Perhaps if Apple was threatening other phone makers or carriers with something bad happening to them if they included Google Voice, then you may have a point. Your "line of thinking" should recognize the difference between having a monopoly and abusing a monopoly.
"Dr. Horvitz said he believed computer scientists must respond to the notions of superintelligent machines and artificial intelligence systems run amok."
Horvitz is a Microsoft researcher and therefore has first hand knowledge of that notion.
NetAvenger said "The safest way to currently browse the internet on any OS and any browser is Vista or Win7 combined with IE7 or IE8"
I believe you're forgetting something, and I'm sure you forgot this by design, MacOS and Safari. That combination doesn't even require anti-virus (or anti-anything for that matter) to safely browse the net, or use email, view pdfs, etc. And before you go off listing all your comforting reasons WHY Mac/Safari is safer, I'll ask "Who gives a shit WHY? It just is and has been since 2001."
When I see 2 benchmarks where one says product A is faster and the other says product B is faster, I'm inclined to conclude that we really don't know. Now if I pump a little bias into it I can throw one of them out and choose to believe the one I inherently favor. Is that what you're doing?
There is an easy solution for getting the new iPhone at regular price even if you're in a contract.
Run an ad in Craigslist or somewhere. Advertise that you're GIVING AWAY your iPhone to anyone who will simply take over your ATT contract. Won't cost them anything; they just assume your billing. Your phone will be ringing off the hook for days once the ad runs. Then take this person with you to an ATT store, transfer the account at the same time you buy your new phone. Transfer your old number to your new phone.
I did this with an LG phone on an ALLTEL contract when I got my iPhone last year, and this year it will be just as easy.
Anyway, I don't understand why people think they are getting screwed by ATT wanting to get back the unpaid $200 left on your contract, money that is/was used to subsidize your phone.
I'm really not on any horse at all. I understand why Apple chose to screen apps and I agree with their motives and have no problem with that at all. With nearly 50,000 apps in the store I don't think it's as much of a problem as you make it out to be, certainly not for me.
As for WCE having a longer bullet-list of features, that's certainly debatable if you count the number of usable features. While you may classify the iPhone as having a dumbed-down interface, I think it's a very intuitive interface and head & shoulders above WCE's just plain old dumb interface. THAT's what's killing/killed WCE.
I'll give you your point about multitasking, but here again, the rumors I've been reading is that Apple is going to allow that to some extent. I'll wait & see what is announced tomorrow.
I don't understand why anyone would buy a Pre today. With the new iPhone just around the corner (~30 days or less) I would hold off and see just what the iPhone 3.0 has in store, make my comparisons and then decide. Unless of course I've already made up my mind that I'm buying a Palm-anything and it makes no difference what else is out there. And people making comparisons between the Pre and the current iPhone -- I'd think this is a close enough race that the fair comparison would be to the new iPhone. Oh well, in 30 days that will be the case.
"... does anyone have any experience with setups like this?"
Oh yeah, mainframes were in most every large company a few decades ago. Perhaps you should get yourself a 360. (ummm... not talkin about Xbox either)
"But I have an iPod Touch and Apple has made some nice revenue from my buying of music and apps."
Since the app store and ITMS exist primarily as a catalyst for selling iPods and iPhones, I believe Apple made their money from you buying that iPod rather than your one or two dollar content purchases.
"We will not proceed with implementation of additional tests until further consultation with our customers and other interested parties, ensuring that community needs are being met."
Here, TWC, consult with this: Place any caps on my account and I will terminate it immediately.
"...the ability to copy files directly from one usb stick to another without needed a USB hub..."
Oh Boy! That's the one feature that's kept me from getting an Air. You can't believe how many times I've had the need to do that while on the road!
Seriously, some of the points you bring up have merit, but when you go over the top it dilutes what you're saying.
My email to TW:
"I just read this morning where TW plans to implement download caps for its Greensboro area customers.
This is my notification to you to cancel my internet service on the day this plan goes into effect. I will be returning to Yadtel.net as my ISP, as they have no caps (and faster speeds)."
If you decide on IT, be sure you donate your brain to the university so that you'll fit in with the rest of the group. I mean, donate it when you graduate, not when you die.
As a design engineer (self employed, work from home) my stuff goes into a Firewire drive via Time Machine. It and the MacPro are both chained to a metal pole, so that covers theft I would think. About every 3 months or so I make an incremental backup to yet another DVD and give it to my sister who keeps it at her house, and that covers fire. I'm comfy with that, and none of my stuff is in the hands of some vulnerable cloud computer.
Hey, I have a network just like that, only my insecure network (Windows XP Pro under Fusion) is restricted to only one connection, to my secure network (OSX), which is free to roam the web with reckless abandon.:)
"The adviser would have the authority to disconnect from the Internet any federal infrastructure networks -- or other networks deemed to be 'critical' -- if found to be at risk of a cyberattack."
Looks like the entire US government is going offline soon.
Slashdot Mirror
Perhaps if Apple was threatening other phone makers or carriers with something bad happening to them if they included Google Voice, then you may have a point. Your "line of thinking" should recognize the difference between having a monopoly and abusing a monopoly.
"Dr. Horvitz said he believed computer scientists must respond to the notions of superintelligent machines and artificial intelligence systems run amok."
Horvitz is a Microsoft researcher and therefore has first hand knowledge of that notion.
Some people might say Microsoft is a disease to be hated. Kinda like that cold virus you get now & then.
Waiting for someone to bring this up. Now I don't have to.
NetAvenger said "The safest way to currently browse the internet on any OS and any browser is Vista or Win7 combined with IE7 or IE8"
I believe you're forgetting something, and I'm sure you forgot this by design, MacOS and Safari. That combination doesn't even require anti-virus (or anti-anything for that matter) to safely browse the net, or use email, view pdfs, etc. And before you go off listing all your comforting reasons WHY Mac/Safari is safer, I'll ask "Who gives a shit WHY? It just is and has been since 2001."
When I see 2 benchmarks where one says product A is faster and the other says product B is faster, I'm inclined to conclude that we really don't know. Now if I pump a little bias into it I can throw one of them out and choose to believe the one I inherently favor. Is that what you're doing?
I thought Safari was the fastest. http://crave.cnet.co.uk/software/0,39029471,49301219,00.htm
There is an easy solution for getting the new iPhone at regular price even if you're in a contract.
Run an ad in Craigslist or somewhere. Advertise that you're GIVING AWAY your iPhone to anyone who will simply take over your ATT contract. Won't cost them anything; they just assume your billing. Your phone will be ringing off the hook for days once the ad runs. Then take this person with you to an ATT store, transfer the account at the same time you buy your new phone. Transfer your old number to your new phone.
I did this with an LG phone on an ALLTEL contract when I got my iPhone last year, and this year it will be just as easy.
Anyway, I don't understand why people think they are getting screwed by ATT wanting to get back the unpaid $200 left on your contract, money that is/was used to subsidize your phone.
What I would like to know is how would our government respond. Guns & tanks or flashing lights and an organ?
I'm really not on any horse at all. I understand why Apple chose to screen apps and I agree with their motives and have no problem with that at all. With nearly 50,000 apps in the store I don't think it's as much of a problem as you make it out to be, certainly not for me.
As for WCE having a longer bullet-list of features, that's certainly debatable if you count the number of usable features. While you may classify the iPhone as having a dumbed-down interface, I think it's a very intuitive interface and head & shoulders above WCE's just plain old dumb interface. THAT's what's killing/killed WCE.
I'll give you your point about multitasking, but here again, the rumors I've been reading is that Apple is going to allow that to some extent. I'll wait & see what is announced tomorrow.
Does that include viruses & other malware?
I don't understand why anyone would buy a Pre today. With the new iPhone just around the corner (~30 days or less) I would hold off and see just what the iPhone 3.0 has in store, make my comparisons and then decide. Unless of course I've already made up my mind that I'm buying a Palm-anything and it makes no difference what else is out there. And people making comparisons between the Pre and the current iPhone -- I'd think this is a close enough race that the fair comparison would be to the new iPhone. Oh well, in 30 days that will be the case.
"... does anyone have any experience with setups like this?" Oh yeah, mainframes were in most every large company a few decades ago. Perhaps you should get yourself a 360. (ummm... not talkin about Xbox either)
"But I have an iPod Touch and Apple has made some nice revenue from my buying of music and apps."
Since the app store and ITMS exist primarily as a catalyst for selling iPods and iPhones, I believe Apple made their money from you buying that iPod rather than your one or two dollar content purchases.
If you get what you wish for, be ready to also pay a hefty monthly fee for overages in your monthly usage cap.
"We will not proceed with implementation of additional tests until further consultation with our customers and other interested parties, ensuring that community needs are being met."
Here, TWC, consult with this: Place any caps on my account and I will terminate it immediately.
"...says 285 million records were compromised in 2008." How about that. And not a one on a Mac.
Had to go spend the day at a client's once, to make some code changes. Couldn't smoke and there was no iced tea. Nearly died.
"...the ability to copy files directly from one usb stick to another without needed a USB hub..."
Oh Boy! That's the one feature that's kept me from getting an Air. You can't believe how many times I've had the need to do that while on the road!
Seriously, some of the points you bring up have merit, but when you go over the top it dilutes what you're saying.
My email to TW: "I just read this morning where TW plans to implement download caps for its Greensboro area customers. This is my notification to you to cancel my internet service on the day this plan goes into effect. I will be returning to Yadtel.net as my ISP, as they have no caps (and faster speeds)."
"...no one uses ECC memory..." You calling me a nobody? ECC came in this Mac Pro here. Comes in all Mac Pro models.
If you decide on IT, be sure you donate your brain to the university so that you'll fit in with the rest of the group. I mean, donate it when you graduate, not when you die.
As a design engineer (self employed, work from home) my stuff goes into a Firewire drive via Time Machine. It and the MacPro are both chained to a metal pole, so that covers theft I would think. About every 3 months or so I make an incremental backup to yet another DVD and give it to my sister who keeps it at her house, and that covers fire. I'm comfy with that, and none of my stuff is in the hands of some vulnerable cloud computer.
Hey, I have a network just like that, only my insecure network (Windows XP Pro under Fusion) is restricted to only one connection, to my secure network (OSX), which is free to roam the web with reckless abandon. :)
"The adviser would have the authority to disconnect from the Internet any federal infrastructure networks -- or other networks deemed to be 'critical' -- if found to be at risk of a cyberattack."
Looks like the entire US government is going offline soon.