I can't believe noone has posted about this yet. Click here (or check/usr/src/linux/Documentation/CodingStyle) for Linus' witty and insightful views on this topic. Chapter 5 in particular.
The alliance proposed in the article, to me, seems similar to the AIM Alliance of the early 90s. Several companies united in a common goal. I've heard the AIM Alliance failed because competitors united in a common goal remain competitors, and as such tend not to fully disclose "trade secrets," even to further the common goal. If this proposed alliance takes off, I fear it will suffer the same fate as the AIM Alliance.
From the article, "This most certainly voids your warranty..."
As far as I can tell, this can't damage the iPod's hardware, can it? I hope that companies grow more "hacker friendly" in the future--offer stronger warranties, and allow (even encourage) tinkering.
Also, I'd be more interested in hacks like this if I weren't so happy with Apple's nice default UI. Don't get me wrong--it's a wonderful technical achievement that these guys have hacked the iPod's firmware. I just think that most iPod owners are happy with the default graphics.
I came across a nice way to use IM as a primary means of communication. I run naim with GNU Screen on a server on which I have a shell account. This way, naim functions as an "answering machine" when I'm not online, and a normal IM client when I am. Enjoy.
A 13 second Google search would have verified that this calculator supports "RPN, algebraic, and textbook entry system logic." Scroll down to the "Product Details."
The parent has a point. While there are some Open Source / Free Software developers who are interested in philosophy/politics/economics (most notably, RMS), there are yet others who act out of different (dare I say selfish) motives (most notably, Linus).
Linus has expressed, basically, that he didn't open Linux out of some notion that "information should be free." Rather, he viewed his choice as having a product, or not. Not to criticize, but Linux wasn't always the powerhouse that it is today. In the beginning, it was a crappy kernel, which needed a ton of work. Linus couldn't afford to pay developers to help him realize his goal of writing a functional kernel. His only option was to open his code, and hope people would contribute.
Often, in these discussions, I think people forget this point. Open Source / Free Software doesn't always have to be about philosophy/politics/economics.
I think the fact that there is a HOWTO for this speaks volumes about why there are not more women involved in IT.
I'm not sure what "volumes" it speaks, and I'm also not sure if you've read the HOWTO, but I feel the need to comment.
The HOWTO is more about the mentality (specifically the attitude towards women) of many people who are involved in technology, rather than about the female mind or technology itself. The HOWTO suggests that such attitudes tend to keep women out of technology, not the nature of the female mind or technology itself.
Sorry if I seem a bit defensive. I am male. But I have a younger sister who can run circles around me when it comes to math/science/technology.
This may be a decent product, but I found the why page bold at best, and mildly offensive at worst. A few choice quotes:
"The Problem: Limited Productivity of Desk-Free Computing"
"The Solution: A Patented Handheld Touch Typing Device" (Emphasis mine.)
"Lean Back, Relax, and Type as Fast as You Think -- Maybe Faster" (Is this a statement on how fast I could type, or on how slowly I think, or on how slowly this company thinks I think?)
This, followed by a timeline of input devices: chisel, quill, keyboard, AlphaGrip.
While I see your point, I think Linux's story goes more like this:
1991: Wow, Linux is fun to hack. I just want to build an OS for myself.
1994: Wow, Linux is still fun to hack. I just want to build an OS for myself and a few thousand friends.
1997: Wow, Linux is still fun to hack. And people are taking this stuff seriously. I'm glad I built it from the ground up with security/efficiency/stability in mind.
I more or less agree with what you posted about Linux in the year 2000. But let's not forget Linux's roots.
I don't know much about business, but as I understand it, there are certain market segments which can be viewed as "barometer markets," or as signs of things to come.
Microsoft may be in the dominant position today, but in these "barometer markets," open source software is making tremendous gains.
I believe the developer market is one such "barometer market."
While I see your point, I think you are being unfair to SETI. As I understand it, SETI has made leaps not only in the search for extra-terrestrial life, but also in the area of distributed computing.
I once had a friend who was a psychology major. She asked me, "How can you study computer science when there are children out there being abused, and women out there being raped?"
We must pick our battles, and contribute to the best of our ability.
My favorite calculator program is rpcCalc. It works (and even looks!) just like an old HP-11C RPN calculator. A great little piece of software. Even when I need a calculator in X, I fire up an RXVT and launch rpcCalc.
I've heard for some time about how IBM is supporting Linux. But the 2.6.5->2.6.6 changelog really drove the point home, to me. It's amazing to see how much stevef@stevef95.austin.ibm.com has contributed, probably on IBM's nickel.:-) Keep it up, IBM.
"...Because anyone can create and market-or give away-a Linux distribution, there's also a reasonably high risk that someone will create a distribution specifically intended to subvert security. And how would anyone know?"
Slashdot Mirror
I can't believe noone has posted about this yet. Click here (or check /usr/src/linux/Documentation/CodingStyle) for Linus' witty and insightful views on this topic. Chapter 5 in particular.
The alliance proposed in the article, to me, seems similar to the AIM Alliance of the early 90s. Several companies united in a common goal. I've heard the AIM Alliance failed because competitors united in a common goal remain competitors, and as such tend not to fully disclose "trade secrets," even to further the common goal. If this proposed alliance takes off, I fear it will suffer the same fate as the AIM Alliance.
As far as I can tell, this can't damage the iPod's hardware, can it? I hope that companies grow more "hacker friendly" in the future--offer stronger warranties, and allow (even encourage) tinkering.
Also, I'd be more interested in hacks like this if I weren't so happy with Apple's nice default UI. Don't get me wrong--it's a wonderful technical achievement that these guys have hacked the iPod's firmware. I just think that most iPod owners are happy with the default graphics.
I came across a nice way to use IM as a primary means of communication. I run naim with GNU Screen on a server on which I have a shell account. This way, naim functions as an "answering machine" when I'm not online, and a normal IM client when I am. Enjoy.
And here is an analagous HOWTO for those of us of the KDE persuasion.
A 13 second Google search would have verified that this calculator supports "RPN, algebraic, and textbook entry system logic." Scroll down to the "Product Details."
Linus has expressed, basically, that he didn't open Linux out of some notion that "information should be free." Rather, he viewed his choice as having a product, or not. Not to criticize, but Linux wasn't always the powerhouse that it is today. In the beginning, it was a crappy kernel, which needed a ton of work. Linus couldn't afford to pay developers to help him realize his goal of writing a functional kernel. His only option was to open his code, and hope people would contribute.
Often, in these discussions, I think people forget this point. Open Source / Free Software doesn't always have to be about philosophy/politics/economics.
I'm not sure what "volumes" it speaks, and I'm also not sure if you've read the HOWTO, but I feel the need to comment.
The HOWTO is more about the mentality (specifically the attitude towards women) of many people who are involved in technology, rather than about the female mind or technology itself. The HOWTO suggests that such attitudes tend to keep women out of technology, not the nature of the female mind or technology itself.
Sorry if I seem a bit defensive. I am male. But I have a younger sister who can run circles around me when it comes to math/science/technology.
For those interested in encouraging women to become involved in Linux (and computer science), there is an interesting HOWTO.
"The Problem: Limited Productivity of Desk-Free Computing"
"The Solution: A Patented Handheld Touch Typing Device" (Emphasis mine.)
"Lean Back, Relax, and Type as Fast as You Think -- Maybe Faster" (Is this a statement on how fast I could type, or on how slowly I think, or on how slowly this company thinks I think?)
This, followed by a timeline of input devices: chisel, quill, keyboard, AlphaGrip.
Am I too sensitive?
I hope my children will be able to make similar claims.
RMS probably has some good abused but working hardware stories. No longer, but at least as of a couple of years ago, this was RMS' laptop.
1991: Wow, Linux is fun to hack. I just want to build an OS for myself.
1994: Wow, Linux is still fun to hack. I just want to build an OS for myself and a few thousand friends.
1997: Wow, Linux is still fun to hack. And people are taking this stuff seriously. I'm glad I built it from the ground up with security/efficiency/stability in mind.
I more or less agree with what you posted about Linux in the year 2000. But let's not forget Linux's roots.
Microsoft may be in the dominant position today, but in these "barometer markets," open source software is making tremendous gains.
I believe the developer market is one such "barometer market."
I once had a friend who was a psychology major. She asked me, "How can you study computer science when there are children out there being abused, and women out there being raped?"
We must pick our battles, and contribute to the best of our ability.
My favorite calculator program is rpcCalc. It works (and even looks!) just like an old HP-11C RPN calculator. A great little piece of software. Even when I need a calculator in X, I fire up an RXVT and launch rpcCalc.
A grizzly bear proof suit for sale on eBay!
...and they think eBay can learn from old Sears catalogs!
I've heard for some time about how IBM is supporting Linux. But the 2.6.5->2.6.6 changelog really drove the point home, to me. It's amazing to see how much stevef@stevef95.austin.ibm.com has contributed, probably on IBM's nickel. :-) Keep it up, IBM.
Excuse me as I wipe the cola off of my monitor.
But these are so much cooler!
I would know by viewing the source code.