Windows 3.0, 95, ME, and Vista were terrible for users at first. Windows 3.1, 98, XP, and whatever Win7 will be named are much better. Windows 3.11, 98 OSR2, XP SP2, and Win7 + Whatever it's 2nd service release will be named are/will be good.
95/98 are version 4.XX, ME/XP is the 5.XX series (although ME reports itself as 4.9), Vista is 6.0; and "Win7" will probably effectivly be 6.XX, even if it reports as 7.0
Each new series introduces new APIs for Driver and Application developers; the later releases depricate old API's, while refining the newer ones, so the earlier releases of a series have buggy new APIs mixed with obsolete APIs.
As an example, Windows Media Player is still 32 bit on Vista 64 bit; I would guess that is because Codecs are in-process.DLLs, and trying to have a 32 bit codec process data over the 4GB mark would be a disaster. (This would also be why device drivers are locked down on 64 bit Vista; they would be easy to test on a 64 bit CPU with only 2-4 gigs of RAM, but would epic-fail after the 4GB mark, causing random crashes and corruption.
Windows 7 will be released after application and driver developers have had time to get used to 64 bitness, along with IPv6, DirectX 10 (Which allows GPU preemtive multitasking.), etc. etc. it will be a lot more stable, and can reduce support for older APIs (from the 16 bit era, just as ME/XP dropped a lot of support for DOS applications); but I suspect a lot of unexpected things will be dropped to improve security (for example, in Vista, you can't drag-n-drop into a Command Prompt window, I read this was to prevent security issues)
So, Vista SP1 should fix the 'critical' problems with Vista; Win7 will correct some design flaws, and be more consistant, Win7 +Service packs will have both design fixes and then the critical fixes to those design changes... then everyone will absolutly hate Windows 8.
- there are AV tuners and TV recording capabilities for Apple systems (Happauge makes a few as well as others) Windows has no integrated native apps for it, just hardware and 3rd parts software support same as Apple.
Windows Media Center?
- Network projector support on Windows is via 3rd party apps only. Same as Apple for which software IS available.
It's built in, right on the start menu...
- There are a lot of network storage appliances for Apple, including OS X server. Listing Windows Home Server doesn't count as a plus in Microsoft's corner since it's not "out-of-the box" and requires additional software installed by the server to do these things. Vista does NAS no differently than Apple without a real server behind it... They both access network USB the same, though 3rd party drivers or network shares. Apple also supports more than just SMB shares, so I even lean on their side on this a bit, but still call it tied.
Windows Home Server doesn't require the client for use as a file server, only for notifications and automatic whole-system backups.
- Automator is a sync tool when set up. Better yet, configure rsync (included) and sync only delta changed packets instead of whole files... Sure, it requires some know how, and Windows Sync Center is easier to use, but it can't be used on business editions anyway...
rsync dosn't work with files over 2-4GB in size last I heard.
- Presentation mode? Are they referring to PowerPoint? That's not included in Windows, plus both PowerPoint for Mac 2008 and Keynote do this (and more).
Presentation mode is a mode for the whole PC to be in, not an application.
- Automation Features - apple has lots, Windows has a simple task scheduler to lauch batch files...
Scripting support, etc. etc.
- Security - Apple wins since Admin access is disable by default and their firewall is superior, plus not a single ITW virus for mac and little or no spyware (might change in the future, but not a concern now)
a Mac is the only system I've actually encountered a Virus on, but that was in the 68k days
- Voice Control and dictation support - only works on Windows with Office 2007 installed
I've used it in Notepad, Office is not needed.
- File copy - Vista looses 3 points for this. Especially when doing so across a network. A fundamental thing to do with an OS is manage data. Vista completely flopped at this.
True, but don't disable Remote Differential Compression.
Scientology is what happens when the mentally ill don't take their medicine.
The human psyche is made up of a collection of personalities? Against taking psych mediciations? Thinking that psychiatrists are evil?
Hubbard probably developed schizophrenia, with paranoia, delusions, voices in his head, etc.
So he developed a way other think to justify his decisions after the fact, calling it Scientology. That is, the "Science of Science", or like one fellow I met in a psych ward said "You have to read between the lines between the lines"; layers upon layers of conspiracy seem to be common in delusional thinking.
So his organization is a draw to others who don't want to take their meds, including the large 'anti-drug' campaign they claim to have. Cruise on Oprah?, looked pretty 'Manic' to me.
Unfortunetly, the only consistant way to tell the differences between Religion, Cults and Insanity is how many people share the same set of delusions, kinda democratic really.
Death due to accidental inhalation of DHMO, even in small quantities. Prolonged exposure to solid DHMO causes severe tissue damage. DHMO is a major component of acid rain. Gaseous DHMO can cause severe burns. Leads to corrosion and oxidation of many metals. Found in biopsies of pre-cancerous tumors and lesions.
Some companies re-use plug-n-play ID numbers for incompatible hardware, some use other companies assigned numbers, and some even just use 1234, 0000, etc.
That makes it very hard to correctly ID hardware, and the wrong driver (pre-Vista) will frequently BSOD; Vista does handle drivers better, protecting the rest of the system from their failures.
Since pharma companies make a TON more money on a drug before it's patents expire (Example, Zyrtec cost me $2 a 10 mg pill. Now that generics are out, you can get 100 for $14.99, about 15 cents a pill)
How about a moderate tax on patent protected drugs, to help fund the FDA, who can then improve their inspection process. That can help keep out counterfeit drugs, ensuring that potential customers will only get your genuine products.
That is, in exchange for the government granted monopoly, you give the government a small extra share of the profits. A percentage for every patent license. So that a patent owner pays a tax on what he gets from a 3rd party manufacturer.
Not a tax on aquiring the patents, or on the drug itself. Once the patent has expired, the tax no longer applies to anyone, inventor or copycat. If you want to not have to pay the tax, you can simply disclaim your patent rights, and allow competition; or just not make and sell the product, in which case you have little claim to damages for 'lost market share'.
Complications could include a patent on a non-therapeutic aspect of the drug, such as capsule design, coloring, labeling etc.
But once I had this idea, I thought: 'Hmmm, what if this applied to ALL patents?'
Claim your expensive software is 'patented', pay an few extra % to Uncle Sam. Patent your corporate 'Business Method', any revenue from that method is taxed a bit more.
I guess that wouldn't stop patent trolls who don't actually make or sell a product... and it would add costs to 'defensive' patents. But an extra few % from every court judgement, or out-of-court settlement to fund the patent office could got a long way towards speeding up the process, and making it more accurate. Ideally companies would think before filing "Is this patent worth the added taxes".
As a bonus to patent holders, anyone producing counterfeit goods would also be commiting tax fraud, meaning legions of IRS agents will help them find illegal copiers.
No idea how/if this would mesh with internation patent law treaties, but it's not like the U.S. gives a damn about those.
Still have the 'rule' that targetted taxes often affect unintended targets more than the intended ones. But what stops the drug companies from raising prices higher than they already are?
Same way that guy on Dateline (or whatever show that "Have a seat" guy is on) catches child 'predators'.
The government requires 'Warrants', has rules against 'Entrapment', etc. However, if a private party does the work, they hands it over to them, magically it's accepable as evidence.
Just like the Blackwater contractors, it's not the Government, so it's OK.
Corporations don't just get favors from Government, sometimes they give them.
How many warrentless wiretaps is the spectrum auction worth?
I am just joking, but sometimes I wonder if I'm paranoid enough. (Giger counters illegal in New York?, asset fortfiture laws? 'Real' ID?)
I knew someone who contributed to the Bush campaign, she wants the second coming (of Jesus) to happen and she's looking forward to the events in Revelations, such as the battle of Armegeddon.
Toss an object with a sturdy heavy bottom into the air, then use a chain of shots from multiple railguns to keep kicking it upwards, like a trick shooter floating a tin can.
Of coarse, if such a system could hit a moving target so arrucatly and rapidly, it would also make a perfect anti-missile defense system.
Perhaps a better idea would be to launch a spool of carbon fiber for a space elevator. That's one material that might be strong enough to survive the launch.
Maybe even keep one end tied down, and the other to the projectile, so that the launch unwinds the spool.
Incorrect. The reason pre-sp1 Vista slows down the network while audio is playing has zero to do with DRM. It is because when I copy files via gigabit lan to my XP Media Center, the playback of other files stutter. I'd like faster network transfers, but my sister watching american idol doesn't want the audio to stutter. Slow network is Slow, but stuttering audio is Broken.
User Experiance is key to Microsoft, better someone with a packet analyser detect a slowdown, than have every media player with a gigabit connection, and only one CPU crap out.
"You need to have a broad VIEW of the field, but still be specialised, to be efficient at what you do. Knowing 10 technologies equaly well means that you don't know either of them at their peek."
10? either?
You sir, have been thinking in Binary way too much.
You can ask google to evaluate an expression for you, using data you don't provide.
"mass of earth * 10" for example
But really, anything more sophisticated would require programming knowledge, and programmatic access to free data does not generate ad revenue, so I don't see much interest in providing such services for free.
So at least two more parts need to be developed for it to actually work:
1) A user interface to generate code that does what a user wants and expects; but generated code of any real complexity usually sucks, in that to code does exactly what it was told to do, which is not always what the user wanted or expected. (1 + 1 = 11) Exceptions such as BITBLT actually generate simpler code than doing it with ordinary code. Nevermind the horrors of plain bad methods, such as encrypting then compressing data, instead of compress then encrypt...
2) A business model, that actually stands a real chance of making a profit; once you give programmatic access to the service, why would the programs that use your data bother to forward on your ads? (see the demise of free television program guide data)
and I think his soulution is reasonable, make the small (around $.25) fee to ICANN for a domain registration non-refundable.
It would utterly destroy profits from that practice, while helping to fund infrastructure, and would only cost legitimate users a small amount, in the event they decide to cancel a registration.
......That's pretty astounding arrogance right there. Since when do one country's laws apply anywhere outside their borders?...They learned from America, whose government has pretty much the same attitude in many areas.
Unless the US Government dosn't want it to, such as in Gitmo, where our troops are enforcing the opposite of our national laws...
Slashdot Mirror
All Chuck Norris has to do is look at it sternly, while folding origami.
Origami made from titanium plates.
Because 300 BPS modems were TOTALLY invulnerable to attacks...
+++ATH0
Windows 3.0, 95, ME, and Vista were terrible for users at first.
.DLLs, and trying to have a 32 bit codec process data over the 4GB mark would be a disaster. (This would also be why device drivers are locked down on 64 bit Vista; they would be easy to test on a 64 bit CPU with only 2-4 gigs of RAM, but would epic-fail after the 4GB mark, causing random crashes and corruption.
Windows 3.1, 98, XP, and whatever Win7 will be named are much better.
Windows 3.11, 98 OSR2, XP SP2, and Win7 + Whatever it's 2nd service release will be named are/will be good.
95/98 are version 4.XX, ME/XP is the 5.XX series (although ME reports itself as 4.9), Vista is 6.0; and "Win7" will probably effectivly be 6.XX, even if it reports as 7.0
Each new series introduces new APIs for Driver and Application developers; the later releases depricate old API's, while refining the newer ones, so the earlier releases of a series have buggy new APIs mixed with obsolete APIs.
As an example, Windows Media Player is still 32 bit on Vista 64 bit; I would guess that is because Codecs are in-process
Windows 7 will be released after application and driver developers have had time to get used to 64 bitness, along with IPv6, DirectX 10 (Which allows GPU preemtive multitasking.), etc. etc. it will be a lot more stable, and can reduce support for older APIs (from the 16 bit era, just as ME/XP dropped a lot of support for DOS applications); but I suspect a lot of unexpected things will be dropped to improve security (for example, in Vista, you can't drag-n-drop into a Command Prompt window, I read this was to prevent security issues)
So, Vista SP1 should fix the 'critical' problems with Vista; Win7 will correct some design flaws, and be more consistant, Win7 +Service packs will have both design fixes and then the critical fixes to those design changes... then everyone will absolutly hate Windows 8.
- there are AV tuners and TV recording capabilities for Apple systems (Happauge makes a few as well as others) Windows has no integrated native apps for it, just hardware and 3rd parts software support same as Apple.
Windows Media Center?
- Network projector support on Windows is via 3rd party apps only. Same as Apple for which software IS available.
It's built in, right on the start menu...
- There are a lot of network storage appliances for Apple, including OS X server. Listing Windows Home Server doesn't count as a plus in Microsoft's corner since it's not "out-of-the box" and requires additional software installed by the server to do these things. Vista does NAS no differently than Apple without a real server behind it... They both access network USB the same, though 3rd party drivers or network shares. Apple also supports more than just SMB shares, so I even lean on their side on this a bit, but still call it tied.
Windows Home Server doesn't require the client for use as a file server, only for notifications and automatic whole-system backups.
- Automator is a sync tool when set up. Better yet, configure rsync (included) and sync only delta changed packets instead of whole files... Sure, it requires some know how, and Windows Sync Center is easier to use, but it can't be used on business editions anyway...
rsync dosn't work with files over 2-4GB in size last I heard.
- Presentation mode? Are they referring to PowerPoint? That's not included in Windows, plus both PowerPoint for Mac 2008 and Keynote do this (and more).
Presentation mode is a mode for the whole PC to be in, not an application.
- Automation Features - apple has lots, Windows has a simple task scheduler to lauch batch files...
Scripting support, etc. etc.
- Security - Apple wins since Admin access is disable by default and their firewall is superior, plus not a single ITW virus for mac and little or no spyware (might change in the future, but not a concern now)
a Mac is the only system I've actually encountered a Virus on, but that was in the 68k days
- Voice Control and dictation support - only works on Windows with Office 2007 installed
I've used it in Notepad, Office is not needed.
- File copy - Vista looses 3 points for this. Especially when doing so across a network. A fundamental thing to do with an OS is manage data. Vista completely flopped at this.
True, but don't disable Remote Differential Compression.
Scientology is what happens when the mentally ill don't take their medicine.
The human psyche is made up of a collection of personalities?
Against taking psych mediciations?
Thinking that psychiatrists are evil?
Hubbard probably developed schizophrenia, with paranoia, delusions, voices in his head, etc.
So he developed a way other think to justify his decisions after the fact, calling it Scientology. That is, the "Science of Science", or like one fellow I met in a psych ward said "You have to read between the lines between the lines"; layers upon layers of conspiracy seem to be common in delusional thinking.
So his organization is a draw to others who don't want to take their meds, including the large 'anti-drug' campaign they claim to have. Cruise on Oprah?, looked pretty 'Manic' to me.
Unfortunetly, the only consistant way to tell the differences between Religion, Cults and Insanity is how many people share the same set of delusions, kinda democratic really.
Dihydrogen Monoxide.
Some effects:
Death due to accidental inhalation of DHMO, even in small quantities.
Prolonged exposure to solid DHMO causes severe tissue damage.
DHMO is a major component of acid rain.
Gaseous DHMO can cause severe burns.
Leads to corrosion and oxidation of many metals.
Found in biopsies of pre-cancerous tumors and lesions.
see http://www.dhmo.org/
Undead clown lawyers... I'm not gonna be able to sleep tonight.
One thing I was wondering about the magnetic pole flipping...
Since many birds can navigate by the earths magnetic field, when the flips occur is there a shift in migration patterns?
That is, will all the penguins swim/waddle to the new 'South' pole?
Some companies re-use plug-n-play ID numbers for incompatible hardware, some use other companies assigned numbers, and some even just use 1234, 0000, etc.
That makes it very hard to correctly ID hardware, and the wrong driver (pre-Vista) will frequently BSOD; Vista does handle drivers better, protecting the rest of the system from their failures.
Just make a dual core CPU, and have one core run on +5 volts, and the other on -5.
Since pharma companies make a TON more money on a drug before it's patents expire (Example, Zyrtec cost me $2 a 10 mg pill. Now that generics are out, you can get 100 for $14.99, about 15 cents a pill)
How about a moderate tax on patent protected drugs, to help fund the FDA, who can then improve their inspection process. That can help keep out counterfeit drugs, ensuring that potential customers will only get your genuine products.
That is, in exchange for the government granted monopoly, you give the government a small extra share of the profits. A percentage for every patent license. So that a patent owner pays a tax on what he gets from a 3rd party manufacturer.
Not a tax on aquiring the patents, or on the drug itself. Once the patent has expired, the tax no longer applies to anyone, inventor or copycat. If you want to not have to pay the tax, you can simply disclaim your patent rights, and allow competition; or just not make and sell the product, in which case you have little claim to damages for 'lost market share'.
Complications could include a patent on a non-therapeutic aspect of the drug, such as capsule design, coloring, labeling etc.
But once I had this idea, I thought: 'Hmmm, what if this applied to ALL patents?'
Claim your expensive software is 'patented', pay an few extra % to Uncle Sam. Patent your corporate 'Business Method', any revenue from that method is taxed a bit more.
I guess that wouldn't stop patent trolls who don't actually make or sell a product... and it would add costs to 'defensive' patents. But an extra few % from every court judgement, or out-of-court settlement to fund the patent office could got a long way towards speeding up the process, and making it more accurate. Ideally companies would think before filing "Is this patent worth the added taxes".
As a bonus to patent holders, anyone producing counterfeit goods would also be commiting tax fraud, meaning legions of IRS agents will help them find illegal copiers.
No idea how/if this would mesh with internation patent law treaties, but it's not like the U.S. gives a damn about those.
Still have the 'rule' that targetted taxes often affect unintended targets more than the intended ones. But what stops the drug companies from raising prices higher than they already are?
I think we could use Frank Herbert's "Ministry of Sabotage".
A goverment agency who's job is to try and keep other agencies, within the same goverment, from gaining power.
CD's lack 'warmth' in the same way a photograph of a fireplace lacks warmth.
the very high and very low frequencies that you can feel, but not hear/see.
Just like you can't get a tan from a photograph of the sun.
Same way that guy on Dateline (or whatever show that "Have a seat" guy is on) catches child 'predators'.
The government requires 'Warrants', has rules against 'Entrapment', etc. However, if a private party does the work, they hands it over to them, magically it's accepable as evidence.
Just like the Blackwater contractors, it's not the Government, so it's OK.
Corporations don't just get favors from Government, sometimes they give them.
How many warrentless wiretaps is the spectrum auction worth?
I am just joking, but sometimes I wonder if I'm paranoid enough. (Giger counters illegal in New York?, asset fortfiture laws? 'Real' ID?)
I knew someone who contributed to the Bush campaign, she wants the second coming (of Jesus) to happen and she's looking forward to the events in Revelations, such as the battle of Armegeddon.
The key I got from an Apple insider is: 01 02 03 04 05
That's 'How', I was saying 'Why'
...take a page from the Orion drive concept.
Toss an object with a sturdy heavy bottom into the air, then use a chain of shots from multiple railguns to keep kicking it upwards, like a trick shooter floating a tin can.
Of coarse, if such a system could hit a moving target so arrucatly and rapidly, it would also make a perfect anti-missile defense system.
Perhaps a better idea would be to launch a spool of carbon fiber for a space elevator. That's one material that might be strong enough to survive the launch.
Maybe even keep one end tied down, and the other to the projectile, so that the launch unwinds the spool.
One of the worst products I have seen, is candy shaped like lego blocks...
The candy itself isn't bad, but it might lead to some kids choking on a real lego...
Incorrect. The reason pre-sp1 Vista slows down the network while audio is playing has zero to do with DRM. It is because when I copy files via gigabit lan to my XP Media Center, the playback of other files stutter. I'd like faster network transfers, but my sister watching american idol doesn't want the audio to stutter. Slow network is Slow, but stuttering audio is Broken.
User Experiance is key to Microsoft, better someone with a packet analyser detect a slowdown, than have every media player with a gigabit connection, and only one CPU crap out.
"You need to have a broad VIEW of the field, but still be specialised, to be efficient at what you do. Knowing 10 technologies equaly well means that you don't know either of them at their peek."
10? either?
You sir, have been thinking in Binary way too much.
I have on many occasions been impressed by what a determined user can acomplish with zero programming ability, knowledge, or experience.
I as well, and I usually end up re-installing Windows for them.
You can ask google to evaluate an expression for you, using data you don't provide.
"mass of earth * 10" for example
But really, anything more sophisticated would require programming knowledge, and programmatic access to free data does not generate ad revenue, so I don't see much interest in providing such services for free.
So at least two more parts need to be developed for it to actually work:
1) A user interface to generate code that does what a user wants and expects; but generated code of any real complexity usually sucks, in that to code does exactly what it was told to do, which is not always what the user wanted or expected. (1 + 1 = 11) Exceptions such as BITBLT actually generate simpler code than doing it with ordinary code. Nevermind the horrors of plain bad methods, such as encrypting then compressing data, instead of compress then encrypt...
2) A business model, that actually stands a real chance of making a profit; once you give programmatic access to the service, why would the programs that use your data bother to forward on your ads? (see the demise of free television program guide data)
Really?, the founder of GoDaddy is strongly against that practice.
http://www.bobparsons.com/WhyyoucantgetthedomainnameyouwantGoDaddyrescuesRegisterflycustomers.html
http://www.bobparsons.com/MayKiting.html
etc. etc.
and I think his soulution is reasonable, make the small (around $.25) fee to ICANN for a domain registration non-refundable.
It would utterly destroy profits from that practice, while helping to fund infrastructure, and would only cost legitimate users a small amount, in the event they decide to cancel a registration.
USB would be nice, so I could use my George Foreman USB iGrill in flight.
http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/looflirpa/igrill.shtml
......That's pretty astounding arrogance right there. Since when do one country's laws apply anywhere outside their borders? ...They learned from America, whose government has pretty much the same attitude in many areas.
Unless the US Government dosn't want it to, such as in Gitmo, where our troops are enforcing the opposite of our national laws...
Do as I say, not as I do.