You have to remember the solid state disks being chips on circuitboards wont need the vacuum packing and the thick shell either. And remember that the actual platter size in a harddrive is not more than half the surface as seen from above. So all in all I'd say you can get quite a bit more chip in there then you can platter, with the added benefits of lack of vibration and shock resistance - perfect for laptops.
"I then took my mouse surface and cut it into a circle to place on the turntable. I had a choice from many samples that had been sent to me for review, but in the end I used the SteelPad QcK+ because it turned out to be the easiest material to cut into shape and stayed flat on the turntable surface."
So, don't assume. He used a good mat for the surface, not whatever was around. He is also aiming to redo tests with various surfaces to effectively benchmark surfaces.
I believe the bad results for laser mice is part surface, but more importantly part hardware. As far as I've heard laser mice are being touted as the next best thing mostly due to resolution, not speed tolerance.
Use upgraded antivirus, adware and spyware blockers and a good firewall. Beyond that the main concern is to never fall for phising attacks - ie you have to teach them that their bank/broker will NEVER send them a mail asking for them to log in or any such thing. Teach them to just say no to links in emails. This is a particular problem for many inexperienced users who tend to blindly trust the email headers.
Odds of more exotic attacks are slim enough to be ignored for every day users and really isn't a concern. If they move enough money to be specifically targeted, then they have enough money to have a personal computer security expert look over the system regularly.
Well, it's a worm that spreads across the Linden Labs servers, ie a network of computers. So it is a worm, it just doesn't effect the end users machines, or in fact the end users at all beyond lagging them out.
Actually fanless is as not having a fan attached... it still needs adequate airflow, as in for instance produced by... a fan. Usually a casefan.
But I do agree the article in general is subpar when it comes to needed data. In order for me to take them seriously I'd have to see how they measured the airflow, a temp over time test readout, and since they included a project cost - a good breakdown of it. Also I'd like to see them adress the cleaning issue which would obviously be a bit ardous with such a system.
Cool proof of concept though. What it mostly points to is the fact that the usual way to do things doesnt have to be the only one. There are plenty of room for innovation in how one builds a system.
Glued. On the outside. I wouldnt call that "tried it out". It's kind of essential that it is a strong magnet surrounded by your nerve endings. Not elasticly bonded to an elastic surface - ie skin. And just to mention it again - strong magnets... neodym or whatever they where called. Not the household 'stick things to your fridge and watch them fall off' kind of things he seemed to be using.
So I wouldnt put much thought into this dudes observations, although I wouldnt recommend trying out the real thing. Then again I wouldnt recommend NOT trying it out either, it's all up to the adults to choose what they do to their bodies.
I for one am up for the experience if I run into the opportunity.
Not possible - the key is session specific... generated at the start of a call and deleted after it is over. Even if they have access to your phone they wouldnt get any help in breaking the crypto... but of course by that time you probably have worse problems than phone line security. Like bugs. But it all depends on the scenario, really... who is trying to listen in? Why? what other methods are you using to secure the rest of your life?
Having an encrypted phone line sounds a bit like overkill if you leave your frontdoor unlocked... But it has its place in a complete solution. If it's the right solution for you or now... well that all depends on who you dont want to know.
Uhm... you should realize the pin code is on the phone, securing access to the crypto functions of that specific phone... if you want to listen in without being a part of the conversation you will still have to break the session key.
But what about the body? Sure, gaming is good for the brain... so is readin, drawing, studying, thinking, fantasizing, and pretty much anything else you do with your mind. How do I know... simple - if you stop you're dead.
But more importantly, as I said, what about the body? I'm pretty sure it isn't helped by those 48 hour MMORPG maratons. Really want to have the mind of a 12 year old in the body of a 75 year old... when you'r thirty, or maybe forty? Really?
I think I'll diversify a bit more myself. Maybe pick up another language... or I dunno... not game so much.
Well, I happen to know a couple of hardcore gamers. Well, it is hard to actually know them, because there is rarely time to speak unless in game... But from what I have observed I would say that coming back after the holidays or exams knowing they are at a clean level wouldn't be a problem, quite the opposite. It is more likely they would enjoy the challenge to get that extra level in the bag before they have to leave... And once they come back tackle the next level, and the next level with the same enthusiuasm - just as they do now. Most gamers already have the battlecry of "just one more level mom" (or SO, or whomever is bugging you.)
So I figure it would be cool to make that one level a little more valuable.
But as you agreed... it is difficult to make a game interesting for both casual and hardcore gamers... And I hope that more gaming companies will take your advice and design their games for a narrower market. Dilution of concept is what finally makes nobody happy.
A system that rewards people who not play it is detrimental to the motivation of the gamers. Why should anyone grind on when all they have to do is create a dozen alts that can sit unused and slowly but steadily gain level? Too many shortcuts or 'easy roads' means that fewer will be interested in the difficult road, and soon enough fewer will be interested in the game.
So, the reverse would be better, or in my mind at least more interesting. A system where experience steadily decreases while you are away, at least down to the most recently reached level. This would more accurately reward dedicated gamers, thereby making an interesting game.
Of course this is a difficult balance issue. WoW for instance could never bring this into game, because they would loose a lot of their customer base. It doesnt matter to them that those who stayed would be even more dedicated.
But if it failed there are debts that needs to be paid by those assets... And what if it is destroyed in a hurricane or by a mob or something? Or by The Mob. You know, act of god is generally frowned upon by them insurance people.
A lot of people feel that this is insecure, mostly because they live in the false assumption that any job any business can be totally secure. Companies tank all the time. The risk of your second life company going belly up is no larger than the risk of your real world job or business crashing or dying due to unforeseen circumstance.
Life doesn't come with guarantees... not the first, nor the second.
A friend of mine started a shop. No, a real shop. It cost a crapload of cash, and in the end due to a road that changed direction and changed the entire flow of people through the area (from busy to deserted) his investment crashed, and he lost all his invested cash, because...
When you invest, your money is rarely insured at all. This is just as true in the real world. If you want your money to be insured, then keep them in the bank... and hope the insurance company don't go bankrupt or decide to change the policy or something.
If you are afraid for your earnings, be clever and don't accumulate to much loose change in game. A million is definatly too much, unless you are planning on some major purchases. Do as most people do in real life - withdraw your earnings on a regular base, and put it in a bank.
If you are not interested in those risks... then this game is not for you. And neither is any real life investement or business start-up.
All this crap about spelling. As a non native english speaker who have been on the internet for about ten years or so, I can for one say I am fluent enough in english as well as badly spelled english to not even notice most mistakes in slashdot articles. I read these articles to get the message, not to find better ways of saying what they already said.
Problem is that all the people who get a kick out of yelling loud is yelling, while those who don't mind.. mostly sit quiet. Well, I for one say this is a great site, and would like nothing changed. Sure, there are dupes rather often, but it is not a problem since I just skip over them to the next story.
Whats this bullshit about spelling mistakes not being professional? well.. this isn't professional, this is slashdot, where we go to get away from our professional life.
So... I suggest now that all those who think this is a load of fuzz over nothing... make your voice heard. Don't let CmdrTaco be pulled down because of a few loudmouthed idiots. (Sorry, I just had to say that, my freak list was getting way to empty.)
Taco, I for one applaud you. Now... give us the moderating option of "-2 speeling Nazzi" and we will help you keep the discussions in line.
well, what makes me concerned is for instance the ideas that credit cards is slipping over into RFID, hence cloning of RFID would become a danger. Sure people can pickmy pocket... hence why I take every precationpossible to make this more difficult. Just as I willtake every precaution to make stealingmy RFID info more difficult, even if odds are it wont happen.
I mean.. do you wear a seatbelt? use a virus scanner? use a helmet on a motor bike?
Precautionary safety is not the same as useless safety. It is up to each individual to decide if the info broadvasted by his or her RFID tag isimportant enough to them to protect, but I say it is quickly getting there.
So i dont know who you are, since I only have your id number from the scan. doesnt matter, you walked in range ofmy scanner, I know what you look like. If you look a bit like me I can follow you towork and access the building using your RFID codes. In the future I migth be able to travelon your passport, buys tuff on your credit card, and uselocal transportation on your account. Just because you passed my scanner one day without having a shielded wallet.
I get pretty much exactly the same result every time... charcoal. Hence, I think I might benefit from this. As would most likley restaurants, large familys, and all others who know that the taste is less in the condition of the food and more in the spices added and the ingredients used.
Hmmm, yes... and when criminals are put in prison or have to pay fines it damages the entire community... wife, kids, relatives, and so on.
But the damage of letting the crime go unpunished is larger, and I think the same is valid in this virtual case. If he needs to reconnect with his friends he should have other means to contact them with... if they havent exchanged emails at leats by then, they are probably not that tight. So the damage to the society is what... a few guys going "oh noes, my friend did somethign horrible and was PUNISHED...this is so bad. stop punishing people."
No... no.. doesnt fly.
But I do agree that it is annoying that people who get banned are given no acess to evidence, no rigth to defend themselves, or anything. I believe this will have to change, but it will take time. however... if guilty, they will have to be punished. Even if it does "harm the entire community". lesser of two evils, ya know.
Hmmm.. true.. although I do find some important difference in breaking rules made to oppress and rules made to keep the collective experience in a contained environment as fun and rewarding as possible. Some criminals will always get some modicum of fame for different reasons, and some heroes will get fame for daring to oppose rules that where badly thought through and down right stupid from the start...
I do however know of plenty of people who got famous without breaking any conventional rules, although some of them did rewrite one or two... so your argument doesnt entirely hold water.
In general breaking rules are bad... there are some sligth exceptions, most notably when the rule broken goes against some form of basic human right or against the basic rights in your own countries laws, but this does not mean that it is right to encourage people to break any rules they disagree with by giving them fame in return...
Okay...so..that was a cute article... but.. uhm... I cant say I think much of the person who lets a nimrod that breaks rules and gets punished for it get any more attention.
His punishment was boredom, and... we pay him in "fame"?
18-30.. no... but sweden has a pretty high attendancy at the elections. A quick search showed official statistics that in the year 2002 68% of the male and 73% of the female "first time voters" actually went to vote. All in all the number is about 81%. This is DOWN from earlier years. So, to skip the calculations for you, usually more than 5,3M swedes vote.
Now, the first timers... are around 250-260K for the upcoming election. So, around 170-180K will vote... And a lot of them for more traditional options. In short, this initiativ will cause more commotion than real success, but it's appearance in the press and every vote cast for it is still a clear signal that we do not accept the current situation.
And yes, I am aware I totally ignore the people who have been able to vote for a while. Why is simple - they are either to lazy to go vote, or already stuck with an ideology... those not captured by this will most likely not amount to enough votes, but as I said, will still make a difference.
And all numbers fetched from swedish statistic sites... bother google for exact sources.
Slashdot Mirror
so, basically, the voice of a female you can program to say whatever you want, do whatever you want, or even - here's the real winner - to shut up...
Not to mention, slashdotters can relate better to a computer generated female voice - at least then it is within the same species.
You have to remember the solid state disks being chips on circuitboards wont need the vacuum packing and the thick shell either. And remember that the actual platter size in a harddrive is not more than half the surface as seen from above. So all in all I'd say you can get quite a bit more chip in there then you can platter, with the added benefits of lack of vibration and shock resistance - perfect for laptops.
As from the article
"I then took my mouse surface and cut it into a circle to place on the turntable. I had a choice from many samples that had been sent to me for review, but in the end I used the SteelPad QcK+ because it turned out to be the easiest material to cut into shape and stayed flat on the turntable surface."
So, don't assume. He used a good mat for the surface, not whatever was around. He is also aiming to redo tests with various surfaces to effectively benchmark surfaces.
I believe the bad results for laser mice is part surface, but more importantly part hardware. As far as I've heard laser mice are being touted as the next best thing mostly due to resolution, not speed tolerance.
Use upgraded antivirus, adware and spyware blockers and a good firewall. Beyond that the main concern is to never fall for phising attacks - ie you have to teach them that their bank/broker will NEVER send them a mail asking for them to log in or any such thing. Teach them to just say no to links in emails. This is a particular problem for many inexperienced users who tend to blindly trust the email headers.
Odds of more exotic attacks are slim enough to be ignored for every day users and really isn't a concern. If they move enough money to be specifically targeted, then they have enough money to have a personal computer security expert look over the system regularly.
Well, it's a worm that spreads across the Linden Labs servers, ie a network of computers. So it is a worm, it just doesn't effect the end users machines, or in fact the end users at all beyond lagging them out.
The TOS is not a legal agreement. It's a monologue.
Actually fanless is as not having a fan attached... it still needs adequate airflow, as in for instance produced by... a fan. Usually a casefan.
But I do agree the article in general is subpar when it comes to needed data. In order for me to take them seriously I'd have to see how they measured the airflow, a temp over time test readout, and since they included a project cost - a good breakdown of it. Also I'd like to see them adress the cleaning issue which would obviously be a bit ardous with such a system.
Cool proof of concept though. What it mostly points to is the fact that the usual way to do things doesnt have to be the only one. There are plenty of room for innovation in how one builds a system.
He glued a magnet to his finger.
Glued. On the outside. I wouldnt call that "tried it out". It's kind of essential that it is a strong magnet surrounded by your nerve endings. Not elasticly bonded to an elastic surface - ie skin. And just to mention it again - strong magnets... neodym or whatever they where called. Not the household 'stick things to your fridge and watch them fall off' kind of things he seemed to be using.
So I wouldnt put much thought into this dudes observations, although I wouldnt recommend trying out the real thing. Then again I wouldnt recommend NOT trying it out either, it's all up to the adults to choose what they do to their bodies.
I for one am up for the experience if I run into the opportunity.
Not possible - the key is session specific... generated at the start of a call and deleted after it is over. Even if they have access to your phone they wouldnt get any help in breaking the crypto... but of course by that time you probably have worse problems than phone line security. Like bugs. But it all depends on the scenario, really... who is trying to listen in? Why? what other methods are you using to secure the rest of your life?
Having an encrypted phone line sounds a bit like overkill if you leave your frontdoor unlocked... But it has its place in a complete solution. If it's the right solution for you or now... well that all depends on who you dont want to know.
Uhm... you should realize the pin code is on the phone, securing access to the crypto functions of that specific phone... if you want to listen in without being a part of the conversation you will still have to break the session key.
Actually, one of the first things I learned in WoW was that the /ignore-list never has enough room... there is always another bastard.
Translates perfectly to real life.
But what about the body? Sure, gaming is good for the brain... so is readin, drawing, studying, thinking, fantasizing, and pretty much anything else you do with your mind. How do I know... simple - if you stop you're dead.
But more importantly, as I said, what about the body? I'm pretty sure it isn't helped by those 48 hour MMORPG maratons. Really want to have the mind of a 12 year old in the body of a 75 year old... when you'r thirty, or maybe forty? Really?
I think I'll diversify a bit more myself. Maybe pick up another language... or I dunno... not game so much.
Just one more level.
Well, I happen to know a couple of hardcore gamers. Well, it is hard to actually know them, because there is rarely time to speak unless in game... But from what I have observed I would say that coming back after the holidays or exams knowing they are at a clean level wouldn't be a problem, quite the opposite. It is more likely they would enjoy the challenge to get that extra level in the bag before they have to leave... And once they come back tackle the next level, and the next level with the same enthusiuasm - just as they do now. Most gamers already have the battlecry of "just one more level mom" (or SO, or whomever is bugging you.)
So I figure it would be cool to make that one level a little more valuable.
But as you agreed... it is difficult to make a game interesting for both casual and hardcore gamers... And I hope that more gaming companies will take your advice and design their games for a narrower market. Dilution of concept is what finally makes nobody happy.
A system that rewards people who not play it is detrimental to the motivation of the gamers. Why should anyone grind on when all they have to do is create a dozen alts that can sit unused and slowly but steadily gain level? Too many shortcuts or 'easy roads' means that fewer will be interested in the difficult road, and soon enough fewer will be interested in the game.
So, the reverse would be better, or in my mind at least more interesting. A system where experience steadily decreases while you are away, at least down to the most recently reached level. This would more accurately reward dedicated gamers, thereby making an interesting game.
Of course this is a difficult balance issue. WoW for instance could never bring this into game, because they would loose a lot of their customer base. It doesnt matter to them that those who stayed would be even more dedicated.
But if it failed there are debts that needs to be paid by those assets... And what if it is destroyed in a hurricane or by a mob or something? Or by The Mob. You know, act of god is generally frowned upon by them insurance people.
A lot of people feel that this is insecure, mostly because they live in the false assumption that any job any business can be totally secure. Companies tank all the time. The risk of your second life company going belly up is no larger than the risk of your real world job or business crashing or dying due to unforeseen circumstance.
Life doesn't come with guarantees... not the first, nor the second.
A friend of mine started a shop. No, a real shop. It cost a crapload of cash, and in the end due to a road that changed direction and changed the entire flow of people through the area (from busy to deserted) his investment crashed, and he lost all his invested cash, because...
When you invest, your money is rarely insured at all. This is just as true in the real world. If you want your money to be insured, then keep them in the bank... and hope the insurance company don't go bankrupt or decide to change the policy or something.
If you are afraid for your earnings, be clever and don't accumulate to much loose change in game. A million is definatly too much, unless you are planning on some major purchases. Do as most people do in real life - withdraw your earnings on a regular base, and put it in a bank.
If you are not interested in those risks... then this game is not for you. And neither is any real life investement or business start-up.
You "sell them" or rather exchange them at for instance http://www.ige.com/
just like any ingame currency. Only this is allowed by the company in this case.
Harry. I would call him Harry. Oh the fun times we would share.
All this crap about spelling. As a non native english speaker who have been on the internet for about ten years or so, I can for one say I am fluent enough in english as well as badly spelled english to not even notice most mistakes in slashdot articles. I read these articles to get the message, not to find better ways of saying what they already said.
Problem is that all the people who get a kick out of yelling loud is yelling, while those who don't mind.. mostly sit quiet. Well, I for one say this is a great site, and would like nothing changed. Sure, there are dupes rather often, but it is not a problem since I just skip over them to the next story.
Whats this bullshit about spelling mistakes not being professional? well.. this isn't professional, this is slashdot, where we go to get away from our professional life.
So... I suggest now that all those who think this is a load of fuzz over nothing... make your voice heard. Don't let CmdrTaco be pulled down because of a few loudmouthed idiots. (Sorry, I just had to say that, my freak list was getting way to empty.)
Taco, I for one applaud you. Now... give us the moderating option of "-2 speeling Nazzi" and we will help you keep the discussions in line.
well, what makes me concerned is for instance the ideas that credit cards is slipping over into RFID, hence cloning of RFID would become a danger. Sure people can pickmy pocket... hence why I take every precationpossible to make this more difficult. Just as I willtake every precaution to make stealingmy RFID info more difficult, even if odds are it wont happen.
I mean.. do you wear a seatbelt? use a virus scanner? use a helmet on a motor bike?
Precautionary safety is not the same as useless safety. It is up to each individual to decide if the info broadvasted by his or her RFID tag isimportant enough to them to protect, but I say it is quickly getting there.
So i dont know who you are, since I only have your id number from the scan. doesnt matter, you walked in range ofmy scanner, I know what you look like. If you look a bit like me I can follow you towork and access the building using your RFID codes. In the future I migth be able to travelon your passport, buys tuff on your credit card, and uselocal transportation on your account. Just because you passed my scanner one day without having a shielded wallet.
now.. how about that seat belt?
perfection is also tasty.
I get pretty much exactly the same result every time... charcoal. Hence, I think I might benefit from this. As would most likley restaurants, large familys, and all others who know that the taste is less in the condition of the food and more in the spices added and the ingredients used.
charcoal goes pretty well with hot peppers.
Hmmm, yes... and when criminals are put in prison or have to pay fines it damages the entire community... wife, kids, relatives, and so on.
But the damage of letting the crime go unpunished is larger, and I think the same is valid in this virtual case. If he needs to reconnect with his friends he should have other means to contact them with... if they havent exchanged emails at leats by then, they are probably not that tight. So the damage to the society is what... a few guys going "oh noes, my friend did somethign horrible and was PUNISHED...this is so bad. stop punishing people."
No... no.. doesnt fly.
But I do agree that it is annoying that people who get banned are given no acess to evidence, no rigth to defend themselves, or anything. I believe this will have to change, but it will take time. however... if guilty, they will have to be punished. Even if it does "harm the entire community". lesser of two evils, ya know.
Hmmm.. true.. although I do find some important difference in breaking rules made to oppress and rules made to keep the collective experience in a contained environment as fun and rewarding as possible. Some criminals will always get some modicum of fame for different reasons, and some heroes will get fame for daring to oppose rules that where badly thought through and down right stupid from the start...
I do however know of plenty of people who got famous without breaking any conventional rules, although some of them did rewrite one or two... so your argument doesnt entirely hold water.
In general breaking rules are bad... there are some sligth exceptions, most notably when the rule broken goes against some form of basic human right or against the basic rights in your own countries laws, but this does not mean that it is right to encourage people to break any rules they disagree with by giving them fame in return...
Okay...so..that was a cute article... but.. uhm... I cant say I think much of the person who lets a nimrod that breaks rules and gets punished for it get any more attention.
His punishment was boredom, and... we pay him in "fame"?
gee. How... nice of us. Go rulebreakers, then!
18-30.. no... but sweden has a pretty high attendancy at the elections. A quick search showed official statistics that in the year 2002 68% of the male and 73% of the female "first time voters" actually went to vote. All in all the number is about 81%. This is DOWN from earlier years. So, to skip the calculations for you, usually more than 5,3M swedes vote.
Now, the first timers... are around 250-260K for the upcoming election. So, around 170-180K will vote... And a lot of them for more traditional options. In short, this initiativ will cause more commotion than real success, but it's appearance in the press and every vote cast for it is still a clear signal that we do not accept the current situation.
And yes, I am aware I totally ignore the people who have been able to vote for a while. Why is simple - they are either to lazy to go vote, or already stuck with an ideology... those not captured by this will most likely not amount to enough votes, but as I said, will still make a difference.
And all numbers fetched from swedish statistic sites... bother google for exact sources.