* Posts by mmeier

1326 publicly visible posts • joined 31 Jan 2013

Surface Book: Microsoft to turn unsuccessful tab into unsuccessful laptop

mmeier

Surface/Arm != Surface/x86. The former family was (finally) shot and laid to rest the latter family sells quite well and is making money for MS quite nicely. Not to mention proding companies like Lenovo/Dell/HP to produce updated versions of their units and improve while keeping a certain price range.

As for "great interface" - well if one likes cleaning the screen regularly and use an OSK instead of handwriting on a tablet then Apple did. Otherwise all they produced was another content consumation device and others did THAT better (but did not market it well - see Nokia N770/800/900). For productive use - even a Win7 Tablet PC with Wacom/Ntrig beats an iThingy

mmeier

Re: Interesting direction!

Actually the Surface/x86 systems have been competing with Samsung, Lenovo, Fujitsu, Dell and HP units of similar makes for quite some time. This is "just another one" competing basically with the Lenovo Helix-B and the Fujitsu Q704 series.

The competition all have their own selling features, even more so in the business end of the market where "buying from one brand" and "service contracts" are quite common. And there is quite a bit room for "different breeds" within the form factor. Say "user changeable batteries" or "hot swap batteries" (Likely from Dell or Fujitsu), (semi)sealed systems etc. Stuff that is in demand from business customers. Same for "digitiser loyalty" - Wacom users will look at other brands since MS offers NTrig (not everybodies darling)

On the low end (served by the Surface/3 with Atom) competition will be by price and again by "special features". If I want a very rugged unit - Fujitsu. A S/3 competitor at a slightly lower price from a "business brand" - Lenovo TPT/10. Something I can touch/test in the store: S/3. Cheaper: HP oder DELL. and so on.

================

As for "catching on": These systems exists since 2003/4 from various brands and in various forms. Yes, they are not user maintainable but most users do not care. They buy the "right sized system" and replace it 3+ years down the road with a new one. And when it comes to software - this is just another Win/x86 box. Most software still runs perfectly (I have two elderly games that do not) and installation is done the "old fashioned way" from a DVD. The store is just another source and apps are just another way of doing stuff. Same for stuff like Office/365.

mmeier

I am testing W10 on two boxes (i5/gen1 ASUS EP121 Tablet PC and i5/gen 3 Tower) since the official "final" version was delivered. Not yet perfect IMHO so it is not on my "main tablet pc" (i5 Lenovo Helix). The systems run stable even under heavy use (LR5, Netbeans etc) but currently the update frequency is a bit to high and the little problems are a bit to nagging to make it my production and/or main privat system. OTOH I have a well behaved and set up Win8.1 as production and privat systems so my pressure to change is low.

But with the progress done and the upcoming changes I will likely make the switch over the christmas hollidays. W10 has to many good elements over W8.1 (and a HUGE amount of them over W7 for my use cases) for me to ignore it and my "fewest amount of different OS" philosophie means just as I went Windows Phone I will also go Win10 for all client systems.

mmeier

Aside from the fact that Win10 can launch and display multiple apps (A fact you most likely know but "ignore") the system is NOT restricted to them. If you want full scale applications - just start them. As many as memory allows / make sense on the screen(s) and desktop(s) (Jup, W10 can do THAT as well). And since the Surface/x86 all have a proper inductive stylus and well working handwriting recognition - they even work if you use the detached tablet (And have done so since XP Tablet Edition in 2003/4). Again it is safe to assume you just "forgot" that as well.

mmeier

The controls change depending on the mode you set. And unlike Win8.1 you can set this "per maschine" on the same (synced) account. Using W10 on two test boxes (Tower w Dual Monitors, elder Asus Tablet PC) with one set to "Desktop" the other to "Tablet". And each keeps the setting (W8.1 was "last configured wins). Since the Surface/x86 units have a inductive digitizer you can even use "Desktop" on them easily, the sytlus is more precise than the mouse (And NTrig is a tad more precise than Wacom on the corners)

Color scheme is "some like, some do not". Since I have set all boxes up to Win7 to the "NT4" look and danced a jig on Aeros grave (after watering it with recycled beer) I am in the former group.

Based on experience with similar units (Lenovo Helix for example) - the connector is not a problem. Nothing new actually, similar sytems exist from a number of companies. And looking at the other Surface/x86 systems - they are quite sturdy, the main known problem are scratches.

mmeier

Re: I wonder how well this would run Linux?

It will likely run but why pay around 200€ for hardware that you can not use due to total lack of drivers and/or support software. Similar units without NTrig Digitiser exist or will soon come out if you need Skylake. And they will likely be either cheaper or offer options that this one lacks (user changeable battery etc)

Two weeks of Windows 10: Just how is Microsoft doing?

mmeier

Re: Show me the money

The same way they did for other versions - from the companies that will not use the "free version" here since they want/need more controll over upgrades etc.

The same way HP makes money of their inkjets - from the other software they sell that goes on top of Windows.

From selling the matching servers, database systems etc.

And from books/training courses/licencing fees/OEM payments....

The home user is not the only market.

mmeier

So you mean like by 2018 Unix on the desktop will have like double it's current market share? A full one hundret percent growth? Sounds impressive, I mean come on, 2.8 percent market is HUGE isn't it?

mmeier

Slaughtered a lizzard, now waiting for the update to come in

For testing Win10 (still not happy that they added this stupid start button and menu structure back in again so likely will stay with Win8.1 for production boxes) I bought a cheap second hand mini pc. Box came with some archaic text-based thing called Susie Tunix or something like that. Had an ugly lizzard as a logo.

Well, out came my trusty Windows install media and in no time that box was wiped and made into a clean and propper Win8.1 box. Now it simply waits for the update so I can check how bad the new MS design is compared to my beloved 8.1. In the mean time I am looking for something like "ModernShell" that re-sets the UI to the proper flat layout for maximum productivity in case I'll be forced to switch to Win10 in 2020 or so.

mmeier

So does the "Linux" thingy run my trusty old Lightroom 5.7? My HDR-Plugins? The software for my eyeFi Card? Reliably? Just "out of the box" with no lengthy experimentation?

If not - useless for my privat box.

Assange™ is 'upset' that he WON'T be prosecuted for rape, giggles lawyer

mmeier

Re: OH FOR FUCKS SAKE

GB had 14 month to wrap him up nicely and send him to the Amis. He was in the UK, under UK house arrest. And - he was not shipped to whereever. Why?

Lets face facts - the MEANEST thing the USA can do to Assi is - NOTHING!

That's why he hates this recent news. Sweden did not go for a "Lex Lasagne" and prolong the time frame he could be prosecuted under. They just used due process and let it slip. Showing that for them Assi is just another petty criminal.

My guess is within the next 12 month an SAS Jumbo will land in Sydney and the first thing leaving it will be Assange. If he behaved nicely on his own feet and after the stairs have arrived. If not with a helping hand from Bjorne and Agneta for a belly landing on the tarmac. After that he'll start a new career as a laughing stock for his paranoia with an option for alcoholism.

Then, a few years later, the CIA can drown him in a billabong and all the news will report is "wino drowned in an accident"

mmeier

Re: WTF?

2F2B: I call BULLSHIT! Texas sized!

He had been in the UK under house arrest for how long? Dezember 2010 until he ran away in Feb 2012. So the Brits had over a year to catch and release him. Sorry, even Monty would have been able to plan and perfom that operation.

Obsolescence of food is complete: Soylent now comes in bottles

mmeier

And the most important questions:

Does it also come in Green?

Is there enough of the green variety or will we get Soylent Riots every Tuesday?

Do we want to know what the green version is made of?

Windows 10: Buy cheap, buy twice, right? Buy FREE ... buy FOREVER

mmeier

Re: @ Paul 87

The question is "do I care"? Company box has no live account and runs on the local AD, uses local Sharepoint etc. Sure, that is "da law".

Privat units use a MS account, OneDrive, Sharing and since recently even Office365 with all the gadgets. Yes, that means MS can "read my mail". But I do not have anything in that box that I could not publish in the local newspaper so it simply does not matter.

mmeier

Re: Why free?

Win10 is equal or even slightly less memory/power hungry than Win8.1. And that is smaller than Win7(Upgraded a few W7 boxes) So any decend 2010/2011 hardware capabel of running W7 should be able to run the stuff. And driver support for W8 works in W10 and is quite extensive.

mmeier

Re: Windows vs Linux

Linux might be considered for the desktop IF they ever get the necessary software working AND offer a better price (Why switch if there is no benefit). Currently that is not the case for

OneNote in a "privat cloud/Sharepoint" mode (EverNote is "other peoples cloud")

LightRoom (Darkroom is not on the same level)

Photoshop (Sorry, GIMP is NOT in the same ballpark and that comes from a miser like me)

Outlook/Exchange (okay Lotus/Domino does but it costs the same)

Games (No, I will not mess with WINE, why add more work)

Induktive Pens (Support is "as mouse" for Wacom, worse for NTrig)

Miracast (Very useful privat and on the job)

PowerPoint with all the bells and whistles

Various commercial software packages

No, Microsoft: Your one-billion Windows 10 goal is just sad ... really sad

mmeier

Given the amount of "Win10 baaaad" articles here on the Reg, including even a piece of Troller Potts, Win10 will be a HUGE success and W10/mobile will rule the phone market by the end of the decade

mmeier

Re: Phones and tablets are not PCs

For me both their tablet pc (Surface/3, Surface/Pro) and phones are just fine. Using a full sized OS with a full sized CPU solves a lot of problems I had with Android tablets including "Wannabee", the Not10.1 "I want to be a tablet pc". Even the Atom powered Surface/3 (heck, even the old Samsung Ativ 500) where a lot better in handling complex documents (and more than one of them). Where the No10.1 was desperatly pedaling with all its poor lil cores the Intel units always seemed a bit bored and task manager seemed to ask "that's all".

Same with Lumnia Phones. For my use I have all the apps I need on a stable platform with good offline navigation (useful in the border region I live in) that does not reboot itself twice weekly. That the 99€ L535 even feels a lot sturdier than the Not2 is another strike against VEB Plaste and Elaste Korea with their Confederated Airpuck.

mmeier

Re: Windows phone

Some see that different. I actually ditched a Samsung "Security Leaks" Not2 for a Lumnia 535 and despite the lack of a stylus (I still do not like touch) the overall useability of my smartphone has VASTLY improved for me. No more "Reboot tut gut" random reboots, a considerably better voice capability, smoother UI, useable offline navigation, a decend chance to get updates and bugfixes and as a bonus an integration to the company Exchange (and a company paid data card).

Windows 10: A sysadmin speaks his brains – and says MEH

mmeier

Re: Can't imagine why anyone would bother

Try Miracast on a W7 box for example. Or use one that connects through WiFi to a network storage. Two improvements that for me where enought to ditch ole clunky W7 for W8 and 8.1. Well okay, the ritual sacrifice of Aero alone was reason enough. Danced a little jig on it's grave, saltet the earth it rest in and finally watered it.

mmeier

Sorry but wrong. I can postpone more often than that on my (sadly still grandpa W7, at least without the Aero shit) company desktop. Typically "updates warnings" come in when I start the workday and that is "8h+Lunchbreak" so I do this at least trice (start, around lunch, once later).

Windows 10 Edge: Standards kinda suck yet better than Chrome?

mmeier

Worked fine with a totally unimportant thing named X Window System

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/12/10/x_window_system_bugs/

mmeier

Computers and OS are tools not bands

One chooses a tool set that does the work efficiently with the least effort and the smallest amount of different tools necessary. That can be Solaris for reliable, long term stable servers, Oracle for handling large amounts of data and reliable data replication or Windows for a desktop that runs the business and privat software with no fuss, no third party tools, no extra configuration. Or something else for whatever reasons.

Fan(atict)s are are problem and what they praise is best avoided

mmeier

Re: It's the same Trident crap

OneDrive is nice. Better integrated than DropBox and easier in sharing pictures than Amazon. And with MS you are still the customer, not the trade good.

mmeier

Given that 15+ year old bugs have recently been found in some much used Open Source has

I doubt that it really matters. The "Million Eye Army" is, for a number of reasons, a myth.

Reading other peoples code is difficult enough if the work in the same company and use the same naming/coding/documentation rules that you use. Reading other peoples code, even worse from multiple sources and standards, is something most people simply do not do.

There is a reason most long term stable OS software is backed by a single "big player" that sets the rules and does the major contribution. And another why "we rewrote much of it" is more common in OS projects as well.

mmeier

Actually I consider Linux the "Granola OS"

All the nuts and flakes in one pot. And Toe Cheese!

The END of WINDOWS EVERYWHERE! Is that really what Nadella wants?

mmeier

Re: I think too many journalists are Apple Fan Boys

Having had the pleasant experience of a Lumina 535 recently and almost ditching my Not 2 for it (1) I would love to see an NTRIG equipped Lumnia to finally clean out the last Android.

(1) In the end my love for my father won out and I allowed him to use the fast, stable phone with good telephone component, great navigation and a chance for patches and updates twelve month from now. Even if that forced me to keep the Not2

mmeier

Re: @AMBxx - where's the new hardware

Try an S/P3, you might be surprised what the pen and One Note or Journal can do for creating content. I rarely use a Keyboard for mine and actually never bought the cover. If I need one at the desk I plug in a USB dock and normal Keyboard. Rarely happens and never in mobile use. Writing and drawing is easier and 92+ percent of the desktops can read the produced files.

mmeier

Re: @AMBxx - where's the new hardware

I just replaced my old Asus E121 with a Surface Pro 3. Well actually the EP replaced a Note 10. 1 because even an old Windows tablet pc that due to a four year old battery need to be on permanent AC power is a LOT more usefull than a high and Android as soon as working with multiple complex documents and printing becomes part of the job. The Note barely handles showing two complex and graphics heavy PDF where the EP takes half a dozen without even switching the CPU to full power. And adds stuff like commenting that just work.

Same for Note taking, WACOM beats on screen Keyboards and there is still no equivalent to the full scale One Note Application or even the full capabilities of Journal. Or for drawing etc. And then there is Lightroom. Works decently on a core i5 and an external SSD drive and makes it a nice tool for quickly developing a few RAW.

Oh and being able to simply run a Power Print without having to think about compatibility and using stuff like external links is very useful. Again the ability to write on it addsfunctionality as does Miracast

The S/P3 is even better since it basically is A4in size and great for reviewing and commenting documents be they PDF or word

German army fights underground Nazi war machine hidden in Kiel pensioner's cellar

mmeier

Re: Pity it wasn't a French tank

Actually the Sovjets had them till the 1980s, the latest was/is the Sprud, basically the 125mm gun from the T80 complete with fire control computer and the ability to fire missiles.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprut_anti-tank_gun

mmeier

Re: Why now?

Even there you are not correct. I legally own a Mauser 98K military rifle for sports shooting (Ordonanz-Schiessen). The only illegal weapons are fully automatic systems and:

Halbautomatische Langwaffen, die einer Kriegswaffe ähnlich sehen UND bei denen die Lauflänge kleiner als 42 cm, oder die Hülsenlänge kleiner als 40 mm, oder die der Bullpup Bauweise entsprechen sind vom Schießsport ausgenommen

Semi-Auto rifles that resemble a military service rifle AND have a barrel of less than 42cm or a cartridge length of less than 40mm or are a Bullpub-design (like the british SA80/L85) are not allowed for sports shooting

So if I get my hands on a HK91/HK41 I could legally own and fire it (granted, NOT in Ordonanz competitions, those have additional rules). since it fullfills all the above rules

mmeier

Re: Why now?

In short: You are wrong!

A properly disabled military weapon CAN be owned by privat persons in germany. There are some special rules for "active military weapons" i.e I could not own a de-militarized G36, but those do not apply to the tank or AA gun. A good example is the "Technikmuseum Sinsheim" that also owns a Panther AND is a privat museum.

The steps necessary to disable a weapon are massiv and have been getting worse over the years, i.e for a rifle multiple caliber sized holes must be in the barrel. So the objects in question may no longer fulfill that rules. But THOSE rules we have due to "political correctness" and "anti gun craze" because the older variants (bolt welded IN the barrel) worked just as well.

Now I am off, polishing my pistols and rifles.

mmeier

Re: Yes, that's why I thought they'd have difficulty moving it

Let's be happy about this. Because a Panther without the weak final drives VERY closely resembles a Leopard 1. (Weight, Weight/HP ratio, armoring, speed/mobility concentration(1)). And would you really go up against that in a Sherman?

(1) Very late Panther even had stabilized optics and IR night fighting gear and a turret that could take the 88L71 or even a "in the work" 105mm.

mmeier

Re: So, good performer in heavy snow then?

One? Many! Sadly all in 1:35 scale :)

mmeier

Re: Indeed

He was investigated due to (potential) involvement with "Art from the Nazi era", that typically means stolen art. Thats why the police turned up at his place. He had a shitload of other weapons and now they are simply checking if everything is properly disarmed.

Until then it is locked down. After all you do not want a (right wing?) nutcase with a gun that can kill anything short of an MBT at 500+ meters.

mmeier

Re: Why now?

If one reads the german article there are connections between the owner and (quote from the SZ)

"Im Zuge der Ermittlungen um nach Jahrzehnten wieder aufgetauchte Nazi-Kunst waren die Behörden auf die Spur des Norddeutschen gelangt."

http://www.sueddeutsche.de/panorama/nobelviertel-bei-kiel-alter-mann-hortet-panzer-in-seiner-villa-1.2547493

So the initial investigations where along re-apperaing art from the 3. Reich (most likely stolen art) and then the officials found the tank, an 88mm Anti Aircraft gun, a 533mm Torpedo and lots of other weapons. They have been confiscated and will be checked if they are properly disabled/disarmed. Until then they are removed to an official place for lockdown to prevent illegal use if NOT disarmed.

A 75L70 still is a VERY potent gun, punching through anything short of a modern tank after all. (The 88L56 AA gun actually is less capabel in that job)

mmeier

But the thing in the movie was supposed to be a "Bunker, Mobile, Model 6" aka Tiger. Not really a tank, more a self moving emplacement.

mmeier

Ah, the german greenies will find a reason. Liklely "oil pollution" since the HL230 engine is known to leak oil.

mmeier

Actually the german Panzermuseum at Munster has a working example of that type (SdKfz 171 "Panther") and model (A G from the maschine gun) that is occasionally even shown on the move. Panther 801 "Ulrike" is actually a post WWII build jokingly labeled a "Auf. G zu spät" build by MIAG under british orders.

IIRC the French in Saumur also have a working G. The Littlefield Collection in the US had a working Panther as well, not sure of the Version, IIRC an A (that is the SECOND version, the first version was the D)

Panthers are resonably common in museeums due to the fact that the french army used them well into the 1950s and so quite a few survivors are in museeums. The number of working ones is lower due to the tempramental final drives but there are some as well.

mmeier

Re: So, good performer in heavy snow then?

So-so. Packed snow/ice is not the strong side of the old MAN since it has no ice cleats (unlike say the Leo 1). Add in the tempramental final drive and it is not really a winter tank.

Heating is decend from what I have been told and the engine has a "cold weather starter" rated for "Russian Winter"

Assange™ celebrates third year in Ecuadorian embassy broom closet

mmeier

Re: What prison sentence would he be looking at if found guilty?

No sentence and deportation to australia would be the equivalent to the death penalty for Assange

mmeier

Re: What prison sentence would he be looking at if found guilty?

Strangely he voluntirily was in Sweden to apply for a stay and work permitt when he was accussed of rape(minor). If Sweden is in league with the big devil - why did he go there in the first place?

And when running from the law - why of all european countries go to GB, Americas best ally? Why not back home to Australia, maybe via Frankfurt?

Windows 8.1 market share grows, Windows 7 slips, Windows 10 lurks

mmeier

So to get this right:

A version of Windows that came out around midway in the leasing cycle of most IT departments and while a stable, well liked and sttill 5+ years supported "parent" version was in common use in professional IT STILL manages to get a larger market share than MacOS and Linux combined?

Yup, seems like Win8 is really a failure

Microsoft's Surface 3 is sweet – but I wouldn't tickle my nads with it

mmeier

Re: Windows fan, but...

Use a tablet pc like the x86 based Surface units instead of a tablet. The pen is THE key to the systems. OneNote with a pen leaves the Andy version in the dust and with the pen and HWR desktop software is quite useable.

mmeier

Re: question I've never got an answer to.

Well just the tablet pc

Lenovo Helix (2)

Fujitsu Q904

HP has some tablets that do it as well

mmeier

Re: Why Why I always asked myself for Surface

Asuming one of the x86 Surfaces - he/she is using it wrong. The unit comes with a beautiful pen and very capabel handwriting recognition. Anything resonably doable on a train can easily be done using the x86 units without a keyboard.

When I go to have my eyes checked (getting a medication that blurs the vision for a while) I even use the voice synthesizer / voice recognition build into Windows to "read" emails over a BT headset.

mmeier

Re: Too expensive

We have currently three customers, each with triple digit number of devices deployed, that went x86 because of the pen. The use Lenovo TPT10, Dell Latitude 10 and Lenovo Helix respectively. Not the cheapest boxes and the Lenovo comes in a cheaper penless variant as well. Wasn't even considered by the customer.

So it clearly is a "it depends" situation.

mmeier

Re: Too expensive

The Venues are basically nice. Their weak point is the pen. While a proper (inductive) pen it is not (yet?) up to the quality and precision of Wacom and NTrig. IF they fix it (or move back to Wacom, traditionally used by DELL) the Venues would be mighty fine systems with their changeable batteries and nice size.

mmeier

Re: re: this comes with a year's free Office 365

If you do not like Office 365 - do not use it. After all the Surface is just another Win8.x box so install what you want. And the pen allows you to use it.

Oh and Win/x86 tablet pc are produced by a number of companies (Lenovo, Fujitsu, HP, Dell,...)

mmeier

Re: Tablet or Netbook?

Win7 has full pen support build in. Not sure if it runs on a Surface/x86 unit but that would give the (IMHO irrational) Win8 haters their XP feeling