I honestly don't understand this industry practice of thinking management is irrelevent just because we have technology.
This may be OT, but yeah, I've seen this. Bad managers who are fed up with the poor workflow of their subordinates. They have people skipping steps, cutting corners, things making it into final products without ever really being reviewed. The solution was to put in this huge (and expensive) computerized workflow system which would "force" the employees to get things reviewed, follow a workflow, etc.
Of course, they never really developed a workflow. They never really forced the employees to use the workflow system. The employees ignored it, exploited problems in the workflow that would allow them to review their own work, checked off on other's workflows without really reviewing it, etc.
Management kept going to the IT staff, complaining that the software wasn't working properly. It wasn't forcing the employees to do their work, because employees kept ignoring the system and passing work along the same as they did when there was no system.
Why does this stuff to be "centralized" more than just being on the same computer?
I think the idea is "centralized" as in, "on the server," so that I can access my boss's schedule/contacts and vise-versa. Otherwise, the ability to send a meeting invitation to several people, being able to look them up in a central database of users, comes in handy.
Admittedly, it doesn't need to work quite the way Microsoft has built it, but it certainly is useful.
Sadly, there are plenty of applications that imitate Outlook and Exchange; just have a look around.
"Plenty"? There are a couple of Linux apps that do pretty well, and I mean "a couple". As in, maybe two or three. Evolution is notable in my mind, but there aren't native Windows or OS X ports (I really honestly wish there were). I know, you probably think we should all be running Linux anyway, but unfortunately things aren't as simple as that.
How many Windows/OSX apps do what Outlook/Exchange does, and does it as easily and seamlessly? None that I've seen. If you know of one, I'd love to hear about it. I'm hoping to see Novell make some progress on this front, but they aren't there yet.
I guess you could say that the "open source community" works on the various distros. By definition, working on open source projects makes you part of the "open source community". It'd be a problem, however, to allow this fact to lead you to believe that all the programmers working on these distributions are unpaid.
Companies like Novell, Mandriva, and Redhat actually employ programmers who are paid to improve these distributions. And part of what I was saying was that, yes, the distros that do it all for free are still benefitting from the work put in by these paid programmers.
I mean yes, they need to make some profit to keep going and cover packaging costs, but holy shit....I mean seriously.
What, you don't think there are development costs? It's not as though these distros aren't writing code of their own. Yes, I know, some distros do some great work with only volunteers, but development of these free distros are helped by the developers that are paid by others.
It'd also help if they were cheap (the cost of the book minus the cost of materials, shipping, etc.) and you could still lend them to a friend without lending your actual device and/or account (i.e. no/loose DRM)
Maybe in the interim, copyright infringement can serve as an alarm that something is wrong. However, I think that you will know the solution has come when most people have an aversion to anything we would term "copyright infringement".
I think that this will require a reformation of copyright laws to a point where reasonable citizens can agree that they're "fair".
Perhaps I misunderstood your post due to a flood of replies that seemed not to be responding to my post. However, simply railing against the record industry for overcharging isn't fixing a leaky pipe, it's pissing in the wind. Intellectual property laws won't be overthrown on the basis that, the IP owners, while having legitimate grounds to ask for compensation, are asking more that I think is worth the product they offer.
Unfortunately, we're talking about legal actions taken by the RIAA, and so an appropriate legal viewpoint must be taken as a response. It'll do no good to call the doody-heads (or fat cats). The first question is, as the RIAA has raised it, is P2P networking a legitimate technology. In response to the RIAA, we must first demonstrate that yes, it is. (shouldn't be hard)
Even after accomplishing that, we still find that P2P and the ??AA are still on a collision course. So the legal standing of the RIAA/MPAA and P2P networks will all be taken into account, and, of course, the question will be asked, "Do the rights of one of these bodies trump the value of the others?" Within all the legalese, this is one of the big questions that will be asked. Yes, it has to do with whether one of these groups is "more legitimate", of greater value to the common good, etc. This will all be decided in court one of these days.
Unfortunately, the idea that record companies need to "realize the error of their ways" is highly naive. They know the error of their ways. Their business model is becoming more obsolete everyday, and they must stonewall innovation at every turn if they wish to keep their power. They understand their position well.
Ultimately, the answer to this fight will lie in how we decide to grow the concept and value of intellectual property as we continue into the digital age. Some believe it must be preserved in whole, even as the world changes and works can be reproduced for nearly no cost. Some believe the concept of IP should be thrown away outright. I would suggest a middle road.
However, in no case will this be solved by record companies "realizing the error of their ways". It will be legal action, or consumers taking the power back by refusing to consume the ??AA's products.
You may have seen this argument on/. many times, but it would probably help your response to have still read it this time.
See, because my post was not about making P2P software illegal. It wasn't. It was really about the legitimacy of Bittorrent. I was, in essence, saying that, although I'm not aware of loads of people using Kazaa for legitimate purposes, Bittorrent certainly has plenty of legitimate purposes, and does not encourage, nor does it seek to profit from, the illegitimate purposes.
Bittorrent has terrific examples of why P2P technology is valid and useful, with several companies using this distribution method to reduce the bandwidth necessary to distribute large files. It's much easier to look at Kazaa and think that P2P has no legitimate uses, but it requires a certain level of purposeful blindness to see that Bittorrent is *currently* being used well (as opposed to something that has occasional or hypothetical good uses).
Sure. All that stuff should be (and is) "looked into". I mean, holy crap, I didn't prescribe a solution. I didn't say, "This stuff should be made illegal!"
So, yes, as far as cars and guns are dangerous, we should "look into" ways to make them safer. Note that this doesn't even necessitate any changing of laws. Just, you know, let's look into that.
Of course, the real point of my post is, what the hell is bittorrent doing on the list? I don't think it can be argued that Bittorrent isn't being used for legitimate purposes.
Yes, I have. My point is only that, if the technology is overwhelmingly being used for purposes that are illegal, it means there is a problem. the situation needs to be evaluated, and the issue should be addressed.
How does it get addressed? Well, the first thing is to find the causes of the problem, and then remove whatever causes are appropriate. Perhaps the law is bad, the bad law is the only real "cause" here worth addressing, and resolution to the issue is to change the law. None of that goes against what I was saying in the first place.
Now, in all fairness, I can see an argument being made that, although P2P technology is morally neutral, the services encourage illegal acts. It's a sticky argument, and I'm not sure I'd agree with the RIAA in any part of the "what should be done?" question, but at least I think it's a reasonable argument to make. Really, when a specific implimentation of a technology is being used overwelmingly for illegal activity, we, as a society, have a responsibility to look into the causes, and try to resolve the issue.
However, it's quite clear that Bittorrent is being used for real, legitimate data distribution. I'm not sure how common it is for a legitimate company to offer it's downloads through Kazaa or Bearshare, but certainly legitimate companies/individuals are using torrents.
It looks pretty nice, but I am just surprised it requires MySQL. Is that for storing configs?
Just a guess, but maybe it pulls from an IMAP account and puts all the data into a database. None of this is my forte, but I wouldn't be terribly surprised if it would be easier to do clever things with data in MySQL than pulling it live out of a IMAP server. Things like index the text in e-mails, maybe store an address book, caching for quicker access. Or maybe they have something very clever planned for the future, and aren't there yet (it's only the 0.1 release).
I thought the idea was that Microsoft could sell one edition and only one edition instead of purposefully crippling functionality. Instead of needing to buy the "Gamers Edition" or "Business Edition" or whatever, they give you tools to help you tweak your own installation, adding or removing whatever components you like. For example-- oh, I don't know, maybe I don't want IE, OE, WMP, MSN IM, or... MS Paint, maybe they could let me make those choices.
It's in Gamestop/EB/any store's best interest to sell to anyone who has money. They won't restrict a purchase by being asked to card customers. They need to be told. And in this case, the best way to tell them and make sure they adhere is to make a law.
Is it illegal for movie theatres to sell tickets to rated-R movies to minors? I didn't think it was, and yet I've seen movie theaters do it.
It's worth noting, however, that you want to get your drivers directly from Nvidia or ATI, and not anything provided by Microsoft. I haven't checked this out in a while (since I use a Mac these days), but it used to be that OpenGL wasn't really supported by the Nvidia drivers provided through Windows Update. From what I can tell, Microsoft took Nvidia's release and actively removed some level of OpenGL support.
Yeah, I think the idea is that it's a feature most people don't really want. You can get a tiny little portable AM/FM radio, and cheap. The people who want an iPod are often people who don't want to be listening to radio.
I also see what could be another problem, given Apple's usual choices: radio is unreliable and sounds bad. Apple doesn't want the iPod to be associated with anything that's unreliable or sounds bad. They've latched onto PodCasting as a solution, since it gives you a lot of what radio programming does, but with the advantages of being digital (no static) and in the device (no reception problems).
I thought it was more like: Treat the iPod nano really roughly and it'll get slightly scratched up. Run over it with a car, and it'll still play music. Abuse it in the worst ways you can think, and maybe, after quite a lot of torture, you'll be able to actually break it.
The story here isn't that they were able to break it, the story is the great lengths they had to go to in order to accomplish that result.
Obviously, your site hasn't suddenly improved 40% because you're testing it with something new... If your upper managers aren't complete idiots, that should be clear enough to them...
Of course, if they are complete idiots, then you can show them the new numbers and claim, "Look, buying this new metrics software improved our performance by 40%. I think I deserve a raise!"
I agree that it doesn't seem so bad. However, being the sort that doesn't like to involve the government where it's unnecessary, I'd prefer to see stores take it upon themselves to create/enforce stricter policies about selling rated-M games to minors.
If GameStop/Bestbuy/etc. would require that you be over 18 to buy it, and further issue a warning at purchase (like a statement from the cashier or even a sticker on the box), then these laws wouldn't be necessary.
I hope you're joking but I have a hard time believing that this is the best solution. I'm not sure why this was modded interesting instead of funny. Fax quality is generally low, and data transmission over a phone line will increase the time spent needlessly.
It's really no improvement over the obvious: get a scanner with an autofeeder. However, I'm assuming that he's looking for something more industrial/quick, since that answer is so obvious. I'm guessing he must have already checked out Kinkos (which I think is another obvious possibility) and they said that they couldn't do it.
Yeah, the first thing that popped into my head when I read the article summary: Microsoft is a victim of its own success.
They wanted to play in the game-console arena, so they've been fighting it out with Sony, trying to make the console that everyone wants to play. They've done a good enough job that no one wants to play games on their PCs anymore.
I think the only reason they really even care is that "playing games" was where a lot of people go stuck with Windows. How often have you heard someone say, "I'd run Linux or buy a Mac, but no one is making games for those operating systems." Well, you'll be hearing less of that.
Slashdot Mirror
This may be OT, but yeah, I've seen this. Bad managers who are fed up with the poor workflow of their subordinates. They have people skipping steps, cutting corners, things making it into final products without ever really being reviewed. The solution was to put in this huge (and expensive) computerized workflow system which would "force" the employees to get things reviewed, follow a workflow, etc.
Of course, they never really developed a workflow. They never really forced the employees to use the workflow system. The employees ignored it, exploited problems in the workflow that would allow them to review their own work, checked off on other's workflows without really reviewing it, etc.
Management kept going to the IT staff, complaining that the software wasn't working properly. It wasn't forcing the employees to do their work, because employees kept ignoring the system and passing work along the same as they did when there was no system.
Bottom line: computers are tools, not managers.
I think the idea is "centralized" as in, "on the server," so that I can access my boss's schedule/contacts and vise-versa. Otherwise, the ability to send a meeting invitation to several people, being able to look them up in a central database of users, comes in handy.
Admittedly, it doesn't need to work quite the way Microsoft has built it, but it certainly is useful.
Sadly, there are plenty of applications that imitate Outlook and Exchange; just have a look around.
"Plenty"? There are a couple of Linux apps that do pretty well, and I mean "a couple". As in, maybe two or three. Evolution is notable in my mind, but there aren't native Windows or OS X ports (I really honestly wish there were). I know, you probably think we should all be running Linux anyway, but unfortunately things aren't as simple as that.
How many Windows/OSX apps do what Outlook/Exchange does, and does it as easily and seamlessly? None that I've seen. If you know of one, I'd love to hear about it. I'm hoping to see Novell make some progress on this front, but they aren't there yet.
Companies like Novell, Mandriva, and Redhat actually employ programmers who are paid to improve these distributions. And part of what I was saying was that, yes, the distros that do it all for free are still benefitting from the work put in by these paid programmers.
What, you don't think there are development costs? It's not as though these distros aren't writing code of their own. Yes, I know, some distros do some great work with only volunteers, but development of these free distros are helped by the developers that are paid by others.
It'd also help if they were cheap (the cost of the book minus the cost of materials, shipping, etc.) and you could still lend them to a friend without lending your actual device and/or account (i.e. no/loose DRM)
I think that this will require a reformation of copyright laws to a point where reasonable citizens can agree that they're "fair".
Unfortunately, we're talking about legal actions taken by the RIAA, and so an appropriate legal viewpoint must be taken as a response. It'll do no good to call the doody-heads (or fat cats). The first question is, as the RIAA has raised it, is P2P networking a legitimate technology. In response to the RIAA, we must first demonstrate that yes, it is. (shouldn't be hard)
Even after accomplishing that, we still find that P2P and the ??AA are still on a collision course. So the legal standing of the RIAA/MPAA and P2P networks will all be taken into account, and, of course, the question will be asked, "Do the rights of one of these bodies trump the value of the others?" Within all the legalese, this is one of the big questions that will be asked. Yes, it has to do with whether one of these groups is "more legitimate", of greater value to the common good, etc. This will all be decided in court one of these days.
Unfortunately, the idea that record companies need to "realize the error of their ways" is highly naive. They know the error of their ways. Their business model is becoming more obsolete everyday, and they must stonewall innovation at every turn if they wish to keep their power. They understand their position well.
Ultimately, the answer to this fight will lie in how we decide to grow the concept and value of intellectual property as we continue into the digital age. Some believe it must be preserved in whole, even as the world changes and works can be reproduced for nearly no cost. Some believe the concept of IP should be thrown away outright. I would suggest a middle road.
However, in no case will this be solved by record companies "realizing the error of their ways". It will be legal action, or consumers taking the power back by refusing to consume the ??AA's products.
See, because my post was not about making P2P software illegal. It wasn't. It was really about the legitimacy of Bittorrent. I was, in essence, saying that, although I'm not aware of loads of people using Kazaa for legitimate purposes, Bittorrent certainly has plenty of legitimate purposes, and does not encourage, nor does it seek to profit from, the illegitimate purposes.
Bittorrent has terrific examples of why P2P technology is valid and useful, with several companies using this distribution method to reduce the bandwidth necessary to distribute large files. It's much easier to look at Kazaa and think that P2P has no legitimate uses, but it requires a certain level of purposeful blindness to see that Bittorrent is *currently* being used well (as opposed to something that has occasional or hypothetical good uses).
So, yes, as far as cars and guns are dangerous, we should "look into" ways to make them safer. Note that this doesn't even necessitate any changing of laws. Just, you know, let's look into that.
Of course, the real point of my post is, what the hell is bittorrent doing on the list? I don't think it can be argued that Bittorrent isn't being used for legitimate purposes.
How does it get addressed? Well, the first thing is to find the causes of the problem, and then remove whatever causes are appropriate. Perhaps the law is bad, the bad law is the only real "cause" here worth addressing, and resolution to the issue is to change the law. None of that goes against what I was saying in the first place.
However, it's quite clear that Bittorrent is being used for real, legitimate data distribution. I'm not sure how common it is for a legitimate company to offer it's downloads through Kazaa or Bearshare, but certainly legitimate companies/individuals are using torrents.
Just a guess, but maybe it pulls from an IMAP account and puts all the data into a database. None of this is my forte, but I wouldn't be terribly surprised if it would be easier to do clever things with data in MySQL than pulling it live out of a IMAP server. Things like index the text in e-mails, maybe store an address book, caching for quicker access. Or maybe they have something very clever planned for the future, and aren't there yet (it's only the 0.1 release).
Yeah, but it's not that good. If you're interested in trying it out, you can download it here.
But you're right, that's a crazy idea.
I already have it.
Maybe when it gets there, we should just store it in some air-conditioned warehouses?
Is it illegal for movie theatres to sell tickets to rated-R movies to minors? I didn't think it was, and yet I've seen movie theaters do it.
It's worth noting, however, that you want to get your drivers directly from Nvidia or ATI, and not anything provided by Microsoft. I haven't checked this out in a while (since I use a Mac these days), but it used to be that OpenGL wasn't really supported by the Nvidia drivers provided through Windows Update. From what I can tell, Microsoft took Nvidia's release and actively removed some level of OpenGL support.
Hey, I didn't say it was everything to everyone. I just said it was similar to radio while avoiding the perception of being an unreliable medium.
I also see what could be another problem, given Apple's usual choices: radio is unreliable and sounds bad. Apple doesn't want the iPod to be associated with anything that's unreliable or sounds bad. They've latched onto PodCasting as a solution, since it gives you a lot of what radio programming does, but with the advantages of being digital (no static) and in the device (no reception problems).
I thought it was more like: Treat the iPod nano really roughly and it'll get slightly scratched up. Run over it with a car, and it'll still play music. Abuse it in the worst ways you can think, and maybe, after quite a lot of torture, you'll be able to actually break it.
The story here isn't that they were able to break it, the story is the great lengths they had to go to in order to accomplish that result.
Of course, if they are complete idiots, then you can show them the new numbers and claim, "Look, buying this new metrics software improved our performance by 40%. I think I deserve a raise!"
If GameStop/Bestbuy/etc. would require that you be over 18 to buy it, and further issue a warning at purchase (like a statement from the cashier or even a sticker on the box), then these laws wouldn't be necessary.
It's really no improvement over the obvious: get a scanner with an autofeeder. However, I'm assuming that he's looking for something more industrial/quick, since that answer is so obvious. I'm guessing he must have already checked out Kinkos (which I think is another obvious possibility) and they said that they couldn't do it.
They wanted to play in the game-console arena, so they've been fighting it out with Sony, trying to make the console that everyone wants to play. They've done a good enough job that no one wants to play games on their PCs anymore.
I think the only reason they really even care is that "playing games" was where a lot of people go stuck with Windows. How often have you heard someone say, "I'd run Linux or buy a Mac, but no one is making games for those operating systems." Well, you'll be hearing less of that.