Incidentally, that's one of the things I like about Steam come reformat/backup time. I can just copy the Steam directory wholesale and use that as a backup. When I put it on a new computer, Steam checks the files and if everything comes out okay there's no need to redownload.
To be fair, Steam often gives out "Guest Passes" for a lot of games. It happens a lot with Valve games, but it also happens with non-Valve game (Killing Floor and Red Orchestra come to mind). People who bought the game get X number of guest passes and can hand them out to whoever who basically get to try the full game for X amount of time.
There's also the generic free weekends, where anyone can just download and play a game as if they bought it.
Try going into a store and asking if you can try out Madden 2010 over the weekend and bring it back - see how well that works out for you. d:
I just googled "Dell Power Supply". My roommate a dreaded Dell Optiplex GX280 (debut: 2005) that I acquired in a trade. The thing was barely used. But when the time to upgrade a graphics card came, there's no higher power supply than 150W (meaning a more powerful graphics card is a no-go).
I can say firsthand that as late as five years ago Dell has been using proprietary stuff. I haven't seen any of the newest Dells so I can't say for sure on the last 5 years.
I don't think very many pro-gun organizations would have problems with a "gun license" of sorts. It's the whole "database of gun owners and what guns they own" thing that are a problem.
For one thing, that is a last line of defense in the case of a hostile force invading. Should said database be seized, an invading force will have a list of almost everyone who can shoot back. Nowadays, a first world country getting invaded (in the traditional sense) is pretty unlikely, but even so...
The primary concern is the effect of shifting political winds. What if politicians up and decide to gradually chip away at the right to bear arms even further? A database of registered gun owners and/or their firearms will make seizure all the more simple.
In short, the best solution is a difficult one. You'd have to create a licensing system that is, of course, difficult to forge and able to be verified by the authorities but can in no way can be tied to a database.
Yeah, except Steam doesn't sell games. They get around that nasty doctrine called "first sale" by selling subscriptions to game. Subscriptions that basically last forever, but regardless.
As the brother post says, its all in the licensing agreement - although if someone did sue and a court forced Valve to allow first sale of that nature things would be pretty topsy turvey in the digital gaming world.
I have to wonder why the parent got modded troll. I haven't shopped at GoG but I've heard that they're a great site. Seeing Beyond Good & Evil on the front page definitely lends credit to their name.
Maybe this could be approached in a Creative Commons, GPL, etc. way?
Create an open-source "co-habitation contract" that would define all the terms of a modern "marriage". That could be used as a model for legislation to that effect in more liberal states.
You can open up a no-fee checking account - many that require absolutely no minimum balance, just a minimum start-up fee (anywhere from $20-$200) - and get a debit card to order stuff with online. Or, you could go and buy a VISA gift card that essentially works the same way.
If the issue is that you have the money but don't have the method, then there are methods available to you. If the issue is that you don't have the money, then maybe you should start earning some money of your own to pay for things like that.
As an American who lived under 8 years of Bush and company I can certainly sympathize with your feelings about gross overspending and mismanagement of money.
As an American who has lived under a little over 2 years of Obama... I'm cautiously optimistic on the whole "keeping his campaign promises" thing. One of these days on my vacation I'm going to have to read through the entire Obameter.
Yes, because all those doctors working in charity and public hospitals are in it for a fraction of the salary they could make in private practice.
You know, some doctors actually do do it for the good of the people or the joy of healing others. There's not a whole lot of money going out into the middle of nowhere and helping the sick and poor, but loads of doctors do it many times in their lifetime (if not regularly or even permanently).
I recently switched and have been happy. I got 12/2 business class with 5 static IPs for $69/month, free installation and it was all up and working within FOUR DAYS OF ORDERING.
Performance has been great, and it beats the shit out of the 1.5 I was stuck with on DSL forever.
Business class is almost universally better in terms of service and customer support as well as universally more expensive.
Slashdot Mirror
Incidentally, that's one of the things I like about Steam come reformat/backup time. I can just copy the Steam directory wholesale and use that as a backup. When I put it on a new computer, Steam checks the files and if everything comes out okay there's no need to redownload.
I'd love to visit Maxwell's house. I bet he has good coffee.
To be fair, Steam often gives out "Guest Passes" for a lot of games. It happens a lot with Valve games, but it also happens with non-Valve game (Killing Floor and Red Orchestra come to mind). People who bought the game get X number of guest passes and can hand them out to whoever who basically get to try the full game for X amount of time.
There's also the generic free weekends, where anyone can just download and play a game as if they bought it.
Try going into a store and asking if you can try out Madden 2010 over the weekend and bring it back - see how well that works out for you. d:
I just googled "Dell Power Supply". My roommate a dreaded Dell Optiplex GX280 (debut: 2005) that I acquired in a trade. The thing was barely used. But when the time to upgrade a graphics card came, there's no higher power supply than 150W (meaning a more powerful graphics card is a no-go).
I can say firsthand that as late as five years ago Dell has been using proprietary stuff. I haven't seen any of the newest Dells so I can't say for sure on the last 5 years.
I don't think very many pro-gun organizations would have problems with a "gun license" of sorts. It's the whole "database of gun owners and what guns they own" thing that are a problem.
For one thing, that is a last line of defense in the case of a hostile force invading. Should said database be seized, an invading force will have a list of almost everyone who can shoot back. Nowadays, a first world country getting invaded (in the traditional sense) is pretty unlikely, but even so...
The primary concern is the effect of shifting political winds. What if politicians up and decide to gradually chip away at the right to bear arms even further? A database of registered gun owners and/or their firearms will make seizure all the more simple.
In short, the best solution is a difficult one. You'd have to create a licensing system that is, of course, difficult to forge and able to be verified by the authorities but can in no way can be tied to a database.
Depends on the service, though. You can redownload, say, Steam games, but you can't redownload iTunes music if you lose it.
Yeah, except Steam doesn't sell games. They get around that nasty doctrine called "first sale" by selling subscriptions to game. Subscriptions that basically last forever, but regardless.
As the brother post says, its all in the licensing agreement - although if someone did sue and a court forced Valve to allow first sale of that nature things would be pretty topsy turvey in the digital gaming world.
I have to wonder why the parent got modded troll. I haven't shopped at GoG but I've heard that they're a great site. Seeing Beyond Good & Evil on the front page definitely lends credit to their name.
Nope, nothin' proprietary here boss.
I cast Transmute Water!
One year maternity leave, awesome Viking women, and boatloads of good metal music? WHERE DO I SIGN UP?!
To be fair, we Yanks get just as many things right as other countries get wrong.
Whoever would sue over this would be the king of idiots. The bad press alone is enough to give a P.R. agent a stress aneurysm just thinking about it.
Maybe this could be approached in a Creative Commons, GPL, etc. way?
Create an open-source "co-habitation contract" that would define all the terms of a modern "marriage". That could be used as a model for legislation to that effect in more liberal states.
If your girlfriend reads that post you won't begetting any tonight, that's for sure...
Yeah, we've pretty much had both of those in America for a couple hundred years and change, and nobody goes hungry here anymore!
So I asked mom for the credit card.
You can open up a no-fee checking account - many that require absolutely no minimum balance, just a minimum start-up fee (anywhere from $20-$200) - and get a debit card to order stuff with online. Or, you could go and buy a VISA gift card that essentially works the same way.
If the issue is that you have the money but don't have the method, then there are methods available to you. If the issue is that you don't have the money, then maybe you should start earning some money of your own to pay for things like that.
One that succumbs to fear and paranoia all too easily these days, I'm sad to say.
Yeah but even today lots of power supplies have a split connector so you can connect a 24-pin power supply to a 20 pin motherboard.
As an American who lived under 8 years of Bush and company I can certainly sympathize with your feelings about gross overspending and mismanagement of money.
As an American who has lived under a little over 2 years of Obama... I'm cautiously optimistic on the whole "keeping his campaign promises" thing. One of these days on my vacation I'm going to have to read through the entire Obameter.
To get medical treatment, you would need money.
Yes, because all those doctors working in charity and public hospitals are in it for a fraction of the salary they could make in private practice.
You know, some doctors actually do do it for the good of the people or the joy of healing others. There's not a whole lot of money going out into the middle of nowhere and helping the sick and poor, but loads of doctors do it many times in their lifetime (if not regularly or even permanently).
Is Comcast that bad?
I recently switched and have been happy. I got 12/2 business class with 5 static IPs for $69/month, free installation and it was all up and working within FOUR DAYS OF ORDERING.
Performance has been great, and it beats the shit out of the 1.5 I was stuck with on DSL forever.
Business class is almost universally better in terms of service and customer support as well as universally more expensive.
So that's why there aren't any Roman toilets around anymore. They couldn't handle the load.
raster-based
Ya mon, that printah be showin' off dem good Lego juju!
I saw it ten goddamn times when I didn't need it.