Okay, well how about this? I have owned every Sidekick model since the first, in 2002/2003 (can't remember exactly when). I have never lost data while using the device with T-Mobile. I've had many data glitches, and I lost the hardware twice and restored it effortlessly from the "cloud" (of course we did not call it that, then:).
While the rest of the tech world "dreamed of the future when mobile devices had useable browsers and data was reliably stored on remote servers", I lived the dream. They were way ahead of their time (and don't tell me you had this or that device - I evaluated every device coming to market every year, and they all sucked until recently).
After MS bought Danger, I knew that era was over. And now, the results of that marriage (or should I say "meal") has produced this epic 2 week outage. Tell me how the culprit could NOT be MS ??
This is easily solved by a stated convention. Just as the current "MPG" is established to be based on xx octane unleaded gas, "MPD" would be defined as being based on zz cents/kilowatt hour (and xx octane unleaded gas in case of plug-in hybrid).
This convention would be established for the entire country, so that efficiency comparisons could be made simply between vehicles.
Now, if your local utility charged 20% more for juice, why, then you would derate your MPD by 20%.
Um, what's so difficult about this? Miles Per Dollar, anyone? MPD?
Neglect battery replacement cost and gasoline engine repair costs, yadda-yadda. Let's please just start stating operating efficiency in terms of how much the electric company charged to plug the darn vehicle into the wall overnight (divide into miles travelled = MPD).
We already know for gas cars, how much the petroleum companies charge to fill up the tank (divide into miles travelled = MPD).
You got a plug-in hybrid? --> add the cost of the electricity + petroleum (divide into miles travelled = MPD). Easy.
In addition, let me add one idea. Everyone's response has considered this an either/or decision. I suggest to expand your possibility set - how about working at both places?
Go to the big place and tell them, "hey, I have decided on another job because their pay is better (lie, of course). But I really like your technology (lie again) and would like to work as a part-timer. Can I be setup as a contractor with your company and I'll work projects as you need me?".
The nice thing about this is that you have time because you are already working part-time on your personal projects, which you would have to give up, of course. And you would get experience in both technologies, and more dough. And you would learn how to work as a contractor without the risk.
If the big company says "no, but, we really like you, how about a 90% increase". Then your decision gets harder!
...that's a good first step towards rehab - admitting that you have a problem. j/k:)
As a patient, I am hesitant to self-diagnose via web searches, for all of the reasons mentioned in this thread. However, I always google in order to take some ideas to my doc, just as I would google for facts about an automobile problem before visiting a mechanic. Or if considering the purchase a TV before visiting a retailer. One needs to be armed with a certain vocabulary and knowledge so that the 1-on-1 dialogue can start from a higher foundation.
I don't know if my doctor is unusual, nowadays, but I like his approach. He invites me in, I put my feet up on his ottoman, and we have a conversation with him intermittently tapping on his laptop. I tell him what I have found on the web, and he gives me his opinion on it's validity. I have no idea if he is using google, himself. He gives me choices on treatment, and often a list of search terms that he recommends I take home and google in order to help me make a decision.
I look at him as a participant in my diagnosis/treatment, rather than a "magic button" to solve my problem in one wave of the hand. I feel that this collaborative strategy, and using google before and after consultation improves the effectiveness of medical care.
I've read the excellent and informative posts. My comments presume that you have created something and now want to try and sell it. Your packaging choice for the next step, will be dictated by your customers. Who are they? Do you have a contract or a request for this device - if so, go to them to see what they want, and take the steps to package it nicely and as close to their request as you can make it. If this is a speculative venture and you only have a concept that you have implemented in a desktop prototype, then don't worry about the package - put it in a box so that you can take it around to folks and show it to them.
Technologists like to spend time working all the details, but you don't know if anyone is interested in buying it at this point. So put your resources into taking what you have and putting it in the hands of customers, retailers, marketing folks - all the stakeholders that will quickly tell you if you have something that they want. And of course, they each will want to change something about it, so it's easier, faster, and cheaper to put changes into it when it is closer to the prototype stage, than when it has a customized package.
I would go so far as to suggest that if you can not find a sponsor for your product at this stage, then you may not want to continue. A sponsor would be someone that either a) agrees to market your product (after the requested changes are incorporated, of course); b) buy them outright (again with changes); c) buy the rights to manufacture the product (easiest option - you can stop, now, and collect royalties).
The privacy point is valid, but a lot of folks don't care, because they either don't know or care about the threat, or their stuff getting looked at is no threat to them. Time will tell how many are in the "don't care" camp.
But GoogleSheets doesn't rely on everyone using it for it's success. It only needs 5% of the PC users to get 40 million users (if there are 800 million PCs worldwide). And of course we'll probably start seeing ads on GoogleSheets at some point. 20 million eyeballs here, 20 million there - before long you're talking real money from Google ads.
By the way, the privacy point will be rendered moot when Google (I predict) releases GoogleSheets as a standalone client, much as they did with Earth and SketchUp. The beauty is, it doesn't cost Google anything to do so, there are other revenue mechanisms when running it as a client, and doing so will make it the defacto "at home" spreadsheet, accelerating the demise of home-use Office. Mwu-ha-haaaa.
Programmers have a narrow skill similar to a plumbers except that one needs to continually re-educate just in order to stay in the same place. But even so, the skill differences are not huge between a good 40 y.o. and a good 20 y.o. However, the fact that companies do hand out annual increases results in 40 year old programmers earning 50-100% more than 20 year old programmers.
That's why older programmers lose their jobs, they are replaced by younger folks that have nearly the same skill sets for half the price. And because programmers tend to be cerebral, detailed, problem-solving types rather than business-oriented entrepreneurial types, they are unlikely to start their own shop and be successful in a) finding work and b) managing people.
So to answer the original question, I have observed the following destinations for older programmers:
If you are an average, good programmer, you have lost positions one or more time and been forced to take a salary cut each time until your salary more closely matches your true value.
If you are exceptional, you have managed to claw your way up in your organization to a position of high demand.
If you are lucky and/or nimble, you are in a slot that has avoided scrutiny by the business manager, but you are in constant fear of discovery.
If you are competent and a broader thinker, you move to positions requiring higher levels of abstract thinking, such as architect or chief something-or-other. Your programming skills atrophy. You care because you are constantly working with programmers and are reminded of your past glory, but hopefully you are doing something you like and are probably rewarded better.
If you are competent and business-oriented, then you move into positions like product manager, project manager, etc. Your programming skills atrophy, but you definitely don't care because you are closer to doing something you like.
You are an okay programmer and like people and have pleasant social characteristics (as compared to programmers) so you move into a management position. You move higher into management depending on your business/political acumen.
Let's see, I own the patent, and RIMM is generating $100 mill annual revenues from the wireless email service, so I will... shut it down?
NOT!
This will be solved by RIMM paying a royalty to the patent holder. No one dies, no wireless email users are injured. Fairness issues aside, things will work out.
Can any of the brave-early-adopters report on whether version 1.5 fixes the CPU-hogging bug?
I was running version 1.something-or-other for a long time until I couldn't pretend anymore that the CPU-spiking to 100% every 8 seconds for 2 seconds, didn't really bother me.
I have since downgraded to version 0.9 and am much happier. But I long to join the "cool club".
Many of the businesses which hired these US engineers in the past no longer do because they can hire an engineer in China at a fraction of the pay. That's where the work went.
I must sadly confirm this. Sadly, because I was once a rosy-cheeked award-bedecked student at the then-top-rated engineering program in the U.S. (now I'm a crusty has-been geezer). I started a consumer product development company recently, and I take conceptual specifications to my partner companies in Taiwan and China for development. These companies willingly design and prototype my concepts and send me samples in the hope that we can both win by having me sell these products. There is a wide set of companies there who are willing to do this. I haven't yet found any in the U.S., though if pay scales continue to slide it may be cheaper in the future to design here rather than there.
Your concern is warranted. However, my personal experience with the Sidekick is just the opposite. The concerns are as follows:
1) if the device breaks, you lose your data. I have broken 2 Sidekicks in 3 years, not surprising because I keep it in my pocket/briefcase/auto seat/wherever, without a case, it is in motion 16 hours a day. The paint is worn off of the edges of my current device. When I receive each new device, I simply move the SIM card and within minutes all of my notes/contacts/numbers are transferred to the new device (Danger stores all data on their servers). It is a wonderful thing.
2) if you move to a different device, you lose your data. This may only be partially true, because Danger offers Intellisync, which I have used on a different device but not yet on the Sidekick. Intellisync effectively allows one to backup or transfer data to their own media, then sync it to the next (dissimilar) device. If you are not satisfied with Intellisync, my provider gives Sidekick users a web site containing all the info (edittable, so one can use either Sidekick or web to maintain the data). So, if you are a geek (like some of us), you could write a screenscraper to suck this data into any format you like.
Netflix has been my main source of 2+ films per week for 4 years, and their service is great, IMHO. I have sent in the disc in the wrong envelope and they politely handled it with me. The few times I have received a scratched disc, they sent me an "extra" disc so that I actually had 4 in my hand for a short time (even tho I have the 3-at-a-time service).
But I agree that the selection is not good enough, at least for some of us. I would say that 20% of the films I look for, are not in Netflix' library. But it is currently the best alternative on the market for those who refuse to walk to a physical store and wait in line.
My hope is that Amazon will take away the soft underbelly of the video market for those who have been too lazy or fear-averse to investigate Netflix. Then, Netflix will be forced to compete in the "Scarecrow" market, providing 'specialty' videos to those of us who appreciate it (did I suggest a merging of the 2? hmmmmmmm). And by the way, I'll pay more for such a service!
Slashdot Mirror
Okay, well how about this? I have owned every Sidekick model since the first, in 2002/2003 (can't remember exactly when). I have never lost data while using the device with T-Mobile. I've had many data glitches, and I lost the hardware twice and restored it effortlessly from the "cloud" (of course we did not call it that, then :).
While the rest of the tech world "dreamed of the future when mobile devices had useable browsers and data was reliably stored on remote servers", I lived the dream. They were way ahead of their time (and don't tell me you had this or that device - I evaluated every device coming to market every year, and they all sucked until recently).
After MS bought Danger, I knew that era was over. And now, the results of that marriage (or should I say "meal") has produced this epic 2 week outage. Tell me how the culprit could NOT be MS ??
This is easily solved by a stated convention. Just as the current "MPG" is established to be based on xx octane unleaded gas, "MPD" would be defined as being based on zz cents/kilowatt hour (and xx octane unleaded gas in case of plug-in hybrid). This convention would be established for the entire country, so that efficiency comparisons could be made simply between vehicles. Now, if your local utility charged 20% more for juice, why, then you would derate your MPD by 20%.
Um, what's so difficult about this? Miles Per Dollar, anyone? MPD?
Neglect battery replacement cost and gasoline engine repair costs, yadda-yadda. Let's please just start stating operating efficiency in terms of how much the electric company charged to plug the darn vehicle into the wall overnight (divide into miles travelled = MPD).
We already know for gas cars, how much the petroleum companies charge to fill up the tank (divide into miles travelled = MPD).
You got a plug-in hybrid? --> add the cost of the electricity + petroleum (divide into miles travelled = MPD). Easy.
Can you tell it's a pet peeve of mine?
I agree with the previous post.
In addition, let me add one idea. Everyone's response has considered this an either/or decision. I suggest to expand your possibility set - how about working at both places?
Go to the big place and tell them, "hey, I have decided on another job because their pay is better (lie, of course). But I really like your technology (lie again) and would like to work as a part-timer. Can I be setup as a contractor with your company and I'll work projects as you need me?".
The nice thing about this is that you have time because you are already working part-time on your personal projects, which you would have to give up, of course. And you would get experience in both technologies, and more dough. And you would learn how to work as a contractor without the risk.
If the big company says "no, but, we really like you, how about a 90% increase". Then your decision gets harder!
...that's a good first step towards rehab - admitting that you have a problem. j/k :)
As a patient, I am hesitant to self-diagnose via web searches, for all of the reasons mentioned in this thread. However, I always google in order to take some ideas to my doc, just as I would google for facts about an automobile problem before visiting a mechanic. Or if considering the purchase a TV before visiting a retailer. One needs to be armed with a certain vocabulary and knowledge so that the 1-on-1 dialogue can start from a higher foundation.
I don't know if my doctor is unusual, nowadays, but I like his approach. He invites me in, I put my feet up on his ottoman, and we have a conversation with him intermittently tapping on his laptop. I tell him what I have found on the web, and he gives me his opinion on it's validity. I have no idea if he is using google, himself. He gives me choices on treatment, and often a list of search terms that he recommends I take home and google in order to help me make a decision.
I look at him as a participant in my diagnosis/treatment, rather than a "magic button" to solve my problem in one wave of the hand. I feel that this collaborative strategy, and using google before and after consultation improves the effectiveness of medical care.
Technologists like to spend time working all the details, but you don't know if anyone is interested in buying it at this point. So put your resources into taking what you have and putting it in the hands of customers, retailers, marketing folks - all the stakeholders that will quickly tell you if you have something that they want. And of course, they each will want to change something about it, so it's easier, faster, and cheaper to put changes into it when it is closer to the prototype stage, than when it has a customized package.
I would go so far as to suggest that if you can not find a sponsor for your product at this stage, then you may not want to continue. A sponsor would be someone that either a) agrees to market your product (after the requested changes are incorporated, of course); b) buy them outright (again with changes); c) buy the rights to manufacture the product (easiest option - you can stop, now, and collect royalties).
Best of luck!
Don't forget "latte-drinking"
The privacy point is valid, but a lot of folks don't care, because they either don't know or care about the threat, or their stuff getting looked at is no threat to them. Time will tell how many are in the "don't care" camp.
But GoogleSheets doesn't rely on everyone using it for it's success. It only needs 5% of the PC users to get 40 million users (if there are 800 million PCs worldwide). And of course we'll probably start seeing ads on GoogleSheets at some point. 20 million eyeballs here, 20 million there - before long you're talking real money from Google ads.
By the way, the privacy point will be rendered moot when Google (I predict) releases GoogleSheets as a standalone client, much as they did with Earth and SketchUp. The beauty is, it doesn't cost Google anything to do so, there are other revenue mechanisms when running it as a client, and doing so will make it the defacto "at home" spreadsheet, accelerating the demise of home-use Office. Mwu-ha-haaaa.
"Titanic Buys Bigger Deck Chairs"
Programmers have a narrow skill similar to a plumbers except that one needs to continually re-educate just in order to stay in the same place. But even so, the skill differences are not huge between a good 40 y.o. and a good 20 y.o. However, the fact that companies do hand out annual increases results in 40 year old programmers earning 50-100% more than 20 year old programmers.
That's why older programmers lose their jobs, they are replaced by younger folks that have nearly the same skill sets for half the price. And because programmers tend to be cerebral, detailed, problem-solving types rather than business-oriented entrepreneurial types, they are unlikely to start their own shop and be successful in a) finding work and b) managing people.
So to answer the original question, I have observed the following destinations for older programmers:
Yes, it does raise serious questions about Google, like "Why the hell don't we mandate it's use?"
NOT!
This will be solved by RIMM paying a royalty to the patent holder. No one dies, no wireless email users are injured. Fairness issues aside, things will work out.
I was running version 1.something-or-other for a long time until I couldn't pretend anymore that the CPU-spiking to 100% every 8 seconds for 2 seconds, didn't really bother me.
I have since downgraded to version 0.9 and am much happier. But I long to join the "cool club".
I must sadly confirm this. Sadly, because I was once a rosy-cheeked award-bedecked student at the then-top-rated engineering program in the U.S. (now I'm a crusty has-been geezer). I started a consumer product development company recently, and I take conceptual specifications to my partner companies in Taiwan and China for development. These companies willingly design and prototype my concepts and send me samples in the hope that we can both win by having me sell these products. There is a wide set of companies there who are willing to do this. I haven't yet found any in the U.S., though if pay scales continue to slide it may be cheaper in the future to design here rather than there.
1) if the device breaks, you lose your data. I have broken 2 Sidekicks in 3 years, not surprising because I keep it in my pocket/briefcase/auto seat/wherever, without a case, it is in motion 16 hours a day. The paint is worn off of the edges of my current device. When I receive each new device, I simply move the SIM card and within minutes all of my notes/contacts/numbers are transferred to the new device (Danger stores all data on their servers). It is a wonderful thing.
2) if you move to a different device, you lose your data. This may only be partially true, because Danger offers Intellisync, which I have used on a different device but not yet on the Sidekick. Intellisync effectively allows one to backup or transfer data to their own media, then sync it to the next (dissimilar) device. If you are not satisfied with Intellisync, my provider gives Sidekick users a web site containing all the info (edittable, so one can use either Sidekick or web to maintain the data). So, if you are a geek (like some of us), you could write a screenscraper to suck this data into any format you like.
But I agree that the selection is not good enough, at least for some of us. I would say that 20% of the films I look for, are not in Netflix' library. But it is currently the best alternative on the market for those who refuse to walk to a physical store and wait in line.
My hope is that Amazon will take away the soft underbelly of the video market for those who have been too lazy or fear-averse to investigate Netflix. Then, Netflix will be forced to compete in the "Scarecrow" market, providing 'specialty' videos to those of us who appreciate it (did I suggest a merging of the 2? hmmmmmmm). And by the way, I'll pay more for such a service!