The one thing that you are not factoring in is Steve Jobs himself. He's an absolute control freak and egomaniac. Though he doesn't control every aspect of what Apple is and does, it's not for lack of trying. Making money is a secondary concern for him. He makes a tidy some from his role and stock over at Pixar; much to the dismay of Apple stockholders. It's more about his vision for the product and his desire to control every aspect of the product.
"They're overselling by magnitudes, and of course that doesn't work out in the long run when people actually (gasp!) use what they're being sold. How dare they!"
This reminds me of the issue with the telcos in the mid 90s. They had oversold their networks because they expected someone to pick up the phone, maybe once or twice a day, for 5-30 minutes and then hang up. Possibly for the rest of the day. Then, this thing called the Internet took off and suddenly, large quantities of people were using the telephone line for several hours every day. If that wasn't bad enough, this new breed of phone user demanded that the signal be clean and good. The industry had gotten into the habit of associating maintenance fees with profit. They hadn't upgraded most of their lines in the last 40 or so years, so why start now?.
Of course the customer won but, not until after telling stories of the doom of the telephone lines, accusations of "freeloading" sending threating letters to customers, excessive billing, canceling service and other fun stuff monopolies love to unleash on their users and the public before considering to change. It's nice to know some things never change.
Ah sweet nostalgia... Hey you, kid!... GET OFF MY LAWN!!!
"They probably use IMGs instead of H1-H6 tags, either because they are using a non-standard font, or some design in the headings. There are a few workarounds for this. You can use H1-6 in your markup, and replace it with images in the CSS (assigning an ID to each H1-6.)"
Actually, it is easier then that. Just simply put the IMG tag inside of a H1-H6 tag and make sure the ALT option has text. If the image is not used, the ALT text will show up in the H1-H6 font and style. Also screen readers and site indexers can still identify the H1-H6 without a problem. Coding a decent quality page that is accessible to the blind is not that difficult. You just can't do it with a clueless "web dork" (term coined by a former co-worker) and a WYSIWYG editor. Or a desktop publishing person who fills the page with images or Flash.
Well, shucks, that leaves out 95%+ of my user base. Any more ideas?
The hardest part about being in IT is trying to protect users (and our systems) from themselves. And they tend to get pissy if you block ActiveX scripts in their Outlook because they NEED to have those *cute* animated smiley faces. *sigh*
Putting the computer in a public place really helps a lot. Knowing that they could be walked in on is a great deterrent. It's not 100% but, it does really limit what they can do. It wouldn't help if the child is home alone, however. If the child is home alone often enough that it is an issue, you have a much bigger family problem on your hands then the computer.
I've worked at multiple ISP's and it amazes me how surprised parent's are by this answer. They had never considered moving the physical computer an option before I mentioned it.
I agree with the consensus of the other Slashdot posts that no amount of software is going to solve the problem. If the computer is in their room and they have unlimited time to work on it, any software can and will be circumvented.
You make a good point. I, like you, have no intention, and I never change my mind, of clicking on the ads. Even if it was a product I was interested in, I do not trust sites that use Flash advertisements. In all likelihood, they have paid top dollar for marketing bobble heads and thus, very anemic when it comes to their actual business.
Most of the websites that I actually buy from focus on good prices and service and have one, probably underpaid, web geek that keeps their site limping along. They don't need all of the fancy Flash ads because they actually deliver a good product and people know it.
The answer to this is simple... computers are stupid. In order to block every variation of viagra, the creator of the filter has to type in (viagra|v1@gra|vi@gra|\/1@gra|etc|etc|.......) and on and on. There are some shortcuts to make it slightly simpler but, they can't use them to much before it starts marking Virginia as spam. The problem is, spammers read this list and go "Oh, they missed \/.1@gra so, we'll use this. So, the messages get through until the creator of the filter adds that version. Then the spammer reads the new filter, finds another that they missed and change their spam to get through. Repeat until end of time.
The only thing I can see as a solution to this, is for the Internet to change to where every computer has a unique ID that is tied to the hardware and that this is hard wired to sending email. That way, when a computer starts sending spam, it can be blacklisted. If it is the actual spammer, their blacklisted until they buy a new network card, at minimum. The reason that spammers are successful is it's currently so cheap to send spam. If they start having to buy new hardware every day they want to spam, the cost goes up significantly. If it's an infected botnet computer, they remain blacklisted until they confirm their computer has been cleaned of the viruses.
Well, not quite REAL deaths, but still 80,000 dead...
[quote]
The error that the CDC has "admitted" is a calculation error in the
spreadsheet that was used to come up with the 400,000 obesity death
estimate. They referenced the wrong cell in the spreadheet. When this
mechanical error was fixed, the death estimate dropped by 80,000.
[/quote]
Actually, I don't have a problem with the fact that you have to jump through hoops to find the Linux machines on the site. Though I use Linux (kubuntu) myself and would like to see wider adoption, it is not ready to handle the standard user [or (l)user, if you prefer].
I could see the following scenario at Dell if the Linux machines were side by side the Windows machines on the Dell web site:
At purchase: Hey! Here's the exact same computer on this next page that is $50 cheaper then this one. It says "System comes with the Ubuntu Linux operating system rather then Microsoft Windows. Linux is similar to Microsoft Windows but varies in that..." (customer stops reading) Well I don't use these Windows or Linux things anyway, and it $50 cheaper, I'll buy this one.
A few days later a call comes into Dell tech support: Hey! I bought this computer from your web site and now it doesn't work!
Tech: What seems to be the problem?
I bought this game for my Dell and it won't work!
Tech: It looks like you bought one of our Ubuntu Linux computers. Most software that you buy on the shelf is not designed to work with... (customer cuts off)
Hey! I don't use or care about this Linux thing! I just want my game to work!
Tech: (sigh)
I work as the web master for a non-profit or not-for-profit group (I personally do not know its IRS filing status). One of the requirements written into our web publishing policies is that it must meet W3C accessibility guild lines. By default, this means that it must be reasonably standards compliant. I run into no issues making it work on any browser other then IE.
The thing I find most annoying is that everyone seems to consider writing a standards complaint web page is difficult. It's not unless you are using a WYSIWYG generator, especially FontPage, or your site requires JavaScript to display properly. Both of which are extremely bad practices for professional web sites and make them near impossible to read on hand held devices and screen readers for the blind.
For all of you web developers that have no idea why what I am talking about is such a big deal. As was mentioned in an earlier post, check out the Lynx text-only web browser and view your sites. Please note: Everything you see in the Lynx browser is all your average screen reader for the blind can see! Now, before I get nick-picked. There are better screen readers for the blind out there that can see more but, these programs cost money that blind people often do not have.
So please, don't be a web dork (name a co-worker called "web masters" that knew nothing more then FrontPage/Dreamweaver and didn't even know what an.htaccess file was, much less how to write one). Take the extra time it takes to look over your sites and see what others can really see of your site.
"My sense of justice doesn't allow me to not object when an injustice is done, even if it's against someone I think deserves what happens for another reason. The law must be fair and just for everyone, even if I think a particular person is a piece of human garbage."
Welcome to what it feels like to be a lawyer for the ACLU...:(
I've worked with the Panda products before and here's the short answer to my experience: When I see a system installed with the Panda anti-virus, I uninstall it, install a different anti-virus product (usually AVG Free) and increase their system speed by 20+%.
I found one really big issue with Michael Johnson's design: the site requires JavaScript to be enabled for the site to display properly. This means it will not work properly with most software for the visually impaired or for paranoid geeks like me that browse the web with JavaScript turned off.
Often, if I go to a site that requires JavaScript to view it, I simply move on.
If you can't afford to do that, buy one from a store and ask the company
for a review sample, return the sample to the store and test the, now free, one
that you got "in the wild", as it were.
There's a problem with this theory. Many manufacturers send out
"unserialized" units to reviewers specifically so that you cannot swap them out
or sell them on eBay without getting caught.
- Still has an unserialized PIII 450 around here somewhere...
I wish but, there are still four more patents involved in the suit. That suit cannot be dismissed unless all five were to be invalidated. Though this is a likely outcome, it could take a couple more years before the patent office gets off its arse and completes the dispute process.
Trying to be fair about it
on
Buy Vista or Else
·
· Score: 5, Interesting
Of what I have read, there will be, at least, one thing that could improve Vista's security. Also, several people have commented on it without having read anything about Vista. Users will login to a limited access user account, rather then an administrator account as the default.
Unfortunately, there are several bad points with Vista that will make me hesitate on upgrading:
DRMThis is a big one, for me.
Requires a P3 800 or higher, just to run the operating system with no tangible benefit to the user.
Visual enhancements require Direct X 9c compatible hardware.
If you're looking for a better provider then GoDaddy, I would recommend http://dreamhost.com/. Good service, fair pricing and really generous hosting packages.
Disclaimer: I am not an employee nor affiliated with dreamhost.com. In fact, I work for one of their (and GoDaddy's) competitors.
Slashdot Mirror
The one thing that you are not factoring in is Steve Jobs himself. He's an absolute control freak and egomaniac. Though he doesn't control every aspect of what Apple is and does, it's not for lack of trying. Making money is a secondary concern for him. He makes a tidy some from his role and stock over at Pixar; much to the dismay of Apple stockholders. It's more about his vision for the product and his desire to control every aspect of the product.
"They're overselling by magnitudes, and of course that doesn't work out in the long run when people actually (gasp!) use what they're being sold. How dare they!"
This reminds me of the issue with the telcos in the mid 90s. They had oversold their networks because they expected someone to pick up the phone, maybe once or twice a day, for 5-30 minutes and then hang up. Possibly for the rest of the day. Then, this thing called the Internet took off and suddenly, large quantities of people were using the telephone line for several hours every day. If that wasn't bad enough, this new breed of phone user demanded that the signal be clean and good. The industry had gotten into the habit of associating maintenance fees with profit. They hadn't upgraded most of their lines in the last 40 or so years, so why start now?.
Of course the customer won but, not until after telling stories of the doom of the telephone lines, accusations of "freeloading" sending threating letters to customers, excessive billing, canceling service and other fun stuff monopolies love to unleash on their users and the public before considering to change. It's nice to know some things never change.
Ah sweet nostalgia... Hey you, kid!... GET OFF MY LAWN!!!
"They probably use IMGs instead of H1-H6 tags, either because they are using a non-standard font, or some design in the headings. There are a few workarounds for this. You can use H1-6 in your markup, and replace it with images in the CSS (assigning an ID to each H1-6.)"
Actually, it is easier then that. Just simply put the IMG tag inside of a H1-H6 tag and make sure the ALT option has text. If the image is not used, the ALT text will show up in the H1-H6 font and style. Also screen readers and site indexers can still identify the H1-H6 without a problem. Coding a decent quality page that is accessible to the blind is not that difficult. You just can't do it with a clueless "web dork" (term coined by a former co-worker) and a WYSIWYG editor. Or a desktop publishing person who fills the page with images or Flash.
"and don't do stupid things on the net"
Well, shucks, that leaves out 95%+ of my user base. Any more ideas?
The hardest part about being in IT is trying to protect users (and our systems) from themselves. And they tend to get pissy if you block ActiveX scripts in their Outlook because they NEED to have those *cute* animated smiley faces. *sigh*
Putting the computer in a public place really helps a lot. Knowing that they could be walked in on is a great deterrent. It's not 100% but, it does really limit what they can do. It wouldn't help if the child is home alone, however. If the child is home alone often enough that it is an issue, you have a much bigger family problem on your hands then the computer.
I've worked at multiple ISP's and it amazes me how surprised parent's are by this answer. They had never considered moving the physical computer an option before I mentioned it.
I agree with the consensus of the other Slashdot posts that no amount of software is going to solve the problem. If the computer is in their room and they have unlimited time to work on it, any software can and will be circumvented.
You make a good point. I, like you, have no intention, and I never change my mind, of clicking on the ads. Even if it was a product I was interested in, I do not trust sites that use Flash advertisements. In all likelihood, they have paid top dollar for marketing bobble heads and thus, very anemic when it comes to their actual business.
Most of the websites that I actually buy from focus on good prices and service and have one, probably underpaid, web geek that keeps their site limping along. They don't need all of the fancy Flash ads because they actually deliver a good product and people know it.
The answer to this is simple... computers are stupid. In order to block every variation of viagra, the creator of the filter has to type in (viagra|v1@gra|vi@gra|\/1@gra|etc|etc|.......) and on and on. There are some shortcuts to make it slightly simpler but, they can't use them to much before it starts marking Virginia as spam. The problem is, spammers read this list and go "Oh, they missed \/.1@gra so, we'll use this. So, the messages get through until the creator of the filter adds that version. Then the spammer reads the new filter, finds another that they missed and change their spam to get through. Repeat until end of time.
The only thing I can see as a solution to this, is for the Internet to change to where every computer has a unique ID that is tied to the hardware and that this is hard wired to sending email. That way, when a computer starts sending spam, it can be blacklisted. If it is the actual spammer, their blacklisted until they buy a new network card, at minimum. The reason that spammers are successful is it's currently so cheap to send spam. If they start having to buy new hardware every day they want to spam, the cost goes up significantly. If it's an infected botnet computer, they remain blacklisted until they confirm their computer has been cleaned of the viruses.
Well, not quite REAL deaths, but still 80,000 dead...
[quote]
The error that the CDC has "admitted" is a calculation error in the spreadsheet that was used to come up with the 400,000 obesity death estimate. They referenced the wrong cell in the spreadheet. When this mechanical error was fixed, the death estimate dropped by 80,000.
[/quote]
Original article: http://www.ucsf.edu/its/listserv/stanglantz-l/0351 .html
Actually, I don't have a problem with the fact that you have to jump through hoops to find the Linux machines on the site. Though I use Linux (kubuntu) myself and would like to see wider adoption, it is not ready to handle the standard user [or (l)user, if you prefer].
I could see the following scenario at Dell if the Linux machines were side by side the Windows machines on the Dell web site:
At purchase: ..." (customer stops reading)
Hey! Here's the exact same computer on this next page that is $50 cheaper then this one.
It says "System comes with the Ubuntu Linux operating system rather then Microsoft Windows. Linux is similar to Microsoft Windows but varies in that
Well I don't use these Windows or Linux things anyway, and it $50 cheaper, I'll buy this one.
A few days later a call comes into Dell tech support: ... (customer cuts off)
Hey! I bought this computer from your web site and now it doesn't work!
Tech: What seems to be the problem?
I bought this game for my Dell and it won't work!
Tech: It looks like you bought one of our Ubuntu Linux computers. Most software that you buy on the shelf is not designed to work with
Hey! I don't use or care about this Linux thing! I just want my game to work!
Tech: (sigh)
All the monopolistic tendencies that you love and none of that silly customer service stuff...
I work as the web master for a non-profit or not-for-profit group (I personally do not know its IRS filing status). One of the requirements written into our web publishing policies is that it must meet W3C accessibility guild lines. By default, this means that it must be reasonably standards compliant. I run into no issues making it work on any browser other then IE.
The thing I find most annoying is that everyone seems to consider writing a standards complaint web page is difficult. It's not unless you are using a WYSIWYG generator, especially FontPage, or your site requires JavaScript to display properly. Both of which are extremely bad practices for professional web sites and make them near impossible to read on hand held devices and screen readers for the blind.
For all of you web developers that have no idea why what I am talking about is such a big deal. As was mentioned in an earlier post, check out the Lynx text-only web browser and view your sites. Please note: Everything you see in the Lynx browser is all your average screen reader for the blind can see! Now, before I get nick-picked. There are better screen readers for the blind out there that can see more but, these programs cost money that blind people often do not have.
So please, don't be a web dork (name a co-worker called "web masters" that knew nothing more then FrontPage/Dreamweaver and didn't even know what an .htaccess file was, much less how to write one). Take the extra time it takes to look over your sites and see what others can really see of your site.
"My sense of justice doesn't allow me to not object when an injustice is done, even if it's against someone I think deserves what happens for another reason. The law must be fair and just for everyone, even if I think a particular person is a piece of human garbage."
Welcome to what it feels like to be a lawyer for the ACLU... :(
I've worked with the Panda products before and here's the short answer to my experience: When I see a system installed with the Panda anti-virus, I uninstall it, install a different anti-virus product (usually AVG Free) and increase their system speed by 20+%.
I found one really big issue with Michael Johnson's design: the site requires JavaScript to be enabled for the site to display properly. This means it will not work properly with most software for the visually impaired or for paranoid geeks like me that browse the web with JavaScript turned off.
Often, if I go to a site that requires JavaScript to view it, I simply move on.
If you can't afford to do that, buy one from a store and ask the company for a review sample, return the sample to the store and test the, now free, one that you got "in the wild", as it were.
There's a problem with this theory. Many manufacturers send out "unserialized" units to reviewers specifically so that you cannot swap them out or sell them on eBay without getting caught.
- Still has an unserialized PIII 450 around here somewhere...
I wish but, there are still four more patents involved in the suit. That suit cannot be dismissed unless all five were to be invalidated. Though this is a likely outcome, it could take a couple more years before the patent office gets off its arse and completes the dispute process.
Of what I have read, there will be, at least, one thing that could improve Vista's security. Also, several people have commented on it without having read anything about Vista. Users will login to a limited access user account, rather then an administrator account as the default.
Unfortunately, there are several bad points with Vista that will make me hesitate on upgrading:
If stupidity should be painful... Then management stupidity should be fatal.
If you're looking for a better provider then GoDaddy, I would recommend http://dreamhost.com/. Good service, fair pricing and really generous hosting packages.
Disclaimer: I am not an employee nor affiliated with dreamhost.com. In fact, I work for one of their (and GoDaddy's) competitors.