I would personally avoid any ATI cards like the black plague, until good drivers come out. The NVidia control panel compared to the joke that is the ATI panel was more than enough to convince me.
Thanks for the advice. I would've most likely stuck with ATI, as that is what I've been using since starting to build my own computers almost 10 years ago. I have never had an Nvidia card. Maybe it is time to give Ubuntu a whirl.
Installed Ubuntu, and now have a triple 1600x1200 head setup with 3 monitors attached to 2 video cards.
It looks beautiful.
You've peaked my interest. I have dual LCDs at home now (mainly for work-purposes). Can I ask what kind of video cards you use and if you've ever had any driver troubles? Also, what version of Ubuntu are you currently running?
That's funny, because what you're talking about is precisely the reason most people can't/won't use linux.
I'm not saying that linux is for everyone, nor am I saying that I would go out tomorrow and start using linux. I'm just saying that Vista has made CONSIDERING linux that much easier, especially if Microsoft continues down that same road that took us to Vista.
That said, I think that you are correct. Drivers and device compatibility are the reasons that linux isn't as widespread. But, I would expect more from a company like MS that charges as much as they do for their operating systems. The draw of Windows has always been "It just works". Maybe that isn't the case anymore?
Maybe in the future SP1 will be put out as soon as possible just to placate people who would generally wait for SP1 before buying? It makes marketing sense at least.
Thanks for the link. I had never even heard about that until now. Kind of scary if SP1 turns into a marketing phrase. Makes me wonder how something like a rushed SP1 would alienate the businesses that have or are planning to migrate to Vista. They are MS's bread and butter.
Well, as you know, the RIAA is trying to force ISP's and universities to use the same exact appliance (Audible Magic) to block P2P traffic. If you work at a university and get to know this appliance, basically all it is is a very expensive firewall and as their website also declares, it blocks all unencrypted P2P traffic, doesn't differentiate between 'legal' or 'illegal' use.
Thanks! That is what I was looking for with my question. I didn't understand how, if at all, legal & illegal P2P traffic would be filtered.
Drivers are the responsiblity of the vendor, so are applications.
What exactly are the changes that you saw in SP1 that would fix either of those issues?
I see SP1 as both an easy reference to WHEN Vista could be considered for business use, and the deadline that companies have to institute working drivers and application patches for home users.
SP1 will undoubtedly break some 3rd party apps and drivers when it is released. I see no point in businesses testing their core vital apps in a pre-SP1 Vista environment. As far as home users, the lack of working and/or fully functional drivers is a detriment to both Vista and the individual companies. SP1 is a good deadline. If HP, Lexmark, Canon, whoever can't get their devices working fully on Vista by then, it is time to look for a new device.
What exactly are your "big reasons" for not upgrading?
Driver and application compatibility issues for starters. A business needs to look at all sorts of things like that before they go jumping into something as huge as an OS migration. We use a lot of older apps from smaller companies geared specifically towards certain tasks that we do on a daily basis. That is in addition to some apps that S&P has cooked up to make some mundane tasks much easier to handle. All that together seems to be a big obstacle in the way of migration right now.
Are these folks on one of Microsoft's licensing plans where they have to upgrade?
I'm coming from ignorance here - not trying to give you a hard time. I am not sure why the corporate guys have to upgrade. I can only guess it's because of the licensing thing I've mentioned or their PHB is telling them to. Or are there other reasons?
No worries. I'm not feeling like you are giving me a hard time (yet);^)
Anything non-MS over here scares all the execs. They seem to upgrade whenever MS tells them to, so maybe they are on some kind of licensing plan. I don't know for sure. We just got Office 2007 pushed on us, when 2003 was working just fine. It just seems like a waste of money and time to me, in addition to introducing potential problems.
According to SABAM, if all Belgian
Internet access providers would adopt the technical measures proposed by the expert so that
P2P software could no longer be used for exchanging copyright works, this would put an end to
the illegal traffic as Belgium is concerned.
But what about the LEGAL P2P traffic, like Linux Distros and patches for various apps and games that are out there, as well as artists who promote and encourage the sharing of their works?
I hope that this isn't dragged over here to the States by the RIAA or MPAA.
Most of the "techies" that I know think the same thing about Vista.
Why do they even want to upgrade?
I'm on XP Pro and I have absolutely no desire or see any reason to upgrade to Vista. And from what I've seen so far about Vista, my next hardware purchase will not have Vista on it.
Should've clarified: I was talking about businesses upgrading. It seems that the companies are set on sticking with MS, so the thought is hopefully they will wait until after SP1 to start upgrading.
That said, I wholeheartedly agree with you. Vista has made me start looking at the different flavors of Linux.
While Fitzgerald accepted that some business are holding back from migrating to Vista, he denied that there is a widespread feeling that it is better to wait for Service Pack 1. "I have heard that, and I don't buy it," Fitzgerald said. "It used to be a thing people did, and it might have been the case with, say, Windows 2000, but not now."
I would disagree. My company's IT department waited until they felt that IE7 was stable and patched enough for a rollout to start offering it. Most of the "techies" that I know think the same thing about Vista. That the really big reasons for not upgrading will be fixed after SP1.
The point is that you do not need credit. If you do not need credit, your credit score it just a pointless number.
Not if you want to rent or buy a place to live. Even buying a car is impacted by that "pointless number". Not everyone can afford to pay cash for a house or a car.
...I have opened two lines of credit and never once been contacted them as they claimed they would. These guys feel no obligation to follow their own guidelines. Why would they follow someone else's?
They would be breaking state laws. That might keep them in line. I have never put a freeze on my credit account, but I am considering it now.
According to this, the following states have this Credit Freeze option open to their residents. Use it while you can.
Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
By the way, if anyone wants it, you can have the combination to my luggage.
Is it 1-2-3-4-5?
Re:Don't worry, it's not Vista...
on
Vista is Watching You
·
· Score: 1, Informative
It's just: Windows Update, Web Content, Digital Certificates, Auto Root Update, Windows Media Digital Rights Management, Windows Media Player, Malicious Software Removal/Clean On Upgrade, Network Connectivity Status Icon, Windows Time Service, and the IPv6 Network Address Translation (NAT) Traversal service (Teredo).
And Activation, Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP), Device Manager, Driver Protection, Dynamic Update, Event Viewer, File Association Web Service, Games Folder, Error Reporting for Handwriting Recognition, Input Method Editor (IME), Installation Improvement Program, Internet Printing, Internet Protocol version 6 Network Address Translation Traversal, Network Awareness (somewhat), Parental Controls, Peer Name Resolution Service, Plug and Play, Plug and Play Extensions, Program Compatibility Assistant, Program Properties--Compatibility Tab, Program Compatibility Wizard, Properties, Registration, Rights Management Services (RMS) Client, Update Root Certificates, Windows Control Panel, Windows Help, Windows Mail (only with Windows Live Mail, Hotmail, or MSN Mail) and Windows Problem Reporting are the main features and services in Windows Vista that collect and transmit user data to Microsoft.
As for the AO rating itself: What point is there in having that rating exist if they aren't allowed to use it when warranted? I seriously doubt they are flippant with their ratings. They don't just watch video while eating popcorn and say 'Oh, hmm.... AO.' and go for a beer at the pub.
I think the point is the question of what is the difference between M and AO? Why is AO even needed? It is the kiss of death for videogames, as most retailers won't even stock a game rated AO, let alone MS, Sony and Nintendo all saying that they won't put a game on their console with an AO rating.
I don't believe that the ESRB plays the games that they rate at all. They are sent video footage by the developer of what is the most objectionable content in-game and base their opinions on that.
Who decides what footage to send? Could they get a rating based on "weaker" footage so the game gets out? What happens then? Can the ESRB change their rating after the fact?
From TFA: I wonder how the people rating the game played it. I wonder if their room was well lit or if they locked the door. I wonder if that matters. For that matter, I wonder how the people who made the game played it. What were all those people thinking? Did they absorb what it would be like to be an average "Manhunt 2" gamer? Does it make a difference?
It does matter. It does make a difference. Playing Doom 3 at 1 in the morning with no lights on and headphones is a helluva lot different than playing it at noon on a sunny day with all the windows open. The scary thing is, I bet that the raters, if they played the game at all, played it in an office with a bunch of people around them. And the game disturbed them like that. Imagine if they played it under the "optimal" conditions.
That said, I don't think that this game should be "banned". As a 29 year old gamer, I should be able to decide what I want to play. I hope that if the rating is upheld, Rockstar will sell it directly, because I'd buy it without a second thought.
Apparently it's due to the Wii controller. On the PS2 and other platforms you just hit a button. On the Wii you actually mimic the motions.
I never thought of that. Makes me want to check out the Wii now.
I'm not saying that games like this should be available to kids, but I agree with an earlier post that rating it "M" should be enough. "AO" should be saved for pornographic games.
You mean that unencrypted wireless access points are not safe!?!?!?! Gimme a break. Anyone who uses unencrypted access deserves anything that happens to them. If you don't have enough common sense to avoid unencrypted wireless networks, you are beyond our help.
I was so disgusted by the copy protection techniques (e.g., you must connect to our server before you can play, the software will attempt to connect to our server every subsequent time, you can never resell or return the software once you discover this) that I never played it.
How is this any different or worse than having to have a CD/DVD in the drive to play the game? I think Steam is one of the best things that has come around as far as gaming goes. Not having to buy/keep discs, just log on to Steam and buy/install/reinstall games as you choose. But, admittedly, I am not hung up on bypassing/breaking copy-protection of games.
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I would personally avoid any ATI cards like the black plague, until good drivers come out. The NVidia control panel compared to the joke that is the ATI panel was more than enough to convince me.
Thanks for the advice. I would've most likely stuck with ATI, as that is what I've been using since starting to build my own computers almost 10 years ago. I have never had an Nvidia card. Maybe it is time to give Ubuntu a whirl.
Installed Ubuntu, and now have a triple 1600x1200 head setup with 3 monitors attached to 2 video cards.
It looks beautiful.
You've peaked my interest. I have dual LCDs at home now (mainly for work-purposes). Can I ask what kind of video cards you use and if you've ever had any driver troubles? Also, what version of Ubuntu are you currently running?
That's funny, because what you're talking about is precisely the reason most people can't/won't use linux.
I'm not saying that linux is for everyone, nor am I saying that I would go out tomorrow and start using linux. I'm just saying that Vista has made CONSIDERING linux that much easier, especially if Microsoft continues down that same road that took us to Vista.
That said, I think that you are correct. Drivers and device compatibility are the reasons that linux isn't as widespread. But, I would expect more from a company like MS that charges as much as they do for their operating systems. The draw of Windows has always been "It just works". Maybe that isn't the case anymore?
Maybe in the future SP1 will be put out as soon as possible just to placate people who would generally wait for SP1 before buying? It makes marketing sense at least.
Thanks for the link. I had never even heard about that until now. Kind of scary if SP1 turns into a marketing phrase. Makes me wonder how something like a rushed SP1 would alienate the businesses that have or are planning to migrate to Vista. They are MS's bread and butter.
Well, as you know, the RIAA is trying to force ISP's and universities to use the same exact appliance (Audible Magic) to block P2P traffic. If you work at a university and get to know this appliance, basically all it is is a very expensive firewall and as their website also declares, it blocks all unencrypted P2P traffic, doesn't differentiate between 'legal' or 'illegal' use.
Thanks! That is what I was looking for with my question. I didn't understand how, if at all, legal & illegal P2P traffic would be filtered.
Drivers are the responsiblity of the vendor, so are applications.
What exactly are the changes that you saw in SP1 that would fix either of those issues?
I see SP1 as both an easy reference to WHEN Vista could be considered for business use, and the deadline that companies have to institute working drivers and application patches for home users.
SP1 will undoubtedly break some 3rd party apps and drivers when it is released. I see no point in businesses testing their core vital apps in a pre-SP1 Vista environment. As far as home users, the lack of working and/or fully functional drivers is a detriment to both Vista and the individual companies. SP1 is a good deadline. If HP, Lexmark, Canon, whoever can't get their devices working fully on Vista by then, it is time to look for a new device.
What exactly are your "big reasons" for not upgrading?
Driver and application compatibility issues for starters. A business needs to look at all sorts of things like that before they go jumping into something as huge as an OS migration. We use a lot of older apps from smaller companies geared specifically towards certain tasks that we do on a daily basis. That is in addition to some apps that S&P has cooked up to make some mundane tasks much easier to handle. All that together seems to be a big obstacle in the way of migration right now.
Are these folks on one of Microsoft's licensing plans where they have to upgrade?
;^)
I'm coming from ignorance here - not trying to give you a hard time. I am not sure why the corporate guys have to upgrade. I can only guess it's because of the licensing thing I've mentioned or their PHB is telling them to. Or are there other reasons?
No worries. I'm not feeling like you are giving me a hard time (yet)
Anything non-MS over here scares all the execs. They seem to upgrade whenever MS tells them to, so maybe they are on some kind of licensing plan. I don't know for sure. We just got Office 2007 pushed on us, when 2003 was working just fine. It just seems like a waste of money and time to me, in addition to introducing potential problems.
According to SABAM, if all Belgian Internet access providers would adopt the technical measures proposed by the expert so that P2P software could no longer be used for exchanging copyright works, this would put an end to the illegal traffic as Belgium is concerned.
But what about the LEGAL P2P traffic, like Linux Distros and patches for various apps and games that are out there, as well as artists who promote and encourage the sharing of their works?
I hope that this isn't dragged over here to the States by the RIAA or MPAA.
Most of the "techies" that I know think the same thing about Vista.
Why do they even want to upgrade?
I'm on XP Pro and I have absolutely no desire or see any reason to upgrade to Vista. And from what I've seen so far about Vista, my next hardware purchase will not have Vista on it.
Should've clarified: I was talking about businesses upgrading. It seems that the companies are set on sticking with MS, so the thought is hopefully they will wait until after SP1 to start upgrading.
That said, I wholeheartedly agree with you. Vista has made me start looking at the different flavors of Linux.
According to this, MS will continue to support XP until April 8, 2014. I'm sure most companies will be into Vista long before that date comes.
While Fitzgerald accepted that some business are holding back from migrating to Vista, he denied that there is a widespread feeling that it is better to wait for Service Pack 1. "I have heard that, and I don't buy it," Fitzgerald said. "It used to be a thing people did, and it might have been the case with, say, Windows 2000, but not now."
I would disagree. My company's IT department waited until they felt that IE7 was stable and patched enough for a rollout to start offering it. Most of the "techies" that I know think the same thing about Vista. That the really big reasons for not upgrading will be fixed after SP1.
The point is that you do not need credit. If you do not need credit, your credit score it just a pointless number.
Not if you want to rent or buy a place to live. Even buying a car is impacted by that "pointless number". Not everyone can afford to pay cash for a house or a car.
...I have opened two lines of credit and never once been contacted them as they claimed they would. These guys feel no obligation to follow their own guidelines. Why would they follow someone else's?
They would be breaking state laws. That might keep them in line. I have never put a freeze on my credit account, but I am considering it now.
Anyone know which states allow this? I know the credit reporting agencies charge for a privacy service. Is this free?
I posted this earlier.
According to this, the following states have this Credit Freeze option open to their residents. Use it while you can.
Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
It also lists fees and such.
By the way, if anyone wants it, you can have the combination to my luggage.
Is it 1-2-3-4-5?
It's just: Windows Update, Web Content, Digital Certificates, Auto Root Update, Windows Media Digital Rights Management, Windows Media Player, Malicious Software Removal/Clean On Upgrade, Network Connectivity Status Icon, Windows Time Service, and the IPv6 Network Address Translation (NAT) Traversal service (Teredo).
And Activation, Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP), Device Manager, Driver Protection, Dynamic Update, Event Viewer, File Association Web Service, Games Folder, Error Reporting for Handwriting Recognition, Input Method Editor (IME), Installation Improvement Program, Internet Printing, Internet Protocol version 6 Network Address Translation Traversal, Network Awareness (somewhat), Parental Controls, Peer Name Resolution Service, Plug and Play, Plug and Play Extensions, Program Compatibility Assistant, Program Properties--Compatibility Tab, Program Compatibility Wizard, Properties, Registration, Rights Management Services (RMS) Client, Update Root Certificates, Windows Control Panel, Windows Help, Windows Mail (only with Windows Live Mail, Hotmail, or MSN Mail) and Windows Problem Reporting are the main features and services in Windows Vista that collect and transmit user data to Microsoft.
As for the AO rating itself: What point is there in having that rating exist if they aren't allowed to use it when warranted? I seriously doubt they are flippant with their ratings. They don't just watch video while eating popcorn and say 'Oh, hmm.... AO.' and go for a beer at the pub.
I think the point is the question of what is the difference between M and AO? Why is AO even needed? It is the kiss of death for videogames, as most retailers won't even stock a game rated AO, let alone MS, Sony and Nintendo all saying that they won't put a game on their console with an AO rating.
I don't believe that the ESRB plays the games that they rate at all. They are sent video footage by the developer of what is the most objectionable content in-game and base their opinions on that.
Who decides what footage to send? Could they get a rating based on "weaker" footage so the game gets out? What happens then? Can the ESRB change their rating after the fact?
From TFA:
I wonder how the people rating the game played it. I wonder if their room was well lit or if they locked the door. I wonder if that matters. For that matter, I wonder how the people who made the game played it. What were all those people thinking? Did they absorb what it would be like to be an average "Manhunt 2" gamer? Does it make a difference? It does matter. It does make a difference. Playing Doom 3 at 1 in the morning with no lights on and headphones is a helluva lot different than playing it at noon on a sunny day with all the windows open. The scary thing is, I bet that the raters, if they played the game at all, played it in an office with a bunch of people around them. And the game disturbed them like that. Imagine if they played it under the "optimal" conditions. That said, I don't think that this game should be "banned". As a 29 year old gamer, I should be able to decide what I want to play. I hope that if the rating is upheld, Rockstar will sell it directly, because I'd buy it without a second thought.
I don't care if it came with unlimited blow-jobs. AT&T will never EVER see another dime of my money.
I'd have to say that I'd go back to AT&T/Cingular if that was part of their cell plans.
Apparently it's due to the Wii controller. On the PS2 and other platforms you just hit a button. On the Wii you actually mimic the motions.
I never thought of that. Makes me want to check out the Wii now.
I'm not saying that games like this should be available to kids, but I agree with an earlier post that rating it "M" should be enough. "AO" should be saved for pornographic games.
You mean that unencrypted wireless access points are not safe!?!?!?! Gimme a break. Anyone who uses unencrypted access deserves anything that happens to them. If you don't have enough common sense to avoid unencrypted wireless networks, you are beyond our help.
I was so disgusted by the copy protection techniques (e.g., you must connect to our server before you can play, the software will attempt to connect to our server every subsequent time, you can never resell or return the software once you discover this) that I never played it.
How is this any different or worse than having to have a CD/DVD in the drive to play the game? I think Steam is one of the best things that has come around as far as gaming goes. Not having to buy/keep discs, just log on to Steam and buy/install/reinstall games as you choose. But, admittedly, I am not hung up on bypassing/breaking copy-protection of games.