"Have we made absolutely certain books and movies are not degrading the minds of our children and video games and all computerized representation of violent and sexual acts are the cause of an increase of depraved sociopaths??"
No, we have not made absolutely certain.
The anti-environmentalists often use this same type of language to ask "Are we absolutely certain that global warming exists and it's caused by us? If we're not sure, our best option is to do nothing." If there seems to be a problem with kids playing violent games (I fully think that it's something worth studying) but we're not sure, is the best solution to do nothing? This sounds to me like an honest attempt on Michigan's part to see if violent games are causing violence in their youth.
They may make more money per track, but remember that you're only buying the good tracks on a CD. The record industry doesn't like the per-track model of online downloading because it doesn't force you to purchase the less desirable tracks on each album.
This is pretty clearly just a jab at Windows being closed-source. Rootkits are tough to detect on any OS, it's just that the tools to defend against and detect them are more mature on other operating systems. The reason that systems like TripWire for Linux exist while Windows is just starting to see such programs is because Windows has so many other security problems. It's so common for random programs to alter configuration settings all over the place in Windows, but in Linux programs are less intrusive, making it possible to monitor the system more closely without getting millions of false positives. Then we could go into the more cautious user base, the behavior of being Administrator all the time, etc. etc.
It's also really hard to detect, inform users about, and/or remove rootkits without the user knowing a bit about the inner workings of the system. In a "root/administrator" world, there's no guarantee that a rootkit can be detected anyway, because there's nothing a detection app can look at that a rootkit can't obscure, if it knows what the detection app will be looking for.
Windows has problems that make rootkits easier, but it's not because it's closed-source.
Ah, but that's not a person in the company that produced "product name", though now that I look more closely I could have been more specific to say "[person in company that makes product]". But yeah:)
I was preparing my comment to quote that exact line. Symantec is just blaring FUD at this point, and it's only making it to the front page of Slashdot because the editors have decided that flamebait is okay for the front page.
That's a good insight. I remember.Net being presented back in 2001 as the next Java, with the word "Framework" substituted for "Virtual Machine". As the years have gone by, I keep waiting for it to "become" Java, but all we've got to show for it is an architecture with the speed of Java (slow) and the portability of a native Win32 exe (not portable at all).
I noticed that I have felt the same way when looking at screenshots of every previous Beta version of Windows: the whole OS seems goofy and poorly proportioned. However, I think those final dimensions are one of the things they work out near the end, based on input from beta testers and such.
Vectors, not Bitmaps A previous poster pointed out the 3D components of the interface, which is, to me, what makes Vista so truly revolutionary: it's completely vector-based. The goal is to have the entire UI of the OS and all its apps to be vector-based and processed by the GPU. Almost every app out there today uses a bitmapped UI, the downside of which is best seen when using a program like Adobe Premiere where you have tons of palettes that don't fit on your screen unless you're using 1600x1200 or a higher resolution.
The main "wow" feature to me, when watching the Channel9 video about Sparkle was when the dev dragged a "zoom" slider for the entire GUI back and forth to show how the whole tray of palettes could be resized to the user's preference. Not only does this mean that you get more bang for your buck with low-resolution screens, but you've now made it possible for people to use these newer 150dpi LCDs without a magnifying glass by enlarging all the palettes. You know how ugly the "Large Fonts" view in Windows is; it never has worked on bitmapped palette buttons and half the time cheaper programs don't even support it for text.
I know I'm sounding like an MS fanboy at this point, but watch the video and I think you'll agree it's an idea with huge potential. It's always a distinct possibility that MS will screw the whole OS up on policies such as the 7 release versions or some inane DRM crap, but the new graphics ideas of Vista really do seem worth some hype.
I remember playing Myst back in the day. I'd make some progress, then somehow end up back where I was, going in circles the whole time. There was this spot where you could read about the news, but when you returned years later, it was always the same...
Cell phone virus scanners have been around for a while, as often seen on Engadget when they cover a new virus. Here's a screenshot from February: http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000310032479/
It would be worthy of advertising for a cell phone company to include virus scanning software like this on their phones from the start. Though people have grown used to computers being unreliable, cell phones are becoming more and more the same, and people are soon going to stop putting up with it. A friend has replaced her Motorola twice already this year due to software failure.
PowerArchiver has become my replacement for Winzip. I registered Winzip years ago, so it was tough to admit defeat, but I've now replaced it with PA and haven't looked back. PA costs $20 and supports every format I've thrown at it, including rar, 7zip, and many installation EXEs that contain compressed data (WZ did this too). It also has batch compression and decompression, which is great for handling emulation ROMs.
I love the quote about TruPrevent and its 6/6 score:
TruPrevent is not a scanner, but a behavioral analyzer. The malware must be executed and then TruPrevent detects and announces that there is a problem on the PC.
That's great, a program that tells me I got infected. OK, maybe that's useful to some people, but should a "reactive" program really be named "Prevent" ?
On a laptop, RAID would improve reliability (mirroring) or performance (striping), not both, since you're not likely to have more than 2 HDs in that little case.
You hit it spot on price. Ticket prices seem to have exceeded the threshold of what people will put down without thinking. When movies cost $4, why not just go to the theater? Who cares if it sucks or not, it's a decent way to pass the time.
Now that movies cost $8 and up, theaters have lost the impulse buyer. When I plan to check out a movie nowadays, I give it a little time to show up on the Tomatometer, and if the percentage is good enough I'll check it out. If not, I might rent the DVD when it comes out later, but I'm not going to waste $8 seeing a movie that might suck. In other words, I plan my moviegoings so that I get the most money for my dollar, and I end up seeing far less movies.
This explains why good movies are exceeding records for gross, and yet theaters are seeing less money overall. People no longer go to movies on an impulse; they only attend "sure bets" and have become conservative and that's the worst thing a retailer could want.
This really sounds like a problem with significant regional differences. I live in Atlanta (GA), and when we're planning to see a movie I rarely worry about the audience's behavior. People tap on their phones during the "PLEASE SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONES" message, and occasionally a single phone will go off every few movies, but that's about it. Maybe the culture of the SF area is such that people are used to it, and are less embarrassed to be a part of it. Perhaps they should repeat the Cingular "Annoying Cell Phone Guy" ads at the start of your movies?
On the other hand, it's possible that you go to more movies enjoyed by teenagers:)
Flash has managed to create a whole new world of arcade games, making it easy for people with creative gameplay ideas into a working game. Check out the collection on eBaum's world if you're ready to destroy your productivity at work: http://www.ebaumsworld.com/games.shtml
At Ga Tech, we have a competing bookstore within 10 minutes' walk of the center of campus (the Engineer's Bookstore). It offers cheaper prices on new books, stocks many more used books, and offers better returns when selling your books back. It's also nice not to have to maneuver around tourists looking for overpriced t-shirts.
The on-campus bookstore recently moved from the center of campus to a new complex of buildings across the interstate (I-75/85). Though it became a "Barnes and Noble" and a trolley exists to shuttle people to that part of campus, I'm sure its inconvenient new location has boosted sales at the Engineer's Bookstore.
I would agree completely that the Tech bookstore is affiliated, whether officially or not, but they clearly don't have exclusivity on most textbooks; Engineer's has a very competitive inventory. I'd also venture that it's pretty much irrelevant to students if the merchandising is exclusive. The moral of the story is to open up a competing textbook shop near campus, or maybe a sort of organized used-book swap.
Slashdot Mirror
No, we have not made absolutely certain.
The anti-environmentalists often use this same type of language to ask "Are we absolutely certain that global warming exists and it's caused by us? If we're not sure, our best option is to do nothing." If there seems to be a problem with kids playing violent games (I fully think that it's something worth studying) but we're not sure, is the best solution to do nothing? This sounds to me like an honest attempt on Michigan's part to see if violent games are causing violence in their youth.
They may make more money per track, but remember that you're only buying the good tracks on a CD. The record industry doesn't like the per-track model of online downloading because it doesn't force you to purchase the less desirable tracks on each album.
It's also really hard to detect, inform users about, and/or remove rootkits without the user knowing a bit about the inner workings of the system. In a "root/administrator" world, there's no guarantee that a rootkit can be detected anyway, because there's nothing a detection app can look at that a rootkit can't obscure, if it knows what the detection app will be looking for.
Windows has problems that make rootkits easier, but it's not because it's closed-source.
Watch out there; that sounds like sedition to me. You'll find yourself in the same boat as John "hold the shift key" Halderman.
Ah, but that's not a person in the company that produced "product name", though now that I look more closely I could have been more specific to say "[person in company that makes product]". But yeah :)
Has there ever been a combination of those values that didn't result in an "excellent value for the money"?
Ugh, I think I'm gonna be sick. I can't spell ...
Mod parent +1 Flaimbait
"a different configuration"
... meaning one with Norton AV installed.
That would explain why the site isn't yet accessible.
That's a good insight. I remember .Net being presented back in 2001 as the next Java, with the word "Framework" substituted for "Virtual Machine". As the years have gone by, I keep waiting for it to "become" Java, but all we've got to show for it is an architecture with the speed of Java (slow) and the portability of a native Win32 exe (not portable at all).
Vectors, not Bitmaps
A previous poster pointed out the 3D components of the interface, which is, to me, what makes Vista so truly revolutionary: it's completely vector-based. The goal is to have the entire UI of the OS and all its apps to be vector-based and processed by the GPU. Almost every app out there today uses a bitmapped UI, the downside of which is best seen when using a program like Adobe Premiere where you have tons of palettes that don't fit on your screen unless you're using 1600x1200 or a higher resolution.
The main "wow" feature to me, when watching the Channel9 video about Sparkle was when the dev dragged a "zoom" slider for the entire GUI back and forth to show how the whole tray of palettes could be resized to the user's preference. Not only does this mean that you get more bang for your buck with low-resolution screens, but you've now made it possible for people to use these newer 150dpi LCDs without a magnifying glass by enlarging all the palettes. You know how ugly the "Large Fonts" view in Windows is; it never has worked on bitmapped palette buttons and half the time cheaper programs don't even support it for text. I know I'm sounding like an MS fanboy at this point, but watch the video and I think you'll agree it's an idea with huge potential. It's always a distinct possibility that MS will screw the whole OS up on policies such as the 7 release versions or some inane DRM crap, but the new graphics ideas of Vista really do seem worth some hype.
It's not as if that's a new idea though. Mac OS 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 ...
Incremental upgrades: another Apple idea Microsoft likes and plans to borrow?
"Brick, you're just looking around the room and saying you love things that you see." No real news, huh TheTechZone?
I remember playing Myst back in the day. I'd make some progress, then somehow end up back where I was, going in circles the whole time. There was this spot where you could read about the news, but when you returned years later, it was always the same ...
It would be worthy of advertising for a cell phone company to include virus scanning software like this on their phones from the start. Though people have grown used to computers being unreliable, cell phones are becoming more and more the same, and people are soon going to stop putting up with it. A friend has replaced her Motorola twice already this year due to software failure.
That's a negatory good buddy. According to your link, he's currently 21, ready to celebrate the completion of his 22nd year in mid-November.
PowerArchiver has become my replacement for Winzip. I registered Winzip years ago, so it was tough to admit defeat, but I've now replaced it with PA and haven't looked back. PA costs $20 and supports every format I've thrown at it, including rar, 7zip, and many installation EXEs that contain compressed data (WZ did this too). It also has batch compression and decompression, which is great for handling emulation ROMs.
TruPrevent is not a scanner, but a behavioral analyzer. The malware must be executed and then TruPrevent detects and announces that there is a problem on the PC.
That's great, a program that tells me I got infected. OK, maybe that's useful to some people, but should a "reactive" program really be named "Prevent" ?
On a laptop, RAID would improve reliability (mirroring) or performance (striping), not both, since you're not likely to have more than 2 HDs in that little case.
Now that movies cost $8 and up, theaters have lost the impulse buyer. When I plan to check out a movie nowadays, I give it a little time to show up on the Tomatometer, and if the percentage is good enough I'll check it out. If not, I might rent the DVD when it comes out later, but I'm not going to waste $8 seeing a movie that might suck. In other words, I plan my moviegoings so that I get the most money for my dollar, and I end up seeing far less movies.
This explains why good movies are exceeding records for gross, and yet theaters are seeing less money overall. People no longer go to movies on an impulse; they only attend "sure bets" and have become conservative and that's the worst thing a retailer could want.
On the other hand, it's possible that you go to more movies enjoyed by teenagers :)
People love the anonymity of the crowd.
Flash has managed to create a whole new world of arcade games, making it easy for people with creative gameplay ideas into a working game. Check out the collection on eBaum's world if you're ready to destroy your productivity at work: http://www.ebaumsworld.com/games.shtml
At Ga Tech, we have a competing bookstore within 10 minutes' walk of the center of campus (the Engineer's Bookstore). It offers cheaper prices on new books, stocks many more used books, and offers better returns when selling your books back. It's also nice not to have to maneuver around tourists looking for overpriced t-shirts.
The on-campus bookstore recently moved from the center of campus to a new complex of buildings across the interstate (I-75/85). Though it became a "Barnes and Noble" and a trolley exists to shuttle people to that part of campus, I'm sure its inconvenient new location has boosted sales at the Engineer's Bookstore.
I would agree completely that the Tech bookstore is affiliated, whether officially or not, but they clearly don't have exclusivity on most textbooks; Engineer's has a very competitive inventory. I'd also venture that it's pretty much irrelevant to students if the merchandising is exclusive. The moral of the story is to open up a competing textbook shop near campus, or maybe a sort of organized used-book swap.