbers. At this current time why should a company like 180solutions target a Mac? I've been using Windows for years and have hardly ever received any ads or viruses. Sure I'm a software developer and I may know a thing or two about the computer BUT that doesn't mean a non savvy person has to suffer. Here are a few tricks I've learned over the years
1. Actually read all message boxes that pop up on your screen and don't answer yes or click OK BLINDLY. Especially the ones that say "install patch now?" When it doubt click Cancel. You'd be surprised how many people click OK without READING!!!
2. Learn how to use the Task Manager.
3. Keep the computer offline as much as possible if you have a broadband connection. Either shut down or disable the network connection when not in use.
4. Keep a minimal amount of programs running as possible. If you don't use AIM, shut it down.
5. Defrag your drive every now and then.
6. Keep up with updates, BUT AVOID SP2 on XP.
7. AVOID USING OTHER MICROSOFT PRODUCTS A MUCH AS POSSIBLE!!
Replace Office, Outlook, Internet Explorer and Media Player with Open Office, Thunderbird, Mozilla and IrfanView or Winamp, etc.
Sure this is a tall order, but keeps many a monitor from getting thrown out a window.
8. If you have children and a computer you use for critical business applications, DON'T LET THE TWO INTERACT!!
Don't be cheap, get little Johnny his own computer!
Hope this helps.
Na, your startin to sound like my dad. He couldn't even afford arms and legs. As for myself, I just want Tom & Jerry back and the Apple IIe to come back.
Unfortunately, I have to agree with you. Apple has become sheek rather than innovative. Sure their OS is solid and they don't get infected with nearly as much spyware and viruses as a PC but thats because Macs are so sparse. It wouldn't make sence for hackers to write viruses for Macs. Not yet anyways.
Understandably, most people don't care if they own an Apple or PC (let alone know the difference). They mostly want to surf the Internet and check e-mail. Apple is still too expensive for the average user and it doesn't have a huge software base. Sure Apple is getting a nice boost from the recent Windows spyware frenzy and the 2004 iPod boom but in the end it's going to take much more than spyware and an iPod to convince people to dump their PC and all it's software and switch to a Mac.
Say goodbye to the days of the Commodore 64, school yard dodge ball, pay phone phreaking, "Good" MTV videos and hilarious saturday morning cartoons.
and say hello to...
big businesses, corporate scandals, small government, useless gadgets, retarted cell phone ringers, oversized SUVs, overly protective parents, obnoxious sports figures, obese children, school shootings, cyber bullies, horrible music, sucky movies, reality tv, media fear tactics, prescription drug commercials, low salaries, high insurance premiums, high oil prices, job offshoring and of course, my all-time personal favorite, ANNOYING ELECTRONIC ADVERTISEMENT!!!!!!!!!
*God Bless America*
How about a show where at the end of each episode you are given a binary number (0 or 1). After months of watching you collect the numbers to form an ASCII string. The first caller to call in with the string receives a free pass to change the channel because the network sucks!!