I noticed that most people view a uniform distribution as a "random" distribution. As the article states, people impose patterns on things, thus when the average person tries to makes something random they tend to create something with a uniform distribution 'because it spreads the stuff out'.
Ah, the fun of counter-intuitive math.:D
more women die of lung cancer than breast cancer? Isn't the goal to save lives? Most people already know what the pink ribbon means. Let's start reminding them about a worse killer.
I just checked on the legal indicia on the Band-Aid site (http://www.bandaid.com/kits.shtml) and saw this: "The RED CROSS Design is a registered trademark of JOHNSON & JOHNSON. Products bearing this trademark have no connection with the American National Red Cross". So using a Red Cross for specific things (trademark law) is legally viable in the US at least.
As far as MASH goes, given the show was ostensibly portraying "facilities for the care of injured and sick armed forces members", I can't see the Red Cross having a leg to stand on.:D
There isn't a radio on the iPod because the iPod is all about listening to our personal music. People buy iPods to *get away* from radio. Apple has said that in their surveys on features to include in an iPod radio hasn't been something people clammer for. So if it is a deal-breaker for you you can always buy something else. That's one of the good things about competition. You have choices for other venders. Me? I'll stick with my iPod mini.:)
No, I'd rather see patents go to a system where the inventor has to produce a working tangible model (at a minimum). Allowing patents of business processes, user interfaces, etc. just destroys the whole idea of inventors having exclusive right to their discoveries.
I'd also return copyright to the old 26 year copyright with the *author* being able to register a second 26 year copyright period. (Screw international treaties.;-)) If someone can't make money on something in 52 years then it most likely isn't a money maker.
Maybe. The assumption that the USPTO gets to keep all the application fees might not be true. I don't know one way or another, but I wouldn't be surprised if Congress has that money going into the General Revenue fund where it can be salted on various Congresscritter pet projects. There also might be legal limits on staff size. as well.
As far as paying competitive rates, that's not going to happen. Government jobs don't pay anything like what you can earn in the private sector (I've done both sides). They never will (unless you decided to go the corrupt bureaucrat route). At best you might be able to work on, say, your law degree at Georgetown via night classes. Once you have that you'd want to move on which creates a constant state of new and inexperienced patent examiners.:-/
Well, tough shit. Get more people on board and raise the application fees. The number of rejected patents due to proof of prior art will make defensive patents disappear.
So, you're going to write your Congresscritter and ask them to allocate a bigger budget to the USPTO? Perhaps ask them to increase your taxes to help out?
I didn't think so.;-) Also, I'd point out that raising the application fees doesn't stop big companies from filing as many patents as they do today. It just hurts small inventors.
I just wish you could tell if the keyboard had that damnable F-Lock key. I hate the Logitech keyboards that have this 'feature'. If they would default to F-Lock being on that would be fine, but they don't.:sigh:
You could just use an Applescript: tell application "QuickTime Player" to present movie 1
If Applescript is more than you want to handle you could just drop the movie file onto your iTunes library and play it fullscreen that way (depending on the movie type). Don't forget about VLC, MPlayer, etc., too.
So, damn Apple;-) for using a carrot and forgetting to use a stick in a modest effort to drum up some revenue to help fund continued Quicktime development.
If you really care about performance, buy a dual-G5 Powermac and a ATI Radeon 9650.
No, you avoid the Radeon 9650 like the plague (unless your are going for the cheapest 30-inch Cinema Display support). If you want graphics performance either go for the Geforce 6800GT DDL or a Radeon X850 XT. (Interestingly, while Apple sells the Geforce separately they only sell the Radeon X800 XT separately.)
What I like about Dashboard (I don't know if Konfabulator does this as well) is that if I push the F12 key and *hold it* everything pops up until I release the F12 key. That's great for a quick glance at things.
Also, I have multiple weather and clock widgets up. Since I chat with a number of friends around the world the clocks are quite handy to immediately know what time of day it is for them. The weather widgets are for a bit of fun in conversations.
So, for me, multiple widgets is just more convenient than having multiple tabs in my browser. I don't use precious browser space (that is, a whole tab/web page) for information that can be contained in a little widget. My browser stays focused on the content I'm currently looking at. If I need a quick look at something, say a dictionary definition or a Wikipedia look up that is just a single keystroke away.
If using your browser fits the way you work best, go for it. For me, Dashboard/Konfabulator compliment my browser and the two together allow me to work better. it is more fun, too. Yeah, people complain about the gee-whiz stuff, but hey, I like to enjoy using my computer.:-D
You should look at the Powermac G5s. I found the stock model very quiet. Not iBook or Powerbook no-fan-running-quiet, but I have to strain to hear it when it was on.
I've updated the video card from the stock fanless Radeon 9600 to a Radeon 9800 Pro Mac Special Edition. I can hear that fan, but if I play any music at low volume I no longer hear the fan. If you have the money you could always spring for the Radeon X800 XT Mac edition. That card has a variable speed fan (needs the latest ATI drivers) that is said to halve the fan noise.
I know you said the desk models weren't quiet enough for your taste. I just wanted to pass along my experiences. Now if I could just build a gaming PC that didn't sound like a DC-3 getting ready to takeoff. Apple has spoiled me.:-)
Apple G4 1.5GHz/80Gig/512Mb/15.2" lcd $2,000 + (tax in california only)
If you buy from the Apple Store you'll get taxed (if Apple has a retail presence in your state you can count on paying the tax). It is only if you buy from a mail order company that you'll (usually) avoid taxes.
In fact, I just moved from a 17" Powerbook (1 GHz) to a new Power Mac G5 (dual 2GHz). Even if Apple died tomorrow my stuff will continue to work over its lifetime. This way I don't have to worry about the CPU migration until it is all over and we start seeing the second generation of Mactel hardware.
I think what will happen is that Apple will lose some people. Some of which will be quite vocal about it.;-) I think that in the long run Apple will pick up even more customers than they lose. Apple is releasing a lot of cool stuff. Things that appeal to people. Innovative stuff, even. Apple isn't afraid of trying something new and/or different. Many times it works, sometimes it flops in the marketplace (G4 Cube). At least they are out there taking chances.
Given that Apple has no long term debt, has built up a 7.5 billion dollar reserve, I think Apple is going to be around for quite some time. I'm glad to see them making this transition from a position of strength. I figure after surviving a continual death predictions since 1984 Apple is just one lucky company.:)
Take a look at the classic Ultima games. In Ultima IV the end game sequence was about reading a book. Oh, and in Ultima VII I seem to remember the Hoe of Destruction was one of the most, if not the most, powerful weapons.
The reason why migrating as much as possible is is a deal-breaker is friction. The smoother, the easier, the quicker people can be productive, can be *comfortable* with Linux on the desktop the easier it is to stay with Linux. The more stuff that doesn't transfer the more roadblocks you create. The more friction you create on the learning curve for a regular computer user. Too much friction is too much effort and pain. They'll simply give up (and usually have a negative opinion about Linux too -- that type of negative word of mouth advertising is to be avoided). I'd also point out that from my admittedly anecdotal experience people seem to buy a Mac as an addition to their existing Windows PC rather than as a replacement.
While you and I know where to go find our stuff and how to migrate it (by hand if need be), regular computer users won't. Nor should they. The computer is a tool to serve *them*, not something they need to fiddle with to get to work. From their point of view why should they change their way of doing things? It works for them on Windows. Just because you think your way is better (I'm sure it is for you) that doesn't mean your way is better for everyone.
I know this drives technical people nuts, but what does it really matter if someone isn't don't something the most efficient way? As long as the user is satisfied with how things work then that is sufficient. Their priorities are different and to succeed with them we need to embrace that fact. We want a computer that is tuned to us and sings. They just want to get their tasks done. As a friend of mine pithily said, "Geeks like to play with their tools, regular users want to just use their tools.":-D
Cool! Now I can be a real/.ie and dupe my reply to your duped comment in a duped story.;-)
:prays the mod gods have a sense of humor today or my karma's going to die like a zombie...:
Doom 3 was a great game, imo, however people's complaints about the whole flashlight mechanism were justified, and I can see how it would detract from the entertainment value. Id's goal was to make a scary game, and if you played the game with the swapped-in flashlight as they intended, it was indeed scary. The lighting was better than in any game I'd played at that point and created an unparalleled atmosphere of creepiness.
My problem is that if you played the game the way id intended the scenarios became obnoxious. It was also insulting to the player. I mean, if I'm playing a Marine capable of wading through hell why am I such a stupid mouth-breather as to be unable to hold a pistol in one hand and a flashlight in the other?
Making a game design decision that forces the player to do stupid things isn't scary, it is irritating. Let me play as smart as I can and then surprise me. That's scary. (A good example, for me, of a scary and atmospheric game is System Shock 2.)
Doom 3 was a great game, imo, however people's complaints about the whole flashlight mechanism were justified, and I can see how it would detract from the entertainment value. Id's goal was to make a scary game, and if you played the game with the swapped-in flashlight as they intended, it was indeed scary. The lighting was better than in any game I'd played at that point and created an unparalleled atmosphere of creepiness.
My problem is that if you played the game the way id intended the scenarios became obnoxious. It was also insulting to the player. I mean, if I'm playing a Marine capable of wading through hell why am I such a stupid mouth-breather as to be unable to hold a pistol in one hand and a flashlight in the other?
Making a game design decision that forces the player to do stupid things isn't scary, it is irritating. Let me play as smart as I can and then surprise me. That's scary. (A good example, for me, of a scary and atmospheric game is System Shock 2.)
Arrggh!:-D I wish this fascination with the Cell processor would die. Yah, the Cell is derived from the Power architecture, but it is not a drop in replacement for a desktop CPU. It might not even be that great of a game console CPU. The Cell is designed to make graphics processing easier (well, to feed vector units, IIRC).
Also, as a game console oriented chip, the Cell isn't about ramping up processor power/speed. It is about cutting manufacturing costs while holding the processing power steady. Do you really want Apple to make major transition to an unproven CPU architecture that is going to remain at the same speed over its lifetime? At least with x86 Apple has five years experience with making the code run. Going to the Cell would mean starting with no experience.
I think Apple moved not just for cheaper chips or the CPU. I believe Apple preferred Intel because Intel makes the motherboard chipsets to go along with the CPU. Intel has a vested interest in making sure the entire system gives good performance (go AMD! Yeah competition!:-))
Love or hate the x86, at least we know that the CPU won't be crippled by other parts of the system. (As in the G4 Powerbook I'm using that has a god-awful-slow bus.:sigh:) Also, Intel's manufacturing prowess is world-class. Apple isn't going to have to worry about getting chips in volume.
Actually, nobody gave a shit until USB support was added to Windows. Microsoft added USB support in Windows 98 (and to a lesser extent, in Windows 95 OSR2). Both of which were released much earlier than the iMac.
Apple releasing the iMac with USB wasn't the catalyst for USB adaption - they were just reacting to the large number of USB peripherals already available.
Windows 98 release date: June 25, 1998
iMac announced: May 6, 1998
iMac shipped: Aug 15, 1998
You have an odd definition of "much earlier".;-)
USB took off because iMac users needed the peripherals and they were a 'captive market' of a sorts. Windows users tended to reuse their legacy connector devices. Why buy a USB printer, say, when your old parallel port printer still worked?
What I do find crazy is that there are some computers with 32 mb of RAM listed here. I'm surprised Steam even loaded! There are about a 100 people who have less than a 100 megs of RAM who are probably cursing 'coz HL2 doesn't work on their machines. And don't get me started on the 200 MHz machines which are listed!
Because this is a *Steam* survey, not a Half-Life 2 survey. Those folks are playing things such as Half-Life 1, TFC, Sven-Coop, etc.:-D
In an ideal, no, it shouldn't. However we don't live in an ideal world. Getting 10.0 out there and a free update in 10.1 six months later got the transition to OS X 'ball' rolling. It bought Apple the time to continue to refine, innovate, and test out things in OS X.
While 10.2 and 10.3 have been great steps forward 10.1 wasn't that terrible. It was an iBook and 10.1 that convinced me to switch away from WindowsXP full time. Well, maybe WinXP is bad enough to make 10.1 look good.;-)
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I noticed that most people view a uniform distribution as a "random" distribution. As the article states, people impose patterns on things, thus when the average person tries to makes something random they tend to create something with a uniform distribution 'because it spreads the stuff out'. Ah, the fun of counter-intuitive math. :D
more women die of lung cancer than breast cancer? Isn't the goal to save lives? Most people already know what the pink ribbon means. Let's start reminding them about a worse killer.
I just checked on the legal indicia on the Band-Aid site (http://www.bandaid.com/kits.shtml) and saw this: "The RED CROSS Design is a registered trademark of JOHNSON & JOHNSON. Products bearing this trademark have no connection with the American National Red Cross". So using a Red Cross for specific things (trademark law) is legally viable in the US at least.
:D
As far as MASH goes, given the show was ostensibly portraying "facilities for the care of injured and sick armed forces members", I can't see the Red Cross having a leg to stand on.
There isn't a radio on the iPod because the iPod is all about listening to our personal music. People buy iPods to *get away* from radio. Apple has said that in their surveys on features to include in an iPod radio hasn't been something people clammer for. So if it is a deal-breaker for you you can always buy something else. That's one of the good things about competition. You have choices for other venders. Me? I'll stick with my iPod mini. :)
No, I'd rather see patents go to a system where the inventor has to produce a working tangible model (at a minimum). Allowing patents of business processes, user interfaces, etc. just destroys the whole idea of inventors having exclusive right to their discoveries.
;-)) If someone can't make money on something in 52 years then it most likely isn't a money maker.
I'd also return copyright to the old 26 year copyright with the *author* being able to register a second 26 year copyright period. (Screw international treaties.
Maybe. The assumption that the USPTO gets to keep all the application fees might not be true. I don't know one way or another, but I wouldn't be surprised if Congress has that money going into the General Revenue fund where it can be salted on various Congresscritter pet projects. There also might be legal limits on staff size. as well.
:-/
As far as paying competitive rates, that's not going to happen. Government jobs don't pay anything like what you can earn in the private sector (I've done both sides). They never will (unless you decided to go the corrupt bureaucrat route). At best you might be able to work on, say, your law degree at Georgetown via night classes. Once you have that you'd want to move on which creates a constant state of new and inexperienced patent examiners.
Well, tough shit. Get more people on board and raise the application fees. The number of rejected patents due to proof of prior art will make defensive patents disappear.
;-) Also, I'd point out that raising the application fees doesn't stop big companies from filing as many patents as they do today. It just hurts small inventors.
So, you're going to write your Congresscritter and ask them to allocate a bigger budget to the USPTO? Perhaps ask them to increase your taxes to help out?
I didn't think so.
I just wish you could tell if the keyboard had that damnable F-Lock key. I hate the Logitech keyboards that have this 'feature'. If they would default to F-Lock being on that would be fine, but they don't. :sigh:
You could just use an Applescript: tell application "QuickTime Player" to present movie 1
;-) for using a carrot and forgetting to use a stick in a modest effort to drum up some revenue to help fund continued Quicktime development.
If Applescript is more than you want to handle you could just drop the movie file onto your iTunes library and play it fullscreen that way (depending on the movie type). Don't forget about VLC, MPlayer, etc., too.
So, damn Apple
If you really care about performance, buy a dual-G5 Powermac and a ATI Radeon 9650.
No, you avoid the Radeon 9650 like the plague (unless your are going for the cheapest 30-inch Cinema Display support). If you want graphics performance either go for the Geforce 6800GT DDL or a Radeon X850 XT. (Interestingly, while Apple sells the Geforce separately they only sell the Radeon X800 XT separately.)
What I like about Dashboard (I don't know if Konfabulator does this as well) is that if I push the F12 key and *hold it* everything pops up until I release the F12 key. That's great for a quick glance at things.
:-D
Also, I have multiple weather and clock widgets up. Since I chat with a number of friends around the world the clocks are quite handy to immediately know what time of day it is for them. The weather widgets are for a bit of fun in conversations.
So, for me, multiple widgets is just more convenient than having multiple tabs in my browser. I don't use precious browser space (that is, a whole tab/web page) for information that can be contained in a little widget. My browser stays focused on the content I'm currently looking at. If I need a quick look at something, say a dictionary definition or a Wikipedia look up that is just a single keystroke away.
If using your browser fits the way you work best, go for it. For me, Dashboard/Konfabulator compliment my browser and the two together allow me to work better. it is more fun, too. Yeah, people complain about the gee-whiz stuff, but hey, I like to enjoy using my computer.
You should look at the Powermac G5s. I found the stock model very quiet. Not iBook or Powerbook no-fan-running-quiet, but I have to strain to hear it when it was on.
:-)
I've updated the video card from the stock fanless Radeon 9600 to a Radeon 9800 Pro Mac Special Edition. I can hear that fan, but if I play any music at low volume I no longer hear the fan. If you have the money you could always spring for the Radeon X800 XT Mac edition. That card has a variable speed fan (needs the latest ATI drivers) that is said to halve the fan noise.
I know you said the desk models weren't quiet enough for your taste. I just wanted to pass along my experiences. Now if I could just build a gaming PC that didn't sound like a DC-3 getting ready to takeoff. Apple has spoiled me.
Apple G4 1.5GHz/80Gig/512Mb/15.2" lcd $2,000 + (tax in california only)
If you buy from the Apple Store you'll get taxed (if Apple has a retail presence in your state you can count on paying the tax). It is only if you buy from a mail order company that you'll (usually) avoid taxes.
In fact, I just moved from a 17" Powerbook (1 GHz) to a new Power Mac G5 (dual 2GHz). Even if Apple died tomorrow my stuff will continue to work over its lifetime. This way I don't have to worry about the CPU migration until it is all over and we start seeing the second generation of Mactel hardware.
;-) I think that in the long run Apple will pick up even more customers than they lose. Apple is releasing a lot of cool stuff. Things that appeal to people. Innovative stuff, even. Apple isn't afraid of trying something new and/or different. Many times it works, sometimes it flops in the marketplace (G4 Cube). At least they are out there taking chances.
:)
I think what will happen is that Apple will lose some people. Some of which will be quite vocal about it.
Given that Apple has no long term debt, has built up a 7.5 billion dollar reserve, I think Apple is going to be around for quite some time. I'm glad to see them making this transition from a position of strength. I figure after surviving a continual death predictions since 1984 Apple is just one lucky company.
Take a look at the classic Ultima games. In Ultima IV the end game sequence was about reading a book. Oh, and in Ultima VII I seem to remember the Hoe of Destruction was one of the most, if not the most, powerful weapons.
The reason why migrating as much as possible is is a deal-breaker is friction. The smoother, the easier, the quicker people can be productive, can be *comfortable* with Linux on the desktop the easier it is to stay with Linux. The more stuff that doesn't transfer the more roadblocks you create. The more friction you create on the learning curve for a regular computer user. Too much friction is too much effort and pain. They'll simply give up (and usually have a negative opinion about Linux too -- that type of negative word of mouth advertising is to be avoided). I'd also point out that from my admittedly anecdotal experience people seem to buy a Mac as an addition to their existing Windows PC rather than as a replacement.
:-D
While you and I know where to go find our stuff and how to migrate it (by hand if need be), regular computer users won't. Nor should they. The computer is a tool to serve *them*, not something they need to fiddle with to get to work. From their point of view why should they change their way of doing things? It works for them on Windows. Just because you think your way is better (I'm sure it is for you) that doesn't mean your way is better for everyone.
I know this drives technical people nuts, but what does it really matter if someone isn't don't something the most efficient way? As long as the user is satisfied with how things work then that is sufficient. Their priorities are different and to succeed with them we need to embrace that fact. We want a computer that is tuned to us and sings. They just want to get their tasks done. As a friend of mine pithily said, "Geeks like to play with their tools, regular users want to just use their tools."
Duped story so I'll dupe my comment.
/.ie and dupe my reply to your duped comment in a duped story. ;-)
:prays the mod gods have a sense of humor today or my karma's going to die like a zombie...:
Cool! Now I can be a real
Doom 3 was a great game, imo, however people's complaints about the whole flashlight mechanism were justified, and I can see how it would detract from the entertainment value. Id's goal was to make a scary game, and if you played the game with the swapped-in flashlight as they intended, it was indeed scary. The lighting was better than in any game I'd played at that point and created an unparalleled atmosphere of creepiness.
My problem is that if you played the game the way id intended the scenarios became obnoxious. It was also insulting to the player. I mean, if I'm playing a Marine capable of wading through hell why am I such a stupid mouth-breather as to be unable to hold a pistol in one hand and a flashlight in the other?
Making a game design decision that forces the player to do stupid things isn't scary, it is irritating. Let me play as smart as I can and then surprise me. That's scary. (A good example, for me, of a scary and atmospheric game is System Shock 2.)
Doom 3 was a great game, imo, however people's complaints about the whole flashlight mechanism were justified, and I can see how it would detract from the entertainment value. Id's goal was to make a scary game, and if you played the game with the swapped-in flashlight as they intended, it was indeed scary. The lighting was better than in any game I'd played at that point and created an unparalleled atmosphere of creepiness.
My problem is that if you played the game the way id intended the scenarios became obnoxious. It was also insulting to the player. I mean, if I'm playing a Marine capable of wading through hell why am I such a stupid mouth-breather as to be unable to hold a pistol in one hand and a flashlight in the other?
Making a game design decision that forces the player to do stupid things isn't scary, it is irritating. Let me play as smart as I can and then surprise me. That's scary. (A good example, for me, of a scary and atmospheric game is System Shock 2.)
Arrggh! :-D I wish this fascination with the Cell processor would die. Yah, the Cell is derived from the Power architecture, but it is not a drop in replacement for a desktop CPU. It might not even be that great of a game console CPU. The Cell is designed to make graphics processing easier (well, to feed vector units, IIRC).
Also, as a game console oriented chip, the Cell isn't about ramping up processor power/speed. It is about cutting manufacturing costs while holding the processing power steady. Do you really want Apple to make major transition to an unproven CPU architecture that is going to remain at the same speed over its lifetime? At least with x86 Apple has five years experience with making the code run. Going to the Cell would mean starting with no experience.
I think Apple moved not just for cheaper chips or the CPU. I believe Apple preferred Intel because Intel makes the motherboard chipsets to go along with the CPU. Intel has a vested interest in making sure the entire system gives good performance (go AMD! Yeah competition! :-))
:sigh:) Also, Intel's manufacturing prowess is world-class. Apple isn't going to have to worry about getting chips in volume.
Love or hate the x86, at least we know that the CPU won't be crippled by other parts of the system. (As in the G4 Powerbook I'm using that has a god-awful-slow bus.
Actually, nobody gave a shit until USB support was added to Windows. Microsoft added USB support in Windows 98 (and to a lesser extent, in Windows 95 OSR2). Both of which were released much earlier than the iMac.
;-)
Apple releasing the iMac with USB wasn't the catalyst for USB adaption - they were just reacting to the large number of USB peripherals already available.
Windows 98 release date: June 25, 1998
iMac announced: May 6, 1998
iMac shipped: Aug 15, 1998
You have an odd definition of "much earlier".
USB took off because iMac users needed the peripherals and they were a 'captive market' of a sorts. Windows users tended to reuse their legacy connector devices. Why buy a USB printer, say, when your old parallel port printer still worked?
What I do find crazy is that there are some computers with 32 mb of RAM listed here. I'm surprised Steam even loaded! There are about a 100 people who have less than a 100 megs of RAM who are probably cursing 'coz HL2 doesn't work on their machines. And don't get me started on the 200 MHz machines which are listed!
:-D
Because this is a *Steam* survey, not a Half-Life 2 survey. Those folks are playing things such as Half-Life 1, TFC, Sven-Coop, etc.
In an ideal, no, it shouldn't. However we don't live in an ideal world. Getting 10.0 out there and a free update in 10.1 six months later got the transition to OS X 'ball' rolling. It bought Apple the time to continue to refine, innovate, and test out things in OS X.
;-)
While 10.2 and 10.3 have been great steps forward 10.1 wasn't that terrible. It was an iBook and 10.1 that convinced me to switch away from WindowsXP full time. Well, maybe WinXP is bad enough to make 10.1 look good.
Is that a regeneration of Lalla Ward? ;-)
Most excellent. :-D