To be fair if you are working with "computer help" you mostly get contact with people asking for help. Those that help themselves are thus not represented.
I know that places that delivered food (Pizza and the like) liked the Think since it drastically reduced the cost. However after Ford bought it getting a Think became a lot harder, at least for the following few years.
Well Ford did have Think, which they bought form Norwegian developers, but when California changes it's emission laws Ford killed it off. Now that people want to buy Electric Cars, they can't because Ford sold it off again. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Think_Nordic
Yes. I also watch movies (cinema, TV, or pirated) before I decide to buy them on DvD/BlueRay. Sometimes I buy books after I have read a copy borrowed from a friend. Sometimes I buy books/comics unseen because I know of the author/artist.
Do you go to the car lot and take a car, drive it around until you get where you need to be or get bored driving it and then ditch it for a different one?
Only in GTA. Which I incidentally bought unseen for the PS2, then later I pirated the PC version becuse I wanted to play it again and my TV was broken.
If I pirate a game and I enjoy it I buy it, if I pirate it and don't enjoy it I ditch it. Had there been options to test a proper Demo I would do that instead, but most demos are pretty bad. My monthly entertainment budget is limited and I just can't buy all the games I want to try; especially when I know most of them are going to suck.
Coming back to your car analogy; yes I would expect to test drive before buying. I would also read reviews, tests, user experience, basically do my research before investing that kind of money. Not doing that would make it a lot more likely that I would be ripped off.
I agree with most of what is written here. My main hobby is drawing (paper and pencil, or computer tablet). Mostly I try to use Gimp when I draw on my computer, but Photoshop has some features that I like AND there are a lot more guides and instructional videos for Photoshop than Gimp (unfortunately). But I wouldn't be able to actually go out and buy Photoshop so I try to use Gimp for moral reason.
But Yes it's a bit of a catch that if you want to work with graphic or music you pretty much need to learn how to use software way before you are in a position to buy it. Friend of mine have a home studio, played and mixed music since he was 12, most of his software is pirated. Because legal versions is very expensive, but if we want to work with sound and music he have to learn and increase his experience. He is pretty firm that if he actually at some point start making serious cash, he is beginning to since his level of expertise has reached a significant level, he will buy all the software he needs so ensure everything is good and legal.
When it comes to games I usually pirate a game, play it for a few days, get sick of it and delete it. The games I play for a long time like the Total War series (or Team Fortress 2, go go steam), I buy. But for the most part games are way to expensive to buy just to realize, like many others have said, it's utter crap. Or at least not good for more than a few hours worth of below average entertainment.
That being said when decent games comes along I am more than happy to go the extra mile to not just buy the game, but to buy the extra expensive collector's edition (I am a sucker for concept art books most of all). But I just can't afford to buy games if I am not absolutely certain it's worth the investment.
If you press the big Picture link in the middle of the main page you come to the gOS page I linked; which is the main download page. Big black letters "Linux for the rest of us".
Not mentioning Linux on their Intro Page seems like a pretty insignificant downside to their OS. And I reckon everyone actively thinking of installing a new OS should and would do the necessary research to at least know what it is they are installing.
Regarding the article itself: Seeing as gOS openly announces it is Designed for NetBooks (and based upon Ubuntu) talking about it being a rival for Ubuntu is a tad off target. At least so it would appear to me.
I think maybe this is also somewhat related to the fact that the release of XP coincided with a large wave of people buying computers for the first time; or upgrading older hardware. At this point even computers a few years old running XP will take care of most peoples needs. My mom for instance use her computer for Netbank services, Airplane Tickets, eMail, and some writing (she is a teacher). After buying a computer running XP a few years back she really haven't seen any need to upgrade. Unless something significant happen she will use her computer until it fails for technical reasons.
This same principle goes for friends of my mom to; I asked them about this. They will use their computer until it breaks down before they buy a new one. What they need is covered by XP, and they does not feel justified in buying a new computer until it is essential.
Of course there are many factors involved; but I do believe that many people bought computers during the "XP era" because they needed to. As XP was the only alternative available pre-installed (for a lot of buyers at least).
If/When open source OS arrives at a point where it is easy to setup, and gives you all the basic functions you need. There is no doubt in my mind it will become more viable and more popular. Over the next years and decades I believe free software products will come to dominate certain functions; operating systems, browsers and word processors. Simply because it is hard to justify the price tag on such products when free alternatives are available and getting better and better.
With ODF becoming standard for official documents in certain European countries, and several ministers now speaking out for adopting Open Standards and Software in administration; I am certain the OS market will continue to break away from MicroSoft control. If nothing else, using Open Source software gives National Security Advisers a bit more peace of mind. I know personnel within the Norwegian military that would be very happy if they could scan the code for all the software they use. But I digress as I often do.
Point was simply the entire marked grew during after the release of XP, it is not growing quite so much these days (and in not quite the same way).
I recycle by burning all my old junk; turning crap directly into carbon. The more junk you have the better, preferably stuff that burns really well. If not just chop down a few threes and make a great fire that will melt anything that doesn't burn. By doing this not only do you save the environment the burden of driving the stuff to a landfill; you also have a nice backdrop for a summer party. What could be cooler than burning a heap of potentially toxic materials.
Indeed. But preferably games should be possible to play without Wine. Hopefully as Linux, and other OSes, continue to get better and become more "newbie" friendly; it will become interesting for more companies to invest in Linux versions of their games.
Is this the end of cross-platform 3d on the cutting edge?"
Probably not. As long as DX remains solely in the hands of MicroSoft; there will be use for other forms of cross-platform 3D. More so as the "none-MS" OSes continue to grow in numbers.
I guess this is part of the point behind developing a computer that serves all basic needs, is cheap to manufacture and that can withstand some hardship. It would give a lot of people with the drive and desire to improve themselves the opportunity to do so. Thus helping themselves and their community. Education isn't just about getting grades, it's about what you learn. Right now Africa needs people with understanding, knowledge and preferably experience in many fields.
I believe that Africa should be helped, and helped to help themselves. And that a stable and prosperous Africa would be a benefit to all of us. Education is a key to economic and technological development. And the expertise available through education is one of the few ways Africa can manage to come through this massive humanitarian disaster.
I guess the sum of the matter is that some of the open source principles makes it easier for students to access and participate in ongoing projects. Thus they can develop skills hard to come by otherwise. Only natural that this would give them an advantage when looking for steady work later on.
Indeed if a contract in anyway disables you from working in the future it should not be accepted as legal. Keeping qualified personnel away from jobs where they can make a meaningful contribution is a counter-productive to society at large and a great source of frustration for the individual in question. Laws or contract clauses should never disable someone from applying for a job with another company.
I reckon that part of the "hatred of unions" comes from the fact that the position reached by Unions in the US is at times counter-productive.
In my mind Unions can be useful to ensure that workers are not exploited by their employers; and gathering the resources to fight any violation of labour laws for as long as it takes. However, when a Union become instruments of political power they can sometimes lose their direction. Becoming a hindrance for efficiency or continued evolution within the workplace.
It's important to have a sensible and objective evaluation of the current structure (laws and organization) to ensure that it's always in the interest of the employees, the employers and society at large.
I will add that I am optimistic about the future. Interactive educational programs and online resources (ebooks, guides, instructional videos, lecture videos, etc) have a great potential to make available vast quantities of knowledge to everyone with the desire to understand (and lives in a country where getting online isn't that hard). Public libraries should, and already are, getting more and better computers enabling those without a homeline to get at these resources.
Understanding a subject, at least those that does not require expensive appliances (like many medicinal related studies); is fully possible on your own. Of course it's much harder on your own, especially if your elementary education is lacking. But it is possible. However, under the current perception, a diploma from a good school weights more than a good understanding of the subject. Not to say that a diploma from a good school isn't an indication of a persons understanding.
Something I reckon geeks will be able to relate to. I had several friends when I grew up that got heavily involved in Linux and C in the mid to late nighties and had a better understanding in their teens than many university level students I have met later.
Indeed. I was just presenting my perception about how when someone criticize the way things are done there is always someone popping up pointing out that parents need to get more involved. Which I agree with. Though it is no argument against improving the "none-parent" side of education.
And there are children without parents, or with bad parents, and it's no reason that their education should suffer because their parents are irresponsible.
In the end I reckon, and this is just an idea, that the educational system have to be able to comprehend that children, like people, are different. These differences means that some learn best from one method and others learn best from another; the goal should be to give each student (or group of students) the best education possible suited for their abilities, personality, genetic variation, or whatever factors are proven to have impact. Though it seems to me that if you speak of different needs many automatically assume that you somehow mean that some children have higher value than others. What I write about is simply trying to maximize effect by accepting the variations that exists in society. Forcing one model, and a flawed one at that, upon all students simply means that some will not be able to utilize their full potential. Which, in the end, is societies loss.
I fully agree that parents need to take more responsibility for their children; not just in relations to education. However, as you say, improving the actual organization and methods of the educational system is something that should be forever ongoing.
Seems to me that "parents need to take responsibility" is all to easy to use as an excuse for the flaws in the system. At least, easier than actually trying to fix the flaws. Further more it seems to me that the reforms the do try to push through are often based upon a perception of reality not fully bases in fact and research. There are brilliant people studying the ups and downs of various educational methods; but politicians and bureaucrats seem more interested in enforcing their party's, or their own, agenda.
Friend of mine is a teacher, 10-15ish age group; and he is very into reading up on the latest articles, papers, research, studies, etc, regarding all aspects of education. One of his greatest frustrations is the institutionalized stupidity of the system. Methods that have been proven to work are showed aside because they are in conflict with current dogma.
Online video is a waste of time and bandwidth unless it's porn.
If a video is without interest it don't get watched; thus it only consumes space and not bandwidth as such. If it gets watched it uses bandwidth; but then if it gets watched it's obviously of interest to someone.
One way to archive practical experience is to practice.
Say I like to draw, if I want to get better at it I have to draw a lot. One way to get better is to get instructions; books, articles, videos and so on. By following instructions downloaded from the net, or listed in a book, you learn how to do it.
So without any great knowledge about this particular subject I can still see the benefit for someone interested in the field to thinker and tweak to increase their knowledge.
Slashdot Mirror
To be fair if you are working with "computer help" you mostly get contact with people asking for help. Those that help themselves are thus not represented.
I know that places that delivered food (Pizza and the like) liked the Think since it drastically reduced the cost. However after Ford bought it getting a Think became a lot harder, at least for the following few years.
Well Ford did have Think, which they bought form Norwegian developers, but when California changes it's emission laws Ford killed it off. Now that people want to buy Electric Cars, they can't because Ford sold it off again. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Think_Nordic
Do you do this with other products as well?
Yes. I also watch movies (cinema, TV, or pirated) before I decide to buy them on DvD/BlueRay. Sometimes I buy books after I have read a copy borrowed from a friend. Sometimes I buy books/comics unseen because I know of the author/artist.
Do you go to the car lot and take a car, drive it around until you get where you need to be or get bored driving it and then ditch it for a different one?
Only in GTA. Which I incidentally bought unseen for the PS2, then later I pirated the PC version becuse I wanted to play it again and my TV was broken.
If I pirate a game and I enjoy it I buy it, if I pirate it and don't enjoy it I ditch it. Had there been options to test a proper Demo I would do that instead, but most demos are pretty bad. My monthly entertainment budget is limited and I just can't buy all the games I want to try; especially when I know most of them are going to suck.
Coming back to your car analogy; yes I would expect to test drive before buying. I would also read reviews, tests, user experience, basically do my research before investing that kind of money. Not doing that would make it a lot more likely that I would be ripped off.
I agree with most of what is written here. My main hobby is drawing (paper and pencil, or computer tablet). Mostly I try to use Gimp when I draw on my computer, but Photoshop has some features that I like AND there are a lot more guides and instructional videos for Photoshop than Gimp (unfortunately). But I wouldn't be able to actually go out and buy Photoshop so I try to use Gimp for moral reason.
But Yes it's a bit of a catch that if you want to work with graphic or music you pretty much need to learn how to use software way before you are in a position to buy it. Friend of mine have a home studio, played and mixed music since he was 12, most of his software is pirated. Because legal versions is very expensive, but if we want to work with sound and music he have to learn and increase his experience. He is pretty firm that if he actually at some point start making serious cash, he is beginning to since his level of expertise has reached a significant level, he will buy all the software he needs so ensure everything is good and legal.
When it comes to games I usually pirate a game, play it for a few days, get sick of it and delete it. The games I play for a long time like the Total War series (or Team Fortress 2, go go steam), I buy. But for the most part games are way to expensive to buy just to realize, like many others have said, it's utter crap. Or at least not good for more than a few hours worth of below average entertainment.
That being said when decent games comes along I am more than happy to go the extra mile to not just buy the game, but to buy the extra expensive collector's edition (I am a sucker for concept art books most of all). But I just can't afford to buy games if I am not absolutely certain it's worth the investment.
If you press the big Picture link in the middle of the main page you come to the gOS page I linked; which is the main download page. Big black letters "Linux for the rest of us".
Not mentioning Linux on their Intro Page seems like a pretty insignificant downside to their OS. And I reckon everyone actively thinking of installing a new OS should and would do the necessary research to at least know what it is they are installing.
Regarding the article itself: Seeing as gOS openly announces it is Designed for NetBooks (and based upon Ubuntu) talking about it being a rival for Ubuntu is a tad off target. At least so it would appear to me.
gOS 3 Gadgets BETA is based on the solid Linux distribution base of Ubuntu 8.04.1.
and also
Designed for NetBooks & NetTops
The Article said cooking, not eating.
Yes, but for your average Joe they are only potentially toxic. Just like old tires!
I think maybe this is also somewhat related to the fact that the release of XP coincided with a large wave of people buying computers for the first time; or upgrading older hardware. At this point even computers a few years old running XP will take care of most peoples needs. My mom for instance use her computer for Netbank services, Airplane Tickets, eMail, and some writing (she is a teacher). After buying a computer running XP a few years back she really haven't seen any need to upgrade. Unless something significant happen she will use her computer until it fails for technical reasons.
This same principle goes for friends of my mom to; I asked them about this. They will use their computer until it breaks down before they buy a new one. What they need is covered by XP, and they does not feel justified in buying a new computer until it is essential.
Of course there are many factors involved; but I do believe that many people bought computers during the "XP era" because they needed to. As XP was the only alternative available pre-installed (for a lot of buyers at least).
If/When open source OS arrives at a point where it is easy to setup, and gives you all the basic functions you need. There is no doubt in my mind it will become more viable and more popular. Over the next years and decades I believe free software products will come to dominate certain functions; operating systems, browsers and word processors. Simply because it is hard to justify the price tag on such products when free alternatives are available and getting better and better.
With ODF becoming standard for official documents in certain European countries, and several ministers now speaking out for adopting Open Standards and Software in administration; I am certain the OS market will continue to break away from MicroSoft control. If nothing else, using Open Source software gives National Security Advisers a bit more peace of mind. I know personnel within the Norwegian military that would be very happy if they could scan the code for all the software they use. But I digress as I often do.
Point was simply the entire marked grew during after the release of XP, it is not growing quite so much these days (and in not quite the same way).
I recycle by burning all my old junk; turning crap directly into carbon. The more junk you have the better, preferably stuff that burns really well. If not just chop down a few threes and make a great fire that will melt anything that doesn't burn. By doing this not only do you save the environment the burden of driving the stuff to a landfill; you also have a nice backdrop for a summer party. What could be cooler than burning a heap of potentially toxic materials.
Indeed. But preferably games should be possible to play without Wine. Hopefully as Linux, and other OSes, continue to get better and become more "newbie" friendly; it will become interesting for more companies to invest in Linux versions of their games.
Is this the end of cross-platform 3d on the cutting edge?"
Probably not. As long as DX remains solely in the hands of MicroSoft; there will be use for other forms of cross-platform 3D. More so as the "none-MS" OSes continue to grow in numbers.
I don't want my phone making unsolicited phonecalls.
Unless it is Apple installed software doing it?
I guess this is part of the point behind developing a computer that serves all basic needs, is cheap to manufacture and that can withstand some hardship. It would give a lot of people with the drive and desire to improve themselves the opportunity to do so. Thus helping themselves and their community. Education isn't just about getting grades, it's about what you learn. Right now Africa needs people with understanding, knowledge and preferably experience in many fields.
I believe that Africa should be helped, and helped to help themselves. And that a stable and prosperous Africa would be a benefit to all of us. Education is a key to economic and technological development. And the expertise available through education is one of the few ways Africa can manage to come through this massive humanitarian disaster.
I seriously hope they don't find the lost city of R'lyeh and awake Cthulhu.
I guess the sum of the matter is that some of the open source principles makes it easier for students to access and participate in ongoing projects. Thus they can develop skills hard to come by otherwise. Only natural that this would give them an advantage when looking for steady work later on.
I expect he just want to keep seeing his name in lights, and have magazines interview him.
Indeed if a contract in anyway disables you from working in the future it should not be accepted as legal. Keeping qualified personnel away from jobs where they can make a meaningful contribution is a counter-productive to society at large and a great source of frustration for the individual in question. Laws or contract clauses should never disable someone from applying for a job with another company.
I reckon that part of the "hatred of unions" comes from the fact that the position reached by Unions in the US is at times counter-productive.
In my mind Unions can be useful to ensure that workers are not exploited by their employers; and gathering the resources to fight any violation of labour laws for as long as it takes.
However, when a Union become instruments of political power they can sometimes lose their direction. Becoming a hindrance for efficiency or continued evolution within the workplace.
It's important to have a sensible and objective evaluation of the current structure (laws and organization) to ensure that it's always in the interest of the employees, the employers and society at large.
I will add that I am optimistic about the future. Interactive educational programs and online resources (ebooks, guides, instructional videos, lecture videos, etc) have a great potential to make available vast quantities of knowledge to everyone with the desire to understand (and lives in a country where getting online isn't that hard). Public libraries should, and already are, getting more and better computers enabling those without a homeline to get at these resources.
Understanding a subject, at least those that does not require expensive appliances (like many medicinal related studies); is fully possible on your own. Of course it's much harder on your own, especially if your elementary education is lacking. But it is possible. However, under the current perception, a diploma from a good school weights more than a good understanding of the subject. Not to say that a diploma from a good school isn't an indication of a persons understanding.
Something I reckon geeks will be able to relate to. I had several friends when I grew up that got heavily involved in Linux and C in the mid to late nighties and had a better understanding in their teens than many university level students I have met later.
Indeed. I was just presenting my perception about how when someone criticize the way things are done there is always someone popping up pointing out that parents need to get more involved. Which I agree with. Though it is no argument against improving the "none-parent" side of education.
And there are children without parents, or with bad parents, and it's no reason that their education should suffer because their parents are irresponsible.
In the end I reckon, and this is just an idea, that the educational system have to be able to comprehend that children, like people, are different. These differences means that some learn best from one method and others learn best from another; the goal should be to give each student (or group of students) the best education possible suited for their abilities, personality, genetic variation, or whatever factors are proven to have impact. Though it seems to me that if you speak of different needs many automatically assume that you somehow mean that some children have higher value than others. What I write about is simply trying to maximize effect by accepting the variations that exists in society. Forcing one model, and a flawed one at that, upon all students simply means that some will not be able to utilize their full potential. Which, in the end, is societies loss.
I fully agree that parents need to take more responsibility for their children; not just in relations to education. However, as you say, improving the actual organization and methods of the educational system is something that should be forever ongoing.
Seems to me that "parents need to take responsibility" is all to easy to use as an excuse for the flaws in the system. At least, easier than actually trying to fix the flaws. Further more it seems to me that the reforms the do try to push through are often based upon a perception of reality not fully bases in fact and research. There are brilliant people studying the ups and downs of various educational methods; but politicians and bureaucrats seem more interested in enforcing their party's, or their own, agenda.
Friend of mine is a teacher, 10-15ish age group; and he is very into reading up on the latest articles, papers, research, studies, etc, regarding all aspects of education. One of his greatest frustrations is the institutionalized stupidity of the system. Methods that have been proven to work are showed aside because they are in conflict with current dogma.
Online video is a waste of time and bandwidth unless it's porn.
If a video is without interest it don't get watched; thus it only consumes space and not bandwidth as such. If it gets watched it uses bandwidth; but then if it gets watched it's obviously of interest to someone.
One way to archive practical experience is to practice.
Say I like to draw, if I want to get better at it I have to draw a lot. One way to get better is to get instructions; books, articles, videos and so on. By following instructions downloaded from the net, or listed in a book, you learn how to do it.
So without any great knowledge about this particular subject I can still see the benefit for someone interested in the field to thinker and tweak to increase their knowledge.