> And probably that is why they can't measure the costs.
Eh? They said they *did* measure the costs :
> Microsoft Office is not any cheaper
To say that they must know what both cost, and furthermore :
> it was *almost* impossible to work out what open-source was actually costing
If they know it wasn't impossible to find out then they must know what it costs. (I guess they could have used some mathematical proof to show that it isn't impossible, and yet still didn't find out the actual cost, but I doubt it.)
I look at the BBC/TV licence fee in a similar way as the national health service/national insurance - ie it's something that benefits the nation as a whole and not necessarily any particular individual.
Someone who is perfectly healthy for their entire life still has to pay national insurance so that those who aren't healthy can get health care. Similarly, someone who doesn't watch the BBC but watches TV, still has to pay the BBC licence fee so that those who do want to watch it can do so.
I expect there's something wrong with this analogy and I'm looking forward to reading about it in the following comments....
I don't recall the last time I used USB for backing up my phone.
I've always used bluetooth for that, since several years ago with my SE t68i, to my current Nokia 3250 (and my wife's N73).
I guess USB *might* be faster (depending on version), but I don't notice any problem with speed. Perhaps I just don't have as much data as all you guys...or more time or something.
I use USB for firmware upgrades, not for backup, and these days even firmware upgrades are done over-the-air (inc. wifi) for some phones.
Except that MS Word claims to be capable of editing text files, so one could be forgiven for thinking that it might be able to, trying it out, being disappointed, giving up and trying something better, like Vi.
> the specimen tentatively belongs to the genus Mastigoteuthis,
Mr Mstigoteuthis, I don't care how clever you are, you can at least wait until you know what it is before claiming you own it, tentatically or otherwise.
> You don't see the logic in behaving in a manner that is consistent with your stated goals?
Well, yes, but I don't see the logic that other people should necessarily expect it. For example, a goal is a goal - you don't reach it until you get there. Supposedly, most of the time is spent in the journey/pursuit/whatever.
However...
> then you'd better hold yourself to a higher standard than those who make no such claim.
that isn't what you said. You said 'hold yourself to a higher standard', so that is quite likely something different to what I was thinking.
> so it can't accept other SIMs...and by 'accept' you mean that they will physically fit, but the phone won't work.
I wonder what would happen if my old AT&T SIM card, from my cancelled contract a few years ago, is put into it...perhaps I could sell it to some iPhone owner:)
Having credit available doesn't mean you have to, or even want to, take advantage of it.
Have you tried renting a car without a credit card? There are places that will let you, but your options are severely limited.
The fact is that simply having credit allows you to buy/rent things, even if you never actually are in debt (well, not more than the month).
IIRC, they reason they wouldn't rent the car to me when I used my debit card, was that *they* couldn't charge me enough on my debut card should I not return the card. I wasn't sure I saw the logic actually....
It was Budget Rent-a-car as San Jose Airport. That's the last time I (try to) use them. Yeah, I'm sure they're crying:|
> Except for every single pocket pc phone ever made.
I wonder if the h/w will support it though. I say this because most Nokia phones have SD slots, and so can theoretically take the bigger SD cards, but Nokia still list them as 'up to 2GB'. Have you tried a card bigger than 2GB?
> I agree on the browser though.
Well, Nokia S60 3rd edition devices have a decent browser (based on Web Kit too), so the iPhone isn't special in that respect (either?).
Try any S60 3rd edition phone. They have a full browser too - it's even based off the same code as Safari.
The only reasons I can see for getting an iPhone are the UI and style - not to say that those aren't good reasons. I guess some might value the voice mail thing too, but I haven't heard anything about that yet...oh, and 8GB and 4GB is pretty decent sized memory too, though some other devices that can take sizable flash cards too (and removable is an advantage, IMO)...but no, web browsers are old new to most of the world. I've been using a decent one on my Nokia 3250 for several months.
Slashdot Mirror
> wonderful things...open format...like Google showed with it's email interface.
Really curious what wonderful things you were thinking of. Could you elaborate?
> And probably that is why they can't measure the costs.
Eh? They said they *did* measure the costs :
> Microsoft Office is not any cheaper
To say that they must know what both cost, and furthermore :
> it was *almost* impossible to work out what open-source was actually costing
If they know it wasn't impossible to find out then they must know what it costs. (I guess they could have used some mathematical proof to show that it isn't impossible, and yet still didn't find out the actual cost, but I doubt it.)
They just don't share the costs, that's all.
I look at the BBC/TV licence fee in a similar way as the national health service/national insurance - ie it's something that benefits the nation as a whole and not necessarily any particular individual.
Someone who is perfectly healthy for their entire life still has to pay national insurance so that those who aren't healthy can get health care. Similarly, someone who doesn't watch the BBC but watches TV, still has to pay the BBC licence fee so that those who do want to watch it can do so.
I expect there's something wrong with this analogy and I'm looking forward to reading about it in the following comments....
I don't recall the last time I used USB for backing up my phone.
I've always used bluetooth for that, since several years ago with my SE t68i, to my current Nokia 3250 (and my wife's N73).
I guess USB *might* be faster (depending on version), but I don't notice any problem with speed. Perhaps I just don't have as much data as all you guys...or more time or something.
I use USB for firmware upgrades, not for backup, and these days even firmware upgrades are done over-the-air (inc. wifi) for some phones.
ah, that's a joke because of Wimbledon, right? ...though I thought it had just finished, so perhaps you're a little off.
I thought it was well known that the majority of dust was made up from dead skin....
Most people (in my experience, in China) don't buy 'boxes', they have someone else buy or build boxes and have them install the OS.
You sound like a software engineering manager, not an IT manager. Am I missing something?
Well, obviously it tries to, but according to the /g+p/ post, it does not deliver.
Except that MS Word claims to be capable of editing text files, so one could be forgiven for thinking that it might be able to, trying it out, being disappointed, giving up and trying something better, like Vi.
$5!!! Not in China. Like MS Windows XP (ZH), MS Office XP is 10rmb (~$1.50).
> the specimen tentatively belongs to the genus Mastigoteuthis,
Mr Mstigoteuthis, I don't care how clever you are, you can at least wait until you know what it is before claiming you own it, tentatically or otherwise.
moded as 'troll'??? what are you guys thinking? in what way is this a troll?
> You don't see the logic in behaving in a manner that is consistent with your stated goals?
:)
Well, yes, but I don't see the logic that other people should necessarily expect it. For example, a goal is a goal - you don't reach it until you get there. Supposedly, most of the time is spent in the journey/pursuit/whatever.
However...
> then you'd better hold yourself to a higher standard than those who make no such claim.
that isn't what you said. You said 'hold yourself to a higher standard', so that is quite likely something different to what I was thinking.
So, you're right and I'm wrong
> than you'd better hold yourself to a higher standard than those who make no such claim.
I'm not sure I see the logic in that assertion.
For example, you don't have to be a Christian to behave in a Christian manner. IMO, it is more often non-Christians who behave more Christian-like....
> so it can't accept other SIMs ...and by 'accept' you mean that they will physically fit, but the phone won't work.
:)
I wonder what would happen if my old AT&T SIM card, from my cancelled contract a few years ago, is put into it...perhaps I could sell it to some iPhone owner
This conversation is not about the server side.
For the Dell desktop, Ubuntu is the only linux distro, so there's only once choice. One option isn't confusing, I think.
Also, Ubuntu isn't available for the servers (right?), so that's only a choice of two (RedHat/SuSe).
Even if it were a choice of Ubuntu, RedHat and SuSe, that is still only 3.
Also, since I was replying to :
> What, as opposed to all the different editions of linux distros?
I think 1, 2, or 3 doesn't fit "all the different editions of linux distros"...
On the other hand, I admit to being ignorant of "all the different editions of MS Windows Vista". How many are there?
What other linux distros are Dell selling?
Having credit available doesn't mean you have to, or even want to, take advantage of it.
:|
Have you tried renting a car without a credit card? There are places that will let you, but your options are severely limited.
The fact is that simply having credit allows you to buy/rent things, even if you never actually are in debt (well, not more than the month).
IIRC, they reason they wouldn't rent the car to me when I used my debit card, was that *they* couldn't charge me enough on my debut card should I not return the card. I wasn't sure I saw the logic actually....
It was Budget Rent-a-car as San Jose Airport. That's the last time I (try to) use them. Yeah, I'm sure they're crying
I had trouble even renting a car because I didn't have a credit card (they wouldn't take my Bank Of America Visa *debit* card).
"cosign"?
What's that, and how does it help?
I don't get the reference...please enlighten one.
> the whole Paris Hilton thing?
Eh? What Paris Hilton thing? Who's Paris Hilton?
> Except for every single pocket pc phone ever made.
I wonder if the h/w will support it though. I say this because most Nokia phones have SD slots, and so can theoretically take the bigger SD cards, but Nokia still list them as 'up to 2GB'. Have you tried a card bigger than 2GB?
> I agree on the browser though.
Well, Nokia S60 3rd edition devices have a decent browser (based on Web Kit too), so the iPhone isn't special in that respect (either?).
Try any S60 3rd edition phone. They have a full browser too - it's even based off the same code as Safari.
..oh, and 8GB and 4GB is pretty decent sized memory too, though some other devices that can take sizable flash cards too (and removable is an advantage, IMO). ..but no, web browsers are old new to most of the world. I've been using a decent one on my Nokia 3250 for several months.
The only reasons I can see for getting an iPhone are the UI and style - not to say that those aren't good reasons.
I guess some might value the voice mail thing too, but I haven't heard anything about that yet.