Slightly off topic, but does anyone else find it interesting that Apple has released Safari for windows, but you can't get the latest version for any version of OS X except the latest (10.4.9)? 10.3 has Safari 1, which has rendering bugs that were fixed in 2, but never backported. So basically if you want the newer, more accurate Safari, you have to buy a new copy of OSX, or a new Mac.
I'm not certain, but I don't think that there are technical reasons for not letting it run on older versions of OS X. Anyone know?
No, they are demanding that Microsoft lets people disable it. You know, like you can do on any other operating system. Not to nitpick, but it's a pain in the ass turning off the search features in other operating systems as well. You have to run command line tools to do it on OSX, which is beyond your average computer user, and in Linux - aw hell, who cares? If you're using linux then you probably know how to turn off beagle (and probably installed it yourself in the first place).
If all you have to do in Vista to turn it off is disable the service, then that's WAY easier than it is on other operating systems.
You don't want end users designing software. I drive every day - does that mean I know the best way to make a car? Developers can modify systems based on user feedback, but what's more important is watching someone actually use the system and see how it works for them. Most people just accept what they're given and don't think about it.
I'm going to patent "a method for the entry of text into a machine by pressing buttons with one's fingers". I shall call this revolutionary process "typing".
I had a problem with a Gateway a while back - I was setting it up to donate to a poor family, so I reinstalled windows and a bunch of free apps and games. The problem was, it had some weird graphics chip which windows didn't recognize. I went to the product support page for that particular computer. It had drivers for other stuff, but not for the graphics. The spec sheet and manual didn't state what kind of chipset it was. I couldn't figure it out by looking at the motherboard, because the chipset had a heatsink glued onto it. So I used Gateway's tech support chat. I talked to 3 different people: the first one said they'd send me the info, but then acted like they couldn't see what I was typing and disconnected me. The second one said they'd email me the information, but didn't. The third guy, I talked to for an hour, and he made absurd claims like the graphics chip didn't need drivers (obviously it did), that the motherboard manufacture (which he claimed was Intel, which it wasn't) would be able to provide the drivers (which they didn't, because they didn't make the board, and even if they did, if you don't know what kind of chip it is you can't get the drivers anyway), he send me a picture of the motherboard (which was in no way useful), and generally just pissed me off by arguing with me and claiming he had already solved my problem by providing me with useless info. I eventually managed to figure out what kind of chip it was by finding an old post on an obscure messageboard, and then I was able to get the driver off a driver archive site.
I was pissed enough that I wrote a letter describing my experience and stating that I would be recommending that 300+ people I work with, plus everyone else I know stay clear of Gateway. I sent copies of it to various Gateway Execs and emailed it to their customer support people. All I got back was a letter saying "Sorry for your experience". No "how can we make this up to you", no "please don't tell people not to buy our stuff", no "we'll try harder in the future" or "here's some free stuff", nothing.
So I guess the point is, these type of letters don't always produce the kind of effect others have related here. I'm sure most people here on/. don't buy Gateway stuff anyway, but if you're thinking about it, don't. Their machines are crap and they support is god awful.
One of the things that irritates me, as a webdeveloper, is that Safari uses native form widgets, which can not be styled, and act differently than the widgets in any other browser (the file browser is totally different, text boxes take up a different amount of space, etc.). The fact that I can make the widgets in Firefox look exactly how I want them to is a great benefit in my book.
Santa Clause can be proven to not exist because his existence predicts events, and those events have never happened.
Wouldn't those events be considered evidence of his existence? That's the same argument as the UFOs - if they exist, there should be some evidence of their existence.
Absence of proof is not proof in itself. The basis of science is that you only accept hypotheses once you have evidence to support them. Arguing "it's real because you can't prove it isn't" is just silly. I can't prove Santa Clause isn't real, so he must be, right?
Obligatory Heston reference:
You maniacs! You blew it up! Damn you! Damn you all to hell!
I'm sure that's not as funny to the rest of you, but I'm up to my neck in martinis, so I could give a damn.
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That's what I had to do - Despite running windows and using IE specifically for this - the program doesn't work on XP x64 either.
Slightly off topic, but does anyone else find it interesting that Apple has released Safari for windows, but you can't get the latest version for any version of OS X except the latest (10.4.9)? 10.3 has Safari 1, which has rendering bugs that were fixed in 2, but never backported. So basically if you want the newer, more accurate Safari, you have to buy a new copy of OSX, or a new Mac.
I'm not certain, but I don't think that there are technical reasons for not letting it run on older versions of OS X. Anyone know?
"Oh, if GPLv3 is used, we won't be able to use our pointless DRM any more!" Cry me a river, TIVO.
Well I guess that finally answers the perennial question "Who let the dogs out?"
You don't want end users designing software. I drive every day - does that mean I know the best way to make a car? Developers can modify systems based on user feedback, but what's more important is watching someone actually use the system and see how it works for them. Most people just accept what they're given and don't think about it.
I'm going to patent "a method for the entry of text into a machine by pressing buttons with one's fingers". I shall call this revolutionary process "typing".
I had a problem with a Gateway a while back - I was setting it up to donate to a poor family, so I reinstalled windows and a bunch of free apps and games. The problem was, it had some weird graphics chip which windows didn't recognize. I went to the product support page for that particular computer. It had drivers for other stuff, but not for the graphics. The spec sheet and manual didn't state what kind of chipset it was. I couldn't figure it out by looking at the motherboard, because the chipset had a heatsink glued onto it. So I used Gateway's tech support chat. I talked to 3 different people: the first one said they'd send me the info, but then acted like they couldn't see what I was typing and disconnected me. The second one said they'd email me the information, but didn't. The third guy, I talked to for an hour, and he made absurd claims like the graphics chip didn't need drivers (obviously it did), that the motherboard manufacture (which he claimed was Intel, which it wasn't) would be able to provide the drivers (which they didn't, because they didn't make the board, and even if they did, if you don't know what kind of chip it is you can't get the drivers anyway), he send me a picture of the motherboard (which was in no way useful), and generally just pissed me off by arguing with me and claiming he had already solved my problem by providing me with useless info. I eventually managed to figure out what kind of chip it was by finding an old post on an obscure messageboard, and then I was able to get the driver off a driver archive site.
/. don't buy Gateway stuff anyway, but if you're thinking about it, don't. Their machines are crap and they support is god awful.
I was pissed enough that I wrote a letter describing my experience and stating that I would be recommending that 300+ people I work with, plus everyone else I know stay clear of Gateway. I sent copies of it to various Gateway Execs and emailed it to their customer support people. All I got back was a letter saying "Sorry for your experience". No "how can we make this up to you", no "please don't tell people not to buy our stuff", no "we'll try harder in the future" or "here's some free stuff", nothing.
So I guess the point is, these type of letters don't always produce the kind of effect others have related here. I'm sure most people here on
HP sucks too, but that's another story.
One of the things that irritates me, as a webdeveloper, is that Safari uses native form widgets, which can not be styled, and act differently than the widgets in any other browser (the file browser is totally different, text boxes take up a different amount of space, etc.). The fact that I can make the widgets in Firefox look exactly how I want them to is a great benefit in my book.
Gonna make me do this? Sigh...
"That's a big organ".
Or a series of stouts. I know I'd be looking for a beer if my servers went down right before the deadline.
The dad's just lugging that thing for the kids so they don't miss sponge bob.
I know dude, that was supposed to be funny.
My uncle's name is Bill. Who the hell is Bob?
3D stacking is so yesterday. I want RAM that's stacked in 4D, so I can get tomorrow's lottery numbers today.
Absence of proof is not proof in itself. The basis of science is that you only accept hypotheses once you have evidence to support them. Arguing "it's real because you can't prove it isn't" is just silly. I can't prove Santa Clause isn't real, so he must be, right?
Someone patent Wikis. We'll make a fortune licensing it to the USPTO!
The professor was able to generate electricity with a couple of coconuts and a stationary bike, how hard could this be?
Don't be silly. No one can detect ninjas.
A horse walks into a bar and bartender says "Why the long face?" The horse says "My wife just died."
Obligatory Heston reference: You maniacs! You blew it up! Damn you! Damn you all to hell! I'm sure that's not as funny to the rest of you, but I'm up to my neck in martinis, so I could give a damn.