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User: Locutus

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  1. Re:Heh. on Compaq Brings Back iPaq Music Center, Drops Price · · Score: 2

    yes, isn't it funny how most people associate MP3 players with stolen music. As soon as they get over this and realize that digital music storage/playback is way better than physical storage/playback the music industry and it's customers can move on.

    LoB

  2. This reminds me of the movie - Total Recall on NASA Plan to Read Brainwaves at Airports · · Score: 2

    Didn't Arnold got a body scan at the airport? He then took his head off and tossed it to the guards where it blew up.

    Great, now we're going to have terrorist's heads blowing up. Airport security will then start checking hats AND shoes. Doh!

    LoB

  3. Re:Amazing timing! on Microsoft Invests in the University of Waterloo · · Score: 2

    So you can be trained as a Microsoft lemming. There is a whole economy revolving around keeping Microsfot products running.

    But hey, Microsoft products work great until you open the package and install them..... Was it Teddy R who put millions to work cleaning streets, etc to get the economy rolling? This is what Microsoft does with it's monopoly money. They paid AT&T 5 billion dollars to use Windows CE when nobody wanted it and now they are paying Universities and even countries just to use their flawed products.

    Now it looks like you'll be picking your school with another criteria. How much MS crap is required for the degree.

    LoB

  4. DUMP girl/diamond idea and buy more HARDWARE on Diamonds - Are They Really Worth the Cost? · · Score: 2

    hehe, just kidding. If she's the right one, her income will help you purchase even MORE HARDWARE. ;-)

    Look for a cool looking antique ring or one at a pawn shop.

  5. Re:Not to say unworthy to the developers, but: on Linux on Xbox One Step Closer? · · Score: 2

    that's one way to look at it but it only works if there are no current sales of the product. Since we know there are unsuspecting oblidiots still purchasing the units, by taking a unit out of the game console market, you are preventing someone else from purchasing a unit or forcing MS to have more built.

    If we knew sales were dead and inventory bloated, then leaving them alone would be the best to hurt MS. Since we don't know this, letting MS pay for some of our hardware costs makes sense. That is if the hardware is worth having.

    If the unit will make a good PVR, MP3 player, DVD player, etc (ie a home intertainment unit) then $200US seems like a great price for this X-Window Box. ;)

    LoB

  6. Re:Not to say unworthy to the developers, but: on Linux on Xbox One Step Closer? · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Actually, every purchase of the Xbox sends Microsofts money to the hardware vendors. Sony and Nintendo see this and dropped their prices (still making $$ on the hardware) so MS would lose more. The hardware in the Xbox is expensive as game consoles go and a bunch of that money is going to Nvidia.

    So, Microsoft loses money on each sale of the hardware and it's been estimated that you'd have to purchase something like 10 or 15 game titles for them to break even.

    Now you see why this is "interesting"? It's a hit against Bill Gates' wallet and there's a pretty cool graphics system onboard. All in a box that SCREAMS FOR THE X-WINDOW SYSTEM. ;)

    LoB

  7. Re:Can this title please be changed? on Dell No Longer Selling Systems w/o Microsoft OS · · Score: 2

    "What a huge difference"

    Really now. Companies who have their own OS images can no longer save themselves money by purchasing a Dell system without an OS because Dell is forced to install SOME OS before selling it. I guess Dell could still sell them Linux or some other FREE OS even though much of it's customers are not purchasing THAT FREE OS on that particular model....

    Get real buddy. What's going on here is Microsoft does not want ANY desktop systems going out of OEMs without MS Windows on them. By preventing OEMs from selling OS-less PC's, they either force the OEM to have Linux disk images for all their PC's(desktops and servers) or what's most likely to happen, they'll just keep Linux disk images for their servers since hardware on the various desktop systems many times include Windows specific Win-XXX hardware.

    Remember, Win-Fi(Soft-WiFi) is coming soon so when Microsoft pays all the mobo vendors to include the Win-Fi hardware, Linux won't work with this and like the Win-Modems, we'll end up paying for something we can't use for a while. By keeping the hardware "tuned" to the Windows OS, there's not much savings on the desktop with a FREE OS when features are not usable.

    I think the title should be changed to:
    "MS stops large OEMs from selling systems w/o MS OS"
    or
    "MS attacks Linux Desktop migration by preventing OEMs from selling systems w/o MS OS"

    There are always more than one way to interpret what the meaning is behind what Microsoft says and does. They are the masters of double-speak. IMHO

    LoB

  8. some articles about Linux USB: imply non-existance on USB 2.0 for Linux Coming Soon · · Score: 2

    I recently read an article about this on C/Net (IIRC) and it really read more like this:

    Hey, Linux will soon have USB 2.0 support and with all the vendors/devices supporting USB, it's a good thing Linux is eventually getting USB support.

    The average Joe is going to think you can't use your USB devices with Linux.

    So watch out when you read those articles because there can sometimes tell another story. The number one marketing company in the world isn't always doing in-your-face marketing. Actually, they very seldom do it that way. In that way, they are very unlike the Borg who are so arrogant and powerful they just keep coming( in the clear ) directly at their prey.

    LoB

  9. Re:E.Digital is a penny-stock scam! on e.Digital Promises Another iPod Competitor · · Score: 2

    I still find it amazing that they are still in business. Saw them at CES and was under welmed. Like you said, they've been promoting their advanced MP3 players for something like 3 years and have not much to show for it.

    If you're a gambler, one more pump/dump might be in their bag-o-tricks....

    LoB

  10. Re:Why a reboot - Osprey reboot... on F-22 Avionics Require Inflight Reboot · · Score: 2

    If I remember correctly, one of the last Osprey's to go down and kill a number of marines was due to an inflight reboot. IIRC, the pilot had a system error and rebooted but the system startup defaults were not designed to maintain flight. The in-flight reboot either was not designed for being in-flight or there was a serious hole in their QC process.

    Either way, $billion flying machines which rely on so much software to fly, should have some low-level boot-kernel-like software to keep the bird flying when bad things happen. Or birds failing from the sky due to BSOD could get soo common they'll have a TV show about it...."When Bytes Attack"

    Remember, a redundant system isn't much good if it too has the same software failure.

    LoB

  11. Re:How do they do it? on Ballmer Admits 'Linux Changed Our Game' · · Score: 2

    We all know how great the task switching is on Windows (not) and because of this, the VM hosted on Windows is going to only run when Windows says it'll run and therefore the comparison is false.

    You can not compare software run in a VM with the native software running on the host. Now if you ran them both in the VM you might have something though I'd still run many tests to average out that smooth multitasking of Windows.

    LoB

  12. more user-defined hot-spots on New Palm Pictures? · · Score: 2

    The picture/pda looks pretty good and the slide-out panel to expose the Grafiti area is a nice touch too. Did you notice the 4 small icons around the Grafiti area? To launch these apps: clock, backlight, numPad, and keyboard. I think they should add 6 small icons in the corners of the virtuals buttons just to the sides of the Grafiti area and let us assign apps to them.

    I like the rounded edges of this PDA and now that we can go left and right from the front panel instead of just up and down. And a Select button. :)

    If OS5 is really going to be multi-tasking then having OK and Cancel buttons like the Zaurus are a must for quick selection and exiting of data and apps.

    IMHO.

    LoB

  13. Re:No no no no no on A Linux User Goes Back · · Score: 2

    I had to see what http://www.microsoft.com/billgates/ really said and it was funny. Look at all the dead ideas( dead lightbulbs ) and look! There's Microsoft Bob, still alive there in the trash can. ;)

    Will we be seeing Microsoft BoB.Net soon?
    Doh.

    LoB

  14. Re:My experiences with the Prius on Alternative-Fuel Vehicle Recommendations? · · Score: 2

    I know there are no numbers for this yet and it will be years before there are but what about mainenance?

    Remember, the hybrid (at least my Prius) puts alot less wear and tear on the ICE (gas engine) and because it is actually spun-up before ignition there's far less wear from starting/stopping. This should result in less ICE repairs.

    Then there's the braking. With regenerative breaking, electrical energy is used to help slow the car down so the brake pads/shoes and rotors/drums will all wear less. This should result in less/fewer brake jobs.

    Then there's the fact that there pretty much is NO transmission ( planetary gear system only ). I would expect this to last far longer than any standard or automatic transmission because there is no sliding/slipping of gears. Just a constant messing of teeth/gears. This should result in little to no transmission problems.

    Then theres the fact that there is no hydraulic steering fluid to help boost steering. The electric motor could wear out but there's no hoses, pumps, etc to deal with. This should result in little to no power steering problems.

    What did I miss? The batteries might need replacing (some of them) in 8 or so years but the rest of the car should be VERY LOW MAINTENANCE.

    Ah, but who thinks about TCO these days. ;)

    LoB
    ( Eat My Voltage, George Dubby )

  15. geesh, been there, done that (with X10 and 1-wire) on Am I Hot or Not · · Score: 2

    It's fun but nothing new. A company called Spiderplant.com had a pic based 1-wire kit and I ported their stuff to work with Linux 4 or so years ago. I had a script reading temperature sensors (4 of them) placed around the house( and outside ) and based on that data, I'd direct 2 X10 controlled fans to turn on or off. One fan vented the attic and the other vented downstairs into the attic.

    This is very easy to do and very inexpensive. Cool too ( I mean that literally :).

    LoB

  16. Re:You gotta hand it to them... on Microsoft To Exhibit at LinuxWorld Expo · · Score: 2

    It's all a training exercise for the latest Tiger-Team of Linux bashing salesmen. They need to make sure these guys won't cave under pressure so they are sending them off to Linux Expo.

    Or they just want to know exactly how many show up each day and get other stats from the organizers. Maybe the organizers should have a software bug and let Microsoft know that exactly 100 people showed each day of the event. When Microsoft complains, they can say they had a bug and will fix it for the next show. :)

    LoB

  17. Re:Causing a reaction - in the name of SECURITY on Microsoft To Exhibit at LinuxWorld Expo · · Score: 2

    Maybe 40 people dressed in Tux outfits should circle their booth and stay there for the duration of the Expo. And say it is for security reasons. :)

    LoB

  18. Re:Resist the Urge! - MS is a marketing company.. on Microsoft To Exhibit at LinuxWorld Expo · · Score: 2

    My feeling is that they probably get some kind of information about how many people showed and other statistically useful information. Just like they insisted on pulling $1 from each copy of SCO UNIX and kept close tabs on how many copies of OS/2 sold.

    The use this information to determine how much of their $40+ billion they need to spend on FUD and if more goes to "F", "U", or "D".

    They don't belong at Linux Expo but they are a marketing company after all.

    LoB

  19. Re:Security Patches are the getting worse on Microsoft Media Player "Security Patch" Changes EULA Big Time · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    If MY application has a security problem, WHO THE HELL IS MICROSOFT to decide THEY will prevent people from using MY software? It should be MY COMPANY'S problem to solve. But then again, Bill Gates seems to think his company owns EVERYTHING which runs under the Win32 API.....

    Yet another reason to GET THE HELL OFF WINDOWS. ASAP. IMHO.

    BTW, I do not write applications for MS Windows.

    LoB

  20. Pretty much what they did in Mexico too on The Empire Strikes Back - in China · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This is what they did as a test run in Mexico. They know these countries are poor and by throwing a few million bills at them, they sucker them into the Microsoft Windows upgrade cycle. Linux can only offer reliable, secure, and inexpensive software while Microsoft just plain pays them to use Windows.

    Wasn't it Microsoft who paid $5billion for AT&T to used MS-WinCE on a few hundred thousand set-top boxes? And then they couldn't provide the backend software to run it so AT&T walked away with $5billion.

    When you have $40+billion in monopoly money and billions still streaming in, you can start paying people to use your product when you know they will not be able to move off it in the future.

    Ask any drug dealer how this works......They'll tell you it a sure thing.

    I hope China asked for cash too. ;)

    LoB

  21. Re:The benefits ofModularity (and how this sucks) on A Web Browser in Your BIOS? · · Score: 2

    The stone and chisel worked great and was simple. Should we still be using it? Remember this is not Windows and the Linux kernel can be trimmed down pretty small. This is just a small step up for the BIOS but a large step in functionality. It's also a large step up for OEM's.

    This reminds me of the often heard phrase in TV cop shows: "Step away for the windows!"

    LoB

  22. Re:BIOS? on A Web Browser in Your BIOS? · · Score: 2

    > DellPaq... ;-)

    hehe. That's a good one. Funny how the food chain is going. DEC goes head first into bed with Microsoft and then gets swallowed by Compaq as it's marketshare withers. HP gets a rash when they start hopping in bed with Microsoft but luckily they fall out quick enough to survive. But Compaq can't hold off the infection introduced by DEC's intercourse with Microsoft and they get swallowed by HP....

    Dell would be better off waiting to see if the infection is ravaging enough to take HP down before getting too close. Though Dell did grow up with the MS disease and my be immune though the MS virii has now gone flesh-eating. Well Dell survive that? Their recent Linux deals show they are evolving/generating anti-bodies..... ;)

    LoB

  23. Re:Don't think embedded browser ; Security? on A Web Browser in Your BIOS? · · Score: 2

    > Ya, otherwise known as a PDA.
    >
    Or better known as an IOpener Net Appliance

    You should have seen my 2 friends faces when I showed them my $99 IOpener (running JAILBAIT Linux). They had spent $1500 each for PC's running Windows to get email and to surf the web. Even at $400, a Net Appliance is all most families need.

    OK, throw one fullblown PC in there as a file server and now Jr and Jr-ette get cheap appliances instead of massively expensive and support intensive Windows based PC's. They could pay for it with lemonaide stand money for cry'n out loud. ;)

    LoB

  24. Re:ntfs support on A Web Browser in Your BIOS? · · Score: 2

    I believe they were referring to the NETWORK storage and were most likely using SAMBA in the BIOS.

    I had to read it twice myself.

    LoB

  25. Re:Not a bad idea... on A Web Browser in Your BIOS? · · Score: 2

    IMAP and Web-Email don't require local storage and if this has a suspend mode then a RAM disk could hold bookmarks,etc. Heck, most ISP's give you web space so this could use that for network storage with scp.

    We may see the return of the Net Appliance. I can tell you that my 75 year old mom, loves her IOpener.