That's interesting. The rumor I heard was that Mostly Harmless was written to finally put an end to the series and get everyone off his back about sequels. But, like I said, that was a rumor I heard before the days of the Intarwebs.
Why give up a system where you can fly across the GUI, knowing precisely where everything is and have become totally accustomed to doing things quickly because of this knowledge, to another system where you basically have to relearn a large portion, JUST because of something trivial as the activation of XP?
Last I checked Windows XP is being put to rest. Slowly, but surely. Last I checked, Windows Vista, in Microsoft's vast wisdom, has moved many of the backend functions one or two steps deeper than they could be found in Windows XP (which had their controls one or two steps deeper than Windows 98/2000).
If you are going to have to relearn the GUI, as you are in Windows Vista, why not relearn the GUI in a decent operating system, like Ubuntu, Fedora, Suse, FreeBSD, DamnSmallLinux, etc. Heck, if you wanted to go with more restrictions and less freedom, you can go Macintosh.
You aren't going to purchase any game "that [you] might think might end up in [S]team again"? That's quite the statement. Who ever would have thought that a game like OddWorld: Abe's Oddysee and Abe's Exoddus, games released many years ago (and which are still fun, btw) would have ended up on Steam. But there they are. Both games can be purchased on Steam for $13-ish.
With your statement, I suppose you are never going to buy a PC game again, because it seems like most games are going to end up on Steam at one point or another. Yes, Steam has its problems. But it also has many advantages (such as being able to play your game on any PC as long as you can verify your account).
guru, in this case, = marketeer, or slightly above-average sales-person. Those of you living in NYC, Chicago, Atlanta, or the west coast really should check out middle America sometime. Cost of living is excellent. $20/hour is excellent. Most people do fine at $12-$17/hr where I live. (Especially if they gave up their tobacco and alcohol habits.)
Strangely, I've found all the help I've needed to get Linux up and running. The help forums and IRC channels are very good. Yes, you get some jerks, but for the most part, people are ready and willing to help you "learn" how to use it (not just tell you what to do). Yes, sometimes that means RTFM.
How well did that work for Microsoft's OS? How well did that work for Microsoft's web browser? How well did that work for the Bell telephone company (before the government mandated split)? Heck, even companies in a non-monopolistic environment fail at listening to customers (Ford, GM, etc.)
I believe XFX even offers a double lifetime warranty. This is basically a weird way to say the lifetime warranty is transferrable one time to another party. (You, as an end-user purchaser, can sell your used card to someone else, they get the warranty, too.)
Because I could not find a way to contact you privately, I'll ask here. Where do you start to self-publish a book? I ask, because my wife came up with an ingenious little book that we would like published.
Oh, I forgot to mention. Sometimes it is worth it to get a slightly more expensive part at one place so that you are getting all parts from a single company. But don't rule out separating parts from different places. I used newegg for most of my parts, jab-tech.com for fans and cooling, and ChiefValue.com for the powersupply (OCZ700GXSSLI) which was significantly cheaper than newegg at the time... and available.
Original system as built in Feb 2007:
Mobo: EVGA 122-CK-NF68-A1
HDD : Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB
CPU : Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz
RAM : CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 (PC2 6400) TWIN2X2048-6400C4
Video: BFG nVidia 7900GS
Audio: Creative Soundblaster X-FI Platinum
Monitor 1: HannsÂG JW-199DPB Black 19" 5ms
Monitor 2: Gateway FPD1975W 19" 5ms
DVD-ROM: LiteOn LTD163D
DVD+-RW: TDK DVDRW840G
I've upgraded the video card to an eVGA nVidia 8800GT and am thinking of slapping 2GB more in the memory. When I put this thing together I kept three things in mind: speed, ambient sound (no loud fans, hdd, etc), and price.
I agree with most of what donaldm is saying. Though, you may want to check out a dual monitor setup (if your desk is big enough). It really is impressive and gives you the ability to have a web page open with game hints, while you are playing the game on the other screen. Also, if you don't have a clock, you can move the taskbar to that screen and see the clock. If your game crashes and it doesn't fall to the desktop, you've still got the second screen to do stuff in.
Am I incorrect in thinking that many passports are using RFID, such that the owner can pass through customs uninhibited (or receive other advantages) with the correct credentials? If RFID can easily be mimicked, the "Terrorist" could easily pass through gates unchecked.
While the general public may not need to know this, the companies that would try to bury this piece of knowledge are doing more harm to themselves and their customers: government and business agencies that depend on security.
I just came in here to say that Unions were once good, protecting workers from seriously harsh conditions. Workers who could not defend themselves and/or find work elsewhere at a better company. Somewhere along the way between the early days of unions and now, the unions became the pigs of the Animal Farm. The unions are now abusing both the workers they claim to protect and the businesses. Look at the American car industry or the American airline industry. Both are badly hurting because of union practices.
As for the tech industry... there are plenty of jobs out there to be had. The techies in the industry pride themselves at being very good at what they do and being on top of their game. And, for the most part, we don't want or like to take any crap. We'll find the decent working conditions for decent pay that we want. If we don't want the 60+ hours, plus being on call, we'll find a better place and leave to some other schmuck who's willing to do it. The company demanding that type of condition will quickly re-evaluate the conditions once they realize employee turnover is really bad.
Re:Firefox Damage Control Is More Than Enough
on
Chrome Vs. IE 8
·
· Score: 2, Interesting
Does there really have to be one browser to rule them all?
Very good question. And I think that was the point of open-sourcing with an open license was so that all the other browser developers, Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Netscape, Opera, and even Microsoft Internet Explorer can take the ideas and/or code and use it in their own products.
Now, I have some "must-have" plugins in my Firefox that I can't do without (ad-block, no-script, tab mix plus and weatherfox) that prevent me from using Google Chrome other than to test with occasionally. I'm also a fan of Firefox. So, I'm hoping that Firefox will incorporate the ideas given by Chrome, including multi-process the tabs and functions and better memory management.
Actually, in this case he is being somewhat redundant. Although, the redundancy in this case is a good, funny, insightful thing. It's just that the redundant mod is negative points:b
Re:Non-Tech Percent of Web Traffic from Chrome
on
Google Chrome, Day 2
·
· Score: 4, Funny
As a person who deals with alpha and pre-release software on a daily basis, Google's beta software is no big deal to me. I was going to play with it to see how it interacted with the software I deal with from day to day. I still may after they iron out the install issues and the EULA terms. I'd prefer my workings in a browser not to be owned by the browser's developing company.
It's open source. If Google thought that people wouldn't notice spyware in there,they're pretty damned stupid.
I'm surprised you think Google is not spying on you. Granted, they are more likely than others to only acquire non-specific data, but they still track it. That's how they make their money... web tracking trends -> advertising. google-analytics.com is still one of the scripts that are blocked by NoScript on my Firefox software.
And, yes, I do like having control over when my software updates. For better and worse, PCs are very dynamic. Each desktop is not exactly the same with respect to CPU, memory, HDD, graphics drivers, etc, installed software, browser plugins, BHOs, etc. A change or update in the browser may break (and often does in Firefox) the plugins I find most useful and necessary.
My "'legitimate' software" line was a generic line, not specifically aimed at Google's Chrome, but includes it. And just because something is Open Source does not necessarily mean it will be peer reviewed. (Another generic statement.) I know that Google's open sourced software will be reviewed by the masses, but not all software is reviewed. Am I paranoid? Yes. It keeps my computer as safe as my knowledge of safe-computing can keep it.
Slashdot Mirror
But the probability of that happening is something like 99,328,543,556,234 to 1 against.
7zip supports rar, arj, zip, 7z, cab, iso, etc. etc., and it is a free program, unlike winRAR or WinZip. And it works very nicely.
That's interesting. The rumor I heard was that Mostly Harmless was written to finally put an end to the series and get everyone off his back about sequels. But, like I said, that was a rumor I heard before the days of the Intarwebs.
Last I checked Windows XP is being put to rest. Slowly, but surely. Last I checked, Windows Vista, in Microsoft's vast wisdom, has moved many of the backend functions one or two steps deeper than they could be found in Windows XP (which had their controls one or two steps deeper than Windows 98/2000).
If you are going to have to relearn the GUI, as you are in Windows Vista, why not relearn the GUI in a decent operating system, like Ubuntu, Fedora, Suse, FreeBSD, DamnSmallLinux, etc. Heck, if you wanted to go with more restrictions and less freedom, you can go Macintosh.
You aren't going to purchase any game "that [you] might think might end up in [S]team again"? That's quite the statement. Who ever would have thought that a game like OddWorld: Abe's Oddysee and Abe's Exoddus, games released many years ago (and which are still fun, btw) would have ended up on Steam. But there they are. Both games can be purchased on Steam for $13-ish.
With your statement, I suppose you are never going to buy a PC game again, because it seems like most games are going to end up on Steam at one point or another. Yes, Steam has its problems. But it also has many advantages (such as being able to play your game on any PC as long as you can verify your account).
That actually makes some sense...
guru, in this case, = marketeer, or slightly above-average sales-person. Those of you living in NYC, Chicago, Atlanta, or the west coast really should check out middle America sometime. Cost of living is excellent. $20/hour is excellent. Most people do fine at $12-$17/hr where I live. (Especially if they gave up their tobacco and alcohol habits.)
Customer satisfaction is Microsoft's guarantee. But, just who is their customer? (Hint: It's not the one's who purchase the software.)
Congrats, bestinshow, you've come up with my next tag line!
Strangely, I've found all the help I've needed to get Linux up and running. The help forums and IRC channels are very good. Yes, you get some jerks, but for the most part, people are ready and willing to help you "learn" how to use it (not just tell you what to do). Yes, sometimes that means RTFM.
Not only that, but they can mock the Vista Aero and say, "Hm, yeah, Mac had that several years ago and Linux had that before then."
Are you thinking it's that hard to evangelize a BB employee to Microsoft? I mean, they are working for Best Buy, right?
How well did that work for Microsoft's OS? How well did that work for Microsoft's web browser? How well did that work for the Bell telephone company (before the government mandated split)? Heck, even companies in a non-monopolistic environment fail at listening to customers (Ford, GM, etc.)
I believe XFX even offers a double lifetime warranty. This is basically a weird way to say the lifetime warranty is transferrable one time to another party. (You, as an end-user purchaser, can sell your used card to someone else, they get the warranty, too.)
Because I could not find a way to contact you privately, I'll ask here. Where do you start to self-publish a book? I ask, because my wife came up with an ingenious little book that we would like published.
Oh, I forgot to mention. Sometimes it is worth it to get a slightly more expensive part at one place so that you are getting all parts from a single company. But don't rule out separating parts from different places. I used newegg for most of my parts, jab-tech.com for fans and cooling, and ChiefValue.com for the powersupply (OCZ700GXSSLI) which was significantly cheaper than newegg at the time... and available.
Original system as built in Feb 2007:
Mobo: EVGA 122-CK-NF68-A1
HDD : Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB
CPU : Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz
RAM : CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 (PC2 6400) TWIN2X2048-6400C4
Video: BFG nVidia 7900GS
Audio: Creative Soundblaster X-FI Platinum
Monitor 1: HannsÂG JW-199DPB Black 19" 5ms
Monitor 2: Gateway FPD1975W 19" 5ms
DVD-ROM: LiteOn LTD163D
DVD+-RW: TDK DVDRW840G
I've upgraded the video card to an eVGA nVidia 8800GT and am thinking of slapping 2GB more in the memory. When I put this thing together I kept three things in mind: speed, ambient sound (no loud fans, hdd, etc), and price.
I agree with most of what donaldm is saying. Though, you may want to check out a dual monitor setup (if your desk is big enough). It really is impressive and gives you the ability to have a web page open with game hints, while you are playing the game on the other screen. Also, if you don't have a clock, you can move the taskbar to that screen and see the clock. If your game crashes and it doesn't fall to the desktop, you've still got the second screen to do stuff in.
Check out what other people are building over at http://www.hardocp.com/.
My favorite shops have already been mentioned: Newegg, ZipZoomFly. I've also had some success with vendors that advertise on pricewatch.
The parent poster was referring to the show as having a MS shill and a racist, not the Jerry Seinfeld was a racist and an MS shill.
Am I incorrect in thinking that many passports are using RFID, such that the owner can pass through customs uninhibited (or receive other advantages) with the correct credentials? If RFID can easily be mimicked, the "Terrorist" could easily pass through gates unchecked.
While the general public may not need to know this, the companies that would try to bury this piece of knowledge are doing more harm to themselves and their customers: government and business agencies that depend on security.
I just came in here to say that Unions were once good, protecting workers from seriously harsh conditions. Workers who could not defend themselves and/or find work elsewhere at a better company. Somewhere along the way between the early days of unions and now, the unions became the pigs of the Animal Farm. The unions are now abusing both the workers they claim to protect and the businesses. Look at the American car industry or the American airline industry. Both are badly hurting because of union practices.
As for the tech industry... there are plenty of jobs out there to be had. The techies in the industry pride themselves at being very good at what they do and being on top of their game. And, for the most part, we don't want or like to take any crap. We'll find the decent working conditions for decent pay that we want. If we don't want the 60+ hours, plus being on call, we'll find a better place and leave to some other schmuck who's willing to do it. The company demanding that type of condition will quickly re-evaluate the conditions once they realize employee turnover is really bad.
Very good question. And I think that was the point of open-sourcing with an open license was so that all the other browser developers, Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Netscape, Opera, and even Microsoft Internet Explorer can take the ideas and/or code and use it in their own products.
Now, I have some "must-have" plugins in my Firefox that I can't do without (ad-block, no-script, tab mix plus and weatherfox) that prevent me from using Google Chrome other than to test with occasionally. I'm also a fan of Firefox. So, I'm hoping that Firefox will incorporate the ideas given by Chrome, including multi-process the tabs and functions and better memory management.
Actually, in this case he is being somewhat redundant. Although, the redundancy in this case is a good, funny, insightful thing. It's just that the redundant mod is negative points :b
It was a meta-review.
Nah, It's because I don't want a list of 50+ program menu items lining the entire desktop.
I'm surprised you think Google is not spying on you. Granted, they are more likely than others to only acquire non-specific data, but they still track it. That's how they make their money... web tracking trends -> advertising. google-analytics.com is still one of the scripts that are blocked by NoScript on my Firefox software.
And, yes, I do like having control over when my software updates. For better and worse, PCs are very dynamic. Each desktop is not exactly the same with respect to CPU, memory, HDD, graphics drivers, etc, installed software, browser plugins, BHOs, etc. A change or update in the browser may break (and often does in Firefox) the plugins I find most useful and necessary.
My "'legitimate' software" line was a generic line, not specifically aimed at Google's Chrome, but includes it. And just because something is Open Source does not necessarily mean it will be peer reviewed. (Another generic statement.) I know that Google's open sourced software will be reviewed by the masses, but not all software is reviewed. Am I paranoid? Yes. It keeps my computer as safe as my knowledge of safe-computing can keep it.