raventh1 - Slashdot User

Submission + - So we just closed all our libraries. Good or bad?

Submitted by

mrcpu

on Wednesday May 16, 2007 @10:59PM

mrcpu writes: "Voters in Jackson County, OR just pulled the plug on funding their library system, opting to close all the branches (all built brand new within the last few years, 15 of 'em), rather than cutback. Of course, this has created much division in a couple areas. One is that "I have the Internet, what do I need a library for"? With pro's and con's to each side. The other issue was the funding mechanism, with the loss of some federal funding, the county leaders decided to attempt to strongarm a levy with no backing. But be that as it may, in this day,
and age, are libraries useful? Do we still need them? Do you buy most of your books? Have you been to a non-school/university library recently? Did using a library change your life in any significant way? Or are they an anachronism, and a throwback to a day when information wasn't readily available?"

Submission + - Ring Provides Evidence For Dark Matter

Submitted by

GoogleRuinedMyLife

on Wednesday May 16, 2007 @06:33PM

GoogleRuinedMyLife writes: "A team of US researches from Johns Hopkins University has observed some of the strongest evidence to date of the existence of Dark Matter in the universe (requires free registration). From the article: "A ring-shaped distribution of mass in a galaxy cluster five billion light-years from Earth is the strongest evidence yet for the existence of dark matter. This is the claim of physicists from the US and Europe, who have used data from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to see how gravity is bending the light around the cluster. Unlike previous searches in other galaxy clusters, this would be the first time dark matter has been seen isolated in its own separate structure.""

Submission + - Windows Vista "Non" Downgrade Clause

Submitted by Pissed Off on Sunday May 13, 2007 @03:39PM

Pissed Off writes: Alright, so I bought a brand new DELL computer and opted for Windows Vista Ultimate. Figuring that Vista Business and Ultimate both come with downgrade rights I figure that I should not have a problem. None the less, the computer arrived and it got unpacked. So I started doing some tweaking and tuning and then timed the start up only to discover that my old computer running Windows XP blew my Windows Vista rig out of the water!

The old computer specs: Pentium M 1.4GHz / 60GB 7200RPM / 1GB RAM
The new computer specs: Core 2 Duo 2GHz / 100GB 7200RPM / 2GB RAM

So I did what any sane person would do and turfed Windows Vista and started installing Windows XP. In order to attain my downgrade rights I called Dell and asked them about this and they told me to call a 1-800 number or the Microsoft Volume Licensing department where they pretty much told me that since I have an OEM copy of Vista that my reseller (Dell) should assist me. Since then I have been back and forth with Dell and Microsoft and have not reached a solution.

After digging around I found a couple web sites describing the whole downgrade process. Some going as far as suggesting that I call and explain to the Windows Activation team my issue and that they should take care of it and activate my computer. So, I just got off the phone and sure enough they told me that the CD Key that i used (legitimate) has already been activated on another computer and that it is licensed for only one system.

This issue is still pending a resolution and neither Dell nor Microsoft seem to be much help! Has any one else out there gone through this with success or lack there of??? I have not yet tried to downgrade my Windows Vista Ultimate retail box... I wonder what Microsoft's excuse will be then >:|

My beef is that no where in the End User License Agreement does it say that I have to:

a) provide my own media (Volume License, Retail, OEM System Builder)
b) provide my own cd key (and not an OEM key)

Had I known that I would not have bothered with Vista and gotten my notebook with Windows XP right out of the gate.

Now I'm faced with the costs of returning my laptop at my cost and then having to wait another 2-3 weeks in order to get the replacement.

Submission + - Japanese Government to Move to OSS

Submitted by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 13, 2007 @02:05PM

An anonymous reader writes: linuxworld has an article on Japanese government's plan to reduce its reliance on a single IT vendor by moving to open source softwares.

Oracle, NEC, IBM, HP, Hitachi and Dell are among 10 IT equipment and software vendors that are forming a consortium to develop and sell Linux-based servers and computers for the Japanese market. The move by the vendors to collaborate on Linux in Japan comes from a edict from the country's government to make Linux and open source a priority for all IT procurements, starting this July.
Specifically, it looks to reduce Windows as the server OS.

The government has said explicitly it wants to decrease its reliance on Microsoft as a server operating system platform.

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