This isn't rabid Linux advocacy, I'm curious why you are planning to dual boot windows when you are building a
'typical family PC' without an emphasis on gaming
Is there a particular software application you need on windows? Is it because you think the rest of your family can't use Linux?
In my experience, the only apps that I keep windows around for are games. I can do everything else in Linux, and given a nice window manager and about 5 minutes of instruction I can get a computer neophyte doing all the things they would be doing in windows.
I have played EverQuest, up to and including the "end game" as a member of the strongest guild on a server, and I have to disagree with the general slant of Mr. Sanftenberg's comments.
EverQuest is a game, a form of entertainment, and a fun way to fill your spare time if you are into any of the things it provides, from RPG/Action/Adventure gaming to online social interaction to powergaming. You can enjoy playing EverQuest in 1hr sessions or 16hr sessions.
I had a ton of fun playing EverQuest. I started when the first public beta was offered, and I have great memories of exploring the giant landscape with a helpless little avatar that was scared for his life. I interacted with other characters and formed friendships that now exist outside of EverQuest. I played the "end game" and completed the "timesinks" that Mr. Sanftenberg describes so horribly and enjoyed them.
EverQuest is a game and a hobby, and it is easy to get "addicted" to any hobby. I know people that obsessively modify their cars, tweak their computers, work out at the gym, or watch TV. You can spend hours doing anything, and at least EverQuest is cheap. For $12.95 a month you could go to the movies maybe twice, you could pay a fraction of your cable TV bill, or you could buy a new fan for your modded computer case -- or you could play EverQuest. If you figure hardcore gamers are playing 5 to 6 hours a day or more, then that $12.95 a month doesn't seem so bad.
People have issues with class balancing, however if all classes didn't have relative strengths and weaknesses then why even bother having different classes? Who cares if your class only does 80% as effective as another class in some statistical category that you can only really measure by parsing hours and hours of logs - there is some other category your class does better, and in my experience the person playing the class contributes much more to the overall effectiveness than the class itself. The way to not enjoy playing EverQuest is to focus on "min-maxing" your character, not being satisfied until you are the "best". Sure, strive for new accomplishments, set goals for your character, but also enjoy the ride. The "timesinks" referred to in the post usually have some positive component to them. For example the Ssra mines and commanders are great places to earn experience for your character. The 60 man raid force clearing through the trash mobs to fight a boss mob is not a "timesink" but rather what makes the end game of EverQuest fun to play: 60 people working together to accomplish a goal.
I enjoyed my time playing EverQuest. I don't play now because I have very little spare time these days, but I will likely start playing again one day when I do have time.
In my experience, if you have something, and it is functional, then you are better off to migrate and refactor what you have to end up with improvements rather than doing the slash and burn and rewrite.
The advantage of the migration and refactor approach is you can do it in a way that leaves you with a functional product the entire time, giving you the ability to respond to new requests/requirements as they arise.
If you try to do a full rewrite, and some new urgent deliverable comes up in the middle of your rewrite, the only way you are going to be able to deliver in time is to hack it into your old functional code.
Slashdot Mirror
Do not trust the crusher robot
He is malfunctioning
Do you have stairs in your house?
4) ?????
5) Profit
but more of a cunning stunt, or something like that
Why bite the bullet, when instead we can use it to shoot them, and then bill their family for it?
not nearly as volatile as Lithium Thionyl Chloride batteries
Jim Henson clearly owns the IP to space pork, I'm sure his estate's attorneys will be contacting these Ham Rocketeers soon
Dogs, with bees in their mouths, and when they bark they shoot bees at you
mach 5 or warp 5, it still ain't gonna do the Kessel Run in under 12 parsecs...
This isn't rabid Linux advocacy, I'm curious why you are planning to dual boot windows when you are building a
Is there a particular software application you need on windows? Is it because you think the rest of your family can't use Linux?
In my experience, the only apps that I keep windows around for are games. I can do everything else in Linux, and given a nice window manager and about 5 minutes of instruction I can get a computer neophyte doing all the things they would be doing in windows.
I couldn't help but think:
Thats right kids!
It's new PDA Log, from PLMO!
What rolls down stairs
Alone or in pairs
Rolls over your neighbor's dog.
What's great for a snack
And fits on your back
It's log, log, log!
It's lo-og, lo-og,
It's big, it's heavy, it's wood.
It's lo-og, lo-og,
It's better than bad, it's good.
Everyone wants a log,
You're gonna love it, log
Come on and get your log,
Everyone needs a log...
BY PLMO!
I have played EverQuest, up to and including the "end game" as a member of the strongest guild on a server, and I have to disagree with the general slant of Mr. Sanftenberg's comments.
EverQuest is a game, a form of entertainment, and a fun way to fill your spare time if you are into any of the things it provides, from RPG/Action/Adventure gaming to online social interaction to powergaming. You can enjoy playing EverQuest in 1hr sessions or 16hr sessions.
I had a ton of fun playing EverQuest. I started when the first public beta was offered, and I have great memories of exploring the giant landscape with a helpless little avatar that was scared for his life. I interacted with other characters and formed friendships that now exist outside of EverQuest. I played the "end game" and completed the "timesinks" that Mr. Sanftenberg describes so horribly and enjoyed them.
EverQuest is a game and a hobby, and it is easy to get "addicted" to any hobby. I know people that obsessively modify their cars, tweak their computers, work out at the gym, or watch TV. You can spend hours doing anything, and at least EverQuest is cheap. For $12.95 a month you could go to the movies maybe twice, you could pay a fraction of your cable TV bill, or you could buy a new fan for your modded computer case -- or you could play EverQuest. If you figure hardcore gamers are playing 5 to 6 hours a day or more, then that $12.95 a month doesn't seem so bad.
People have issues with class balancing, however if all classes didn't have relative strengths and weaknesses then why even bother having different classes? Who cares if your class only does 80% as effective as another class in some statistical category that you can only really measure by parsing hours and hours of logs - there is some other category your class does better, and in my experience the person playing the class contributes much more to the overall effectiveness than the class itself. The way to not enjoy playing EverQuest is to focus on "min-maxing" your character, not being satisfied until you are the "best". Sure, strive for new accomplishments, set goals for your character, but also enjoy the ride. The "timesinks" referred to in the post usually have some positive component to them. For example the Ssra mines and commanders are great places to earn experience for your character. The 60 man raid force clearing through the trash mobs to fight a boss mob is not a "timesink" but rather what makes the end game of EverQuest fun to play: 60 people working together to accomplish a goal.
I enjoyed my time playing EverQuest. I don't play now because I have very little spare time these days, but I will likely start playing again one day when I do have time.
--Cam aka Slithy Toves of Tholuxe Paells
In my experience, if you have something, and it is functional, then you are better off to migrate and refactor what you have to end up with improvements rather than doing the slash and burn and rewrite.
The advantage of the migration and refactor approach is you can do it in a way that leaves you with a functional product the entire time, giving you the ability to respond to new requests/requirements as they arise.
If you try to do a full rewrite, and some new urgent deliverable comes up in the middle of your rewrite, the only way you are going to be able to deliver in time is to hack it into your old functional code.
JonKatz wrote:
The problem is after the kids kill themselves, it is their unstopable lust for life that makes them go on killing sprees.
EverCrack, NeverRest, whatever you want to call it...
just one more kill till i go to sleep....
or maybe i will just make my next level before i go to sleep...
well, did you hear about the ship that made the kessel run in under 12 parsecs?
i've always wondered what that one meant.
I'd really be impressed if they could give you the lat/lon of CDPD devices. It would make my job a heck of a lot easier.