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4776

Living Room / Re: ArsTechnica hand-on review of Surface RT

« Last post by 40hz on October 25, 2012, 05:51 PM »

I'm still not convinced

-wraith808 (October 25, 2012, 04:52 PM)

Makes two of us.

I hesitated over getting an iPad ("Purely for evaluation purposes. Honest!") and not a day goes by that I've regretted it. In fact, with each passing day, I'm more and more happy I didn't now that I know even more about it than I did then.

I'm going to take the same approach with the Surface tablet.

Even the delay in getting my Raspberry Pi is paying off. When (or maybe if?) they ever ship mine, it will now come with double the RAM it originally did. And all for the same price.

I can live with a longer wait in exchange for something like that.

4777

General Software Discussion / Re: Neowin reviews Windows 8 - Leave your pre-conceived notions at the door

« Last post by 40hz on October 25, 2012, 05:40 PM »

You have to admit that the price for the upgrade is dirt cheap- I wonder if that's what's behind it.

-wraith808 (October 25, 2012, 01:52 PM)

Maybe we should ask Microsoft? The Win 8 upgrade price is dirt cheap too. Last I checked the Pro upgrade was $40 for XP/Vista/7 users.

I think these two would rather sacrifice some money near term in order to move the bulk of their customers over to their latest and greatest. What better way than to offer a very compelling price for the upgrade. Both companies have plenty of cash so they can afford it. Makes sense to clear out the older versions from a tech support perspective. And it would certainly make life easier for their software developers. Good for PR purposes too.

If Microborg wasn't going in the direction they were going with Win 8, they'd already have my check in hand. But then again, if they weren't, they probably wouldn't be offering W8 (pronounced "wait") at $40 either.
 

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Living Room / Re: JustCloud.com: It's All Lies

« Last post by 40hz on October 25, 2012, 05:30 PM »

^That said, I have a Box account (along with accounts on several of its competitors) and I've been very happy with it. But what can I say? It is what it is. And it works.

4779

Living Room / Re: People Turning on Trolls?

« Last post by 40hz on October 25, 2012, 05:25 PM »

As was alluded by several previous comments, it's important to remember you're walking a fine line when dispensing private justice. You have to be careful to keep any response measured and appropriate to the situation at hand. Because revenge is a path with no ending.

I guess the real point is that, when dealing with a troll, you take care not to become one.

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Living Room / ArsTechnica hands-on review of Surface RT

« Last post by 40hz on October 25, 2012, 04:22 PM »

So ok...Ars Technica has a long and detailed review of Microsoft's new "hope for the future" poster child - The Surface Tablet.

Intriguing as much for what it is as it isn't.

Link to article here.

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General Software Discussion / Re: Neowin reviews Windows 8 - Leave your pre-conceived notions at the door

« Last post by 40hz on October 25, 2012, 11:47 AM »

Where is that?  I haven't opted out of anything, and I can run unsigned OSS on my box just fine, so I'm not so sure that this is true.

-wraith808 (October 25, 2012, 11:24 AM)

My understanding was that it ships that way for all fresh installations. Perhaps Apple relented somewhere along the line about this? I do remember seeing Gatekeeper ask if I wanted to allow App Store only, App Store + Signed, or Unrestricted when I did the install. The supplied default was Mac App Store only.  - although that was a beta copy now that I'm thinking about it.

Did you drop Mountain Lion on top of an existing version of OSX or did you do a virgin install? If an overwrite it might have picked up your earlier preference which was unrestricted by default prior to Mountain Lion.

----
Addendum:

OK...found a picture up on the web of what I remember seeing. It looked like this except the radio button was default set to Mac App Store until I specifically chose the "from anywhere" option:

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General Software Discussion / Re: Neowin reviews Windows 8 - Leave your pre-conceived notions at the door

« Last post by 40hz on October 25, 2012, 11:08 AM »

People talk about MS trying to be like Apple- but on the desktop, MacOS isn't locked down, nor confined to the AppStore.  In fact, several of their largest software providers don't use the App Store at all.  Just thought I'd point that out.

-wraith808 (October 25, 2012, 09:54 AM)

Yes, but Apple's latest OSX (Mountain Lion) is only available via download from Apple's company store. And OSX is also restricted to the AppStore and "signed" applications by default - although Apple currently does provide an opt-out switch. (No word if that's something they will always allow however.)

Apple has also repeatedly stated that one of its goals is to completely eliminate using optical drives in their Macintosh product line. (Tech business analysts think that's being driven more by Apple wanting to get out from under the significant licensing fees Sony is charging them for their Blu-Ray drives than it is for lock-in reasons - despite what the conspiracy and rumor mills have been saying.)

So...OS available as direct download only from the company store...customer must opt out of the default "authorized software source" restrictions...plans to eliminate optical media ASAP...

I still think the handwriting is on the wall for OSX.

--------------------

Addendum: There's nothing intrinsically wrong with the idea behind app stores. They're incredibly convenient and useful even if the basic concept was lifted whole cloth from Linux and its distro repositories.

I happen to like having software available for download. And I really appreciate how the more responsible publishers maintain full registration details in an online customer profile. Especially in my line of work where I have to deal with clients who routinely misplace media, serial numbers, and activation keys. It's great to be able to be able to re-download and easily reactivate a purchased software title following a machine move or disk crash.

What I object to is when it's implemented as a closed ecosystem like Apple has done with iOS - or in the way Microsoft is hinting it plans to for Metro apps. At the very least there should be an official opt-out mechanism so you don't need to resort to jailbreaking hacks in order to gain full control of your device.

And I don't care what the license that came with the device says - if I had to buy it with my own money, than it's my friggin' device. And you and your 100+ page license be damned.

If you're only renting or licensing it to me, then do what my cable service provider does - give me the hardware needed to use the service (since I'm locked into a multi-year contract anyway) and charge me $5 a month rent like they do to use it. I'll happily return it "in good condition" when the new model you want me to use becomes available. Heck...I'll even come down and do it personally.

But please - don't sock me with $400 up front and then try to tell me it's still your device.

4783

General Software Discussion / Re: EverDesk stores emails in your normal folders with other docs

« Last post by 40hz on October 25, 2012, 10:47 AM »

Now that I have just got to try.

Funny in a way. That was how every email client used to do it. Now you need an 3rd party app to go back to doing it that way.  

4784

General Software Discussion / Re: Residents services and program testing

« Last post by 40hz on October 25, 2012, 10:41 AM »

^I suppose you could always use something like FireDemon to convert the program(s) to run as a service and go from there. Alternatively, there's an app called ServerDoc that will check for and restart standard programs you always want running.

Can't vouch for either since I've only played around a bit with each and never used them on a production machine.

Might be worth a look.

@Contro - Of course there's always the option of seeing what Ath or somebody else at DoCo might come up with. That's what I'd do.

4785

General Software Discussion / Re: Residents services and program testing

« Last post by 40hz on October 25, 2012, 08:54 AM »

Wouldn't just setting the service to Autostart and then selecting Restart the service under the recovery tab on the service property page accomplish that?

Autostart will activate the service on boot. And the restart option will do exactly that - attempt to restart the  the service if it fails or shuts down. This setting is used on servers all the time to insure critical services resume running after an unwanted termination.
 

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General Software Discussion / Re: CentOS Administration Tool Recommendations?

« Last post by 40hz on October 25, 2012, 08:20 AM »

Webmin is pretty much what gets used for that sort of thing. But a list of possible alternatives an be found here.

If push comes to shove and you have root access you might also want to consider using Zenytal. It's a popular all-in-one nix server solution that has its own management interface. I keep meaning to try it.

Don't know if it can do everything you'd want it for, (and it's probably just a jazzed up version of webmin) but they have full documentation available separately, so you could always look at that to see.

Luck!

4787

General Software Discussion / Re: Neowin reviews Windows 8 - Leave your pre-conceived notions at the door

« Last post by 40hz on October 25, 2012, 07:46 AM »

At the risk of being dubbed completely paranoid, I think this is just a further manifestation of a global corporate and governmental move towards removing unrestricted general computing capabilities from the hands of their customers and citizens.

Unrestricted, general-purpose operating systems and hardware have been identified as "disruptive technologies."

And now that even the most slow-witted and Luddite legislator has finally realized that this "computer stuff" ("Don't understand it m'self, but you should see me grandson on one o' them things!") is dangerous for the current status quo. So a decision has been made that it's time for it to go away. But there is also the realization that this will have to be handled "delicately." Softly, softly - catchee monkey as the saying goes.

Right now, that is being attempted via corporate fiat rather than direct legislation since most western governments lack the constitutional authority to pass such legislation.

Things like Win8-Metro, iOS, walled garden ecosystems, UEFI/SecureBoot, app stores, data silos, draconian IP laws and enforcement are all manifestations of an unstated policy to remove this technology from the masses - while at the same time making it look like greater "personal liberation" is taking place.

If you don't believe this technology is considered a clear and present danger to the power elites found within most major corporations and government, look no further than how the US/NZ governments handled the Megaupload/Kim Dotcom affair. Anybody who considers such behavior a police incident needs to think again. That was a multinational coordinated military operation. One that had more in common with the way we would deal with a terrorist cell than it had with arresting somebody for (allegedly) willfully hosting illegal copies of copyrighted material. If that doesn't send the world a clear signal about how this "stuff" is being viewed by those currently in power, I don't know what possibly could. Especially considering how the handling of the Dotcom arrest was specifically intended to send a message to the entire online community.

The message itself was very simple: Know your place.

The subtext in the message was simpler still: Or else.

 

4788

General Software Discussion / Re: Help me choose an online backup service

« Last post by 40hz on October 25, 2012, 06:56 AM »

What my understanding and experience says: Online Backup storage, a sound and reliable option! Without any doubt the technology is far better than the normal storage services and it has a lot of benefits to make the most of it. I always prefer using dropbox and Just cloud because of their reliable and secure services and also provide excellent backup features. They sync and update files on real time and create easy backup that fulfill all your tasks with ease. ! So the bottom line is that cloud storage can provide heavy space of storage within a short span of time, and it could possibly make your life easier. But the question arises, which online backup provider to choose with respect to price and need? Now that is what we need to discuss. Although to yield my answer in advance i still prefer Just Cloud over others but you can go with other options according to your need. For more options please consider given blog post for your assistance.

-BrettDaren (October 25, 2012, 06:05 AM)

@Brett - Welcome to DC! When commenting or making recommendations in a forum, it's generally considered good etiquette the first time you post to state any business or other affiliations you may have if they're directly related to the topic under discussion.

4789

Living Room / Re: Don't You Want to be "Safe"?

« Last post by 40hz on October 24, 2012, 06:07 PM »

Also, because the UN has effectively global authority, the same nutjobs that were trying to get laws passed in the US have begun to take their issues to the UN- likely on the reasoning of global network, global police.

If any of this actually goes through we're screwed, or going to see a global realignment.

-SeraphimLabs (October 24, 2012, 04:00 PM)

The UN has global jurisdiction - but little actual authority. Unless you count resolutions that are routinely flouted and ignored as authority.

But that's not surprising. When it was set up, there was concern that it not become the world's new governmental body, so the permanent member veto powers were incorporated into the charter making it very easy for certain "more equal" members to block anything the UN attempts to accomplish.

Simple fact is unless you have your own nukes or standing army under your direct control, your authority is largely symbolic. Even now the UN has to petition its members for ad hoc expeditionary and "peacekeeping" forces on those extremely rare occasions it is able to get a resolution for direct action passed by the assembly.

I always thought of the UN as something much like a high school's Student Council. It has all the trappings of democratically elected representative body. But it exists only by leave of the school administration and it has no real authority. It's free to debate and petition and resolve what it will. But everybody knows that the faculty (i.e. the members of the Security Council) and the School Board (i.e. the permanent members of same) call the shots.

4790

Living Room / Re: JustCloud.com: It's All Lies

« Last post by 40hz on October 24, 2012, 05:41 PM »

How long do the devices last?

-SeraphimLabs (October 24, 2012, 04:25 PM)

Um...these devices (called "storage pods") are 135TB bespoke storage servers. They use RAID-6 with their own proprietary software running on top of a Tomcat/Apache stack. They last as long as they last? RAID allows them to swap out failed drives without data loss. And their software handles redundancy and management functions in their data center.

The pod specs and the BOM have been published by Backblaze. It uses off-the-shelf-parts. You can build your own for about $7500 fully loaded if you want, although you're on you own for software. They don't sell their server solution or hardware. They're strictly an online backup service. If you want your own storage pod you'll have to build it yourself.

Multiple pods make up the Backblaze Data Center



 

4791

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Desk & Archive 50% coupon

« Last post by 40hz on October 24, 2012, 03:44 PM »

Welcome and well met! Glad to see a new developer at DoCo.

Suggestion: providing a screencast demoing the product would be a major plus. The price is extremely reasonable. And it's very nice of you to offer such a generous discount. But there are so many file managers that it's frankly hard to get up the energy to load and try yet another one without being able to see it in action first. Especially if it has a unique perspective and a large feature set such as your product seems to have.

I think a demo video would go a long way towards encouraging people to buy or try it.

 

4792

Living Room / Re: Don't You Want to be "Safe"?

« Last post by 40hz on October 24, 2012, 03:29 PM »

The UN is a baby's pacifier. You can suck on it all day and not get anything of substance. But that's still enough to satisfy some people who have been taught never to quit and always keep on trying.

But the simple fact it exists does provide some benefit in that it serves as a reminder for how things might be if every nation on the planet didn't so jealously guard its own national sovereignty and prerogatives.
 

4793

General Software Discussion / Re: Neowin reviews Windows 8 - Leave your pre-conceived notions at the door

« Last post by 40hz on October 24, 2012, 03:19 PM »

A lot of people more expert than me doubt the wisdom of combining desktop and touch interfaces, but from reading reviews it *sounds* like they've done a reasonably good job.

-tomos (October 24, 2012, 03:10 PM)

Perhaps. But I beg you to consider that should you attend a carnival - and find yourself in an audience that's applauding the performance of a "dancing" pig - it's important to remember most people aren't so much applauding the pig because it dances well. They simply bought their ticket, and are now applauding, because they're amazed a pig could do something which roughly resembles a dance at all.
 

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Living Room / Re: DOTCOM saga - updates

« Last post by 40hz on October 24, 2012, 03:12 PM »

On a related note, check out this article over at TechDirt.

It talks about how the Obama administration has demonstrated a proclivity for encouraging government employee whistle-blowers to come forward about illegal activities and abuses of power in their agencies - only to charge them under the US Espionage Act when they do so.

In a perverse twist of logic (or maybe through the employment of double-think?), there is even a judge who has  somehow reasoned you can now be guilty, under the US Espionage Act, even if your actions were not committed with the intent of harming the United States! Which is interesting since "intent to harm" is actually part of the definition of espionage as found within that act!

In this particular case, John Kiriakou (the CIA agent who blew the whistle on torturing detainees by waterboarding) ended up being forced to plead guilty to a reduced charge of "revealing an undercover operative's identity" (and will serve 2.5 years in prison) for the "crime" of providing information that ultimately led to the identification of former (now retired and happily living on government pension) CIA agent Thomas Fletcher as one of the people known to have been involved in waterboarding. And the sad part is Kiriakou did not actually name Fletcher or anyone else directly. He merely provided testimony that allowed some parties to determine, through a chain of inference, Fletcher's involvement. Hows that for Six Degrees of Separation being grounds for criminal prosecution?

So...what does this have to do with Kim Dotcom?

Well...the guy who headed up the case for the DOJ against Kiriakou was none other than Neil MacBride, the US Movie Industry...oops! Sorry... I meant the US Justice Department prosecutor now responsible for the  Megaupload case.

Interesting. Looks like the Obama administration has found its Grand Inquisitor.




Oh Noooo! Not the COMFY CHAIR


--------------------------------------
40hz note to myself: Stop reading TechDirt and take it off bookmark list. All it does is make you angry. And speaking purely from a clinical perspective, you really can't afford to indulge in that level of rage at your age.

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Living Room / Re: DOTCOM saga - updates

« Last post by 40hz on October 24, 2012, 11:00 AM »

If it's any consolation, I "aced" the first serious CompSci course I ever took - and then promptly got an F for the second.

The brain has its seasons. 

4796

General Software Discussion / Re: Neowin reviews Windows 8 - Leave your pre-conceived notions at the door

« Last post by 40hz on October 24, 2012, 10:41 AM »

The best I can suggest to anybody is they download the eval copy, install it on something, read a basic guide to using it (you'll need to btw), and try using it exclusively for a week or two.

I did. My opinion of Win8 didn't change very much for the positive.

But I was also glad that I do most of my personal work under Linux.  And have for the last few years.

YMMV. 

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Living Room / Re: DOTCOM saga - updates

« Last post by 40hz on October 24, 2012, 10:24 AM »

Actually, it's pretty darn accurate for the classical sense.

-Renegade (October 24, 2012, 10:13 AM)

Darn well better be. I got straight A's in every humanities course I ever took. And I went to schools that respected and knew how to teach them.  

4798

Living Room / Re: DOTCOM saga - updates

« Last post by 40hz on October 24, 2012, 09:44 AM »

^Besides, what's the alternative? To just sit by and watch things happen?

I haven't reached that level of blissful detachment yet despite my knowing this is all what the Hindus refer to as maya.

But...I think, therefor I'll act.

Probably, when viewed on a true cosmic scale, it won't make much (if any) difference. But at least it's more fun for me personally. And I'm good with that.

-----------------------------------

Note: the real benefit of "being cynical" is that it gives you the strength to allow yourself to truly care about certain things. The difference is that everything you allow yourself to care about becomes a conscious choice when you're a cynic. And more importantly - you know it's a conscious and very personal choice.
 

4799

General Software Discussion / Re: Neowin reviews Windows 8 - Leave your pre-conceived notions at the door

« Last post by 40hz on October 24, 2012, 09:30 AM »

@eleman - if you're going to continue clouding up this thread with logic and common sense it's going to end up being a very short discussion.

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General Software Discussion / Re: Neowin reviews Windows 8 - Leave your pre-conceived notions at the door

« Last post by 40hz on October 24, 2012, 09:05 AM »

While some will oppose this change, those that I know who run Windows 8 are actually enjoying it once getting past the new "Metro Screen".

-Josh (October 24, 2012, 08:48 AM)

Really?

I have yet to meet any client of mine (who has given Win8 a respectable tryout) that felt it brought anything compelling to their work environment.

Quite the contrary, their consensus seemed to be it was "ok" - but only if viewed as a consumer/home product. "Different just to be different" and "Not worth the hassles or the upgrade" were the two most common assessments I heard. And these are techno-literate power users mostly.