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

 


Forgot your password?
Close
typodupeerror
×
Microsoft

Microsoft Steeply Raising Enterprise Licensing Fees 571

Posted by Unknown Lamer from the linux-still-free dept.
hypnosec writes "Microsoft is trying to make up for below expected earnings following Windows 8's and Surface RT's lack luster adoption rates by increasing the prices of its products between 8 and 400 per cent. Trying to make more out of its enterprise customers who are tied under its Software Assurance payment model, Microsoft has increased user CALs pricing 15 per cent; SharePoint 2013 pricing by 38 per cent; Lync Server 2013 pricing by 400 per cent; and Project 2013 Server CAL by 21 per cent."

Submission + - Building a wireless access point using OpenBSD and a Laptop (bsdguides.org)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Tired of using your regular old wireless router? Read this if you want to know how to build a wireless access point using your laptop and OpenBSD 5.2 in about 10 minutes and with a little bit of configuration. Be inspired to add more functionality and comment your suggestions.
Hardware

Submission + - Ask Slashdot: What Is Data Center "Dirt" Composed Of?

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: As an employee for a company that refurbishes computer equipment, I clean a lot of servers, storage systems, etc., as part of the process. Regardless of the equipment class, it has been my experience that there are three primary types of "dirt" found in such systems:

1.) standard fare dust, tan/brown in color (from thin layers to vent clogging dust bunny collections) that is removed quite easily
2.) a denser sort of the above type that is harder to remove (my guess would be that it is the same substance as the above, but from a more humid environment)
3.) very black, fine particle deposits with a "greasy" quality — standard ammonia-based solvents are not completely affective at removing it and I sometimes have to resort to citrus- or alcohol-based cleaners to completely remove it

In particular, that third type always makes me wonder about its composition; what could be circulating in a data center's cooling system that would leave this type of "dirt" behind? Has anyone else observed this or should I stop thinking these deep thoughts while mindlessly cleaning stuff?

Submission + - Global warming stopped 16 years ago, reveals Met Office report quietly released (dailymail.co.uk) 1

Submitted by
bricko
bricko writes: "here is the chart to prove it

        The figures reveal that from the beginning of 1997 until August 2012 there was no discernible rise in aggregate global temperatures
        This means that the ‘pause’ in global warming has now lasted for about the same time as the previous period when temperatures rose, 1980 to 1996

The world stopped getting warmer almost 16 years ago, according to new data released last week.

The figures, which have triggered debate among climate scientists, reveal that from the beginning of 1997 until August 2012, there was no discernible rise in aggregate global temperatures.

This means that the ‘plateau’ or ‘pause’ in global warming has now lasted for about the same time as the previous period when temperatures rose, 1980 to 1996. Before that, temperatures had been stable or declining for about 40 years."

Submission + - Ask Slashdot: How do I stay employable? 2

Submitted by illcar
illcar writes: Hi, I am 40 year old working as a senior developer for one of the biggest investment banks. I have always worked as full time employee in my career. However the the last 5-6 years had been very tough for me because of office politics, outsourcing, and economic conditions. The financial industry is not doing well, and we maybe at the brink of another round of layoffs. My family is growing, my spouse does not work, and I still do not own a house yet. I am worried regarding my job security & career growth. Considering medicare does not kick in till 65, I am still looking at 25 long years of career. I am wondering what would be the best way for me to stay employable in the coming years?

1. Should I stay technical, and be ready to work as consultant/contractor? How does medical insurance work in that case?
2. Should I capitalize on the domain knowledge, and move onto business/managerial side?
3. Will the MBA degree or alternate career help?
4. Any other suggestions?

Thanks.
Piracy

Submission + - Don't Forget: "Six Strikes" Starts this Weekend (dslreports.com)

Submitted by Dr. Eggman
Dr. Eggman writes: If don't recall, then Broadband/DSL Reports is here to remind us that ISPs around the US will begin adhering to the RIAA/MPAA-fueled "Six Strikes" agreement on July 1st. Or is July 12th? Comcast, AT&T, Verizon and Cablevision are all counted among the participants. They will each introduce "mitigation measures" against suspected pirates, including: throttling down connection speeds and suspending Web access.

Submission + - Quantum Dots Are Behind New Displays (ieee.org)

Submitted by ArmageddonLord
ArmageddonLord writes: "Liquid crystal displays dominate today’s big, bright world of color TVs. But they’re inefficient and don’t produce the vibrant, richly hued images of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) screens, which are expensive to make in large sizes. Now, a handful of start-up companies aim to improve the LCD by adding quantum dots, the light-emitting semiconductor nanocrystals that shine pure colors when excited by electric current or light. When integrated into the back of LCD panels, the quantum dots promise to cut power consumption in half while generating 50 percent more colors. Quantum-dot developer Nanosys says an LCD film it developed with 3M is now being tested, and a 17-inch notebook incorporating the technology should be on shelves by year’s end." --IEEE Spectrum
Science

Submission + - two new elements (engadget.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry has ratified two new elements — Flerovium and Livermorium.
Medicine

Submission + - Did Captain Scott's Diet Play a Part in His Death?

Submitted by
Hugh Pickens writes
Hugh Pickens writes writes: "BBC reports that a century ago today Robert Falcon Scott made his last entry in his diary as he and his men perished on their return from the South Pole leading modern nutritionists to ask if their diet contributed to their deaths? Georgina Cronin, of the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge, believes "they underestimated the calories needed for man-hauling in Antarctica — this is partly why they suffered so much." Their rations consisted of pemmican (ground meat mixed with fat), and biscuits made into a stew called hoosh with the addition of arrowroot and raisins for variety. Man-hauling a sledge demands an intake of around 6,000 to 7,000 calories a day, and figures as high as 11,000 have been recorded. They believed a high level of protein was needed for the exercise they were doing, but nutritionists now know this was not the case. "Their high-protein diet was probably not good for them," says Dr Mike Stroud, a polar veteran and expert in nutrition. So what should they have been eating? "Carbohydrate is needed for blood sugar levels, but you want the most energy for the least weight, so in modern times there has been a move to a high-fat diet," says Stroud. Ultimately, Scott and his men did not fully appreciate the nutritional demands they put on themselves. Ration amounts were based on trial and error and at 4,500 calories a day fell well short of what was needed. "You don't just lose fat, you lose muscle as well. You can't keep warm," said Dr Stroud, who himself experienced starvation when he crossed Antarctica with Sir Ranulph Fiennes in 1992. "By the time they reached the Ross Ice Shelf, they would have been emaciated.""

Submission + - CDC Reports a Surge in Autism Rates, 1 in 88 children affected in the US

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: A new government health report indicated that about one in 88 children in the United State has autism or a related disorder, the highest estimate to date, which represented an overall increase of 25 percent since the last analysis in 2006.

The Centers for Disease Control reported on Thursday that the rate increased by 78 percent compared to the reported rate in 2002.

Comment Re:Erm... (Score 1) 114

by lw54 (#39338337) Attached to: Evidence of Lost Da Vinci Fresco Behind Florentine Wall

From my understanding, the issue is the painting is a fresco so the pigments have been added to the wall's plaster while it was still wet. If they came from the other side, it would require removing the entire wall intact. Still, I wonder if serious thought has been given to the idea.
Google

Submission + - Google Testing Completely Revamped Look (bbc.co.uk)

Submitted by SharkLaser
SharkLaser writes: Google's search engine has always looked pretty much the same since it was introduced in 1998. However, Google is now testing a revamped look that is the largest change the search engine has ever done to its website. The new look strips the black bar running horizontally at top and places it as an openable menu on the left side. The move is said to promote Google's other services without making the search engine too cluttered. The new side menu is also more similar to Chrome OS and allows Chromebook and Google's website to have the same look and feel. Another consequence of the move is that it now takes users two clicks to enter other services such as Images and News, which is said to improve the amount of ad clicks and visitors advertisers get. Considering that European Commission is examining claims of Google downgrading rival websites and U.S. senators are calling FTC to inspect Google for unfair practices, the move comes at a surprising time.

Slashdot Top Deals

"When the going gets tough, the tough get empirical." -- Jon Carroll

Close