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Comment I hope they've fixed more important issues... (Score 1) 161

like my ability to easily transfer a virtualbox image from one computer to another, without dropping into some commandline tool.

I have tried many google tutorials using VBOXmanage, and and not been able to move my image from one machine to another, or clone it on the same computer without it giving an error message during bootup. So I don't look forward to the day my computer dies.

Comment Ruby (Score 4, Insightful) 491

On the plus side, both versions of Python can claim many of the smallest programs in the collection. Ruby (8, 1) might also compete for titles, but unfortunately its performance is so bad its star falls off the performance chart.

Then why the fuck is the Ruby community hyping it so much, and drawing nieve young developers in to a trap?

Not flamebait.

Why can't they make a language, or extend a language like Ruby, such that one can program it as a scripting language, but then add verbosity optionally (i.e. declaring the data types and their sizes, private / static etc. & whatever the hell makes a program light weight and fast) optionally? It's my hope that if I stick with Ruby one day it I won't be forced to learn Python because performance won't be "Ruby's big issue" in every discussion, but really, that is *just* a hope. I hope this isn't a mistake.

Comment Re:There is no "Linux" (Score -1, Troll) 644

Linux is a concept. It's a theory. It's a dream. That's what makes it so powerful.

And it's also what makes it so frustrating for anyone who wants to see it succeed. What is success for an Open Source project? A child learning to walk takes the first step and the parents celebrate the moment, but what is that first step if nothing more than the first of countless more steps?

Linux is my dream.

People _need_ to be converted, and as the enlightened we have a duty to guide them. Microsoft is funded by money, by greed, by sin.

Think of the workers - that same child learning to walk. Where will he walk to if he wants be be a software developer? To high school, to advanced mathematics, to University, bleeding his parents dry, and then to Borders to by MSCE documents so he can work for Microsoft. His parents may have cried with happiness when he first learned, but by now they'll be wishing they never taught him.

Now think of the Linux developer. Most Linux developers can't walk. Why? Because they don't need to. They didn't waste their time in the computer labs at high shool - they were hammering chicks all day and night. Do you see them picking up MSCE qualifactions at a great cost? No? Because they can spend that money on chicks. It's not a theory or dream with Linux, it's real life. It's no skin our backs, neither is it skin off our dicks (or theirs). We must make this our goal.

Comment Speed (Score 1) 249

The speed of sonic, or mario jumping / ducking bullets or onto moving platforms - you could test your hand-eye skills without getting a headache. They should make a spectacularly good looking 3d platformer. I remember playing sonic 3d recently and returned it after an hour. It didn't take as much skill / speed I felt.

Also, dare I say it - the graphics are capable of looking better? They can look hand drawn animation, not like bulky blocks put together. Although this distinction is fading now.

Button presses per minute has somethign to do with it.

Comment Re:Used to cost way more (Score 1) 763

agreed. Snes games would cost 60GBP (about $100-$120 USD) when they are available. Now they take 40 hours to complete and are created with a huge landacape design / physics / progammer / story teller / film prodution force. I feel happy paying the price of about 35GBP for games. And if I don't like that I can get them second hand.

However, if the games stores seriously want to get me to buy from them instead of just browsing during my lunch break, they have to start meeting amazon prices or less. Who'd pay double for a game unless they wanted it quick?

Comment Re:impossible dream? (Score 1) 171

absoloutely: the next step would be to harness the abilities of a) time dilation (http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/phonedrmarc/2003_may.shtml, http://www.google.co.in/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hs=UrK&q=time+dilation&btnG=Search&meta=) to allow for future time travel in some space ship, and the ability to drop someone into a coma / life support device for a lifetime or more. If stuntmen, soldiers and astronauts are willing to take those risks I'm sure someone would do this.
Seriously, it won't happen in our lifetime, but who could have imagined planes realistically 200 years ago? If we are sent back pictures of a human society (but 2009 years in the future!) on another planet, it would inevitably unite the people of earth, and probably invoke an worldwide effort to make contact. Or perhaps governments to devise operation 'Enduring Intergalatic Freedom'. Eitherway, I find it credible.

PS. Pater@slashdot.org give us an option for the old slashdot back in preferences - the new ajax doesn't work in many places.

Comment Re:Really bad review (Score 1) 523

True. I don't need work to know precisely when and for how long I've decided to take a slashdot break. Furthermore, I'm using an IBM clickly keyboard now - I used it for years because I was persuaded keyboard flamewars that oldskool heavy clickly boards were the way to go. I can actually feel myself typing slower, and exhausting pointless energy while being louder. I'm sure there's a happy medium - perhaps it's MS or logitech.

Also, someone should post a list of keyboards without the numpad column. It should be an attachment.

Robotics

Military Robots to Gain Advanced Sight 71

coondoggie brings us a NetworkWorld report discussing iRobot's plans to include Laser Radar technology in their military robots. Quoting: "Specifically the robot-maker is licensing Advanced Scientific Concepts' 3-D flash Ladar which uses laser beams to scan and process targets. The system has the ability to create a virtual 3D picture of an entire area. IRobot ... believes the technology will provide new navigation and mapping capabilities for future generations of robots and unmanned ground vehicles and pave the way for autonomous vehicles to lead convoys into dangerous territory, search contaminated buildings for casualties, or enable bomb squads to safely investigate suspicious objects."
Google

Google Adsense Cracking Down on 'Tasters' 187

ZerothOfTheLaw writes "It appears that Google is going to eliminate Adsense for Domains for all domains younger than five days old. From the post 'The Good news is that the Quantity of advertising will be spread among fewer domains now and so those domain owners that actually own real full domains should receive more money if bid prices start to rise as a result of this. However some advocates of Domain Tasting say that perhaps no one will be able to serve the niche for some ads and no one will make money on the unserved ads.'"

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I tell them to turn to the study of mathematics, for it is only there that they might escape the lusts of the flesh. -- Thomas Mann, "The Magic Mountain"

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