This is why you have Consumers Reports: they buy their products at the store and they don't take advertising.
I acknowledge that it would be almost impossible for a web site to not take advertising, but buying product at the store is very important. For example, if you request an LCD for a review, don't you think they are going to look through a bunch of them and make sure you get the one with no dead pixels and no other problems?
Instead, use the money to ensure that any developer who wants to contribute has a good experience, and to get the stuff done that no developers want to do. For example, you could pay people to do testing.
t's a GOOD thing. Really. It's representative government at its finest.... Ouch!
It is sometimes said that the American political system, while good in structure, has become so beholden to money and self-interest that it is now one of the worst of the Western democracies.
For example, you have Jesse Helmes who was prepared to inflict terrible things on people in other countries to save a few jobs or a bit of pork in his own district (eg. tobacco). The companies involved rewarded him with the money to advertise, and the voters were prepared to sacrafice many people they couldn't see in the name of their (or their neighbors) self interest.
Now, the fact that you think this is a GOOD thing REALLY scares me.
"The device is said to work well with both Windows and Linux, without adding any drivers.... Might this be a great alternative MP3 player for Linux users?"
Don't go thinking it's just you linux guys that want stuff that doesn't require special software. Stuff that requires special software is a pain in the butt for many reasons.
Generally, the only way for me to find good hardware for my Windows box - hardware that uses reasonably generic formats, connnectors, and software - is to look for the stuff that the Linux people like.
The money has to come from somewhere...
on
Tibet's Mesh
·
· Score: 1
"I would love to see a free wireless mesh that's not dependent on any government or corporation take over the world."
There are going to be costs, even if it is started by volunteers. So, where's the money coming from?
Personally, seeing the way that the commercial providers behave, I'd go for gov't run, or at least gov't managed even if it were run by someone else. They could provide low speed access for free to everyone but charge for everything else.
I'm a C++ Windows developer and I'm interested in starting to do some C# or Java. It is my belief that both are quite good and both can run on Windows and Linux (this is a requirement) so it doesn't matter which I choose technically. I feel equal hostility to MS and Sun so that doesn't matter. If the open source community decides on one or the other as being more 'free' and really gets behind it then I'll probably go with that.
With Sun still playing games on opening Java, to the point where the JVM couldn't be bundled, and with the Mono project sounding pretty good (so long as I stick to the right API's) I was definately leaning towards Mono. But if Sun really does open Java then that will probably sway me the other way. Of course, I won't base my decision on the info we have today - I'll wait and see if they really do it.
I can get a perfectly good desktop with OS for $300 from Dell (if I watch for the right deal). It won't be cutting edge, but it will satisfy my needs.
An easier way to make this commparison is to compare the companies. Dell is about selling as many boxes as possible, as efficiently as possible. Their margins are very small. Apple is a premium brand that sells at much higher margins. It has to maintain high margins because it's volumes are lower (it isn't easy to survive at less then 5%) and because it costs a lot of money to maintain the brand.
Oh, sorry, I guess I need to be more specific now. I meant a PC. I know I could buy a Mac and use it as a PC, but the brand premium is too big. I can get PC's at a far smaller markup.
Linux and Mac are, in many ways, complete opposites. I'm surprised that people would switch between them.
The Linux desktop (Ubuntu in this case) is free. It is flexible and is appealling technically and politically, but is quite rough and not ready for the average consumer. It is particularly strong in corporate, third world, and limited use, environments.
OS X is the opposite. It is high margin, high sytle, and slick. It is perfect for the brand-concious, reasonably wealthy, consumer who wants everything to work together easily.
My main problem with this is that those WRT54G/GL/GS are all quite expensive around here (Toronto). Is this expense warranted by the hardware? I doubt it. I'd prefer to have some other options.
Even with this hack, the WRT54G v5 doesn't have the resources. We should be telling users to buy one of the equivelent routers from another vendor, such as the Asus or the Buffalo.
For starters, we need a new name to identify this platform (vs. calling it the WRT54G). The WRT54G/S is just one product utilizing the Broadcom platform.
Also, what about similar platforms from other wireless vendors? Their is a similar Linux platform from Conexant (Prism), but that's hard to get now. How about a Linux Atheros platform? After all, isn't Broadcom supposed to be the least open source friendly of the wireless chipset companies?
I didn't say the Star was centrist. I didn't even mention the Star. You made the statement and then attacked it.
So, Star is left, globe is centre, Sun and Post are right. But the Sun isn't a newspaper really - it's a tabloid. That's the distinction I was trying to make.
We all know that you can find any opinion on any topic on the internet and that you have to be more careful then ever about your sources. So, if slashdot is going to refer to articles on controversial issues, shouldn't it stick to sources that have some authority or respect?
I wouldn't be surprised if Gore did go to far - few things are as certain as they are presented to us by either side. However, the article goes way too far and ignores the fact that the general concensus of the scientific community is in line with what Gore is saying.
So, it makes me wonder what this strange website is? It is run out of my city (Toronto) and yet I've never heard of it. I don't see a bio of the author on the website, but I note that the two main authors involved in this website are from the Toronto Sun and Fox News. I don't need to say anthing about FOX, but you might not have heard of the Toronto Sun. It is a right wing tabloid, featuring girly pictures on page 2. You probably have one in your city, so you know what I mean.
China could have many legit beefs and concerns with regards to western companies (eg. the near-monopoly of Windows on the desktop), so why are they complaining about an IEEE standard supported and implemented by many vendors?
I'm guessing that some person who's company developed the Chinese alternative has an uncle on the Politburo.
If this is the case, it's a shame - there is so much that our governments could do for us if they weren't so corrupt. If this is not the case, then I hope someone will explain what is going on.
Right now there is no competition, so Apple can charge a premium. Lock-in is great for the vendor, terrible for the consumer.
If you were free to buy any player/device to play iTunes songs then Apple wouldn't be able to charge as much.
If you were free to use other music service (eg. Yahoo's music service is cheaper and for higher audio quality) then hopefully they would start to support the Mac platform and then iTunes would have to lower its prices.
I for one (and probably the only one) think this is a great idea. For starters, if I were to only get e-mails that the sender was willing to pay a cent for, my inbox would be a much better place. Taxes have to come from somewhere, and I don't see that communications is that much worse than the alternatives.
The general sentiment in this forum appears to be that taxes are evil, but around here the more they cut taxes the more things fall apart. We used to have a pretty nice city - now we can't afford any of the things that made it nice.
Also, reading on/. yesterday that Dell now feels able to make deals with Google, it makes me think that some aspects of the Microsoft oversight have been successful. Wasn't that your tax dollars at work? Weren't most people here on/. in favour of the JD reigning in MS? Well, that was their priority - for some it is better public schools, or law enforcement, or better roads. So lets not get rid of the taxes yet, let's just find the most efficient way to collect them - maybe even a tax on e-mail.
That sounds great but it leaves some big questions:
- Will the new software be available to users of the current Nokia 770?
- The article says that users will not be able to call regular PSTN phone numbers. It is understandable that Nokia would want to prevent this, but how can they stop users from using GoogleTalk with a generic VoIP to PSTN service (since GoogleTalk uses SIP).
- Will this GoogleTalk be available to users of Desktop Linux? Will Google be open-sourcing GT?
I guess we'll have to wait till Tuesday (at least) until there is much to say.
Windows CE is already supported by VS.NET 2005. And I don't just mean for.NET applications. I have written C++ apps using VC8 for deployment to WinCE 5.0.
I see from the reviews that, though it supports USB recharing, it uses a proprietary cable. I've seen others (the Motorola H500?) that can use any mini USB cable to recharge. That would be much nicer.
I'm not completely clear on this multi-pairing thing. I have the same issue as you - I want to use the same headset with my phone and my computer. I think most headsets, including my logitech, are able to remember multiple pairings. The issue is whether they can be simultaneously paired with multiple devices and then just work with the one that is active. It is my understanding that the Plantronics Discovery 640 has this feature and that it is called 'multipoint'.
I believe that Logitech has 2 fairly similar headsets. Both work well in windy conditions, but the more expensive one emphasizes this more in its marketing. I bought the cheaper one a year ago (it is now widely available for ~CDN$60) and have been satisfied with it. Herer is my mini review of it.
Logitech Mobile Freedom Bluetooth Headset
PROS:
- On the whole the sound quality is quite good, even in windy conditions.
- The fit/comfort is very good. I wear it on my right ear, but it works on either.
CONS:
- The range is good, and yet often the sound quality degrades quite a bit over a VERY short distance, eg. putting the phone in my pocket as opposed to holding it near my head.
- I get a lot of crackling noise at work where we have tons of WiFi. This is probably because the phone doesn't support BT 1.2, so it's not the headset's fault.
- The online support is poor. There is nothing at the logitech web site. I was looking for an online (or downloadable) manual of some sort. There is none.
- As with most other BT headsets, recharging is painful. The phone comes with 1 proprietary recharger. Next time I will only buy a headset that can be charged with a generic usb cable.
- The indicator light is confusing since they use one light/button for everything. I'd like to turn it off sometimes - to stop the periodic blue flash - but I have no idea how to.
CONCLUSION:
The things I've listed as PROS are the important things: sound and comfort. Never-the-less, if I lost this headset, I would replace it with one that can be charged with a generic usb cable.
Slashdot Mirror
This is why you have Consumers Reports: they buy their products at the store and they don't take advertising.
I acknowledge that it would be almost impossible for a web site to not take advertising, but buying product at the store is very important. For example, if you request an LCD for a review, don't you think they are going to look through a bunch of them and make sure you get the one with no dead pixels and no other problems?
Paying selected developers could cause problems.
Instead, use the money to ensure that any developer who wants to contribute has a good experience, and to get the stuff done that no developers want to do. For example, you could pay people to do testing.
t's a GOOD thing. Really. It's representative government at its finest....
Ouch!
It is sometimes said that the American political system, while good in structure, has become so beholden to money and self-interest that it is now one of the worst of the Western democracies.
For example, you have Jesse Helmes who was prepared to inflict terrible things on people in other countries to save a few jobs or a bit of pork in his own district (eg. tobacco). The companies involved rewarded him with the money to advertise, and the voters were prepared to sacrafice many people they couldn't see in the name of their (or their neighbors) self interest.
Now, the fact that you think this is a GOOD thing REALLY scares me.
No.
OSX is what they like about Apple. They have worked hard to keep OSX alive. This is 'safe' competition.
The iPod, and Apple's success in digital media generally, they don't like one bit.
"The device is said to work well with both Windows and Linux, without adding any drivers. ... Might this be a great alternative MP3 player for Linux users?"
Don't go thinking it's just you linux guys that want stuff that doesn't require special software. Stuff that requires special software is a pain in the butt for many reasons.
Generally, the only way for me to find good hardware for my Windows box - hardware that uses reasonably generic formats, connnectors, and software - is to look for the stuff that the Linux people like.
"I would love to see a free wireless mesh that's not dependent on any government or corporation take over the world."
There are going to be costs, even if it is started by volunteers. So, where's the money coming from?
Personally, seeing the way that the commercial providers behave, I'd go for gov't run, or at least gov't managed even if it were run by someone else. They could provide low speed access for free to everyone but charge for everything else.
This makes things more complicated for me.
I'm a C++ Windows developer and I'm interested in starting to do some C# or Java. It is my belief that both are quite good and both can run on Windows and Linux (this is a requirement) so it doesn't matter which I choose technically. I feel equal hostility to MS and Sun so that doesn't matter. If the open source community decides on one or the other as being more 'free' and really gets behind it then I'll probably go with that.
With Sun still playing games on opening Java, to the point where the JVM couldn't be bundled, and with the Mono project sounding pretty good (so long as I stick to the right API's) I was definately leaning towards Mono. But if Sun really does open Java then that will probably sway me the other way. Of course, I won't base my decision on the info we have today - I'll wait and see if they really do it.
I've started to notice that there are /. stories that I miss because they don't appear in the RSS feed. What's going on?
I can get a perfectly good desktop with OS for $300 from Dell (if I watch for the right deal). It won't be cutting edge, but it will satisfy my needs.
An easier way to make this commparison is to compare the companies. Dell is about selling as many boxes as possible, as efficiently as possible. Their margins are very small. Apple is a premium brand that sells at much higher margins. It has to maintain high margins because it's volumes are lower (it isn't easy to survive at less then 5%) and because it costs a lot of money to maintain the brand.
Oh, sorry, I guess I need to be more specific now. I meant a PC. I know I could buy a Mac and use it as a PC, but the brand premium is too big. I can get PC's at a far smaller markup.
When will I be able to go to Dell.com (for example) and order a system with one of these?
When will I be able to order a notebook with one of these?
How long after the release of a new architecture should I wait for them to work out the kinks?
Linux and Mac are, in many ways, complete opposites. I'm surprised that people would switch between them.
The Linux desktop (Ubuntu in this case) is free. It is flexible and is appealling technically and politically, but is quite rough and not ready for the average consumer. It is particularly strong in corporate, third world, and limited use, environments.
OS X is the opposite. It is high margin, high sytle, and slick. It is perfect for the brand-concious, reasonably wealthy, consumer who wants everything to work together easily.
I thought it was a countdown to Canada Day (July 1st)?
True.
My main problem with this is that those WRT54G/GL/GS are all quite expensive around here (Toronto). Is this expense warranted by the hardware? I doubt it. I'd prefer to have some other options.
Even with this hack, the WRT54G v5 doesn't have the resources. We should be telling users to buy one of the equivelent routers from another vendor, such as the Asus or the Buffalo.
For starters, we need a new name to identify this platform (vs. calling it the WRT54G). The WRT54G/S is just one product utilizing the Broadcom platform.
Also, what about similar platforms from other wireless vendors? Their is a similar Linux platform from Conexant (Prism), but that's hard to get now. How about a Linux Atheros platform? After all, isn't Broadcom supposed to be the least open source friendly of the wireless chipset companies?
I didn't say the Star was centrist. I didn't even mention the Star. You made the statement and then attacked it.
So, Star is left, globe is centre, Sun and Post are right. But the Sun isn't a newspaper really - it's a tabloid. That's the distinction I was trying to make.
We all know that you can find any opinion on any topic on the internet and that you have to be more careful then ever about your sources. So, if slashdot is going to refer to articles on controversial issues, shouldn't it stick to sources that have some authority or respect?
I wouldn't be surprised if Gore did go to far - few things are as certain as they are presented to us by either side. However, the article goes way too far and ignores the fact that the general concensus of the scientific community is in line with what Gore is saying.
So, it makes me wonder what this strange website is? It is run out of my city (Toronto) and yet I've never heard of it. I don't see a bio of the author on the website, but I note that the two main authors involved in this website are from the Toronto Sun and Fox News. I don't need to say anthing about FOX, but you might not have heard of the Toronto Sun. It is a right wing tabloid, featuring girly pictures on page 2. You probably have one in your city, so you know what I mean.
China could have many legit beefs and concerns with regards to western companies (eg. the near-monopoly of Windows on the desktop), so why are they complaining about an IEEE standard supported and implemented by many vendors?
I'm guessing that some person who's company developed the Chinese alternative has an uncle on the Politburo.
If this is the case, it's a shame - there is so much that our governments could do for us if they weren't so corrupt. If this is not the case, then I hope someone will explain what is going on.
This would help you a lot.
Right now there is no competition, so Apple can charge a premium. Lock-in is great for the vendor, terrible for the consumer.
If you were free to buy any player/device to play iTunes songs then Apple wouldn't be able to charge as much.
If you were free to use other music service (eg. Yahoo's music service is cheaper and for higher audio quality) then hopefully they would start to support the Mac platform and then iTunes would have to lower its prices.
I for one (and probably the only one) think this is a great idea. For starters, if I were to only get e-mails that the sender was willing to pay a cent for, my inbox would be a much better place. Taxes have to come from somewhere, and I don't see that communications is that much worse than the alternatives.
The general sentiment in this forum appears to be that taxes are evil, but around here the more they cut taxes the more things fall apart. We used to have a pretty nice city - now we can't afford any of the things that made it nice.
Also, reading on
That sounds great but it leaves some big questions:
- Will the new software be available to users of the current Nokia 770?
- The article says that users will not be able to call regular PSTN phone numbers. It is understandable that Nokia would want to prevent this, but how can they stop users from using GoogleTalk with a generic VoIP to PSTN service (since GoogleTalk uses SIP).
- Will this GoogleTalk be available to users of Desktop Linux? Will Google be open-sourcing GT?
I guess we'll have to wait till Tuesday (at least) until there is much to say.
"Also new is support for MS's
Windows CE is already supported by VS.NET 2005. And I don't just mean for
Ah, great thanks.
(When I got the headset a year ago there was nothing - I e-mailed tech support and they confirmed this.)
I see from the reviews that, though it supports USB recharing, it uses a proprietary cable. I've seen others (the Motorola H500?) that can use any mini USB cable to recharge. That would be much nicer.
I'm not completely clear on this multi-pairing thing. I have the same issue as you - I want to use the same headset with my phone and my computer. I think most headsets, including my logitech, are able to remember multiple pairings. The issue is whether they can be simultaneously paired with multiple devices and then just work with the one that is active. It is my understanding that the Plantronics Discovery 640 has this feature and that it is called 'multipoint'.
I believe that Logitech has 2 fairly similar headsets. Both work well in windy conditions, but the more expensive one emphasizes this more in its marketing. I bought the cheaper one a year ago (it is now widely available for ~CDN$60) and have been satisfied with it. Herer is my mini review of it.
Logitech Mobile Freedom Bluetooth Headset
PROS:
- On the whole the sound quality is quite good, even in windy conditions.
- The fit/comfort is very good. I wear it on my right ear, but it works on either.
CONS:
- The range is good, and yet often the sound quality degrades quite a bit over a VERY short distance, eg. putting the phone in my pocket as opposed to holding it near my head.
- I get a lot of crackling noise at work where we have tons of WiFi. This is probably because the phone doesn't support BT 1.2, so it's not the headset's fault.
- The online support is poor. There is nothing at the logitech web site. I was looking for an online (or downloadable) manual of some sort. There is none.
- As with most other BT headsets, recharging is painful. The phone comes with 1 proprietary recharger. Next time I will only buy a headset that can be charged with a generic usb cable.
- The indicator light is confusing since they use one light/button for everything. I'd like to turn it off sometimes - to stop the periodic blue flash - but I have no idea how to.
CONCLUSION:
The things I've listed as PROS are the important things: sound and comfort. Never-the-less, if I lost this headset, I would replace it with one that can be charged with a generic usb cable.