I risk becomming flamebait here but Macs are more of a cult than an alternative. They do some really nice things with the user interface integration and if you don't want to anything too complicated their default ways of doing it are basically idiot proof. Then again if you dive into more advanced uses of the machine a Mac can easily out-complicate a Linux system in terms of hoops to jump through etc. It's a weird kind of mixture between foolproof default user interface and status symbolism. Many people buy Macs because they want something that is designed into it's hairtips. They buy them because the way they present themselves and how the machine becomes a part of their "outfit" in a way. At least that's my theory for why people prefer to spend 500$ on a locked down MP3 player when you could get an uglier device that does the same things for a fraction of the price. Macs come with these "I want a computer but don't want to know how to use it" features like the @mac.com email and all that bullshit. That's a selling point for some people. Jobs' media appearance and the cult leader figure he has made himself into draws a certain crowd. People that pay 300% the price for hardware simply so they can claim they got one. Ironically those people would never admit to their disability of using the machine properly since they define themselves through the design etc. Ubuntu should focus on selling the Compiz desktop as a feature and get more people into the productivity enhancing effects of it rather than trying to go head-to-head with billion dollar marketing campaigns they can't possibly match.
1. NVIDIA graphics card drivers weren't installed because they were proprietary. Come on. Even then,
dragging windows around and typing into text boxes had a minor delay that didn't feel natural.
Ever installed a windows machine and booted up into a 640x480 16color desktop? The only difference here is that Windows mostly comes preconfigured. Newer version of Ubuntu take pretty good care of stuff like that. And quite honestly people are way to picky about "minor delays" and such. I've never experienced anything like that but in any case the OS is free. I can't expect to get the same finish from a fully functional free product than what I get for my 100$ Microsoft tax.
2. All websites looked different and ugly as sin, because the package didn't come with the fonts that every other system used. Come on!
People have grown so accustomed to de facto standards that they can't seem to bear minor differences. How hard is it to install the mstcorefonts package? But I agree, some more distros could adapt some of the "essentials" for their default rollout. Most of these problems come from silly licensing problems that aren't Linux's fault but a direct response to the software policy of proprietary systems. After all, it's basically Microsoft closed source's fault that you can't have Arial etc. installed by default.
3. Multi-monitor use was difficult to set up without having to alter configuration files ( though I do wish taskbars on multiple screens would come to Windows 7). Some things I found simply couldn't be done without writing scripts: setting up a hotkey to send a window to the other monitor, etc.
Is there a hotkey in Windows that sends your windows to a specific display? I wouldn't know. But again, newer version take pretty good care of these issues. Like I said before, you just can't expect a product that is as polished as one that you've paid for. Most people don't seem to care though.
To resolve most of these issues, I had to navigate a bunch of forums and wiki help pages. I couldn't imagine trying to show my mom how to do that, for instance.
Agreed, there are some rollout defaults problems that make it hard for noobs to deal with a system like that. Then again, I'm glad about that since it forces many users to learn a few basics about their computer skills. Most Windows users I know are complete idiots because they never had to look up anything at all.
Ubuntu has a lot of strengths, and many of its features made me go "OOOO, cool!" But the Linux learning curve is freakishly steep. To do something of medium difficulty in Windows generally requires advanced console command knowledge in Ubuntu.
Then again, many of the "medium difficulty" applications never apply to the ordinary user primarily. Windows focusses on these problems since they can't afford to lose customers to these hurdles. Linux simply hasn't evolved to that point were someone took the time and made the effort to implement these things properly. Given the relatively short existence of the "non guru" Linux crowd and it's vast expansion in recent history I'd say this is but all a matter of time. Enough fanboy-ism. I had my share of problems with Ubuntu and Linux in general (I want to strangle someone at ATi) but overall for a free product with no clear focus it's come an awfully long way in such a relatively short time (in comparison to the intense focus of proprietary systems and their need for success).
The Dell situation is wonderfully illustrated with the rising number of netbooks out there. People buy them with Linux installed but marketing and brand loyalty blindness has taken care of making them oblivious to how to use a computer that doesn't have a "Start" button. I read stories about customers returning Linux systems because it doesn't look like they've grown to expect. I experienced that with my sister in law which wanted to get a Vista laptop instead of her Ubuntu desktop because it was more "familiar" to her. Sadly Linux COULD be a solution for many more people but they seem to be so used to Windows that they can't even figure out how to use something else.
I see certain amount of trouble in the fact that Ubuntu is backed by a millionaire entrepreneur. They do this not like SuSe or RedHat to get into a stable business market but to follow a weird undefined "goal" of making Linux attractive for the home desktop crowd. The problem is, most of the people that are supposed to be their target audience couldn't care less WHAT comes pre-installed on their machine and since they usually "upgrade" with the hardware it's Windows indefinitely. Don't get me wrong. I run both of my computers with Ubuntu and got other people to at least try if not adapt it for full time use. The problem still is most of the folks that are the core non-nerd computer users have enough trouble figuring out what all the icons are for, let alone dive into "operating systems" and software philosophy. Unless someone manages to shove out a stable, user friendly attractive hardware solution that comes pre-equipped with Linux I don't see much hope for projects like Ubuntu to actually take up market share. There are several hurdles (games being a major one) that users would have to jump in order to use a Linux distribution for their every day needs and that just isn't happening while people get their OS with the new computer and barely manage to figure out how to use it.
I would dispute the idea that it was equally compelling. I preferred HD-DVD but always bet on Blu-Ray. I own neither.
Well, for a while there the entire market didn't know what it was going to be. Eventually Blu-Ray seemed to have been the one with the better gimmicky features and thus prevailed -two-three years ago I wouldn't have known which one would make it.
I only wish I knew why my Xbox and PS2 look great on my HDTV at 480p
To me the whole situation is a paradoxically recursive moebius-strip excuse. I don't own an HD TV therefore I don't own an HD console. I don't own an HD console therefore I don't own HD TV. I use a modded Xbox every day on my SD TV but I don't really miss 720p/1080p since most of the things I watch are rather poor quality (video encoding wise) in any case. I simply can't (don't want to) afford spending a thousand Euros on the kind of equipment I would need to enjoy myself using it. The cheapest TV I could live with is 700 and then I would have to buy a PS3 and several games and/or a 360 as well just to play the games I would want to play. That's easily 1500 right there. Sure I could save some money buying used games and stuff but I just don't wanna:p Until I catch a break at work and can put aside a grand to "waste" on entertainment gear I'm still pretty happy with what I got.
but my Wii still looks like poop.
Yeah, sad isn't it? Best selling system, longest history in the market and they can't get their feet into "proper" territory. I'm enjoying some of the games I bought for it but most of the stuff coming out is a joke considering the history Nintendo has as a game defining company (the video games making "game" that is). Like I wrote before. Basically I'm just waiting for the next Zelda. After that I think I will either ditch video games for good or spend more money than ever before. Right now, I think I'd put the money to better use.
Umm... except that the whole "when we win" was the erroneous assumption that everyone made when the first trial came about.
You really thought they would win that trial? Good grief. I was quite positively surprised when it was a mere 4 million in damages. Yeah I read the #spectrial feed every day. Yeah I enjoyed the whole kerfluffle they made about the trial. Sure, why not. Good entertainment. But quite frankly, there was not a second of doubt that this trial would be a farce and that there would be a series of re-trials and whatnot. Maybe that's just my natural defense a.k.a. cynicism talking. I can't deny that I had a glimmer of hope in the Swedish judicial system but I wasn't actually flabbergasted when they proved that their system is just as corrupt and fucked up as everyone else's. The revelations that the judge was actually lying about his engagement in pro-copyright lobbies is just a sugar coated cherry on that crap-sundae.
Eventually we (the guys that have to actually fork over the money) will win. It might just take a while longer as it could take if the industry wasn't seemingly a bunch of conservative f+++tards. Then again, from their view (black and white hysteria, no imagination and outright mental disorders) it makes some sort of sense. Just the way this whole thing is fought pisses me off. They're not fair, why should the pirates be. You would guess that a billion dollar lobby would have an equally strong opposition at the consumer front but since most people aren't interested in taking a stance they're just swatting at flies with their huge palms still sweaty from counting OUR money. If there was actual talks going on about actual global improvements or even evidence to be seen that they're making an effort I would have some sort of compassion for their situation but the way it is now -screw them. I don't expect BitTorrent to be everybody's darling tomorrow morning 8 a.m. but there is no way the industry can keep cutting lines to the chute their dangling from. There is an entire generation growing up right now that just doesn't give a crap about the industry's ancient business model ideas anymore and these kids (said the 25 y/o geezer) see what CAN be done if you WANT TO. They will have to succumb to consumer interests eventually you can't run a business by showing your customers what you DON'T WANT TO do. Like I said, it might take a while but in the meantime... I'm off watching my "illegal" copy of the Omid Djalili show from a country I don't live in, in a language that I'm not supposed to speak that well and concerning topics I was never supposed to see, with cropped Ads that were targeted at me.
I kinda disagree. The 360 was rather expensive when it launched as well and boasted an equally compelling HD DVD drive at the time. Sony overestimated the "value" that Blu-Ray meant to people. Now it's just a part of the console and nobody actually cares for the PS3 as a player in the gamer community (it's a nice added bonus). The problem is the Xbox SKU evolved over time and made amends for the lack of features of one package with a lower pricepoint or more capacity as it became less attractive. The PS3 has been on a dead-set steady price and people just don't see why they would pay a 200$ premium for a video format they won't use and a console that can barely do anything better than the 360. Sony has locked itself into this with probably ridiculously high hardware manufacturing cost and a failed long-term strategy. I don't know that's so much a matter of intelligence on the customer side, I personally think it's a lack thereof on Sony's side.
Just to clarify, I don't own either. I'm one of those silly fools that is still waiting for the next Zelda for Wii and keeps playing mediocrity until then -no HD TV... no need for a 400$ dust collector.
That's definitely easier than abusing the banking system and pissing of a law firm that is known for it's bad temper with these silly "dog poop on the porch"-shenanigans. Doesn't exactly speak for the integrity of the "we're innocent" point the guys are trying to make when they start calling for crap like that. Even when it's hearsay evidence from some unrelated third party. Each one will have their account registered by the lawyers and they will definitely try to do "something" against the people who actually transfer money. They'll probably find a way to get the banks to hand out the names or such. I don't know what but as we all know... they get kinda "creative" when it comes to annoying of the young'uns. To me this is just stupid. If anyone cares... wait for the second trial (which is coming -no doubt) and after we win just send them the pennies anyway but don't ask for them back. They will need the money.
You mean the DSiShop channel? I don't see how it's any less integral than the iPhone's app store.
I am not really familiar with the offerings for the DS market but do they sell complete games over that shop? What about dedicated applications? What about third party apps? That's what I mean by "pushing" software. A service like XBLA or the PSN downloads can hardly be called a "software" store because it's merely a one-tier electronic distribution channel. The AppStore on the other hand is at least somewhat open to people to sell their "own" things.
Sooo... not quite sure where you're going with your argument?
I was originally trying to say that the DS doesn't have much "software" aside from games and some little gimmicky toy apps (forgive me if I'm worng I don't know the DS portfolio that well). To me the kind of apps that you need to be able to compete in a market with the iPhone are business apps and more "serious" application. Sure the iFart isn't far away from Smooth Moves but overall the DS as a software platform has very little to offer besides it intended purposes. The iPhone on the other hand (and I don't want to argue for the Apple model just saying that this has become the de factor standard) has a much broader variety of software available for it and that is why it is becoming more and more attractive for user and developers alike. Ultimately, there is little use designing spreadsheet software for the DS, is there.
I don't know the DS and DSI are selling pretty well and they are just devices aren't they ?
Well, you got me there. Maybe my definition wasn't clear enough. The difference between the iPhone, a potential PSPhone and the DS(i) is that the DS isn't "connected" in the sense that it doesn't have inherent networking capabilities that are designed to push apps. At least not that I'm aware of. The iPhone has spawned an entire eco-system of software around it and the PSPhone will have to do something quite similar to compete. The AppStore is undoubtably a profitable model and we have yet to see other mobile platforms of that magnitude and impact. The DSi is a very specialized device. I never said devices themselves wouldn't sell... just that it's hard to compete against an entire platform infrastructure if you have "only" your device. On top of that the Nintendo model is very rigid and doesn't allow for much third party creative interaction and thus basically limits itself to be a device rather than a platform.
Sony is not exactly known for it's technological strategies in the last years. They sat heavy on their butt with overestimating the consumers need for a gaming platform/media system with the PS3 and unless they come up with a serious mobile strategy including software platform, app store, innovative applications and some incentive for customers to want to use their stuff I highly doubt this will make it that far. It's clearly aimed at countering the iPhone's growing stance as a mobile gaming platform but the iPhone has one important advantage: It's a platform not just a device. Sony has been building too many devices lately. Those don't sell too well on their own.
Alienware expects each customer to have an "account" in their database for the pieces of hardware they own? There you got it right there. Terrible company. Move on. Hardware is like bacon... I get it, I use it. It's nobody's business to know what I do with it or if I still own it in an hour. Warranty registration is one thing but this sounds to me like a "customer service" scheme running wild.
The last time they tried that it was 2003 after another shooting spree. Our supreme court held up the constitution and said "Fuck you". This barking for a ban of paintball comes in line with a "ban for firearms", "ban for violent video games", "ban for underage drinking", "ban on drugs" and guess what time it is? Right! It's election time. Some CDU douche even said that violent video games equal drugs and child pornography in their "bad effects on society". Now there is some grand illusion for you. In fall there will be several big elections and all these reactionary bullshitters are piling up hills from which to shout their election programs from.
Who cares, I at least don't. I know our politicians are completely full of shit and can't be trusted. The only thing left to do is vote Pirate Party. More and more people are starting to wake up.
When free market capitalism lets you kick competition out of business -you support it.
When free market capitalism lets competition kick you out of business -you fight it.
My first Linux experience was back in the day with SuSe 6.0, bought that in a bookstore with a fat manual (that was useless to me) and tried to install it when my Windows 98 SE had one of it's breakdowns. After fiddling with the installer and things for hours I couldn't get my soundcard to work and had nothing really productive to do with the system (note that "productive" back then meant playing Counterstrike). Since the sound didn't work so I couldn't listen to music, I couldn't get online because I didn't figure out how to dial-up and no game would even install I went running back to Windows. I was 16 and very silly at the time:P
In the meantime I had my "real" first time with Ubuntu Dapper and it was a fullblown success. I switched to Linux immediately and faded out Windows over the course of three months. So far I don't play that much at all anymore and mostly do Internet related filesharing and open source stuff.
The old saying is true, I guess, the first time is almost always horrible and forgettable.
What we once dubbed a "hardcore" gamer was someone that played all kinds of games for hours and hours on end while everyone else was doing "real" things (as these fools called them). Nowadays everyone's a gamer. It's casual to have two or three consoles and play a couple of hours every week. That is what the hardcore used to do, they were only hardcore because everything was vastly more expensive and skill was involved. There are still hardcore gamers but they're outdone by the mass of casual players that live up to the level of former hardcore. I think we should think of new distinctions. I, for one, call the people that play only Wii Fit and Samba de Amigo TWATS for example.
Given the alternatives I'd rather live with no government at all. Can you imagine what this country would already be like if the CDU with all their lies and 18th century politics had complete control?
Same goes for the other end, can you imagine what a screwed up place this would be if the SPD was in complete charge? The only thing good about the "large coalitions" is that they keep each other in check (sort of) by always fighting about special interests either one can't live up to their "full potential" and that, in my book, is to our benefit. Currently there is not one party that could provide a single rule and properly deal with problems. I would suggest founding a new one but I'm afraid people wouldn't get what I mean and turn out to start with NSD..
I agree and while your at it take PETA too. Anyone that has a black/white worldview like that shouldn't be allowed to have a lobby group but that's a result of having a multi-facetted open society I'm afraid. Only difference is business needs to be restricted... public groups restrict themselves via their inefficacy. Also, Greenpeace doesn't try to install unnatural means of reproduction in plants so they can earn more money. While their views are somewhat extreme in many cases there is no comparison to the atrocities against nature that Monsanto has already committed by the thousands. Terminator-Gene, Roundup Ready need I say more?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Av6dx9yNiCA
"Monsanto Indian Farmer Suicide" (because they can't make a living anymore with the terrible Monsanto crops policies and poison themselves with pesticides)
I don't know of any farmer whose life Greenpeace pushed to the brink of destruction. Mainly because they're too busy throwing paint cans at whalers and unfolding banners in weird places.
Slashdot Mirror
I risk becomming flamebait here but Macs are more of a cult than an alternative. They do some really nice things with the user interface integration and if you don't want to anything too complicated their default ways of doing it are basically idiot proof. Then again if you dive into more advanced uses of the machine a Mac can easily out-complicate a Linux system in terms of hoops to jump through etc. It's a weird kind of mixture between foolproof default user interface and status symbolism. Many people buy Macs because they want something that is designed into it's hairtips. They buy them because the way they present themselves and how the machine becomes a part of their "outfit" in a way. At least that's my theory for why people prefer to spend 500$ on a locked down MP3 player when you could get an uglier device that does the same things for a fraction of the price. Macs come with these "I want a computer but don't want to know how to use it" features like the @mac.com email and all that bullshit. That's a selling point for some people. Jobs' media appearance and the cult leader figure he has made himself into draws a certain crowd. People that pay 300% the price for hardware simply so they can claim they got one. Ironically those people would never admit to their disability of using the machine properly since they define themselves through the design etc. Ubuntu should focus on selling the Compiz desktop as a feature and get more people into the productivity enhancing effects of it rather than trying to go head-to-head with billion dollar marketing campaigns they can't possibly match.
1. NVIDIA graphics card drivers weren't installed because they were proprietary. Come on. Even then, dragging windows around and typing into text boxes had a minor delay that didn't feel natural.
Ever installed a windows machine and booted up into a 640x480 16color desktop? The only difference here is that Windows mostly comes preconfigured. Newer version of Ubuntu take pretty good care of stuff like that. And quite honestly people are way to picky about "minor delays" and such. I've never experienced anything like that but in any case the OS is free. I can't expect to get the same finish from a fully functional free product than what I get for my 100$ Microsoft tax.
2. All websites looked different and ugly as sin, because the package didn't come with the fonts that every other system used. Come on!
People have grown so accustomed to de facto standards that they can't seem to bear minor differences. How hard is it to install the mstcorefonts package? But I agree, some more distros could adapt some of the "essentials" for their default rollout. Most of these problems come from silly licensing problems that aren't Linux's fault but a direct response to the software policy of proprietary systems. After all, it's basically Microsoft closed source's fault that you can't have Arial etc. installed by default.
3. Multi-monitor use was difficult to set up without having to alter configuration files ( though I do wish taskbars on multiple screens would come to Windows 7). Some things I found simply couldn't be done without writing scripts: setting up a hotkey to send a window to the other monitor, etc.
Is there a hotkey in Windows that sends your windows to a specific display? I wouldn't know. But again, newer version take pretty good care of these issues. Like I said before, you just can't expect a product that is as polished as one that you've paid for. Most people don't seem to care though.
To resolve most of these issues, I had to navigate a bunch of forums and wiki help pages. I couldn't imagine trying to show my mom how to do that, for instance.
Agreed, there are some rollout defaults problems that make it hard for noobs to deal with a system like that. Then again, I'm glad about that since it forces many users to learn a few basics about their computer skills. Most Windows users I know are complete idiots because they never had to look up anything at all.
Ubuntu has a lot of strengths, and many of its features made me go "OOOO, cool!" But the Linux learning curve is freakishly steep. To do something of medium difficulty in Windows generally requires advanced console command knowledge in Ubuntu.
Then again, many of the "medium difficulty" applications never apply to the ordinary user primarily. Windows focusses on these problems since they can't afford to lose customers to these hurdles. Linux simply hasn't evolved to that point were someone took the time and made the effort to implement these things properly. Given the relatively short existence of the "non guru" Linux crowd and it's vast expansion in recent history I'd say this is but all a matter of time. Enough fanboy-ism. I had my share of problems with Ubuntu and Linux in general (I want to strangle someone at ATi) but overall for a free product with no clear focus it's come an awfully long way in such a relatively short time (in comparison to the intense focus of proprietary systems and their need for success).
The Dell situation is wonderfully illustrated with the rising number of netbooks out there. People buy them with Linux installed but marketing and brand loyalty blindness has taken care of making them oblivious to how to use a computer that doesn't have a "Start" button. I read stories about customers returning Linux systems because it doesn't look like they've grown to expect. I experienced that with my sister in law which wanted to get a Vista laptop instead of her Ubuntu desktop because it was more "familiar" to her. Sadly Linux COULD be a solution for many more people but they seem to be so used to Windows that they can't even figure out how to use something else.
I see certain amount of trouble in the fact that Ubuntu is backed by a millionaire entrepreneur. They do this not like SuSe or RedHat to get into a stable business market but to follow a weird undefined "goal" of making Linux attractive for the home desktop crowd. The problem is, most of the people that are supposed to be their target audience couldn't care less WHAT comes pre-installed on their machine and since they usually "upgrade" with the hardware it's Windows indefinitely. Don't get me wrong. I run both of my computers with Ubuntu and got other people to at least try if not adapt it for full time use. The problem still is most of the folks that are the core non-nerd computer users have enough trouble figuring out what all the icons are for, let alone dive into "operating systems" and software philosophy. Unless someone manages to shove out a stable, user friendly attractive hardware solution that comes pre-equipped with Linux I don't see much hope for projects like Ubuntu to actually take up market share. There are several hurdles (games being a major one) that users would have to jump in order to use a Linux distribution for their every day needs and that just isn't happening while people get their OS with the new computer and barely manage to figure out how to use it.
How can an organization call itself the "Creative Industries" when they can't even come up with 21st century business models ...
I would dispute the idea that it was equally compelling. I preferred HD-DVD but always bet on Blu-Ray. I own neither.
Well, for a while there the entire market didn't know what it was going to be. Eventually Blu-Ray seemed to have been the one with the better gimmicky features and thus prevailed -two-three years ago I wouldn't have known which one would make it.
I only wish I knew why my Xbox and PS2 look great on my HDTV at 480p
To me the whole situation is a paradoxically recursive moebius-strip excuse. I don't own an HD TV therefore I don't own an HD console. I don't own an HD console therefore I don't own HD TV. I use a modded Xbox every day on my SD TV but I don't really miss 720p/1080p since most of the things I watch are rather poor quality (video encoding wise) in any case. I simply can't (don't want to) afford spending a thousand Euros on the kind of equipment I would need to enjoy myself using it. The cheapest TV I could live with is 700 and then I would have to buy a PS3 and several games and/or a 360 as well just to play the games I would want to play. That's easily 1500 right there. Sure I could save some money buying used games and stuff but I just don't wanna :p Until I catch a break at work and can put aside a grand to "waste" on entertainment gear I'm still pretty happy with what I got.
but my Wii still looks like poop.
Yeah, sad isn't it? Best selling system, longest history in the market and they can't get their feet into "proper" territory. I'm enjoying some of the games I bought for it but most of the stuff coming out is a joke considering the history Nintendo has as a game defining company (the video games making "game" that is). Like I wrote before. Basically I'm just waiting for the next Zelda. After that I think I will either ditch video games for good or spend more money than ever before. Right now, I think I'd put the money to better use.
Must ... use ... spellcheck ... not ... stay ... up late.
Umm... except that the whole "when we win" was the erroneous assumption that everyone made when the first trial came about.
You really thought they would win that trial? Good grief. I was quite positively surprised when it was a mere 4 million in damages. Yeah I read the #spectrial feed every day. Yeah I enjoyed the whole kerfluffle they made about the trial. Sure, why not. Good entertainment. But quite frankly, there was not a second of doubt that this trial would be a farce and that there would be a series of re-trials and whatnot. Maybe that's just my natural defense a.k.a. cynicism talking. I can't deny that I had a glimmer of hope in the Swedish judicial system but I wasn't actually flabbergasted when they proved that their system is just as corrupt and fucked up as everyone else's. The revelations that the judge was actually lying about his engagement in pro-copyright lobbies is just a sugar coated cherry on that crap-sundae.
... I'm off watching my "illegal" copy of the Omid Djalili show from a country I don't live in, in a language that I'm not supposed to speak that well and concerning topics I was never supposed to see, with cropped Ads that were targeted at me.
Eventually we (the guys that have to actually fork over the money) will win. It might just take a while longer as it could take if the industry wasn't seemingly a bunch of conservative f+++tards. Then again, from their view (black and white hysteria, no imagination and outright mental disorders) it makes some sort of sense. Just the way this whole thing is fought pisses me off. They're not fair, why should the pirates be. You would guess that a billion dollar lobby would have an equally strong opposition at the consumer front but since most people aren't interested in taking a stance they're just swatting at flies with their huge palms still sweaty from counting OUR money. If there was actual talks going on about actual global improvements or even evidence to be seen that they're making an effort I would have some sort of compassion for their situation but the way it is now -screw them. I don't expect BitTorrent to be everybody's darling tomorrow morning 8 a.m. but there is no way the industry can keep cutting lines to the chute their dangling from. There is an entire generation growing up right now that just doesn't give a crap about the industry's ancient business model ideas anymore and these kids (said the 25 y/o geezer) see what CAN be done if you WANT TO. They will have to succumb to consumer interests eventually you can't run a business by showing your customers what you DON'T WANT TO do. Like I said, it might take a while but in the meantime
So I should rather use WontAdBlock? Thanks a lot.
...
sudo apt-get lynx espeak
I kinda disagree. The 360 was rather expensive when it launched as well and boasted an equally compelling HD DVD drive at the time. Sony overestimated the "value" that Blu-Ray meant to people. Now it's just a part of the console and nobody actually cares for the PS3 as a player in the gamer community (it's a nice added bonus). The problem is the Xbox SKU evolved over time and made amends for the lack of features of one package with a lower pricepoint or more capacity as it became less attractive. The PS3 has been on a dead-set steady price and people just don't see why they would pay a 200$ premium for a video format they won't use and a console that can barely do anything better than the 360. Sony has locked itself into this with probably ridiculously high hardware manufacturing cost and a failed long-term strategy. I don't know that's so much a matter of intelligence on the customer side, I personally think it's a lack thereof on Sony's side.
... no need for a 400$ dust collector.
Just to clarify, I don't own either. I'm one of those silly fools that is still waiting for the next Zelda for Wii and keeps playing mediocrity until then -no HD TV
That's definitely easier than abusing the banking system and pissing of a law firm that is known for it's bad temper with these silly "dog poop on the porch"-shenanigans. Doesn't exactly speak for the integrity of the "we're innocent" point the guys are trying to make when they start calling for crap like that. Even when it's hearsay evidence from some unrelated third party. Each one will have their account registered by the lawyers and they will definitely try to do "something" against the people who actually transfer money. They'll probably find a way to get the banks to hand out the names or such. I don't know what but as we all know ... they get kinda "creative" when it comes to annoying of the young'uns. To me this is just stupid. If anyone cares ... wait for the second trial (which is coming -no doubt) and after we win just send them the pennies anyway but don't ask for them back. They will need the money.
You mean the DSiShop channel? I don't see how it's any less integral than the iPhone's app store.
I am not really familiar with the offerings for the DS market but do they sell complete games over that shop? What about dedicated applications? What about third party apps? That's what I mean by "pushing" software. A service like XBLA or the PSN downloads can hardly be called a "software" store because it's merely a one-tier electronic distribution channel. The AppStore on the other hand is at least somewhat open to people to sell their "own" things.
Sooo... not quite sure where you're going with your argument?
I was originally trying to say that the DS doesn't have much "software" aside from games and some little gimmicky toy apps (forgive me if I'm worng I don't know the DS portfolio that well). To me the kind of apps that you need to be able to compete in a market with the iPhone are business apps and more "serious" application. Sure the iFart isn't far away from Smooth Moves but overall the DS as a software platform has very little to offer besides it intended purposes. The iPhone on the other hand (and I don't want to argue for the Apple model just saying that this has become the de factor standard) has a much broader variety of software available for it and that is why it is becoming more and more attractive for user and developers alike. Ultimately, there is little use designing spreadsheet software for the DS, is there.
I don't know the DS and DSI are selling pretty well and they are just devices aren't they ?
Well, you got me there. Maybe my definition wasn't clear enough. The difference between the iPhone, a potential PSPhone and the DS(i) is that the DS isn't "connected" in the sense that it doesn't have inherent networking capabilities that are designed to push apps. At least not that I'm aware of. The iPhone has spawned an entire eco-system of software around it and the PSPhone will have to do something quite similar to compete. The AppStore is undoubtably a profitable model and we have yet to see other mobile platforms of that magnitude and impact. The DSi is a very specialized device. I never said devices themselves wouldn't sell ... just that it's hard to compete against an entire platform infrastructure if you have "only" your device. On top of that the Nintendo model is very rigid and doesn't allow for much third party creative interaction and thus basically limits itself to be a device rather than a platform.
Sony is not exactly known for it's technological strategies in the last years. They sat heavy on their butt with overestimating the consumers need for a gaming platform/media system with the PS3 and unless they come up with a serious mobile strategy including software platform, app store, innovative applications and some incentive for customers to want to use their stuff I highly doubt this will make it that far. It's clearly aimed at countering the iPhone's growing stance as a mobile gaming platform but the iPhone has one important advantage: It's a platform not just a device. Sony has been building too many devices lately. Those don't sell too well on their own.
... Profit?
Alienware expects each customer to have an "account" in their database for the pieces of hardware they own? There you got it right there. Terrible company. Move on. Hardware is like bacon ... I get it, I use it. It's nobody's business to know what I do with it or if I still own it in an hour. Warranty registration is one thing but this sounds to me like a "customer service" scheme running wild.
The last time they tried that it was 2003 after another shooting spree. Our supreme court held up the constitution and said "Fuck you". This barking for a ban of paintball comes in line with a "ban for firearms", "ban for violent video games", "ban for underage drinking", "ban on drugs" and guess what time it is? Right! It's election time. Some CDU douche even said that violent video games equal drugs and child pornography in their "bad effects on society". Now there is some grand illusion for you. In fall there will be several big elections and all these reactionary bullshitters are piling up hills from which to shout their election programs from.
Who cares, I at least don't. I know our politicians are completely full of shit and can't be trusted. The only thing left to do is vote Pirate Party. More and more people are starting to wake up.
wtf? Where I'm from that's a bad sign when people with the red brassards show up
When free market capitalism lets you kick competition out of business -you support it.
When free market capitalism lets competition kick you out of business -you fight it.
It all makes so much sense.
Keith Richards will keep playing? Holy mother ... please make it stop. This is against nature and all that's good and true.
My first Linux experience was back in the day with SuSe 6.0, bought that in a bookstore with a fat manual (that was useless to me) and tried to install it when my Windows 98 SE had one of it's breakdowns. After fiddling with the installer and things for hours I couldn't get my soundcard to work and had nothing really productive to do with the system (note that "productive" back then meant playing Counterstrike). Since the sound didn't work so I couldn't listen to music, I couldn't get online because I didn't figure out how to dial-up and no game would even install I went running back to Windows. I was 16 and very silly at the time :P
In the meantime I had my "real" first time with Ubuntu Dapper and it was a fullblown success. I switched to Linux immediately and faded out Windows over the course of three months. So far I don't play that much at all anymore and mostly do Internet related filesharing and open source stuff.
The old saying is true, I guess, the first time is almost always horrible and forgettable.
When you don't want to offer support but still want to harvest user comments and complaints you just "leak" your product onto the web?
What we once dubbed a "hardcore" gamer was someone that played all kinds of games for hours and hours on end while everyone else was doing "real" things (as these fools called them). Nowadays everyone's a gamer. It's casual to have two or three consoles and play a couple of hours every week. That is what the hardcore used to do, they were only hardcore because everything was vastly more expensive and skill was involved. There are still hardcore gamers but they're outdone by the mass of casual players that live up to the level of former hardcore. I think we should think of new distinctions. I, for one, call the people that play only Wii Fit and Samba de Amigo TWATS for example.
Given the alternatives I'd rather live with no government at all. Can you imagine what this country would already be like if the CDU with all their lies and 18th century politics had complete control?
Same goes for the other end, can you imagine what a screwed up place this would be if the SPD was in complete charge? The only thing good about the "large coalitions" is that they keep each other in check (sort of) by always fighting about special interests either one can't live up to their "full potential" and that, in my book, is to our benefit. Currently there is not one party that could provide a single rule and properly deal with problems. I would suggest founding a new one but I'm afraid people wouldn't get what I mean and turn out to start with NSD..
I agree and while your at it take PETA too. Anyone that has a black/white worldview like that shouldn't be allowed to have a lobby group but that's a result of having a multi-facetted open society I'm afraid. Only difference is business needs to be restricted ... public groups restrict themselves via their inefficacy. Also, Greenpeace doesn't try to install unnatural means of reproduction in plants so they can earn more money. While their views are somewhat extreme in many cases there is no comparison to the atrocities against nature that Monsanto has already committed by the thousands. Terminator-Gene, Roundup Ready need I say more?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Av6dx9yNiCA
"Monsanto Indian Farmer Suicide" (because they can't make a living anymore with the terrible Monsanto crops policies and poison themselves with pesticides)
I don't know of any farmer whose life Greenpeace pushed to the brink of destruction. Mainly because they're too busy throwing paint cans at whalers and unfolding banners in weird places.