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I Want My MTV... PC?

Tsar writes: "MTV Networks is putting their imprimatur on a line of entertainment-oriented PC's to be available early this year. Targeting the college-age crowd, they'll have TV &amp radio tuners, DVD players, remote controls, and 'MTV-specific content.' CNN has this article on CNN's SCI-TECH page, but the original story was posted last Thursday on IDG.net. There's also news of MTV's impending digital music player, which uses DataPlay's 500MB matchbook-sized discs with built-in digital rights denial^H^H^H^H^H^Hmanagement."

261 comments

  1. That's Funny by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    I really only want my calculus. I love integration.

    1. Re:That's Funny by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Does concave up look like a capital U or a hump?

      MATLAB is MY bitch.

  2. How will they use it? by spongebob · · Score: 2, Informative

    Everyone knows the MTV generation has a 15 second attention span and I haven't heard of an OS that can do much of anything usefull in 15 seconds. Certainly Windows can't. ;)

    1. Re:How will they use it? by S-prime · · Score: 0, Troll

      Sure it can:

      0:00 Please activate this copy of Windows

      0:10 *user enters information*

      0:15 *MS recieves user's name, address, birthdate, SSN, credit card info...etc*

      --
      -- Your local friendly mad scientist-in-training
    2. Re:How will they use it? by garcia · · Score: 3, Troll

      Warning: I was not a STAT major, but it my my belief that:

      if they include specific pictures of nude music superstars (*cough* Spears *cough* Twain *cough* Hill *cough*) as wallpaper then I think that the 15s attention span might actually go up to 17 - 20s instead.

      Some people might take longer b/c pictures would obviously have to be downloaded from www.thehun.com and sometimes depending on traffic that could take sometime, especially over traditional connections. That could bring the attention span all the way up to a *mind*-blowing 30s.

    3. Re:How will they use it? by myster0n · · Score: 1
      Everyone knows the MTV generation has a 15 second attention span and I haven't heard of an OS that can do much of anything usefull in 15 seconds. Certainly Windows can't. ;)

      Windows can crash in 15 seconds. That's the most useful thing I can think of right now. ;)
      --
      Nobody believes the official spokesman, but everybody trusts an unidentified source. -- Ron Nesen
    4. Re:How will they use it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hey! I have more than a 15 .. a bird!

    5. Re:How will they use it? by cliffy2000 · · Score: 1

      Well, what about BSD Unix (pick a flavor, any flavor)? Using BASH, you can do just about anything you want in no time. 15 seconds is enough time to delete all of those Britney mp3s... Just "rm -rf" and you're done!

    6. Re:How will they use it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      HAR HAR! YOU ARE THE WITTAY KING!

      you commented on your in-ability to use windows properly, by remarking on how frequently it crashes. YOU. ME. MANBABIES. NOW.

    7. Re:How will they use it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      that is FUCKING FUNNY cOckSucKER!

    8. Re:How will they use it? by cscx · · Score: 1

      You, sir, are a dirty LUnix zealot troll.

    9. Re:How will they use it? by cscx · · Score: 1

      Oh, yeah, building on that... Windows activation doesn't require any information except your country of orgin. It then sends the one-way hardware hash. So go suck an egg -- that is total bullshit you posted. God forbid someone mods it up as 'insightful.'

    10. Re:How will they use it? by flacco · · Score: 2
      You, sir, are a dirty LUnix zealot troll.

      And you, sir, are clearly a professional Microsoft apologist.

      --
      pr0n - keeping monitor glass spotless since 1981.
    11. Re:How will they use it? by flacco · · Score: 2
      Windows activation doesn't require any information except your country of orgin. It then sends the one-way hardware hash.

      It shouldn't "send" a single fucking thing to Microsoft against the will of the user.

      [cue MS apologist:]

      "Well, if the user doesn't like it, they shouldn't use Windows"

      Exactamundo, Cunningham - we're working on it.

      --
      pr0n - keeping monitor glass spotless since 1981.
    12. Re:How will they use it? by Mr_Matt · · Score: 1

      if they include specific pictures of nude music superstars (*cough* Spears *cough* Twain *cough* Hill *cough*) as wallpaper then I think that the 15s attention span might actually go up to 17 - 20s instead.

      I don't know about you, but I think the average geek's "attention span" *cough* *cough* when looking at n00d pix of Britney Spears would be somewhat longer than 17-20 sec. Maybe more like a few minutes, if you know what I mean (and I think you do :)

      --


      But what does my opinion matter, I just vote here. It's not like I have any money or anything.
  3. Anyone remember? by Beltec · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Anyone remember the other theme based PC's and what happend to them? Barbie ring a bell? Ok, so this may have more of a chance, but really, MTV doing a computer?? Besides, I'd rather build my own anyhow, so I guess it really dosn't matter to me :)

    1. Re:Anyone remember? by jarodss · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yep, I build my own too but I've never been able to get flames on the side like the hotwheels computer, except for the time some guy named Tom took the heat sink off my Athlon.

    2. Re:Anyone remember? by mother_superius · · Score: 2, Funny

      ...But I love my Hot Wheels PC!
      Having flames on the side makes the software faster; haven't you heard of aerodynamics?

    3. Re:Anyone remember? by aka-ed · · Score: 4, Funny

      Hah! you haven't seen How Cool It Looks!

      You know you want it.

      --
      I survived the Dick Cheney Presidency 7 to 9 AM 7-21-07
    4. Re:Anyone remember? by Beltec · · Score: 1

      I'd like to take back my first comment! Wow, is that a piece of the beutiful 80's or what! YAY!!

    5. Re:Anyone remember? by Lars+T. · · Score: 2
      --

      Lars T.

      To the guy who modded me down from perfect to terrible Karma - Apple haters still suck

    6. Re:Anyone remember? by Weezul · · Score: 1

      Can I get one with a Devo hat built in?

      --
      The Christian religion has been and still is the principal enemy of moral progress in the world. -- Bertrand Russell
    7. Re:Anyone remember? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      that happens to be a karaoke machine

    8. Re:Anyone remember? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Please mod this guy down, he's spoiling my Funny: 5 joke.

    9. Re:Anyone remember? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      that happens to be a karaoke machine

      Can't run one past this for sure!

    10. Re:Anyone remember? by flacco · · Score: 2
      Hah! you haven't seen How Cool It Looks!

      That has got to be the most hideous piece of shit I've ever laid eyes on.

      --
      pr0n - keeping monitor glass spotless since 1981.
    11. Re:Anyone remember? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That is the ugliest thing I've ever seen.

    12. Re:Anyone remember? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Where are all the people that rip on the iMac being ugly now! That's what I wanna know. Apple designed a very sweet box. Worked hard to fit everything in there etc etc etc. MTV as usual has about 0 brain power and took a karake machine made it uglier and put a pc in it. Doesn't really suprise me.

    13. Re:Anyone remember? by joshfergy · · Score: 1

      Being as I am going to enter the poorest time of my life this next year beginning at college, I think this is a great idea. I can fully understand why this would be appealing to a college student. It offers all these features in one machine and specializes it to an MTV fan. It's a good idea. The only draw back I might see is that like I mentioned at first, college students are usually quite lacking in money.

    14. Re:Anyone remember? by majinaaron · · Score: 1

      it would be a good idea for all of the mtv fans and all, but who are those people? i always see screaming fans of britney spears and nsync wailing their head off on camera and saying oh my god alot. i have a hard time believing those type even know how to work a computer. but other than that, if the computer setup was good, you could strip it down and make it your own ???

  4. Digital Rights Denial? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    If this thing has digital rights denial built in, that must mean it's made to allow pirating of any copyrighted material whatsoever, thus denying the Constitutionally given rights of content creators and copyright holders, no? That sort of thing ought to be illegal.

    1. Re:Digital Rights Denial? by Rayonic · · Score: 1

      "Constitutionally given rights"? Which country's constitution would that be in?

    2. Re:Digital Rights Denial? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, Slashdot being a site located in the United States, and myself being located in the United States, and MTV being an export of the United States, it's possible I was talking about the United States Constitution. For what it's worth, however, if you were suggesting that the rights of content publishers somehow take a backseat to pirates in other countries, I would remind you that just about every nation in the civilized world is a signatory to the Berne Convention. Their signature to this treaty requires these member countries to adopt a number of measures protecting the rights of copyright holders, including legislation to make circumvention of Digital Rights Management illegal.

    3. Re:Digital Rights Denial? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh please, everyone knows, whether even US people like it or not, that might makes right. I bet some other countries never heard of a human rights violation (china), monogamy (africa), or civil rights (afghanistan) until the US came along. The laws in the US affect the people of the world.

    4. Re:Digital Rights Denial? by ryants · · Score: 3, Informative
      thus denying the Constitutionally given rights of content creators and copyright holders, no?
      The US Constituon does not give rights to content creators and copyright holders at all. All it does is permit Congress to enact copyright legislation:
      Section 8. The Congress shall have power ... To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries;
      Nothing is guaranteed in that statement.
      --

      Ryan T. Sammartino
      "Ancora imparo"

    5. Re:Digital Rights Denial? by aka-ed · · Score: 2, Informative

      Obviously, the poster's use of the phrase was meant to refer to the denial of the user's rights, not the copyright holder's.

      You, AC sir, seem convinced that citizens do not have any rights in this matter, and all rights accrue to the holder of copyright. In this you are opposed to established case law, as well as to the intentions of the framers of the Constitution. ("To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries...")

      Here. Go read up. Please don't post on copyright matters until you do.

      --
      I survived the Dick Cheney Presidency 7 to 9 AM 7-21-07
    6. Re:Digital Rights Denial? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      To original poster: feel free to post on any subject you damn well please. Who cares what this jerkoff thinks? "You, AC sir" my ass, how precious...

    7. Re:Digital Rights Denial? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Are you coming on to me? Because, if you are, you can blow me.

    8. Re:Digital Rights Denial? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      a/s/l plz tks ttyl

    9. Re:Digital Rights Denial? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Admittedly, the grandparent post was facetious, taking the submittor's "Digital Rights Denial" comment in the opposite manner from which it was intended. I don't believe it was implied that the users of copyrighted material lack rights, I believe you are extending his argument to that logical conclusion.

      The point still remains: various ripping, encoding, and file-transfer programs conspire to thwart the rights of copyright holders. The submittor of this story implies that the current attempts to enforce these rights are allegedly denying the "fair-use" rights of "the rest of us." If we can only choose one set of rights to sustain, who shall it be?

      It goes without saying that, if a digital rights management system makes it sufficiently easy for a 'user' to assert his fair-use rights (by making a backup copy, or a copy for educational purposes, etc.) it would be equally simple for a 'user' to make multiple copies for illegal distribution. There's the problem, right there in front of you. We have to solve that problem, and it stands to reason that one of the sides is going to have to capitulate, at least a little bit.

      The answer is most assuredly not "we are living in cyberspace now, information wants to be free, RIAA just needs to get over it and find a new line of business." The answer is also not "woe is us, the corporate oligarchy will just buy all the congressmen it needs, and then it'll make us actually pay for all these CDs, dude this sucks."

      The answer is to fix the problem, not propose peace, love, and free everything solutions that no capitalist in his right mind would buy into. If the developers of Ogg Vorbis were interested in becoming a standard, they could put some thought into developing the perfect watermark technology, or the perfect DRM system which (somehow) protects the rights of users and copyright-holders equally. This would truly be "a better mousetrap".

      Instead, the hacker community as a whole will continue to align itself with projects like DeCSS, Gnutella, and whatever other programs come down the pike for breaking down whatever new sort of copyright-protection the Corps come up with. In spite of the potential fair-use or otherwise legal uses of these programs, their potential for illegal misuse outshines them by far. This only gives the various four-letter organizations a bigger target to aim for, and more fuel for their fire.

      Think about it, what plays better in a congressional hearing: "We need this DRM legislation to stop content pirates. They are uploading the contents of our CDs to their hard drives and distributing them via illicit online sites." - OR - "We need this DRM legislation to prevent Napster, which I'm sure you've all heard of."

      By the way, don't be such a sanctimonious fucking prick.

    10. Re:Digital Rights Denial? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      I bet some other countries never heard of a human rights violation (china), monogamy (africa), or civil rights (afghanistan) until the US came along.

      You also forgot: dental hygiene (England).

    11. Re:Digital Rights Denial? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      and bathing (France).

    12. Re:Digital Rights Denial? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If we can only choose one set of rights to sustain, who shall it be?

      Why would you feel a need to suppose that A's rights must be ignored for B's rights to prosper? This is the dominant way of thinking among the corporations and the government, for reasons much like your arguments here.

      The idea of prioritizing rights, and particularly the idea of prioritizing corporate rights above the rights of human beings, isn't worth considering, IMO. Your mileage undoubtedly varies.

      By the way, don't be such a sanctimonious fucking prick.

      Was I being a prick? I don't know about that. But then, I can't claim your intimate familiarity with the topic.

  5. Apple by brodiedreamyou.ca · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Sounds very similar to the digital hub that apple keeps talking about, i think i'd personaly take the apple, but it is interesting that they have tv and radio tuners, kinda like the sony vios... hmm sounds like alot of this stuff has been done before:)

  6. Funny by DJ+rCn · · Score: 2, Funny

    I hope this is a hoax but if not oh well. I think this is going to be a failed marketing attempt for MTV. Even if you are a college student, would you want your computer to come from a channel that headlines a show where people pierce their asses? Not me, I just don't see this idea being sucessful.

    1. Re:Funny by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Can there be one post this week that people don't cry hoax over? Well it is sunday so I guess next week will be better. Of course this is about the first post that's not really a hoax in the first place.

    2. Re:Funny by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >if you are a college student, would you want your computer to come
      > from a channel that headlines a show where people pierce their asses?

      You obviously don't know the same college students that I do...

  7. Ugh, MTV... by vmalloc_ · · Score: 1

    This is just another pathetic attempt for MTV to control everything that people see and hear, so they can jump their advertising sales.

    Not to mention MTV is mind rotting dumb, and mainly consists of them interviewing N'Sync all day.

    I know a lot of people that just sit around watching crap like that, and it makes me really sad, I can't watch stuff like that for more than 5 minutes without feeling my brain cells explode. I'm serious, it's just painful.

    1. Re:Ugh, MTV... by b0r0din · · Score: 1
      This is just another pathetic attempt for MTV to control everything that people see and hear, so they can jump their advertising sales.

      Yes and let's not forget that MTV is owned by that big corporation Viacom, a major content provider.

      To me, this whole thing reeks of trying to ween people off onto some digital disc (with moving parts, I might add) so they can continue to control content through some sort of copy protection scheme. It sort of surprises me, though, that this dataplay device plays mp3s; then again, Viacom doesn't yet own any major record labels I know of at this time (although they certainly do business with those companies). Of course it also plays QDX, so maybe this is a way for them to inch a new format onto the market and eventually control obsolesence hat way. Or maybe I'm paranoid ;)

    2. Re:Ugh, MTV... by I.T.R.A.R.K. · · Score: 0
      Call me 'out of the loop', but I've never seen Mtv or Much Music, or any of these other shows people say are 'for retards'. Hell, I don't even have cable.
      Would someone care to enlighten me? What's the big deal about Mtv?
      Yes, I know they show popular music videos and run interviews. But beside that, why are these people so evil?

      Yes, I know I'm going to get modded 'troll' for this, since obviously, everyone knows all about Mtv. And anyone who doesn't is obviously trolling for replies.
      Pfft! Bite me, moderators.

      --

      "Adequacy.org: Where congenital stupidity is not an option, but a requirement."

    3. Re:Ugh, MTV... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Lets put it this way.......
      Music television started as a great channel in the 80's, but eventually sold out so bad it makes me throw up. They play a select handful of videos, pump up the ones they can make money off of and drop the ones they cant. I have to agree that this is the mtv generation, but only because way to many mindless idiots sit around and watch it. This themed computor is just another way for MTV to get in on a new market. Anybody who isnt stupid will relize this and stay far far away from them...........

  8. The Digital Music player has a chance.. by FreeBSDian · · Score: 1
    They should probably really just focus on the digital music player and eliminate this insane PC idea immediately. I mean to enter an already saturated market like that is dumb (but then again these are the people who brought us "The Real World").

    They might have a chance to crack the whole digital music for pay thing though if the player's worth while. Those disks I imagine, would be difficult to play and pirate on anything but that device.

    --
    -- I am Ren
    We're a FreeBSD shop... EssentialHost
    1. Re:The Digital Music player has a chance.. by zlowry · · Score: 1

      Umm... Not that I really watch Reality TV, but I do have to point out that "The Real World" came out years before any of the other shows. In fact, MTV pioneered the entire idea.

  9. I could see this... by PeeOnYou2 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    You have to realize how hardcore a lot of teens are about MTV. Yes, the rest of us can see how lame it really is... but those who are sucked into it eat, sleep, and breathe it. If MTV says something is, IT IS dammit!

    I should know.. my little sister would die without it. I think she even has withdrawals sometimes.

    I can't wait to see if she wants one of these once they start advertising them all the time.

  10. mtvml by moosesocks · · Score: 2, Funny

    the new mtvML markup language. Written specificly for the new line of pcs.

    Yo, buy this PC!
    You will be hip
    It is da bomb!

    --
    -- If you try to fail and succeed, which have you done? - Uli's moose
  11. MTV Specific content... yes! by Foxman98 · · Score: 4, Funny

    4 Words...

    Jenny.
    McCarthy.
    Nude.
    Screensaver.

    --
    S.t.e.v.e.
    1. Re:MTV Specific content... yes! by Whizziwig · · Score: 1

      1 word:

      playboy

      --dave

    2. Re:MTV Specific content... yes! by psavo · · Score: 2, Funny

      My 4 words:

      Shiny
      Things
      Network.


      Oh, you want FOUR words. Well this generation can't count that high.

      --
      fucktard is a tenderhearted description
    3. Re:MTV Specific content... yes! by fedos · · Score: 1
      Oh, you want FOUR words. Well this generation can't count that high.

      That's because they have MTV.

  12. College age crowd? by CajunArson · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The last time I saw MTV (and its been a while) it was more geared
    towards teenie boppers than college students

    Maybe they are hoping a whole bunch of stupid freshman with
    rich parents will buy? Or is this more for the N'sync/Brittney Spheres crowd?

    --
    AntiFA: An abbreviation for Anti First Amendment.
    1. Re:College age crowd? by nomadic · · Score: 4, Insightful

      College students these days ARE teeny boppers. I swear, most of them seem to see college as just an extension of high school...

    2. Re:College age crowd? by NDPTAL85 · · Score: 0

      What are they supposed to see it as? An Institute of Higher learning perhaps? Hah!

      --
      Mac OS X and Windows XP working side by side to fight back the night.
    3. Re:College age crowd? by dimator · · Score: 2

      Brittney Spheres

      Nice Freudian slip. (Or maybe it was on purpose?)

      ;)

      --
      python -c "x='python -c %sx=%s; print x%%(chr(34),repr(x),chr(34))%s'; print x%(chr(34),repr(x),chr(34))"
    4. Re:College age crowd? by Jennifer+Ever · · Score: 1

      With a Rush song in your sig, I'll bet it's been a while.

    5. Re:College age crowd? by Breakfast+Pants · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      it was obviously on purpose you dumb freudian fuck.

      --

      --

      WHO ATE MY BREAKFAST PANTS?
    6. Re:College age crowd? by CajunArson · · Score: 1

      Actually I stole it from an episode of Mad TV making fun of Brittney Spears... ;)

      --
      AntiFA: An abbreviation for Anti First Amendment.
    7. Re:College age crowd? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Go stoink your mother, you rexian dumbshit.

    8. Re:College age crowd? by Goonie · · Score: 2

      At least from my end, it seems like things have gone the other way. I'm now on the advisory board on the "college" (somewhere between the dorm room and a frat house) where I used to stay, and so I have to keep an eye on things. It's not that long (only 3 years since I left), but the kids these days take things so seriously! They don't drink much, they turn up to lectures (even the unnecessary ones), they read their textbooks before swotvac . . . utterly disasterous, if you ask me :)

      --

      Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from a rigged demo
      --Andy Finkel (J. Klass?)
    9. Re:College age crowd? by SaxMaster · · Score: 1

      Kinda ironic that your Sig is a lyric from the song "Spirit of the Radio" by Rush which questions the integrity of radio. The same thing is happening with MTV and how it's de-volved into the Shiny Things Network, AKA eMpTyV.

      --
      "Dancing is the vertical expression of a horizontal desire" --Robert Frost
    10. Re:College age crowd? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No one above 16 watches MTV. When you get a car you get rescued from MTV. You dont have to sit around at home all day hoping that they will actually play one entire video without screeming girls on Time Square.

  13. Say it ain't so? by Brontosaurus+Jim · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Damn, doesn't MTV remember the past? They've tried this sort of thing before, and where did it get them. I think it was in 95 or 96, they considered releasing a similarly themed "Media Box" that was part laser disc, part cd player, part tape deck, part vcr, etc, etc

    Needless to say it failed (You don't see any around anymore, do you?). During it's short lifespan (Remember those annoying commercials with the flashing colors and slow, loud beat?), a friend of mine picked one up.

    I've never seen a worse piece of consumer grade electronics in my life. The laser for the cd must have been loose or something, because it would skip on just about every damn cd. And the tech support? It was a nightmare.

    Basically my friend was told to bugger off because they had stopped production. In the warrenty it covered against this, so he was SOL.

    And now they want to try this sort of thing again? God I hope they do a better job.

    1. Re:Say it ain't so? by Joe+the+Lesser · · Score: 0

      Dude, I have one of those in my basement. It wigged out after a few weeks and I paid $1300 dollars for it. I should have paid extra for the warranty clause, but it looked so cool. It was fun while it lasted, but MTV should just stick to the shameless promotion of horrible music because they're not cut out for the business of technology.

      --
      "I only speak the truth"
      Karma: null(Mostly affected by an unassigned variable)
    2. Re:Say it ain't so? by TheCrazyBassist · · Score: 1

      WOW!! I thought I was the only one to remeber these! I usually dont post on this site (as per lack of anything interesting to say) but I HAD to reply to this! A friends uncle had one and I always heard good about it, I picked one up at a flea market a few years back, unfortunately it hasnt gotten much use. I dont own any laser dics or VHS tapes really except for some old Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoons I taped when I was younger. It isnt too bad, has a tendency to jam up often though. The cd player skips way too much so I use my computer for that. Over all Id say it was a good idea gone bad, glad to see theyre rethinking a classic.

      --
      Duane The Crazy Bassist
    3. Re:Say it ain't so? by demaria · · Score: 4, Insightful

      "Remember those annoying commercials with the flashing colors and slow, loud beat?"

      You've just described....every MTV commercial, ever. :)

      Although failure the first time around doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't try again, after learning which mistakes you made in the past.

    4. Re:Say it ain't so? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The group that is going into collage right now is the largest single maketing demographic in the US today, biger than their younger sibs (generation z) or their older sibs (generation x). MTV is simply sticking with their current audence rather than rolling it over for a smaller one.

    5. Re:Say it ain't so? by aka-ed · · Score: 1

      Needless to say it failed (You don't see any around anymore, do you?).

      I saw one yesterday at Fry's (North Hollywood, CA). I laffed my head off at it, and posted a pic higher up in this thread (look for my Funny:5 post).

      --
      I survived the Dick Cheney Presidency 7 to 9 AM 7-21-07
    6. Re:Say it ain't so? by plimsoll · · Score: 1
      I remember being boggled as a kid seeing commercials for another weird MTV crossover product: The MTV LeRun Sit-Down Skate Bike

      Does anyone else remember this POS from the mid-80's? It was a super-deformed hybrid unicycle/skateboard. You heard me. Slather it with 'radical' pastel colors and copious Mtv branding and you've got yourself an MTV LeRun.

      I tried googling/ebaying the names and the best I could find was the original Malaysian manufacturer (who has since moved on to different products) and this wistful page by some kid who won one back in '89.

      And for the record, I lost touch with MTV right around the time they stopped syndicating Monty Python reruns and started developing their own abhorrent programming to replace their purported raison dêtre of music videos.

      --
      Snickersnee3: Build your own 3-watt Luxeon Star headlamp from scratch
  14. a failure? dont count on it by Terry+Dignon · · Score: 0

    mtv speciliazing in making music/entertainment oriented pc's is not bound for failure. look at falcon and alienware..both of them base 90% of their sales on hardcore gaming machines. oh and pardon the typos ;-)

  15. exploding brain cells by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    exactly what does that feel like?

  16. Wrong Audience by fleabag · · Score: 3, Interesting

    People at college...

    - Have lots of spare time
    - Don't have much money
    - Are subject to a LOT of peer pressure in respect of the technology/clothes/whatever they own.

    MTV aim to satisfy them by:

    - Stopping them from ripping their friends CDs
    - Appealing to "convenience" (look, you don't have to waste time with normal PCs and that Linux stuff...)
    - Guaranteeing that they will have the credibility in class of an AOLer

    Am I the only person who sees something strange in this...or do you need a qualification in marketing to see how this works?

    1. Re:Wrong Audience by HoaryCripple · · Score: 5, Funny

      So true. I would not be caught dead with one of these bimbo boxes. But you know what, many college students have no freaking clue about computer hardware. Hard to believe in this day and age huh? So these people are the ones targeted. They will buy the stupid mtv computer, and marginalize the the crowd that knows hardware (not that this isn't already the case) as a bunch of quacks/dorks.

      When you say that college students are subject to peer pressure -- I don't think that the hardware saavy (sp?) individuals are exerting peer pressure on anyone other than their hardware saavy friends.

      Speaking of peer pressure, I am reminded of the time three other friends and I were in a bar. My one friend was kicking it to some woman, and my other two friends and I were talking to her somewhat cute friend (another female). Well, I was inebriated, and so naturally the topic changed to operating systems. In an uncanny moment of smoothness, I asked her if she used Windows. You can guess that she said "yes." I immediately replied that people who use Windows are idiots. Well, that pissed her off, but the amazing thing was that my other two friends joined in ripping on her because of her choice in operating system. What a fiasco that turned out to be for my (normal) friend who was hitting on the other woman. Needless to say both women left.

      And if you're wondering, It's GNU/Linux all the way baby.

    2. Re:Wrong Audience by nomadic · · Score: 1


      - Are subject to a LOT of peer pressure in respect of the technology/clothes/whatever they own.

      Whoa, you lost me. That was the thing I loved about college, the whole silly peer pressure thing mostly disappeared. I went to a couple different schools (had a tendency to transfer), and it was the same for all of them.

    3. Re:Wrong Audience by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Well, I was inebriated, and so naturally the topic changed to operating systems. In an uncanny moment of smoothness, I asked her if she used Windows. You can guess that she said "yes." I immediately replied that people who use Windows are idiots. Well, that pissed her off, but the amazing thing was that my other two friends joined in ripping on her because of her choice in operating system.

      This is perhaps the most pathetic thing I've ever read on Slashdot. I'm not sure which is worse, though -- that you ripped on her choice of operating systems, or that you even brought the topic of OSs up in the first place.

    4. Re:Wrong Audience by HoaryCripple · · Score: 1

      Relax, man. Not everyone is in it to pick up chicks all the time. If the woman was saying anything marginally interesting, maybe I would not have brought up the topic of operating systems. As it stands, that was one of my favorite experiences at a bar. And you know what, I would do it again in a heartbeat if the opportunity presented itself again. Just to see the utter disbelief in the persons face is well worth it.

    5. Re:Wrong Audience by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ahh.. Another Slashbot prevented from breading. It's a beautiful site.

    6. Re:Wrong Audience by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I immediately replied that people who use Windows are idiots.

      Wow. I'll bet you get laid ALL THE TIME.

    7. Re:Wrong Audience by HoaryCripple · · Score: 1

      Ahh.. Another Slashbot prevented from breading. It's a beautiful site.

      Man, that's funny.

    8. Re:Wrong Audience by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That is absolutly hilarious! I gota post a link to your post on troll talk.

    9. Re:Wrong Audience by nettdata · · Score: 2

      Who knows, maybe they're marketting to the parents of the college crowd. Maybe the folks will think "hey, MTV is cool, so this should be too... little Johnny will love it." After all, how many college kids can actually afford to buy themselves a computer? I can totally see this as being a high school graduation gift.

      Let's face it, parents tend not to be at ALL clued into what they're kids like or don't like. There's a reason my folks give me music gift certificates for X'Mas.

      That being said, I don't think it'll fly at all.

      Unless there's a chance to win a kegger-date with Brittany Spears!

      --



      $0.02 (CDN)
    10. Re:Wrong Audience by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Very Funny. I have gotten onto computer conversations with women before too. Most recently an IT head hunter I met at a bar. We started talking and I think I pretty much offended her when I told her programming was far supperior than IT-bitch (windows installer type stuff). For the most part, I tell them I am a computer geek and end it there. Many girls think that is cute, especially if you do not look the part. If they want to know more, they can ask me. Besides, most girls I date think having a computer means having windows.

    11. Re:Wrong Audience by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >Ahh.. Another Slashbot prevented from breading. It's a beautiful site.

      I've heard that many slashdotters don't go to cooking school, so perhaps you're right.

      I hope you enjoy the cullinary arts!

    12. Re:Wrong Audience by elefantstn · · Score: 5, Funny
      Well, I was inebriated, and so naturally the topic changed to operating systems.


      Just think about that for a minute.
      --
      If it ain't broke, you need more software.
    13. Re:Wrong Audience by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What on earth could she have been talking about that was duller than operating systems?

    14. Re:Wrong Audience by heartstab · · Score: 0

      I thought I was the only one who did that. I feel vindicated.

    15. Re:Wrong Audience by aka-ed · · Score: 1

      If you had insulted a guy, would that make a story worth repeating? Why do you suppose cruelty toward a woman is amusing to the /. audience?

      --
      I survived the Dick Cheney Presidency 7 to 9 AM 7-21-07
    16. Re:Wrong Audience by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      MTV

    17. Re:Wrong Audience by haruharaharu · · Score: 2

      Now I don't feel so bad. At least when I get buzzed, I dance with women

      --
      Reboot macht Frei.
    18. Re:Wrong Audience by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes I could see the humor in a woman getting drunk, and telling me that people who use Linux are idiots.

    19. Re:Wrong Audience by Queer+Boy · · Score: 1
      If you had insulted a guy, would that make a story worth repeating? Why do you suppose cruelty toward a woman is amusing to the /. audience?
      Why do you suppose your sexist comments are worth reading by the /. audience?
      --
      Not since Marie-Antoinette played milkmaid has looking simple and honest been so fake and complicated.
    20. Re:Wrong Audience by aka-ed · · Score: 1

      What are you smoking? I was making a point that the story would probably not be regarded as "funny" if he had insulted a guy. That makes me sexist exactly how? I don't think his story is funny any way you look at it.

      --
      I survived the Dick Cheney Presidency 7 to 9 AM 7-21-07
    21. Re:Wrong Audience by Queer+Boy · · Score: 1

      It makes you sexist by promoting the idea that men and women should be treated differently. Saying it would not be funny if it were about a man is the exact definition. Sexist

      --
      Not since Marie-Antoinette played milkmaid has looking simple and honest been so fake and complicated.
    22. Re:Wrong Audience by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Did you work on the Windows project?

    23. Re:Wrong Audience by incacola · · Score: 1

      "If the woman was saying anything marginally interesting" - this means: computer, OS, linux?

    24. Re:Wrong Audience by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hahaha! Troll...

      Peer pressure in college? What college did you go to? Bob's High School Dropout College?

    25. Re:Wrong Audience by gpinzone · · Score: 1

      Of course not. If he had insulted a guy he would have gotten a punch in the mouth. But since he's too much of a coward to talk that way to a man, this is the best story he can tell. That is, unless you count the time he pushed an eight-year old off his bike because the kid said, "Linux is for doo-doo heads!"

    26. Re:Wrong Audience by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are nuts. My contention is that if the story isn't "funny" when its about a man, the same story about a woman isn't funny either.

  17. MTV :: The name, not the product. by 2nesser · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Anyone dumb enough to buy this system (there are many out there that we all know) is going to be an impulse buyer. They won't do any homework on what system to get nor will they care.

    I like music, and I like the idea's of having a radio and tv tuner in my box. But I won't pay the cash that MTV (or whoever building these systems) is bound to charge when I can put them in myself for a lot less.

    For those out there who know nothing of computers, they will happily follow each other over the cliff like mindless zombies, just as they do today with Micro$ofts products. It's all about marketing and creating a WANT when people don't NEED it. Maybe that crazy movie Fight Club was right?

    I've always wanted one of those hotwheel computers! =)

    1. Re:MTV :: The name, not the product. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Maybe that crazy movie Fight Club was right?

      Yes, it is.

      While waiting for a one of my applications to compile this morning, my eyes drifted to the "Fight Club" DVD that I left in the den. Anyway, there's an insanely wonderful quote that reads...
      Fight Club rages against the hyposcrisy of a society that continually promises us the impossible: fame, beauty, wealth, immortality, life without pain...
      Anyway, this product (or whatever they're attempting to accomplish) will only go the way of "yet-another-product-to-be-forgotten-by-next-year" -- what a waste of time, money, and energy.


      Brian
      reflections of my imagination
  18. Paying for the logo... by outlier · · Score: 2, Insightful
    I can see someone buying one brand of endorsed sneaker because they are different from other sneakers. Sure, [famous player] endorses them, but they have unique properties that aren't available in other shoes (e.g., the cool patterns and pumps and stuff).

    But, with a PC with publicized (and easily duplicated) specs, where's the benefit. If they add anything to the price for the "MTV" logo without adding some extra software or cool design features, there's nothing to stop Dell and every other computer manufacturer from creating their own "Compare to" models with equally cool colors, etc...

    Where's the benefit?

    1. Re:Paying for the logo... by gatesh8r · · Score: 1
      I've always wondered about this... like for example spray-painting some old 386's with some pop culture logos ("Check this out!!! I'z got for you a computer from da GAP!") then sell them off at a high price proclaiming how hip it was to be back in the '70s using UNIX. Say, like... oh, $1500 for this "cool" computer.

      Anyway, it was only an idea :-) It'd probably work... that's the sad part

      --
      Karma whorin' since 1999
    2. Re:Paying for the logo... by damiam · · Score: 2

      People pay money for Air Jordans, but they also pay money for Tommy Hilfiger t-shirts that are just normal shirts with a logo. It's more important to them to have a "cool" shirt or PC with the right logo than to have an equally decent one at 1/4 the price.

      --
      It's hard to be religious when certain people are never incinerated by bolts of lightning.
    3. Re:Paying for the logo... by grazzy · · Score: 1

      hey, air jordans and tommy hilfiger products have a much higher quality than common sneakers and t-shirts!!

      thats why i pay 4x the price for such nice products. expensive = quality, im sure the mtv-box will have the same concept.

    4. Re:Paying for the logo... by Jaysyn · · Score: 2

      Enter the mindless consumer....

      Jaysyn

      --
      There is a war going on for your mind.
    5. Re:Paying for the logo... by joyrider · · Score: 1

      "Things are only fashionable when someone else says they are. Do you really need to be told? You only want things because you are made to want them. There is no such thing as 'fashionable' or 'unfashionable', the fashion industry is a sick lie created to maximise sales. Overcome manufactured desire"

  19. ::yawns:: by Com2Kid · · Score: 1

    I'm sorry, did somebody say something? I was just freely and legaly downloading some GOOD music from www.mp3.com (hint: Its all under the classical section).

    The only good thing that MTV has is Celebrity Deathmatch.

    Hmm

    ::begins to imagine the PPG in CDM::

    KICK ASS!

  20. Why is this on slashdot ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    1. it has been posted everywhere else for two days
    2. do nerds watch MTV ?
    3. is it stuff that matters ?

    1. Re:Why is this on slashdot ? by TheKey · · Score: 1

      My GOD! Just shut up! If you don't like a story, why the fuck did you clicking on 'Read more..' and posting a reply? I'm so tired of all the bitchers (and trolls, all those other people too) on slashdot. GAH!

      Do you think that made you look COOL or something? Are you trying to be a troll? If so.. how fucking unoriginal! The word lame comes to mind.

      .. glad I got that off my chest.

      --
      My Journal - 1,337 fans and countin
    2. Re:Why is this on slashdot ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My GOD! Just shut up! If you did not like his posting, why fuck did you reply and bitcher him out when you does not know THE ENGLISH! GAH!

      Do you think that make you looking of COOL or something? If so... how is fucking original! The word illiterate comes to mind.

    3. Re:Why is this on slashdot ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My GOD! Just shut up! If you did not like his posting, why fuck did you reply and bitcher him out when you does not know THE ENGLISH! GAH!

      Do you think that make you looking of COOL or something? If so... how is fucking original! The word illiterate comes to mind.

    4. Re:Why is this on slashdot ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My GOD! Just shut up! If you did not like his posting, why fuck did you reply and bitcher him out when you does not know THE ENGLISH! GAH!

      Do you think that make you looking of COOL or something? If so... how is fucking original! The word illiterate comes to mind.

    5. Re:Why is this on slashdot ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My GOD! Just shut up! If you did not like his posting, why fuck did you reply and bitcher him out when you does not know THE ENGLISH! GAH!

      Do you think that make you looking of COOL or something? If so... how is fucking original! The word illiterate comes to mind.

  21. At $1800 these are gonna DIE! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1


    Gee, I don't see ANYTHING compelling
    about a $1800 MTV entertainment box!

    Maybe at $299... or $399... perhaps
    even at $499 ...

    BUT NO WAY for $1800! What a RIP.

    1. Re:At $1800 these are gonna DIE! by Jennifer+Ever · · Score: 1

      Perhaps 2 years from now for $10 at Goodwill, eh?

    2. Re:At $1800 these are gonna DIE! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I still wanna fuck the taste outta your mouth, you humped over retarded whore!

    3. Re:At $1800 these are gonna DIE! by Jennifer+Ever · · Score: 1

      Quoting Prince will get you nowhere.

  22. Sounds familiar by NetJunkie · · Score: 2, Funny

    That sounds like the geeks on here and Slashdot....

  23. Tsar = moron^H^H^H^H^Hcool person by billybob · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Wow, thanks for all the links. If you hadn't linked to cnn's front page twice, I wouldn't have known how to get there. WHo wouldve thought cnn.com would be the address for cnn?

    Also youre joke concerning the ^H's was extremely not^H^H^H funny. You should not^H^H^H give up your day job to become a comedian.

    --
    Joseph?
    1. Re:Tsar = moron^H^H^H^H^Hcool person by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      For those who are CLI challenged:

      Also youre [sic you are; or you're] joke concerning the's was extremely funny. You should give up your day job to become a comedian.

      Ok. Now that we have the clear.

  24. Stands A Chance, Given Correct Marketing.. by Splat · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I think it's most important we look past our obvious hatred of MTV (I concur with all previous posts) and look at the technology behind this idea.

    I for one would love an all-in-one box with a custom designed UI that did DVD/TV/Radio/Music with a remote that I wouldn't have to build.

    Sure you can buy yourself an ATI All-In-One Card, use some software (or for your geeks, string together some perl scripts), purchase a serial port remote control doohickey and spend forever configuring it - but you won't get the same desired result.

    This is similar to TiVo. Sure, I can use my ATI Card to record TV show, but my PC is not optimized for TV watching. A dedicated appliance that can provide all this stuff for the non-PC literate is a very marketable idea.

    A previous most mentioned the college audience is the wrong target - and I think you're correct. The market they should really be aiming for is the teen crowd. I'm not, and never was part of the MTV demographic but the appeal of a cool little machine that can play my new Britney Spears DVD and record TRL (Carson is so hot! WH000000!) is probably something that appeals to a lot of teenyboppers.

    Time will tell if those goes the way of the Barbie PC. I hope for the success of neat all-in-one integrated devices for the average consumer, but I have the gut-feeling of impending doom for such a venture.

    But hey, maybe all those castoff MTV Boxes will make neat hacking toys in a a year or so.

  25. DRM by cdgod · · Score: 2

    After researching DRM last semester, I have come to the conclusion that it is not all that bad...

    Only when it is implemented by adding value to the USER not the record label. The following criteria must exists for DRM to become marketable:

    - cheaper/faster content access
    - Access to new content along with vast library of everything that has ever been created. All available instantly.
    - higher quality content than currently available in consumer market
    - user choice in usage of content (rights specification)
    - highly secure to user privacy - total commitment required by company
    - easy to use (invisible to user)
    - transparancy in rules/policies
    - high quality products with vast 3rd party developer support
    - market company's trust and dedication to user's needs - NOT company's needs

    These are only some... but as you can see, there is failure from the beginning in DRM. In its current state DRM is a tool for corporations, not customers. That is why it WILL fail. (Divx anyone).

    Frank

    --
    This .Sig is left intentionally humourless.
    1. Re:DRM by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      The only rights I want to pay for are for the consumers:
      - being able to rip MP3, DivX etc out of disks that I purchase.
      - being able to exchange for damaged media
      - being able to play the contents wherever, whenever on whatever player of my chosing.

  26. Article on The Register by beebware · · Score: 2, Informative
  27. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 2

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  28. Too many choices. by cooperj72 · · Score: 1
    Now I'll have to choose between the new overpriced iMac and the MTV PC.
    Gosh this is gonna be a tough decision.

    Oh wait a minute I just realized that if I am looking at either of these solutions I have way too much money anyway!
    Excellent!

    -J

    1. Re:Too many choices. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Which would you rather have for 1800 bucks.

      A) The MTV logo?

      B) A flat screen monitor, a dvd burner, a computer that isn't butt ugly, firewire ports, did I mention a computer that isn't but ugly?, oh yea and a BSD based OS

  29. Going to be a flop ... by TheViffer · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The PCs should ship in the first half of the year and are likely to be priced starting at about $1800

    Targeting 18-to-24-year-olds,

    Hummm .. last time I check the majority of college students can not drop $1800 for a "products centered around video-game play" (direct quote). During that time for me .. things like food and a roof over my head were considered luxuries.

    I am curious, is MTV going to have a show dedicated to explaining to these mindless fools on how to beg and whine to have your parents buy one for you? Get student loans to pay for it .. or lists of credit card companies to apply to get those nice plastic cards to buy it.

    This shall die a long and painful death as MTV executives try to figure out why there marketing is not getting these to sell. Guess that means the 1 total hour of music videos a day they show will need to get cut back to 30 minutes to allow space for more advertising.

    --
    -- Knowing too much can get you killed, but knowing who knows too much can make you rich.
  30. How Does MTV Survive? by istartedi · · Score: 2

    Seriously? They were cool during the 80s, then it seemed like there was a transition where they stopped playing videos and started doing sucky shows.

    Is this channel a bore now because I'm approaching middle age, or is there something else going on? Can anybody who watches MTV explain the appeal? MTV was something special in its day because they played stuff the radio didn't. The internet had (perhaps still has) the potential to shake up music in a positive way, but hasn't yet. Hint: It won't happen by weazeling around copyright.

    I was thinking that what we need is something like a Slashdot for music, where artists could stream selected songs at no charge to promote their album in exchange for giving the website exclusive rights to the CD sales, with a percentage to the artist and a percentage to the site. It would have a user/feedback moderation like Slashdot. You would also have to have a mechanism for category creation in the event that a truly novel form of music came along. I'm not sure what you would do about radio. Maybe the site would just charge radio stations a flat fee or make that a giveaway too. Hasn't anybody tried that, and if so, why did it fail?

    --
    For all intensive purposes, "whom" is no longer a word. That begs the question, "who cares"?
    1. Re:How Does MTV Survive? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sex. MTV sells Sex. It's soft core porn for teens who don't know about IRC.

    2. Re:How Does MTV Survive? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      MTV began to suck ass when they started playing suck ass music. When hip-hop, MC Hammer, Vanilla Ice, et al. were the age, MTV started to suck.

      Then they went to do the only thing that could possibly make it suck more: play suck ass shows. TRL. Spring Break (I can't tell you how often I have mentally flooded MTV Isle with a 100' explosion induced tidal wave, while someone demands to watch that innane POS at a get-together.).

      BTW, MP3.com was (and is stil largely) about the idea in your post. However, as a musician, I could hardly see myself signing over responsibility (copyright, essentially--and something that MP3.com has no part of) of my beloved music to another financially motivated entity. Did I mention that I hate the RIAA?

    3. Re:How Does MTV Survive? by JWhiton · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Well, I'm a bit cynical about all this, but here's my theory:

      MTV built itself up in the 80s as being a cool, rebellious channel that played all sorts of music. Because old habits die hard, they still have this reputation today. I think that somewhere along the line, MTV's bottom line changed from playing music videos to being a profitable corporation. Marketing became the controlling force, and if a show wasn't generating buzz or good ratings it would be axed. Anyone remember Headbanger's Ball?

      So then comes along shows like The Real World. People watched them, and MTV decided to experiment a little more with what people would watch. As I recall, in the early 90s they experimented with animated shows like Aeon Flux and Beavis & Butthead. But on the whole, shows like Road Rules probably got higher ratings than videos, as well as being a better target for merchandising.

      I think MTV today is just a further reflection of this trend. It has little or nothing to do with music any more, it's just shows that are designed to be watched by a certain demographic (teens who need someone to tell them what's cool). Unfortunately, that demographic isn't terribly intelligent, and the shows reflect that. MTV will never take a risk on anything that would potentially bring them lower ratings and less advertising cash.

      Or maybe I'm just completely off-base. You be the judge!

    4. Re:How Does MTV Survive? by Spades_ · · Score: 1

      I think you said it yourself, your approaching middle age and you just don't see what MTV has to offer. I don't think middle age folks are the target audience that MTV tries to attract, although you grew up with it, MTV hasn't, it will always market to the younger teen folks and apparently, they don't really care as much about music videos but prefer the shows that MTV puts on since that seems to be what's selling these days...

    5. Re:How Does MTV Survive? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As a 17 year old I can explain. They sold out. The original people that ran MTV actually cared about doing something different. The people that came in later cared about making a profit. If you show videos you dont keep viewers. TV shows are generic and they apeal to people that like all different kinds of music. You make more money that way.

    6. Re:How Does MTV Survive? by nemui-chan · · Score: 1

      I think your totally right. They probably cared about showing videos when they started, and like every other video channel ever made, when they started getting a paycheck, they said "Videos? We want more money!" And like all the poor suckers that still watch MtV... a bunch of suckers are going to buy those stupid pcs... Probably more often than not with daddy's money thats sending them to school ;p

    7. Re:How Does MTV Survive? by Orange+Amphibian · · Score: 1
      I think most people in there 20s are clued in to the suckness that is Viacom(aka. Mtv)

      It's good that Mtv is offering a product to the few who aren't. The ones who will drool over B. Spears even though she just looks like a chick at the mall. The ones who will buy an m&m[sic] record because he's "bad ass" even though he's a dude that sings for a living.

      It's good that Mtv offers a product to help these kids with their school work. They're gonna need it.

  31. The error message when you start it the first time by Y-Crate · · Score: 1

    "ERROR: An error has occured. Reinstall Windows, or even Linux, man, WTF is this "MTV-Specific" shit? Get it off my hard drive platter any way you can! Please?"

  32. MTV Will do Amazing with This by Ieshan · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'm in college now, and I have to tell you, MTV will do amazing with this if they promote it the right way.

    Most college-age guys and girls want nothing more than to write papers and play music on. Sure, it's an amazing waste of processing power, but that's all they want.

    If it says Windows, the goons think "Word", and if it says MTV, the goons think "Music". Word and Music, that's the only reason they need the PC anyway.

    The internet is a big factor, but people are slowly starting to realize that the internet is available anywhere with a connection, and isn't PC dependant at all. They're still shaky on the music and processing part, for some reason.

    Oh well, I expect to see dozens of these in the dorm room next year.

    1. Re:MTV Will do Amazing with This by Howie · · Score: 1

      ummm, because your roommate deals on the black market? Why would one dorm room have dozens?

      --
      "don't fall into the fallacy of believing that Perl can solve social problems. Maybe Perl 6 can, but that's a ways off"
  33. Why no console? by ebbomega · · Score: 2, Insightful

    As mentioned before, a thematic PC has already been proven to be a load of crap, basically toys for overpriviledged kids *coughBarbiecoughHotwheelscough*. While this does appeal more to the College/High-School generation that has a big sale rate for computers (Common graduation gift, I spose), understand that they are going to be buying them for that purpose: College and High school... so the odds of getting an entertainment-based system over something with a bit more practicality are slightly lower.

    So the question is here: Why not just make an entertainment-based Console computer? Honestly, stop trying to make them PCs and come up with the Nintendo/MTV MusicCube or something like that... Be a helluva lot cheaper and thusly more likely that you're going to make some kind of dent on the market itself...

    Then again, you could just buy an X-box...

    --
    Karma: Non-Heinous
  34. Tuners = F'in useless by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why even bother? You can't do anything with a tuner these days. All video content is being hidden behind those stupid proprietary recievers. Satellite, digital cable, even regular analog cable...none of them are in the clear any more.

    You might as well just put three or four sets of AV inputs instead...or better yet, some kind of IR transmitter (not just receiver) to help control these mysterious black boxes.

  35. The only saving grace by da_Den_man · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Is the fact they they chose the AMD Athlon Series of chips to build these waste - of -space devices. That doesn't in any way account for the prices however. $1800 dollars is way too much for this type of system. if they were really inclined, a person could put one togther for less than $500. Just my .02

    --
    You keep going until you die..."Me".
    1. Re:The only saving grace by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      if they were really inclined, a person could put one togther for less than $500.

      According to Dell, Gateway, and Compaq, few people are so inclined. 99% of the population doesn't build PCs. That's why companies can get away with high prices like that.

      Of course 99% of Slashdotters don't know this, and think that anyone who would pay to have someone build their PC for them is brain dead (actually, /.ers would put it in far more vulgar terms, but you get the point), which is why every story about the new mp3 player/Tivo clone/iMac/whatever gets 300 "I can do the same for $20, and it'll run LINUX" posts. For the last time, consumer stuff isn't intended for l33t hax0rs!

  36. It could work (and porcine lifeforms may aviate) by xixax · · Score: 2

    Though I much doubt it. You could expect reasonable demand for something that would let you grab music from MTV's catalogue or build personalised play-lists which could then be dumped onto a digital walkman or your car. If it's an end-to-end proprietary solution similar to the revocable certificates .NET is talking about, they can placate the music publishers and even get them an income stream. Even I would consider paying for a personalised MTV.

    Why it won't work: Rather than an appliance (ala TiVo or an XBox), they are putting in a PC which will be much more expensive to buy and altogether a greater PITA to support. Even for audio only, I'd hate to have this thing hooked up to anything other than a broadband connection; people don't expect to wait 30 minutes for a song to download when they start their radio, and they sure don't want video clips that stop and start. They'll also have to rely on a lot of technology (content control for a start) that is scarcely beyond vapourware.

    If it was a hardware manufacturer with a rcord for delivering consumer PCs maybe, but MTV???

    Xix.

    --
    "Everything is adjustable, provided you have the right tools"
  37. Correlation? by satanami69 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Just how much Silicon can one company push?

    --
    I really hate Dan Patrick.
    1. Re:Correlation? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just wait until you see the Baywatch PC.

      Oh wait, that's silicone.

  38. eh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is actually kind of a good move for MTV.
    MTV is supposedly geared torward college kids and most new college kids need computers.

  39. What it will look like by KirTakat · · Score: 4, Informative

    They are saying the pc will be produced by Lan Plus, so this is probably what it will be.

    --
    /* Of course I'm real, but can you prove it? */
    1. Re:What it will look like by aka-ed · · Score: 1

      MOD PARENT UP RIGHT NOW.

      In fact, downmod everything above this post, so this will come up as FP!

      this shows the extent to which the news media, even legit outfits like CNN, are willing to cut'n'paste a news release.

      The High Likelihood is that all MTV is doing is signing a marketing agreement that will put their logo on the thing. Same as they did with the "singing machine" (see my previous links to that horror).

      --
      I survived the Dick Cheney Presidency 7 to 9 AM 7-21-07
    2. Re:What it will look like by MikeD83 · · Score: 0

      Good call, I bet you are right.
      I only hope they upgrade the memory (curently 99MB) to at least 128MB. Since this is marketed to college kids it really should have a built in ethernet card. And since this is MTV they should upgrade the sound system- decent audio card/on board plus the speakers definately need some work.
      If this computer used the Nvidia nForce design this would be a multimedia powerhouse. It is actually a perfect application for the mobo. It was meant for the low-price market but gives very good quality. Any college kid needs good graphics for his games, and 5.1 dolby surround for his/her movies. Than all the added features such as a tv/radio tuner. This PC may be the ultimate box for any living room. w00t!

    3. Re:What it will look like by El+Linuxero · · Score: 1

      This might be close to what the unit will be like, but the CNN article explains that it will have an AMD Athlon XP, while your link shows a "Fully Configured Intel Pentium III PC" configuration.
      Nevertheless, good link, to give us a clue, and for once, the moderators have done right by somebody...

      --
      --El Linuxero
  40. Re:This HAS to be said by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  41. Review of Vanilla Sky by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In the end we find out that it was all just a lucid dream while he is in a cryogenic chamber.
    Good movie though.

  42. What happened to MTV? by starz · · Score: 1

    Is it more profitable to be the way they are now? It's like the "old MTV" sold their soul and...well, MTV is just poop now. I was watching the 20 year anniversary special and they had some cool shit! Headbangers Ball, The Head, Beavis and Butthead, Liquid TV...and now you can't find anything on MTV that is somewhat chancy for them to put on TV (except for some fat ass on some rap video).

    I switched to much music (at least they have somewhat better music) and I'm sure M2 might be better than both MTV and Much but for now I'd guess I'll stick when Anti-Pop videos.

  43. MTV Pentium 6 introduced by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The new MTV P6 is a really cool computer. My ass smells funny also.

  44. You know what by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The ctrl-H thing might have been funny in 1989 when it was first used, but now it screams WANNABEEEEE

  45. Re:The Digital Music player has a chance..[part 2] by zlowry · · Score: 1

    Wow!

    It's truly amazing the amount of time that people on here have on their hands. Of course, noone will really ever read all of that, since it's modded down to -1, but still, you put the effort into it, and that sure says something. Wow.

    And yes, I am familiar with the American Family, but my goal was not to write an essay. Apparently you did, you submitted the first draft, then went and did some more research, and turned in a second draft. I'm so very proud. Maybe Santa Claus will bring you a new bicycle when you turn 13 this year.

    BTW don't you DARE think that you will recieve another response. Like I said, I have a life, I don't read stuff that's modded down to 1, like you did with my stupid comment. Boy, did you ever show me! Wow!

  46. Don't Laugh by Chibi · · Score: 2

    I don't understand why the Slashdot crowd is so jaded by this. Yeah, this development won't really apply to anyone here, but that's not the market that MTV is targeting with this.

    They are going for the average user, one that doesn't care about having the latest AMD (rather than Intel) processor, a DVD-ROM without hardware-level region-coding, etc, etc. As someone else pointed out, they want the users that just want something to type their papers, check e-mail, browse, run some P2P app, and watch DVDs. And there are plenty more of these people than there are of us (and they have plenty of disposable income that can be spent on things after they get their computers).

    Who's to say that this new media doesn't catch on for whatever God-awful reason, and we slowly see other companies following the lead here and the media catches on? (dumber things have happened)

    And it's definitely possible that MTV is not trying to take over the computer industry with this. They are probably looking at a way to extend their brand into other arenas and make some money along the way. They've got a strong brand name, and as more of the younger generation get online, it's a logical step for them. They are already using e-mail and their web site to develop large fan communities. And the members of these communities have plenty of money to spend.

    MTV will be laughing...all the way to the bank.

    --
    If all you have are silver bullets, everything looks like a werewolf.
  47. Product Placement??!? by Keyser_Lives · · Score: 1

    Tonight on Jackass: Watch as Johnny tries to upgrade the RAM on his new MTVBox using only his teeth! (subtle plug) Then watch in amazement as wee man spends hours playing MTV Solitaire (on his new MTVBox, of course...) - ON HIS OWN!!!. Dave tried to upgrade the HD without a static guard. Laugh at his misery as he lives in a world without his MTVBox!!! Imagine, a world without the MTVBox!! What will his friends say?!?!? Don't let this happen to you! Get mom to buy three today! (less subtle plug...) Please do not submit video tapes of yourself doing the same, as they are not funny. Now buy the damn thing.

  48. Dibs on the Martha Quinn box!!!!! by Electronic_castaway · · Score: 1

    You figure that eventually PCs are going to be the memorabilia lunchbox of the 21st century. With that article today about Build Your Own Mini-Computer The Tom's Hardware Article it's more then obvious someone is going to capitalize on the disposable PC market.

    By 2025 their gonna be selling them on Ebay as collectables

  49. Re:The Digital Music player has a chance..[part 2] by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    why don't you two homos take your affair into email so the rest of /. can wank off in peace?

  50. College crowd? Yeah, right! by bigdreamer · · Score: 1

    The PCs should ship in the first half of the year and are likely to be priced starting at about $1,800, according to an MTV spokesperson.

    If the CNN article is accurate, this is going to flop just because of the price. Most college students don't have $1800 to drop on a computer, and I doubt their parents are going to chip in for such a ripoff.

    College students download songs because they don't want to buy an entire $16 CD for 1 or 2 decent songs on the album. So I don't expect them to pay extra for programs that already come with the average computer.

    One of the first things students learn when they get into college is the value of the word free (as in beer), no matter how much their parents make.

  51. OT: I beg for an explanation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What the hell is with "^H", like in built-in digital rights denial^H^H^H^H^H^Hmanagement?

    1. Re:OT: I beg for an explanation by grishnav · · Score: 1

      ^H is the ASCII (??) character for backspace. ^? is also used on some systems, along with a few others... Basically it's like writing a correction into the statement without taking what was originally there. It's meant, in this case, to be a joke... He started to write digital rights denial and changed it, at the last minute, to management, for politically correct reasons... Ha, ha. I've only seen like two instances where this was actually very funny ;-)

  52. 'MTV-specific' content? by Nathdot · · Score: 2

    Targeting the college-age crowd, they'll have... ...'MTV-specific' content

    So what is this special new 'MTV-specific' content? Does the MTV PC actually allow you to see 'Music Videos' on MTV or something?

    :)

    1. Re:'MTV-specific' content? by wirefarm · · Score: 2

      So what is this special new 'MTV-specific' content?

      It's called "Advertising".

      --
      -- My Weblog.
  53. Whine anyone? by ImaLamer · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I know this will be taken as a troll, or flame-bait. But here I go.

    Everyone has put down MTV, the MTV computer idea, and so much more. It goes to show one thing:

    Computer geeks don't get pop culture

    Someone above posted:
    Even if you are a college student, would you want your computer to come from a channel that headlines a show where people pierce their asses? Not me, I just don't see this idea being sucessful.

    I guess that person doesn't realize that many, many people watch that show [Jackass]. MTV is way more than just a shiny things type of network. It's young 'veejays' are usually working 100 times harder behind the scenes. It's movie awards, while a comedy show, has really challanged the Oscars by giving awards to movies that the majority actually like. The Matrix would be a good example. No doubt that movie was a hit, but no nod from the academy.

    If anyone is closer to what is on the minds of the public [from age 11-2?] than MTV, where are they? No doubt their success is proof.

    Will this venture work? Maybe not. But if they got these machines hooked up to a broadband connection - it could be another MTV.

    Remember, music artists spend millions to put their music on TV when they receive no immediate reward. Computers offer much more than TV.

    I think free music would be one big draw. And even without DRM it would keep some piracy at bay. Think a thousand mp3 streams at your finger tips. MTV has the money and power to put that together.

    Most college students I know are downloading mp3s and using P2P just to have something to listen to.

    If they don't try to make this a computer, and more of an appliance that plays music, movies and videos... it could work.

    Just something to think about.

    1. Re:Whine anyone? by Maul · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Your post makes sense, except that many college
      students are beyond the "do whatever MTV tells me"
      mentality. Of course, maybe I'm wrong since I only
      hang out with other CS people.

      A question I have that is hard to answer:

      Does MTV merely understand teen pop culture well,
      or are they part of a process that creates it?
      Or is it a bit of both?

      --

      "You spoony bard!" -Tellah

    2. Re:Whine anyone? by until(0) · · Score: 1, Insightful

      HAHAHA

      Geeks don't get pop-culture huh?

      Some of us 'geeks', happen to not only enjoy their constant programming, but digital / conventional arts as well...

      Some of us prefer to listen to the likes of The Birthday Party, Joy Division, and Teengenerate as opposed to Aaron Carter, Lil Bow-Wow and Sugar Ray....

      Some of us prefer to think for ourselves rather than allow a corporation define who and what our 'generation' consists of.

      Some of us are insulted abosolutely at the term "MTV Generation", and dislike the fellow members of this stereotype that persist in perpetuating its use and facade.

      Some of us would rather not hear those of you out there who would stand in the face of individuality and shout the usefulness of conformity and ignorance into the masses.

      And finally...
      Some of us, speak truth ::

      "Hi
      I?m your video DJ
      I always talk like I?m wigged out on quaaludes
      I wear a satin baseball jacket everywhere I go

      My job is to help destroy
      What?s left of your imagination
      By feeding you endless doses
      Of sugar-coated mindless garbage

      So don?t create
      Be sedate
      Be a vegetable at home
      And thwack on that dial
      If we have our way even you will believe
      This is the future of rock and roll

      How far will you go
      How low will you stoop
      To tranquilize our minds with your sugar-coated swill

      You?ve turned rock and roll rebellion
      Into Pat Boone sedation
      Making sure nothing?s left to the imagination

      M.T.V. Get off the
      M.T.V. Get off the
      M.T.V. Get off the air
      Get off the air

      See the latest rejects from the muppet show
      Wag their tits and their dicks
      As they lip-synch on screen

      There?s something I don?t like
      About a band who always smiles
      Another tax write-off
      For some schmuck who doesn?t care

      M.T.V. Get off the air

      And so it was
      Our beloved corporate gods
      Claimed they created rock video
      Allowing it to sink as low in one year
      As commercial TV has in 25

      ?It?s the new frontier,? they say
      It?s wide open, anything can happen
      But you?ve got a lot of nerve
      To call yourself a pioneer
      When you?re too god-damn conservative
      To take real chances

      Tin-eared
      Graph-paper brained accountants
      Instead of music fans
      Call all the shots at giant record companies now

      The lowest common denominator rules
      Forget honesty
      Forget creativity
      The dumbest buy the mostest
      That?s the name of the game

      But sales are slumping
      And no one will say why
      Could it be they put out one too many lousy records?!?

      M.T.V.?Get off the air!
      NOW"

      -- The Dead Kennedy's ('M.T.V. - Get off the Air')

      --
      -da5id
    3. Re:Whine anyone? by ImaLamer · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I think it's a bit of both. [reminder: NOT A FAN BOY]

      The people who run MTV are sometimes the same people you see on screen. During the 80's and 90's MTV was mostly run by people who provided for an older audience. The people who ran MTV were young, 20's, and they were trying to put on an adult show. Not for older adults or people looking for class, but they were giving people what they wanted, and influencing pop-culture their own way.

      Now I think we are seeing a shift to trying to understand and create {pop} culture as well. MTV doesn't do bad at providing adult programming as well. But most of what we see is adults and young adults trying to show kids culture. They touch on issues, but 9-5 it's mostly an adult showing kids groups or groups for kids. By kids, I mean teenagers - younger than the people who we are talking about now.

      MTV though does have it's strong points. Wrestling, IMHO, is a bad move. But Jackass, and the Real World are two college age staple programs. These shows do appeal to many college age, 'hip', `poppy', type of kids.

      This product could catch on and because of that bring back that 18-24 year old audience. They seem to be slipping when it comes to music videos.

      But MTV2 seems to provide a better range of more complex music and music styles. If this thing could stream MTV2, that could be a hit. I know more people in college, living on campus, that have computers [and no cable] than cable tv.

      Depends on the specs and functions. If it works well, and provides a 'cool' set of tools - it could take off.

      Will MTV start a revolution in music distribution? Maybe. Something to think about again. They depend on it, as well as the artists depend on MTV.

      A sane DRM system and internet distribution channel could sure help a whole bunch of us. MTV provides a jukebox at a certain cost, and sell [basically] singles to burn. You burn at home - the machine is the key. With the computer they provide the appliance and ease of use. Combine that with a library of music, Voila.

      If it becomes easier than P2P and the many steps in between - the appliance becomes your computer and personal CD creation station. Normal people would just get this because ease of use and features. It's like a Tivo for music. I guess.

      Just a thought.

    4. Re:Whine anyone? by ImaLamer · · Score: 2

      I think you proved my point that the POP culture is with MTV.

      I don't like the way they do things any more than most on /.

      I just gave credit where it was due. But as far as thinking on your own. Why does anyone who watches MTV have to believe all the things they say? When you listen to the radio do you buy every song you hear?

      Give the people who watch MTV, and other networks credit. Many, namely college students, disect MTV like any other network. We watch what we want, and we don't like everything they play.

    5. Re:Whine anyone? by Queer+Boy · · Score: 1
      While you do have some points with people liking and watching Jackass, you completely lose it when you assert that MTV is a desirable brand name.

      I know a little bit about branding and what it can do for your product because I work for abercrombie, which, as I suppose most people on here know, gets college students to pay double for anything because it has a specific logo on it.

      Seeing as I also am and spend time with exactly the people this targets, I can tell you that they all want to download free MP3s (in addition to buying lots of CDs, someone has to be the one to rip them) and burn them to CDs, and get on AOL. A few of them want a word processor (no, college students don't care if it's Word or not, they just know Word as a brand), but most will use the computers in the labs even when they have their own in the dorm or at their apartment.

      As for the brand of PC? No one cares. Really. As stated on /. ad nauseum PC users are always putting them out of site, anyway, so why does a PC brand matter (for branding's sake)? The only brands of computers that are recognisable on campus are Sony and Apple, anyway.

      There's no such thing as a lifestyle computer (and lifestyle brands are the only brands college students are buying), and the only brand coming close to that is Apple, possibly Sony, but both are really more stylish than presenting a lifestyle. Windows is also not a lifestyle brand. So being that this PC may present an idea on the outside, I doubt MTV is going to get Microsoft to create a special version of Windows.

      If a Linux distro company could get AOL to license AOL for Linux, create a specific window manager that highlighted running applications instead of presenting a system, throw in a CD burner, and POSSIBLY a DVD player (I know a ton of people that got them for Christmas despite having computers with DVD built in) and market it as a lifestyle device, that would be a winner. Think eVilla targeted at college students instead of Grandma.

      --
      Not since Marie-Antoinette played milkmaid has looking simple and honest been so fake and complicated.
    6. Re:Whine anyone? by Stiletto · · Score: 2

      It's movie awards, while a comedy show, has really challanged the Oscars by giving awards to movies that the majority actually like.

      The problem with that is, what the majority likes is usually crap. The idea of the Oscars is to leave popularity out and award movies based on actual merit. Sure, popularity often creeps in and rears its ugly head, but for the most part, awards go to (sometimes overlooked) quality movies.

      I laugh at "award shows" that let the drooling masses vote, because the high-grossing films usually win. What's the point? The box office has already proven that XYZ movie was popular--why do we need an award show to nail the point in?

    7. Re:Whine anyone? by pistaugh · · Score: 1

      Every morning, I vaccinate myself against the media.

      I give myself a little bit of the bacteria so that I won't catch the full-blown disease.

      Is it right? No. Not right. Necessary.

      It is very risky. I am exposing myself an epidemic. A horrible plague that has enveloped most of the world. A little too much, and I could catch the virus. Too little, and I won't be immune. I push the envelope.

      Newspapers and radio won't really do the job. It has to be TV.

      Yes. I'm talking about the Today Show, with Katie Fucking Couric and Matt Lauer. It is the most popular morning show by far, and Katie Fucking Couric is the highest paid woman in television history. It has to be the Today Show.

      Every morning, I let some of this insipid, evil, slimy SHIT into my body.

      I watch the part of the show where they interview "Betty" the woman who just lost a son, daughter or husband the day before:

      Katie Fucking Couric: Betty, welcome to the show.

      Betty: Thank you Katie.

      Katie Fucking Couric: Betty, you have known your husband since you both were eleven years old. You were best friends growing up, you were married when you were twenty, and you had nine children together. Yesterday, he was melted in a chemical explosion that may have been caused by Osama Bin Laden. How does that make you feel?

      Betty: *sob*

      Katie Fucking Couric: You now have to raise nine children on your own. Will this be difficult?

      Betty: *sob*

      Katie Fucking Couric: Do you miss your husband?

      Betty: *sob*

      Katie Fucking Couric: Do you consider your husband to be a hero in the War Against Terror?

      Betty: *sob*

      Katie Fucking Couric: Thank you for being on our show. We take you now to the weather with that big fat humorous black guy.

      This very television show is the single most disgusting thing in the entire world. Bar none. I honestly can think of nothing that even comes close.

      Watching it is like trying to stay afloat in a coursing river of vomit.

      I highly recommend watching it.

  54. College students wont buy it by Monkelectric · · Score: 2, Insightful

    About 18 or 19 (college age) is about when even the dullest of college students are able to think for himself and develop his own tastes, instead of liking whatever is put infront of them...

    I say this, because, I don't know *any* college students (and I know alot being employed by a university) who watch MTV, infact I would say that most despise it. These are the same college students who were "sticking it to the man" on napster... MTV *is* the man.

    Oh and guess what, college students are chronically poor by definition.

    --

    Religion is a gateway psychosis. -- Dave Foley

    1. Re:College students wont buy it by FunkSoulBrother · · Score: 2, Funny
      About 18 or 19 (college age) is about when even the dullest of college students are able to think for himself and develop his own tastes, instead of liking whatever is put infront of them... I say this, because, I don't know *any* college students (and I know alot being employed by a university) who watch MTV, infact I would say that most despise it. These are the same college students who were "sticking it to the man" on napster... MTV *is* the man.
      You obviously didnt go to a Public University.
      Oh and guess what, college students are chronically poor by definition.
      Or a private one.
    2. Re:College students wont buy it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "About 18 or 19 (college age) is about when even the dullest of college students are able to think for himself and develop his own tastes, instead of liking whatever is put infront of them... "

      AHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHA

      You are so deluded.

      I wish I was so optimistic...

  55. And just like MTV by soupforare · · Score: 0, Troll

    Because it's a computer, it won't ever compute.
    except for maybe 15 minutes a day.
    and only let you view Rap/teenybopper/fake-R&B related websites

    Oo, maybe it will be like MTV in the summer and only show me scatily-clad women... Of course my current computer does that with proficency

    --
    --- Do you believe in the day?
  56. Just what we need by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A computer that does everything except play music.

  57. Too Bad.. by ViciousMark · · Score: 1

    It's a shame you'll have to wait until MTV PC 2 comes out to actually hear music. MTV PC will just feature Puck from the Real World and Mariah Carey's "crib".

    --
    - ufcker.com -
    1. Re:Too Bad.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      hahahah, best post yet. give this guy a 5!

  58. I know where you can get one by cide1 · · Score: 1

    I bought one from Milwaukee PC. $249. Celeron 533, 64 MB ram, 10 gig HD, Intel 810. Legacy free. It died about a week later. I sent it back, and they charged me a restocking fee. I don't think I could condone doing business with a company that charges to return a broken product, but they have em if you wnat them.

    --
    -- the computer doesn't want any beer, no matter how much you think it does. NEVER, EVER feed your computer beer.
  59. Re:This HAS to be said by SocietyoftheFist · · Score: 1

    If there was a lowest common denominator you'd like it too. It caters to the largest audience that it possibly can. The labeling if this audience is left up to the reader as a personal exercise.

  60. Is anyone going to buy it, though? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I think this computer would be lousy on technological grounds alone. I don't think that is why it will fail in the market, though. It will fail because parents won't buy it.

    I'd say that the people willing to buy one would be between ages 12 and 18, maybe 20 or older if there were a compelling reason to buy one (there is none). In the typical household, the computer is used by the whole family. I don't think the computer will become like a gaming console or a bookshelf CD player until it becomes smaller and less costly. Until then, parents will choose a computer they would be comfortable with keeping their spreadsheets and personal correspondance on. I don't think many would be comfortable with an MTV-branded one. In the eyes of the typical consumer, Apple, HP, and Dell (and yes, even Microsoft and AOL) are all trusted brands. MTV is not.

    I would say that college students have more say in buying the computers they bring along with them, whether or not they are the ones paying. In my own experience, however, most clueless ones buy directly from the college bookstore. No college bookstore is going to be carrying an MTV-branded computer. Most other people will bring an old computer from home, or buy one by mail-order or at a local store. Most of these people watch MTV once in a while, and maybe think well in general of the MTV brand, though they or their parents know enough to buy a computer on its own merits (whether price, performance, or what it comes bundled with). I don't think these people will be too likely to buy one. Although the average person doesn't know the technology well enough to build a computer, they know the technology well enough to know what is inside.

    If the people at MTV market this product carefully, the company might make a small sum off of it. Which of course is why this computer is being sold; not because you yourself like the computer or what is being played on MTV and corporate radio. More likely than not, however, this product will be a flop.

  61. You're a loser buddy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You blew an opportunity with a girl by yelilng at her cause she uses windows, shes a girl for god sakes

    1. Re:You're a loser buddy by HoaryCripple · · Score: 1

      uhh, yeah. There are other women out there, man. I ain't that hard up.

  62. Warranties and rights reduction by popoutman · · Score: 1
    In the warrenty it covered against this, so he was SOL.

    Thankfully here in Ireland, any goods that are sold come under the 'Sale of Goods Act' which in essence gives the buyer an implied warranty, extending the rights of the consumer and protecting against irresponsible vendors. The warranties that come with most products sold in the States would be unenforceable here.
    If you buy something, it should last the expected lifetime of similar products, and if it falls over too soon, or fails to conform to what it was sold as (e.g. in your example the box was sold as a cd player yet it failed to play cds correctly) it can be brought back to the vendor who has to repair/replace that item.

    I also have to laugh at the EULA agreements that software companies put in their products - legally non-enforceable, as they are not contracts.. I sign nothing, the text in the EULA is irrelevant. For EULAs to work, print off a contract, and send back a signed copy and an unlock key.. then it becomes enforceable.
    If your friend lived here, he would have been entitled to a refund, even though the product was no longer in production.

    --
    - This sig deliberately left blank. Nothing to see, move along.
  63. An apology to billybob in Portland by Tsar · · Score: 2

    Sorry, billybob. I've got no excuse for adding 48 characters to your HTML download of this story, except that I was in a hurry when I submitted. Thankfully, your clever post has pointed out the error of my ways. Please feel free to bill me for the (48chars/yourcps) seconds which I cost you.

    Then again, after looking at your posting history, perhaps it would be more fair if we billed you.

    Oh, and I didn't include the link in order to demonstrate superiority (which I assume was the purpose of your dubious post), but for the simple convenience of the reader. I don't generally type unnecessarily—which is why I'll just link to this rather than waste more time on you myself.

  64. MTV and Music? by base2op · · Score: 1

    Does anyone recall when MTV was actually a station that showed music videos? You know before all the stupid programs having nothing to do with music. And (now) before devoting their resources to products doomed to fail.

    I think someone should start a petition asking MTV to reconsider thier name.

    1. Re:MTV and Music? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Wait - I'm a college student, so I should be smart/old/wise enough to know this...

      But there was a time when MTV played something you call "music videos?" That sounds like the coolest thing man! How long ago did they do this? And why don't they do it anymore???

      Actually, the last time I saw a music video on MTV was during an episode of Beavis and Butthead. That also happens to be the last time I willingly watched MTV (never seen music vids on it while at a friend's place)...

      Truth be told (and I'm preaching to the choir here), MTV is crap. Nothing but pure, unadulterated marketing and brainwashing. They do it via the hotness of a 50%-plastic Britney Spears (with 100% silicone tits) and various "ghetto thugz" rapping about their "homiez" and whatnot on some sub-28-IQ-requirement TV show with Carson Daly...

      The only college kids that actually watch MTV anymore are the hardcore partiers, i.e. frat guys. Everyone else laughs at said frat guys' collective juvenility! :)

  65. Re:The Digital Music player has a chance..[part 2] by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You know he wasn't actually modded to -1. He is one of those guys who has negative karma and automatically posts at -1. Now that is saying something about somebody's mental health.

  66. Obligatory by heartstab · · Score: 0

    Imagine a Beowulf cluster of these.

    All your N*Sync video are belong to us.

    We could run Linux on these and show MTV who's boss.

    There now....

  67. Technically this is a miss, but will that matter? by ploppy · · Score: 1

    My first reaction to seeing this is the marketeers have got it the wrong-way round. Most companies are now building Home Entertainment Centres which are PCs, but the PC is kept well hidden.

    The digital rights security issues to do otherwise are horrendous. I'm involved in building a system which will have all the mentioned entertainment stuff but with digital TV/PVR capability, in such a system hacking is obviously seen a a major issue. All solutions end up hiding the underlying OS as much as possible. To expose the OS as a general purpose PC is madness.

    However, the MTV PC is offering nothing new. The 'cable-ready' TV tuner is presumably an analogue tuner, and so the signal (without hardware) cannot be streamed to disk at sufficient quality to be a problem. It will probably be receiving 'free-to-view' programmes anyway. There doesn't seem to be any additional digital rights issues here than with an ordinary PC.

    The marketing as a PC is essential at the $1800 price, otherwise it will be perceived to be a consumer device with a value of no more than a few hundred dollars. In doing so, they've avoided the tough memory/CPU power constraints imposed on a consumer device. There will probably be a lot of consumer devices offering all the above without the PC in the future.

    So technically a miss, but with the brand conscious sector they're aiming it at, it may not matter.

  68. Doubt it's for college students by hexix · · Score: 2

    I doubt they're marketing this towards college students (and if they are it probably won't work that well).

    I could be wrong but it seems that most of the other college students I talk to are somewhat cynical of things like MTV. And there is no way in hell they'd parade around with a PC branded by MTV.

    I think this would be more for the 13 year old teenyboppers. Sure, there are probably a few college students that would want to buy a MTV computer, but I doubt that's their market.

    Or perhaps I just hang out with people like myself and don't really know how many people would be interested in something like this.

  69. Re:The error message when you start it the first t by Colin+Bayer · · Score: 2, Funny

    More like...

    o/~ Your FAT's corrupted, ain't no lie / Data, bye, bye, bye o/~

    --
    Want Linux games? HERE.
  70. MTV Entertainment Box - Only $279!!! by aka-ed · · Score: 1

    Perhaps you missed my previous post. Check it out.

    --
    I survived the Dick Cheney Presidency 7 to 9 AM 7-21-07
  71. new AOL PC by 3Suns · · Score: 1

    I also read somewhere about a PC AOL was building with a quick AIM interface on the faceplate and AOL 7.0 implemented in hardware on the network card. It even has a full 5.1 surround system so you can really know when You've Got Mail.

    --

    -3Suns

    ~~~~
    The Revolution will be Slashdotted
  72. Matrix won lots of Oscars (Was Re:Whine anyone?) by meehawl · · Score: 2


    The Matrix would be a good example. No doubt that movie was a hit, but no nod from the academy.

    Ah the usual Slashdot flair for accuracy. The Matrix won four Oscars. No mean feat.

    --

    Da Blog
  73. It could be big... by pinkpineapple · · Score: 3, Interesting

    at least from the minority stand point.

    And it may actually take a big market slice away from already small percentage that is controlled by Apple Computer. Apple is trying to get the rest of us interested about looking at them and the company is diving right into the music market with iPod and the new "digital nub" iMac. Having MTV jumping in there with more than they can provide like for example content, may causes some tooth ache to SJ and its mignons.

    PPA, the girl next door.

    --
    -- I feel better now. Thanks for asking.
    1. Re:It could be big... by Graymalkin · · Score: 2

      Steve Jobs have mignons? Man I want to go to his house for dinner! As for Apple they have been going with the digital hub concept for a while and I think it has been fleshing out pretty well. You can go from MP3 collection to audio CD or portable MP3 player pretty easily or from digital camera (still or motion) to website, VCD, DVD, or whatever. The digital hub is all about styling content creation. An MTV labeled computer is merely for content absorbtion. How often do you see shows on MTV all about making music yourself? MTV viewers are asymmetric media nodes. They suck down all the crap they are fed and produce next to nothing themselves.

      --
      I'm a loner Dottie, a Rebel.
  74. MTV RPG: Lunar by Vegan+Pagan · · Score: 2

    Don't dismiss MTV so quickly, their web site currently features O-Town. Now your knee-jerk reaction might be to catapult them all into the gutter, but would you believe that Ashley Angel, the prettiest of all pretty boys, starred in the Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete, arguably the best written Japanese RPG? It's true. Lunar is a real fan favorite amongst console gamers, so it's a neat twist that one of the nerdiest games links to one of the hippest bands.

  75. *Yawn* by beefstu01 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Old news... You can find some more stuff at the Reg

    I wonder if I can get the Carson Daily signiture edition...

  76. society for the preservation of geek genetics by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    We here at the society for the preservation of slashbot genetics have always found that operating systems were a significant obstical to geek procreation. Indeed, we even have trouble within the geek community. BSD geeks and Linux geeks are quite genetically compatible, but it is oftin difficult to get them to reproduce in captivity.

    Still, we have achieved remarkable success at breading new slashbot geeks by a variety of techniques. Yes, we frequently put duck tape over the geeks mouth and pay off a crack ho, but you gota perpetuate the genetic material any way you can. We have developed quite the little nerd herd here at our south texas ranch.

    1. Re:society for the preservation of geek genetics by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >Still, we have achieved remarkable success at
      > breading new slashbot geeks by a variety of
      >techniques.

      You just don't learn huh?

    2. Re:society for the preservation of geek genetics by Stiletto · · Score: 2


      I'm pretty much LMAO right about now.

      Oh a breading, breading, breading we will go...

  77. Re:Sounds good, but it's won't be that good. by FunkSoulBrother · · Score: 1

    1)The intellectually and open minded college student would know how seriously fucked up MTV is. C'mon. They play music from musical groups that Major labels spend millions on. Thus, even the word "MTV" brings a turn-off

    You're a slashdotter, so you probably went to a very good college with lots of these people. I'm not trying to flame, but try and remember that for every 5,000 person private school full of geeks and intellectuals there are 10 10,000+ person public universitys full of people taking "College Algebra" and living out 4-6 more years of high school. It saddens me. But its one hell of a market.

  78. My guess at a pop culture response. by Odinson · · Score: 2
    I think most (immediately post high schoolers) who don't want to be branded the "to stupid for a fraternity" idiot will say...

    "I might trust Microsoft to make me a good PC, but I'm not stupid enough to buy a MTV computer."

    Is it broken logic, sure, but probably how it will go.

    Incidentally, I think any Media vendor branded content embellished PC type thing will flop to similar reasoning.

    "What they think I'm stupid enough to buy the Disney PC? What if I want to watch bugs bunny."

    The only thing that keeps the WB minivan dvd honest is minivan competition.

    MTV is taking a money hit as a favor. Somtimes it's easier to pretend an idea stands a chance despite knowing you will fail. This probably started as "but Jack what can we do?" at a board meeting.

  79. How can they ever compete with the... by cooperj72 · · Score: 1
    "Dude! Your getting a Dell!" kid on all those commercials? He rulz! "Pentium 4 Processor?"

    I feel like Denis Leary when I think of that kid: whata sh*thead!

    -J

  80. great idea.. by Suppafly · · Score: 2

    This is actually a great idea, all complaints about mtv's value added advertising aside. If I had some VC I would consider making a similar computer and selling it around campus. A dvd, mp3, digital music, video, game playing, media center designed to be easy to use and able to mesh well with other computer or with audio/video setups.

    Surf the web, watch dvds, listen to cds,mp3s,etc all in one... great idea. Maybe they should consider building in gamecube technology too.. then they could appeal to jsut about everyone and everyones needs.

  81. Tsar = genius by billybob · · Score: 1

    Tsar, congratulations. You know which city I live in. Do you have any friends?

    Your journal is awesome.

    Your song is funny.

    I think I'll head over to CNN.com and catch up on the latest news now.

    --
    Joseph?
  82. Remember when.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    remember back in the day when MTV played music VIDEOS?!?!?

  83. MTV Devises Seen at Toys"R"Us by lunadude · · Score: 1

    They are already on the shelves. I wonder if anyone will care, or if they will be in the bargin bins by summer?

  84. The software will make or break it... by Tetrad69 · · Score: 1

    I mean, look at the devices they're adding into it. Standard PC components with a bit more multimedia flair such as an FM tuner and a cable-ready TV tuner card.

    The only thing that will make this thing worth while is if it actually pulls together some kick-ass software to bring the "multimedia hub" to the masses. Apples has done a great job of this, and it might be possible for MTV to pull of something major in the PC world.

    Of course, I have yet ot actually see any software come out of MTV, so I doubt this will be useful at all.

    Then again, it probably wouldn't be that useful to begin with. I mean, what good stuff is on the cable/fm airways to begin with? ;)

  85. Again by Qaseem · · Score: 1

    Is this a payed ad or what? Haven't we discussed this last week.

    --
    /-\ |-|
  86. Simply brilliant! by edibleplastic · · Score: 2

    I think this idea is simply brilliant and one of the best uses for an internet appliance that I've ever heard. Imagine if you had one machine that was totally dedicated to your audio/visual needs (ok, not your high end, rendering Toy Story 3 needs, but a/v all the same) that had a highspeed internet connection, solely for downloading content. How cool would this be: want an mp3? Download it in less than a minute. Want a music video? Download that in less than 3. I cannot tell you the amount of effort that goes into finding all of the older, more obscure music videos that were released before computers got their tv/video cards. Imagine all of this content, plus a dvd and maybe email on a simple dedicated machine? It'd be the new entertainment center... and you wouldn't have to buy an entire cd, you could finally only get the music you want! Sure, let them put in all the content-protection they want. As long as I can access whatever I want, whenever I want, I don't need an actual copy of the music. This wouldn't replace a computer, but would handle all of the entertainment aspects of it. Make it a reasonable price with a flat screen and this is a surefire seller.

  87. Re:Matrix won lots of Oscars (Was Re:Whine anyone? by ImaLamer · · Score: 1

    I do stand corrected.

    I completely apologize, I was trying to provide an example. If anyone has one, please.

  88. fight for YOUR rights by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  89. Music on MTV? by DrCode · · Score: 2

    Wow! I'm so old that I remember when MTV was ONLY music videos, and I used to discover bands that I liked by watching it.

    Now they have a variety of shows, but I rarely catch them playing a video when flipping through. I want my (old) MTV!

  90. MTV stands for what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can someone explain to me what MTV stands for now. I haven't heard music for a few years now.

  91. Quoth Beck by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    MTV makes me wanna smoke crack,
    Fall out of the window,
    and I'm never comin' back.
    MTV makes me wanna get high,
    Can't get a ride no matter how I try.

    And everything's perfect
    And everything's bright
    And everyone's perky
    And everyone's a tight

    ...Of those video's
    A watch 'em all day.

    (What's the problem?
    Uhh, I dunno...just stop the tape)

    Hey, alright.
    MTV... whoa,
    Makes me wanna smoke Crack.
    Fly out the window,
    And I'm never comin' back.
    MTV makes me want to get high...as the moon,
    Like a rubber balloon.
    Oh, get that squeegee.
    Everything's wonderful,
    Everything's grand,
    Everything's swingin',
    All across the land.
    You know it.
    Bust out the biscuits,
    Strike up the band,
    Play those videos everyone woman and man
    Cuz...
    MTV...whoa, makes me wanna smoke crack.
    Hey
    Fly out the window,
    and I'm never coming back.
    Oooh
    MTV...makes me want to get high as a kite,
    Getting all uptight.
    Take it

    Ahh yea. Fake it till ya make it.
    Right about now.
    Stepping into a cold ass fashion.
    Ahh yea, weed whack that thing.

    I work down at the video store,
    Making some change.
    With the sparkle in my step,
    And a smile on my face.
    Condominiums...rising above,
    And those videos are better than love.
    Yea, MTV...one...MTV...check...MTV makes me wanna smoke crack.

  92. What the targeted college students _should_ get... by Voidhobo · · Score: 1
    is the Internet Computer by OEone. From the article at NewsForge:
    An iMac has four wires to plug in. The Internet Computer has five, but the additional one is for something the iMac doesn't have: A connection to your TV antenna or cable TV line.
    That means even your average PCU pot-head could check his Hotmail and watch MTV on a single machine.

    And did I mention it runs Linux? That means one could technically do lots more with it.

  93. Great... by PrimeNumber · · Score: 1

    It looks like the beginning of the end for PC's, look what MTV did to music.

  94. Themed PCs... by anichols85 · · Score: 1

    Neat idea, but how long before this becomes just plain ridiculous?

    How long before they begin marketing Martha Stewart PCs to moms, NFL PCs to dads, and Teletubby PCs to the kids?

    In exchange for higher prices and lower quality comes some company's label? Give me a break...

    1. Re:Themed PCs... by Tranchula · · Score: 1

      I would still like to see a Reese's Peanut butter cup themed PC.

  95. MTV + Computer = Vanilla Gates by Tranchula · · Score: 1

    Why does MTV have to stick it's nose in places it shouldn't! This reminds me of a little company named Microsoft sticking it's nose in the game console idustry. Some may like it but can microsoft stay away from at least some product areas. What's next Microsoft 2% Milk? MTV needs to stick to what it's good at.

  96. M.T.V. and Computers? by arose2003 · · Score: 1

    What is M.T.V. doing? they are just trying to make themselves grow.. but the computer business is not the way to go with M.T.V.? How many "nerds" do you know that sit around watching M.T.V.? I personally dont know of many most of them just sit around playing games. and some of them have no life and just sit on the internet looking up stupid stuff and porno. So with M.T.V. making this they would not have that good of profit.. And the new mtvML markup language? what is the purpsoe of that? cant they just use the standard language? and what "age" do they target with this cause not very many 14-17 year old kids are gonna buy this most of the people who buy this will be 20+ and how does MTV plan to promote this? they will have a hard time keeping it above the market with all the new processors coming out with 2ghz+

  97. MTV the best thing yet! by shiznitle · · Score: 1

    This is the best idea that MTV has had yet, without this i though that they were heading down hill. Poor MTV i though. Then they came out with this. WOW!!

  98. MTV-PC by ndaw123 · · Score: 1

    What is MTV thinking? First of all they were cool in the 80's but now there just a bunch of crap. WHy would you want y our computer coming from such a dumb channel. MTV really needs to get a life

  99. I want my MTV... no, really. by 192939495969798999 · · Score: 1

    What would MTV possibly broadcast on this thing? The same as their TV show - all talk and no music? Perhaps if it was an MTV2-PC...
    I want my 1980's MTV but with today's music.

    --
    stuff |
  100. Command line interface? Not just point and click? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Please tell me that this computer will also have a command line interface
    that will allow the user to control and script just about every aspect of
    the machine.

    ##Point and click is for cameras##

  101. They say it is for the college crowd but..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Has it occured to anyone that MTV IS marketing this to the teeniebopper crowd but says it is for the college student so that teens will feel more mature for buying it?

    Or am I just being to devious minded?

  102. what does the "m" stand for again? by gambit777 · · Score: 1

    maybe the pc will come with some music, because all the channel comes with his crappy shows that aren't even music-oriented.

  103. Barbie PC. by saintlupus · · Score: 2

    Anyone remember the other theme based PC's and what happend to them? Barbie ring a bell?

    I was at the Rochester, NY Hamfest a few years ago and some poor bastard was trying to sell a U-Haul full of the printers that were supposed to be packaged with the Barbie PC. I don't know where he got them from, but I'll never forget watching him plead with people that a printer with pink casing a huge flowers all over it was still a decent purchase.

    --saint

  104. MTV.........PC? by Lilmstud02 · · Score: 1

    Wow connecting the computer with MTV now that is cool I love MTV so I think that the music player is very interesting and I will probably buy it or get it some how.

  105. Keeping it fast? by Benny02 · · Score: 1

    I know that one of my least favorite things is to wait for something to download or to watch it buff in the middle of a song. If they can keep it up to TV speed quality then it might be something to think about.

  106. Smooth... by gpinzone · · Score: 1

    Speaking of peer pressure, I am reminded of the time three other friends and I were in a bar. My one friend was kicking it to some woman, and my other two friends and I were talking to her somewhat cute friend (another female). Well, I was inebriated, and so naturally the topic changed to operating systems. In an uncanny moment of smoothness, I asked her if she used Windows. You can guess that she said "yes." I immediately replied that people who use Windows are idiots. Well, that pissed her off, but the amazing thing was that my other two friends joined in ripping on her because of her choice in operating system. What a fiasco that turned out to be for my (normal) friend who was hitting on the other woman. Needless to say both women left.

    Most Linux zealots repel women by their appearance and smell. But not you. You do just fine with your repulsive attitude. Most men usually wait until after they get laid to piss off a woman. I guess they should have been more appreciative that you revealed yourself to be a jerk right away. Those sticky "morning after" talks can be so uncomfortable. But I guess you've never gotten yourself into one of those situations. So...any other dating tips?

  107. Yo by hoveringmidget · · Score: 1

    MTV is worthless so that is going to be worthless