Having freshly graduated high school only this past June, I can assure you that this story, while maybe a hoax in this case, is not at all farfetched. I was frequently asked to stop using Firefox or Opera while simply doing research or otherwise school-related work on the library computers. I went to a public school in suburban Chicago.
Of course, I never really offered any resistance when asked to refrain from using superior browsers, because I didn't think it was worth the trouble. But I'm sure I could have ended up with a detention if I tried or handled the situation stupidly.
Microsoft rules with an iron fist at most public schools in this country.
Now in college, I am able to use any browser I choose on the school's computers.
For some reason, when I am using Safari on my computer (Windows XP SP2), and Safari is maximized, my taskbar cannot be accessed. I have my taskbar set to auto-hide, so this is possibly what is causing the problem (I haven't checked to see if turning auto-hide off will fix the problem, because frankly I'm too lazy, don't care, and I am not going to change my Windows settings to cater to Safari, as I am only using it to test it out and see what it's like. I have already decided to go back to Opera very soon). Either way, this is quite an annoying bug, and has accelerated my decision to return to using Opera so soon.
It's too bad Apple couldn't have polished this release more before unwrapping it to the public. I am aware that it is a beta release, but I've used many different beta versions of browsers before that are far superior to this one. I've heard many reports of bugs, errors, faulty security, etc. with Safari that makes it seem almost on the same level as IE.
Apple's bringing iTunes to Windows was a great idea that was executed well. I have used iTunes on Windows since day one, and I haven't been disappointed. It's sad that Apple couldn't repeat this success with Safari, since Safari is such a great browser on Mac OS X. When my new MacBook Pro finally ships, I will very happy to use Safari on it, but unfortunately I will have to wait until then, because on Windows I'm definitely sticking with Opera. And before I switched to Safari, I would switch to Firefox, which I still use a lot but not as my default browser.
ISPs are not the ones "providing" any content in the first place. What they provide is a means by which to reach content provided by other sources, regardless of ISP. So by going against net neutrality in any small way, ISPs are simply restricting content, not providing it.
So far, Opera on Wii is truly excellent for just being a preview release. Things that need to be implemented in the future version:
Wand
Cookies
Preferences
some type of keyboard accessory for the Wii (I know this was mentioned already
With these four things, I truly believe the Opera browser on Wii will be a near-desktop quality Internet experience. While triyng to post comments on Slashdot using Wii, I noticed that every time a new page loaded I would have to log back in. This told me that either there is no Cookie support whatsoever, or that perhaps there was just a bug with them. Another thing that would be nice is for Opera to remember recently typed in words, so in fields such as "username" or "password" it would have remembered to offer my username "despero" instead of continuing to suggest "desperate," etc. Basically, everything I listed above comes down to the pain of having to type using an on-screen keyboard. Wand, Cookies, and a keyboard accessory all simply help to make typing less of a chore. Preferences would be implemented only to configure these things. Web page compatibility and standards support are already very impressive and need only a few tweaks.
MySpace, as popular as it is, is still just a fad, maybe lasting longer than others. But MySpace and the whole slew of crap websites of its kind will come and stay for a while but still eventually go.
Even if I am completely wrong, however, I still don't believe that MySpace would have any real effect on programming jobs.
I find myself rooting for the underdog here. I've always been a Nintendo fan, and I plan on buying a Wii even though I have mainly switched to PC games lately.
It will just be really interesting to see the end result of all this. Sony has been so dominant in the games market for the last few years, and it would be so different to actually see them losing ground to Nintendo in the first time basically since they've been in the gaming business.
Firefox 2.0 won't come through Software Update for a few weeks, and even then, it will be optional. Software Update was made mainly for stability and security updates, not major feature additions.
So if you want Firefox 2.0 anytime soon, I suggest that you head on over to www.getfirefox.com and grab it for yourself.
I know, it is kinda disappointing for me too. I just loved the automation of it all.
Well, the only site that ever gave me problems for using Fasterfox was Ticketmaster, for obvious reasons.
I tried using that tutorial you linked to, and the "browser.turbo..." option in about:config was nowhere to be found. That also seemed to be the main thing to do the trick. I still hope Fasterfox comes out with something soon.
Sadly, my favorite extension, Fasterfox, currently has no support in Firefox 2. That was pretty much my favorite thing about Firefox, too, so I really hope they continue to update it to support new versions of the browser.
Well, I was just gonna say...
Firefox is much better looking than I ever expected it to be! Isn't it Opera's job to look modern? Congratulations to the people who designed this new theme. It's nothing special, but definitely a big step up from 1.5.
This is actually something that Opera has featured for quite a long time. I have always loved Opera's ability to save sessions, not just continuing from last time. You can save multiple sessions and use them whenever you like.
I really wish it was out on Software Update already. That, in my opinion, was the best new feature in Firefox 1.5, and many more software programs should adopt it.
Now this is most likely not true, but just to confirm: I heard that Vista was going to have an insane DRM policy enforced. I heard that it would not allow any non-DRM music files to even play on the operating system. Can someone please tell me this isn't true? If it is true, does it just pertain to Windows Media Player or does it mess with iTunes and other media players too? Just want to clear things up.
Slashdot Mirror
Having freshly graduated high school only this past June, I can assure you that this story, while maybe a hoax in this case, is not at all farfetched. I was frequently asked to stop using Firefox or Opera while simply doing research or otherwise school-related work on the library computers. I went to a public school in suburban Chicago. Of course, I never really offered any resistance when asked to refrain from using superior browsers, because I didn't think it was worth the trouble. But I'm sure I could have ended up with a detention if I tried or handled the situation stupidly. Microsoft rules with an iron fist at most public schools in this country. Now in college, I am able to use any browser I choose on the school's computers.
For some reason, when I am using Safari on my computer (Windows XP SP2), and Safari is maximized, my taskbar cannot be accessed. I have my taskbar set to auto-hide, so this is possibly what is causing the problem (I haven't checked to see if turning auto-hide off will fix the problem, because frankly I'm too lazy, don't care, and I am not going to change my Windows settings to cater to Safari, as I am only using it to test it out and see what it's like. I have already decided to go back to Opera very soon). Either way, this is quite an annoying bug, and has accelerated my decision to return to using Opera so soon. It's too bad Apple couldn't have polished this release more before unwrapping it to the public. I am aware that it is a beta release, but I've used many different beta versions of browsers before that are far superior to this one. I've heard many reports of bugs, errors, faulty security, etc. with Safari that makes it seem almost on the same level as IE. Apple's bringing iTunes to Windows was a great idea that was executed well. I have used iTunes on Windows since day one, and I haven't been disappointed. It's sad that Apple couldn't repeat this success with Safari, since Safari is such a great browser on Mac OS X. When my new MacBook Pro finally ships, I will very happy to use Safari on it, but unfortunately I will have to wait until then, because on Windows I'm definitely sticking with Opera. And before I switched to Safari, I would switch to Firefox, which I still use a lot but not as my default browser.
ISPs are not the ones "providing" any content in the first place. What they provide is a means by which to reach content provided by other sources, regardless of ISP. So by going against net neutrality in any small way, ISPs are simply restricting content, not providing it.
- Wand
- Cookies
- Preferences
- some type of keyboard accessory for the Wii (I know this was mentioned already
With these four things, I truly believe the Opera browser on Wii will be a near-desktop quality Internet experience. While triyng to post comments on Slashdot using Wii, I noticed that every time a new page loaded I would have to log back in. This told me that either there is no Cookie support whatsoever, or that perhaps there was just a bug with them. Another thing that would be nice is for Opera to remember recently typed in words, so in fields such as "username" or "password" it would have remembered to offer my username "despero" instead of continuing to suggest "desperate," etc. Basically, everything I listed above comes down to the pain of having to type using an on-screen keyboard. Wand, Cookies, and a keyboard accessory all simply help to make typing less of a chore. Preferences would be implemented only to configure these things. Web page compatibility and standards support are already very impressive and need only a few tweaks.This is very impressive for a beta. Props to Opera and Nintendo for this. Just need a better way to type.
MySpace, as popular as it is, is still just a fad, maybe lasting longer than others. But MySpace and the whole slew of crap websites of its kind will come and stay for a while but still eventually go. Even if I am completely wrong, however, I still don't believe that MySpace would have any real effect on programming jobs.
I find myself rooting for the underdog here. I've always been a Nintendo fan, and I plan on buying a Wii even though I have mainly switched to PC games lately.
It will just be really interesting to see the end result of all this. Sony has been so dominant in the games market for the last few years, and it would be so different to actually see them losing ground to Nintendo in the first time basically since they've been in the gaming business.
Do I sense a turn of the tide here?
Firefox 2.0 won't come through Software Update for a few weeks, and even then, it will be optional. Software Update was made mainly for stability and security updates, not major feature additions.
So if you want Firefox 2.0 anytime soon, I suggest that you head on over to www.getfirefox.com and grab it for yourself.
I know, it is kinda disappointing for me too. I just loved the automation of it all.
Well, the only site that ever gave me problems for using Fasterfox was Ticketmaster, for obvious reasons.
I tried using that tutorial you linked to, and the "browser.turbo..." option in about:config was nowhere to be found. That also seemed to be the main thing to do the trick. I still hope Fasterfox comes out with something soon.
Sadly, my favorite extension, Fasterfox, currently has no support in Firefox 2. That was pretty much my favorite thing about Firefox, too, so I really hope they continue to update it to support new versions of the browser.
Well, I was just gonna say... Firefox is much better looking than I ever expected it to be! Isn't it Opera's job to look modern? Congratulations to the people who designed this new theme. It's nothing special, but definitely a big step up from 1.5.
This is actually something that Opera has featured for quite a long time. I have always loved Opera's ability to save sessions, not just continuing from last time. You can save multiple sessions and use them whenever you like.
I really wish it was out on Software Update already. That, in my opinion, was the best new feature in Firefox 1.5, and many more software programs should adopt it.
Yes, Opera is definitely a much better browser. That is a fact that not enough people recognize.
Good. I am glad this is not true. I look forward to transferring my 20+ GB of unprotected music files to Windows Vista.
Now this is most likely not true, but just to confirm: I heard that Vista was going to have an insane DRM policy enforced. I heard that it would not allow any non-DRM music files to even play on the operating system. Can someone please tell me this isn't true? If it is true, does it just pertain to Windows Media Player or does it mess with iTunes and other media players too? Just want to clear things up.