Anyone who's been anywhere near true computer geeks soon comes to realize that the driving ethic behind the Internet isn't pornography, technology or money-making. It's not even freedom. It's the yen for cool stuff - designing it, programming it, acquiring it or trying it out.
I disagree. The driving ethic behind the Internet is about communication. That was the focus of the ARPANet, and that was why researchers and universities jumped on board.
That's why e-mail (and, to a lesser extent, messaging services) is the Killer Application.
Now for my next thought... I wonder if it would be a Good Idea or a Bad Idea for certain stories to have moderation points. For example, Jon Katz essays tend to generate large numbers of posts. What if everyone who had moderator access had an extra point, just to use in moderating posts attached to that particular story?
It's just a thought I had last night while trying to fall asleep. Now I'm at work, trying *not* to fall asleep.
You're right. The upgrade treadmill is a state of mind. However, all it takes is a handful of people running on it to cause other people to want to catch up.
Case in point: At work, I'm working on upgrading a whole department with the latest version of a project management software package. This involves negotiating a licensing deal with a big software company (it's been in progress for three months) and upgrading the software on every machine, by hand.
Why? Because one of the manufacturing plants recently upgraded their project management software, and the documents aren't backwards compatible. *sigh*
That's what I'm worried about with non-completely-open office software. It's too ubiquitous to leave in the hands of any one company.
I'm giving my grandmother a Linux system. I think of it as similar to setting up a kiosk somewhere. All she has to do is turn it on, logon, find her games and a word processor and maybe e-mail, and shut it down correctly.
Choice is good, though... how many good RTOSs are out there that run killer apps like a word processor?
Would you ever consider making previous editions of certain books free for download when supplanted by newer editions?
For example, when Larry Wall finally gets around to writing the 3rd edition of the Camel (probably about the same time as Perl 6), would you consider making the second edition available in electronic format?
I realize this has the possibility of forking documentation, but it's hard to find anyone more qualified than Larry, Randal, and Tom, for example. It would only work for certain books.
The Viability of Be and Linux
on
Be on the G4
·
· Score: 1
I'd say Be is far more appropriate for the desktop than Linux. Linux for the servers, Be for the desktop... Sounds nice to me and coherent too.
How stable is Be on the desktop? I've heard good things there, but one of the things I really like about Linux (for members of my family who just want a box that WORKS) is essentially zero-administration on their part, and very little on mine.
If Be can offer something similar, I'll look into it.
I prefer Linux on my desktop for development. Unlike Slashdot, however, the percentage of developers in the Real World is fairly low, so my opinion isn't terribly useful there.
Let's all stop using Linux in general, or *BSD, or BeOS, or OS/2, or Hurd, or Plan 9, or Mach, or Minix, just in case any one of them helps a company make money.
Let's stick with the devil we know, just in case it is possible that sometime, somewhere, there may be another devil around the corner, waiting to get bigger.
Perhaps not the wisest thing I've heard today... but you have the choice to do so.
I felt the same way when I picked up this one, actually. If you're ever in the Portland, Oregon area, stay away from Powell's Technical books.
Okay, go. Just be aware that you'll find lots of stuff to buy, and prices are pretty good. Then send Slashdot a couple of bucks. (Is that okay to say, Hemos?)
I personally don't believe that algorithms should be patentable. I don't begrudge anyone proper remuneration for his or her work, however. (I'm also not interested in debating these two points today, for anyone else who may be reading.)
I do consider enforcing the LZW algorithm patent after GIF had become so widely-used rather suspicious, at best.
I also agree that giving away free licences for non-profit use is a Good Thing, if one must be in the position of licensing an algorithm. I suspect that we disagree on how necessary it is to do so, and that is fine.
Slashdot Mirror
Perhaps it was a one-page book? They have to start somewhere! *grin*
Anyway, thank you for taking the time to do this, Tim. (And thanks to Roblimo too!)
--
QDMerge 0.21!
Does that mean that I can take my ticket stub to the next movie, and they'll let me in for free to see the rest of the episode?
That would be cool.
--
QDMerge 0.21!
Hm, that makes me think of electronic paper. I wonder if you could build a huge, thin display panel using these guys as intelligent pixels?
Sure, the dot pitch would be terrible, but that's why you use a whole wall!
--
QDMerge 0.21!
Anyone who's been anywhere near true computer geeks soon comes to realize that the driving ethic behind the Internet isn't pornography, technology or money-making. It's not even freedom. It's the yen for cool stuff - designing it, programming it, acquiring it or trying it out.
I disagree. The driving ethic behind the Internet is about communication. That was the focus of the ARPANet, and that was why researchers and universities jumped on board.
That's why e-mail (and, to a lesser extent, messaging services) is the Killer Application.
--
QDMerge 0.21!
I think you're on to something there!
Now for my next thought... I wonder if it would be a Good Idea or a Bad Idea for certain stories to have moderation points. For example, Jon Katz essays tend to generate large numbers of posts. What if everyone who had moderator access had an extra point, just to use in moderating posts attached to that particular story?
It's just a thought I had last night while trying to fall asleep. Now I'm at work, trying *not* to fall asleep.
--
QDMerge 0.21!
I like the ID idea, but not the IP address idea. It's easy enough to do an nslookup on an IP address and figure things out.
One problem, though, is that some of us who sometimes post behind firewalls all have the same IP address.
--
QDMerge 0.21!
You're right. The upgrade treadmill is a state of mind. However, all it takes is a handful of people running on it to cause other people to want to catch up.
Case in point: At work, I'm working on upgrading a whole department with the latest version of a project management software package. This involves negotiating a licensing deal with a big software company (it's been in progress for three months) and upgrading the software on every machine, by hand.
Why? Because one of the manufacturing plants recently upgraded their project management software, and the documents aren't backwards compatible. *sigh*
That's what I'm worried about with non-completely-open office software. It's too ubiquitous to leave in the hands of any one company.
--
QDMerge 0.21!
I'm giving my grandmother a Linux system. I think of it as similar to setting up a kiosk somewhere. All she has to do is turn it on, logon, find her games and a word processor and maybe e-mail, and shut it down correctly.
Choice is good, though... how many good RTOSs are out there that run killer apps like a word processor?
--
QDMerge 0.21!
Would you ever consider making previous editions of certain books free for download when supplanted by newer editions?
For example, when Larry Wall finally gets around to writing the 3rd edition of the Camel (probably about the same time as Perl 6), would you consider making the second edition available in electronic format?
I realize this has the possibility of forking documentation, but it's hard to find anyone more qualified than Larry, Randal, and Tom, for example. It would only work for certain books.
--
QDMerge 0.21!
Maybe that will clear up that error message I get when compiling Enlightenment. 'No beer in fridge' indeed!
--
QDMerge 0.21!
I'd say Be is far more appropriate for the desktop than Linux. Linux for the servers, Be for the desktop... Sounds nice to me and coherent too.
How stable is Be on the desktop? I've heard good things there, but one of the things I really like about Linux (for members of my family who just want a box that WORKS) is essentially zero-administration on their part, and very little on mine.
If Be can offer something similar, I'll look into it.
I prefer Linux on my desktop for development. Unlike Slashdot, however, the percentage of developers in the Real World is fairly low, so my opinion isn't terribly useful there.
--
QDMerge 0.21!
Is the clean shaven myth the greatest piece of marketing brainwashing in western european history?
The necktie ranks right up there, too.
Thanks for answering more questions, by the way. Very classy.
--
QDMerge 0.21!
We need more newbie-friendly tools to be open. That way, we can make other, similar newbie tools.
--
QDMerge 0.21!
Let's all stop using Linux in general, or *BSD, or BeOS, or OS/2, or Hurd, or Plan 9, or Mach, or Minix, just in case any one of them helps a company make money.
Let's stick with the devil we know, just in case it is possible that sometime, somewhere, there may be another devil around the corner, waiting to get bigger.
Perhaps not the wisest thing I've heard today... but you have the choice to do so.
--
QDMerge 0.21!
We're going to win this war because we can reconfigure our officers. (Apologies to Iliad)
--
QDMerge 0.21!
I felt the same way when I picked up this one, actually. If you're ever in the Portland, Oregon area, stay away from Powell's Technical books.
Okay, go. Just be aware that you'll find lots of stuff to buy, and prices are pretty good. Then send Slashdot a couple of bucks. (Is that okay to say, Hemos?)
--
QDMerge 0.21!
I personally don't believe that algorithms should be patentable. I don't begrudge anyone proper remuneration for his or her work, however. (I'm also not interested in debating these two points today, for anyone else who may be reading.)
I do consider enforcing the LZW algorithm patent after GIF had become so widely-used rather suspicious, at best.
I also agree that giving away free licences for non-profit use is a Good Thing, if one must be in the position of licensing an algorithm. I suspect that we disagree on how necessary it is to do so, and that is fine.
--
QDMerge 0.21!
Thanks for taking the time to contact Unisys. Their policies leave a bad taste in my mouth, but your point about poor Cheryl is very well taken.
Still, PNG and MNG keep sounding better all of the time....
--
QDMerge 0.21!
I used to use a penguin skin for CTF, but it stood out really well and I kept getting fragged.
Or maybe I'm just lousy. Hmm.
--
QDMerge 0.21!
Send them to Microsoft's website. Maybe they'll just chew on each other for a while and leave the rest of us alone.
--
QDMerge 0.21!
Maybe it's just me, but I climb up telephone poles and wave magnets over the lines.
I bring along a flourescent tube for output. Yah, it's text based, but it runs ttyquake.
--
QDMerge 0.21!
What do you think Perl actually is?
Disclaimer: I really really like Perl. I've just fought with it all morning and through my lunch hour.
--
QDMerge 0.21!
No... just 50,000 12-eyed aliens. Or didn't you read between the lines of that Interplanetary Internet Protocol story yesterday? heh heh
--
QDMerge 0.21!
Stupid nested comments... You're right.
--
QDMerge 0.21!
I guess you missed the first part of the link. I'll give you a hint, it was www.microsoft.com.
No matter how reliable you consider that site, I think it disproves your theory.
--
QDMerge 0.21!