Reading NTFS has existed for some time (first released in 1997 - and is quite stable). Writing to NTFS, however, is a whole other ball park.
From http://linux-ntfs.sourceforge.net/info/ntfs.html: The new driver, introduced in 2.5.11, has some write code, but it's very limited. The driver can overwrite existing files, but it cannot change the length, add new or delete existing files.
Adding write support will take a long time. NTFS is built like a database. Any changes you make, necessitate making changes in many places, for consistency. Make a mistake and the filesystem will be damaged, make too many mistakes and the filesystem will be destroyed.
MS could "open up" NTFS and sell the driver, but Linux would not be able to use it. No software under the GPL may contain licensed technology that requires royalty fees.
So that hardware companies can have a new product. With the intense competition over hardware sales (battle between big guys and the no-name brands), prices have dropped really low for things like DVD burners, harddrives, etc. By introducing a new hardware spec, it'll give the "big guys" an edge over the no-name guys, so they can jack up prices on the new goods. All they have to do is convince Joe Schmoe user that the quality enhancements are worth the extra buck (or thousands if you include the HDTV, cables, etc.). IMHO (and in agreement with other posts so far on this topic) that these HD discs will not have that much of an impact. I'm waiting for holagraphic disks.
Don't forget to read the fine print. I know Dell had systems w/o Windows, but (from your link), [i]Note: Dell does not support non-Dell installed operating systems.[/i] The OS they send with the computer is NOT preinstalled. They just send an empty hard drive. Yes this system exisits, I've seen it before, but it is not replacing the millions of Windows machines they are selling. If it does, then I'll stand corrected. Until then, I can't see the majority of their systems being sent to home users without an operating system.
I highly doubt Dell will sell their computers without an operating system preinstalled. That would completely alienate the whole, "plug it in and it works" idea of Dells. I would venture to guess that the majority of their sales come from home/small business field, and to not be able to plug it in and have it work would really hurt Dell's reputation as a people-friendly PC.
So if Dell has to package an OS with their system, what will it be?
1) Windows: The status quo. Plug it in and it works (albeit not for long if it's not patched and updated). Extra cost for Dell? Probably a couple bucks per computer, which they gladly pass onto the consumer. Incentives? Coupons/Benefits from Microsoft for $??? total gain.
2) Enterprise type *nix: Dell would probably look at a major commercial player such as Red Hat or SUSE as their distro of choice. SUSE and Red Hat both have standard technical support already in place (for a fee - buying their Enterprise OS). This technical support is very important to Dell because they don't want to have to deal with Q&A about the OS of choice. It's not their field of expertise. However, I could see a deal between Dell and one of them to provide a desktop version of the OS with technical support. In addition, the business models of Red Hat and SUSE are similar to that of the closed system world, which is one less (major) adjustment Dell would have to make to their own system. The catch? There would be a *nix tax as well. Which puts us back at square one (with the exception of one less [troll] evil corporation in the mix [/troll].
3) Free *nix/BSD: Which one to choose? There's so many distros out there. Most of them don't have the status quo technical support available. Instead they have mailing-lists and Wikis. Do the majority of computer users know what those things are or are able to use them (especially if X won't load for some reason!). The majority of users need the technical support over the phone that most of us dread.
Until there's a solution made for the technical support that joe-schmoe user needs is made available for *nix distros, I don't see Windows being replaced as the default OS on consumer grade PCs.
Actually, the Boing 777 does land/take off automatically. I think this also holds true for the Airbus 300s (Correct me if I'm wrong)
From "Ask Captain Lin":
"On the Boeing 777, the autopilot can be selected on at 200 feet above ground level after take off. Most of the time, the pilot would make use of the autopilot on the climb because it eases the workload of the crew especially during an emergency. Sometimes, a pilot may elect to fly manually during the climb just to get his hands on the control column or to maintain his proficiency because during a flight test, one of the exercise calls for flying without the aid of autopilot. Otherwise, the autopilot is engaged throughout most of the flight. It is smoother, more economical and safer with the autopilot on. In fact, in really bad weather with very limited visibility, the autopilot even lands the aircraft by itself. The pilot only resumes control of the aircraft after it has safely landed on the Runway."
Yeah, I checked Tank out before leaving for winter break, and there didn't seem to be anything different between Valerie. However, they must have fixed one bug in it... When I visited for my admissions interview, I got there a couple hours early, so I was wondering around and found Val. I typed, "hello, my name is ____" (long polish name), and Val started to respond by saying "Hello,..." then came a screeching "beep"! Val crashed trying to say my last name. Next the X session that it was running on came crashing down like a rock with error messages everywhere. Guess she didn't like us Polacks. However, Tank isn't a racist. Maybe he understands what it's like to be a minority because of his hideous face. Tank must take some serious discrimination for that. Poor guy...
"The Order of Lenin, for Comrade Bond. The first time ever awarded to a non-Soviet citizen."
"I'd have expected the KGB to celebrate if Silicon Valley had been destroyed."
"On the contrary, Admiral...Where would Russian research be without it?"
RTFA:
"But even with air conditioning, temperatures inside the armored vehicles could still reach 95 degrees in the sun, Bussee said. So something more was needed."
"A rapid-release system allows Soldiers to quickly disconnect the hoses so they can jump out of the vehicle and keep the vests on."
Let's just hope that the water circulating through the vest is sucked out by the release system, or else that once-was-cold water is going to turn very hot and very heavy, RSN.
Drug prices are also high because of the incredible amount of R&D that have to go into the drugs. Trying to come up with a drug X to cure Y that is better than drug Z, and also safe, effective, and easy to manufacture in large quantities is not a simple task.
Maybe you need to live or have lived here to truly appreciate it
I was born and raised in MA. I'm now a student @ Carnegie Mellon, and when I graduate, I plan on moving back. I am proud to say I'm a masshole. With that said, however, you didn't explain the whole situation with the students being killed.
While neither student was under the influence, the driver who backed over James Grabowski was under the influence (Another paper, same story.
I'm not sure where you were when the Patriots won, but underage drinking was NOT blamed for what happened in either case. In fact, the keg registration law in Massachusetts was in response to a 1990 alcohol-related drowning, where the individual who drowned was A) underage and B) intoxicated. Our recent sports victories and ensuing mayhem are not the reason you can't buy a keg without the government knowing.
Slashdot Mirror
From http://linux-ntfs.sourceforge.net/info/ntfs.html:
The new driver, introduced in 2.5.11, has some write code, but it's very limited. The driver can overwrite existing files, but it cannot change the length, add new or delete existing files.
Adding write support will take a long time. NTFS is built like a database. Any changes you make, necessitate making changes in many places, for consistency. Make a mistake and the filesystem will be damaged, make too many mistakes and the filesystem will be destroyed.
MS could "open up" NTFS and sell the driver, but Linux would not be able to use it. No software under the GPL may contain licensed technology that requires royalty fees.
So that hardware companies can have a new product. With the intense competition over hardware sales (battle between big guys and the no-name brands), prices have dropped really low for things like DVD burners, harddrives, etc. By introducing a new hardware spec, it'll give the "big guys" an edge over the no-name guys, so they can jack up prices on the new goods. All they have to do is convince Joe Schmoe user that the quality enhancements are worth the extra buck (or thousands if you include the HDTV, cables, etc.). IMHO (and in agreement with other posts so far on this topic) that these HD discs will not have that much of an impact. I'm waiting for holagraphic disks.
Fucking Kangaroos
gah, wrong brackets :) Too much time using Invision Power Board.
Don't forget to read the fine print. I know Dell had systems w/o Windows, but (from your link), [i]Note: Dell does not support non-Dell installed operating systems.[/i] The OS they send with the computer is NOT preinstalled. They just send an empty hard drive. Yes this system exisits, I've seen it before, but it is not replacing the millions of Windows machines they are selling. If it does, then I'll stand corrected. Until then, I can't see the majority of their systems being sent to home users without an operating system.
So if Dell has to package an OS with their system, what will it be?
1) Windows: The status quo. Plug it in and it works (albeit not for long if it's not patched and updated). Extra cost for Dell? Probably a couple bucks per computer, which they gladly pass onto the consumer. Incentives? Coupons/Benefits from Microsoft for $??? total gain.
2) Enterprise type *nix: Dell would probably look at a major commercial player such as Red Hat or SUSE as their distro of choice. SUSE and Red Hat both have standard technical support already in place (for a fee - buying their Enterprise OS). This technical support is very important to Dell because they don't want to have to deal with Q&A about the OS of choice. It's not their field of expertise. However, I could see a deal between Dell and one of them to provide a desktop version of the OS with technical support. In addition, the business models of Red Hat and SUSE are similar to that of the closed system world, which is one less (major) adjustment Dell would have to make to their own system. The catch? There would be a *nix tax as well. Which puts us back at square one (with the exception of one less [troll] evil corporation in the mix [/troll].
3) Free *nix/BSD: Which one to choose? There's so many distros out there. Most of them don't have the status quo technical support available. Instead they have mailing-lists and Wikis. Do the majority of computer users know what those things are or are able to use them (especially if X won't load for some reason!). The majority of users need the technical support over the phone that most of us dread.
Until there's a solution made for the technical support that joe-schmoe user needs is made available for *nix distros, I don't see Windows being replaced as the default OS on consumer grade PCs.
From "Ask Captain Lin":
"On the Boeing 777, the autopilot can be selected on at 200 feet above ground level after take off. Most of the time, the pilot would make use of the autopilot on the climb because it eases the workload of the crew especially during an emergency. Sometimes, a pilot may elect to fly manually during the climb just to get his hands on the control column or to maintain his proficiency because during a flight test, one of the exercise calls for flying without the aid of autopilot. Otherwise, the autopilot is engaged throughout most of the flight. It is smoother, more economical and safer with the autopilot on. In fact, in really bad weather with very limited visibility, the autopilot even lands the aircraft by itself. The pilot only resumes control of the aircraft after it has safely landed on the Runway."
Also interesting to note is the fact that the major leaders of the Stanford team came from the Carnegie Mellon AI department 2-3 years ago.
Yeah, I checked Tank out before leaving for winter break, and there didn't seem to be anything different between Valerie. However, they must have fixed one bug in it... When I visited for my admissions interview, I got there a couple hours early, so I was wondering around and found Val. I typed, "hello, my name is ____" (long polish name), and Val started to respond by saying "Hello, ..." then came a screeching "beep"! Val crashed trying to say my last name. Next the X session that it was running on came crashing down like a rock with error messages everywhere. Guess she didn't like us Polacks. However, Tank isn't a racist. Maybe he understands what it's like to be a minority because of his hideous face. Tank must take some serious discrimination for that. Poor guy...
"The Order of Lenin, for Comrade Bond. The first time ever awarded to a non-Soviet citizen."
"I'd have expected the KGB to celebrate if Silicon Valley had been destroyed."
"On the contrary, Admiral...Where would Russian research be without it?"
That's IP rights for ya...
RTFA:
"But even with air conditioning, temperatures inside the armored vehicles could still reach 95 degrees in the sun, Bussee said. So something more was needed."
"A rapid-release system allows Soldiers to quickly disconnect the hoses so they can jump out of the vehicle and keep the vests on."
Let's just hope that the water circulating through the vest is sucked out by the release system, or else that once-was-cold water is going to turn very hot and very heavy, RSN.
Drug prices are also high because of the incredible amount of R&D that have to go into the drugs. Trying to come up with a drug X to cure Y that is better than drug Z, and also safe, effective, and easy to manufacture in large quantities is not a simple task.
Who said the MA government was efficient? Certainly not me. However, point taken.
I was born and raised in MA. I'm now a student @ Carnegie Mellon, and when I graduate, I plan on moving back. I am proud to say I'm a masshole. With that said, however, you didn't explain the whole situation with the students being killed.
While neither student was under the influence, the driver who backed over James Grabowski was under the influence (Another paper, same story.
I'm not sure where you were when the Patriots won, but underage drinking was NOT blamed for what happened in either case. In fact, the keg registration law in Massachusetts was in response to a 1990 alcohol-related drowning, where the individual who drowned was A) underage and B) intoxicated. Our recent sports victories and ensuing mayhem are not the reason you can't buy a keg without the government knowing.