Rocket Men

theodp writes "Slate reports on the guys who really, really want to fly, who got together the other week at the Niagara Aerospace Museum for the First International Rocketbelt Convention. To date, only 11 men in history have free-flown a rocketbelt (aka JetPack). More men have walked on the moon. Why? 'It's not a matter of if you get hurt, it's when,' says Eric Scott, an ex-stuntman who's in the exclusive club."

the guidence system runs Linux

[Anonymous Coward]

Linux needs to get its act together

Linux is *not* user friendly, and until it is linux will stay with >1% marketshare.

Take installation. Linux zealots are now saying "oh installing is so easy, just do apt-get install package or emerge package": Yes, because typing in "apt-get" or "emerge" makes so much more sense to new users than double-clicking an icon that says "setup".

Linux zealots are far too forgiving when judging the difficultly of Linux configuration issues and far too harsh when judging the difficulty of Windows configuration issues. Example comments:

User: "How do I get Quake 3 to run in Linux?"
Zealot: "Oh that's easy! If you have Redhat, you have to download quake_3_rh_8_i686_010203_glibc.bin, then do chmod +x on the file. Then you have to su to root, make sure you type export LD_ASSUME_KERNEL=2.2.5 but ONLY if you have that latest libc6 installed. If you don't, don't set that environment variable or the installer will dump core. Before you run the installer, make sure you have the GL drivers for X installed. Get them at [some obscure web address], chmod +x the binary, then run it, but make sure you have at least 10MB free in /tmp or the installer will dump core. After the installer is done, edit /etc/X11/XF86Config and add a section called "GL" and put "driver nv" in it. Make sure you have the latest version of X and Linux kernel 2.6 or else X will segfault when you start. OK, run the Quake 3 installer and make sure you set the proper group and setuid permissions on quake3.bin. If you want sound, look here [link to another obscure web site], which is a short HOWTO on how to get sound in Quake 3. That's all there is to it!"

User: "How do I get Quake 3 to run in Windows?"
Zealot: "Oh God, I had to install Quake 3 in Windoze for some lamer friend of mine! God, what a fucking mess! I put in the CD and it took about 3 minutes to copy everything, and then I had to reboot the fucking computer! Jesus Christ! What a retarded operating system!"

So, I guess the point I'm trying to make is that what seems easy and natural to Linux geeks is definitely not what regular people consider easy and natural. Hence, the preference towards Windows.

No smoking

[Krytical]

Looks like you can't fly and smoke.

Re:the guidence system runs Linux

[WilliamSChips]

You do realize that the "Quake 3" thing hasn't been remotely accurate for years, right?

Re:And this is different from

[Thisfox]

Well, for a start, you are much less likely to run out of fuel 18 metres up in the air while on a skateboard...

Re:the guidence system runs Linux

[Solra Bizna]

... until it is linux will stay with >1% marketshare.

Wait, remind me why that's a bad thing?

Or did you mean '<'? ;)

-:sigma.SB

Re:And this is different from

[Excen]

Well, for a start, you are much less likely to run out of fuel 18 metres up in the air while on a skateboard...

What? You mean those Mountain Dew commercials aren't accurate representations of the sport of skateboarding?

Oblig etc.

[HeadlessNotAHorseman]

I for one welcome our new rocketman overlords!

Can you imagine a beowulf cluster of rocketbelts?

I'm going to build my own rocketbelt. With blackjack. And hookers!

In Soviet Russia, the rocketbelt flies you!

How many people have flown a jetpack?

[Brad1138]

To date, only 11 men in history have free-flown a rocketbelt (aka JetPack)

Make that 12, your forgetting Duke Nukem.

Re:rocket "belt"

[garcia]

Why is it called a rocket "Belt", when it's typically something the size of a surfboard with a pair of propane tanks that you strap on your back?
--
#11. No pirate shall ever wear a "fanny pack".

Well, I think your .sig has answered that for us!

Re:Oblig etc.

[TubeSteak]

(Since this is /.)
In fact, forget the rocket belt and the blackjack.

Re:the guidence system runs Linux

[Anonymous Coward]

You responded to one of the oldest cut and paste trolls out there. The guy who posted this probably hasn't even read the whole thing. Welcome to Slashdot.

Undocumented

[Tablizer]

To date, only 11 men in history have free-flown a rocket-pack

I take it this excludes burrito dinner + sparks accidents?