Linked by Thom Holwerda on Thu 3rd Nov 2011 19:34 UTC, submitted by lucas_maximus
A big issue right now in the world of operating systems - especially Linux - is Microsoft's requirement that all Windows 8 machines ship with UEFI's secure boot enabled, with no requirement that OEMs implement it so users can turn it off. This has caused some concern in the Linux world, and considering Microsoft's past and current business practices and the incompetence of OEMs, that's not unwarranted. CNet's Ed Bott decided to pose the issue to OEMs. Dell stated is has plans to include the option to turn secure boot off, while HP was a bit more vague about the issue.
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RE[5]: Err how is this uncertain?
by Mellin on Thu 3rd Nov 2011 23:39
in reply to "RE[4]: Err how is this uncertain?"
Member since:2005-07-06
RE[5]: Err how is this uncertain?
by lemur2 on Fri 4th Nov 2011 00:00
in reply to "RE[4]: Err how is this uncertain?"
Member since:2007-02-17
Don't pay for it then ... Lemur2 is always going on about that System76. Vote with your wallet ... I buy OpenBSD released since I use them ... I vote with my wallet to support the project.
FWIW, in my own country there are a few sources of computers where the OS is not included as part of the price.
Here is an example of a netbook and a low-end desktop:
http://pioneercomputers.com.au/products/configure.asp?c1=3&c2=12&id...
http://pioneercomputers.com.au/products/configure.asp?c1=4&c2=97&id...
The base prices of $349 AUD and $399 AUD do not include any OS except an option for Ubuntu.
Here are the additional costs for various Windows OS versions:
Microsoft Windows XP Professional [+$169] With CD
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition with Recovery CD [+$39]
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (32/64 Bit) [+$99] With CD
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional (32/64 Bit) [+$169] With CD
Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate Upgrade/Full Version (64 Bit) [+$199] With CD
Ubuntu comes with an Office suite installed, so to match Ubuntu one would also have to purchase (at least) the following extra item as well:
Microsoft Office 2010 Home & Student [+$154]
So, for any option of Windows XP or Windows 7 the price would almost double, by the time you had purchased necessary software, compared to the Ubuntu option.
As long as Pioneer Computers is prepared to offer machines for sale without unwanted software bundled into the price, they are indeed worth of getting my custom.
For Windows 8 it would appear that Pioneer Computers may not be able to offer their customers the far better Ubuntu deal any longer. If that happens I would feel sorry for Pioneer Computers, but I would no longer buy from them, they would lose me as a customer. I would build up my own systems from piece parts if I have to.
RE[6]: Err how is this uncertain?
by lucas_maximus on Fri 4th Nov 2011 00:09
in reply to "RE[5]: Err how is this uncertain?"
Member since:2009-08-18
News
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/18/13 7:37 UTC
"In NixOS, the entire operating system - the kernel, applications, system packages, configuration files, and so on - is built by the Nix package manager from a description in a purely functional build language. The fact that it's purely functional essentially means that building a new configuration cannot overwrite previous configurations. Most of the other features follow from this." Interesting approach. A Linux distribution, sure, but with some very refreshing ideas about system configuration.
Linked by fran on 05/18/13 1:38 UTC
Google added, among other features, C/C++ support to its new version of AIDE. From Android-IDE, "Now you can write parts of your app or your whole app in C/C++ on your device. AIDE supports the Standard Android NDK toolchain (GCC 4.6 + Bionic, STL, ...). No changes are necessary if you want to build an app developed on a PC with Eclipse. C/C++ development is fully integrated: Build errors appear in the error list and files can easily be navigated to with Go to file. The editor supports C/C++ syntax highlighting."
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/17/13 23:35 UTC, submitted by kragil
Ars nails it: "The answer is that Google did announce what amounts to a fairly substantial Android update yesterday. They simply did it without adding to the update fragmentation problems that continue to plague the platform. By focusing on these changes and not the apparently-waiting-in-the-wings update to the core software, Google is showing us one of the ways in which it's trying to fix the update problem."
Linked by MOS6510 on 05/17/13 22:22 UTC
"It is good for programmers to understand what goes on inside a processor. The CPU is at the heart of our career. What goes on inside the CPU? How long does it take for one instruction to run? What does it mean when a new CPU has a 12-stage pipeline, or 18-stage pipeline, or even a 'deep' 31-stage pipeline? Programs generally treat the CPU as a black box. Instructions go into the box in order, instructions come out of the box in order, and some processing magic happens inside. As a programmer, it is useful to learn what happens inside the box. This is especially true if you will be working on tasks like program optimization. If you don't know what is going on inside the CPU, how can you optimize for it? This article is about what goes on inside the x86 processor's deep pipeline."
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/17/13 22:15 UTC, submitted by Tom
"It was the only moment I heard regret slip into Otellini's voice during the several hours of conversations I had with him. 'The lesson I took away from that was, while we like to speak with data around here, so many times in my career I've ended up making decisions with my gut, and I should have followed my gut,' he said. 'My gut told me to say yes.'" The world would've been a much different place - Apple would have been less dependant on Samsung for its chips, which probably would've meant less money for Samsung to develop its Galaxy business.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/16/13 21:41 UTC
Glass is getting some love at Google I/O as well. New applications have been released - Facebook, Twitter, Evernote, Elle, Tumblr, and CNN. Perhaps more interesting: the newly announced Google Glass Developer Kit will allow offline applications and direct hardware access - great for hacking and expanding Glass' potential. This kit will really allow hackers to put Glass through its paces.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/16/13 17:04 UTC
"But Beck and Merrill decided that simply banning toxic players wasn't an acceptable solution for their game. Riot Games began experimenting with more constructive modes of player management through a formal player behavior initiative that actually conducts controlled experiments on its player base to see what helps reduce bad behavior. The results of that initiative have been shared at a lecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and on panels at the Penny Arcade Expo East and the Game Developers Conference." Absolutely fascinating stuff. I'm a League of Legends player, and to be honest, the community isn't nearly as bad as some make it out to be. I'm happy Riot games has the guts to employ science to address the issue.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/16/13 13:17 UTC
"Android and iOS, the number one and number two ranked smartphone operating systems worldwide, combined for 92.3% of all smartphone shipments during the first quarter of 2013 as Windows Phone crept past BlackBerry for 3rd place. According to the International Data Corporation Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, Android smartphone vendors and Apple shipped a total of 199.5 million units worldwide during 1Q13, up 59.1% from the 125.4 million units shipped during 1Q12." Windows Phone doubles from a few to twice few, iOS loser market share as its growth is slower than that of the overall market. BlackBerry continues slide into irrelevance.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/16/13 12:06 UTC
"According to the latest research from our Wireless Smartphone Strategies service, global Android smartphone profits reached US$5 billion in total during the first quarter of 2013. Samsung dominated and captured an impressive 95 percent share of all Android smartphone profits." Wow.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/15/13 23:03 UTC
"During its Keynote today, Google announced new features coming to its flagship search function - you know, that thing we all started using Google for. VP Amit Singhal spent some time discussing what Google's search functionality will eventually morph into. Google's strategy is summarized by three words: answer, converse, and anticipate. Singhal explained that many of the pieces of these upcoming changes can already be seen in products that Google has recently introduced - namely, Google Knowledge Graph and Google Now, with perhaps a splash of Google Glass, too." I hold on to my hat every time Google changes Search. It's such a vital product in my daily life.More News »
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2009-08-18
Don't pay for it then ... Lemur2 is always going on about that System76.
Vote with your wallet ... I buy OpenBSD released since I use them ... I vote with my wallet to support the project.
Edited 2011-11-03 23:22 UTC