2) They were created (I believe) for compatibility with Apple's 2-stream files (or 3 streams, if you count the metadata as a stream)
Actually it was something copied from OS/2's filesystem.
3) There's no decent protocol for transmitting multiple-stream files over the Internet. Why do you think Mac users have to use MacBinary or BinHex encoding schemes when sending emails?
Actually there is, it's called CIFS (Common Internet File System).
We are a company that runs on Linux, Mac and Windows. We are having trouble sending Links in E-Mails that can be clicked on and that link to files in the Network... This is due to differences between Linux, Mac and Windows Network File Paths. Standardization here is really important! What do you know about this?
Use HTTP on your network (can use webdav to upload files -- supported on windows, macosx, linux), problem solved.
I too have recently switched to (K)ubuntu as my main workstation.
Why I'm greatfull I'm not using a Mac right now:
No more secret commands to see hidden files ('view' -> 'show hidden files' under Konqueror's drop down menu)
No need to restart the system to see simple changes to the UI (which I had todo by editing secret configuration files, because *gasp* MacOSX doesn't provide everything in graphical configuration utilities. I hate transparency, I still find no practical use for it.)
No need to restart the system to get codecs working
No more getting really frustrated seeing my windows skip across the screen when I'm dragging them.
No more OVER flashy UI - I don't mind a good looking UI, but I don't want crappy effects, animations, transparencies. It slows down my computer usage (While KDE has a lot of these enabled by default, at least I can disable *ALL* of them rather quickly and painlessly without the need of 3rd party applications and editing configuration files).
No more need to buy expensive hardware that just constantly has issues.
No more crappy support of OSS (OSS tends to be more unreliable and buggy on MacOSX).
No more finder.
No more crappy support of my USB devices (They all work under [K]ubuntu, I just plug them in and they work without me doing ANYTHING.).
No more lack of a package manager that can't automatically install, update my software.
No more stability issues while programming (It's easy to crash MacOSX from a user-level program, reporting the issues to Apple does not see any 'fixes' either.)
Why I'm greatfull I'm not using a Windows machine right now:
I don't have to worry about browsing files in explorer (Once I browsed my public upload folder with explorer, a fully up-to date windows xp system and there was a JPG file (contained WMF exploit) in there which contained malware. Just from browsing the folder malware elevated privilages from the 'limited account', and installed itself all over the system.
I don't have to worry about device drivers anymore. Unlike windows, I just plug it in, and it works.
No more issues from working under a 'limited account'
I don't have to worry about using 'special' software for any hardware. Got a MP3 player? Plug it in, copy files over to it. No special software needed (unless you're using a iPod).
I don't need to worry about software updates (I get a little icon in my tray telling me there are package updates on [K]ubuntu. And it's for all software on my system. Not just Java, flash etc.).
I don't need to worry about installing the right codecs to play movies anymore (apt-get install w32codecs)
Second Life will run on my hardware under Linux *WELL*, while under Windows it complained the hardware was too rubish and refused to run.
No more stupid freezing up the entire desktop when browsing network shares (It would freeze up so bad that killing explorer or the application that had the open/save dialog would just not work. Under Konqueror, KDE -- nothing has ever frozen up, I could always abort browsing the network shares too).
Reverse engineering the Windows API is hard without changes. WINE has been at it for years, and they still haven't gotten to the point that most Win32 apps will run seamlessly over Linux.
To be honest, I don't know of any windows application currently that I have used which doesn't run under Wine. Right now I'm running twelve different Windows applications under Linux.
You go, Apple. When there's a site called AppleDefects.com and there are no sites like DellDefects.com or even GatewayDefects.com all that remain on OS X are the people who actually mixed the Kool-Aid in the first place.
Alright, what "manufactorer" sells these mystical $300 machines, then? I want one.
I was simply suggesting people look elsewhere than Dell. I find Dell is often far more expensive than other computer vendors I've been to -- except for the gamer laptops. I'm pretty sure there are places that sell dual-core machines cheaper than Dell.
Exactly. In the same way, Apple does not need to support BIOS. They aren't selling general purpose computing machines so much as a "home desktop solution", and as such, supporting BIOS adds extra complexity.
But they're doing it anyway, that's why you need a firmware update with older Macintels in order to use bootcamp.
The only reason they now support BIOS (Boot Camp) is to sell some extra hardware.
Apple is a hardware company after all... But I don't think it was to 'sell some extra hardware' exactly. But more on the lines of making it easier for people to 'switch'.
I don't think you get it. The parent was saying that the monitor alone eats up half of the stated $300 budget. Are you going to be able to build the rest of the system for $150? I really don't think so.
Point.
Yeah, legacy support is what makes a computer "proper". Let me guess, you're still using 5 1/4" floppies and an acoustic modem hooked up to your serial line.
Your examples aren't within reason while a EFI with legacy bios support is.
Your example is more of a cassette player that should be able to handle vinyl records.
My example is more of the fact that DVD players can also handle CDs.
With a monitor? A cheap ass no-name 17" LCD from New Egg is a little under $150 in and of itself. I am sick of hearing this crap every time there is an Apple article.
Are you saying Apple hardware is more reliable?
When PC boards move from BIOS to something modern, like the coolness that is EFI, let me know.
Dell have been using EFI years before Apple did, and guess what, they had proper BIOS backwards compatability unlike Apple.
The day I can clone my HD to an external firewire drive and then boot my machine from said firewire drive in the even of a failure, let me know.
Err, my four (I think it's four now) year old x86 HP laptop has been able todo that ever since I got it.
Ubuntu is one of the more cohesive and polished linux desktop distributions, but it's no where near the league of OS X, or even windows XP.
OS X needs a lot more polishing than most Linux distros. Heck, just to view hidden files you have to type in a secret command, kill finder and restart it. I hate having to look for GUI settings which are often stored in XML files (no graphical settings utility todo most of the settings -- this is why I prefer KDE) that you have to edit by hand (or use a 3rd party application which is usually not upto date).
Most of those settings requiring logging in and out, others requiring you to restart all together. People tell me Macs are great for movie editing. Here is my expirence, it is very difficult to get iMovie to use a modern 'standard' format such as MPEG2. To even install codecs to get the proper support you need to reboot the Mac each time. I have never had todo this under Windows or Linux (I use Kino and Cinelerra).
People switch to linux because it serves a specific task they need, or for the novelty.
It's far more usable than Windows and MacOSX for me. I can't stand not being able to simply change a simple setting on MacOSX without having to figure out some strange configuration format and then having to reboot. I dislike how finder will lock up when it's accessing a filesystem (be it a network one) that contains two file of the same name but different case. Apple have had YEARS to fix this.
Then there is Windows, which lacks simple features such as keeping a specific Window ontop of others. It's file manager (explorer), in my expirence is horrible to use, using it for browsing your network is a big no-no, unless you want to freeze up your entire desktop. The start menu being inoperable when it's scanning the local network for.. whatever it is. The activation in windows is a big turn off for me, it's increased the problems for me when I use a non-cracked copy (I always have a legitimate license). Setting up a machine to run nicely under a limited user, while being able to access things like the control panel items without having to login and out takes a lot of time. Even so, I've expirenced a WMF exploit while browsing a folder that elevated it's privillages to the system level and spread malware all over. These kind of things should not happen at all.
I've been using Linux since 1994, and it's come a long way, but it hasn't really closed the gap any since the mid to late 90's, it's just been keeping pace since then with still a huge gap between.
I wouldn't say that, the DEs have improved considerably, the hardware support is now becomming insanely good -- I don't even expirence the issue of needing a kernel module each time I plugin a new device. As Mac users like to say, it just works. Cameras, mp3 players, scanners -- they all work, while the same hardware *requires* that you install the drivers under Windows before use (and some of those, don't work at all on the Mac). Wine has come a long way too, Wine is now at a stage where you can try almost any program, and game, and there is a good chance it *will* work. This really closes the gap for those people who want to migrate from windows.
I've used Linux for years (mostly for running a webserver, free mailserver etc), but only in the last year have I ever used it as my primary desktop OS.
Umm, not sure why you should care, but... Because it was available.. And there are no issues with it.
I've seen plenty of issues with getting 64bit windows working with hardware, non-64bit programs (although most do work without a problem, there is some that doesn't).
Trust me guys, better video game support = mass adoption of linux.
That alone won't make mass adoption of Linux.
I don't think you get my point, all other areas I think Linux excels. The only area that linux sucks is in video game support.
I beg to differ.
Sure, say xxxx game works better, but do all games work better? Most definitely not.
In most cases, games cannot be magically improved.
Video games are not the end all be all of OSes, but it is an area that is severely gimping linux. This is why linux is not a true alternative to windows.
With people playing World of Warcraft, Unreal Tournament (original/2k3/2k4), Steam games, Oblivion (I saw this today for the first time running on Linux) on Linux, I really don't see any issues by your logic.
Also it is highly unlikely that "grandmas" are knowingly running pirated copies, if they get shut off and called "pirates" they probably take offense to that pretty strongly. They will probably ask their kids/grandkids what other computer they can get.
Or like some old people I know, refuse to deal with computers all together after the experience.
Apple has already stated their intention to pull iTMS out of any market that does this, rather than open up their system.
I found on Google news, speculation that Apple may just pull out without any information backing up the reasoning. Do you have any articles that say otherwise? I'm quite curious.
But that's suicide for Apple. They're not going to just give in. Remember how RealNetworks tried to break Apple's DRM? Apple didn't tolerate it then, and they won't tolerate it now.
These are the options Apple has (from what I can think of):
Comply
Suspend operations in France and appeal in the meantime (which I don't think will help them).
Continue and not open up -- Causing the company huge fines and legal issues.
Stop iTunes store in France
They really don't have many options from what I can see. Hard to tell what Apple will do at this stage however.
Slashdot Mirror
Why I'm greatfull I'm not using a Mac right now:
Why I'm greatfull I'm not using a Windows machine right now:
Apple is a hardware company after all... But I don't think it was to 'sell some extra hardware' exactly. But more on the lines of making it easier for people to 'switch'.
Your example is more of a cassette player that should be able to handle vinyl records.
My example is more of the fact that DVD players can also handle CDs.
I can tell you most schools in Poland don't even know what a 'Mac' is (they all know 'normal' PCs).
Most of those settings requiring logging in and out, others requiring you to restart all together. People tell me Macs are great for movie editing. Here is my expirence, it is very difficult to get iMovie to use a modern 'standard' format such as MPEG2. To even install codecs to get the proper support you need to reboot the Mac each time. I have never had todo this under Windows or Linux (I use Kino and Cinelerra).It's far more usable than Windows and MacOSX for me. I can't stand not being able to simply change a simple setting on MacOSX without having to figure out some strange configuration format and then having to reboot. I dislike how finder will lock up when it's accessing a filesystem (be it a network one) that contains two file of the same name but different case. Apple have had YEARS to fix this.
Then there is Windows, which lacks simple features such as keeping a specific Window ontop of others. It's file manager (explorer), in my expirence is horrible to use, using it for browsing your network is a big no-no, unless you want to freeze up your entire desktop. The start menu being inoperable when it's scanning the local network for.. whatever it is. The activation in windows is a big turn off for me, it's increased the problems for me when I use a non-cracked copy (I always have a legitimate license). Setting up a machine to run nicely under a limited user, while being able to access things like the control panel items without having to login and out takes a lot of time. Even so, I've expirenced a WMF exploit while browsing a folder that elevated it's privillages to the system level and spread malware all over. These kind of things should not happen at all.I wouldn't say that, the DEs have improved considerably, the hardware support is now becomming insanely good -- I don't even expirence the issue of needing a kernel module each time I plugin a new device. As Mac users like to say, it just works. Cameras, mp3 players, scanners -- they all work, while the same hardware *requires* that you install the drivers under Windows before use (and some of those, don't work at all on the Mac). Wine has come a long way too, Wine is now at a stage where you can try almost any program, and game, and there is a good chance it *will* work. This really closes the gap for those people who want to migrate from windows.
I've used Linux for years (mostly for running a webserver, free mailserver etc), but only in the last year have I ever used it as my primary desktop OS.
- Comply
- Suspend operations in France and appeal in the meantime (which I don't think will help them).
- Continue and not open up -- Causing the company huge fines and legal issues.
- Stop iTunes store in France
They really don't have many options from what I can see. Hard to tell what Apple will do at this stage however.