64 karma · joined September 29, 2011
If I wanted to get more detailed I go to php.net on-line manual, there's not really anything comparable to that site, description, examples and relevant discussion of all the commands/functions.
Years ago in our spot in rural California Sierra Nevada foothills we were patiently waiting for DSL... Every time we called AT&T they said DSL was a year or two away. According to rumor it took a fire for it to finally happen.
Around 2001 we had a major wildland fire that burned off a lot of trees and such which cleared off line of sight for satellite reception for TV and internet to a lot of folks. According to some, that possibility prompted Comcast to stretch out their cable access to beat the satellite service to the punch, and at the same time they started working on digital cable service here-which meant high speed internet, and lo and behold DSL was available in mere months!
Not to say it was a total roll out - there are still some areas beyond the 5000 meters from the CO and too far from the cable routes that have to suffer with satellite - and its really lousy, just above dial up - unless cable or DSL moves in I'm sure Hughes/WildBlue wont bother on improving that.
if you want speed again i5 is a good minimum, don't skimp on the processor, you can't pop in a better one if its too slow... you can always improve the drive/ram later - make those less a factor.
drive if possible SSD, but then don't make it a major priority as that can be swapped out on most wintel machines.
Just about any distro should work fine, the only main sticking point for Linux users are the graphics chipsets.
Also they could opensource it or sections to get help in hardening the code, create interoperability APIs, or anything they choose. Such an option is usually not a possibility with a private vendor.
Another issues is when you do have a significant change in law or policy getting the vendor to get those updates out in a timely/inexpensive manner may not be so easy.
Interoperability is overrated, what happens when HR decides they to get a new system? ...and that new system doesn't work with your current tracking system X but only with the much more expensive and over complex Y pro system?
I guess it comes down to is how important is it to have your hands on the data and process? I know some schools are really tiring of the "new system every five years or so" cycle that they go through (this can include, besides software, new hardware, training, reassigning staff responsibilities - all depending on the systems needs,) having control of costs and process might help them in the long run.
Having the tech guys on campus helps drive the development you get access to the people who work with the data as well as updates on requirements of what is needed (there's always something people will forget in a spec... until some report is due and they mention it.) They can also bring in staff to test components as they are being developed.
My thing was child care related; student tracking is a whole new level, key things are relationships as in families, adults to children children to education, teachers to children to classes to teachers to credentials, etc. Plus whatever factors affect all that (social assistance qualifications, immunizations, gpas, etc.)
Though once you get the core data figured out and organized (which is the major bit) the rest starts falling into place.
It's not rocket science but it is a definitely a detailed data situation, which you need people dedicated to it for years to put it all together.
As far as anything like that being "done" not in the public sector... you got everything going then some new law changes and you need to adjust tracking/claims based on some new factor or add in an adjusted reimbursement calculation etc. so you have to restructure some data add some new entry methods, new reports, etc. Easier on an open system than a closed system.
Problem with "canned" software is it is usually developed out of one district with their own unique needs when it gets packaged as a one thing fits all it needs to be patched for other conditions and environments... It is usually geared for a specific administration staffing method, so buying something canned may mean you have to do administrative changes in order to work with the new system, etc.
It's good work though, and a nice challenge to sort out all the data and get it collected, properly managed, and accessible to the right people.
So went to find software center - not in the classic menu, but entering software-cetner got it from the terminal.
Seems it suffers like all the others, only one level of hierarchy, looking for Desktop publishing, select office and start reading through the hundred plus entries, most of which have a clever name and icon which does nothing to relate it to desktop publishing at all.
You want o make big bucks at your app, help develop better app stores, so people can find your app.
Radio Shack by then was it was long on the tooth with soundless black and white computers (OK, you could get sound by using a radio to tune into RF interference - not kidding). The color computer was kinda of a late comer, with the Apple, Atari then Commodore already on the market with compelling color systems... and games.
Another trend that was emerging was they were pretty much working on a lock-in strategy, it was buy only their stuff or the highway, all the way down to printers. They kept with that MO into their PC clones which had slightly incompatible card spaces in their PCs to force customers to buy RS cards.
RS users seemed to be a pretty nice sort though, I'm sure a lot of HAM radio guys got them since they frequented the store already. Their magazines like 80 Micro were informative.
I worked for 25 years in house techie/programmer for a child development agency. I had discovered that the best leaders are the ones who know how to lead, set the course and work with all the groups. From having a good staff to rely on as well as be an effective communicator with drive and empathy. Definitely good to to be a people person.
I think having a programmer oriented person in the cabinet staff would be a good thing, but not as a leader.
When it comes to laptops number one becomes the wireless card.
I usually avoid video issues by making sure the computer has an nvidia card or laptop has an nvidia chipset- learned my lesson there.
If you aren't too savvy on computer concepts I would suggest python - probably the easiest to get into and whatever platform you are on (Mac, Windows, Linux) python exists for it, has libraries for just about anything you want to explore, sound graphics, etc.
Second choice would be C - lower level than python but more understandable to the neophyte than assembly would be. C runs a lot of system functions on popular computers.
The US has no shortage of eager workers, some quite creative (which is good for such jobs). The crux of this is companies are devaluing people in general, and don't really give much care about it.
With anything there are gotchas so you have to live and learn with em.
When I was researching Mongodb before going into it I saw forums talking about the 2gb limit on 32 bit systems; I would say the author of that article didn't see the posting - which could either be a case of not due diligence on the ins and out of the system or lack of diligence on the reference material he had originally been using to build his system.
quick no reading look-through see some jumping stick figure a text box, bullet points and some talking head reviews. Is this a get rich quick? The text kinda reads like that lots of promises little detail...
Grade C-
Suggestions:
Tone down colors - loose the highlighter line at the bottom. The logo guy is kinda OK but the font is not energetic enough.
How about having the testimonials pics with the people Exercising or in gym gear near exercise equipment? Would add a more active dynamic to it.
"get a 75% discount by signing up now..." sounds expensive. Should elude to the rates like "for less than a gym membership," (or whatever the comparison) "you will/can..." (bullet points) As a customer I would be comforted in knowing what will I be putting into it and what value will i get out of it...
You have one serif line and then everything else is sans serif... doesn't seem to balance well. you reiterate the same thing twice at the top two lines. maybe if the second line has silhouettes or stick figures doing the steps.
Just noticed it's a mobile application - put handheld devices in stick figure's hand.... Maybe in testimonial pics too.
When you work on your computer is there something you consider a stumbling block, or do you have a trick that does well but its hard to explain or the process isn't quite acceptable for non techies.
Do you find it hard to locate things you have interest in? Why is it so hard? Do you see folks struggle on some process or device and are sure there could be a better way to do it?
Do you think it would be really cool if there was ??? Do you think you can do something way better than what has already been done?
Do you dream something that is totally out of your reach but would be interesting to just try to do it?
These are some of the seeds of projects.
As far as what people would want, you are people. Unless you know some specific market or the need trying to second guess others needs could be hard or disastrous. Start with yourself for ideas.