I do that kind of stuff all the time, but I have a computer that I've built for that capability.
To you I say: Why buy another computer when you can throw the RAM, the Hard Drive, and the processor (quad-core upgrade for example) into your current machine and pull off your desired multitasking shenanigans?
That was one of my points. What I'm saying is that assuming no spoofing took place, the amount of investigation required to make an accurate determination (that is, with a reasonable degree of accuracy) on who the culprit is would, as per TFS, drag a disproportionately large number of people into discovery for a case that doesn't even pertain to them (and that's guaranteed... reminds me of a witch hunt).
The fact that this data can be spoofed very easily only further proves that such data isn't a valid method for identification, and certainly isn't good data on which to base a judgment.
Sure, you can build a system with multiple paths of registration and logging and authentication, but a majority of those processes can be spoofed or socially engineered.
If you came up to me with a subpoena asking who had IP address 192.168.1.X on this day at this time, even if I still had the logs on my DHCP server, it would take a significant amount of forensics (IE, an audit of every laptop my friends or neighbors own) to determine who the culprit was.
How long till they start making browsers with a "firefox plugin compatible" feature?
That would be a hack-job to implement on every browser except for Firefox. An illustration of that would be the number of plugins that got bricked from V2 to V3 a few months back.
Instead, all browsers would be better off electing to support a "Unified Browser Plugin Architecture" that could itself be enabled via a native plugin that fits into existing browsers, and later be built into them.
Yeah, but the important thing is that the cell modem providers are making money, which was no doubt the intention of this whole security plan all along.
What's worse is that TFS implies you use SMS messages to disable the laptop. For those of you that have been keeping track, SMS isn't covered under data plans on the US carriers I've used. It's billed separately, and is less expensive assuming you only need the ability to send/receive a single text message.
But I think comparing cars and video game equipment is a great idea!
In order to achieve a proper comparison, you need to convert the Ford warranty and the Harmonix warranty into a more common and well understood unit of measurement, like Libraries of Congress.
Indeed, I feel bad when people are as ignorant as the GP.
I've never actually looked for it simply because IE6/7 + The IEAK (and its handy MSI's) are precisely what my company needs in order to effectively manage internet usage.
Until I see either some kind of "Firefox Deployment/Software Update Server," a-la Symantec Anti-Virus/Endpoint Protection, or an MSI Generator + well honed ADM/ADMX files for Firefox, it's not showing up on our corporate network outside of the IT Dept.
Firefox and Linux zealots tend not to understand this, I'm afraid. Much like a Linux Desktop OS, better for you != better for everyone.
Only it was with people bringing in docx files and expecting to use them with OpenOffice and blaming the IT department when it wouldn't work. So I followed some guides and wrote a script, threw it up in a GPO and now only Admins can use USB storage.
The procedure is a HUGE pain in the ass (you need to modify ACL's on registry keys and the whole 9 to cover all angles) but scripted it was as simple as "USBStorage.exe </enable|/disable>" in a logon script.
These interfaces pose great potential for some things, but what we really need is a 3D control system that will enable people with the option to either control it in full 3D with crazy arm waving effects, or control it while sitting on our asses eating lunch and browsing slashdot.
Without a compelling application that requires that interface, it's a just a big, expensive toy.
Dude, EXACTLY.
Games, man. GAMES.
I mean, seriously, imagine with that kind of interaction how incredible something like World of Warcraft would be? The more interactive the games become, the closer we crawl to something as spiffy as Star Trek's holodeck, and aside from the obvious boon to the porn industry, it'll let you actually gather and throw the freakin fireball.
What would help me a lot more is the ability to quickly switch to a particular window in mind:
With Vista or OS X, if you're using either Alt-Tab, Flip3D, or Expose, you can click on the window or the Icon that represents it to do your switch.
As far as how the qualities of each feature enable this, Vista's alt-tab/Flip3D and OS X's Expose are the best of them since they give a live preview of the window, which does help a lot when switching between a very large number of applications. Also, you can use the mousewheel to quickly scroll through all of them to make your choice.
I've been extremely impressed with Compiz before, though I've never used Linux long enough to get the finer details, but aren't these live previews and mouse/mousewheel interaction supported in it?...Or am I totally off base in assuming Compiz works with KDE?:P
Anyone else out there stuck with the same problems?
I personally just don't bother trying. I've wanted to buy a console a few times, but every time I play a console-based FPS (which is unfortunately where the hottest console market is), I wish I could find the the button on the controller that will turn the gun around and allow me to shoot myself in the face because the input system is so horrible.
That's not to say that the mouse and keyboard are God's greatest gift to FPS gamers, but at least they're not tools of Satan like console controllers are (I'm looking at you, dual-shock).
Yes, yes, its a Microsoft product, evil, blah blah.. I get it. Moving on...
What really gets me is all this Linux-lover opposition to Silverlight. Before Silverlight rolled out, with its behemoth backer, Microsoft, there was ONE, count them, ONE choice for true local-application-type of development platform for web browsers, controlled by ONE company, Adobe.
How the hell is competition to an effective monopoly (which is one of the biggest holier-than-thou reasons for hating Microsoft) a bad thing?
I personally prefer Windows for any application I may need to perform, but that doesn't mean I'll throw a Linux-based product to the curb over ideology. You should cherish the fact that soon enough, when it becomes prolific enough to do so, you will have a choice on how to develop the kinds of web content only Flash or Silverlight can contain.
I wish I knew the answer to your question, but I completely agree with you.
Every time I load a web page and my browser gives up on life for about 10 seconds only for me to see the java logo and another loading bar when it finally snaps to life, it irritates me to no end.
There's a reason I never continued any interaction with Java after I got out of the AP CS course I took in high school.
JavaScript, on the other hand, I will work with when it suits me. Just no web development.
ISP's have two options as their networks become more and more utilized:
1) Expand the network capacity by laying new line, enabling higher throughput of the entire system. This method will incur great cost, but will not create new customers, nor lose customers, nor will it increase profits over current offerings.
2) Throttle network usage to fit current utilization into current infrastructure in a more manageable fashion. This method will incur significantly lower costs than option 1 (lawsuits included), but will not create new customers, nor lose customers (as we are the only provider available to them), nor will it increase profits over current offerings.
I... Um... was thinking that you had perhaps read this somewhere and could link me to a place for further reading on an explanation of what you claim? A book perhaps? Some Brian Greene or something then?
I know. It's easy to blame Microsoft (especially here) but I sincerely believe that the lion's share of culpability belongs with OEM's and Intel, and their impetus derives from stingy consumers.
In some markets, a device is worth buying simply if it does the task it's sold for--like scissors cutting things, or cars moving down the road at posted speed limits. The problem is that the ability to simply boot an operating system is not the metric upon which a computer should be sold, rather they should be sold based upon their ability to run that OS at nominal speeds. OEM's and Intel's force upon the market has dictated that the former is an acceptable way to sell computers, but Microsoft takes all of the flak for it.
Considering that Linux can run quite decently with 16 MB RAM and a 200MHz CPU (so long as you dump the GUI), it's outrageous that Vista can barely manage to boot with 1Gig of RAM.
But you and I both know that that copy of Windows is not Vista/XP/2000/98/and so on, much as a Linux build that runs on the same reqs is not Ubuntu Desktop.
Should it get delayed, it'll only be to add features.
Windows 7 is Vista + More features, plain and simple, but it sure as hell won't be marketed that way, and I firmly believe that is the fault of nerds worldwide decrying Vista for issues that either don't exist, aren't relevant (like DRM support), or overall speed of the OS (usually due to lack of RAM or excess of OEM crapware).
Slashdot Mirror
To them I say: Buy another computer.
I do that kind of stuff all the time, but I have a computer that I've built for that capability.
To you I say: Why buy another computer when you can throw the RAM, the Hard Drive, and the processor (quad-core upgrade for example) into your current machine and pull off your desired multitasking shenanigans?
I may not have a mortgage woe like you, but my employer keeps fscking up my paychecks, and I don't get paid til Tuesday ;)
That was one of my points. What I'm saying is that assuming no spoofing took place, the amount of investigation required to make an accurate determination (that is, with a reasonable degree of accuracy) on who the culprit is would, as per TFS, drag a disproportionately large number of people into discovery for a case that doesn't even pertain to them (and that's guaranteed... reminds me of a witch hunt).
The fact that this data can be spoofed very easily only further proves that such data isn't a valid method for identification, and certainly isn't good data on which to base a judgment.
How do IPs not specify identity?
They just don't.
Sure, you can build a system with multiple paths of registration and logging and authentication, but a majority of those processes can be spoofed or socially engineered.
If you came up to me with a subpoena asking who had IP address 192.168.1.X on this day at this time, even if I still had the logs on my DHCP server, it would take a significant amount of forensics (IE, an audit of every laptop my friends or neighbors own) to determine who the culprit was.
A more viable option (in the Slashdot case) is to subcsribe if you don't like the ads and wish to better the site.
How long till they start making browsers with a "firefox plugin compatible" feature?
That would be a hack-job to implement on every browser except for Firefox. An illustration of that would be the number of plugins that got bricked from V2 to V3 a few months back.
Instead, all browsers would be better off electing to support a "Unified Browser Plugin Architecture" that could itself be enabled via a native plugin that fits into existing browsers, and later be built into them.
Kinda like Java, only without the monstrous JVM.
Yeah, but the important thing is that the cell modem providers are making money, which was no doubt the intention of this whole security plan all along.
What's worse is that TFS implies you use SMS messages to disable the laptop. For those of you that have been keeping track, SMS isn't covered under data plans on the US carriers I've used. It's billed separately, and is less expensive assuming you only need the ability to send/receive a single text message.
Riiight... Blame it on Exchange.
Seriously, if "conveniently [losing] mail" was the goal of the transition, they could have moved from Exchange to Domino and gotten the same effect.
Forget not, throwing storage (read: money) at any system tends to fix the problem given a competent staff. You don't make a very compelling argument.
But I think comparing cars and video game equipment is a great idea!
In order to achieve a proper comparison, you need to convert the Ford warranty and the Harmonix warranty into a more common and well understood unit of measurement, like Libraries of Congress.
Indeed, I feel bad when people are as ignorant as the GP.
I've never actually looked for it simply because IE6/7 + The IEAK (and its handy MSI's) are precisely what my company needs in order to effectively manage internet usage.
Until I see either some kind of "Firefox Deployment/Software Update Server," a-la Symantec Anti-Virus/Endpoint Protection, or an MSI Generator + well honed ADM/ADMX files for Firefox, it's not showing up on our corporate network outside of the IT Dept.
Firefox and Linux zealots tend not to understand this, I'm afraid. Much like a Linux Desktop OS, better for you != better for everyone.
Only it was with people bringing in docx files and expecting to use them with OpenOffice and blaming the IT department when it wouldn't work. So I followed some guides and wrote a script, threw it up in a GPO and now only Admins can use USB storage.
The procedure is a HUGE pain in the ass (you need to modify ACL's on registry keys and the whole 9 to cover all angles) but scripted it was as simple as "USBStorage.exe </enable|/disable>" in a logon script.
I think it took all of two hours.
These interfaces pose great potential for some things, but what we really need is a 3D control system that will enable people with the option to either control it in full 3D with crazy arm waving effects, or control it while sitting on our asses eating lunch and browsing slashdot.
Someone'll get it some day.
Without a compelling application that requires that interface, it's a just a big, expensive toy.
Dude, EXACTLY.
Games, man. GAMES.
I mean, seriously, imagine with that kind of interaction how incredible something like World of Warcraft would be? The more interactive the games become, the closer we crawl to something as spiffy as Star Trek's holodeck, and aside from the obvious boon to the porn industry, it'll let you actually gather and throw the freakin fireball.
What would help me a lot more is the ability to quickly switch to a particular window in mind:
With Vista or OS X, if you're using either Alt-Tab, Flip3D, or Expose, you can click on the window or the Icon that represents it to do your switch.
...Or am I totally off base in assuming Compiz works with KDE? :P
As far as how the qualities of each feature enable this, Vista's alt-tab/Flip3D and OS X's Expose are the best of them since they give a live preview of the window, which does help a lot when switching between a very large number of applications. Also, you can use the mousewheel to quickly scroll through all of them to make your choice.
I've been extremely impressed with Compiz before, though I've never used Linux long enough to get the finer details, but aren't these live previews and mouse/mousewheel interaction supported in it?
Anyone else out there stuck with the same problems?
I personally just don't bother trying. I've wanted to buy a console a few times, but every time I play a console-based FPS (which is unfortunately where the hottest console market is), I wish I could find the the button on the controller that will turn the gun around and allow me to shoot myself in the face because the input system is so horrible.
That's not to say that the mouse and keyboard are God's greatest gift to FPS gamers, but at least they're not tools of Satan like console controllers are (I'm looking at you, dual-shock).
Yes, yes, its a Microsoft product, evil, blah blah.. I get it. Moving on...
What really gets me is all this Linux-lover opposition to Silverlight. Before Silverlight rolled out, with its behemoth backer, Microsoft, there was ONE, count them, ONE choice for true local-application-type of development platform for web browsers, controlled by ONE company, Adobe.
How the hell is competition to an effective monopoly (which is one of the biggest holier-than-thou reasons for hating Microsoft) a bad thing?
I personally prefer Windows for any application I may need to perform, but that doesn't mean I'll throw a Linux-based product to the curb over ideology. You should cherish the fact that soon enough, when it becomes prolific enough to do so, you will have a choice on how to develop the kinds of web content only Flash or Silverlight can contain.
And yes, I know, Embrace, Extend, and so on.
I wish I knew the answer to your question, but I completely agree with you.
Every time I load a web page and my browser gives up on life for about 10 seconds only for me to see the java logo and another loading bar when it finally snaps to life, it irritates me to no end.
There's a reason I never continued any interaction with Java after I got out of the AP CS course I took in high school.
JavaScript, on the other hand, I will work with when it suits me. Just no web development.
ISP's have two options as their networks become more and more utilized:
1) Expand the network capacity by laying new line, enabling higher throughput of the entire system. This method will incur great cost, but will not create new customers, nor lose customers, nor will it increase profits over current offerings.
2) Throttle network usage to fit current utilization into current infrastructure in a more manageable fashion. This method will incur significantly lower costs than option 1 (lawsuits included), but will not create new customers, nor lose customers (as we are the only provider available to them), nor will it increase profits over current offerings.
What say ye, shareholders?
I don't know about you, but if my woman was at home making babies while I'm out on a space walk, I'd be pissed.
I... Um... was thinking that you had perhaps read this somewhere and could link me to a place for further reading on an explanation of what you claim? A book perhaps? Some Brian Greene or something then?
I would like to read more. Got a source?
I know. It's easy to blame Microsoft (especially here) but I sincerely believe that the lion's share of culpability belongs with OEM's and Intel, and their impetus derives from stingy consumers.
In some markets, a device is worth buying simply if it does the task it's sold for--like scissors cutting things, or cars moving down the road at posted speed limits. The problem is that the ability to simply boot an operating system is not the metric upon which a computer should be sold, rather they should be sold based upon their ability to run that OS at nominal speeds. OEM's and Intel's force upon the market has dictated that the former is an acceptable way to sell computers, but Microsoft takes all of the flak for it.
Considering that Linux can run quite decently with 16 MB RAM and a 200MHz CPU (so long as you dump the GUI), it's outrageous that Vista can barely manage to boot with 1Gig of RAM.
You can do the same thing with Windows (Ok, well, Microsoft can).
But you and I both know that that copy of Windows is not Vista/XP/2000/98/and so on, much as a Linux build that runs on the same reqs is not Ubuntu Desktop.
Should it get delayed, it'll only be to add features.
Windows 7 is Vista + More features, plain and simple, but it sure as hell won't be marketed that way, and I firmly believe that is the fault of nerds worldwide decrying Vista for issues that either don't exist, aren't relevant (like DRM support), or overall speed of the OS (usually due to lack of RAM or excess of OEM crapware).
When I say "market forces," I am implying, among other things, corporate greed.