including off the shelf software for when you're on a deadline and can't wait for mail-order or get a vendor download. I Hope they slowly and carefully extend themselves to the East Coast and become available to more people. But not overextend themselves, that's how Tower Records killed its retail presence, by expanding into Japan. Off the shelf software is a dyeing if not dead market, just like specialized computer odds and ends for brick and mortar distribution.
I've bought everything mail-order when it comes to computer parts for the past 10 years, and software, well... only thing I pay to license is cPanel (yes, the only software I use that requires a paid license is also cPanel)
The sooner these closed software publishers at least distribute via downloadable ISO's (go ahead and put some sort of validation in it, it is your creation afterall) the less likely they too will meet the fate of a thing of history.
Of course, as a politician, Ron Paul (if he even actually had a chance), would become just another bullshit politician, so it's all a moot point.
As far as I can see, he has yet to become a bullshit politician after years of serving in the senate. Other than the fact he is a member of the House, I agree, he has a proven track record. He is quick to state his point of view and just as quick to vote against his own view if it is outside the scope of the Constitution.
It's a rare movie or game that gets played more than 2 or 3 times for me, but it's even more rare for me to have a song that doesn't get played at least 10x. From what I've read and seen, this is the case for most people. A very excellent analogy of cost for value received, and I share you view on it. Now in my mid-40's, I don't really find much new music I care to buy, sure there is an exception like anything else, but the music I enjoy the most and will pay for is in the bargain bins now, so I can buy almost any classic rock album for $8 give or take, and get another 30 years of enjoyment out of it, listing to it 2-3 times per week.
A movie? I personally will not watch a movie more than once a year, so $15 on average for a DVD for 90-120 minutes of entertainment is very high when compared to the value received from music. And look at this new trend for Television at $2 per episode, are they out of their mind? That is $3-6 per hour of entertainment, if it even turns out to be entertaining, I can't see how this what consumers want.
I'd love to see a device I purchase that used swarming technology like BitTorrent and allowed me to subscribe to content on a monthly/yearly basis like Cable/Sat providers offer, but make it a la carte if I so choose, if your content is worth it, I'll buy it, if not, I'll pass. I think this type of service would allow many more aspiring producers/directors/networks to get exposure and lower the barrier to entry and open the public up to more choice at s lower cost that can be viewed when the consumer wants, not when the network wants to air it. Leave the commercials in, mark the video when to que up commercials and then tailor the commercials based on my personal/household demographics, and stream a boatload of commercials onto this box to subsidize those who've content I've chosen to view.
Pizza. Can't get good pizza in Indy, not like in Chicago. Rolling Blackout? Get a deep dish. Stuck in 8 feet of snow? Get some pepperoni on it, but eat quick because you won't be stuck long. Plenty of reasons to put it in Chicago. Not to mention Vienna Hot Dogs and a good ol combo sweet. That is the only things I miss, the rest of it, I don't ever care if I go back to Chicago.
Shouldn't we wait for some more specific information/evidence before we accuse Microsoft of bribery? If Mandriva stops short of this, perhaps we should too - after all, it's a serious charge.
I'm sure Microsoft had something to do with their decision, but *maybe* it simply came down to convincing Nigeria that its product was better. It sounds like they are giving Windows out for free, that may have impressed the Nigerian government, and does not constitute bribery. From a purely business standpoint, Microsoft would benefit even if they had to pay a fee to replace Linux with Windows on all those laptop, don't forget they would be gaining all those first looks of the children for a lifetime of loyalty.
You know, that sounds like a great idea. In fact, you know what I want? An internet service that censors child pornography, bestiality, and any other information that could get me into legal trouble as well as blocks spam. I mean, the fact that Comcast *isn't* ofering to block child porn *right now* sure seems to indicate that Comcast is a willful accessory to commercial child porn production*!
Unfortunatly, if any ISP were to do that, they would lose their common carrier protections. They then become responsible as publishers for all the content.
There is also the added purchase support from those who may not be big Radiohead fans who would normally buy a record from them, but who are purchasing the album in order to support their decision to embrace the web... and not something to outlaw like certain parties would appearently like to see happen..... I did exactly that, I don't believe I've ever heard Radiohead before this release, I've heard of them, just never heard their music, and purchased this solely to add my vote of approval to the distribution model and to send a message to the large labels that consumers will buy music online when it is presented in a manner we want.
After just finishing listening to this new release from Radiohead, I'm very pleased with what I hear, still do not think I would have bought this if it was released by a major label, but it's not bad music by any means (yes I'm an old fart at 43).
How long will it be before the phone company, and their physical infrastructure becomes irrelevant? Can the wireless networks now provided primarily for cell phones replace the copper wire that we are so dependent on any time soon? I sure hope so. Currently I do not see this, what hooks those cell towers together? The telco's lines.
I'm sure the Verizon execs are jumping for joy over this.
This is just further proof of why the entity that maintains the physical lines should not be allowed to also be service providers. I've been thinking the same thing for 15 years, Judge Green is a moron, always has been, and AT&T should have been broken up by layer, not geography.
I bought a Tivo about 7 years ago, loved it, but then discovered SageTV and MythTV and being the geek, dropped Tivo just that fast. Still not 100% happy with MythTV or SageTV either, but both are far more flexible than anything else I've experianced.
Sure people can easily switch to Linux, but most people have a difficult time just typing in a URL in their browsers address bar, you really expect them to be able to function in Linux? As much as us geeks love to tinker, most folks want an appliance and desktop PC's just aren't there yet.
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As far as I can see, he has yet to become a bullshit politician after years of serving in the senate. Other than the fact he is a member of the House, I agree, he has a proven track record. He is quick to state his point of view and just as quick to vote against his own view if it is outside the scope of the Constitution.
I'm sure Microsoft had something to do with their decision, but *maybe* it simply came down to convincing Nigeria that its product was better. It sounds like they are giving Windows out for free, that may have impressed the Nigerian government, and does not constitute bribery. From a purely business standpoint, Microsoft would benefit even if they had to pay a fee to replace Linux with Windows on all those laptop, don't forget they would be gaining all those first looks of the children for a lifetime of loyalty.
You know, that sounds like a great idea. In fact, you know what I want? An internet service that censors child pornography, bestiality, and any other information that could get me into legal trouble as well as blocks spam. I mean, the fact that Comcast *isn't* ofering to block child porn *right now* sure seems to indicate that Comcast is a willful accessory to commercial child porn production*!
Unfortunatly, if any ISP were to do that, they would lose their common carrier protections. They then become responsible as publishers for all the content.I bought a Tivo about 7 years ago, loved it, but then discovered SageTV and MythTV and being the geek, dropped Tivo just that fast. Still not 100% happy with MythTV or SageTV either, but both are far more flexible than anything else I've experianced.
Sure people can easily switch to Linux, but most people have a difficult time just typing in a URL in their browsers address bar, you really expect them to be able to function in Linux? As much as us geeks love to tinker, most folks want an appliance and desktop PC's just aren't there yet.