How often these drives are REALLY salvaged and used for evil? Likely a small percentage. Also, how much truly "sensitive" data is found? On a vast majority of the systems I have worked on, very few people seem to keep much of value (read: home users) on their computers anyway.
My method? 3 passes and drill a hole thru the drive.
To paraphrase Drew Carey: "Oh, you hate your boss? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar."
[sarcasm]The more popular FF gets, the more of a target will become for all the slimeball spyware/adware/ect. out there. C'mon, can't us geeks keep ONE GOOD THING to ourselves?!?[/sarcasm]
Although I say this tongue in cheek, as I reread it, it does make some scary sense...
Actually, I think they treat PC much like refrigerators. An appliance. They do little or no maintenance. They don't see the symptoms of an impending failure until it's WAY too late. Usually pretty dirty, with some old, leftover stuff they'll never use, but won't throw out.
Here's the real similarity - They are complex WAY above their heads, so they won't crack it open and try to fix it (usually), and the repair man is certainly out to screw them raw, and go back to their geek buddies to yuk it up about how they replaced a fictional part and charged the customer $175.
Of course, if they would have spent a few more dollars for a unit with better features and quality parts, some of this could be avoided, but they want the cheapest, "bestest" one they can get (under $500).
Couldn't have said it better, Pollux, but one addition:
DVDs and their players are in widespread use, and once a standard is adopted, it takes a HUGE amount of time to move on, esp. once people invest heavily in it. Plus, usually these standards are adopted due to ease of use by the average dolt. Examples: floppy drives, VHS, passwords, AOL, Budweiser, the list goes on and on...
skyshock, I checked your tunes out, and liked it. However, your band has the same problem many do - I liked it so much, I actually wanted to PAY YOU FOR YOUR MUSIC, and could find no way to do so!
Maybe, but not until I can download uncompressed, audiophile quality music. Anyone with a good sound system can hear the difference between a CD and an MP3 (or most other codecs). In fact, good audio recordings cost more that your basic CD. That's why Mobile Fidelity CDs still bring a premium in the secondary market, and SACDs and DVD-As are gaining popularity. Maybe if Ogg Vorbis, FLAC or SHN files were available...
Besides, I just spent good money for a DVD-A/SACD player. The sound is FAR superior!
I find this interesting, because I work for the US Navy as a tech rep. I was developing some test equipment, and needed an app to grab RS-232 data. After much research, I chose software made by a small Canadian company, and requested money to buy a copy.
My request for a whopping $35 was denied, and I was told to find a US company that made the same thing. I wrote a full page report detailing my research and why this was the best answer, only to be denied again.
Eventually, I broke out Python wrote an app myself. I think it cost about 10x what a site license would've cost.
One of the things that screwed Apple long ago was their unwillingness to allow other companies/organizations to develop compatible products. They wanted you to go to them for ALL hardware and software. This almost caused the demise of the company. (Many seem to forget that Apple nearly died a short time ago. Funny.) The company finally realized that locking down their platform was killing them, so they loosened up a bit, but still control most of what happens on your basic Mac.
I think MS does what it does so as not to let what happened to Apple happen to them. Sure, they may buy up technology that benefits them, but this is the way of many corporations. Take a look at who makes cars these days. Mazda and Jag are Ford products, and all the Jeep/Chrysler stuff is owned by Mercedes. Does that make Damlier just as bad as Microsoft? No one cares when it happens to other companies, but when MS does it, the "evil empire" has dealt a blow to free enterprise.
"The sad thing is that a lot-- and I mean a lot-- of users (particularly Windows-only folks, which is still 90+% of the population) think that the only two browsers out there are IE and Netscape."
Actually, from my experience, many think Netscape is gone, or don't know it ever existed. Several family members go to the blue "e" and say "...so I click on the internet..."
Ssshhh....hear that? People are clicking on the internet...
I recently went HD, and bought a DirecTv TiVo HD box (HR10-250) for $1000. I had always used ReplayTV prior, but Replay has no HD box. (I even e-mailed the company to see when they will have one. They said, in essence, "no time soon".)
Frankly, after using the ReplayTV for so long, I guess I got spoiled, because I HATE my TiVo! Extremely slow guide (actually comes up in chunks), no 30 second skip (gonna try the hack from the article tonight, though), and why can I only pause for 30 minutes? I used to pause my Replay at the beginning of a hockey game (not that I have that to worry about this year) and come back an hour later to start watching. Skip all the commercials and intermissions and still return to live with about 5 minutes left in the game. I could go on about no networking capability, ect. but you get my point.
Overall, the Tivo feels "Fisher Price" compared to the Replay. The menus look candy coated and dumbed down for the masses, and I really miss the pause countdown timer from my Replay. I hope like hell that Marantz (I think) realizes what they bought and runs with it! I'd ditch TiVo in a second.
...the Google CLOCK! WAY better than a standard clock. Skinnable hands and face, choose analog or digital interface, tells the time anywhere in the world (even where you are). Integrates smoothly into your Google calendar and toolbar.
I went through the same thing - my company was bought by GE. We went from a profitable, fun, free-wheeling software company with a very familylike vibe to the ultimate in corporate borg. I no longer looked forward to going to work in the morning, and frankly, that bothered me. Being pushed to put out crappy software with weak QA bothered me more. The biggest factor, though, is when I started putting in something like 65 hours a week (salaried, of course, so no OT) and was told that if I did not put in more, I was destined for a poor evaluation and no pay increase.
My gut reaction was to serve notice right then and there, but I calmed down, used my head, remembered my responsibilities (2 small kids and a wife) and quietly put my resume on the street. 3 weeks later I was putting in my notice.
Anyway, remember, the best time to find a job is when you HAVE a job. Less pressure, and less likelyhood of jumping at the first decent offer you get, just to generate a check.
Bet no attacks would bother a BeOS box!
Seriously though, these tests are still pretty much bull. It's like leaving the keys in the ignition of an unlocked Lexus, in the bad part of town, then being shocked when someone takes it...
Re:Audiophile insanity vs. gamer insanity
on
SLI Primer
·
· Score: 2, Insightful
Points taken, but a 5 year old amp will stll have market value and play music just as well as the day it was made (assuming the amp is a quality product to start with), while a 5 year old videocard simply will not.
On the money! I took the time to convert almost all my tunes to FLAC, and very few devices support it. Just goes to show that quality is not the highest priority...
Re:Audiophile insanity vs. gamer insanity
on
SLI Primer
·
· Score: 3, Insightful
I agree - audiophiles are worse, INITIALLY. But they can usually resell a piece they replace (sometimes at a profit). Us gamers buy a $500 card to trash it 6 months later.
My stereo will clearly play great audio long after I trash my current rig, and a few components after that, too. Until you can purchase an ear upgrade, anyway. The next FPS down the pike will make my PC a paperweight...
Slashdot Mirror
Atmittedly, I quit looking at ANY type of image file. I still can't look my neighbor in the eye when I see him, but I shan't elaborate...
My method? 3 passes and drill a hole thru the drive.
Why can't I see the sailboat?
To paraphrase Drew Carey: "Oh, you hate your boss? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar."
[sarcasm]The more popular FF gets, the more of a target will become for all the slimeball spyware/adware/ect. out there. C'mon, can't us geeks keep ONE GOOD THING to ourselves?!?[/sarcasm]
Although I say this tongue in cheek, as I reread it, it does make some scary sense...
Actually, I think they treat PC much like refrigerators. An appliance. They do little or no maintenance. They don't see the symptoms of an impending failure until it's WAY too late. Usually pretty dirty, with some old, leftover stuff they'll never use, but won't throw out.
Here's the real similarity - They are complex WAY above their heads, so they won't crack it open and try to fix it (usually), and the repair man is certainly out to screw them raw, and go back to their geek buddies to yuk it up about how they replaced a fictional part and charged the customer $175.
Of course, if they would have spent a few more dollars for a unit with better features and quality parts, some of this could be avoided, but they want the cheapest, "bestest" one they can get (under $500).
Google owns your "20% Project"? "Jump To Conclusions" would be owned by Google? Hmmm... "I mean, Lumbergh Googled her..."
Rube Goldberg would be proud!
DVDs and their players are in widespread use, and once a standard is adopted, it takes a HUGE amount of time to move on, esp. once people invest heavily in it. Plus, usually these standards are adopted due to ease of use by the average dolt. Examples: floppy drives, VHS, passwords, AOL, Budweiser, the list goes on and on...
So, you putting out a CD or what? I'll buy one...
Besides, I just spent good money for a DVD-A/SACD player. The sound is FAR superior!
My request for a whopping $35 was denied, and I was told to find a US company that made the same thing. I wrote a full page report detailing my research and why this was the best answer, only to be denied again.
Eventually, I broke out Python wrote an app myself. I think it cost about 10x what a site license would've cost.
Thank you all - I was trying to figure out a good sig...
Maybe we need a Horse, a mouse and a trackball each, then rotate them once a week...
I think MS does what it does so as not to let what happened to Apple happen to them. Sure, they may buy up technology that benefits them, but this is the way of many corporations. Take a look at who makes cars these days. Mazda and Jag are Ford products, and all the Jeep/Chrysler stuff is owned by Mercedes. Does that make Damlier just as bad as Microsoft? No one cares when it happens to other companies, but when MS does it, the "evil empire" has dealt a blow to free enterprise.
Maury: "Mr. Gates, you are NOT DOS's father!" Bill: "Oh yeah! Oh yeah! I done TOLD you it ain't my baby!"
Actually, from my experience, many think Netscape is gone, or don't know it ever existed. Several family members go to the blue "e" and say "...so I click on the internet..."
Ssshhh....hear that? People are clicking on the internet...
I recently went HD, and bought a DirecTv TiVo HD box (HR10-250) for $1000. I had always used ReplayTV prior, but Replay has no HD box. (I even e-mailed the company to see when they will have one. They said, in essence, "no time soon".)
Frankly, after using the ReplayTV for so long, I guess I got spoiled, because I HATE my TiVo! Extremely slow guide (actually comes up in chunks), no 30 second skip (gonna try the hack from the article tonight, though), and why can I only pause for 30 minutes? I used to pause my Replay at the beginning of a hockey game (not that I have that to worry about this year) and come back an hour later to start watching. Skip all the commercials and intermissions and still return to live with about 5 minutes left in the game. I could go on about no networking capability, ect. but you get my point.
Overall, the Tivo feels "Fisher Price" compared to the Replay. The menus look candy coated and dumbed down for the masses, and I really miss the pause countdown timer from my Replay. I hope like hell that Marantz (I think) realizes what they bought and runs with it! I'd ditch TiVo in a second.
...the Google CLOCK! WAY better than a standard clock. Skinnable hands and face, choose analog or digital interface, tells the time anywhere in the world (even where you are). Integrates smoothly into your Google calendar and toolbar.
I went through the same thing - my company was bought by GE. We went from a profitable, fun, free-wheeling software company with a very familylike vibe to the ultimate in corporate borg. I no longer looked forward to going to work in the morning, and frankly, that bothered me. Being pushed to put out crappy software with weak QA bothered me more. The biggest factor, though, is when I started putting in something like 65 hours a week (salaried, of course, so no OT) and was told that if I did not put in more, I was destined for a poor evaluation and no pay increase. My gut reaction was to serve notice right then and there, but I calmed down, used my head, remembered my responsibilities (2 small kids and a wife) and quietly put my resume on the street. 3 weeks later I was putting in my notice. Anyway, remember, the best time to find a job is when you HAVE a job. Less pressure, and less likelyhood of jumping at the first decent offer you get, just to generate a check.
Bet no attacks would bother a BeOS box! Seriously though, these tests are still pretty much bull. It's like leaving the keys in the ignition of an unlocked Lexus, in the bad part of town, then being shocked when someone takes it...
Points taken, but a 5 year old amp will stll have market value and play music just as well as the day it was made (assuming the amp is a quality product to start with), while a 5 year old videocard simply will not.
Besides, the the Feds will bust HIM, while you watch and snork your Slurpee...
On the money! I took the time to convert almost all my tunes to FLAC, and very few devices support it. Just goes to show that quality is not the highest priority...
I agree - audiophiles are worse, INITIALLY. But they can usually resell a piece they replace (sometimes at a profit). Us gamers buy a $500 card to trash it 6 months later.
My stereo will clearly play great audio long after I trash my current rig, and a few components after that, too. Until you can purchase an ear upgrade, anyway. The next FPS down the pike will make my PC a paperweight...