"The other thing I would dispute is that University teaches you to think. In my experience, University does no such thing. The number of incurious, unintellectual, ignorant unndergrads I met at college surprised and disappointed me. The number of undergrads who actually apply critical thinking skills to anything outside their narrow degree specialisation, is few indeed."
That's because college is grade 13, 14, 15, & 16 no matter where you go.
"As for resolution, a 42" plasma is about 865x480 (WVGA), and cost between $4000 to $6000, "
No, the cost is $3000-$3300 - go to Costco (which someone trashes below) or www.gateway.com.
I liked the Daewoo (is that what is was?) at Costco...certainly superior to any projection set. Is it perfect? Nope. But physically its very nice, and like I said, its way better than the projection TV's.
"Then again, maybe the reason it costs $5000 is because piracy cut into profits so greatly that they can't recoup r&d any other way."
I believe the reason dongles are put into place is because software owners are keenly aware their software isn't worth what they're asking and therefore require their customers to put up with a terrible inconvencience to support what is likely a soon-to-be-failed business plan.
They can look at it two ways:
"If I sell software for $100 a copy with a simple serial number requirement, I can probably sell 10 to every company."
"Or if I put in a dongle, I can charge whatever I want because for most businesses it is inherently uncopyable. I may only sell one though, because I'm plan on charging $5,000 a copy"
So one way, I sell 10 and only make $1000, the other way, I sell 1 and make $5000. Simple math, use the dongle.
Except.
A business plan based on limiting the number of copies of software you sell is inherently one that will fail.
Don't people understand how MS built their monopoly?
Oh no, I'd rather blame people who ignore EULA's and copyrights. They're the reason people don't want to support my poor business planning.
I was very disappointed with that film. It could have been trimmed down by 1/2 an hour (at least) which would have made the film paced better and eliminate the parts that just don't help the story.
Based on the reviews here, I'm worried this film will be another Mononoke. I'm certainly not going to buy it this time.
I always laugh when people say "nature selected 5 fingers because it could work tools more easily. Evolution or natural selection doesn't care about elegence, tools, intelligence. None of that matters.
On the other hand, its not value-free.
Natural selection means "whoever has the most offspring wins". Its really that simple. If you breed successfully, you have a successful strategy.
What he means is "Lets find a way to cram DRM into every consumer device we can. That will lead to more profits for both High Tech and Entertainment".
Where's the consumer advocate saying "Why should I spend more money to get less?" Where is the consumer advocate saying "what is the future of the PC if PC's are encumbered by DRM hardware and software? What is the future of Linux and future generations of software if it is illegal to have software without DRM restrictions in it.
Nowhere because clowns like this guy don't care about anything but more profit for themselves and their shareholders. That's okay. But why does the FBI have to be the enforcement arm of the media conglomerates?
"Many people WILL buy the albums/songs regardless if the technology can be circumvented. ANY technology on any platform has their open flaws, this is just another. As we all do, they play the %'s."
I don't think so. Look at Divx. It failed very quickly and it had all those "smart guys that know everything" looking at it.
I think if content is locked down so well that average people could never copy it, then it will be ignored. People will simply gravitate to some other form of entertainment.
"If Hollywood really can't protect it's works the film industry will die. It's an economic question"
Its an economic question, but not one of life or death.
Content providers have been trying since the days of shee music and music rolls to get some form of "Rights Management" and laws to protect them, always couched exactly how you put it.
But right now, the movie industry has no real way to protect its works today...and yet, they have record profits.
So one of two things is false: (1) the film industry is dying today or (2) we don't need DRM of any sort on mass media.
Oh, and by the way, if the Music Industry is dead, then why are they yet again turning record profits? Ever since Phillips Compact Cassette, music has been easy and cheap to copy. Yet they survive.
The idea that the entertainment industry is in trouble is a myth started by the "Wired" crowd back in 1998 and is demonstrably false.
"I don't believe mp3 quality to be professional quality"
No, its not. But its good enough to listen to by the computer or in your car. And if you use a high quality MP3 encoder at 192 or better, then its pretty good. I find MP3 encoded at 320 to rival the original CD. So MP3 can be pretty good under the right circumstances. At least as good as ATRACS, anyway.
On the related topic, some kids I talked to over the weekend were playing back some MP3's they'd burned off of somewhere (the kids didn't want to tell me where they got them), the quality was worse than pre-recorded cassette. Amazing what low-fidelity seems to be "good enough" for most people.
They were very much a big label act when they came out in '69 with "In the Court of the Crimson King" on A&M Records (I think). Greg Palmer and Peter Fripp hit the big time with this album. Ian McDonald and Sinfield seemed to become minor celebrities.
Without the big label, you wouldn't heard of these guys.
But back then, the labels were a little more open to experiment with their acts. Nowadays, the artists tend to be polished and corporate. The acts don't seem to *grow*. They're hip this year and then they disappear.
Maybe that's the problem. It seems back then, an artist didn't have to go platinum every time they put out a record. Today, poor old Brittany's 2nd album didn't do as well as the first (how could it?), and now she's washed up before she's old enough to drink.
Personally, I blame MTV, but I don't think most people know what that means anymore.
Slashdot Mirror
"The other thing I would dispute is that University teaches you to think. In my experience, University does no such thing. The number of incurious, unintellectual, ignorant unndergrads I met at college surprised and disappointed me. The number of undergrads who actually apply critical thinking skills to anything outside their narrow degree specialisation, is few indeed."
That's because college is grade 13, 14, 15, & 16 no matter where you go.
"As for resolution, a 42" plasma is about 865x480 (WVGA), and cost between $4000 to $6000, "
No, the cost is $3000-$3300 - go to Costco (which someone trashes below) or www.gateway.com.
I liked the Daewoo (is that what is was?) at Costco...certainly superior to any projection set. Is it perfect? Nope. But physically its very nice, and like I said, its way better than the projection TV's.
"Then again, maybe the reason it costs $5000 is because piracy cut into profits so greatly that they can't recoup r&d any other way."
I believe the reason dongles are put into place is because software owners are keenly aware their software isn't worth what they're asking and therefore require their customers to put up with a terrible inconvencience to support what is likely a soon-to-be-failed business plan.
They can look at it two ways:
"If I sell software for $100 a copy with a simple serial number requirement, I can probably sell 10 to every company."
"Or if I put in a dongle, I can charge whatever I want because for most businesses it is inherently uncopyable. I may only sell one though, because I'm plan on charging $5,000 a copy"
So one way, I sell 10 and only make $1000, the other way, I sell 1 and make $5000. Simple math, use the dongle.
Except.
A business plan based on limiting the number of copies of software you sell is inherently one that will fail.
Don't people understand how MS built their monopoly?
Oh no, I'd rather blame people who ignore EULA's and copyrights. They're the reason people don't want to support my poor business planning.
What if they make it so hard to watch that nobody cares anymore and they stop watching?
Its the missing link.
The assumption is we'll watch however it suits the studios.
We'll see how it all plays out. I've got a hunch though.
"They were still in raw digital media form and the prices were lifted from the raw digital media form."
Sounds like you're speculating.
Since a human being has to come up with the prices, isn't it just as likely that a Walmart employee looked at a computer monitor and wrote it down?
No, the fact that people don't insist on constitutional rights to free speech is amazing, both inside and outside of the US.
I bought that film based on reviews here.
I was very disappointed with that film. It could have been trimmed down by 1/2 an hour (at least) which would have made the film paced better and eliminate the parts that just don't help the story.
Based on the reviews here, I'm worried this film will be another Mononoke. I'm certainly not going to buy it this time.
"Natural selection is value-free"
I always laugh when people say "nature selected 5 fingers because it could work tools more easily. Evolution or natural selection doesn't care about elegence, tools, intelligence. None of that matters.
On the other hand, its not value-free.
Natural selection means "whoever has the most offspring wins". Its really that simple. If you breed successfully, you have a successful strategy.
There's no value judgement in natural selection.
"So what can a publisher do?"
Continue publishing print magazines.
It can work. Its a proven business model.
you are absolutely right on the mark.
If you work in an office where you have to go to a lot of meetings, they're invaluable, since your entire schedule is with you at all times.
I find the Palm units superior for this functinon.
I've owned every kind of PDA, and most ended up in a drawer. The Palm is the first one that I've used every day for almost 2 years.
Oh, the games are a definite bonus.
What he means is "Lets find a way to cram DRM into every consumer device we can. That will lead to more profits for both High Tech and Entertainment".
Where's the consumer advocate saying "Why should I spend more money to get less?" Where is the consumer advocate saying "what is the future of the PC if PC's are encumbered by DRM hardware and software? What is the future of Linux and future generations of software if it is illegal to have software without DRM restrictions in it.
Nowhere because clowns like this guy don't care about anything but more profit for themselves and their shareholders. That's okay. But why does the FBI have to be the enforcement arm of the media conglomerates?
"Many people WILL buy the albums/songs regardless if the technology can be circumvented. ANY technology on any platform has their open flaws, this is just another. As we all do, they play the %'s."
I don't think so. Look at Divx. It failed very quickly and it had all those "smart guys that know everything" looking at it.
I think if content is locked down so well that average people could never copy it, then it will be ignored. People will simply gravitate to some other form of entertainment.
"If Hollywood really can't protect it's works the film industry will die. It's an economic question"
Its an economic question, but not one of life or death.
Content providers have been trying since the days of shee music and music rolls to get some form of "Rights Management" and laws to protect them, always couched exactly how you put it.
But right now, the movie industry has no real way to protect its works today...and yet, they have record profits.
So one of two things is false: (1) the film industry is dying today or (2) we don't need DRM of any sort on mass media.
Oh, and by the way, if the Music Industry is dead, then why are they yet again turning record profits? Ever since Phillips Compact Cassette, music has been easy and cheap to copy. Yet they survive.
The idea that the entertainment industry is in trouble is a myth started by the "Wired" crowd back in 1998 and is demonstrably false.
"www.cartoonnetwork.com is completely incompatible with any non-windows OS"
Mac OS 9 with IE works fine. That's what my kids use on this exact website.
You nailed it. This is the right advice.
The guy has been out of work for 5 months.
Hell, he doesn't *have* a bridge.
I don't like the slippery slope aspect of this.
.porn TLD.
If the "kids" domain takes off, there will be political push to put "porn" into some
And of course, information on sexuality or herpes, or birth control will have to become part of the porn domain. Then it becomes trivial to filter.
I think that's the point. By starting with a children's TLD, politically, its hard to argue against it.
Yes, I'm thinking of Ron Dwight. Sorry, my mistake.
Did he also pass away shortly before WinRAR 3.0? If so, that doesn't sound promising for the continued support of WinRAR.
No, please, you smack me.
Yes, Greg Lake.
Honestly, completely brain fade tonight.
So much for my point. Sheesh.
I just hate proofreading. Thanks for the correction.
"I don't believe mp3 quality to be professional quality"
No, its not. But its good enough to listen to by the computer or in your car. And if you use a high quality MP3 encoder at 192 or better, then its pretty good. I find MP3 encoded at 320 to rival the original CD. So MP3 can be pretty good under the right circumstances. At least as good as ATRACS, anyway.
On the related topic, some kids I talked to over the weekend were playing back some MP3's they'd burned off of somewhere (the kids didn't want to tell me where they got them), the quality was worse than pre-recorded cassette. Amazing what low-fidelity seems to be "good enough" for most people.
They were very much a big label act when they came out in '69 with "In the Court of the Crimson King" on A&M Records (I think). Greg Palmer and Peter Fripp hit the big time with this album. Ian McDonald and Sinfield seemed to become minor celebrities.
Without the big label, you wouldn't heard of these guys.
But back then, the labels were a little more open to experiment with their acts. Nowadays, the artists tend to be polished and corporate. The acts don't seem to *grow*. They're hip this year and then they disappear.
Maybe that's the problem. It seems back then, an artist didn't have to go platinum every time they put out a record. Today, poor old Brittany's 2nd album didn't do as well as the first (how could it?), and now she's washed up before she's old enough to drink.
Personally, I blame MTV, but I don't think most people know what that means anymore.
"ISPs have every right to limit these low priced services"
It seems this is your opinion, correct?