Some time ago, (when there was still technically inclined people in Slashdot) there was a post (I *think* an ask slashdot) related to hearing aids.
IIRC correctly, it was argued that one of the reasons these hearing aids are overpriced is because they are considered "medical devices". Additionally, several people here suggested some devices (I think some even DIY) that were at much better prices.
Of course, as I expected the current/. comments tread is full of almost political whining.
With a real book it is trivial to go from the first third of the book to the last third (say "turn" 300 pages) with one go. With an ebook reader it is not so straightforward.
That being said, I love my PRS-900 and would not change it for a thousand real books.
Well it depends. In Germany, shops must close every Sunday by law. Thus you have a whole day in which a lot of people have free time to go out.... but they cannot enter your store. I have been amazed at this fact since I arrived to Germany 3 years ago. Why would shops close in one of the only days I have free time? A similar thing happened in the UK about 6 years ago (I think they now open also Sundays) but worse, as shops closed exactly at 5:00pm on weekdays (when I got out of work... uh?).
This technology at least give people something to do on those days. Another option I have thought is for shops to put codes with special discounts on the shop's windows on Saturday before closing. With this codes, they could let consumers order/buy whatever discounted goods via Internet and them, supply them in the store on the next working day.
You touch a very good point. For all the magazines I have bought and the ones I have subscribed to, I first saw them in a random news stand that I passed by and then, after briefly skimming through the magazine I decided to buy it.
I did it about 20 years ago with PC Format. I did it later with Game Dev magazine (that shit was expensive to buy in Mexico), I did it with some *very* low print quality (black text on grey newspaper quality) magazine which had excellent content, also Linux Mag (for which I subscribed with an Alaska address and a cousin took the magazines to Mexico every 6 months. Then in the UK I used to buy the odd Linux or PC magazine (5 years ago).
Now there is no way I will do such impulse buy. A lot of those magazines I just bought to read one or two articles which seemed interesting (or for the Jazz Jackrabbit demo floppy, or the Linux distro CD). Now I have to go to the internet to *look for* whatever I need... and the "discovery" (or pushed content as I like to call it) is minimum (well, hackernews is OK, but the editorial quality of blogs is terrible compared to any magazine).
The problem with being "internet only" is that the only advertisement the magazine has is word-of-mouth. And the other problem is that buying only one magazine is really cumbersome (got to go into the webpage, use my credit card and... forget it) compared to passing by a random newsstand, seeing *that magazine that my friend told me about* and paying some change for it (after you quickly skimmed it).
I've got a PRS-900 and have been using it for reading papers for about a year. Indeed the default document selection mode is unbelievably clumsy. However after I decided to install the PRS+ firmware it allows me to browse my library using the SD folder structure I have. That is very convenient for me as I had all my PDFs sorted using a folder structure.
I own a Sony PRS-900 and use it *only* to read PDFs (mainly Comp. Science papers). So far what have worked for me is using Briss to automagically crop all the headers, footers and margins from all the pages.
For multicolumn papers the PRS-900 has a great multi-column reading mode (dividing the page in 4 quadrants, zooming in the first one and as you select "next page" going into the adequate next quadrant).
I installed Calibre some time ago but deleted it as it was a huge beast (it really made my computer crawl). I tried converting one or two PDFs to Ebooks but as you said the headers/footers messed everything. Maybe combining Briss with Calibre would work.
I have a small batch file in my desktop in which I drop every PDF before reading it. It has soPDF and Briss. I have had no problems reading any PDF so far.
Hehe, I know of some guys that used to work at an HP research center in the UK who were let go. These guys were some of the most brilliant minds I have worked with and were first quality researchers . Too bad for HP
HP has been one of the worst PC manufacturers in the last 10 years (if not more). I have had a very low view of their PCs since the time they started selling thsose small towers with everything cramped in (about 10 years ago).
- the only time you would be is if you were arrested.
That's because every person entering the USA is considered a criminal and potential terrorist.
Seriously, these scare and control tactics is what has prevented me from going to the USA. I would like to visit the Grand Canyon, Disneyland, Universal Studios, and several friends and family I've got there. But I decided there is no way I will stand being treated like a criminal (being profiled, robbed and virtually stripped)..
Shit, even going to the UK is quite straightforward. I flight there with a return flight and hotel tickets, I tell the migration officer were I am going for vacations and they welcome me (except in Manchester or London where you also have to submit to the porn scanners when before flying).
You may be kidding, but about 20 years ago there was a brand called COBY which produced cheap copies of SONY electronics. Nowadays (at least in Mexico) they actually are a good low/mid range priced electronics brand. For people who earn USD$300 a month, buying a USD$800 iPod is impossible; nevertheless, buying a $20 device that will perform the same service is OK.
My brother got one of those, although I think it is the previous version (hi-Phone 4) in Mexico.
The device is OK for its cost, and actually I would say it is even cheapo. However, the software is of course not apple's IOS, but a simple Java based "feature-phone". The only similar thing with the iPhone is the outside.
This brings me to a comment from GP, he said that companies do not make good equipment because people are not willing to pay for it. Nevertheless, the expensive equipment you can buy nowadays only costs a lot because of brand recognition (e.g. Bose( and not because it has better sound quality...
I'm willing to bet that they aren't removing Evolution from Ubuntu but just aren't installing it by default. If you're upgrading an older system, you'll get a newer version of Evolution along with everything else.
Except that, the general concensus for *all* desktop operating systems is that *upgrading* an OS from an old version is stupid, and it is always recommended to re-install the new version after backing up the/home folder.
Well, that is exactly what everybody says in ubuntuforums.org when people bring up problems with stuff breaking after running apt-get dist-upgrade
Disclaimer: My reserach project (not mine but, I am part of it) touches several of the points discussed in this article. It is an FP7 project about Policy analysis in Rural development.
The fact is that agriculture is shrinking, and farm owners are looking for alternative ways of earning money. That is why you see a lot of diversification activities among farmers. The nice thing about Brits is that they seem to engage in diversified activities *only* if it is business.
We interviewed a UK ex-farmer who was doing something else now; his wife was in charge of the farm. When we asked what subsidies did he used for his new enterprise he said that he did not believed in "subsidies" and that if a business was really business then it does not need subsidies.
On the other hand, the general concensus of farmers we interviewed in Germany doing "bio-energy" was that the only reason they are doing it is because of the government subsidies. Otherwise they would never try (because it is not profitable).
I think the general spirit of the idea described in the article is good but only if the research is *very* focused on improving the quality of agriculture and rural areas in general.
Sure, but the problem with this announcement (that Ubuntu will drop Evolution) shows everything that is wrong with Ubuntu. Since the times of Ubuntu 5.10 the team makes every effort possible to change the base programs on each release. Being it the network configuration application, the chat application, the multimedia player, etc, etc etc.
I think it was around 8.04 that my dad asked me to reinstall Windows because he was tired of having to learn a new way to do things on each new version.
No! it is going to be like Google Buzz... only noisier!
Really, google has tried (and failed) to enter the social network bandwagon for some time now. I suspect this will have the same future as Buzz or Wave.
Funny that you mention this. About two days a go I posted a question in Reddit asking for legal alternatives to Hulu, Netflix-stream and iPlayer in Germany.
Unfortunately the only replies suggested using a VPN.
Slashdot Mirror
Some time ago, (when there was still technically inclined people in Slashdot) there was a post (I *think* an ask slashdot) related to hearing aids.
IIRC correctly, it was argued that one of the reasons these hearing aids are overpriced is because they are considered "medical devices". Additionally, several people here suggested some devices (I think some even DIY) that were at much better prices.
Of course, as I expected the current /. comments tread is full of almost political whining.
With a real book it is trivial to go from the first third of the book to the last third (say "turn" 300 pages) with one go. With an ebook reader it is not so straightforward.
That being said, I love my PRS-900 and would not change it for a thousand real books.
Well it depends. In Germany, shops must close every Sunday by law. Thus you have a whole day in which a lot of people have free time to go out.... but they cannot enter your store. I have been amazed at this fact since I arrived to Germany 3 years ago. Why would shops close in one of the only days I have free time? A similar thing happened in the UK about 6 years ago (I think they now open also Sundays) but worse, as shops closed exactly at 5:00pm on weekdays (when I got out of work... uh?).
This technology at least give people something to do on those days. Another option I have thought is for shops to put codes with special discounts on the shop's windows on Saturday before closing. With this codes, they could let consumers order/buy whatever discounted goods via Internet and them, supply them in the store on the next working day.
Ha! I've been using Simtel Net since 1995 and haven't had a problem with them :P
Uh, I downloaded the update checker, ran it in my computer and got a 404 filehippo.com page.
Guess I'll stick with Ninite
You touch a very good point. For all the magazines I have bought and the ones I have subscribed to, I first saw them in a random news stand that I passed by and then, after briefly skimming through the magazine I decided to buy it.
I did it about 20 years ago with PC Format. I did it later with Game Dev magazine (that shit was expensive to buy in Mexico), I did it with some *very* low print quality (black text on grey newspaper quality) magazine which had excellent content, also Linux Mag (for which I subscribed with an Alaska address and a cousin took the magazines to Mexico every 6 months. Then in the UK I used to buy the odd Linux or PC magazine (5 years ago).
Now there is no way I will do such impulse buy. A lot of those magazines I just bought to read one or two articles which seemed interesting (or for the Jazz Jackrabbit demo floppy, or the Linux distro CD). Now I have to go to the internet to *look for* whatever I need... and the "discovery" (or pushed content as I like to call it) is minimum (well, hackernews is OK, but the editorial quality of blogs is terrible compared to any magazine).
The problem with being "internet only" is that the only advertisement the magazine has is word-of-mouth. And the other problem is that buying only one magazine is really cumbersome (got to go into the webpage, use my credit card and... forget it) compared to passing by a random newsstand, seeing *that magazine that my friend told me about* and paying some change for it (after you quickly skimmed it).
Or maybe they could even make a profit!
I've got a PRS-900 and have been using it for reading papers for about a year. Indeed the default document selection mode is unbelievably clumsy. However after I decided to install the PRS+ firmware it allows me to browse my library using the SD folder structure I have. That is very convenient for me as I had all my PDFs sorted using a folder structure.
I own a Sony PRS-900 and use it *only* to read PDFs (mainly Comp. Science papers). So far what have worked for me is using Briss to automagically crop all the headers, footers and margins from all the pages.
For multicolumn papers the PRS-900 has a great multi-column reading mode (dividing the page in 4 quadrants, zooming in the first one and as you select "next page" going into the adequate next quadrant).
I installed Calibre some time ago but deleted it as it was a huge beast (it really made my computer crawl). I tried converting one or two PDFs to Ebooks but as you said the headers/footers messed everything. Maybe combining Briss with Calibre would work.
I have a small batch file in my desktop in which I drop every PDF before reading it. It has soPDF and Briss. I have had no problems reading any PDF so far.
Hehe, I know of some guys that used to work at an HP research center in the UK who were let go. These guys were some of the most brilliant minds I have worked with and were first quality researchers . Too bad for HP
HP has been one of the worst PC manufacturers in the last 10 years (if not more). I have had a very low view of their PCs since the time they started selling thsose small towers with everything cramped in (about 10 years ago).
- the only time you would be is if you were arrested.
That's because every person entering the USA is considered a criminal and potential terrorist.
Seriously, these scare and control tactics is what has prevented me from going to the USA. I would like to visit the Grand Canyon, Disneyland, Universal Studios, and several friends and family I've got there. But I decided there is no way I will stand being treated like a criminal (being profiled, robbed and virtually stripped)..
Shit, even going to the UK is quite straightforward. I flight there with a return flight and hotel tickets, I tell the migration officer were I am going for vacations and they welcome me (except in Manchester or London where you also have to submit to the porn scanners when before flying).
You may be kidding, but about 20 years ago there was a brand called COBY which produced cheap copies of SONY electronics. Nowadays (at least in Mexico) they actually are a good low/mid range priced electronics brand. For people who earn USD$300 a month, buying a USD$800 iPod is impossible; nevertheless, buying a $20 device that will perform the same service is OK.
Except that the software of the Chinnese device is not close to the one form Apple, and the quality of the hardware is also less than stellar..
My brother got one of those, although I think it is the previous version (hi-Phone 4) in Mexico.
The device is OK for its cost, and actually I would say it is even cheapo. However, the software is of course not apple's IOS, but a simple Java based "feature-phone". The only similar thing with the iPhone is the outside.
This brings me to a comment from GP, he said that companies do not make good equipment because people are not willing to pay for it. Nevertheless, the expensive equipment you can buy nowadays only costs a lot because of brand recognition (e.g. Bose( and not because it has better sound quality...
AAaaaaaaaaaaand the Godwin award goes to....!
Yeah, I bet you did no bitch when they introduced more movies, or the ability to stream films without increasing the price uh?
"Why did you add more features without charging me more??!!!!11111"
I would pay the 10 Euro without hesitating if a service like netflix (and not the joke that is LoveFIlm) was avialble here in Europe.
I'm willing to bet that they aren't removing Evolution from Ubuntu but just aren't installing it by default. If you're upgrading an older system, you'll get a newer version of Evolution along with everything else.
Except that, the general concensus for *all* desktop operating systems is that *upgrading* an OS from an old version is stupid, and it is always recommended to re-install the new version after backing up the /home folder.
Well, that is exactly what everybody says in ubuntuforums.org when people bring up problems with stuff breaking after running apt-get dist-upgrade
French and Germans like subsidies!
Disclaimer: My reserach project (not mine but, I am part of it) touches several of the points discussed in this article. It is an FP7 project about Policy analysis in Rural development.
The fact is that agriculture is shrinking, and farm owners are looking for alternative ways of earning money. That is why you see a lot of diversification activities among farmers. The nice thing about Brits is that they seem to engage in diversified activities *only* if it is business.
We interviewed a UK ex-farmer who was doing something else now; his wife was in charge of the farm. When we asked what subsidies did he used for his new enterprise he said that he did not believed in "subsidies" and that if a business was really business then it does not need subsidies.
On the other hand, the general concensus of farmers we interviewed in Germany doing "bio-energy" was that the only reason they are doing it is because of the government subsidies. Otherwise they would never try (because it is not profitable).
I think the general spirit of the idea described in the article is good but only if the research is *very* focused on improving the quality of agriculture and rural areas in general.
Sure, but the problem with this announcement (that Ubuntu will drop Evolution) shows everything that is wrong with Ubuntu. Since the times of Ubuntu 5.10 the team makes every effort possible to change the base programs on each release. Being it the network configuration application, the chat application, the multimedia player, etc, etc etc.
I think it was around 8.04 that my dad asked me to reinstall Windows because he was tired of having to learn a new way to do things on each new version.
these days, news.ycombinator.com/ >>>>> /.
No! it is going to be like Google Buzz... only noisier!
Really, google has tried (and failed) to enter the social network bandwagon for some time now. I suspect this will have the same future as Buzz or Wave.
but fortunately there is no evidence of any unauthorized access.
Of course not, all the access where authorized by the faulty authorization system.
Funny that you mention this. About two days a go I posted a question in Reddit asking for legal alternatives to Hulu, Netflix-stream and iPlayer in Germany.
Unfortunately the only replies suggested using a VPN.