Its pretty obvious from your username and comment that your a hardcore unix user. Sit down with some new computers users and check out an Apple store and then see if you still think you need all that effort (teaching programming is not a trivial task) just for grandmda to check email.
As for my username, it's a pun on my last name. As for computer newbies, I have a father whom I teach some basic stuff when I have time.
He needs the computer for a wee bit more than e-mail checking, so the things I showed him and, even more so, the things he dared to explore himself, have been of great use to him.
While it is not necessary to teach every grandma how to program, programming is the essence of computer use. And I'm not a programmer, BTW; I'm a linguist. I know far too little programing for my own taste, yet I know enough to teach some absolute newbies some very useful stuff.
Everyone can learn that, and at least every child should learn that. Because without programming, you're still using your computer as an overpriced typewriter and wasting your time doing by hand what you could get all those idle cycles do for you.
Mac is a great machine, I know that, though I won't be able to afford one for quite a while longer. But just like a Windows machine and a Linux machine with any newer GUI, the ordinary user is limited to the little bits he knows and some more bits he isn't afraid to click.
One of the reasons I gave my father Ubuntu as well as Windows was to show him that the basic principles of both systems are the same. Another reason was to allow him to try anything in his account in Linux; I could be sure he wouldn't break the system. I've seen total n00bs (not mere newbies!) destroy working Windows systems with several experts banging their heads for days to figure out how the hell they'd done it.
Everyone knowing a bit of programming is a pipe dream and is flawed anyway. I work in support, server support of several hundred solaris, linux, and windows servers. Some of these are developers servers. Some developers are worse than completely new computer users when it comes to messing a system up and they technically know how to program something.
Oh, about that... everyone knowing a bit of programming includes at least knowing the basic principles of algorithms, how to explain what you want done, breaking up the process into manageable pieces... that's also programming, though users aren't usually aware of that.
The vast majority of users that use a computer don't really know anything about computers and they shouldn't have to!!! If a computer is operating correctly they shouldn't even have to think about their computer. They should be thinking about their task at hand. They shouldn't even want to "know about computers" because if they did they would have different jobs. (A lot of "computer people" can't get it through their heads that the users shouldn't have to know much about computers and if they all did the "computer people" would be mostly out of jobs.)
It amazes me to no end every time I hear this.
A computer is a tool. You use it to get a certain job done.
Now, even the most humongous version of the Swiss Army Knife (absolutely unwieldy and utterly unusable, BTW) lacks versatility when compared to the computer.
The computer is everything - a typewriter; a calculator; a spreadsheet; a database; a photo editor; a video player; a video editor; a music player; several thousand games of all the possible genres; a communication device - text, image, sound, video, and even scent, in the fullness of time; a 3D renderer; a TV and radio tuner; and a thousand more uses. Oh, yes, there's the cup-holder bit in it as well.
It is used in work, play, education and relaxation - actually, the only time it's usually not used is during one's sleep.
And guess what - that means that yes, people do need to know about their computers. Unless they want to pay people like me to come and clean them up every once in a while.
After all, even the hammer, which is about the most primitive tool known to man, is still a tool you have to learn to use.
OK, so you don't have to learn for a long time, but the principle is the same - every tool you use, you have to know how to. Or you're risking injury.
Now, of course, improper computer usage will usually not result in grave injury, unlike improper car usage. That's why there are driving licences, but not computing licences.
I have said it before and I will say it again: every computer user should know at least a bit of programming.
Programming is the essence of computer use, no matter the purpose to which you're using the computer.
If you don't like it, as far as I'm concerned, you can just as well stop using it.
You might not get hurt, but your data will. Sooner or later.
And it won't be my fault.
The UI is obviously just a ploy to sell those cool cardboard keyboard overlays like they used to have for WP and Word for DOS. Making UIs really complicated and keyboard based is actually a value-addon for open source software:)
If there is a new low, lower than forcing kid at school looking at ads, which is an obvious example of brainwashing, it is currently unimaginable to me.
On one hand, we have Micosoft with this technology; on the other, my professor in semiotics and semantics is trying to ban all the ads from our college, including the free newspaper stand (on account of too many ads in the free newspapers).
Now, I don't really agree with that professor, though I do mind the amount of ads, because we live in the information age (or so we can hear it repeated over and over again) and we have to learn how to deal with ads and other junk information... and one of the ways of dealing with it is bloody ignoring it; I, for one, am most of the time only aware that yes, there was an ad on that page, but I haven't the foggiest as to what for...
However, forcing users to look at ads, especially schoolchildren, is forcing unwanted information down their throats. Well, eyes, actually, but you see my point.
I'm disgusted.
And I welcome any way to subvert such technologies.
You cannot log into Gmail using your Google Account username and password. GMail uses a seperate acount system.
Does it now? I just launched IE to check it (easier than logging out of everything in Firefox) and the text above the login box said "Sign in to Gmail with your Google Account".
So I'd guess that yes, you can log into Gmail with your Google Account username and password.
And it doesn't ask for a cell phone or anything like it, either.
I just wonder if they're going to drop the invites altogether...
But I read somewhere below that the problem may be with you living in North America...
Maybe I'm just rationalising outrageous claims or something, but I simply can't think of another way that this could make any sense.
Well, of course.
This has been put in layman terms, so of course nitpickers will start with the 'that's unpossible' routine... but it's simply the statement, from what I'd understood, that for each X of energy consumed for the running of the plant itself, it gives out 0.9X in useful electricity.
Gods, the farther you go in layman's terms, the worse this looks...
Researchers tested the first tactical biorefinery prototype in November and found that it produced approximately 90 percent more energy than it consumed.
Slashdot Mirror
As for my username, it's a pun on my last name. As for computer newbies, I have a father whom I teach some basic stuff when I have time.
He needs the computer for a wee bit more than e-mail checking, so the things I showed him and, even more so, the things he dared to explore himself, have been of great use to him.
While it is not necessary to teach every grandma how to program, programming is the essence of computer use. And I'm not a programmer, BTW; I'm a linguist. I know far too little programing for my own taste, yet I know enough to teach some absolute newbies some very useful stuff.
Everyone can learn that, and at least every child should learn that. Because without programming, you're still using your computer as an overpriced typewriter and wasting your time doing by hand what you could get all those idle cycles do for you.
Mac is a great machine, I know that, though I won't be able to afford one for quite a while longer. But just like a Windows machine and a Linux machine with any newer GUI, the ordinary user is limited to the little bits he knows and some more bits he isn't afraid to click.
One of the reasons I gave my father Ubuntu as well as Windows was to show him that the basic principles of both systems are the same. Another reason was to allow him to try anything in his account in Linux; I could be sure he wouldn't break the system. I've seen total n00bs (not mere newbies!) destroy working Windows systems with several experts banging their heads for days to figure out how the hell they'd done it.
Oh, about that... everyone knowing a bit of programming includes at least knowing the basic principles of algorithms, how to explain what you want done, breaking up the process into manageable pieces... that's also programming, though users aren't usually aware of that.
It's not a pipe dream; it's just lack of vision.
It amazes me to no end every time I hear this.
A computer is a tool. You use it to get a certain job done.
Now, even the most humongous version of the Swiss Army Knife (absolutely unwieldy and utterly unusable, BTW) lacks versatility when compared to the computer.
The computer is everything - a typewriter; a calculator; a spreadsheet; a database; a photo editor; a video player; a video editor; a music player; several thousand games of all the possible genres; a communication device - text, image, sound, video, and even scent, in the fullness of time; a 3D renderer; a TV and radio tuner; and a thousand more uses. Oh, yes, there's the cup-holder bit in it as well.
It is used in work, play, education and relaxation - actually, the only time it's usually not used is during one's sleep.
And guess what - that means that yes, people do need to know about their computers. Unless they want to pay people like me to come and clean them up every once in a while.
After all, even the hammer, which is about the most primitive tool known to man, is still a tool you have to learn to use.
OK, so you don't have to learn for a long time, but the principle is the same - every tool you use, you have to know how to. Or you're risking injury.
Now, of course, improper computer usage will usually not result in grave injury, unlike improper car usage. That's why there are driving licences, but not computing licences.
I have said it before and I will say it again: every computer user should know at least a bit of programming.
Programming is the essence of computer use, no matter the purpose to which you're using the computer.
If you don't like it, as far as I'm concerned, you can just as well stop using it.
You might not get hurt, but your data will. Sooner or later.
And it won't be my fault.
On every old webpage.
Actually, the strong desire to nuke the planet may be considered a telltale sign of developing an IQ.
Care to reconsider who's really going to profit from this?
Ever thought of posting notes like "this equipment will not be greatly missed if stolen... hint, hint..."?
It might save you a bit more and help some of those kids get their drugs, thus preventing them to rob someone for the money... </troll>
... the hole they drill enables the owner to put it on a chain and carry around his neck?
So, I can expect it in mass production, say, in time for my second-next computer.
I wonder how no-one modded this Insightful.
If there is a new low, lower than forcing kid at school looking at ads, which is an obvious example of brainwashing, it is currently unimaginable to me.
On one hand, we have Micosoft with this technology; on the other, my professor in semiotics and semantics is trying to ban all the ads from our college, including the free newspaper stand (on account of too many ads in the free newspapers).
Now, I don't really agree with that professor, though I do mind the amount of ads, because we live in the information age (or so we can hear it repeated over and over again) and we have to learn how to deal with ads and other junk information... and one of the ways of dealing with it is bloody ignoring it; I, for one, am most of the time only aware that yes, there was an ad on that page, but I haven't the foggiest as to what for...
However, forcing users to look at ads, especially schoolchildren, is forcing unwanted information down their throats. Well, eyes, actually, but you see my point.
I'm disgusted.
And I welcome any way to subvert such technologies.
... or TIT.
And while you suck on the TIT, we have you by the motherboard.
That was in Robin Williams's stand-up in 2000, IIRC...
Now that sounds like an OS full of gaping holes.
Terrible security, that.
And let me guess... If you buy a laptop withWindows, it's not a Windows license you can re-sell if you don't want it. Right?
<paranoia>But what if they learn how to detect Tor users and CRUSH them like BUGS!!1one</paranoia>
Seriously, why should he not teach about it?
Does it now? I just launched IE to check it (easier than logging out of everything in Firefox) and the text above the login box said "Sign in to Gmail with your Google Account".
So I'd guess that yes, you can log into Gmail with your Google Account username and password.
And it doesn't ask for a cell phone or anything like it, either.
I just wonder if they're going to drop the invites altogether...
But I read somewhere below that the problem may be with you living in North America...
Yup... I can verify that.
At least I'll be able to open all the annoying .ppts I get in the mail without having to run OO.o on some ancient computer...
... are we looking at a new type of spam?
Can't wait to read "Enlarge your peanus" right above some skyscraper...
I said, it gives out 0.9x in useful electricity.
Power used for running the plant itself is not useful... only the power coming out of the plant can be used for something.
Well, of course.
This has been put in layman terms, so of course nitpickers will start with the 'that's unpossible' routine... but it's simply the statement, from what I'd understood, that for each X of energy consumed for the running of the plant itself, it gives out 0.9X in useful electricity.
Gods, the farther you go in layman's terms, the worse this looks...
Which part of this sentence:
don't you understand?This, alas, is so.
It is said that not the first victim in a war is the most tragical one; it is the last one.
It is the same with illnesses: the most futile death seems that of someone who died days before a medicine is found.
... a "frosty piss" post, I don't know what is.
Sorry, couldn't help it.
Oops... the text in the brackets was added as an afterthought... should've read it all afterwards...
Well, technically, Fantasy is a sub-genre of SF (though SF has now been re-labeled as Speculative Fiction, so...).
At least that's what my Literature professors at college claim, and who am I to contradict them?