Well, it's not really a massive failure, nor is it a massive success. The article says that Massachusetts has now approved both MS Open XML and OASIS OpenDocument (ODF). Hence, ODF is not dead in Massachusetts. But the issue is that they initially were resisting Open XML (in Aug. 2005), but have now caved in.
Yes, once installed, it's available to all programs on the PC. However, many programs (especially on Linux, such as CodeWeavers/CrossOver Office and the installer for Debian) were automatically installing the fonts if they weren't already there. While that's convenient for the end user, MS felt slighted!
One reason MS discontinued the initiative, according to this, is because people were frequently abusing the EULA by repackaging the fonts in other programs.
I think the bigger issue is what people are willing to tolerate.
Most users (including myself) don't have the same expectations of web applications and desktop applications. It's fine with me if a web application is ad-supported, because... well, it's on a website.
However, if I were to have a desktop application that constantly displays ads, then I would have serious qualms about its quality, and I feel that my computer is "unclean" and I would perceive a decrease in performance. It's like crappy old Kazaa all over again!
Web ads are fine, desktop ads are NOT fine!
They accused US investigators of trying to coerce McKinnon into accepting a secret plea bargain by threatening him with a long prison sentence if he did not collaborate.
Hmmm... that's a strange thing to criticize... this is a pretty standard practice in US criminal law - cooperate, forfeit your right to a trial, and you get off easy.
I remember there was a story a few months back about a guy who rejected the Windows license agreement on his new computer. He got his money back for the copy of Windows (without even having to return the OEM CD), and then proceeded to install Linux on it. So people who want Linux could just opt for that route... Maybe then Acer will notice "demand" for Linux!
TFA states that water is the "kryptonite" of the superstrong paper.
Doesn't that kill its practicality in things like planes and automobiles? If it rains, then you could have a major catastrophe on your hands...
Create great video content that is in high demand and release it without any DRM. What's stopping you from doing that?
Copyright law & piracy prevention...
I know that there are some people who probably won't mind distributing their own content without restrictions, but remember that many people are trying to make money off what they create. If the distribution of their content isn't protected DRM, then they can't really maximize their profit.
So yes, from a purely technical point of view, nothing is stopping anybody from distributing stuff w/o DRM, but in reality... not so simple!
OK, I'm not implying that software piracy is a good thing. If it's not free, then you should pay for it, to show respect to the people who worked hard to produce the software. But also, Bill Gates was definitely much rougher in the letter than he needed to be to get his point across, which is why it is difficult to feel sympathetic to his cause. The perception of him as a "bully" is mostly because of the tone of the letter.
Interesting to see that Bill Gates hasn't changed much in 30 years! He still hates casual software piracy; the only difference is now he has much more influence...
Really, I think this would simplify things a bit. Assign every virus an ID number. Then, people could search a CENTRAL database by typing in the ID number that their anti-virus software reports, and be able get whatever info they need about the virus. The current naming conventions are very confusing for some people.
Sorry, it IS so. The media uses end-of-the-world headlines because it gets people riled up and excited, and this news about the Kama Sutra worm falls into that category...
Sure a laptop can last a long time, if you use a well-built one (like a Thinkpad) and if you don't throw it off an airplane. I still have a Thinkpad from 7 years ago, with Win98 on it. Not that I'd have the guts to install Vista on it or anything on that, because I'm not suicidal enough...
Yet anyway, I think it's a good idea to wait for a few months, as Centrino laptops get more powerful and better able to handle Vista's graphics requirements. Right now, however, we should wait for the price to go down and for those other bugs to get worked out.
Because Bill's generally really arrogant. He likes to bloat about how important he is. On the other hand, he's taking himself down a notch by admitting that Windows isn't all that great! (by the fact that the IRS needs a Mac to process his tax return...)
Person 1: "I'm a sex bomb." Person 2: "Yes, I know, you are always so totally on fire. Totally extreme." Gov't agent (listening in): [silence] Person 1: "You know, every time I post on Slashdot, I feel like I'm high on LSD." Person 2: "Yeah dude, it's like massive anarchy, except it's online." Gov't agent: [silence] Person 1: "So anyway, back to the subject. You want to come to my house so we can do our chemistry project on nuclear power?" Person 2: "Sure, I'll be right there. No need for directions, I know where you live." Gov't Agent: [crackles...] "So do I... pwnage!"
Re:For those of us who don't follow mozilla.org...
on
SeaMonkey 1.0 Released
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· Score: 1
SeaMonkey is another browser from Mozilla (other than Firefox).
It is inspired mostly by the original Mozilla codebase, that was used to produce Mozilla Suite 1.x.
Slashdot Mirror
Well, it's not really a massive failure, nor is it a massive success. The article says that Massachusetts has now approved both MS Open XML and OASIS OpenDocument (ODF). Hence, ODF is not dead in Massachusetts. But the issue is that they initially were resisting Open XML (in Aug. 2005), but have now caved in.
Yes, once installed, it's available to all programs on the PC. However, many programs (especially on Linux, such as CodeWeavers/CrossOver Office and the installer for Debian) were automatically installing the fonts if they weren't already there. While that's convenient for the end user, MS felt slighted!
One reason MS discontinued the initiative, according to this, is because people were frequently abusing the EULA by repackaging the fonts in other programs.
Dear customer, We apologize for the accidental good service. We promise we will make it bad again as soon as possible. Sincerely, Mr. Symantec
I suppose it's in their better interest to skip the ads on a 911 call... potential lawsuits if somebody dies because of it.
I sure hope that those ads won't be targeted based on one's conversations, like they are on Gmail. That would be extremely scary.
I think the bigger issue is what people are willing to tolerate. Most users (including myself) don't have the same expectations of web applications and desktop applications. It's fine with me if a web application is ad-supported, because... well, it's on a website. However, if I were to have a desktop application that constantly displays ads, then I would have serious qualms about its quality, and I feel that my computer is "unclean" and I would perceive a decrease in performance. It's like crappy old Kazaa all over again! Web ads are fine, desktop ads are NOT fine!
I remember there was a story a few months back about a guy who rejected the Windows license agreement on his new computer. He got his money back for the copy of Windows (without even having to return the OEM CD), and then proceeded to install Linux on it. So people who want Linux could just opt for that route... Maybe then Acer will notice "demand" for Linux!
TFA states that water is the "kryptonite" of the superstrong paper. Doesn't that kill its practicality in things like planes and automobiles? If it rains, then you could have a major catastrophe on your hands...
Here everybody, this one has much more info: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/07/26/nasa.computers.re ut/
Yes. I call my Skype account with it so I can talk to myself late at night.
Awesome! I'm going to hook up with Al Gore and see if I can get a patent on the Internet!
I know that there are some people who probably won't mind distributing their own content without restrictions, but remember that many people are trying to make money off what they create. If the distribution of their content isn't protected DRM, then they can't really maximize their profit.
So yes, from a purely technical point of view, nothing is stopping anybody from distributing stuff w/o DRM, but in reality... not so simple!
OK, I'm not implying that software piracy is a good thing. If it's not free, then you should pay for it, to show respect to the people who worked hard to produce the software.
But also, Bill Gates was definitely much rougher in the letter than he needed to be to get his point across, which is why it is difficult to feel sympathetic to his cause. The perception of him as a "bully" is mostly because of the tone of the letter.
Interesting to see that Bill Gates hasn't changed much in 30 years! He still hates casual software piracy; the only difference is now he has much more influence...
Really, I think this would simplify things a bit. Assign every virus an ID number. Then, people could search a CENTRAL database by typing in the ID number that their anti-virus software reports, and be able get whatever info they need about the virus. The current naming conventions are very confusing for some people.
Sorry, it IS so. The media uses end-of-the-world headlines because it gets people riled up and excited, and this news about the Kama Sutra worm falls into that category...
Sure a laptop can last a long time, if you use a well-built one (like a Thinkpad) and if you don't throw it off an airplane. I still have a Thinkpad from 7 years ago, with Win98 on it. Not that I'd have the guts to install Vista on it or anything on that, because I'm not suicidal enough...
Yet anyway, I think it's a good idea to wait for a few months, as Centrino laptops get more powerful and better able to handle Vista's graphics requirements. Right now, however, we should wait for the price to go down and for those other bugs to get worked out.
You can probably check for Linux/BSD/Solaris drivers from Nvidia's website. The drivers you can find here: http://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp
Currently they only have Windows XP/2000 drivers for it, but I would imagine that the Linux etc. drivers will be available soon.
Because Bill's generally really arrogant. He likes to bloat about how important he is.
On the other hand, he's taking himself down a notch by admitting that Windows isn't all that great! (by the fact that the IRS needs a Mac to process his tax return...)
Dysan2k, here is the announcement of Konqueror passing Acid2: http://www.kdedevelopers.org/node/1129
Konqueror first passed the Acid2 test last June, about a month or two after Safari. It works in Konqueror 3.4.2.
Person 1: "I'm a sex bomb."
Person 2: "Yes, I know, you are always so totally on fire. Totally extreme."
Gov't agent (listening in): [silence]
Person 1: "You know, every time I post on Slashdot, I feel like I'm high on LSD."
Person 2: "Yeah dude, it's like massive anarchy, except it's online."
Gov't agent: [silence]
Person 1: "So anyway, back to the subject. You want to come to my house so we can do our chemistry project on nuclear power?"
Person 2: "Sure, I'll be right there. No need for directions, I know where you live."
Gov't Agent: [crackles...] "So do I... pwnage!"
SeaMonkey is another browser from Mozilla (other than Firefox). It is inspired mostly by the original Mozilla codebase, that was used to produce Mozilla Suite 1.x.
Safari and Konqueror pass the Acid2 test. Unfortunately, I can't post screenshots of it because I'm on windouse right now.