For those who don't know, the above equation is known as the Drake Equation. What a lot of people don't realize is that the equation itself is more interesting than the answer, because no one can truly know what values to use for the seven unknowns. To quote the above link:
The real value of the Drake Equation is not in the answer itself, but the questions that are prompted when attempting to come up with an answer. Obviously there is a tremendous amount of guess work involved when filling in the variables. As we learn more from astronomy, biology, and other sciences, we'll be able to better estimate the answers to the above questions.
but how was AMD supposed to know that Linux was doing the same bad thing
Oh, that's easy. The engineer who discovered the problem should have realized that it's not necessarily a Windows-specific issue, but a problem that any OS could have. He should have then tried to contact all the OS vendors, not just Microsoft.
Considering how Linux is used by a higher percentage of AMD customers than Intel customers, AMD should have paid more attention to an important segment of its customer base.
If the bug doesn't appear on intel chips, then how are we supposed to believe that it's not an AMD bug?
AMD's CPUs support something (speculative writing) that Intel processors don't, and the Linux kernel has a bug that is only noticeable when this feature is used.
Setting device memory as cacheable is a kernel bug, no matter what the processor does. It's a kernel bug even if you're using Intel chips.
This sort of thing is commonplace in computers. A certain piece of software or hardware doesn't follow some specification to the letter, but because the components involved don't support any features that require strict compliance, the bug isn't noticed for years. Then, one component is updated to support a new feature that relies on strict compliance. That's when all the bugs appear.
And to support him, most people buy a copy of his book [emphasis added]
I would be very surprised if greater than 50% of the people who read that book (or any free online book) pay for a copy. If Stephen King couldn't do it, then it certainly can't be commonplace.
In 1981, 640K was enough for everyone. I think you need to go back to high school and learn the concept of verb tenses, specifically the difference between the present tense and the future tense.
but dont really like to code and you only find out once you've hired them
I can't possibly imagine anyone going through four years of college as a CS major, especially with all those math and physics requirements, and then deciding that he doesn't like to code. That's like someone who has an M.D. and doesn't like to be near sick people. I've never known anyone like you're talking about, and I've been programming for 20+ years. If anything, most of the software engineers complain that they don't do enough coding.
I believe that if oil weren't used to generate energy, then most countries would be able to produce enough on their own for materials. The key is to eliminate our dependence on the Arab countries for our energy supply.
Multi-region players are much more expensive and harder to find+ in the U.S. In addition, many of them are really just hacked single-region DVD players.
Actually, they don't specifically disallow servers. Or at least, they didn't last time I checked. They disallow open, anonymous access to servers, as you've noticed. Considering all the flack cable ISPs have been receiving on Slashdot, RR Austin actually has a pretty decent policy. As long as the server is password-protected and doesn't use up too much bandwith, they won't complain.
Besides, my SMTP server is not really a server in their eyes. In fact, I'd call it an "SMTP client". Nothing connects to it from the outside. In fact, it runs on my local machine, which is behind a Linksys firewall/router.
Actually, it is illegal to own an unlicensed copy of that CD in the U.S. And, I believe that Malaysia and other Asian contries technically have laws against piracy, they're just not enforced. If so, then it is illegal to buy such a copy in Malaysia too.
I see a lot of posts here saying that this will not stop piracy of the Adobe's products, because it will eliminate the only legal way to obtain the software, so people will be forced to pirate it. Adobe knows that, but that's not the point. The point is that Adobe is actually spending money to support the Asian money, and that money is wasted.
If you're a professional graphic designer who uses Photoshop every day, then $600 is chump change.
If you're not a professional, or at least a "power consumer", then Photoshop is overkill. Get Photoshop Elements or some other consumer-level application instead.
Kernel Projects for Linux by Gary Nutt. It walks you through several areas of the Linux kernel. It's a great book. You'll especially learn a lot from discovering all the editing errors in it.:-)
I agree with Eagle7. Start with a very simple driver, one that doesn't actually talk to hardware. Perhaps one that displays some krenel data whenever called.
From there, you can decide to either move into the kernel itself, or stick with device drivers. If you want to practice on a device driver, stick with a simple ISA device. If you can find the hardware, a driver that displays some text on a Monochrome Display Adapter (MDA) is an easy one.
Some of this money goes to pay the salaries of researchers. Should these people also have their personal lives open to public scrutiny?
Re:Actor hopes to do DVD commentary track
on
Star Trek TNG DVDs
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· Score: 1
I guess you really need that job in order to afford your eBay purchases.
Dude, what are you trying to do? Corner the market on yourself? Or maybe you're hoping to buy up all this stuff, so future generations won't know it ever existed?
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OS/2 boots in about 20 seconds on a 1.2GHz athlon.
An email to the linux kernel mailing list would have taken 2 minutes. Hardly a big investment in time.
Oh, that's easy. The engineer who discovered the problem should have realized that it's not necessarily a Windows-specific issue, but a problem that any OS could have. He should have then tried to contact all the OS vendors, not just Microsoft.
Considering how Linux is used by a higher percentage of AMD customers than Intel customers, AMD should have paid more attention to an important segment of its customer base.
AMD's CPUs support something (speculative writing) that Intel processors don't, and the Linux kernel has a bug that is only noticeable when this feature is used.
Setting device memory as cacheable is a kernel bug, no matter what the processor does. It's a kernel bug even if you're using Intel chips.
This sort of thing is commonplace in computers. A certain piece of software or hardware doesn't follow some specification to the letter, but because the components involved don't support any features that require strict compliance, the bug isn't noticed for years. Then, one component is updated to support a new feature that relies on strict compliance. That's when all the bugs appear.
I would be very surprised if greater than 50% of the people who read that book (or any free online book) pay for a copy. If Stephen King couldn't do it, then it certainly can't be commonplace.
Windows is a monopoly, OS/2 has never been. The rules are different if you're a monopoly. That's how it's been in this country for over a century.
In 1981, 640K was enough for everyone. I think you need to go back to high school and learn the concept of verb tenses, specifically the difference between the present tense and the future tense.
I definitely agree. A computer engineering degree is like a degree in embedded systems (or device drivers).
I can't possibly imagine anyone going through four years of college as a CS major, especially with all those math and physics requirements, and then deciding that he doesn't like to code. That's like someone who has an M.D. and doesn't like to be near sick people. I've never known anyone like you're talking about, and I've been programming for 20+ years. If anything, most of the software engineers complain that they don't do enough coding.
I'll admit it - I bought the company. Don't believe me? I have a receipt for $24.95 to prove it.
I believe that if oil weren't used to generate energy, then most countries would be able to produce enough on their own for materials. The key is to eliminate our dependence on the Arab countries for our energy supply.
Multi-region players are much more expensive and harder to find+ in the U.S. In addition, many of them are really just hacked single-region DVD players.
Besides, my SMTP server is not really a server in their eyes. In fact, I'd call it an "SMTP client". Nothing connects to it from the outside. In fact, it runs on my local machine, which is behind a Linksys firewall/router.
Actually, it is illegal to own an unlicensed copy of that CD in the U.S. And, I believe that Malaysia and other Asian contries technically have laws against piracy, they're just not enforced. If so, then it is illegal to buy such a copy in Malaysia too.
I see a lot of posts here saying that this will not stop piracy of the Adobe's products, because it will eliminate the only legal way to obtain the software, so people will be forced to pirate it. Adobe knows that, but that's not the point. The point is that Adobe is actually spending money to support the Asian money, and that money is wasted.
If you're not a professional, or at least a "power consumer", then Photoshop is overkill. Get Photoshop Elements or some other consumer-level application instead.
Time Warner's Road Runner service in Austin, TX doesn't block port 25.
It looks like 2.0 is overall ugly. Everything is still very grey and box-like. They need to get a REAL graphic designer on board. *sigh*
Kernel Projects for Linux by Gary Nutt. It walks you through several areas of the Linux kernel. It's a great book. You'll especially learn a lot from discovering all the editing errors in it. :-)
From there, you can decide to either move into the kernel itself, or stick with device drivers. If you want to practice on a device driver, stick with a simple ISA device. If you can find the hardware, a driver that displays some text on a Monochrome Display Adapter (MDA) is an easy one.
"This scene in it's entirety, and much more is available on the Special Archive Edition Laserdisc of TRON from Walt Disney Home Video."
Some of this money goes to pay the salaries of researchers. Should these people also have their personal lives open to public scrutiny?
Dude, what are you trying to do? Corner the market on yourself? Or maybe you're hoping to buy up all this stuff, so future generations won't know it ever existed?
I think your friend would have hated P.T. Barnum.