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Interactive Fiction Competition 2001 Results
david.given writes: "The results of the annual text adventure game competition have been posted (remember when the competition started? You've played them, you've voted for them, now see who won. Much kudos go to Jon Ingold, whose game "All Roads" placed first. As someone who didn't come first (33rd, actually) but had a lot of fun anyway, let me extend my warmest thanks and gratitude to everyone who took part. Without you, none of this would be possible."
Hello, as an experienced MCSE, I have worked with many systems before for different corporations, and although I find linux to be a suitable server OS, there are many problems that have to be addressed before it will be able to compete with windows in the desktop world. Here are some suggestions I have come up with that will help linux become more competitive.
1) Remove the bloat. Most linux distro's ship with way to many useless programs. Desktop users do not need 10 different text editors. Give them one or two good ones and that will be enough.
2) Dump the command line. Desktop users do not use command lines. Windows is light-years ahead in this regard. Even their server OS has a great gui, and it is not necessary to use the command line. Linux needs to follow Microsoft's lead and get rid of the command line. You could maybe include an option for advanced users, like how windowsXP has an ms-dos prompt, if you really want to use it.
3) Dump open-source. Normal desktop users do not care about source code, they care about good programs. They do not want to compile anything. Linux needs real companies that actually know how to make good interfaces. Right now they are few and far between.
4) A universal gui system. Linux needs ONE gui. Perhaps people should focus on developing KDE into a competitive platform. Forget about gnome and everything else.
5) Make upgrading the software easier. Desktop users need an easy way to upgrade the kernel.
6) Get a good web browser. Linux has no good web browsers right now. Netscape is old and bloated. Opera cost extra and lacks some features. Mozilla is still beta and isn't even up to version 1.0 yet, so it doesn't count. Linux needs a browser that is competitive with IE, and right now IE is light-years ahead of anything for linux.
7) Proper office programs. If you want Linux to be used in offices, you need decent applications. These programs should be able to import all MS formats, past and present. Microsoft is still light years ahead when it comes to their office programs.
8) Backward compatibility. WindowsXP can run dos programs, windows 3.11 programs, windows9x programs, windowsNT programs, ect... Linux is barely backward compatible.
Right now I would recommend windowsXP for any sensible desktop user. Linux is still too complicated and fragmented to appeal to the typical user. Perhaps in a few years time they will be on par with windows, and a few people may try it.
The Slashdot Effect: A new for
I use BlowTorch Cream to illeviate the itch, it starts out by cooling the area and numbing it, then it will heat the area up with a wonderful sensation.
This is a post!
All of these games are built into OS X blackbox.el doctor.el gomoku.elc meese.el solitaire.elc blackbox.elc doctor.elc handwrite.el meese.elc spook.el bruce.el dunnet.el handwrite.elc morse.el spook.elc cookie1.el dunnet.elc hanoi.el morse.elc studly.el cookie1.elc gamegrid.el hanoi.elc mpuz.el studly.elc decipher.el gamegrid.elc landmark.el mpuz.elc tetris.el decipher.elc gametree.el landmark.elc snake.el tetris.elc dissociate.el gametree.elc life.el snake.elc yow.el dissociate.elc gomoku.el life.elc solitaire.el yow.elc
don't mind me, just marking links so I can see them when I get home.
Gotta load some of those on my wife's Palm M105. She'll love 'em!
What if you made a game where you could stamp out chips, then linked them together in a cluster, and...
;)
Yeah, I know it wouldn't help in RL. But, if Slashdot were ever to be made into IF, I suspect that would be one of the steps necessary to complete the game. Probably with chips made out of hot grits stuffed down (and any veteran Slashdotters know the rest)...
Simple: shit a big turd at him while he's at it. He'll think you're offering him a chocolate bar, and while he eats it you run away.