OK, then how is it wrong to say that two machines connected only by a modem are part of the Internet?
Because the whole point about the internet is the protocol for connecting machines which are part of different networks. You're on Network A using one standard, your partner is on Network B using another local standard, but through the magic of TCP/IP you can interact with each other.
Consumers have shown time and time again that they'll go for the lowest price wherever they can find it - that's why WalMart is wiping out the local hardware store, and why Best Buy et al are wiping out the small computer retailer. Very rarely do I ask for a salesperson's advice anymore. First of all, their motivation is to make a sale, not satisfy your needs in the most economical fashion, and secondly, there is a treasure trove of information available online. I'll do my research there, decide on what I want, then consult the retail stores to determine where I can get it cheapest.
Re:WHEN you get to look, look for lock-in
on
ThinkFree Online Review
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· Score: 2, Insightful
I don't care about the format, online storage is enough to keep me away. You may be able to save it in any manner you like, but why should the software provider have a copy as well? If MS was doing this people would howl like banshees.
What's happened to bowling balls in the last 20 years is absurd - I was a regular bowler up until 1988 (the days of plastic vs. rubber) and didn't pick it up again until 1995 or so. The reactive resin balls available by then were like having a cheat code - you didn't have do put very much into your release in order to get a huge backend hook that drove through the pocket.
One night I went bowling with my wife, after not having picked up a ball in 3 years. I shot 279 right out of the gate, one of my best games ever. With that ball, it was like lighting a fuse right before starting the approach...
Just take a look at the ridiculously huge driver heads that are available now - guys will spend mega-$$$ to get an extra 15 yards on their drive, but in reality that has little to no benefit to their overall game. As they say, "drive for show, putt for dough."
However, the work environment at Microsoft is so enjoyable, that personally, I would take a slightly lower wage in order to work there.
Gasp! To say such a thing in this forum??? Where are the peasants with their pitchforks and torches??? This proponent of pure, unadulterated EVIL must be dealt with!
Seriously, people need to check themselves before using the words "good" and "evil" when discussing software companies. Somehow Google's motto has driven discussion around MSFT and GOOG down to adolescent levels. MSFT is the biggest kid on the block, so of course they're going to catch flak from a certain segment - that goes with the territory. They also get to work on hugely important and ambitious endeavors, which would be intriguing for any curious techie.
Forget being out of town - we've got 3 young kids, so we can spend time with them in the evenings getting them to bed, and then watch shows that are normally on while they're still awake. It's also handy for keeping a steady supply of their favorites shows available, when you need a few minutes to hop in the shower or cook a meal. Or there's the case where the wife wants to watch something, but you want to watch something else at the same time - just have Tivo record one while playing the other.
Tivo truly optimizes the viewing experience - you watch what you want watch, when you want to watch it, and with the 30-second skip, it cuts at least 1/3rd of the time off.
In an age when service is replacing manufacturing as the dominant segment of the 1st world economies, it only makes sense to see radical initiatives in the development of a corporation's human capital. Just as having the best factories enabled traditional industrial success, we might see some competition among service companies as to the development of their critical resource, the employee.
NOTE: This would presumably apply first to profit generators like consultants and specialists, as opposed to back-office support staff. Still, it's a step forward...
Use tax has been around for a very long time, but until recently it was basically ignored by most taxpayers and collecting agencies because enforcement was difficult if not impossible for the average citizen buying something via catalog from another state.
I'm not entirely opposed to the idea here, but exactly what value are the taxing entities (states, districts, etc.) providing in exchange for the taxes collected? I could see the Feds providing structure and market enforcement via the FCC and FTC, which could possibly justify a federal levy, but where does an individual state get involved? That part I'm having trouble seeing.
Of course, there's the other perspective which has state governments looking for any means to plug massive budget holes, so to that extent they're probably just following the old John Dillinger line as to why he robbed banks - because that's where the money was.
Hey, Alan Greenspan just retired from the Federal Reserve, so he'd be a natural to help develop something like this. Managing the overall level of the money supply has been his gig for many, many years.
The other competitor to land-line phones is the cable industry, thanks to the growth of VOIP. AT&T may dominate land-line telephone service, but in reality, the market relates more to voice and data communication, for which there are several large competitors.
10 years ago, I had cable TV, and if I wanted to get online, it was via dial-up modem. Today, you've got satellite options, cell phones, broadband internet access... consumers have benefitted greatly from the fruits of competition, and that should continue for at least the short- to medium-term.
This sounds like a defense attorney hyping up any possible cause to get extradition denied. There was only an "unsigned and anonymous note" (allegedly) from the US embassy stating that he might be subject the executive order under which Guantanamo Bay operates, there's no substantive reason to believe that he'd actually go there.
While it makes for great material for Dilbert, the fact is that a lot (not all) management speak does actually have a purpose and meaning.
Let's look at some of these examples:
There are no company layoffs, there are 'realignments'. Very rarely do layoffs simply mean reducing the number of people performing a particular function. Often, there is a fundamental change made to an existing business process, so people and organizations do indeed need to be "realigned" to support the new environment.
"Functions" should be pretty obvious - what activity is an individual or group performing in support of a given process?
"Deliverables" - these are the tangible results that are to be achieved through a given project or activity. Nobody cares whether you're 67% of the way done, or 72% - they want to know when the Deliverable can be expected, so they can then act upon it.
"Value Add" - this is when you take a strip down a process to its bare bones and examine where the benefit to the company or customer is truly being applied. Steps along the way that don't increase that benefit are candidates for elimination or automation.
These are actually pretty powerful terms, and it's important to have a common vocabulary that can be used when bringing together managers from varying fields like sales, IT, operations, finance, etc.
By your logic, if an idea isn't financially profitable, then it isn't worth bringing to public attention. I can't agree with that.
Nope, that wasn't what I said. If your idea isn't financially profitable, don't expect someone else to champion it. If you want to produce something purely out of visionary motives, or some artistic drive, that's great - but that's also your endeavor.
And what WalMart doing isn't censorship - it's simply telling developers up front what they are and aren't interested in carrying on their shelves. As the article notes, online distribution is a maturing alternative to the brick-and-mortar approach to retail anyways.
If anything, WalMart is doing game companies a favor by working with them during the development stage to let them know what titles they may or may not be interested in carrying. Far better to hear early on that your "Sim Crack Whore" idea isn't going to fly, than to have blown zillion$ producing something that isn't going to get onto WalMart shelves.
By and large, when people bitch about WalMart, they are really complaining about WalMart consumers - who demonstrate time and time again what they prefer. From there, if you want to create a big-selling game, then take those preferences into consideration. If you want to create your own piece of work for your own reasons, and commercial success is a secondary concern, then fine, go right ahead - but don't expect anyone to champion it for you.
Better yet, we should mandate the use of "disposable code", which requires reprogramming on a continuing basis in order to support the IT industry.
Man, this could solve a lotta problems...
Re:Time to short Google...
on
Google's DNA
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· Score: 1
There's a bit of a difference in that Google has a genuine revenue stream and is turning a profit, whereas Netscape (as I recall) hadn't achieved that sort of stability.
In other words, Google took its great product (search engine) and successfully took it to market (via advertising). Building a great new business requires both a great product and great business execution in establishing a market for it, and Google has excelled at both ends so far.
Here here! In fact, I propose that we outlaw the sale of used cars and homes, and instead require that once someone wants to get rid of one, it get demolished in order to support the production of new cars and homes. Just imagine all the jobs that will be created!!!
Slashdot Mirror
OK, then how is it wrong to say that two machines connected only by a modem are part of the Internet?
Because the whole point about the internet is the protocol for connecting machines which are part of different networks. You're on Network A using one standard, your partner is on Network B using another local standard, but through the magic of TCP/IP you can interact with each other.
They should really revisit that film, and digitally include a "Mission Accomplished" banner after his triumphant landing...
When I first saw the article, I thought Apple had announced a new iClone...
Millions of Jobs? Where would they find enough black turtlenecks?
You know, I think ERP is a seriously underdiscussed topic on /. - I'll put a JE up on it, so I'd refer you over there...
Somebody mod parent up, please!
Consumers have shown time and time again that they'll go for the lowest price wherever they can find it - that's why WalMart is wiping out the local hardware store, and why Best Buy et al are wiping out the small computer retailer. Very rarely do I ask for a salesperson's advice anymore. First of all, their motivation is to make a sale, not satisfy your needs in the most economical fashion, and secondly, there is a treasure trove of information available online. I'll do my research there, decide on what I want, then consult the retail stores to determine where I can get it cheapest.
I don't care about the format, online storage is enough to keep me away. You may be able to save it in any manner you like, but why should the software provider have a copy as well? If MS was doing this people would howl like banshees.
What's happened to bowling balls in the last 20 years is absurd - I was a regular bowler up until 1988 (the days of plastic vs. rubber) and didn't pick it up again until 1995 or so. The reactive resin balls available by then were like having a cheat code - you didn't have do put very much into your release in order to get a huge backend hook that drove through the pocket.
One night I went bowling with my wife, after not having picked up a ball in 3 years. I shot 279 right out of the gate, one of my best games ever. With that ball, it was like lighting a fuse right before starting the approach...
Just take a look at the ridiculously huge driver heads that are available now - guys will spend mega-$$$ to get an extra 15 yards on their drive, but in reality that has little to no benefit to their overall game. As they say, "drive for show, putt for dough."
You sound like the jackoffs on teevee saying, "I support our troops." ...which proves my point about the discussion descending to adolescent levels.
However, the work environment at Microsoft is so enjoyable, that personally, I would take a slightly lower wage in order to work there.
Gasp! To say such a thing in this forum??? Where are the peasants with their pitchforks and torches??? This proponent of pure, unadulterated EVIL must be dealt with!
Seriously, people need to check themselves before using the words "good" and "evil" when discussing software companies. Somehow Google's motto has driven discussion around MSFT and GOOG down to adolescent levels. MSFT is the biggest kid on the block, so of course they're going to catch flak from a certain segment - that goes with the territory. They also get to work on hugely important and ambitious endeavors, which would be intriguing for any curious techie.
Indeed, the combination of "Dvorak" and "insane rambling" should have gotten the article modded -1 Redundant right off the bat...
Forget being out of town - we've got 3 young kids, so we can spend time with them in the evenings getting them to bed, and then watch shows that are normally on while they're still awake. It's also handy for keeping a steady supply of their favorites shows available, when you need a few minutes to hop in the shower or cook a meal. Or there's the case where the wife wants to watch something, but you want to watch something else at the same time - just have Tivo record one while playing the other.
Tivo truly optimizes the viewing experience - you watch what you want watch, when you want to watch it, and with the 30-second skip, it cuts at least 1/3rd of the time off.
In an age when service is replacing manufacturing as the dominant segment of the 1st world economies, it only makes sense to see radical initiatives in the development of a corporation's human capital. Just as having the best factories enabled traditional industrial success, we might see some competition among service companies as to the development of their critical resource, the employee.
NOTE: This would presumably apply first to profit generators like consultants and specialists, as opposed to back-office support staff. Still, it's a step forward...
Use tax has been around for a very long time, but until recently it was basically ignored by most taxpayers and collecting agencies because enforcement was difficult if not impossible for the average citizen buying something via catalog from another state.
I'm not entirely opposed to the idea here, but exactly what value are the taxing entities (states, districts, etc.) providing in exchange for the taxes collected? I could see the Feds providing structure and market enforcement via the FCC and FTC, which could possibly justify a federal levy, but where does an individual state get involved? That part I'm having trouble seeing.
Of course, there's the other perspective which has state governments looking for any means to plug massive budget holes, so to that extent they're probably just following the old John Dillinger line as to why he robbed banks - because that's where the money was.
Hey, Alan Greenspan just retired from the Federal Reserve, so he'd be a natural to help develop something like this. Managing the overall level of the money supply has been his gig for many, many years.
The other competitor to land-line phones is the cable industry, thanks to the growth of VOIP. AT&T may dominate land-line telephone service, but in reality, the market relates more to voice and data communication, for which there are several large competitors.
10 years ago, I had cable TV, and if I wanted to get online, it was via dial-up modem. Today, you've got satellite options, cell phones, broadband internet access... consumers have benefitted greatly from the fruits of competition, and that should continue for at least the short- to medium-term.
This sounds like a defense attorney hyping up any possible cause to get extradition denied. There was only an "unsigned and anonymous note" (allegedly) from the US embassy stating that he might be subject the executive order under which Guantanamo Bay operates, there's no substantive reason to believe that he'd actually go there.
While it makes for great material for Dilbert, the fact is that a lot (not all) management speak does actually have a purpose and meaning.
Let's look at some of these examples:
There are no company layoffs, there are 'realignments'.
Very rarely do layoffs simply mean reducing the number of people performing a particular function. Often, there is a fundamental change made to an existing business process, so people and organizations do indeed need to be "realigned" to support the new environment.
"Functions" should be pretty obvious - what activity is an individual or group performing in support of a given process?
"Deliverables" - these are the tangible results that are to be achieved through a given project or activity. Nobody cares whether you're 67% of the way done, or 72% - they want to know when the Deliverable can be expected, so they can then act upon it.
"Value Add" - this is when you take a strip down a process to its bare bones and examine where the benefit to the company or customer is truly being applied. Steps along the way that don't increase that benefit are candidates for elimination or automation.
These are actually pretty powerful terms, and it's important to have a common vocabulary that can be used when bringing together managers from varying fields like sales, IT, operations, finance, etc.
By your logic, if an idea isn't financially profitable, then it isn't worth bringing to public attention. I can't agree with that.
Nope, that wasn't what I said. If your idea isn't financially profitable, don't expect someone else to champion it. If you want to produce something purely out of visionary motives, or some artistic drive, that's great - but that's also your endeavor.
And what WalMart doing isn't censorship - it's simply telling developers up front what they are and aren't interested in carrying on their shelves. As the article notes, online distribution is a maturing alternative to the brick-and-mortar approach to retail anyways.
Ethical license? WTF?
If anything, WalMart is doing game companies a favor by working with them during the development stage to let them know what titles they may or may not be interested in carrying. Far better to hear early on that your "Sim Crack Whore" idea isn't going to fly, than to have blown zillion$ producing something that isn't going to get onto WalMart shelves.
By and large, when people bitch about WalMart, they are really complaining about WalMart consumers - who demonstrate time and time again what they prefer. From there, if you want to create a big-selling game, then take those preferences into consideration. If you want to create your own piece of work for your own reasons, and commercial success is a secondary concern, then fine, go right ahead - but don't expect anyone to champion it for you.
Better yet, we should mandate the use of "disposable code", which requires reprogramming on a continuing basis in order to support the IT industry.
Man, this could solve a lotta problems...
There's a bit of a difference in that Google has a genuine revenue stream and is turning a profit, whereas Netscape (as I recall) hadn't achieved that sort of stability.
In other words, Google took its great product (search engine) and successfully took it to market (via advertising). Building a great new business requires both a great product and great business execution in establishing a market for it, and Google has excelled at both ends so far.
The Star Wars kid!
Here here! In fact, I propose that we outlaw the sale of used cars and homes, and instead require that once someone wants to get rid of one, it get demolished in order to support the production of new cars and homes. Just imagine all the jobs that will be created!!!
OMG PONIES!!!