Not creating Unity was the ideal solution from the beginning.
Creating your own display stack and maintaining it forever is an unaffordable choice.
Joining forces with Gnome was a good idea at the time, but if I recall correctly, there were disagreements, and agreeing on things isn't easy.
Interesting you mention you like GNUstep/Windowmaker. I used it years ago, and ever since have made my desktop act like it where possible.
I use a minimal interface such as gnome 2 - (gnome-session-flashback on ubuntu these days).
Bind alt-1 through alt-9 to go to desktops 1 through 9
Bind alt-m to minimize window
Maybe I'm missing more parts of GNUstep/windowmaker, but it's quick enough to switch between workspaces that all other desktops have bothered me since using it.
Just because you don't like 3D doesn't mean it should be "ditched".
I don't go to many movies, but when I do, I look for good movies that are in 3D.
If a movie has no plot, it doesn't matter if it's in 2D or 3D.
I'm not going to claim the numbers for this are high, but here's what I do:
Plug monitor cable from linux (or windows or you're evil) into LCD TV.
Plug sound cable into TV
Watch computer on TV
Our home computer is a linux desktop that has two video outputs. We can use both the monitor and TV, but one mouse for now. We plug/unplug the audio wire (that goes to the TV) from the desktop speaker to change where the audio goes -- I suppose that part could be better.
It's not hard (same 2 cables) to connect laptops to the TV.
Good thing stock strategies aren't traded like stocks, or all the stock strategy bots would be confused by this year late slashdot article about stock strategy (!)
Myouterspace.com is, in the captain's own words, '... a Sci Fi Social Network for those with a passion for the arts.'
But that is exactly why it won't catch on. The reason why Facebook is so popular is because -everyone- can use it.
Originally not many people could use facebook -- it was only for people in college. There's no reason why Shatner's site couldn't include more people later, but honestly, (and as other people have already said) I don't think they needs to include everyone to be successful.
...A laptop with an R600 chipset is not easy to get working.
You have a good point -- graphics card choices in laptops are limited. But, instead of using windows, or linux without 3D, I just no longer consider laptops with ATI cards (which leaves nvidia choices for now). I feel your pain though -- I had a T43 with X300 card for a couple years, and that experience is unfortunately burned in my memory.
If you're ok with not-so-open drivers, nvidia 3D cards have worked for years. I am waiting for quality open source 3D linux drivers, but until then, at least 3D can and has worked reliably on linux. (the nvidia-settings tool is reasonable enough that you generally don't need to edit config files)
Actually I am sure that both men created lots of things. But what one thing stands above the others for each man? Or a better question, do you know more people that have used Linux or emacs? Those original tools were key parts needed for Linux to happen. But it was Linux that busted into the mainstream.
Stallman was building an operating system. Linus contributed a kernel for it. The Linux kernel and most open source software is built with gcc. I'll still agree that writing the kernel is no small feat. Otherwise the other two or three kernel options considered for GNU would have been completed before the linux kernel.
That is the point. Stallman founded a religion, and Torvalds gave us a tool.
Really? Maybe you aren't aware of the tools Stallman wrote? Stallman wrote the first versions of gcc, gdb, emacs, etc.
So if you still want to oversimplify it, this is more accurate: Stallman created tools and created open source. Torvalds created a tool.
It there any browser to download that will let us try out WebGL on linux yet?
Would building the changes into epiphany or midori work?
I've also tried firefox's canvas3D, but haven''t gotten that to work yet.
Hopefully the WebGL api will be available from the python plugin in firefox. That would still require a plugin to download, but at least there would be a nice 3D web platform to develop in. (yeah, javascript is ok, but it's not great)
Quake live (and similar apps) require you to download a plugin.
Ideally, webGL will eventually be included in browsers so any webpage could use accelerated GL without requiring you to download a plugin first. (I'm not an expert, this is just what I've gathered so far, corrections are welcome).
That is a good idea. It's not quite the same experience as viewing them on the same display, where both people could point at the same object in the same 3D location in front of them.
I didn't say you were wrong.
The (active) stereo glasses are nice, especially with head tracking. It generally gives a good 3D experience.
The autostereo (no glasses) approach is a good idea, but I haven't heard of great experiences with them yet. They will probably eventually be more useful.
For multiple tracked stereo views, the really good display would need much higher refresh rates and specialized emitters and glasses. Multiple tracked people seeing their own tracked view would divide the refresh rate in half for each extra person. For example, two persons' view (with 2 stereo eyes each) requires four images. A 120Hz refresh divided by four only appears as 30Hz. Maybe having two views is reasonable, but more than that is not likely (there are limits to eye and glasses refresh rates).
I can just see tomorrow's article about slashdotter road rage victims who took this article's advice. Luckily, if this happens to me, I have a plan to explain the logic in detail to calm the other driver down.
Slashdot Mirror
Not creating Unity was the ideal solution from the beginning.
Creating your own display stack and maintaining it forever is an unaffordable choice.
Joining forces with Gnome was a good idea at the time, but if I recall correctly, there were disagreements, and agreeing on things isn't easy.
Interesting you mention you like GNUstep/Windowmaker. I used it years ago, and ever since have made my desktop act like it where possible.
I use a minimal interface such as gnome 2 - (gnome-session-flashback on ubuntu these days).
Bind alt-1 through alt-9 to go to desktops 1 through 9
Bind alt-m to minimize window
Maybe I'm missing more parts of GNUstep/windowmaker, but it's quick enough to switch between workspaces that all other desktops have bothered me since using it.
Doogie Howser! None of those TV shows were as big Doogie Howser!!
Really - I looked it up.
And the data was confusing, but the show wasn't bad - it even had a computer in it.
Is that just when Gollum pronounces it?
Just because you don't like 3D doesn't mean it should be "ditched".
I don't go to many movies, but when I do, I look for good movies that are in 3D.
If a movie has no plot, it doesn't matter if it's in 2D or 3D.
I'm not going to claim the numbers for this are high, but here's what I do:
Plug monitor cable from linux (or windows or you're evil) into LCD TV.
Plug sound cable into TV
Watch computer on TV
Our home computer is a linux desktop that has two video outputs. We can use both the monitor and TV, but one mouse for now. We plug/unplug the audio wire (that goes to the TV) from the desktop speaker to change where the audio goes -- I suppose that part could be better.
It's not hard (same 2 cables) to connect laptops to the TV.
You can only understand this if your id is greater than 800000. :)
please please please please please.
I'm not holding my breath for that (anymore), but it would be nice.
Nice one :) -- I liked that movie
You should've seen R.O.B. the robot -- I still don't know how it was supposed to work (a friend had one), but it did have buttons of some kind.
Good thing stock strategies aren't traded like stocks, or all the stock strategy bots would be confused by this year late slashdot article about stock strategy (!)
Myouterspace.com is, in the captain's own words, '... a Sci Fi Social Network for those with a passion for the arts.'
But that is exactly why it won't catch on. The reason why Facebook is so popular is because -everyone- can use it.
Originally not many people could use facebook -- it was only for people in college. There's no reason why Shatner's site couldn't include more people later, but honestly, (and as other people have already said) I don't think they needs to include everyone to be successful.
Apparently pictures of space are cool again....
What? Pictures of space are always cool!
If you're paying 29.99% credit card interest like I am, NPV is pretty high.
(Disclaimer: I am not a financial expert)
...Trying to represent files on a computer in anything more than two dimensions is always going to fail ...
Always?!?!!! You obviously haven't seen Hackers... or Jurassic Park!
...A laptop with an R600 chipset is not easy to get working.
You have a good point -- graphics card choices in laptops are limited. But, instead of using windows, or linux without 3D, I just no longer consider laptops with ATI cards (which leaves nvidia choices for now).
I feel your pain though -- I had a T43 with X300 card for a couple years, and that experience is unfortunately burned in my memory.
If you're ok with not-so-open drivers, nvidia 3D cards have worked for years. I am waiting for quality open source 3D linux drivers, but until then, at least 3D can and has worked reliably on linux. (the nvidia-settings tool is reasonable enough that you generally don't need to edit config files)
Actually I am sure that both men created lots of things. But what one thing stands above the others for each man? Or a better question, do you know more people that have used Linux or emacs? Those original tools were key parts needed for Linux to happen. But it was Linux that busted into the mainstream.
Stallman was building an operating system. Linus contributed a kernel for it. The Linux kernel and most open source software is built with gcc. I'll still agree that writing the kernel is no small feat. Otherwise the other two or three kernel options considered for GNU would have been completed before the linux kernel.
That is the point. Stallman founded a religion, and Torvalds gave us a tool.
Really? Maybe you aren't aware of the tools Stallman wrote? Stallman wrote the first versions of gcc, gdb, emacs, etc.
So if you still want to oversimplify it, this is more accurate: Stallman created tools and created open source. Torvalds created a tool.
Sheesh, businesses know how to remove the fun from everything.
Now they just have to come up with a more boring word for avatar.
It there any browser to download that will let us try out WebGL on linux yet?
Would building the changes into epiphany or midori work?
I've also tried firefox's canvas3D, but haven''t gotten that to work yet.
Hopefully the WebGL api will be available from the python plugin in firefox. That would still require a plugin to download, but at least there would be a nice 3D web platform to develop in. (yeah, javascript is ok, but it's not great)
Quake live (and similar apps) require you to download a plugin.
Ideally, webGL will eventually be included in browsers so any webpage could use accelerated GL without requiring you to download a plugin first. (I'm not an expert, this is just what I've gathered so far, corrections are welcome).
That is a good idea. It's not quite the same experience as viewing them on the same display, where both people could point at the same object in the same 3D location in front of them.
I didn't say you were wrong.
The (active) stereo glasses are nice, especially with head tracking. It generally gives a good 3D experience.
The autostereo (no glasses) approach is a good idea, but I haven't heard of great experiences with them yet. They will probably eventually be more useful.
For multiple tracked stereo views, the really good display would need much higher refresh rates and specialized emitters and glasses.
Multiple tracked people seeing their own tracked view would divide the refresh rate in half for each extra person. For example, two persons' view (with 2 stereo eyes each) requires four images. A 120Hz refresh divided by four only appears as 30Hz. Maybe having two views is reasonable, but more than that is not likely (there are limits to eye and glasses refresh rates).
I can just see tomorrow's article about slashdotter road rage victims who took this article's advice. Luckily, if this happens to me, I have a plan to explain the logic in detail to calm the other driver down.