On the other hand, it's fairly important that something be released. Successful new technology is somewhat strange in that it pretty much can't happen all at once. They release a product, early adopters pay a premium for the honor of being early adopters, and those profits help fund/justify further development. Complaints/suggestions from early adopters are what make the next generation better. Almost nothing is what-it-should-be in the first generation.
Over the next few years the postition of IT Support Engineer will reduce in standing until it reaches equality with that of building maintenance engineer.
What are you talking about? I'm a Helpdesk Manager, and I already get treated worse than the janitor.
It teaches you the sience behind it all, the foundations of "how this stuff" works. (Which is mostly theory, by the way) It isn't all that useful for your job, but an academic degree doesn't make you ready for "a job".
[snip]
Programming isn't all that hard, but don't come complaining to me because the sorting routine you wrote is too slow and don't know why.
I think you don't mean to say that it "isn't all that useful for your job", but that "you can probably get by without it". There's something implied in what you're saying that you aren't quite spelling out: learning to perform a specific task is vaguely sufficient for performing that task. However, in your career, what specific tasks you'll need to perform will be varied and will change.
Therefore, it because very important (for your job) to learn how to learn, learn how to adapt, and learn how to pick up new skills quickly. These are generic skills that can be learned in college regardless of what you study. You might also get through college without acquiring these skills, or you might learn them outside of college.
Further, learning new skills within a specific field will be much easier if understand the underlying theories of that field. Common sense, right?
I'll say something else, too: If you want to innovate, you'd better understand the theories. Knowing how to program a few languages might get you a job, but if you want to be a part of making the "next big thing", it's crucial that you understand why the "current big things" are the way they are, what their strengths are, and where they fall short.
I didn't mean to imply anything about "ease of use". Due to the high probability of flamage in this topic, I am trying to limit my scope to a very matter of fact statement:
Choosing to buy a Macintosh does not indicate that you are lacking in computer knowledge.
Pretty simple. There are lots of very computer savvy people (and geeks) who are buying Macintoshes these days, partially motivated by the Unix-y underpinnings. Many novices and know-nothings will, in fact, prefer Windows because, not only are they semi-unaware of the alternatives, but they're unsure of what advantages/disadvantages the alternatives offer.
Often, the result is that people who don't know much will buy what "everyone else has", meaning a Dell with Windows. I won't argue for OSX's superiority in this post, but I will say that many competant computer professionals, programmers, designers of all sorts, etc. prefer them. The statistical breakdown is not something I'm qualified to speak about. However, the claim that Apple's clientelle is made up of computer novices and know-nothings is incredible.
Apple inherently lends itself to this problem by marketing its computers as "easy to use." So, inevitably you get heaps of people buying them who know absolutely nothing about computers and don't want to learn.
Yes, as opposed to Windows machines which attract only experts, right?
Truth is, I know a lot of geeks who like OSX as an alternative to Linux. It lets you do nice little Unix-type things. I'm not going to compare Gnome or KDE to OSX's interface, but lets just say some people prefer it and choose OSX over Linux.
Most computer novices that I know, on the other hand, want to buy Dells because they're "normal computers".
Re:Treo 670 / asian language devices?
on
The End of PalmOS?
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· Score: 1
Great, now Microsoft will completely take over the PDA market, dooming any possibility of anyone making a PDA that will interface properly with my Mac.
A good exercise for students: Take a daily paper, discard all the ad sections, then cross out all remaining ads, then cross out all stories that promote products, then cross out all stories based on political figures saying something, and see what's left.
yes, but everyone that wants (and most who dont) a stupid crappy camera already has one in their cell phone. it'd be redundant putting one in an ipod
A lot of those people also have stupid crappy mp3 players in their cell phones too. Of course, I'm not advocating a "stupid crappy camera", but a high quality but simple point-and-shoot camera. How many of those cell-phone cameras give you something in the megapixel range? How many have 4 GB of storage? How many are designed to interface easily with iPhoto?
Cameras should be taken out of cell-phones. Given that cell-phone companies want a strangle-hold on everything, forcing it through their network so they can charge you for every little fee, I won't use my phone for anything but placing calls. However, the IPod, having photo-viewing and PIM capabilities as well as games, is already more of a multimedia device than a music-only device, and it should pursue that classification as is fitting. A simple camera would make sense.
Well there was nothing to gain from putting in a color screen either. There's arguably nothing to gain by adding games, a calendar, or an address book. It's a music player, why do I need to see cover art displayed on the screen while it's in my pocket?
What there is to gain is convenience for the consumers and sales for Apple. You know, the same things that are gained by making an excellent music player in the first place?
The nano has similar dimensions to some of canon's smaller cameras (which are thicker, but close in HxW).
Not that I don't like the idea of an iPod this tiny, but am I the only one who thinks they could make it a little thicker and include a simple point & click camera? Even if it had no optical zoom and very little in the way of manual controls, if it was good quality, a decent flash, and 3 megapixels, I'd buy it.
It's not 'worthless'. Just don't go deleting everything iTunes lists as a "duplicate" without listening first.
First of all, if the live version isn't a duplicate, you can just ignore that it shows up in your listing of duplicate songs. The feature doesn't need to be 100% correct. It only needs to narrow down the field, so that if you have thousands of songs, you get a relatively small list of possible duplicates.
Second, I do sometimes consider the live version a "duplicate". If I have two versions of the same song from the same artist, I usually don't want both showing up in my playlists. I might keep both in my library, but I'll usually devise my playlists in such a way that I only get the version I want.
First, I was mistaken in thinking you were trying to post a complaint that Macs were too expensive, and the fact that people bought them were not paying attention to price issues. So... sorry.
In any case, I think dragging Macintoshes into the discussion is at least a bit off-topic, if not trying to pick a fight.
There's a VERY good reason for MS to not support "Save as OO" as an option.
[snip]
Now imagine MS Word could save reliably in OO's format.
Whoa, whoa whoa... did anyone say anything about Word saving OOo documents reliably? Microsoft might be convinced to create a "Save as OOo document" option, but I'm quite sure that it won't work reliably. In fact, I predict that within a few years, there will be such an option, it won't really work, and Microsoft will blame the problems on OOo formats being sub-standard.
Maybe you're being funny, but OSX won't even let you make a folder that begins with a period through the GUI. You need to go through terminal, unless someone knows some tricky way of doing it.
Of course, the reason being specifically that they don't want users accidently hiding their own files.
er... I am an 'actual philosophy student'... or perhaps one might even say an 'actual expert'. Let's just say I'm not new to the study. Anyhow, I agree, let's drop it. Perhaps there's no sense if neither of us believes we might be convinced.
I think we disagree on the definition of "philosophy", mine doesn't include the absolute necessecity to include practical problems in basic right/wrong discussions.
Then, I'm sorry, but you don't understand philosophy very well. I know, some people think philosophy is the sum of impractical/unprovable convictions, but that sort of definition came into vogue within the past few decades, right around the time that western philosophy all but died. Philosophy, in its truest sense, wishes to embrace ideas that are both true and wise, not those which are "hypothetically right".
Success and distribution aren't necessary to preserve an idea, as long as a legal system protects them from being wiped out (thus the GPL).
If it's not successful, then not enough people will care. If not enough people care, then any legal protection will be moot. Laws can be rewritten, and in fact ignored when there is not sufficient popular support behind them. It's the large user base and devout following that guarantees the survival of freedom.
Notice he didn't say that he's prejudiced against someone who has certifications? He says he's prejudiced against people who put them on their resume. Certainly it's fair in business to judge someone by what they choose to put on their resume.
Also, I think I know what this guy means. It's one thing if someone has some small note in this resume listing some certifications, but I've seen people who'll put an insignia right at the top, bigger than anything else: A+ certified, MCSE. In my experience, good techs rarely value their MCSE very much (even if they have it).
It's funny to hear about this, because I've just recently posted something on Slashdot to the effect of "What ever happened to CLI adventure games (Zork, Kings Quest)? With all the work put in to making cool 3D graphics and physics engines, isn't someone working on a new/advanced command line interpreters?"
I've always missed the sort of thought that went into those command line games. Clicking the "use" button while facing an object isn't the same. Are you supposed to open it, take it, break it, or turn it? You don't need to know or think about that. Just "use".
I've been playing with the old Sierra catalogue for the past few days, and I'm a little saddened to recall how the much thought went into those games, and how absent that thought it from most games I play now.
No, it doesn't assume that everyone I know in real life is already on my buddy list. It just assumes that I'm not relying on IM as the primary means of communication for everyone I know in real life. In my mind, giving out your cell phone number or letting people IM you is like saying, "Go ahead, contact me whenever. It's ok, I won't get annoyed." There are very few people I really want to give that message to.
Try to see him more as the philosopher he is, not caring about marketing and commercial success, but taking care his ideas...continue to exist... no matter what.
Even "philosophers" must confront the world they live in. If he wishes to preserve the ideas and ideals and continued existence of free software, then he ought to care about the success of free software. Any alternative demonstrates that he fails to understand the position in which he's operating.
Does jabber support some sort of privacy? I don't really know, but don't IM services usually allow you to say, "Don't let people contact me or see my status unless they're in this list:"?
If not, they should. Whereas I expect to get occasional e-mails from people I don't know, I don't expect to be sent IM messages from people I don't know.
Slashdot Mirror
On the other hand, it's fairly important that something be released. Successful new technology is somewhat strange in that it pretty much can't happen all at once. They release a product, early adopters pay a premium for the honor of being early adopters, and those profits help fund/justify further development. Complaints/suggestions from early adopters are what make the next generation better. Almost nothing is what-it-should-be in the first generation.
What are you talking about? I'm a Helpdesk Manager, and I already get treated worse than the janitor.
[snip]
Programming isn't all that hard, but don't come complaining to me because the sorting routine you wrote is too slow and don't know why.
I think you don't mean to say that it "isn't all that useful for your job", but that "you can probably get by without it". There's something implied in what you're saying that you aren't quite spelling out: learning to perform a specific task is vaguely sufficient for performing that task. However, in your career, what specific tasks you'll need to perform will be varied and will change.
Therefore, it because very important (for your job) to learn how to learn, learn how to adapt, and learn how to pick up new skills quickly. These are generic skills that can be learned in college regardless of what you study. You might also get through college without acquiring these skills, or you might learn them outside of college.
Further, learning new skills within a specific field will be much easier if understand the underlying theories of that field. Common sense, right?
I'll say something else, too: If you want to innovate, you'd better understand the theories. Knowing how to program a few languages might get you a job, but if you want to be a part of making the "next big thing", it's crucial that you understand why the "current big things" are the way they are, what their strengths are, and where they fall short.
Often, the result is that people who don't know much will buy what "everyone else has", meaning a Dell with Windows. I won't argue for OSX's superiority in this post, but I will say that many competant computer professionals, programmers, designers of all sorts, etc. prefer them. The statistical breakdown is not something I'm qualified to speak about. However, the claim that Apple's clientelle is made up of computer novices and know-nothings is incredible.
I'm not an expert, but I doubt viruses from 10-20 years ago aren't much of a threat, considering OSX is a whole new code base.
Yes, as opposed to Windows machines which attract only experts, right?
Truth is, I know a lot of geeks who like OSX as an alternative to Linux. It lets you do nice little Unix-type things. I'm not going to compare Gnome or KDE to OSX's interface, but lets just say some people prefer it and choose OSX over Linux.
Most computer novices that I know, on the other hand, want to buy Dells because they're "normal computers".
Great, now Microsoft will completely take over the PDA market, dooming any possibility of anyone making a PDA that will interface properly with my Mac.
Stories about Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie?
A lot of those people also have stupid crappy mp3 players in their cell phones too. Of course, I'm not advocating a "stupid crappy camera", but a high quality but simple point-and-shoot camera. How many of those cell-phone cameras give you something in the megapixel range? How many have 4 GB of storage? How many are designed to interface easily with iPhoto?
Cameras should be taken out of cell-phones. Given that cell-phone companies want a strangle-hold on everything, forcing it through their network so they can charge you for every little fee, I won't use my phone for anything but placing calls. However, the IPod, having photo-viewing and PIM capabilities as well as games, is already more of a multimedia device than a music-only device, and it should pursue that classification as is fitting. A simple camera would make sense.
What there is to gain is convenience for the consumers and sales for Apple. You know, the same things that are gained by making an excellent music player in the first place?
Not that I don't like the idea of an iPod this tiny, but am I the only one who thinks they could make it a little thicker and include a simple point & click camera? Even if it had no optical zoom and very little in the way of manual controls, if it was good quality, a decent flash, and 3 megapixels, I'd buy it.
First of all, if the live version isn't a duplicate, you can just ignore that it shows up in your listing of duplicate songs. The feature doesn't need to be 100% correct. It only needs to narrow down the field, so that if you have thousands of songs, you get a relatively small list of possible duplicates.
Second, I do sometimes consider the live version a "duplicate". If I have two versions of the same song from the same artist, I usually don't want both showing up in my playlists. I might keep both in my library, but I'll usually devise my playlists in such a way that I only get the version I want.
Won't that produce fewer children in general?
In any case, I think dragging Macintoshes into the discussion is at least a bit off-topic, if not trying to pick a fight.
[snip]
Now imagine MS Word could save reliably in OO's format.
Whoa, whoa whoa... did anyone say anything about Word saving OOo documents reliably? Microsoft might be convinced to create a "Save as OOo document" option, but I'm quite sure that it won't work reliably. In fact, I predict that within a few years, there will be such an option, it won't really work, and Microsoft will blame the problems on OOo formats being sub-standard.
Wow... you really stretched to find that piece of flamebait, didntchya?
Hmmm... I wonder who Novell would side with?
Of course, the reason being specifically that they don't want users accidently hiding their own files.
er... I am an 'actual philosophy student'... or perhaps one might even say an 'actual expert'. Let's just say I'm not new to the study. Anyhow, I agree, let's drop it. Perhaps there's no sense if neither of us believes we might be convinced.
Then, I'm sorry, but you don't understand philosophy very well. I know, some people think philosophy is the sum of impractical/unprovable convictions, but that sort of definition came into vogue within the past few decades, right around the time that western philosophy all but died. Philosophy, in its truest sense, wishes to embrace ideas that are both true and wise, not those which are "hypothetically right".
Success and distribution aren't necessary to preserve an idea, as long as a legal system protects them from being wiped out (thus the GPL).
If it's not successful, then not enough people will care. If not enough people care, then any legal protection will be moot. Laws can be rewritten, and in fact ignored when there is not sufficient popular support behind them. It's the large user base and devout following that guarantees the survival of freedom.
Also, I think I know what this guy means. It's one thing if someone has some small note in this resume listing some certifications, but I've seen people who'll put an insignia right at the top, bigger than anything else: A+ certified, MCSE. In my experience, good techs rarely value their MCSE very much (even if they have it).
I've always missed the sort of thought that went into those command line games. Clicking the "use" button while facing an object isn't the same. Are you supposed to open it, take it, break it, or turn it? You don't need to know or think about that. Just "use".
I've been playing with the old Sierra catalogue for the past few days, and I'm a little saddened to recall how the much thought went into those games, and how absent that thought it from most games I play now.
So... do you have a copy of your game handy?
No, it doesn't assume that everyone I know in real life is already on my buddy list. It just assumes that I'm not relying on IM as the primary means of communication for everyone I know in real life. In my mind, giving out your cell phone number or letting people IM you is like saying, "Go ahead, contact me whenever. It's ok, I won't get annoyed." There are very few people I really want to give that message to.
Even "philosophers" must confront the world they live in. If he wishes to preserve the ideas and ideals and continued existence of free software, then he ought to care about the success of free software. Any alternative demonstrates that he fails to understand the position in which he's operating.
If not, they should. Whereas I expect to get occasional e-mails from people I don't know, I don't expect to be sent IM messages from people I don't know.