What a ridiculous comparison. DOS 3.3 was developed over 20 years ago, these Linux distributions (Tiny Linux, ttylinux, arch, basic linux, etc) are relatively modern, and some are still actively developed.
And you're partially right - it is bloat because I don't think it's a worthwhile "feature". The problem is.. most people agree with me.
Linux is a family of operating systems. The kernel isn't bloated, and there are Linux operating systems that require 8MB of RAM or less.
There are no bloat-free versions of Vista. If Vista was modular and I could remove components, I would have no problem with the bloat. Alas..
I'm sorry but how can anyone seriously argue that "our program is bloated, but it's OK because relatively decent hardware can handle it!" with a straight face.
If you have to argue that your bloat is acceptable, then it's too bloated.
Software bloat should not grow at the same rate as hardware improvements.
More importantly - your argument is a Microsoft talking point, and doesn't clash with my comment.
My comment was addressing the issue from a single, simple stance: is the bloat worth the features? Did XP have features worth double of 2000, maybe. Does Vista have features worth 10x XP? Not even close.
You're right in the similarities between XP and Vista in that they were both more bloated than their predecessors and that many users were reluctant to "upgrade" because of that. But there are some big differences.
XP was considered bloat and XP doubled the minimum requirements from 2000 Pro.
Vista quadruples the minimum XP processing requirement, octuples XP minimum RAM, decuples the minimum HDD free space, and adds a new requirement for video cards.
On top of all of that, XP and 2000 were essentially the same kernel. There weren't many compatibility issues, and users weren't faced with drastic UI changes.
So, was XP twice as "good" as 2000? Maybe, so people switched. Is Vista ten times as "good" as XP? Plus IT support costs? No, so people aren't switching.
"AT&T's filing has suggested that broadband capacity upgrades would be "expensive and needless." It is our company's belief that this is wholly inaccurate. According to research firm Point Topic, U.S. broadband speeds have increased a mere 0.17 percent this year, to 2.971 Mbps. In comparison, the speeds in South & East Asia went up 132 percent to 3.582 Mbps, while Asia Pacific saw speeds increase 38.79 percent to 14.989 Mbps. Speeds in Western Europe gained by 6.22 percent to 5.552 Mbps."
As a small business owner -- an IT business, at that -- one of the first things I did was make sure I was listed with Google. I followed up with the phone books.
The thing is that many of my acquaintances are small business owners. And I decided to Google their businesses while I was registering mine. Most came up with name and address -- even though they didn't register to be listed with Google. Some didn't come up at all.
I went to them. I explained the situation. Google acts as a phone book to many of us. And they display the business result in prime screen real estate for free! If they're listed, the more information they provide, the better. And if they don't provide any information, they're basically illegitimate in my eyes.
Basically, I see this as Google's quest to get small businesses listed in their "web 2.0 phone book".
"By 2006, IDC believes Symbian will have increased its market share in powerful phones to 53 percent from its current 46 percent. Microsoft will have about 27 percent of the market, with Palm at 10 percent. IDC predicts that Linux could take as much as 4.2 percent."
Microsoft didn't live up to the hype. Nor did Palm. The small competitors went wild.
Your high school principal is obviously not qualified for her position, and by allowing her that position, you are obviously not qualified for yours.
I hope that your district is rightfully sued by the Webb family.
I hope the presiding judge makes an example out of your district.
I hope that both Ms. Charleton and yourself are terminated without severance, and that this incident will have significantly tarnished your reputation, leaving you unemployed and eventually homeless.
What's really interesting about their new method is this:
Previously, they would file a lawsuit against a John Doe to identify the alleged downloaders and then contact them offering out-of-court settlements. Now they are negotiating agreements with colleges and ISPs, where providers willingly forward letters from the RIAA to their students/subscribers
The RIAA's benefits are clear: they can fire off a significantly (read: insanely) higher number of letters. They have to prove absolutely nothing to send those.
The article assumes the settlement amounts will be lower, so (in the RIAA's minds) the student/subscriber copyright offender benefits.
I know ASUS is odm'ing some of the XPS notebooks, but I'd be willing to guess that with Dell's acquisition of Alienware, Dell is now using Clevo/Sager for some Dell notebook lines as well.
The DeskStars were nicknamed DeathStars due to their high failure rate.
Maxtor has a terrible reputation in the channel.
Seagate has a fantastic reputation in the channel.
And as far as the WD power connectors.. I have 4 Western Digitals, a Samsung, a Maxtor, and a Seagate on my desk right now.. and they all have the same layout (left to right: 40 pin, jumpers, molex).
Dell does use proprietary parts more so than the other OEMs -- the cooling system particularly bothers me. (proprietary fan and a duct over the heatsink). Also, some models won't accept a PSU unless the power cable connector is in the same spot, or you dremel the case. Finally, the case connectors for the power button and LEDs match the boards -- so you can't swap in a new board.
On the other hand, Dell uses Intel brand boards in their machines, which are generally considered the most reliable boards. With a HP or Compaq or Sony -- you have no idea what you'll get.. it might be Intel or ASUS or MSI or some Canadian company you've never heard of (I forget their name).
Another plus is that all Dell machines have a built in diagnostic tool which can be accessed at boot, making it considerably easier for you to direct John Doe into memtesting over the phone.
After weighing the advantages and disadvantages, I suggest Dell over the other big OEMs, but never before a trusted local shop.
For example, Dell has been using motherboards manufactured under the Intel brand name by Foxconn since as far back as I can remember. They've been using Lite-On optical drives, and various power supplies -- often HiPro. All of these companies are still in business and doing quite well (better than Dell even).
I do think that Dell shot themselves in the foot, however in an entirely different matter. Dell started the PC price wars. The competition followed their aggressive pricing, and now the budget PC market (which Dell had cornered) is littered with companies barely surviving on razor thin margins.
Dell attempted to correct themselves: they purchased Alienware, they have put more focus on their higher end models, but frankly, I don't think they'll ever recover unless they re-brand themselves much as Apple has.
Intel actually proposed just that. From this website:
Verified by Intel® is a barebone program between Intel, ODM manufacturers and notebook ingredient suppliers that provides interchangeability of key notebook components for simplified sourcing, inventory management and build-to-order flexibility. Unlike most notebooks that use non-standard components, barebones that are Verified by Intel® are designed and tested for interchangeability of common building blocks, including:
Hard disk drives, optical disk drives, keyboards, batteries, LCD screens, customizable notebook panels and AC adapters.
Now if VBI took off, I believe that there is a decent argument to abandon desktops. Currently though, there just isn't.
But alas, it probably won't succeed. Even though the major ODMs (who actually design and manufacture the notebooks.. including Quanta, Compal, ASUS, et al) are all for the VBI initiative -- the major OEMs (who manage notebook inventory and customer service.. including Dell, HP, Compaq, et al) are very, very, very much against it. (OEMs have ridiculous margins on custom notebook parts)
Kudos on the well documented write up. I'd debate, and Google-fu (or bust out the lexisnexis) myself some replies, but it's 1am on a Sunday morning. I'd presume by your interpretation of pages linked to that you can find the appropriate information yourself. And that is my challenge to you, sir: please prove me right. You and I both know that the surcharges on your qWest bill are directed towards appropriate taxation. Step up.
Slashdot Mirror
What a ridiculous comparison. DOS 3.3 was developed over 20 years ago, these Linux distributions (Tiny Linux, ttylinux, arch, basic linux, etc) are relatively modern, and some are still actively developed. And you're partially right - it is bloat because I don't think it's a worthwhile "feature". The problem is.. most people agree with me.
Linux is a family of operating systems. The kernel isn't bloated, and there are Linux operating systems that require 8MB of RAM or less. There are no bloat-free versions of Vista. If Vista was modular and I could remove components, I would have no problem with the bloat. Alas..
I'm sorry but how can anyone seriously argue that "our program is bloated, but it's OK because relatively decent hardware can handle it!" with a straight face.
If you have to argue that your bloat is acceptable, then it's too bloated.
Software bloat should not grow at the same rate as hardware improvements.
More importantly - your argument is a Microsoft talking point, and doesn't clash with my comment.
My comment was addressing the issue from a single, simple stance: is the bloat worth the features? Did XP have features worth double of 2000, maybe. Does Vista have features worth 10x XP? Not even close.
You're right in the similarities between XP and Vista in that they were both more bloated than their predecessors and that many users were reluctant to "upgrade" because of that. But there are some big differences.
XP was considered bloat and XP doubled the minimum requirements from 2000 Pro.
Vista quadruples the minimum XP processing requirement, octuples XP minimum RAM, decuples the minimum HDD free space, and adds a new requirement for video cards.
On top of all of that, XP and 2000 were essentially the same kernel. There weren't many compatibility issues, and users weren't faced with drastic UI changes.
So, was XP twice as "good" as 2000? Maybe, so people switched. Is Vista ten times as "good" as XP? Plus IT support costs? No, so people aren't switching.
What does that even mean?
URL: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/upload_v2.cgi
Proceeding: 07-52
Example Brief Comment to FCC:
"AT&T's filing has suggested that broadband capacity upgrades would be "expensive and needless." It is our company's belief that this is wholly inaccurate. According to research firm Point Topic, U.S. broadband speeds have increased a mere 0.17 percent this year, to 2.971 Mbps. In comparison, the speeds in South & East Asia went up 132 percent to 3.582 Mbps, while Asia Pacific saw speeds increase 38.79 percent to 14.989 Mbps. Speeds in Western Europe gained by 6.22 percent to 5.552 Mbps."
I was just kidding.. but yeah, the places I've visited lately all used DI water.
Despite its claims that Vista has sold more than 100 million copies and its adoption rate is in line with the company's expectations.
Vista's sales are high for one reason.
Every Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc that you purchase with XP is actually sold as a computer with a Vista license and a XP downgrade license.
Classic Microsoft.
You're wrong.
Tap water contains trace minerals. After the tap water dries, they remain. They conduct electricity.
See the problem?
Now if you use deionized water....
.. strange foods tied together with massive amounts of chemicals to make them taste like real foods.
Isn't that what McDonalds is for?
ZWOK
It's a multiplayer flash game where you throw snowballs.. and bricks.. at the other team.
Try it and you'll play for days.
First off, we don't yet know whether there are territories. Google doesn't say.
Secondly, for an experienced salesman this is a terrible deal. For a part-time college student -- it's fantastic.
As a small business owner -- an IT business, at that -- one of the first things I did was make sure I was listed with Google. I followed up with the phone books.
The thing is that many of my acquaintances are small business owners. And I decided to Google their businesses while I was registering mine. Most came up with name and address -- even though they didn't register to be listed with Google. Some didn't come up at all.
I went to them. I explained the situation. Google acts as a phone book to many of us. And they display the business result in prime screen real estate for free! If they're listed, the more information they provide, the better. And if they don't provide any information, they're basically illegitimate in my eyes.
Basically, I see this as Google's quest to get small businesses listed in their "web 2.0 phone book".
Interesting market share numbers, considering 2003 IDC estimates:
"By 2006, IDC believes Symbian will have increased its market share in powerful phones to 53 percent from its current 46 percent. Microsoft will have about 27 percent of the market, with Palm at 10 percent. IDC predicts that Linux could take as much as 4.2 percent."
Microsoft didn't live up to the hype. Nor did Palm. The small competitors went wild.
I wrote the superintendent instead:
Your high school principal is obviously not qualified for her position, and by allowing her that position, you are obviously not qualified for yours.
I hope that your district is rightfully sued by the Webb family.
I hope the presiding judge makes an example out of your district.
I hope that both Ms. Charleton and yourself are terminated without severance, and that this incident will have significantly tarnished your reputation, leaving you unemployed and eventually homeless.
Sincerely,
nevesis
Basically the DVD has hundreds of bogus VOB files.
Most DVD players are smart enough to skip over them.. (mine wasn't).
Most DVD decrypting software wasn't smart enough either.
The difference is that those software packages just required a downloadable update. You're screwed if your player doesn't like bogus files.
What's really interesting about their new method is this:
Previously, they would file a lawsuit against a John Doe to identify the alleged downloaders and then contact them offering out-of-court settlements. Now they are negotiating agreements with colleges and ISPs, where providers willingly forward letters from the RIAA to their students/subscribers
The RIAA's benefits are clear: they can fire off a significantly (read: insanely) higher number of letters. They have to prove absolutely nothing to send those.
The article assumes the settlement amounts will be lower, so (in the RIAA's minds) the student/subscriber copyright offender benefits.
But how does the ISP or college benefit?
Any idea who ODMs this machine?
I know ASUS is odm'ing some of the XPS notebooks, but I'd be willing to guess that with Dell's acquisition of Alienware, Dell is now using Clevo/Sager for some Dell notebook lines as well.
Interesting.. but I disagree with your analysis.
The DeskStars were nicknamed DeathStars due to their high failure rate.
Maxtor has a terrible reputation in the channel.
Seagate has a fantastic reputation in the channel.
And as far as the WD power connectors.. I have 4 Western Digitals, a Samsung, a Maxtor, and a Seagate on my desk right now.. and they all have the same layout (left to right: 40 pin, jumpers, molex).
Eset's NOD32 consistently scores in the top AV detection ratings.
(usually with Kaspersky, though NOD is considerably less resource-hungry. F-Secure also is usually in the top three.)
Dell does use proprietary parts more so than the other OEMs -- the cooling system particularly bothers me. (proprietary fan and a duct over the heatsink). Also, some models won't accept a PSU unless the power cable connector is in the same spot, or you dremel the case. Finally, the case connectors for the power button and LEDs match the boards -- so you can't swap in a new board.
On the other hand, Dell uses Intel brand boards in their machines, which are generally considered the most reliable boards. With a HP or Compaq or Sony -- you have no idea what you'll get.. it might be Intel or ASUS or MSI or some Canadian company you've never heard of (I forget their name).
Another plus is that all Dell machines have a built in diagnostic tool which can be accessed at boot, making it considerably easier for you to direct John Doe into memtesting over the phone.
After weighing the advantages and disadvantages, I suggest Dell over the other big OEMs, but never before a trusted local shop.
Interesting post.. but it seems inaccurate to me.
For example, Dell has been using motherboards manufactured under the Intel brand name by Foxconn since as far back as I can remember. They've been using Lite-On optical drives, and various power supplies -- often HiPro. All of these companies are still in business and doing quite well (better than Dell even).
I do think that Dell shot themselves in the foot, however in an entirely different matter. Dell started the PC price wars. The competition followed their aggressive pricing, and now the budget PC market (which Dell had cornered) is littered with companies barely surviving on razor thin margins.
Dell attempted to correct themselves: they purchased Alienware, they have put more focus on their higher end models, but frankly, I don't think they'll ever recover unless they re-brand themselves much as Apple has.
Intel actually proposed just that. From this website:
Verified by Intel® is a barebone program between Intel, ODM manufacturers and notebook ingredient suppliers that provides interchangeability of key notebook components for simplified sourcing, inventory management and build-to-order flexibility. Unlike most notebooks that use non-standard components, barebones that are Verified by Intel® are designed and tested for interchangeability of common building blocks, including: Hard disk drives, optical disk drives, keyboards, batteries, LCD screens, customizable notebook panels and AC adapters.
Now if VBI took off, I believe that there is a decent argument to abandon desktops. Currently though, there just isn't.
But alas, it probably won't succeed. Even though the major ODMs (who actually design and manufacture the notebooks.. including Quanta, Compal, ASUS, et al) are all for the VBI initiative -- the major OEMs (who manage notebook inventory and customer service.. including Dell, HP, Compaq, et al) are very, very, very much against it. (OEMs have ridiculous margins on custom notebook parts)
Kudos on the well documented write up. I'd debate, and Google-fu (or bust out the lexisnexis) myself some replies, but it's 1am on a Sunday morning. I'd presume by your interpretation of pages linked to that you can find the appropriate information yourself. And that is my challenge to you, sir: please prove me right. You and I both know that the surcharges on your qWest bill are directed towards appropriate taxation. Step up.