... remove the DRM and online activation scheme. So that when I want to replay BioShock years from now to recapture the rapturous experience, I won't be denied the pleasure because the activation servers have been shut down. Or when I want to replay BioShock on my laptop while on a business trip, I don't have to be online to get approval when I install the game from the original media while sitting in the terminal waiting for my late plane. Or when I played Bioshock after receiving it as a birthday gift and playing it while traveling to the visit inlaws in another state, I want to replay it when I get home and install it on my own PC.
THAT is replay value. Stupid little addons don't qualify.
If Vista is as bad as people claim, the fact that your argument is very likely valid could work against Microsoft in the long run. Non-technical users are already frustrated and intimidated with computers. If the "new" version of Windows is even *more* frustrating and intimidating, people will either stop buying new computers unless they really have to, return them in favor of the old one that "worked better", consider trying a Mac or listen to their techie friends (who know a techie that can offer advice) and ask for XP. Don't discount the power of word-of-mouth.
"If you forget to lock your house when you leave for work, do you deserve to have your TV stolen?"
No, but your example isn't really comparable at all. Here, let me try for you:
If you break the hated wage-slave chains and successfully start your own independent business, but lose it all because you got drunk all day and let your business partner steal you blind and have to go back to the corporate job you hate, do you deserve respect and admiration for bitching about what an asshole your new boss is?"
No. I'd say you deserve everything you got, because it was your actions as a free man that got you where you are. Being pissed off about your situation is understandable, but not in the least bit noble. At that point it's just whining.
While I applaud the man for his willingness to call out the price gouging practices of the recording industry, this comment gave me pause. If true, then I find it hard to find much respect or sympathy. He *already* had his own label and a popular following, giving him the freedom many other artists will never have, then 'went through some pretty destructive drug use' and woke up and 'found himself with no money and no way to make money'. I'm supposed to respect that? He may be full of righteous anger towards his record company, but it sounds like he got what he deserved. From what I read about him, at least he's intelligent enough to learn from his mistakes and avoid the same trap in the future.
I agree with the sentiment of your post, but your argument makes more sense if talking about server-side computing or scientific computing and the like. Since we're talking about a *personal computer* operating system, I think you're oversimplifying the issue.
The cost of the operating system on your hardware is an effect that should be minizimed. The operating system exists as a framework for runs tasks and applications, not for being a self-serving execuse to munch resources. You miss the point that personal computers are tools meant to enhance the tasks that humans do rather than increasing efficient processing engines. The increases in available computing resources (memory, storage, processing power) we've enjoyed over the years have been used to make our PC's better tools, sometimes in ways that aren't immediately obvious, Interacting with the machine has become easier in transparent ways. Things like autocompletion, handling of non-text media (in the sense of integrating audio/video into the user interface), searching/indexing, almost ubiquitous network/internet integration come to mind. The support my desktop provides for me today in 2007 to streamline my tasks in little ways is leaps and bounds beyond where it was in 1995. We can argue about whether things have gotten optimally better (ie. have the increased resources been used well?), but things are definitely better.
Munching resources to make enhance the tool-using experience is a valid activity, IMHO. Where things seem to be going wrong is when those resources are munched to benefit someone/something other than the user sitting in front of the computer trying to accomplish a task. *That*, in the context of the original article, is why things like WGA and invasive DRM are such a bad use of resources.
I've been following this matter on the web since the Bioshock release and monitoring Slashdot's Firehose as the story submissions popped in. This particular story submission was one of the worst of the bunch. There are genuine issues with Bioshock's DRM decision to use Securom which will unfortunately be dismissed due to the poor choice of article. Whether or not this is a rootkit, the fact that the game won't run unless a user completely disables or uninstalls legitimate utilities such as antivirus programs or process monitors is enough to make a security conscious user worry.
Quoth Tackhead: "MTP mode (yuck, Media Transfer Protocol means "works on XP only, and you can only transfer files by politely asking WMP10/11+ for permission") and UMS (woohoo, USB Mass Storage, it mounts like every other USB drive on every OS in the world) mode."
I have an Sansa e200 player. For what it's worth, MTP also works well with recent versions of Winamp, so WMP isn't obligatory. Yes, it's still on Windows, but it's a little less painful than being forced to use WMP. The WinAmp support for audio players seems quite nice.
UMS - a woohoo is indeed relevant - at least the player can be used on Linux too.
In all honesty, though, I'll be happy when the Rockbox firmware is viable.
Slashdot Mirror
Totally off topic from TFA, but thanks for the links, man. These are great.
... remove the DRM and online activation scheme. So that when I want to replay BioShock years from now to recapture the rapturous experience, I won't be denied the pleasure because the activation servers have been shut down. Or when I want to replay BioShock on my laptop while on a business trip, I don't have to be online to get approval when I install the game from the original media while sitting in the terminal waiting for my late plane. Or when I played Bioshock after receiving it as a birthday gift and playing it while traveling to the visit inlaws in another state, I want to replay it when I get home and install it on my own PC.
THAT is replay value. Stupid little addons don't qualify.
If Vista is as bad as people claim, the fact that your argument is very likely valid could work against Microsoft in the long run. Non-technical users are already frustrated and intimidated with computers. If the "new" version of Windows is even *more* frustrating and intimidating, people will either stop buying new computers unless they really have to, return them in favor of the old one that "worked better", consider trying a Mac or listen to their techie friends (who know a techie that can offer advice) and ask for XP. Don't discount the power of word-of-mouth.
"If you forget to lock your house when you leave for work, do you deserve to have your TV stolen?"
No, but your example isn't really comparable at all. Here, let me try for you:
If you break the hated wage-slave chains and successfully start your own independent business, but lose it all because you got drunk all day and let your business partner steal you blind and have to go back to the corporate job you hate, do you deserve respect and admiration for bitching about what an asshole your new boss is?"
No. I'd say you deserve everything you got, because it was your actions as a free man that got you where you are. Being pissed off about your situation is understandable, but not in the least bit noble. At that point it's just whining.
While I applaud the man for his willingness to call out the price gouging practices of the recording industry, this comment gave me pause. If true, then I find it hard to find much respect or sympathy. He *already* had his own label and a popular following, giving him the freedom many other artists will never have, then 'went through some pretty destructive drug use' and woke up and 'found himself with no money and no way to make money'. I'm supposed to respect that? He may be full of righteous anger towards his record company, but it sounds like he got what he deserved. From what I read about him, at least he's intelligent enough to learn from his mistakes and avoid the same trap in the future.
Maybe.
Munching resources to make enhance the tool-using experience is a valid activity, IMHO. Where things seem to be going wrong is when those resources are munched to benefit someone/something other than the user sitting in front of the computer trying to accomplish a task. *That*, in the context of the original article, is why things like WGA and invasive DRM are such a bad use of resources.
I've been following this matter on the web since the Bioshock release and monitoring Slashdot's Firehose as the story submissions popped in. This particular story submission was one of the worst of the bunch. There are genuine issues with Bioshock's DRM decision to use Securom which will unfortunately be dismissed due to the poor choice of article. Whether or not this is a rootkit, the fact that the game won't run unless a user completely disables or uninstalls legitimate utilities such as antivirus programs or process monitors is enough to make a security conscious user worry.
e s-that-don.t-steal/bioshock-comes-with-nasty-drm-t hat-sets-off-anti+virus-software-ruins-everyones-d ay-292841.php= 11000
References:
http://consumerist.com/consumer/punishing--the-on
http://forum.sysinternals.com/forum_posts.asp?TID
I have an Sansa e200 player. For what it's worth, MTP also works well with recent versions of Winamp, so WMP isn't obligatory. Yes, it's still on Windows, but it's a little less painful than being forced to use WMP. The WinAmp support for audio players seems quite nice.
UMS - a woohoo is indeed relevant - at least the player can be used on Linux too.
In all honesty, though, I'll be happy when the Rockbox firmware is viable.
I've already had children, so sign me up!