Slashback: XPiracy, Panel, Gentoo 335
The real requirements for Longhorn, at least at this juncture. Cryoknight writes "It seems that Longhorn will run on almost anything that's a P4 or better, judging by this article from C|Net News. You only need a 64mb graphics card to run the slickest version..."
(That's in contrast with earlier reports that the average Longhorn system would be hefty indeed; of course, listed minimums and recommendations are often worlds apart.)
How many bits could Mandrake chuck if Mandrake could chuck bits? Shipud writes "Speaking of AMD beating Intel, Mandrake have just released their v.10 for AMD64. Claiming to be on the average 20% faster, and compatible with 32-bit applications." As usual, it's never a good time to buy a computer.
The War Of The Word, Part II Random Guru 42 writes "Chris Pratley, whose earlier blog entry was the source of much discussion [referring to this Slashdot post of April 27], has just recently replied to everyone's feedback both here and as comments on that earlier entry."
Gentoo Community Reaches Out to Daniel Robbins nporter writes "Slashdot reported the news that Daniel Robbins has stepped down as chief architect of Gentoo Linux. It was revealed that due to his commitment to Gentoo he racked up a hefty personal debt of $20,000. The Gentoo Community is showing its appreciation to its founder in droves by placing donations to the Gentoo Store, proceeds of which will go toward paying down Robbins' debt. I count over a thousand dollars (and growing rapidly) has already been donated, just based upon posts to the forums. It's great to see Linux users coming together like this to show support for someone who has contributed so much to the Linux community."
Bitkeeper redux, redux. gosand writes "Part two of the two-part interview with Bitkeeper author Larry McVoy is up at Newsforge. (Part 1 was posted here yesterday). They essentially talk about why and how BK fits into the kernel development model. There are only two questions, one answered by Larry, and one answered by Linus. Maybe that is because BK makes them 2.5x as efficient, and they can answer everything in just one answer each. :-)"
MS Clarifies: No SP2 For Pirated XP Copies PingXao writes "Unlike earlier reports, this eWeek story says MS will not be allowing pirated versions of Windows XP to install SP2. They plan to release the update within a couple of months as everybody knows, but what's interesting is this quote from a MS spokesperson that supposedly explains their reasons for this approach: "... using genuine software is an important part of keeping systems secure and running smoothly because it means continued access to the latest security enhancements and product updates." Not that I blame them for not providing assistance to people who violate their copyrights, but I wonder if they actually paid someone to come up with that insightful explanation. Something like "We don't provide updates to pirates" would have done the trick. Why cloud the issue with talk about secure this and security that when the basis for the policy has absolutely nothing to do with security?"
Games panel at Smithsonian - update tripmaster writes "For those slashdotters that tried to get a ticket but were foiled by the smaller venue, the panel on games with Shigeru Miyamoto, Richard Garfield and Doug Church being held Sunday, May 16th at the Smithsonian in Washington DC has been moved to a bigger space. Miyamoto should be showing the same highlights of his latest game as premiered at E3. Questions from the audience will be collected and posed to the speakers -- a rare chance to ask query some of games' most visionary and influential creators."
Off again, on again. Doug Muth writes "According to this piece on Yahoo, the restraining order which was issued against SpamCop on May 10th has been dissolved by the judge who further remarked that, 'the TRO [entered May 10] was not a determination of the merits of the case.'"
Very cool! (Score:5, Insightful)
Happy Trails!
Erick
Always a good time to buy a computer (Score:5, Insightful)
As usual, it's never a good time to buy a computer.
With prices constantly falling and better performance for price as hardware incessantly marches toward being a commodity good, one could just as easily say that it's always a good time to buy a computer.
pragmatism and policy (Score:5, Insightful)
So much for the herd effect. It's simply, really. If everyone but me has gotten a polio vaccine, I'll still be fine because the polio has nowhere to hide.As soon as 10 - 20 percent of the population isn't vaccinated, suddenly the problem [polio] reemerges.
Why can't Microsoft understand the basic concept?
Read it Again... (Score:5, Insightful)
The installation hurdles that existed in SP1 will be back again for SP2 - no more, no less.
Nothing has changed, Move along, Move along...
Word (Score:4, Insightful)
[re: star/open office]Their stated goal is to clone Office97, and they are so focused on that that there simply isn't anything to learn from or appreciate.
While I understand his point, I don't see much innovation between office 2000/XP at all, at least not from an end-user perspective. It's become, to a large extent, bloatware. How much innovation does an office suite need, anyway? You get things like clippy when innovating a basically simply product to death. KISS.
Slashback Reguarly (Score:5, Insightful)
No joking/flames intended but every news source makes mistakes and has to either back pedal or update or simply roll with an ever changing or expanding story or what would be now defunct "facts".
Blackmail (Score:4, Insightful)
I think what they're trying to get across is, "If your PC is insecure because you pirated our software, tough shit. Buy it next time and you can stay secure." I don't know that I like that attitude, since these unpatched machines as a whole also affect the people who do practice good security (usually through network traffic), but they're trying to equate "OS piracy" and "security risk", and just might succeed if new worms increase.
Gentoo crew have done it right (Score:4, Insightful)
We shall see how well the rest of the developers can knit the project together during the following months. It shall be interesting to see who will step forward as the new project leader as well.
Re:Always a good time to buy a computer (Score:5, Insightful)
I think the case is actually that tomorrow is always a better day to buy a computer. I have to say that I myself have procrastinated ad infinitum when upgrading systems because it always seems that something awesome is coming up in a few months.
Wow I'm glad MS can enforce this policy. (Score:5, Insightful)
Is it just me or are anti-piracy measures just growing more and more inconvenient for legitimate users (product activation etc) and not at all more inconvenient for pirates (who get modified versions with the annoying features removed)?
Re:Only use "genuine" software! :) (Score:5, Insightful)
Microsoft's Anti-Piracy Policy (Score:2, Insightful)
All this could be a blessing in disguise for Linux/MacOS as people may be forced to look for an Alternative to Windows. I mention MacOS since, although it isn't free, if I had to pay for an OS I know which one I would choose.
JPickard
Re:Only use "genuine" software! :) (Score:3, Insightful)
My precise point.
Re:Gentoo crew have done it right (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Very cool! (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:In honor of the Gentoo post... (Score:2, Insightful)
Most people I know, dont like windows.. (Score:4, Insightful)
The are simply not interested in updating their OS. Most of them don't understand what updating is for. They only time they worry about it is when I get a phonecall going:
"Ryan, the computer keeps shutting down for no reason.. what should I do?" - then i go in for cleanup, patches, firewall, firefox, etc, etc...
So what happens is that you can end up with lots of legal AND illegal versions of software that aren't patched. I think many people wouldn't even know if they have a legal version or not.. They just use what is given to them.
This is why worms lately have been able to cause so much havic lately. People just don't understand they have to update.
So stopping the service packs from being installed just increases this issue and we have more and more machines on the net that are a breeding ground for worms- its hard to get people to update as it is!
People see all these computers around with problems with Windows and form a bad opinion of it. Isn't it better to try to aim to have ALL copies of Windows installed around the world up to date and working smoothly, than risk getting the reputation that it's a bug-riddled OS?
Troll??? No. Insightful (Score:5, Insightful)
For the record, I only use the term piracy to refer to organized cartels of copyright infringers. I presume most of the unlicensed copies of Windows XP in the US are from causal copiers or multiple installs from the same media. I think it is important to distinguish these issues in public discussion and policy.
Every unlicensed copy of Windows represents a user who is unwilling to make a choice between paying full price for Windows or moving to an alternative operating system. By helping these people see that there are better deals that they can use without worrying about the ramifications (no service packs or patches, etc.) of using unlicensed copies of Windows.
Re:Always a good time to buy a computer (Score:1, Insightful)
Re:Very cool! (Score:4, Insightful)
(Score:5, Insightful)
Note to self: free karma to those who compliment features of the slashdot site.
Re:Troll??? No. Insightful (Score:3, Insightful)
'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean so many different things.'
'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master - that's all.'
There is remarkable insight into that phrase, BTW, as long as we are clear on definitions. Indeed the question is who is to be master. Is it the RIAA, Microsoft, et. al. who define borrowing a friend's e-book and using alt-print-screen to be piracy, or is it a more moderate interpretation which says that there is a fundamental difference between friend-to-friend infringement and the organized international crime cartels which do such things as burn CD-ROMS in floating factories in international waters.
Consider this... (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Only use "genuine" software! :) (Score:5, Insightful)
But to use your analogy of the car further, although you may not want to learn how the engine management system works, isn't it good to know that you could learn it if you wanted to? That you could open the hood at any time to check on the work the mechanic did? Wouldn't it be awful to be told you weren't allowed to look at your engine and had to trust the auto manufacturer any time they made an adjustment to your car?
That's the freedom part of FOSS. Not that you have to look at the code, but at least you can look at it if you wanted to. You have the freedom to look or not look as you want.
Re:Only use "genuine" software! :) (Score:3, Insightful)
Doesn't MS have an obligation to support SP2? (Score:4, Insightful)
It's almost like they sold teddy bears to children with vials of some terrible virus embedded inside and are refusing to give the antidote to people without a receipt for the bear.
Re:Very cool! (Score:3, Insightful)
I just looked through the last 2 days of stories, read about 30 blurbs but not the full story, if applicable, and damned if I can't find much to back up your bullshit claim:
- 1 mention of MS word in story about Mac trojan. Appears to be non-inflamatory
- 1 possibly trollish article on the Tocquerville report. Blurb doesn't slam MS.
- 1 implied mention of deficiency of pop-up blocking in IE
Wow, for a website whose sole purpose is to spread misinformation on Microsoft, the editors sure post a bunch of tangential shit about rockets and apples and telescopes and privacy and taxes and hybrid cars and all kinds of other shit.Sure, there are lots of MS-bashing comments here, but there seems to be a fair number of MS-apologists like yourself, too. You, them, the GNAA trolls, and all the other fucked up regulars make this a fun place to visit. Keep up the good work.HTH
Re:Always a good time to buy a computer (Score:5, Insightful)
The Effects of Moore's Law and Slacking on Large Computations [gil-barad.net]
Abstract
We show that, in the context of Moore's Law, overall productivity can be increased for large enough computations by `slacking' or waiting for some period of time before purchasing a computer and beginning the calculation.
According to Moore's Law, the computational power available at a particular price doubles every 18 months. Therefore it is conceivable that for sufficiently large numerical calculations and fixed budgets, computing power will improve quickly enough that the calculation will finish faster if we wait until the available computing power is sufficiently better and start the calculation then.
I particularly like their unit of measure : "slacktitude"