> much like human reproduction is a foolish strategy for accumulating knowledge
Sexual reproduction is not a strategy for accumulating knowledge. It's a strategy for providing mutations so that a species can adapt and survive changes in the organisms environment.
> At what point does this start to make a difference in the market place
Simple. At the point there are apps available for Ubuntu that people want to use.
As long as it works "well enough" and isn't too obnoxious (hello Vista) then, apart from hackers/researchers/coders, nobody really cares about their operating system. People only care about the apps they use. In fact a large proportion only care that "I click on that little icon and get on with my stuff".
e.g. Personally I'll make a full time switch to Ubuntu when there is an integrated music program (audio/MIDI sequencer) that either performs as well as, or hopefuly outperforms, my aging copy of Logic Audio (i.e. must have full VST integration or plugins of the quality of NI Massive, NI Battery etc. etc.) Until then I'll be running XP as my main OS.
For other people it's probably stuff like Photoshop, some CAD program, Outlook etc.
Ubuntu's great. I run several Ubuntu desktops and an Ubuntu server but to gain market share it needs some "must have" app(s) that people want to use.
Once that happens then the side bonus is people will start getting used to Linux as they go about their daily comuting.
After the first 10 minutes of spinning cubes, fading menus, whizzy animations etc. etc. who really cares what their OS is doing ? Get out of the way and let me get on with work/play that's what I say.
Man parks car in dodgy neighbourhood, local juvenile delinquents arrive...
JDs: "We'll look after you car for a fiver mister." Man (pointing at large dog in car): "I think my dog can look after the car quite well thank you." JDs: "Oh, does he put out fires then ?"
I'm paid to perform a job of work. Not to watch the clock. If something has to be ready for, say, Friday then assuming it's possible I'll get it ready for Friday. In the meantime I might talk to some colleagues, surf the 'net etc. etc. Guess what ? the work gets done.
Managers who think you should be spending every second of the working day "working" are idiots. If that's what you want employ a robot.
Employers who are stuck with this Victorian "factory clock punch" mentality rarely do well as working for them sucks and anyone with half a brain leaves at the earliest opportunity (been there, done that). The ones left usually spend most of their time in a fug of resentment and when forced to perform do so with minimum effort.
As well as using a live CD I'd build a small NAS (nano-itx or smaller) which I'd put somewhere in the loft or basement and which I'd access wirelessly. The power supply would be wired into a circuit which also switches on something innocuous like a low power ceiling light. You could even go one better by wiring up a power socket so when the switch is in the on position current is available both to the socket and your NAS powers up. Having a light on in the bright afternoon may look "suspicious" but it doesn't get more innocuous than a power socket with a switch left in the on position.
Hell even make it so it requires two sockets in the house being in the on position before the box will boot.
Something on the NAS could also periodically check what's on the network and silently shut itself down if the network isn't in ARRGH_ME_HEARTIES mode (unknown machine joined the network ? Engines off and dive, dive, dive !)
Then also make sure you run a semi poorly configured wireless access point which looks like you've tried to secure it but are clueless (i.e. user "admin" password "passwurd")
Ho hum... yet another pointless arms race of the state against the citizen.
The two facilities I'd most like to see on Google are the ability to blacklist domains from my results and to either specifically include or exclude merchants from my results.
For the former givemebackmygoogle is a good start as my pet hate are the price comparison cretins or fleabay who return results for just about anything you enter in the search box. Unfortuntately though whilst givemebackmygoogle is all well and good I'd like to maintain my own blacklist.
For the latter it would take something like Google for there to be enough people to flag sites as merchant sites or not. The reason I'd like this requirement is that merchants tend to get pushed up in Google results so it would be really good to be able to exclude them when I'm simply looking for information. Similarly if I'm trying to buy something I'm only interested in merchant sites as I've already done my research and am not interested in sites that aren't selling anything.
Despite it being rather good it can sometimes be a royal pain in the arse trying to find something via Goggle.
As it is I've written my own custom Google search page in PHP which builds a query string then appends a large "-inurl(name1|name2|name3)" directive on the end of it before calling Google.
But it would be nice to have this facility on Google itself. They should like this sort of thing too as by using a custom blacklist they get all that juicy "this individual likes this sort of stuff" profiling crap that advertisers lust after.
If one country has nukes, all countries should have nukes. Hell every home should have it's own nuke (or two) After all they're supposed to be deterrents aren't they ?
After all if only one chimp has a big stick he can make the rules, and he's probably an idiot, so we don't want that.
Mutually Assured Destruction was the "in phrase" I think:)
I really don't understand why anyone would use something like their actual Mothers maiden name to reply to the question "What is your mothers maiden name". It would take all of 30 seconds to get that sort of information from tha intarweb. Personally I use things that are stupid but memorable to me. i.e.
Q: "What is your mothers maiden name ?" A: "An Electric Owl"
Q: "What was the make of your first car ?" A: "Triple Bad Blackstuff"
Of course the problem you then get is that when you have to talk to the uninterested, underpaid support staff at the bank, they sometimes can't cope...
Them: "but that's not a real name" Me: "That's the whole point". Them: "I don't understand ?"
Now try using dates in the future for your birthday etc. and watch their system fall in a heap.
Both the questions and answers used in these systems should both be settable by yourself.
Bugger my tryping ! Obviously that should have read "donate all profits to fund UK Free Software projects" NOT "donate all profits to fund UK Free Software profits".
If you're going to Entanet why not use UKFSN who are not only an Entanet reseller but donate all profits to fund UK Free Software profits (well that's what it says on the web site).
Personally I've been a happy customer of theirs for the last couple of years. Totally transparent bandwidth allowances, no port protocol blocking, run your own servers, decent web space, database etc. etc. etc.
I totally agree that Linux use of plain text files in the "/etc" directory is a far superior solution. However I'd also like to see all the user level config files that currently go into the various "~/.prog_name" folders collected into something like a "~/etc" directory.
Obviously to hide it during "normal" use you could name it "~/.etc" but I do think that it would be more consistent and far tidier to have all the user level config files in their own subdirectory.
Mind you having said that I'd prefer the directories were called "/settings" and ~/.settings" but I suppose 50 years of *NIX cruft precludes this !
Not to mention that with advances in CGI etc. you won't need an $ 80M budget to produce films. Most of the effects and actors will probably be virtualised.
Slashdot Mirror
> much like human reproduction is a foolish strategy for accumulating knowledge
Sexual reproduction is not a strategy for accumulating knowledge. It's a strategy for providing mutations so that a species can adapt and survive changes in the organisms environment.
Ha ha.
(sorry)
Peronsonally I think "Pienet" has more of a ring to it :)
Mmmm... "Pienet"...
Or maybe we're just the equivalent of mould organisms whose outbreak is slowly starting to rot something elses wonderful cultural archive :)
> And how do you do that with style?
One omits the cheetos and puts on an elegant hat.
> At what point does this start to make a difference in the market place
Simple. At the point there are apps available for Ubuntu that people want to use.
As long as it works "well enough" and isn't too obnoxious (hello Vista) then, apart from hackers/researchers/coders, nobody really cares about their operating system. People only care about the apps they use. In fact a large proportion only care that "I click on that little icon and get on with my stuff".
e.g. Personally I'll make a full time switch to Ubuntu when there is an integrated music program (audio/MIDI sequencer) that either performs as well as, or hopefuly outperforms, my aging copy of Logic Audio (i.e. must have full VST integration or plugins of the quality of NI Massive, NI Battery etc. etc.) Until then I'll be running XP as my main OS.
For other people it's probably stuff like Photoshop, some CAD program, Outlook etc.
Ubuntu's great. I run several Ubuntu desktops and an Ubuntu server but to gain market share it needs some "must have" app(s) that people want to use.
Once that happens then the side bonus is people will start getting used to Linux as they go about their daily comuting.
After the first 10 minutes of spinning cubes, fading menus, whizzy animations etc. etc. who really cares what their OS is doing ? Get out of the way and let me get on with work/play that's what I say.
It's all about the apps.
Reminds me of the old joke.
Man parks car in dodgy neighbourhood, local juvenile delinquents arrive...
JDs: "We'll look after you car for a fiver mister."
Man (pointing at large dog in car): "I think my dog can look after the car quite well thank you."
JDs: "Oh, does he put out fires then ?"
Well at least the names apt as it's clearly a site/service for twits who witter a lot.
Well at least the names apt as it's clearly a site for twits who witter a lot.
> raise awareness of the damage to software innovation that Microsoft says is caused by piracy.
Which fades into insignificance when compared to the damage to software innovation caused by Microsoft !
But I thought they'd just released Windows "Merde" ?
"Verde" is just too similar and will confuse the (already confused) market place :)
I'm paid to perform a job of work. Not to watch the clock. If something has to be ready for, say, Friday then assuming it's possible I'll get it ready for Friday. In the meantime I might talk to some colleagues, surf the 'net etc. etc. Guess what ? the work gets done.
Managers who think you should be spending every second of the working day "working" are idiots. If that's what you want employ a robot.
Employers who are stuck with this Victorian "factory clock punch" mentality rarely do well as working for them sucks and anyone with half a brain leaves at the earliest opportunity (been there, done that). The ones left usually spend most of their time in a fug of resentment and when forced to perform do so with minimum effort.
Ho hum, another silly management study.
> Is Open Source Different In Europe Than In the US ?
Oui ! Ja ! Si !
Sorry about that.
Great idea but not quite devious enough :)
As well as using a live CD I'd build a small NAS (nano-itx or smaller) which I'd put somewhere in the loft or basement and which I'd access wirelessly. The power supply would be wired into a circuit which also switches on something innocuous like a low power ceiling light. You could even go one better by wiring up a power socket so when the switch is in the on position current is available both to the socket and your NAS powers up. Having a light on in the bright afternoon may look "suspicious" but it doesn't get more innocuous than a power socket with a switch left in the on position.
Hell even make it so it requires two sockets in the house being in the on position before the box will boot.
Something on the NAS could also periodically check what's on the network and silently shut itself down if the network isn't in ARRGH_ME_HEARTIES mode (unknown machine joined the network ? Engines off and dive, dive, dive !)
Then also make sure you run a semi poorly configured wireless access point which looks like you've tried to secure it but are clueless (i.e. user "admin" password "passwurd")
Ho hum... yet another pointless arms race of the state against the citizen.
The two facilities I'd most like to see on Google are the ability to blacklist domains from my results and to either specifically include or exclude merchants from my results.
For the former givemebackmygoogle is a good start as my pet hate are the price comparison cretins or fleabay who return results for just about anything you enter in the search box. Unfortuntately though whilst givemebackmygoogle is all well and good I'd like to maintain my own blacklist.
For the latter it would take something like Google for there to be enough people to flag sites as merchant sites or not. The reason I'd like this requirement is that merchants tend to get pushed up in Google results so it would be really good to be able to exclude them when I'm simply looking for information. Similarly if I'm trying to buy something I'm only interested in merchant sites as I've already done my research and am not interested in sites that aren't selling anything.
Despite it being rather good it can sometimes be a royal pain in the arse trying to find something via Goggle.
As it is I've written my own custom Google search page in PHP which builds a query string then appends a large "-inurl(name1|name2|name3)" directive on the end of it before calling Google.
But it would be nice to have this facility on Google itself. They should like this sort of thing too as by using a custom blacklist they get all that juicy "this individual likes this sort of stuff" profiling crap that advertisers lust after.
Just my tu'ppence worth.
Excellent !
If one country has nukes, all countries should have nukes. Hell every home should have it's own nuke (or two) After all they're supposed to be deterrents aren't they ?
After all if only one chimp has a big stick he can make the rules, and he's probably an idiot, so we don't want that.
Mutually Assured Destruction was the "in phrase" I think :)
Geeky Wedding Band ?
My top tip would be the Trons.
Yeah I know there are other techincally better robot bands but I love the low down garage feel of the 'bots.
Oh sorry... you're talking about a ring are you ?
I really don't understand why anyone would use something like their actual Mothers maiden name to reply to the question "What is your mothers maiden name". It would take all of 30 seconds to get that sort of information from tha intarweb. Personally I use things that are stupid but memorable to me. i.e.
Q: "What is your mothers maiden name ?"
A: "An Electric Owl"
Q: "What was the make of your first car ?"
A: "Triple Bad Blackstuff"
Of course the problem you then get is that when you have to talk to the uninterested, underpaid support staff at the bank, they sometimes can't cope...
Them: "but that's not a real name"
Me: "That's the whole point".
Them: "I don't understand ?"
Now try using dates in the future for your birthday etc. and watch their system fall in a heap.
Both the questions and answers used in these systems should both be settable by yourself.
Cliff Harris: "Why am I wrong ?"
Pirates: "'cause ye just arrrrrrr."
Sorry about that, I'll get my coat.
Bugger my tryping ! Obviously that should have read "donate all profits to fund UK Free Software projects" NOT "donate all profits to fund UK Free Software profits".
If only I used the preview button :)
If you're going to Entanet why not use UKFSN who are not only an Entanet reseller but donate all profits to fund UK Free Software profits (well that's what it says on the web site).
Personally I've been a happy customer of theirs for the last couple of years. Totally transparent bandwidth allowances, no port protocol blocking, run your own servers, decent web space, database etc. etc. etc.
And no I don't work for them or get commission !
I totally agree that Linux use of plain text files in the "/etc" directory is a far superior solution. However I'd also like to see all the user level config files that currently go into the various "~/.prog_name" folders collected into something like a "~/etc" directory.
Obviously to hide it during "normal" use you could name it "~/.etc" but I do think that it would be more consistent and far tidier to have all the user level config files in their own subdirectory.
Mind you having said that I'd prefer the directories were called "/settings" and ~/.settings" but I suppose 50 years of *NIX cruft precludes this !
Not to mention that with advances in CGI etc. you won't need an $ 80M budget to produce films. Most of the effects and actors will probably be virtualised.
Should really have been called "Tracebook".
The Worlds premier datamining website :)
Well don't just sit there gawping, make it redeuninterdeterminaterized right this minute or there's no supper for you.