I really enjoy both the Firefly and Star Wars universes. That being said, there's a LOT more material to be found for the latter, orders of magnitude more.
In a way, I think this poll shows some disappointment with some of that vast collection of material for Star Wars. Some of it is very, very good (the original trilogy, KotOR, etc.), but some of it isn't quite so good... in fact, some of it's really quite ridiculously bad.
Firefly/Serenity, on the other hand, is:
a) relatively new and fresh in our minds
b) excitingly dynamic, humorous, sexy, etc. in a way that Star Wars failed to be in Episodes I-III
c) a fairly small collection of material. All of it quite good (imho).
There's something to be said for having such a high overall level of quality in such a concentrated amount of material.
However, I do agree that a similar poll 20 years from now might not have Firefly in the top 10. Then again, maybe Star Wars will decline over time?
Ya, sorry, I didn't mean to sound snobby. It just frustrates me when people insist on sticking with what is an inferior solution (imho), when much better ones are there for the taking, with basically nothing extra required.
Although I guess the very weakness of hotmail is what could prevent people from changing. No forwarding?? If somebody had a long list of contacts who emailed that account, they might have to stick it out rather than risk losing contacts with a switch over. Or else maintain multiple accounts, which could be even worse.
"In the Privacy Statement of Windows Update Microsoft grants itself fairly far-reaching rights... By way of justifying Microsoft's approach, alexkoc writes that the EULA, likewise presented by the WGA installer, also covered the relaying of such information."
So I guess it might be a bit sneaky, but it has all been covered by WGA disclosures.
An example of the XML returned when a user cancels an installation is available here, "just to allay any fears that Microsoft is using any personal information".
So ya, I don't think this is a huge deal, nor particularly unexpected.
A date of birth wouldn't be 9 digits by any scheme I can think of, especially formatted as 3 groups of 3 digits, and only a very, very few of them wouldn pass a check of this algorithm.
One thing that the RegHardware article neglects to mention (that is, however, covered in the Airtime Manager article it links to) is that "3G" in this cases is UMTS (W-CDMA).
I suppose because the 8707v (Vodafone) is being released in Britain that's implied already. But "3G" isn't a single technology, and in fact the BlackBerry 7130e - which has been commercially available in Canada, the US, and Australia for a while - uses the CDMA2000 standard (with 1xEV-DO technology), which is also considered 3G.
So this isn't the "first 3G Blackberry". It is however, the first UMTS BlackBerry, which would make it the first BlackBerry to support 3G in the UK (and other places).
Also saying "no EDGE so the US will have to carry on waiting" sort of neglects the fact the the 8700c (Cingular) available in the US and the 8700r (Rogers) available in Canada do in fact have EDGE - they just don't have the same "integrated 3G data modem".
Average hours wasted per person, per day, were highest in the insurance industry, at 2.5 hours per day. The public sector (excluding education) was second at 2.4 hours per day, followed by research & development at 2.3 hours a day. The "Software & Internet" industry ranked fifth, at 2.2 hours a day.
Conclusion: The so-called "Software & Internet" industry is full of/.ers, and clearly/. is *not* a "waste" of time, therefore time spent on/. cannot be considered "wasted".
Either that, or we're just better at hiding it. Or our bosses don't care (as much) because they do it too...
Ok, time to go back to work and program something...
Ok, this is somewhat OT, but I think it's the best "layman" description of processor improvement that I've ever read.
This is from Clock Speed: Tell Me When it Hertz by H. Gilbert, Dec. 22, 2004. Available at http://pclt.cis.yale.edu/pclt/PCHW/clockidea.htm/
There are five ways to increase the processing power of a CPU or the teaching power of a High School.
Raise the clock speed - In the analogy, this corresponds to reducing the time available for each class period. If the teacher can talk faster, and if the students behave and listen more closely, this can work up to a point. Each student gets done with the school day earlier.
Build a Pipeline - A more complicated solution shortens the class period, but then breaks each subject into a sequence of steps. If it takes 45 minutes to cover Algebra, and that time cannot be reduced, then the subject could be covered in three consecutive 15 minute periods. A simpler subject might be covered in just one period. After all, there is no reason other than the convenience of scheduling why every every class for every subject lasts the same period of time. Students get done quicker, but only if some of the subjects are light weight.
Parallelism - Add more classrooms and more students. No one student learns anything faster, but at the end of the day the school has taught more people in the same amount of time. Of course, this only works if you have more students in the school district to teach.
Class Size - double the number of students in each classroom. High Schools don't like to do this. Computers, however, can easily switch from 32 to 64 bit operations. This will not effect most programs, but the particular applications that need processing power (games, multimedia) can be distributed in a 64 bit form to get more work done per operation.
Build a Second School - Sometime in '05 or '06 both Intel and AMD will begin to ship "multi-core" processor chips. This creates a system with two separate CPUs. An individual program won't run any faster, and if these chips have a slower clock may even run more slowly. However, two programs will be able to run at once, and programs that require the most performance (games, multimedia) can be written to use both CPUs at once.
It seems to me, though, that what a photographer might really want is a CAMERA with a nice big screen to see the pictures that have just been taken, and with a BUILT-IN hard drive to take lots of high-quality pictures.
At first glance, that does seem like the most logical solution. Eliminate the middle man.
But there are two reasons I can think of why it seems unlikely for this type of solution to be pursued anytime soon:
1) For pros: In a word, BULK.
Adding that extra-big screen and hard drive to the camera is probably going to add a far bit bulk, as in more volume and more mass. With digital SLRs, the size of the really good lenses alone adds so much extra bulk that I can't see many pros wanting ever more bulk. Compactness is a virtue. Plus, these are the people who have, in general, enough money to spend that they can afford to buy extra, external "photo vaults". When these guys take as many pictures as they do, they might even want multiple.
2) For average ppl: In a word, COST.
It's going to add a non-trival extra cost to add a larger screen and built-in hard drive to a camera. Consumers value the bottom line, and I can't see large numbers of people shelling out extra for a camera with these admittedly helpful, but also expensive features. Plus, most average people probably aren't going to think ahead enough to realize that they're going to have to buy a "photo vault" anyways, and so that won't factor into their decision. They'll just stick to having a fistful of compact flash cards.
Checking out these specs, one thing I noticed were the hard drives:
Power Mac G5s
Dual-2GHz: 160GB
Dual-2.3GHz, Dual-2.7GHz: 250GB
iMac G5s
1.8GHz: 160GB
2.0 GHz: 160GB or 250GB
eMacs
Combo Drive: 80GB
SuperDrive: 160GB
If I am not mistaken, these are all with one single hard drive.
Imho, it seems like a generally better practice to have, say, two separate 100GB hard drives than one 200GB one - even if it's more expensive.
Granted, I'm a non-Mac person so I'm not very familiar with the ins-and-outs of MacOS file management. But for Windows/Linux I like having actual separate hard drives, not just partitions. One smallish drive for OSes (or 2+, one for each), one massive drive for multimedia (^_^), and another drive for all the other stuff, like work/school/programming or whathaveyou. Or, depending, maybe just partitions on one drive for all that data (only so many slots).
But anyhow, my main point, isn't there a reliability issue with having only one (relatively) massive harddrive? Wouldn't you be better off having multiple, smaller harddrives? Or would you just backup all your data on separate, external mediums anyways?
Alright, I realize that activity on this thread has long since tapered off, and that it is highly unlikely that anyone will ever pass their eyes over these words.
Still, I can't help but try and save the shattered remnants of my fragile reputation. After all, it's not everyday that I get called-out by a guy with an ID less than 3000. Actually, this is probably the first time...
Anyhow, I think I should clarify what I meant in my first post. I do not use open-source only because "it's free", although that is a major 'pro' for me. I also use software such as Firefox because I honestly think it's better. Being free is just icing on the cake.
In regards to Round Two specifically, I just don't like the sound of them. To me, it seems like they're trying to ride somebody else's (Mozilla's) coattails and make a few bucks on this new wave of Firefox popularity.
Ok, yes, maybe it's just a good business plan, and maybe Round Two actually has something to offer. But I really, really like Firefox the way it is now, with extensions, etc. available without charge. I cannot see Round Two coming up with anything good enough to make me shell out for their "improved" Firefox.
Maybe I'm totally wrong and it will be a "must have companion" to my beloved browser of choice. But I highly, highly doubt it.
Anyhow, direct answers to challenges:
When was the last time you bought a bottle of water?
I have never purchased a single bottle of water in my entire life, except when I have been in countries when drinking the normal water can be a real crap shoot/joke.
Which open source community do you claim to represent? The people that use open source only because it's "free" (as in beer)? Or the ones that believe in access to the code that's important, and happily pay for the development costs because they know that programmers have to eat too?
As a 3rd year Software Engineering student and very-soon-to-be intern working in the industry, I realize that programmers need to eat, as I am one myself, and I do indeed require daily nourishment. However, I also don't like to feel like I'm being ripped off. I will gladly buy a "Take Back the Web!" shirt and display it proudly. But unless this "improved" Firefox is actually something better, then I think it's shameful rip-off. Just adding in some "antivirus software to integrate with Firefox" isn't going to cut it, Decrem.
But I could see Round Two doing that, tossing in an antivirus program and charging $49.99 for it or whatever. That's the kind of ploy I'm wary of.
numerous companies have shown that it can be profitable to sell value added versions of otherwise free products.
Indeed, that is very true. I guess I should wait and see what the "value added" version of Firefox is like before dissing it so harshly. My bad for jumping the gun. But still, I have low expectations for Round Two.
...Upon the realization that shamelessly trying to make a buck by coercing people to pay for something that they can currently get for free is exactly the antithesis of everything the open-source community stands for.
"Some of the fences have rocks stuck into gaps, so that if the fence is bumped they will be dislodged and show possible intrusion. But there are no electric fences, nor electronic sensors and surveillance cameras."
So, let me get this straight...
Right now, they have rocks stuck into gaps that fall out when somebody bumps the fence?
Ya, how about building a better fence before going about constructing autonomous killer mechs. Although they would be a lot cooler...
I guess it's more about "use" than "understanding". The leading edge starts with the geeks (I mean that in a complementary fashion), and gradually moves on to encompass more and more users. Meanwhile, the geeks move on - always several steps ahead of your "average" user.
Hehe, I can't help but take the bait at the C++ low-blow though::throws shoe:: - what programming language would you suggest a "good" university teach instead of C++?
Alright, Graham has some good points. And this discussion is probably going to turn into a classic Mac vs. PC kerfuffle, with each side claiming moral superiority.
But, as enjoyable as those debates are, I just want to make a point about one thing Graham said:
If you want to know what ordinary people will be doing with computers in ten years, just walk around the CS department at a good university. Whatever they're doing, you'll be doing.
I think this is only very slightly true, or maybe it depends on your definition of "ordinary". To me, "ordinary" implies "total newbie." Not to mean that in a negative way, it's just how it is.
Most people in this world don't care quite as much about computers and tech as much as we do (gasp! - sacrilege!). Sad but true.
So honestly, I can't see the vast majority of "ordinary people" wanting to learn any of the things that people like/.ers would enjoy, like programming for instance.
Your average Joe is *not* going to be a stylin' C++ wizard in 10 years. He's going to be using fancier machines than we're using now, of course, but he's going to want to have stuff that works without knowing HOW or WHY it works. That's how it's always been, and I can't see that changing.
What could be more irresistible than a device combining the digital-music prowess of Apple Computer (AAPL) with the wireless expertise of Motorola (MOT)?
Cell phones and mp3 players aren't exactly a match made in heaven. One is used to talk to people, the other is used to AVOID talking to people.:)
So ya, imho, stick to your iPod (or, if you're *really* cool, iRiver) for music, and whatever you prefer for a cell phone.
Yes, this looks fantastic - I have some really high hopes for it. Christian Bale has been the epitome of cool since Equilibrium, and there's nobody I'd rather see play the Dark Knight.
The future is indeed brighter than I originally thought. (Although I'm still holding out on Logan's Run, haha. Looks like that might take a few more years though.)
So, now the Babylon 5 movie is dead, and with Enterprise's demise the chance of another Star Trek movie anytime soon is slim.
What's a sci-fi movie geek to do??
Ok, we got Episode III coming out, but I don't think I'm alone in saying that my expectations for Star Wars have been decidedly jaded in recent years.
I guess it'll have to be all about stuff like War of the Worlds, which I personally have very high hopes for after seeing some preview stuff, and moreover, Hitchhiker's Guide, which will either be the greatest sci-fi comedy since Space Balls (if not, dare I say, better?) or else it will be despised and insulted to levels of previously untold fury. I mean, it's the same problem faced by Peter Jackson for LotR. You have such a truly great literary work, and you have to turn it into film, carefully balancing the unwashed masses who've never read the book on one side, and the die-hard purists who've memorized it line-by-line on the other.
Ya, I'm actually in my 3rd year of Software Engineering at the UofC, which is under Electrical & Computer Engineering.
Right now, I'm in a semester-long group project with 8 other guys to make a hotel management system using PHP and mySQL. In 4th year we have a full-year team project in small groups, under direction of a prof who gets to choose the project topic.
I totally agree that it's really important to have some team stuff under our belts before we get out there in the "real world". Because (like it or not), you can't just go off and do something all by yourself in most companies. Unless of course you are the company, but how many of us can simply start our own business straight out of university (and expect to survive)?
"The purpose of this event is to promote renewable energy technologies, integrate science and engineering disciplines, and give competitors an opportunity to showcase their technical and creative abilities."
What? I thought the purpose of this event was for the various Engg departments at all the competing schools to have a general good time, fostered by healthy rivalry and no doubt a few unspeakable antics along the way! That is why we have these competitions isn't it? I mean, who really cares about solar power? Especially in Calgary, the Fossil Fuel Capital of Canada.
Hold on, before you mod this post (+5: flamebait) let me continue.
I'm in the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Calgary, and although I'm not actually on the Solar Car Team (yet... they're recruiting like mad), they did steal our study room to use for their club room. So it's almost like I'm a part of it... sort of. In fact, there's a whole bunch of leftover crap from their wooden prototype crowding the hallways here right now.
But ya, all joking aside, I think it's a really cool challenge and we here at the UofC look forward to competing alongside other great academic institutions. (And having a good time besides! I tell you, if UofC wins this thing, there's gonna be a party in Calgary the likes of which we haven't seen since our precious Flames almost won the Stanley Cup....)
Ok, now feel free to mod this (+5: flamebait) for shamelessly bringing up the NHL.. or lack thereof (sigh)
Slashdot Mirror
I really enjoy both the Firefly and Star Wars universes. That being said, there's a LOT more material to be found for the latter, orders of magnitude more.
In a way, I think this poll shows some disappointment with some of that vast collection of material for Star Wars. Some of it is very, very good (the original trilogy, KotOR, etc.), but some of it isn't quite so good... in fact, some of it's really quite ridiculously bad.
Firefly/Serenity, on the other hand, is:
a) relatively new and fresh in our minds
b) excitingly dynamic, humorous, sexy, etc. in a way that Star Wars failed to be in Episodes I-III
c) a fairly small collection of material. All of it quite good (imho).
There's something to be said for having such a high overall level of quality in such a concentrated amount of material.
However, I do agree that a similar poll 20 years from now might not have Firefly in the top 10. Then again, maybe Star Wars will decline over time?
Ya, sorry, I didn't mean to sound snobby. It just frustrates me when people insist on sticking with what is an inferior solution (imho), when much better ones are there for the taking, with basically nothing extra required.
Although I guess the very weakness of hotmail is what could prevent people from changing. No forwarding?? If somebody had a long list of contacts who emailed that account, they might have to stick it out rather than risk losing contacts with a switch over. Or else maintain multiple accounts, which could be even worse.
And yes, haha, may Outlook burn and burn.
Can I really take the guy seriously when he's using a hotmail account?
So I guess it might be a bit sneaky, but it has all been covered by WGA disclosures.
An example of the XML returned when a user cancels an installation is available here, "just to allay any fears that Microsoft is using any personal information".
So ya, I don't think this is a huge deal, nor particularly unexpected.
I totally agree. If any kind of robust data validation was going on, this should have failed on insert.
Social insurance numbers are always 9 digits, and can be validated by the Luhn Algorithm.
A date of birth wouldn't be 9 digits by any scheme I can think of, especially formatted as 3 groups of 3 digits, and only a very, very few of them wouldn pass a check of this algorithm.
An example of this is in these lyrics to Encore by Jay-Z:
"I'm in, Boeing jets, Global Express
Out the country but the blueberry still connect"
I suppose because the 8707v (Vodafone) is being released in Britain that's implied already. But "3G" isn't a single technology, and in fact the BlackBerry 7130e - which has been commercially available in Canada, the US, and Australia for a while - uses the CDMA2000 standard (with 1xEV-DO technology), which is also considered 3G.
So this isn't the "first 3G Blackberry". It is however, the first UMTS BlackBerry, which would make it the first BlackBerry to support 3G in the UK (and other places).
Also saying "no EDGE so the US will have to carry on waiting" sort of neglects the fact the the 8700c (Cingular) available in the US and the 8700r (Rogers) available in Canada do in fact have EDGE - they just don't have the same "integrated 3G data modem".
http://pclt.cis.yale.edu/pclt/PCHW/clockidea.htm
Ya, "check those URLs!", I know, I know.
Wow, I didn't realize that the moon was going to be so dangerous, what with water ice lurking in the inky blackness and all.
Kinda reminds me of playing Xcom2: Terror from the Deep...
Power Mac G5s
Dual-2GHz: 160GB
Dual-2.3GHz, Dual-2.7GHz: 250GB
iMac G5s
1.8GHz: 160GB
2.0 GHz: 160GB or 250GB
eMacs
Combo Drive: 80GB
SuperDrive: 160GB
If I am not mistaken, these are all with one single hard drive.
Imho, it seems like a generally better practice to have, say, two separate 100GB hard drives than one 200GB one - even if it's more expensive.
Granted, I'm a non-Mac person so I'm not very familiar with the ins-and-outs of MacOS file management. But for Windows/Linux I like having actual separate hard drives, not just partitions. One smallish drive for OSes (or 2+, one for each), one massive drive for multimedia (^_^), and another drive for all the other stuff, like work/school/programming or whathaveyou. Or, depending, maybe just partitions on one drive for all that data (only so many slots).
But anyhow, my main point, isn't there a reliability issue with having only one (relatively) massive harddrive? Wouldn't you be better off having multiple, smaller harddrives? Or would you just backup all your data on separate, external mediums anyways?
I'm interested to know what Mac users think.
Still, I can't help but try and save the shattered remnants of my fragile reputation. After all, it's not everyday that I get called-out by a guy with an ID less than 3000. Actually, this is probably the first time...
Anyhow, I think I should clarify what I meant in my first post. I do not use open-source only because "it's free", although that is a major 'pro' for me. I also use software such as Firefox because I honestly think it's better. Being free is just icing on the cake.
In regards to Round Two specifically, I just don't like the sound of them. To me, it seems like they're trying to ride somebody else's (Mozilla's) coattails and make a few bucks on this new wave of Firefox popularity.
Ok, yes, maybe it's just a good business plan, and maybe Round Two actually has something to offer. But I really, really like Firefox the way it is now, with extensions, etc. available without charge. I cannot see Round Two coming up with anything good enough to make me shell out for their "improved" Firefox.
Maybe I'm totally wrong and it will be a "must have companion" to my beloved browser of choice. But I highly, highly doubt it.
Anyhow, direct answers to challenges:
I have never purchased a single bottle of water in my entire life, except when I have been in countries when drinking the normal water can be a real crap shootBut I could see Round Two doing that, tossing in an antivirus program and charging $49.99 for it or whatever. That's the kind of ploy I'm wary of.
Indeed, that is very true. I guess I should wait and see what the "value added" version of Firefox is like before dissing it so harshly. My bad for jumping the gun. But still, I have low expectations for Round Two.And nobody will ever read this...
I think it's Round Over for Round Two.
The remote control that makes you watch what it wants to watch!
What, don't you "Enjoy uncertainty"?I guess it's more about "use" than "understanding". The leading edge starts with the geeks (I mean that in a complementary fashion), and gradually moves on to encompass more and more users. Meanwhile, the geeks move on - always several steps ahead of your "average" user.
Hehe, I can't help but take the bait at the C++ low-blow though ::throws shoe:: - what programming language would you suggest a "good" university teach instead of C++?
Don't tell me it's Java... ::ducks::
But, as enjoyable as those debates are, I just want to make a point about one thing Graham said:
I think this is only very slightly true, or maybe it depends on your definition of "ordinary". To me, "ordinary" implies "total newbie." Not to mean that in a negative way, it's just how it is.Most people in this world don't care quite as much about computers and tech as much as we do (gasp! - sacrilege!). Sad but true.
So honestly, I can't see the vast majority of "ordinary people" wanting to learn any of the things that people like /.ers would enjoy, like programming for instance.
Your average Joe is *not* going to be a stylin' C++ wizard in 10 years. He's going to be using fancier machines than we're using now, of course, but he's going to want to have stuff that works without knowing HOW or WHY it works. That's how it's always been, and I can't see that changing.
Cell phones and mp3 players aren't exactly a match made in heaven. One is used to talk to people, the other is used to AVOID talking to people. :)
So ya, imho, stick to your iPod (or, if you're *really* cool, iRiver) for music, and whatever you prefer for a cell phone.
Yes, this looks fantastic - I have some really high hopes for it. Christian Bale has been the epitome of cool since Equilibrium, and there's nobody I'd rather see play the Dark Knight.
The future is indeed brighter than I originally thought. (Although I'm still holding out on Logan's Run, haha. Looks like that might take a few more years though.)
What's a sci-fi movie geek to do??
Ok, we got Episode III coming out, but I don't think I'm alone in saying that my expectations for Star Wars have been decidedly jaded in recent years.
I guess it'll have to be all about stuff like War of the Worlds, which I personally have very high hopes for after seeing some preview stuff, and moreover, Hitchhiker's Guide, which will either be the greatest sci-fi comedy since Space Balls (if not, dare I say, better?) or else it will be despised and insulted to levels of previously untold fury. I mean, it's the same problem faced by Peter Jackson for LotR. You have such a truly great literary work, and you have to turn it into film, carefully balancing the unwashed masses who've never read the book on one side, and the die-hard purists who've memorized it line-by-line on the other.
Right now, I'm in a semester-long group project with 8 other guys to make a hotel management system using PHP and mySQL. In 4th year we have a full-year team project in small groups, under direction of a prof who gets to choose the project topic.
I totally agree that it's really important to have some team stuff under our belts before we get out there in the "real world". Because (like it or not), you can't just go off and do something all by yourself in most companies. Unless of course you are the company, but how many of us can simply start our own business straight out of university (and expect to survive)?
What? I thought the purpose of this event was for the various Engg departments at all the competing schools to have a general good time, fostered by healthy rivalry and no doubt a few unspeakable antics along the way! That is why we have these competitions isn't it? I mean, who really cares about solar power? Especially in Calgary, the Fossil Fuel Capital of Canada.
Hold on, before you mod this post (+5: flamebait) let me continue.
I'm in the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Calgary, and although I'm not actually on the Solar Car Team (yet... they're recruiting like mad), they did steal our study room to use for their club room. So it's almost like I'm a part of it... sort of. In fact, there's a whole bunch of leftover crap from their wooden prototype crowding the hallways here right now.
But ya, all joking aside, I think it's a really cool challenge and we here at the UofC look forward to competing alongside other great academic institutions. (And having a good time besides! I tell you, if UofC wins this thing, there's gonna be a party in Calgary the likes of which we haven't seen since our precious Flames almost won the Stanley Cup....)
Ok, now feel free to mod this (+5: flamebait) for shamelessly bringing up the NHL.. or lack thereof (sigh)