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To X2 or Not 2XUS Robotics X2 Modems. We are being told that faster access to the internet is finally available via the new 56K modems. Great. Even though the speed doubling is only on the receiving side, it is better to receive .. Many customers are already asking for the new hardware. So, I tested my line with the US Robotics line test program (see http://x2.usr.com/linetest1.html) "This line is X2 compatible". Still great. Then I contacted my internet provider. He said, "Roger.. The 56K analog is without a doubt the hot new technology but there are some real problems... There is not really a common protocol. USR claims that X2 is fully compatible with Rockwell's 56K software/hardware, but Rockwell says this is not true etc., etc. Until we are able to evaluate the different packages we will not offer 56K. We are not in a position that we can support only one particular manufacturer.. if there is no standardization it's entirely possible that 56K will be replaced by other technology under development. We are keeping a close eye on the market and will respond as soon as we can supply a reliable product." Just as I suspected. Another pie in the sky almost there vaporware scheme. I am going to wait and see. How about you? But is it "Programming"?HyperText Markup Language. The other day I got involved in a bit of a discussion with a high school computer instructor. His text books say that HTML and the ilk are not programming languages. I said I thought designing web pages was very much like programming, and that I call it programming. He said, no, all it is is "authoring". We repeated those lines of thought for the next several tens of minutes. My final shot ended up being - "I'm going to write you up in my webpage" .. so there. I am going to take flack here from the eggheads, but, hey, it's my website and I can say what I want to. IMHO, if your definition of programming is that rigid, get a new dictionary. Times change. So do definitions. Like, "It ain't drivin' lessen' it gots a stick shift and a clutch". I say, if it looks, sounds, and talks like a duck - why don't we just call it a duck? - instead of making up a new word for it. A program is a sequence of events .. like in a play - first act 1, then act 2, etc. A language is a way of defining what the program will be on a computer. I type it. Computer Boy does it. HTML is a programming language to me, especially with Java and DirectX extensions. However, even without those extensions, I can sequence a series of events that can take my users from screen to glorious screen of dazzling information, sight, and sound. I can call subroutines, enter data into selection boxes. Click link 1, 2 or 3 to goto page A, B or C. Another click takes me back to my homepage. I can edit the source code. It runs the same every time I use it. And just how different is it from those C programmer reference "Hello World" sample programs? Just like WordPerfect has outgrown the "Word Processor" designation, HTML is growing into and will eventually supercede the arbitrary scientific classifications assigned to it. I am officially updating my definition of "programming language". It is any language tool that can run on a computer, accept user input and produce repeatable quantifiable output. I say it is so much like programming, that it probably is. Quack, Quack, I'm a HTML programmer. PS .. I also think using WordPerfect is a type of programming - a bit more limited than other languages - but it fits my definition (you see, I speak English). -- Last revised May 1997 -- [ Apr 97 ] [ SSDirect Home ] Please address comments to rdavies@ssdirect.com.
Thanks!
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Revised: June 23, 2001 Design Copyright 1996-2000 by Roger Davies for Soft Serve Direct (SSDirect - Computer Consulting, PC Sales, and Service). Permission is granted for individual use and reproduction provided that this document remains intact, with this copyright message clearly visible. [] file:///C:/My Documents/My Webs/ssdirect.com/ca/news/1997/images/ssdirect.com.jpg |
