Want to read Slashdot from your mobile device? Point it at m.slashdot.org and keep reading!

 



Forgot your password?
typodupeerror

Comment Re:Flaming (Score 1) 375

Microsoft has too many "partners" to sneak in a new version 18 months after the previous version (like Apple did with Snow Leopard). As a result, they'll probably be tied into their recent 3-4 year schedule.

I think the sadness over Snow Leopard being weak was due to the fact that Apple had been shipping major new releases every 12-18 months for four straight upgrades. And then along comes Snow Leopard on the same schedule, but mostly under the hood. So yeah it was disappointing, but necessary (so no complaints here).

Comment Re:LINUX rounds numbers fine (Score 1) 764

Is compatibility really an issue when 43% of your student body uses a particular computer? It's one thing to talk about compatibility in the workplace, where your employer might use some obscure mid-90s custom business software that ONLY runs on windows. But for email, web, word processing, and presentations, I think these students will have all the compatibility they need.

As far as how much 'extra' you get, that's a matter of personal preference. I could easily recount my friends who took a look at PCs and were disgusted at the OS, cheap build quality, etc. But what would be the point? Products that sell are obviously at a price point that makes sense to them. Either you're arguing that ~10% of the computer buying population are idiots for buying Macs, or we're seeing AND CARING ABOUT something that you're not. That's not a knock on you, but it doesn't mean we've had the wool pulled over our eyes either.

Comment Need Recommendation (Score 1) 357

I am looking for a recommendation. SugarCRM and similar applications seem mostly directed toward sales.

What we need is an application (prefer a web application) that has built-in calendar / task / contact / email -- all linked together -- with the ability to add my own data, relationships, and screens for entering / viewing said data.

I would start with something like FileMaker Pro but 1) I'd like to go the web app direction if possible because you never know how well an app like FMP will transition to the web, and 2) it has no robust built-in cal/task/contact/email. And, of course, there are licensing fees (which I am not averse to, but I would rather not pay a yearly seat fee -- if I have to buy I'd rather just pay once for licenses).

I am open to all suggestions. I intend to build a robust and sophisticated field-specific application. But I need a good foundation to start on. I just need to identify what that foundation should be.

Comment Re:Article doesn't make sense (Score 1) 572

The FSF's problem is that they want everything to be free and open -- and aren't willing to draw lines anywhere in the middle. Sometimes they remind me of PETA complaining about Obama swatting a fly. It's ok to promote free and open software. But to act like we should all accept inferior software just because its "open" is, well, cuckoo.

Comment Re:Telecom Immunity Might be a Good Thing (Score 1) 1489

My point was that without immunity there is a substantial risk that a court would decide that no crime was in fact committed.

Wouldn't that be far, far worse than immunity?

If we really wanted to do something about it we would impeach those in the government who were responsible. I don't see suing telecom companies as a credible solution.

Circuit City Ripping DVDs for Users 467

Grooves writes "Circuit City is offering a DVD transfer service that's sure to enrage the MPAA. For $10 for 1 DVD or $30 for 5, Circuit City will violate the DMCA and rip commercial DVDs for users to put on their mobile players. From the article: 'This should be a viable market. Software and services are losing out to draconian digital rights management philosophies and anti-consumer technologies aimed at increasing revenues stemming from double-dipping--what I call the industry's penchant for charging twice for the same thing.' They note that fair use backups of DVDs have not been tested in court because all of the attention is focused on the circumvention software itself." Update: 08/04 22:40 GMT by Z : Acererak writes "Red Herring reports that Circuit City isn't offering any DVD-to-DVD copying scheme. The Slashdotted sign was an isolated screwup."

Slashdot Top Deals

Ignorance is bliss. -- Thomas Gray Fortune updates the great quotes, #42: BLISS is ignorance.

Working...