Well, there are those of us who really see no reason to pay a monthly fee for TV when we could spend that money on Broadband internet, Netfilx, or just pocket the money.
Either of the above allow me to see the show or movie in equivelent to better quality (no HDTV here) without commercials, and when I want to, rather than when the station feels like showing it. I can pause it. etc...
I really think this is why VoD is held back so much - no one would watch network TV anymore.
Actually, with broadband (and no fear of some P2P) or some patience and Netflix, you don't need network TV now - or cable.
PS: What images? I just type in my reply and hit submit.
Not sure really. In Opera, F12 brings up a menu where you can uncheck javascript, animations, plugins etc...
Heck, you can also hit the User CSS to just black text on white background. I'll bet that makes it hard to exploit you, but damn, the web is boring then.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Crucial (Micron) make their own chips? And test every one before shipping?
Anyway, I'll only use Crucial after all the good experinaces I've had with them vs the issues people have had with generic RAM.
This idea that PC quality is less than Apple quality is stupid anyway. You can get PC's made as well as any Mac, you just won't save much money on the hardware.
IME (and of course YMMV) if you want quality PC parts, you have to pay attention to what's in the case. And, no, that $400 Dell Dimension isn't very well built.
It's easier with a small shop or building your own, but I'd also guess that MicronPC and Alienware use quality stuff.
If building your own PC, I find that
AMD Processor nVidia chipset ASUS motherboard Crucial Ram Any HardDrive nVidia GFX Card Toshiba or NEC DVDRom/burner
Will last you 3 years. If you get a midline harddrive with a 5 year warrenty like the MaxLine from maxtor, you'll get 5 years. Easily. Most people are going to want to upgrade after 5 years, but I have had similar stuff last 6 years so far and counting.
Now, on those parts you'll likely pay 30% more than the lowest price on pricewatch.com, but it'll last, and you'll have less to no problems with the hardware. Of course, once you're paying a 30% premium, guess what - you're paying near the Mac price for hardware. I guess you still get what you pay for.
I know most people wouldn't ever care about running their own E-mail or FTP server. However, what about all the people who want to play their game online - and it has issues with NAT?
What about the people who want VoIP to go with that game?
I think that's the big issue that's going to keep things open for the rest of us, and eventually move to IPv6.
This also comes up in comparisons with Opera. While it may be logical to compare Suites with Suites, it also is not unreasonable to show where a suite may outshine individual products and vice versa.
Personally I've always liked the Suites, but that's just me.
Shows up with Opera 8 also. Now, of course this is a matter of opinion, but maybe I think Opera is a better Internet experience than firefox.
Regardless, WTF is up with the "The browser you are using may encounter difficulties rendering this web page"?? Really, 1997 called and wants their FUD back. I can't believe he's not writing standards compliant code by now, that works cross browser. If not, how is he any better than the IE only sites out there?
Shame on him, and shame on any community that supports these sorts of actions!
Except they really are two different things. Guns, mostly, are pretty much designed to kill things. Sure, they make it easier, but there isn't really any generic use for it other than putting holes in something. And, it's not like a gun is going to be a better version of a drill.
On the other hand, bittorrent is a generic technology for transmitting data, by distributing the load. No where was it designed for piracy, in fact, it lacks many of the desirable traits for a pirate network - namely anonymity, web of trust, or encryption on transport.
A better example might be Nail Guns, you can use them to nail things easier than a hammer, but you also could use one to kill people. However, even in this case, the Nail Gun isn't as generic as bittorrent. Maybe some uber swiss army knife or something - say that new microfactory? Something that can be used to kill people(I'd guess, might take some imagination), but is really designed to make generic items.
A printer might be a better example. Sure, it can be used to copy books illegially, but it's designed to put stuff on paper. It's the level of generic uses that I think is important.
And what's weird is the college I went to would put that under project management coursework - specifically CIS area. What's been shown is that degree programs are not at all standardized in the colleges.
And, it's not just computer fields. My sister is going into architecture, and has looked at numerous programs. One, RPI is very math/physics heavy, while another one, Pratt is very design and art heavy with no math at all.
So, I think either the accrediting institutions need to enforce some standardization in degree programs across the board, or people need to start looking more at coursework than degree titles.
Can anyone explain to me why you'd want to do this? As far as I can tell from screenshots I've seen, all that does is make the menu bar *larger*. SO you're not saving any space, or at best - what 5 pixels?
Personally, if you're that strapped for space, I'd think it makes more sense to go to full screen anyway, and just have the page and your mouse guestures + keyboard shortcuts.
I'm just not a minimalist I guess.
This does speak to one of Opera software's issues though. They have a tendency to *proscribe* how people use the software.
They won't make the toolbars reorderable because *it's wrong to have the tab bar below the address bar*. I agree, and I understand the UI design and the reasons. However, I also think it's more important to let people make a godawful mess of their UI if they want to. Otherwise, why allow skinning at all?
They won't allow what you want because the menu bar is just that, a UI widget specifically for menus, and - on windows at least - used only for that on everything else but some browsers. Consistency and UI widget design mandate their setup. However, I also think it's more important to let people make a godawful mess of their UI if they want to.
Same with the bookmark menu and the text only e-mail composer.
I really wish they'd get off their high horse though. Just because some people are *ahem* UI challenged doesn't mean the default or my UI has to be. Let them F**K their setup up if they want to - that's why you make a customizable browser.
Well, I find that installing a firewall like sygate BEFORE getting on the net is key. Once that's done, I can download whatever I want, as long as I'm not using IE. I personally use Opera + proxomitron, and NEVER get spyware.
I'm personally starting to get bored running spysweeper + spybot + adaware SE and never finding anything (or rarely, *gasp* a cookie!)
I guess I have to ask, what's real hard about proxomitron? I mean, it depends I suppose on how you want to use it, but here's how I use it.
1. Download proxomitron installer from wherever(actually I save it on my PC).
2. Download grypen's latest installer from his site. This is updated frequently.
3. Install proxomitron.
4. Install grypen's set.
5. Point at proxomitron.
6. Occasionally get the latest update from grypen and install it.
Now, really what's so difficult in that?
As I understand it (I haven't tried, but this is what I hear) AdBlock is substantially similar:
1. Download AdBlock extension.
2. Install extension.
3. Download some blocking set or manually right click on lots of ads and set to block them.
4. Ocasionally download updates for set, or right click on new ads to remove them.
Now, as I see it, I have one more thing to install as it's a separate program, and I have to set a proxy server. I gain:
1. Don't need to think about ads, 95%, including many text ads, are blocked. New ones are often blocked in updates, so I don't have to mess with them.
2. Consistent adblocking across browsers (when I start up IE for compatibility on some site, I'm not suddenly deluged by ads and pop-ups).
3. Adblocking for my entire network, with consistent control at one point.
4. Proxy for my entire network.
5. Easy migration of adblocking by zipping the proxomitron folder and planting on a new PC.
Bonus:
Integrated cookie management, un tracking links, web bug removal, vulnerability removal, click to play flash and java, extra features on google like optional thumbnails of search results...
Now, I may misunderstand simplistic - but I personally will take a fire and forget method (like and AV program) over an ask me each time(like a software firewall) if it's possibly to achieve the same thing with it.
Once proxomitron is installed, I can forget I even have it. It's not in my face, it just works.
Now as I haven't used it as I'm perfectly happy with Opera, AdBlock sounds like something I have to manually configure. I have to right click on bunches of ads etc... Unless I download a preconfigured blocklist, in which case it has MANY downsides to proxomitron, yet requires the same basic setup. SO, I really don't get AdBlock much.
All that said, there is an AdBlock clone for Opera 8 available through the user forums.
Ummm, there is some belief that Opera's mail and chat client are new. Not so - they've been there in various forms since 5.12 when I started using Opera in 2001.
Not that I use either. And in v8, you'll never even see a hint of them unless you decide to use them - that is: set up a mail account, start an IRC session, subscribe to a RSS feed etc.
The code is never loaded into memory unless you use it, so no hit there. And for bloat - it's still smaller than any browser I know of except for Dillo (which doesn't support half of what Opera, FF or IE does), and it includes the flash plugin with the setup(which is 1MB itself).
Memory usage seems similar to FF for me, ~60MB on average, with memory cache set to automatic. I can trim that down by limiting the cache, but wth, I got 1GB RAM. Whenever I minimize Opera, it releases 90% of the ram it's using, so I can get on with other programs without needing to close out my session.
Actually, with version 8 there is a user developed AdBlock clone. I personally use proxomitron as I am on windows, and it just takes care of everything. Grypen's set: removes 95% of ads, including text ones,
click to play flash and java,
removes web exploits,
cleans tracking links while poping up an overlay for the original link if the clean link breaks the site, etc...
Well, I agree IE is significant. However, so far, I have never been forced to use IE for anything I need on the web. I may have had to go to other sites, but on the web, finding a functionally equivelent site is just a google away.
The main point is that if you are a business that want's to be IE only on the internet, you better be ok with throwing away some percentage of your possible market. I don't know how big that percentage is, I think it's around 10% now. It's easier for me to browse to a competitor that works with my browser of choice than to open another browser to access the site.
I personally think as the browser market continues to fragment with FireFox, Safari and Opera as well as IE, capitalism will sort it out. Some companies will just lose business, and new companies will spring up to serve that market.
I don't have any issue with all of your points save the last - what about the pricing "scheme" don't you like? Moreso, how is it a "scheme"?
It's rather straight forward as far as I can tell. Look at ads - Free. Purchase for your house(all computers in the house, on any platform) - $39. Upgrade from previous major release - $15. Student discount - 50%.
Is that really confusing or something? I certainly don't see any hidden gotcha's there.
Personally, on windows, I think Proxomitron takes care of a lot of the "missing" functionality of any browser (well Opera or IE, and FF if you don't want to mess with extensions).
For instance, using it and grypen's set, I get click to play flash and java, with no reload of the page necessary.
Actually, single key shortcuts were removed from v8 becauyse they were confusing new users. They would not realise they hadn't selected an edit box, or just tap the keyboard, and suddenly their whole page would change:
Images would be turned off, or the page would resize, and they'd think they broke Opera. I've personally seen this happen, so I agree with the changes.
However, I still like single key shortcuts, and have kept my keyboard setup.
Actually, recently I was having XP SP2 blusecreen, and it didn't show anything, just went right to the loading screen. I was convinced I had a hardware problem till someone told me to turn off the auto reboot.
Sure enough - no more sudden "power loss"/restarts, but a heck of a lot more bluescreens.
It's since stopped doing that - and I really have no idea why. I'm just happy it seems stable again.
I do. I use allegrosurf. If it's reporting is correct, I average 15% cache hits, and this is with Opera 8, often considered to already be an agressive cacher. I think the thing with Allegrosurf is that I can both have a larger cache than I would want with Opera, and it handling it a little better. Or, it may mean nothing, but I find it makes a noticable difference for me.
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Well, there are those of us who really see no reason to pay a monthly fee for TV when we could spend that money on Broadband internet, Netfilx, or just pocket the money.
Either of the above allow me to see the show or movie in equivelent to better quality (no HDTV here) without commercials, and when I want to, rather than when the station feels like showing it. I can pause it. etc...
I really think this is why VoD is held back so much - no one would watch network TV anymore.
Actually, with broadband (and no fear of some P2P) or some patience and Netflix, you don't need network TV now - or cable.
PS: What images? I just type in my reply and hit submit.
And for those of us who don't live near that store, there's Netflix. 3 DVD's, unlimited rentals, no due dates, $17.99 a month. 35,000 titles.
Damn, now I sound like an ad.
Not sure really. In Opera, F12 brings up a menu where you can uncheck javascript, animations, plugins etc...
Heck, you can also hit the User CSS to just black text on white background. I'll bet that makes it hard to exploit you, but damn, the web is boring then.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Crucial (Micron) make their own chips? And test every one before shipping?
Anyway, I'll only use Crucial after all the good experinaces I've had with them vs the issues people have had with generic RAM.
This idea that PC quality is less than Apple quality is stupid anyway. You can get PC's made as well as any Mac, you just won't save much money on the hardware.
IME (and of course YMMV) if you want quality PC parts, you have to pay attention to what's in the case. And, no, that $400 Dell Dimension isn't very well built.
It's easier with a small shop or building your own, but I'd also guess that MicronPC and Alienware use quality stuff.
If building your own PC, I find that
AMD Processor
nVidia chipset
ASUS motherboard
Crucial Ram
Any HardDrive
nVidia GFX Card
Toshiba or NEC DVDRom/burner
Will last you 3 years. If you get a midline harddrive with a 5 year warrenty like the MaxLine from maxtor, you'll get 5 years. Easily. Most people are going to want to upgrade after 5 years, but I have had similar stuff last 6 years so far and counting.
Now, on those parts you'll likely pay 30% more than the lowest price on pricewatch.com, but it'll last, and you'll have less to no problems with the hardware. Of course, once you're paying a 30% premium, guess what - you're paying near the Mac price for hardware. I guess you still get what you pay for.
I know most people wouldn't ever care about running their own E-mail or FTP server. However, what about all the people who want to play their game online - and it has issues with NAT?
What about the people who want VoIP to go with that game?
I think that's the big issue that's going to keep things open for the rest of us, and eventually move to IPv6.
This also comes up in comparisons with Opera. While it may be logical to compare Suites with Suites, it also is not unreasonable to show where a suite may outshine individual products and vice versa.
Personally I've always liked the Suites, but that's just me.
Shows up with Opera 8 also. Now, of course this is a matter of opinion, but maybe I think Opera is a better Internet experience than firefox.
Regardless, WTF is up with the "The browser you are using may encounter difficulties rendering this web page"?? Really, 1997 called and wants their FUD back. I can't believe he's not writing standards compliant code by now, that works cross browser. If not, how is he any better than the IE only sites out there?
Shame on him, and shame on any community that supports these sorts of actions!
mmm, how does I2P compare for running data intensive services vs TOR? I was always under the impression that TOR was basically browsing only...
Except they really are two different things. Guns, mostly, are pretty much designed to kill things. Sure, they make it easier, but there isn't really any generic use for it other than putting holes in something. And, it's not like a gun is going to be a better version of a drill.
On the other hand, bittorrent is a generic technology for transmitting data, by distributing the load. No where was it designed for piracy, in fact, it lacks many of the desirable traits for a pirate network - namely anonymity, web of trust, or encryption on transport.
A better example might be Nail Guns, you can use them to nail things easier than a hammer, but you also could use one to kill people. However, even in this case, the Nail Gun isn't as generic as bittorrent. Maybe some uber swiss army knife or something - say that new microfactory? Something that can be used to kill people(I'd guess, might take some imagination), but is really designed to make generic items.
A printer might be a better example. Sure, it can be used to copy books illegially, but it's designed to put stuff on paper. It's the level of generic uses that I think is important.
And what's weird is the college I went to would put that under project management coursework - specifically CIS area. What's been shown is that degree programs are not at all standardized in the colleges.
And, it's not just computer fields. My sister is going into architecture, and has looked at numerous programs. One, RPI is very math/physics heavy, while another one, Pratt is very design and art heavy with no math at all.
So, I think either the accrediting institutions need to enforce some standardization in degree programs across the board, or people need to start looking more at coursework than degree titles.
My understanding is that Opera 8's userjs is more powerful than greasemonkey, though that may just be Opera forum bias. Check it out though.
Can anyone explain to me why you'd want to do this? As far as I can tell from screenshots I've seen, all that does is make the menu bar *larger*. SO you're not saving any space, or at best - what 5 pixels?
Personally, if you're that strapped for space, I'd think it makes more sense to go to full screen anyway, and just have the page and your mouse guestures + keyboard shortcuts.
I'm just not a minimalist I guess.
This does speak to one of Opera software's issues though. They have a tendency to *proscribe* how people use the software.
They won't make the toolbars reorderable because *it's wrong to have the tab bar below the address bar*. I agree, and I understand the UI design and the reasons. However, I also think it's more important to let people make a godawful mess of their UI if they want to. Otherwise, why allow skinning at all?
They won't allow what you want because the menu bar is just that, a UI widget specifically for menus, and - on windows at least - used only for that on everything else but some browsers. Consistency and UI widget design mandate their setup. However, I also think it's more important to let people make a godawful mess of their UI if they want to.
Same with the bookmark menu and the text only e-mail composer.
I really wish they'd get off their high horse though. Just because some people are *ahem* UI challenged doesn't mean the default or my UI has to be. Let them F**K their setup up if they want to - that's why you make a customizable browser.
Well, I find that installing a firewall like sygate BEFORE getting on the net is key. Once that's done, I can download whatever I want, as long as I'm not using IE. I personally use Opera + proxomitron, and NEVER get spyware.
I'm personally starting to get bored running spysweeper + spybot + adaware SE and never finding anything (or rarely, *gasp* a cookie!)
I guess I have to ask, what's real hard about proxomitron? I mean, it depends I suppose on how you want to use it, but here's how I use it.
1. Download proxomitron installer from wherever(actually I save it on my PC).
2. Download grypen's latest installer from his site. This is updated frequently.
3. Install proxomitron.
4. Install grypen's set.
5. Point at proxomitron.
6. Occasionally get the latest update from grypen and install it.
Now, really what's so difficult in that?
As I understand it (I haven't tried, but this is what I hear) AdBlock is substantially similar:
1. Download AdBlock extension.
2. Install extension.
3. Download some blocking set or manually right click on lots of ads and set to block them.
4. Ocasionally download updates for set, or right click on new ads to remove them.
Now, as I see it, I have one more thing to install as it's a separate program, and I have to set a proxy server. I gain:
1. Don't need to think about ads, 95%, including many text ads, are blocked. New ones are often blocked in updates, so I don't have to mess with them.
2. Consistent adblocking across browsers (when I start up IE for compatibility on some site, I'm not suddenly deluged by ads and pop-ups).
3. Adblocking for my entire network, with consistent control at one point.
4. Proxy for my entire network.
5. Easy migration of adblocking by zipping the proxomitron folder and planting on a new PC.
Bonus:
Integrated cookie management, un tracking links, web bug removal, vulnerability removal, click to play flash and java, extra features on google like optional thumbnails of search results...
Now, I may misunderstand simplistic - but I personally will take a fire and forget method (like and AV program) over an ask me each time(like a software firewall) if it's possibly to achieve the same thing with it.
Once proxomitron is installed, I can forget I even have it. It's not in my face, it just works.
Now as I haven't used it as I'm perfectly happy with Opera, AdBlock sounds like something I have to manually configure. I have to right click on bunches of ads etc... Unless I download a preconfigured blocklist, in which case it has MANY downsides to proxomitron, yet requires the same basic setup. SO, I really don't get AdBlock much.
All that said, there is an AdBlock clone for Opera 8 available through the user forums.
Ummm, there is some belief that Opera's mail and chat client are new. Not so - they've been there in various forms since 5.12 when I started using Opera in 2001.
Not that I use either. And in v8, you'll never even see a hint of them unless you decide to use them - that is: set up a mail account, start an IRC session, subscribe to a RSS feed etc.
The code is never loaded into memory unless you use it, so no hit there. And for bloat - it's still smaller than any browser I know of except for Dillo (which doesn't support half of what Opera, FF or IE does), and it includes the flash plugin with the setup(which is 1MB itself).
Memory usage seems similar to FF for me, ~60MB on average, with memory cache set to automatic. I can trim that down by limiting the cache, but wth, I got 1GB RAM. Whenever I minimize Opera, it releases 90% of the ram it's using, so I can get on with other programs without needing to close out my session.
So, I really ask what is bloated here.
Actually, with version 8 there is a user developed AdBlock clone. I personally use proxomitron as I am on windows, and it just takes care of everything.
Grypen's set:
removes 95% of ads, including text ones,
click to play flash and java,
removes web exploits,
cleans tracking links while poping up an overlay for the original link if the clean link breaks the site, etc...
Well, I agree IE is significant. However, so far, I have never been forced to use IE for anything I need on the web. I may have had to go to other sites, but on the web, finding a functionally equivelent site is just a google away.
The main point is that if you are a business that want's to be IE only on the internet, you better be ok with throwing away some percentage of your possible market. I don't know how big that percentage is, I think it's around 10% now. It's easier for me to browse to a competitor that works with my browser of choice than to open another browser to access the site.
I personally think as the browser market continues to fragment with FireFox, Safari and Opera as well as IE, capitalism will sort it out. Some companies will just lose business, and new companies will spring up to serve that market.
I don't have any issue with all of your points save the last - what about the pricing "scheme" don't you like? Moreso, how is it a "scheme"?
It's rather straight forward as far as I can tell. Look at ads - Free.
Purchase for your house(all computers in the house, on any platform) - $39.
Upgrade from previous major release - $15.
Student discount - 50%.
Is that really confusing or something? I certainly don't see any hidden gotcha's there.
Personally, on windows, I think Proxomitron takes care of a lot of the "missing" functionality of any browser (well Opera or IE, and FF if you don't want to mess with extensions).
For instance, using it and grypen's set, I get click to play flash and java, with no reload of the page necessary.
Actually, single key shortcuts were removed from v8 becauyse they were confusing new users. They would not realise they hadn't selected an edit box, or just tap the keyboard, and suddenly their whole page would change:
Images would be turned off, or the page would resize, and they'd think they broke Opera. I've personally seen this happen, so I agree with the changes.
However, I still like single key shortcuts, and have kept my keyboard setup.
There are a bunch of ways to block ads in Opera, one is a beta port of adblock to Opera 8 being developed by opera forum members.
My preferred method on windows is proxomitron with grypen's set - amazing, one install, and forget. Update occasionally, and you're done.
These are just 2 out of I think 7 methods figured out on the Opera forums (some do require other software like proxomitron).
Mmmm, I'd be interested in that tutorial if you do happen to stumble upon it. What about repair installs?
Actually, recently I was having XP SP2 blusecreen, and it didn't show anything, just went right to the loading screen. I was convinced I had a hardware problem till someone told me to turn off the auto reboot.
Sure enough - no more sudden "power loss"/restarts, but a heck of a lot more bluescreens.
It's since stopped doing that - and I really have no idea why. I'm just happy it seems stable again.
I do. I use allegrosurf. If it's reporting is correct, I average 15% cache hits, and this is with Opera 8, often considered to already be an agressive cacher. I think the thing with Allegrosurf is that I can both have a larger cache than I would want with Opera, and it handling it a little better. Or, it may mean nothing, but I find it makes a noticable difference for me.
Yeah, I remember the difference between a Logically Valid result and a True result.
The example given in my beginning class was this:
==
We are looking at an object.
Premise 1: All houses are green.
Premise 2: This object is a house.
Therefore, this object is green.
==
That result is valid, but because premise 1 is not a "true" premise, the result is not necessarily true.