Microsoft doesn't support it's customers, but instead only supports their customers who have paid for Microsoft's product AND who have also let Microsoft gouge them over support costs to have thier paid-for product supported.
John Q. Consumer doesn't have enough money to warrent Microsoft's attention.
If MS release a patch that hoses systems or installs a rootkit...
Similar things have happened before (unintentional, I'm sure). Microsoft fixed the problems at it's leisure, never apologizing and never being held truly accountable....many people will be clamouring for their blood.
Sure, whatever. People have never really clamoured for blood when yet another virus broke out or yet another security hole was found. As far as I am aware, Microsoft has never paid for damages due to the problems with thier software. There are parts of their EULA that makes them immune to accountability, just for these reasons. Consumers just sit back and tolorate the problem until Microsoft get's around to fixing it.
I ask you this: Specifically, in what capacity is Microsoft accountable to it's customers?
Granted, they are accountable to the US DoJ and the EU Commission, but only because of the weight each carry and the fines they can impose.
In the end, I can see where you're coming from, and you have a decent point, but I think you're not really looking at the real Microsoft, but instead you're looking at the public image of Microsoft.
Does anyone know for sure: when it comes out, if you license Torque Shaders, you get the source code too, right??
I've bought the Torque engine, and yes, when you buy any license from GarageGames, you always get the full source code. Same thing for the upcoming shader.
24Us of rack space. I recommend anything by Middle Atlantic. Solid construction, good quality. My 24U cost approx $600 (they don't seem to get much cheaper, new that is).
Bit of advice, though... You might seriously reconsider building a rack. I've only filled up a little over half the available space, and now that the novelty of 'having a rack' has worn off, I'm thinking about selling it and all the racked PCs that I don't use.
In other words, don't go through with it unless you have a strong need for it now and in the future. The rack equipment is expensive, as is the rack mountable cases.
So Intel is playing catch up with AMD. Competition is a good thing. It's even better that Intel is conforming to AMD's specifications to ensure compatibility. Again, competition is good, cooperation is even better.
We license Car drivers, because a bad car driver is a danger to others as well as himself. Bad analogy. Automotive licenses are issued under the assumption that traffic laws rarely change in any significant manner, and hence only require re-issuing every 4 years (depending on where you live). Do you suggest then that since technology changes so frequently that people have to renew thier licenses every 6 months?
Anyway, I realize that you're trolling, so I'll shut up now.
Some of the weirder things they claim in it is that by choosing MS Office over OpenOffice.org one is protected from the threat of viruses.
Can anyone name a virus that has preyed on an OO.org vulnerability? No? I didn't think so. So, the above statement is obviously false, but more importantly is the question of what prevents them from making false statements about the competition? What's keeping Microsoft from saying that none of the *NIX/*BDSs implement a standard version of TCP/IP? Whether it's ludicrous or not, Microsoft has a very large soapbox to speak from and there is obviously nothing preventing them from using it to spread lies. So, what's to prevent Microsoft from using their soapbox to spread lies and get John Doe to always and forever support Microsoft products and think of all competition as unstable and virus prone?
I'm not really making any point here, call me ignorant if you want to, but I really want to know.
The point is not where a company is located, but whether it built on its successes firing the people who worked hard to make the company what it is because cheaper laborers were found in some other country.
You're correct, that's not the point. The point is that these companies and many others carry out thier production of video games in other countries. The games themselves are targeted to non-American audiences and the American version has to be translated to English. The point is that it's always been this way.
You can't really 'outsource' (in the unethical sense of the word) in a truely international industry.
I'm an independent video game developer and I'd like to point out that the indy scene has been international for quite a very long while.
Does anybody have a fucking clue about what country the words 'Nintendo' or 'Sega' comes from? Can you guess where the international headquarters for Sony is located?
Truth is that the video game industry has never been primarily American. It's always been international.
Everyone needs to quit bitching. Nothing to see here, move along, goddammit.
What are the chances and do/. readers think this will ever happen?
Here in the US this is more than probable. The US political government is all about corporate power and money. As an example, look at how Microsoft was punished by the US government vs thier (likely) punishment by the EU who realizes that monopolies are bad. We need to back away from the pure capitalist approach to running our country before our government itself is replaced by a corporation.
Please note that my current opinion may be tainted by the fact that I've recently read 'The Jungle' by Upton Sinclair. Good book if you want an example of pure unrestricted capitalism.
Funny that it should be brought up because I recently quit my job to return to college. I was a system administrator for a personnel company, and the pay was great. I left because I couldn't stand the IT field anymore.
if that had happened there would be a lot more things not working right. An EMP wouldn't just disrupt keyless entry systems, but all electronic devices within a certain area.
In this case, I think the "terrorist" angle merit(ed) looking into.
As others have already pointed out, anarchy does not mean 'without order', it means 'without government'
Order can exist without government, you know...
Re:Interesting Terminology
on
Space Burial
·
· Score: 1
IIRC, he wasn't buried in space. They shot his cremated remains into orbit, then let them fall back and burn up in re-entry. I think thier goal was to turn Gene into a shooting star.
Slashdot Mirror
...their customers...
...many people will be clamouring for their blood.
Microsoft doesn't support it's customers, but instead only supports their customers who have paid for Microsoft's product AND who have also let Microsoft gouge them over support costs to have thier paid-for product supported.
John Q. Consumer doesn't have enough money to warrent Microsoft's attention.
If MS release a patch that hoses systems or installs a rootkit...
Similar things have happened before (unintentional, I'm sure). Microsoft fixed the problems at it's leisure, never apologizing and never being held truly accountable.
Sure, whatever. People have never really clamoured for blood when yet another virus broke out or yet another security hole was found. As far as I am aware, Microsoft has never paid for damages due to the problems with thier software. There are parts of their EULA that makes them immune to accountability, just for these reasons. Consumers just sit back and tolorate the problem until Microsoft get's around to fixing it.
I ask you this: Specifically, in what capacity is Microsoft accountable to it's customers?
Granted, they are accountable to the US DoJ and the EU Commission, but only because of the weight each carry and the fines they can impose.
In the end, I can see where you're coming from, and you have a decent point, but I think you're not really looking at the real Microsoft, but instead you're looking at the public image of Microsoft.
...can't you have single windows span multiple monitors?
It's been done before.
How long untill the chandelier reads "f1rst p0st!1!1-w00t!!11!11" ?
Does anyone know for sure: when it comes out, if you license Torque Shaders, you get the source code too, right??
I've bought the Torque engine, and yes, when you buy any license from GarageGames, you always get the full source code. Same thing for the upcoming shader.
Tribes and Tribes 2 will be available for free download on May 4th. Or will also be available bundled in Computer Gaming World on the same date.
IGN Article here.
Fellow Torque developer here.
Amen Brother!
24Us of rack space. I recommend anything by Middle Atlantic. Solid construction, good quality. My 24U cost approx $600 (they don't seem to get much cheaper, new that is).
Bit of advice, though... You might seriously reconsider building a rack. I've only filled up a little over half the available space, and now that the novelty of 'having a rack' has worn off, I'm thinking about selling it and all the racked PCs that I don't use.
In other words, don't go through with it unless you have a strong need for it now and in the future. The rack equipment is expensive, as is the rack mountable cases.
So Intel is playing catch up with AMD. Competition is a good thing. It's even better that Intel is conforming to AMD's specifications to ensure compatibility. Again, competition is good, cooperation is even better.
We license Car drivers, because a bad car driver is a danger to others as well as himself.
Bad analogy. Automotive licenses are issued under the assumption that traffic laws rarely change in any significant manner, and hence only require re-issuing every 4 years (depending on where you live). Do you suggest then that since technology changes so frequently that people have to renew thier licenses every 6 months?
Anyway, I realize that you're trolling, so I'll shut up now.
...conclusions that will shock, I say shock, the average Slashdot reader
Am I the only one who thought of the rooster from looney toons when I read this?
Some of the weirder things they claim in it is that by choosing MS Office over OpenOffice.org one is protected from the threat of viruses.
Can anyone name a virus that has preyed on an OO.org vulnerability? No? I didn't think so. So, the above statement is obviously false, but more importantly is the question of what prevents them from making false statements about the competition? What's keeping Microsoft from saying that none of the *NIX/*BDSs implement a standard version of TCP/IP? Whether it's ludicrous or not, Microsoft has a very large soapbox to speak from and there is obviously nothing preventing them from using it to spread lies. So, what's to prevent Microsoft from using their soapbox to spread lies and get John Doe to always and forever support Microsoft products and think of all competition as unstable and virus prone?
I'm not really making any point here, call me ignorant if you want to, but I really want to know.
The point is not where a company is located, but whether it built on its successes firing the people who worked hard to make the company what it is because cheaper laborers were found in some other country.
You're correct, that's not the point. The point is that these companies and many others carry out thier production of video games in other countries. The games themselves are targeted to non-American audiences and the American version has to be translated to English. The point is that it's always been this way.
You can't really 'outsource' (in the unethical sense of the word) in a truely international industry.
I'm an independent video game developer and I'd like to point out that the indy scene has been international for quite a very long while.
Does anybody have a fucking clue about what country the words 'Nintendo' or 'Sega' comes from? Can you guess where the international headquarters for Sony is located?
Truth is that the video game industry has never been primarily American. It's always been international.
Everyone needs to quit bitching. Nothing to see here, move along, goddammit.
What are the chances and do /. readers think this will ever happen?
Here in the US this is more than probable. The US political government is all about corporate power and money. As an example, look at how Microsoft was punished by the US government vs thier (likely) punishment by the EU who realizes that monopolies are bad. We need to back away from the pure capitalist approach to running our country before our government itself is replaced by a corporation.
Please note that my current opinion may be tainted by the fact that I've recently read 'The Jungle' by Upton Sinclair. Good book if you want an example of pure unrestricted capitalism.
I would prefer that the rules stayed strict. The results of the competition are more likely to push the technological envelope that way.
Funny that it should be brought up because I recently quit my job to return to college. I was a system administrator for a personnel company, and the pay was great. I left because I couldn't stand the IT field anymore.
I say do what makes you happy.
FYI, SCO has lost some today as well.
Microsoft may be forced to sell a stripped-down version of Windows in the EU
Why just the EU? Why can't we all have access to the stripped down version?
if that had happened there would be a lot more things not working right. An EMP wouldn't just disrupt keyless entry systems, but all electronic devices within a certain area.
In this case, I think the "terrorist" angle merit(ed) looking into.
It was worth considering for about a half second.
Sometimes high tech luxury gadgets can't compete with the good old pin and tumbler
Slashdot, of course!
24 year old sysadmin looking for employment in the OKC area. 4 years experience + Microsoft certification. Reply to thread with offer if interested.
(yes, i'm being a smartass)
Absolutely. That little device costs $10 to make and $200 for union workers to install. That justifies a raise in a consumer pricetag of $2000.
Welcome to America. Before you know it, we'll have to pay tax on our basic rights.
Automobile sales in the state of New Mexico drops to an all time low.
Man dies in auto accident after breathing test takes his attention off the road.
Woman dies in parking lot while trying to evade criminals and having to wait 30 seconds to start her car to get away.
As others have already pointed out, anarchy does not mean 'without order', it means 'without government'
Order can exist without government, you know...
IIRC, he wasn't buried in space. They shot his cremated remains into orbit, then let them fall back and burn up in re-entry. I think thier goal was to turn Gene into a shooting star.