Michael Crichton is the only author (that I'm aware of) who still writes science fiction as it was intended -- fiction based on science. He puts a lot of research into the science he uses in his books. So yes, while he does use some unrealistic things for the sake of the story (the point after all is to entertain, not be a textbook), I'd be willing to bet that what he used in Jurassic Park is at least theoretically possible.
I agree with you on the steel point, especially since a controller or console made out of steel would be pretty damn durable. However, I don't think you'd be able to find much of a market for wooden consoles or controllers. There's the obvious splinter issue, the consoles would weigh a lot more (can you imagine the behemoth original X-box made of wood? You'd be able to use that thing for strength training!), and what if you house gets termites (being serious)? Sure, some people like yourself would buy them, but I think the majority of people would shy away from them.
I do think that making consoles and controllers out of steel or aluminum would make a lot of sense and possibly even lower production costs for the companies. I think a big reason for why the stick with plastic is because that's "just the way it's done" ever since the Atari.
is exactly why I don't own an Apple. I'd love to have a Macbook Pro, but I just can't justify paying that much for yet another computer. I really think Apple would increase their market share of all systems if they lowered their prices or at least had models that started at lower prices.
You're absolutely right and it scares the crap out of me. There are so many in the US who want to emulate the UK and the EU - yet those countries seem to be on a bullet train to complete slavery to the government. I can't fathom WHY people in the UK don't speak out (or if some do, why more don't speak out) against this garbage. Are there any people here from the UK who can enlighten me?
Well first off, and I'm being serious here, there are people who actually take the time to read EULA's? As a certified nerd for my entire life, I can honestly say that I've never read a EULA or known anyone who has. You just click "I accept" and then do whatever the hell you please.
Secondly, he's not trying to return the whole computer, just the OS. If he went back to Best Buy (or wherever he got it) and said "Look, I don't like the EULA that goes along with Windows, so I'm returning this computer", then I'd fully support what you said. However, he's trying to return PART of what he purchased. It's kinda like buying a dvd and then going "Oh, I don't like all these interviews / commentaries, but I don't want to return the $20 dvd, just give me $8 and take back the interviews and commentaries" when it was clearly marked on the case that the dvd included interviews and commentaries.
However, your comment does raise the issue of companies like MS being required to provide the EULA upfront so that you can read it before you purchase the software / system. I'd say that they definitely should be required to provide that information.
I skimmed the translation and didn't see a mention of if the guy bought the computer in a store or if he bought it online. If he bought it online, then I'd definitely say there should be an option to have no OS or another OS installed (since the system is built when he orders it, there's no reason not to do this). However, if he bought it in a store, then he was well aware that Windows was already on the machine before he bought it and IMHO he doesn't have room to complain then about purchasing something he didn't want when he wasn't forced to buy the system at all and was well aware of what was on it in the first place.
I know some people will talk about "Well Windows is on most computers and it's hard to buy one without Windows" and that's true, but you also can't expect manufacturers to sell pre-built systems without an OS or with an unpopular one when most of their sales go to non-nerdy Windows users who are terrified of learning something new.
So, I'd say that if he bought the system online, then I'd support the courts ruling. If he went to some store to buy it, then I'd say that he willfully purchased something and then asked for a rebate because he got exactly what he purchased.
Very true. However, as someone who's new to Linux (I wiped XP off my laptop and installed Ubuntu 8.04 the day Hardy was released), I've found that there's a degree of assumed knowledge involved with using Linux. I've played with computers since I was young in the 80's and originally majored in computer science, so I'm well aware of how to use a computer. However, I never would've known to go to "all open source applications" to install compiz - I would've used apt-get to install it, merely because I wasn't aware that I SHOULD do as you instructed to install it using a GUI.
I love Linux - love it, but there are a lot of things that people are assumed to "just know". Being a computer nerd doesn't mean you magically know everything. Just imagine how much worse it is for the average person to pick up. Until that's changed, Linux won't be ready for the mainstream.
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Michael Crichton is the only author (that I'm aware of) who still writes science fiction as it was intended -- fiction based on science. He puts a lot of research into the science he uses in his books. So yes, while he does use some unrealistic things for the sake of the story (the point after all is to entertain, not be a textbook), I'd be willing to bet that what he used in Jurassic Park is at least theoretically possible.
I do think that making consoles and controllers out of steel or aluminum would make a lot of sense and possibly even lower production costs for the companies. I think a big reason for why the stick with plastic is because that's "just the way it's done" ever since the Atari.
is exactly why I don't own an Apple. I'd love to have a Macbook Pro, but I just can't justify paying that much for yet another computer. I really think Apple would increase their market share of all systems if they lowered their prices or at least had models that started at lower prices.
You're absolutely right and it scares the crap out of me. There are so many in the US who want to emulate the UK and the EU - yet those countries seem to be on a bullet train to complete slavery to the government. I can't fathom WHY people in the UK don't speak out (or if some do, why more don't speak out) against this garbage. Are there any people here from the UK who can enlighten me?
Secondly, he's not trying to return the whole computer, just the OS. If he went back to Best Buy (or wherever he got it) and said "Look, I don't like the EULA that goes along with Windows, so I'm returning this computer", then I'd fully support what you said. However, he's trying to return PART of what he purchased. It's kinda like buying a dvd and then going "Oh, I don't like all these interviews / commentaries, but I don't want to return the $20 dvd, just give me $8 and take back the interviews and commentaries" when it was clearly marked on the case that the dvd included interviews and commentaries.
However, your comment does raise the issue of companies like MS being required to provide the EULA upfront so that you can read it before you purchase the software / system. I'd say that they definitely should be required to provide that information.
I know some people will talk about "Well Windows is on most computers and it's hard to buy one without Windows" and that's true, but you also can't expect manufacturers to sell pre-built systems without an OS or with an unpopular one when most of their sales go to non-nerdy Windows users who are terrified of learning something new.
So, I'd say that if he bought the system online, then I'd support the courts ruling. If he went to some store to buy it, then I'd say that he willfully purchased something and then asked for a rebate because he got exactly what he purchased.
Funny, I always thought that the reason so many people played solitaire was because it's the only game that doesn't crash in Windows.
I love Linux - love it, but there are a lot of things that people are assumed to "just know". Being a computer nerd doesn't mean you magically know everything. Just imagine how much worse it is for the average person to pick up. Until that's changed, Linux won't be ready for the mainstream.