Macs are just as capable as Windows and have most of the same software. Linux is good for the vast majority of what people want to use a computer for; with Wine, even Windows programs will work.
Yes, it will take a little effort to learn a new OS. The problem is everyone forgets what a struggle it was to learn how to use Windows. Especially since MS decides to change the "Windows idiom" with every upgrade; that's why they have "Windows Classic" as an option for XP.
Learning how to use a Mac only takes a few days; a week at most. That's how long it took my wife when we bought our first Mac, and she's not computer-savvy.
Linux can take a little bit longer, depending on the distro. But if someone is pissed off with a vendor monitoring the computer, it's a small price to pay.
So, yes. There are options. People just have to be willing to take a few days of pain.
Excellent point. Plus, how do you know you're violating a patent until you're hit w/ a lawsuit? The only time most people even think to look at other patents is when they are trying to patent their ideas.
I lived in Japan for almost two years and, though I can't say the stated comment is true, it is prohibitively expensive to sell/buy a used car.
Most people just bought a new car because it wasn't that big of a difference in price. Plus, because Japan has more vehicles to choose from (they have cars from pretty much around the world available there), people can find what they want a lot easier.
Most of the time, it's simply easier to take the train and walk a little bit than try and fight traffic and hunt for a parking spot. It makes sense that young people get used to that and don't bother with purchasing a vehicle of their own.
Just wanted to say that the writeup was very good. I've read several "reviews" of the problem and it still doesn't make a lot of sense. However, this article gave a little more background to the bailout rather than just covering how we got here.
There are 4 Macs in my house and my wife wants to buy a new one to replace the old eMac.
The way Apple is treating developers, and consumers, is pushing me towards saying no on new Macs. I love OS X and the technology coming out of Apple. But I can't agree with the business practices. Regardless of whether I convince my wife, the next computer for myself will be strictly Linux.
Microsoft got slammed for years for releasing shoddy products and strong-arm tactics. Apple may have better products but it is just as much of a bully.
I was interested in the iPhone when it came out, though I wouldn't buy one due to the lock-in w/ AT&T. Now that Android is out, I will look into that. Or a Linux phone.
I just don't feel right giving Apple any more money.
I stopped being interested in movies when Hollywood decided that the "only" movies they will make are based on comics, cartoons, and video games. I know there are other movies out there but the vast majority look like "do-overs" of previous films or rehashed ideas. There just hasn't been anything interesting in the last few years.
Not to mention the over-reliance of computer graphics; they still look fake. Sorry, but no amount of rendering can make a spaceship look like a physical object. Compare the original Star Wars with the prequels. Personally, I like the original trilogy because they used models; they "looked" real on the screen, even if you could tell they were models. The prequels just looked fake.
So, long story short, I'm boycotting Hollywood until they make original movies and stop relying on special effects.
Many schools or instructors are offering their courses via various means, such as podcasts or downloadable notes. How is this any different?
If the students, who are paying for their education, choose to screw off during class, that's their problem. The instructor should write the tests in such a way as to actually measure the amount of knowledge a person has gained, ideally by attending class. However, if someone is smart enough to skip class yet still pass the exam based on notes, reading the text book, etc., what harm is done?
It's the job of the instructor to ensure the student has learned the material, not babysit them. If was a professor (and I plan on doing that when I get out of the military), I would focus on being able to use the information taught rather than just rote memorization or multiple choice.
I seem to remember that a similiar, if not same, situation happened another time. Someone posted bad reviews about something and Amazon deleted those posts, with no "it's a glitch" explanation.
It's not like it's the first time it's happened. I personally don't shop at Amazon because of their change in their privacy policy many years ago that allowed them to sell your information to 3rd parties. I'm sure they've changed that practice, but the fact that they were willing to do it in the first place leaves me wary of them.
I'm currently in the military stationed in Iraq. I have tried to watch "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" via Hulu but it's blocked because I'm not in the US.
I could pay for it on iTunes (assuming iTunes isn't region locked like Hulu) or I can look for a torrent. Not having seen it, I'd rather not take the chance that I won't enjoy it (I learned that lesson thanks to music CDs). So that leaves Bittorrent.
You can't take Google Maps with you when hiking in the backwoods. And trying to read a topographic map on an iPhone just isn't going to happen anytime soon.
Google Maps and other systems are not going to put traditional maps out of business. They will supplement it. And, as Phoebe said, cartographers are still going to be needed for making the underlying maps of Google or whoever.
"claiming that its the users, not the musicians, who need to change how they deal with music."
Like, not even bothering with music anymore? There are other things to spend money on, or just simply go without.
I haven't purchased anything produced in the last couple of years because it all sounds the same. Why buy new stuff if I essentially already "have" it?
"claiming that its the users, not the musicians, who need to change how they deal with music."
Like, not even bothering with music anymore? There are other things to spend money on, or just simply go without.
I haven't purchased anything produced in the last couple of years because it all sounds the same. Why buy new stuff if I essentially already "have" it?
I was always under the impression that one of the reasons Reagan got into office was because of the politics of the situation. Specifically, that a deal was cut w/ Iran that they would release the hostages in exchange for certain help from the US in the future.
As we have seen in the past few elections, the will of the people is not what elects a president, so it's not that far fetched to consider it.
What's to stop someone from using an Internet cafe computer to post an anonymous message about the NSL? Or calling a news station from a pay phone (if you can find one)?
Just because there is a gag order doesn't mean it's not possible to circumvent the system.
What's better, a guaranteed sale w/ a small profit or a possible sale w/ a big profit? Throughout my life, I've been taught that gambling on the bigger win is dangerous; it's better to take the smaller, guaranteed win.
These companies need to realize that they are in the business of selling music, not shiny discs. If my music isn't available how and where I want it, I will go to other places.
Many times on iTunes, a band/song I want isn't available; often because American iTunes doesn't have many foreign bands. Rather than game iTunes so it looks like I'm in a foreign country, I simply find the torrent. It's easier and I get what I want.
Another good way is to capture streaming Internet radio. The vast majority of Euro-dance I have is from Shoutcast.
If these companies would simply offer me what I wanted, I would give them money. Why can't they understand that?
Opera has a print feature that eliminates a lot of unnecessary stuff. Or at least it used to; I haven't printed web pages in quite some time.
However, when I'm forced to use IE, I usually just highlight the text and "print selection" or copy/paste into a text document. That way I don't get anything I don't want and I don't have to deal w/ IE's tendency to cut off the edge of the page.
On the post: Chinese Windows Users Accuse Microsoft Of Hacking Their Computers
Options are available
Yes, it will take a little effort to learn a new OS. The problem is everyone forgets what a struggle it was to learn how to use Windows. Especially since MS decides to change the "Windows idiom" with every upgrade; that's why they have "Windows Classic" as an option for XP.
Learning how to use a Mac only takes a few days; a week at most. That's how long it took my wife when we bought our first Mac, and she's not computer-savvy.
Linux can take a little bit longer, depending on the distro. But if someone is pissed off with a vendor monitoring the computer, it's a small price to pay.
So, yes. There are options. People just have to be willing to take a few days of pain.
On the post: A Business Relationship Built At The End Of A Pointy Stick Isn't Much Of A Relationship
Re: Patentable?
On the post: American Airlines Cuts & Pastes Its Keyword Ad Lawsuit; Tries Again With Yahoo
Is a lawsuit a first or last resort?
I wonder how many of these lawsuits wouldn't even need to be filed if people just asked for the practice to stop.
On the post: Video Game Execs Freak Out Over Used Game Sales
Re: Re: Re:
Most people just bought a new car because it wasn't that big of a difference in price. Plus, because Japan has more vehicles to choose from (they have cars from pretty much around the world available there), people can find what they want a lot easier.
Most of the time, it's simply easier to take the train and walk a little bit than try and fight traffic and hunt for a parking spot. It makes sense that young people get used to that and don't bother with purchasing a vehicle of their own.
On the post: Take A Deep Breath: Some Perspective On The Financial Crisis
Good article
On the post: Apple's Response To App Rejection Backlash? Ban Developers From Talking About It
Apple becomes Microsoft
The way Apple is treating developers, and consumers, is pushing me towards saying no on new Macs. I love OS X and the technology coming out of Apple. But I can't agree with the business practices. Regardless of whether I convince my wife, the next computer for myself will be strictly Linux.
Microsoft got slammed for years for releasing shoddy products and strong-arm tactics. Apple may have better products but it is just as much of a bully.
I was interested in the iPhone when it came out, though I wouldn't buy one due to the lock-in w/ AT&T. Now that Android is out, I will look into that. Or a Linux phone.
I just don't feel right giving Apple any more money.
On the post: More Reasons To Go To The Movies: Next Iron Man In IMAX And 3D
Still not interested
Not to mention the over-reliance of computer graphics; they still look fake. Sorry, but no amount of rendering can make a spaceship look like a physical object. Compare the original Star Wars with the prequels. Personally, I like the original trilogy because they used models; they "looked" real on the screen, even if you could tell they were models. The prequels just looked fake.
So, long story short, I'm boycotting Hollywood until they make original movies and stop relying on special effects.
On the post: Should You Live Blog/Twitter A College Class?
How is it different from offering podcasts?
If the students, who are paying for their education, choose to screw off during class, that's their problem. The instructor should write the tests in such a way as to actually measure the amount of knowledge a person has gained, ideally by attending class. However, if someone is smart enough to skip class yet still pass the exam based on notes, reading the text book, etc., what harm is done?
It's the job of the instructor to ensure the student has learned the material, not babysit them. If was a professor (and I plan on doing that when I get out of the military), I would focus on being able to use the information taught rather than just rote memorization or multiple choice.
On the post: Does The Public Have A Right To Know Where Surveillance Cameras Are Located?
It hasn't worked for England
http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2007/09/londons_securit.html
Regardless of whether the public knows where the cameras are, if they aren't justifying the costs, then why have them?
Though personally, I would like to know where the cameras are just so I can screw off in front of them, something I like to do in stores.
On the post: Did Amazon Delete Spore Reviews? [Updated]
Hasn't Amazon done this before?
It's not like it's the first time it's happened. I personally don't shop at Amazon because of their change in their privacy policy many years ago that allowed them to sell your information to 3rd parties. I'm sure they've changed that practice, but the fact that they were willing to do it in the first place leaves me wary of them.
On the post: Sequoia E-Voting Equipment Allowed Thousands Of Fake Write-In Votes
Why not sue?
It's obvious the machines don't work as advertised. Hell, at a minimum someone should be able to sue for false advertising.
On the post: Convenience Matters: People Will Still 'Pirate' Content That Is Available For Free In Less Convenient Packages
Region locking blows
I could pay for it on iTunes (assuming iTunes isn't region locked like Hulu) or I can look for a torrent. Not having seen it, I'd rather not take the chance that I won't enjoy it (I learned that lesson thanks to music CDs). So that leaves Bittorrent.
That's one of the main reasons people pirate.
On the post: Cartographers Against Google Maps
What happens when your batteries die?
Google Maps and other systems are not going to put traditional maps out of business. They will supplement it. And, as Phoebe said, cartographers are still going to be needed for making the underlying maps of Google or whoever.
On the post: You Don't Beat Pirates By Doing Something More Annoying
Be lucky musicians get anything
Like, not even bothering with music anymore? There are other things to spend money on, or just simply go without.
I haven't purchased anything produced in the last couple of years because it all sounds the same. Why buy new stuff if I essentially already "have" it?
On the post: You Don't Beat Pirates By Doing Something More Annoying
Like, not even bothering with music anymore? There are other things to spend money on, or just simply go without.
I haven't purchased anything produced in the last couple of years because it all sounds the same. Why buy new stuff if I essentially already "have" it?
On the post: Judges Question Whether National Security Letters Need To Come With Gag Orders
Re: Re: The fact that . . .
As we have seen in the past few elections, the will of the people is not what elects a president, so it's not that far fetched to consider it.
On the post: Judges Question Whether National Security Letters Need To Come With Gag Orders
Anonymous announcements
Just because there is a gag order doesn't mean it's not possible to circumvent the system.
On the post: Bands Avoiding iTunes For The Wrong Reasons
Then they just lose money
These companies need to realize that they are in the business of selling music, not shiny discs. If my music isn't available how and where I want it, I will go to other places.
Many times on iTunes, a band/song I want isn't available; often because American iTunes doesn't have many foreign bands. Rather than game iTunes so it looks like I'm in a foreign country, I simply find the torrent. It's easier and I get what I want.
Another good way is to capture streaming Internet radio. The vast majority of Euro-dance I have is from Shoutcast.
If these companies would simply offer me what I wanted, I would give them money. Why can't they understand that?
On the post: Wikileaks Tries Auctioning Off Leaked Documents
Buyer's remorse
Caveat emptor. That's always the case when it comes to "news", or most other things, for that matter.
On the post: Lexmark Trying To Help Users Print Less When They Print The Web
Understandable but stupid
However, when I'm forced to use IE, I usually just highlight the text and "print selection" or copy/paste into a text document. That way I don't get anything I don't want and I don't have to deal w/ IE's tendency to cut off the edge of the page.
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