... unfortunately, not all Microsoft's API documentation is correct. The code does not necessarily behave as they say in the documentation. Just last summer I ran into several WinAPI calls that behaved nothing like they should, including the famous one that results in menus not adhering to the system theme through all legal calls that should have no effect whatsoever on menus or themes.
So while opening up their API fully would be nice, all they have to do is have one or two "bugs" where calls behave differently from the way they are documented and you still have an obfuscated system.
If they open up their source then even incorrectly documented API calls (whether intentional or not) still can't stop people from figuring out exactly what's going wrong and fix it.
I know they'll never open up the source to Windows, but I'm just stating why there is a big difference between them opening their APIs and opening their source.
But will a PC tower fit in my entertainment center, where it serves as a wireless router (the Atheros chipset is capable of being a WAP), file server, web server, torrent downloader, CVS/SVN repository, game center (NES, SNES, Arcade, PSX etc emulators), DVD player, and jukebox while taking up less space than a single one of any of the (applicably separate) items listed above?
I don't know if you can do all that with OSX, but I'm doing it all with my mini running Ubuntu, and I'm pretty dang pleased. It's completely silent, takes up next to no space, and does all of the above without complaint. I'm no mac fan, heck I don't even use my completely legit license to OSX that came with the thing, but when I tried to find small form-factor PCs that could do what the mini can, I either found big clunky wannabes or alternatives that were equal but even more expensive than the mini.
Your point was very valid in reference to general desktop use, but there are fringe cases like mine for which I haven't been able to find anything close to the mini. I'm not saying it's everyone's miracle cure, but I AM saying there are certain arenas where you can't compete with it by any means, and I tried.
You're right - I was exaggerating. I didn't intend to offend. But at the same time I've ran into countless machines all equipped with modems that never saw a second of use - own a few myself. So when I saw that listed I thought "wait a minute, that isn't really relevant..." (in regards to myself and many I know) and glossed over the minority cases (which can be construed as disrespect, which again wasn't intended).
In short, you're right about the modems, I'm wrong, but it wasn't intended as a literal statement. Oh, and I empathize. I've become so used to broadband I'd be pretty dead in the water without it, and you're right that Satellite is no substitute.
Having recently done this comparison myself I have a few critiques.
You forgot to mention the mini also has a CDRW-DVD, and in the "not cheapest" model even a DVDR.
You forgot to mention the mini also has integrated sound
You forgot to mention the mini has integrated wireless.
You forgot to mention the mini has integrated bluetooth.
You forgot to mention the mini has integrated infrared and comes with a remote for it, as well as support for both in the OS
You forgot to mention nobody uses modems anymore
You forgot to mention that a PS/2 keyboard and mouse set costs like $10.
So while the Mini loses in not coming with a keyboard and mouse, less storage space, no modem, lame GPU and having a lower clock speed, it wins in that its CPU is dual core, it has wireless, bluetooth, a remote, smaller form factor, it's quieter, and the OS is better (by the opinions of friends... I wouldn't know, I slapped Ubuntu on my mini).
Oh, and not mentioned by the parent - the Mini also has lower ram bus speed because it's mostly based off of laptop parts. I'm being as objective as I can here, but for general use the mini wins in my view. For a gamer it loses, but if you're a gamer, don't buy a mini, no?
I went through this whole price shopping shebang a few months ago. I ended up with a mac mini, because it had a few things few think of.
Bluetooth
Atheros wireless - this means I can use this thing as a wireless access point, or a wireless router.
Built in infrared - I have it hooked up to my stereo right now with no keyboard, mouse, or monitor - it makes a great jukebox. I use Linux on it and control it through a script I wrote - I can add as many features as I have buttons on whatever remote I want, but it also comes with its own (which I started with)
I know many people don't need this stuff, but I have to mention it as hardware advantages that most PC's don't have. In the near future this thing will be my jukebox, router, DVD player, CVS/subversion server, file server and gaming appliance (through NES, SNES, arcade, and playstation emulation). It does it all for the $599 I bought it for, and fits in the space it'd take to store 5 CD cases.
I'm no Mac head, hell I don't even run OSX on the thing, but I certainly don't regret my purchase.
If you're going to play games you would obviously want the most speed you can get.
The only game I play anymore runs perfectly on a PIII 500 machine with a Riva TNT card, but it relies heavily Direct3D. The game would run just fine on a tiny fraction of my current machine's power.
There are a few apps that I remember wishing I could run that require Direct3D but really weren't performance critical. I don't want the most speed I can get - I want Direct3D support at all.
The more people sign up, the more attention this effort gets. The more attention this effort gets, the more likely it gets noticed by courts and businesses.
Sure, Microsoft doesn't care to sue end users... but patent law requires that they sue anyone that infringes their patents (the vigilance clause), so if the site gets enough publicity that its impossible for Microsoft to deny that they knew about it, they're obliged to either sue a bunch of nothings or lose their patent claim. On top of that there's the risk that big companies like Google, Apple, IBM, Sun, HP, etc will jump into the frey.
Google, Apple, Sun, IBM, HP, F5 all have interest in this case. They not only use but develop and contribute to tons of open source projects. I'd bet money they'll step up if a case gets filed, because if that case gets ruled in favor of Microsoft, they have to worry about battling against prior rulings.
"I'm sure their lawyers will line up whatever targets are strategically optimal"
If that was true they'd already be going after the big fish: Google, Apple, IBM, HP, Sun, you name it.
The fact that they aren't says they know they don't have a case. And as one of the first ten to sign up for "sue me first", I have to say Microsoft is welcome to go through with their lawsuit against me. Do you think all those big fish mentioned above will allow court precedent to be set that using open source software means you've violated a MS patent? No sir.
Microsoft has no case. A decent legal budget (such as the one the FSF is raising for this express cause, let alone what the afore mentioned big fish can offer) will smack their claims down, and the publicity that would cause is plenty of incentive for other companies to step in.
As the sixth person to sign up on that list, I'm not scared in the least if that was Microsoft's reaction.
What would happen if Microsoft tried to sue us and won? Court precedent would be set giving them leverage to sue Google, Apple, HP, Sun, IBM, all the big dogs that are using open source software. The moment Microsoft tries to sue one or all of us, the above companies would step in for a few reasons:
1. They can nip this thing in the bud rather than letting harmful court precedent get set against them.
2. They get to look like the heroes of the little guy and make Microsoft look like a jackass bully in the process. GREAT PR.
3. Microsoft just plain doesn't have a case in this one. Easy win.
This challenge can't lose. If Microsoft ignores it they're shown to be the liars and bluffers that they are. If Microsoft takes the bait they get smacked down publicly.
I was under the impression that this is what SE-Linux was doing. I fully expect to be wrong here, because I just heard it from one person. I'd like to know though. Anyone?
But as it's been said time and again here in slashdot comments, what this DOES do is absolve Microsoft of all responsibility.
"You have malware problems? Shouldn't have clicked 'allow'."
will do absolutely nothing about it. On purpose. When people get fed up enough with Windows that fair market conditions are restored I will consider helping out. In the mean time I'm more interested in letting Windows enjoy the just failure that its unethically-boosted success has brought it. No, I'm not going to play a part in cracking it- but if it can't defend itself despite the billions of dollars it has to put towards the cause, perhaps it's time for things to change and a new "king of the hill" should take throne. I won't defend it as long as it's used to unfairly dominate the market.
I worked under a boss like that for one week before I left.
It's not that I'm so attached to a browser that I'd quit a job over it, but he demonstrated such a blatant lack of foresight (such as attention to FF's rising market share) and moral compass (further supporting a monopoly despite the minimal resources required to make the app browser agnostic) that I couldn't see myself wanting to work for him for long.
Re:Will anyone gain anything from this? Not Linux
on
The End is Nigh for XP
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· Score: 1
That is not true for a moment for me. I've installed Linux for myself and a few friends that got new computers.
Wireless, 3D, all that jazz worked out of the box. Not even close for Windows.
There could be circumstances we know nothing of preventing AMD from opening their drivers - an example: what if they are making use of technology licensed from another company and that company made them sign a nondisclosure? What if, over the years ATI has been developing their stuff, there were thousands of components licensed from various entities and ATI had signed contracts never to disclose some or all of them?
ATI's been around for a long time, and open source really wasn't an issue way back when.
Slashdot Mirror
... unfortunately, not all Microsoft's API documentation is correct. The code does not necessarily behave as they say in the documentation. Just last summer I ran into several WinAPI calls that behaved nothing like they should, including the famous one that results in menus not adhering to the system theme through all legal calls that should have no effect whatsoever on menus or themes.
So while opening up their API fully would be nice, all they have to do is have one or two "bugs" where calls behave differently from the way they are documented and you still have an obfuscated system.
If they open up their source then even incorrectly documented API calls (whether intentional or not) still can't stop people from figuring out exactly what's going wrong and fix it.
I know they'll never open up the source to Windows, but I'm just stating why there is a big difference between them opening their APIs and opening their source.
But will a PC tower fit in my entertainment center, where it serves as a wireless router (the Atheros chipset is capable of being a WAP), file server, web server, torrent downloader, CVS/SVN repository, game center (NES, SNES, Arcade, PSX etc emulators), DVD player, and jukebox while taking up less space than a single one of any of the (applicably separate) items listed above?
I don't know if you can do all that with OSX, but I'm doing it all with my mini running Ubuntu, and I'm pretty dang pleased. It's completely silent, takes up next to no space, and does all of the above without complaint. I'm no mac fan, heck I don't even use my completely legit license to OSX that came with the thing, but when I tried to find small form-factor PCs that could do what the mini can, I either found big clunky wannabes or alternatives that were equal but even more expensive than the mini.
Your point was very valid in reference to general desktop use, but there are fringe cases like mine for which I haven't been able to find anything close to the mini. I'm not saying it's everyone's miracle cure, but I AM saying there are certain arenas where you can't compete with it by any means, and I tried.
You're right - I was exaggerating. I didn't intend to offend. But at the same time I've ran into countless machines all equipped with modems that never saw a second of use - own a few myself. So when I saw that listed I thought "wait a minute, that isn't really relevant..." (in regards to myself and many I know) and glossed over the minority cases (which can be construed as disrespect, which again wasn't intended).
In short, you're right about the modems, I'm wrong, but it wasn't intended as a literal statement. Oh, and I empathize. I've become so used to broadband I'd be pretty dead in the water without it, and you're right that Satellite is no substitute.
A valid excuse indeed :) - it's all good.
So while the Mini loses in not coming with a keyboard and mouse, less storage space, no modem, lame GPU and having a lower clock speed, it wins in that its CPU is dual core, it has wireless, bluetooth, a remote, smaller form factor, it's quieter, and the OS is better (by the opinions of friends... I wouldn't know, I slapped Ubuntu on my mini).
Oh, and not mentioned by the parent - the Mini also has lower ram bus speed because it's mostly based off of laptop parts. I'm being as objective as I can here, but for general use the mini wins in my view. For a gamer it loses, but if you're a gamer, don't buy a mini, no?
- Bluetooth
- Atheros wireless - this means I can use this thing as a wireless access point, or a wireless router.
- Built in infrared - I have it hooked up to my stereo right now with no keyboard, mouse, or monitor - it makes a great jukebox. I use Linux on it and control it through a script I wrote - I can add as many features as I have buttons on whatever remote I want, but it also comes with its own (which I started with)
I know many people don't need this stuff, but I have to mention it as hardware advantages that most PC's don't have. In the near future this thing will be my jukebox, router, DVD player, CVS/subversion server, file server and gaming appliance (through NES, SNES, arcade, and playstation emulation). It does it all for the $599 I bought it for, and fits in the space it'd take to store 5 CD cases.I'm no Mac head, hell I don't even run OSX on the thing, but I certainly don't regret my purchase.
well how great for you. Care to explain why? otherwise I think you should shut your mouth when the grownups speak
... Because that was such a grown-up thing to say. Save your hostility and condemnation for when people do something like... well, what you just did.
Hey I'd mod you up for that. Got a good chuckle out of it :)
If you're going to play games you would obviously want the most speed you can get.
The only game I play anymore runs perfectly on a PIII 500 machine with a Riva TNT card, but it relies heavily Direct3D. The game would run just fine on a tiny fraction of my current machine's power.
There are a few apps that I remember wishing I could run that require Direct3D but really weren't performance critical. I don't want the most speed I can get - I want Direct3D support at all.
Yeah, I see your point, but honestly I'd do it anyway. And yes, I realize I could lose everything I have. Meh. When I die I'll have nothing anyways.
The more people sign up, the more attention this effort gets. The more attention this effort gets, the more likely it gets noticed by courts and businesses.
Sure, Microsoft doesn't care to sue end users... but patent law requires that they sue anyone that infringes their patents (the vigilance clause), so if the site gets enough publicity that its impossible for Microsoft to deny that they knew about it, they're obliged to either sue a bunch of nothings or lose their patent claim. On top of that there's the risk that big companies like Google, Apple, IBM, Sun, HP, etc will jump into the frey.
But think, who does this case affect if it wins?
Google, Apple, Sun, IBM, HP, F5 all have interest in this case. They not only use but develop and contribute to tons of open source projects. I'd bet money they'll step up if a case gets filed, because if that case gets ruled in favor of Microsoft, they have to worry about battling against prior rulings.
"I'm sure their lawyers will line up whatever targets are strategically optimal"
If that was true they'd already be going after the big fish: Google, Apple, IBM, HP, Sun, you name it.
The fact that they aren't says they know they don't have a case. And as one of the first ten to sign up for "sue me first", I have to say Microsoft is welcome to go through with their lawsuit against me. Do you think all those big fish mentioned above will allow court precedent to be set that using open source software means you've violated a MS patent? No sir.
Microsoft has no case. A decent legal budget (such as the one the FSF is raising for this express cause, let alone what the afore mentioned big fish can offer) will smack their claims down, and the publicity that would cause is plenty of incentive for other companies to step in.
As the sixth person to sign up on that list, I'm not scared in the least if that was Microsoft's reaction. What would happen if Microsoft tried to sue us and won? Court precedent would be set giving them leverage to sue Google, Apple, HP, Sun, IBM, all the big dogs that are using open source software. The moment Microsoft tries to sue one or all of us, the above companies would step in for a few reasons: 1. They can nip this thing in the bud rather than letting harmful court precedent get set against them. 2. They get to look like the heroes of the little guy and make Microsoft look like a jackass bully in the process. GREAT PR. 3. Microsoft just plain doesn't have a case in this one. Easy win. This challenge can't lose. If Microsoft ignores it they're shown to be the liars and bluffers that they are. If Microsoft takes the bait they get smacked down publicly.
Yeah, it probably would have consisted entirely of porn.
I joined :-) Great idea.
And don't forget that sexy "my-toy-windows" look and feel!
I was under the impression that this is what SE-Linux was doing. I fully expect to be wrong here, because I just heard it from one person. I'd like to know though. Anyone?
But as it's been said time and again here in slashdot comments, what this DOES do is absolve Microsoft of all responsibility. "You have malware problems? Shouldn't have clicked 'allow'."
will do absolutely nothing about it. On purpose. When people get fed up enough with Windows that fair market conditions are restored I will consider helping out. In the mean time I'm more interested in letting Windows enjoy the just failure that its unethically-boosted success has brought it. No, I'm not going to play a part in cracking it- but if it can't defend itself despite the billions of dollars it has to put towards the cause, perhaps it's time for things to change and a new "king of the hill" should take throne. I won't defend it as long as it's used to unfairly dominate the market.
I worked under a boss like that for one week before I left. It's not that I'm so attached to a browser that I'd quit a job over it, but he demonstrated such a blatant lack of foresight (such as attention to FF's rising market share) and moral compass (further supporting a monopoly despite the minimal resources required to make the app browser agnostic) that I couldn't see myself wanting to work for him for long.
That is not true for a moment for me. I've installed Linux for myself and a few friends that got new computers. Wireless, 3D, all that jazz worked out of the box. Not even close for Windows.
There could be circumstances we know nothing of preventing AMD from opening their drivers - an example: what if they are making use of technology licensed from another company and that company made them sign a nondisclosure? What if, over the years ATI has been developing their stuff, there were thousands of components licensed from various entities and ATI had signed contracts never to disclose some or all of them? ATI's been around for a long time, and open source really wasn't an issue way back when.
Which is why people should be using OpenGL.
C++ does have such statements: http://cppreference.com/cppalgorithm/index.html. Check out "for_each" for an example.