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Worst Christmas Ever For Gadgets?
An anonymous reader writes, "CNet says this will be the most disappointing Christmas ever for gadget-lovers. The Playstation 3 is delayed across most of the world, the Zune MP3 player is cancelled for everyone outside the US, Vista won't be out for home users before the big day, and even Final Fantasy XII won't reach Europe in time. From the article: 'It's enough to make you slit your wrists with the shards of a smashed Christmas tree bauble... Santa fails to deliver on almost all of his Yuletide promises. Most of the major technologies that were supposed to be ready for purchase have been delayed until next year.' The writer goes on to suggest phrases to use over Christmas dinner when the offending companies' products are mentioned. To reduce the pain of a Zune-less party, he suggests remarking: 'Imagine the stability and usability of Windows migrated to an MP3 player. In short, imagine a small portable version of Hell.'"
Nerf makes a sniper rifle now. It has no accuracy to speak of, but it's just cool. I'm happy.
The Penny Arcade guys know how to appreciate it.
You guys need far too much to be happy.
Apple is slightly behind with that technology.
It's like sex, except I'm having it!
Check this site. Way cool gadgets for a fun Christmas.
Where were you when the voynix came?
Yeah really, what about the Lego NXT?
Insightful indeed, from a consumer standpoint. However your quick run-down hints at the fact that all these things are sequels. Zune is the Ipod II (never mind design differences). I respect the videos I've seen of the Zune, they seem to have done a good job. However, it's not until you play with a MS product all the way through until you see the missing 10%.
Back on topic, FF12 is absolutely incredible. Star Wars (love it or hate it) is the big-production sci-fi series. LoTR is the big-production fantasy movie. Princess Mononoke (and his other films) is the anime "combination of Star Wars and Lawrence of Arabia". FF12 reminds me of all these media leaders. It's fun, it's huge and it's evidence that developers can crank out neat tricks on the PS2. When the 360 and PS3 have been out for 5 years, we'll see the same thing happen as all the problems and tricks already exist and developers can reuse work/knowledge.
The first boss in XII had me jumping up and down in glee. It wasn't even significant, it was just super believable. "That's what Thunder 1 looks like!? How wonderfully subtle!" I peer into the game design and my experience doesn't get ruined. If you appreciate gamedev work, it's a reference piece (although 100% scores on the Internet is going overboard).
FF3 was really great on the NES (although my translated rom got garbled 1/2 way through). The DS port looks ever-so faithful that I might have to go back and see the dialog that doesn't look like ASCII hearts and British pound symbols.
"Look at this in another way! Take this opportunity to make your own gifts."
My family is well off enough that if they want something, they can pretty much get it on their own. I spent several stressful Christmases trying to find something they'd really respond to. One year I decided instead of trying to find them gifts, I went the charity route instead. There was a Christmas tree at the mall that had several cards on them from kids who were asked to make a Christmas wish. I went through the requests and found the ones I thought would resonate with various family members. I sent a letter to my family, detailed which item I got for which child, and explained why I thought of them when I did it. For example: One child asked for a bicycle. My dad got a note detailing a fond memory I had of him getting me a bike when I was a lil'un, and that I wanted to pass that joy on to another kid.
I apologize if it sounds like I'm tooting my own horn, here. I can imagine there are quite a few people here in a simliar situation and I just wanted to throw this idea out. Not only did it feel really good to get these gifts knowing they'd be extremely appreciated, but my family was VERY touched by the gesture.
"I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
How about K'NEX? They've been around for a while but unfortunately I never got to play with them. My five year old nephew saw them and seems very interested, so I might get a set for christmas (for the both of us to play with). The best part is they're made in the USA!
The vast majority of goldfish, are, in fact, not taken care of properly. A goldfish bowl does NOT cut it. In a proper enviroment, the common 10 cent feeder goldfish can live decades and grow to over a foot in length. Most fancy goldfish should have several tens of gallons of water per fish and a MASSIVE filtration system, as they are one of the largest waste-producers of any fish, and more naturally shaped goldfish like comets, shubunkins, or wakins require even more water. The best environment for goldfish is a pond containing hundreds to thousands gallons of water.
Recommending a Mac would be safe too, you know -- in fact, it's almost certainly safer!
"[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz
By buying a puppy from a pet store (which is where, I suspect, most of the "christmas gift" animals come from, because most shelters are more careful than that) you create a vacancy which can be replaced with a new one from the puppy mill. So effectively you fund an inhumane and degrading system, and in all likelihood, later put the dog into the shelter, where it costs money and diverts resources from other animals, until eventually it's killed.
There's no good being done there. There are a whole lot of people making money on the flow of animals from factory breeding farms, through pet stores, to homes where they're not wanted, to animal shelters, and finally into incinerators; that's the cycle 'gift animals' are funding, in large part.
If you think somebody wants a pet, then get them some sort of physical good that they're going to need once they get it. Food, a pet bed / scratching post, leash, whatever. Having a pet is a bit of an expensive proposition, I'm sure they'd be happy to get something that helps them. And then offer to take them down to a shelter or and pay for the adoption or vaccination fees, if you really want to "get them" the animal. (Perhaps animal shelters should sell 'future pet certificates', that you could give as a gift, that would cover the cost of an adoption later on; thus allowing people to give a gift that people could exercise when they're ready.)
I own pets (well, I live with cats; they choose to stay because the food is good, I suppose) and agree with you about all the benefits and satisfaction of living with animals. However, I would never push that on anyone; it's a decision and realization that people need to come to themselves.
"Ladies and gentlemen, my killbot features Lotus Notes and a machine gun. It is the finest available."