Yes I have called Microsoft. They are probably the 2nd worst customer experience I have ever had. No wait 3rd. 1st is Fido (canadian cellphone company can suck my hairy ones). 2nd HP - and 2 seperate occaisions it took them 3 months + to repair and return laptops for customers of mine. But lets not forget. Most of the support that happens for windows. Doesnt come from Microsoft.
I think you didnt quote perhaps the most important part of that blurb. "Peace of mind can be bought". I never implied it would be cheap. Just that it could be bought. And thats kind of the big debate here right? Cheap, effective, with difficult maintenance versus big spending to make as many of the problems go away as possible through increased services and the like.
To me the difference between purchasing Windows and choosing to go open source can be compared to the difference between getting a Dell desktop or going to Newegg and making your own.
Sure you can save a lot of money at newegg and make a powerful machine. You need to assemble it yourself (which for myself was much fun). Service wise its only adequate. I had a DVD burner break down, it was still under warranty I consulted my return policy, did what I had to do and had a new DVD burner back in my machine in a week.
But with Dell. You pay much more for a really good rig. You dont have to assemble it (and while assembly is fun - it can be a hassle). Service wise, as someone who works in the industry - Dell is fantastic. With the right warranty they will send a local technician straight to your office to repair anything. Peace of mind can be bought. You can have a warranty so good you can toss your insanely expensive laptop out a window for kicks and have it replaced shortly.
As long as there are people in the world who cant handle the extra hassle of servicing open source - there will be a market for Windows. But given the direction the world economy is taking that could change fairly soon (in my lifetime anyways). Right now whoever provides the best service wins. And in an environment like Open Source. Its hard (not impossible) to guarantee top notch service. Sad but true.
"a group of friends doesn't want to grind, they want to play together"
WoW has 11.5 million players that would, perhaps, disagree.
I don't though.
Since you mentioned cut scenes, I have come to hate them. I never bothered finishing Metal Gear Solid 4 because I got so thoroughly sick of the damn things.
You'd be surprised how many of them do not in fact enjoy grinding.
As long as there are people who are willing to do hardcore gaming, there will be people willing to take their money to feed the habit.
This is in fact not always true however. For me, the advent of the WWII fad killed FPS'. Me, I found the setting to be weak. Purchasing a downgraded experience from real FPS'. You go from having a collection of weapons limited only by the imagination of the designers to "actual factual" weapons used during the war to promote "realism". Point being - I had money I wanted to invest in any kind of non WWII FPS and the opportunity was not provided to me for a very long time.
That could be a good reason for the US to want the war with China. We've borrowed so much money from them, what better way to wipe the debt than to wipe them out?
Not to mention. If you want to stay the big dog in the yard. You gotta make sure the 2nd biggest dog in the yard is afraid of you.
Ironically. Having the medium of cyber attacks as an outlet for shenanigans on both sides may very keep these two giant countries from decimating the world around them just to be on top
As someone else said "We do live in interesting times". Im glad to have been born at this time. The future may be to bleak to enjoy life and well the past (IMO) wasnt much to be excited about either
I wonder if any of you many people saying "guns" bothered to read the part where it was clearly said guns are not an acceptable solution. Heck. Dont even need to read the article saying that to know its true. Sailors would have to be trained in their use. And then there is potential accidents. Whether they be accidents between personnel on board. Accidental discharges damaging cargo, ship radio, navigation equipment etc etc.
Guns are just not an acceptable solution.
It could be argued the difference in the context is the same as the difference between a bullet just leaving the chamber, and a bullet having hit its target. Both different levels of progression along the same path.
The day I see one of these "researches" actually looking into the reasons behind negative behaviours of gaming kids, then I will be satisfied. Its probably been done already, and was just never sensationalized by the media.
I guess I should just make a new account here. It seems someone has decided to mod anything I write negatively. Please explain how the quoted post here is flamebait. Im dying to know.
To know you have been beaten. To know you cant ever fight again. Must be a terrible feeling. Doesnt make anything he did right per say. But I cant help but feel bad for the guy. If I was him I would probably be considering suicide right now.
I guess the difference is in the psychology instead of economy. After all, it is a psych study, right?
Lying to your spouse that you gambled away the money for the rent and that you'll now face eviction is probably a little further up on the totem pole of big lies than "nah, mom, I did my homework, yeah right...".
C'mon, you never lied to your parents about your homework because Timmy had this really cool new action figure and you wanted to go there to play with it? Does that mean you were (or are?) addicted to action figures?
It could be argued the difference in the context is the same as the difference between a bullet just leaving the chamber, and a bullet having hit its target. Both different levels of progression along the same path.
The day I see one of these "researches" actually looking into the reasons behind negative behaviours of gaming kids, then I will be satisfied. Its probably been done already, and was just never sensationalized by the media.
A) modded me a troll for simply telling the truth and my own point of view. Very classy.
B) You all seem to be ignoring the main point that none of your "distro's" have anythign for the public.
Where are the games? The easy to understand GUI? Easy to configure and understand without a Comp Sci degree? The only way you can prove my point wrong is to give Windows and Linux to an average user and have them give you honest criticism on their experience using both. And guess what. Sales have shown that the experience with windows is just better.
And guess what, you aren't being unique or sparing your individuality by complaining just the same as every other guy who uses Linux and thinks hes sticking it to the man because he didn't pay one red cent for it. And on the subject of cost. You cant afford 200$ for your OS? You will blow 6000 for a state of the art rig you put together and then complain about paying for the OS? I am the only one who can see the childishness of this?
Well enjoy your Ubuntu and all that data management boys. Im gonna go play Fallout 3 without having to reconfigure WINE every Thursday, just as soon as Im done at my cushy job managing a windows network full of PCs that may have their individual problems but are terribly easy to manage and keep an eye on.
I have yet to see Linux platform DELIVER ANYTHING the entire world wants to use, in an easy to manage, easy to interact with format. I tried installing redhat a few times back in the 90s and after banging my head a few times to actually get it working I thought to myself "Oh. Sweet. Free Civ and data management I DONT NEED."
And then Linux users go out of their way to do things like make World of Warcraft work on their PC. Look buddy. Ya great you got it working but you are very knowledgeable in Linux, which has a steep learning curve. And most users dont want to spend 2 weeks getting their drivers to work just right to play a game.
I guess what Im really saying is, most Linux/open source advocates do it for the rebellion not because they have a better product to promote. After all if your open source was a decent product, youd be able to SELL IT. And we've all seen how much of that is goin on right now.
I approve of this message. Personally I'd rather be tied naked to a pack of wild horses and dragged through a field of broken glass than have anything to do with Cobol.
87.9% of people who play EA games are people who buy Madden v X.y.Z and call it a quality game. So yes if you like polling the lowest common denominator of gamers for your opinion on what gamers want then sure. Your "facts" such as they are presented... are fine.
If EA wants to stub their own big toe stepping on their customers like this, I applaud it. Anything that scares customers away from such a SHAM of a gaming company, and helps move the money towards more deserving companies is fine by me.
Funny how every other corporation in the world fights just as dirty and its ok for them to do it. But when Microsoft tries to make money and ensure its own success just the same as anyone else would, its evil.
Why dont you go cry about something that matters like the underground slave market of north american girls being sold as sex slaves in asia? Why dont you go cry about Tibet?
Plenty of WORTHWILE subjects to whine about in the world that should have far more priority than this. Grow up and move on.
Every day at midnight, the geode add on wakes your laptop and sends a very quick communication to a database online. The database is simple. Geode identifier and a y/n column for has your computer been stolen? If a user has reported his laptop stolen the connection stays on and local authorities are notified.
The most common mistake made in interviews is to let the interviewer convince you, that you are the one being interviewed. Ever since I was taught to turn the interview around on them, and be the one asking the questions I have yet to go to an interview where I was not later offered the position.
Some companies take a "we are paying you for your intellegence.. part of your job is to argue your design and beliefs" attitude whilst others take more of a "we are paying you.. so shut up and do it the way we want" approach.
Yup. I spend time on/. learning "important industry news critical to the ongoing success of our business". Yes. Im serious. (not saying I dont go anywhere else either)
At first when someone pointed out to me, that Canada, my home country had the least amount of attacks, he spun it to me in a sad manner.
"Aww we have the least amount of hackers:("
To which I responded
"No no young padawan. We have the least amount of hackers who were traced"
GO CANADA!!
Milk in a bag FTW
Slashdot Mirror
Where's a link to that "Britain wants to spy on all internet traffic" article when you need one?
Yes I have called Microsoft. They are probably the 2nd worst customer experience I have ever had. No wait 3rd. 1st is Fido (canadian cellphone company can suck my hairy ones). 2nd HP - and 2 seperate occaisions it took them 3 months + to repair and return laptops for customers of mine. But lets not forget. Most of the support that happens for windows. Doesnt come from Microsoft.
I think you didnt quote perhaps the most important part of that blurb. "Peace of mind can be bought". I never implied it would be cheap. Just that it could be bought. And thats kind of the big debate here right? Cheap, effective, with difficult maintenance versus big spending to make as many of the problems go away as possible through increased services and the like.
To me the difference between purchasing Windows and choosing to go open source can be compared to the difference between getting a Dell desktop or going to Newegg and making your own.
Sure you can save a lot of money at newegg and make a powerful machine. You need to assemble it yourself (which for myself was much fun). Service wise its only adequate. I had a DVD burner break down, it was still under warranty I consulted my return policy, did what I had to do and had a new DVD burner back in my machine in a week.
But with Dell. You pay much more for a really good rig. You dont have to assemble it (and while assembly is fun - it can be a hassle). Service wise, as someone who works in the industry - Dell is fantastic. With the right warranty they will send a local technician straight to your office to repair anything. Peace of mind can be bought. You can have a warranty so good you can toss your insanely expensive laptop out a window for kicks and have it replaced shortly.
As long as there are people in the world who cant handle the extra hassle of servicing open source - there will be a market for Windows. But given the direction the world economy is taking that could change fairly soon (in my lifetime anyways). Right now whoever provides the best service wins. And in an environment like Open Source. Its hard (not impossible) to guarantee top notch service. Sad but true.
"a group of friends doesn't want to grind, they want to play together"
WoW has 11.5 million players that would, perhaps, disagree.
I don't though.
Since you mentioned cut scenes, I have come to hate them. I never bothered finishing Metal Gear Solid 4 because I got so thoroughly sick of the damn things.
You'd be surprised how many of them do not in fact enjoy grinding.
As long as there are people who are willing to do hardcore gaming, there will be people willing to take their money to feed the habit.
This is in fact not always true however. For me, the advent of the WWII fad killed FPS'. Me, I found the setting to be weak. Purchasing a downgraded experience from real FPS'. You go from having a collection of weapons limited only by the imagination of the designers to "actual factual" weapons used during the war to promote "realism". Point being - I had money I wanted to invest in any kind of non WWII FPS and the opportunity was not provided to me for a very long time.
That could be a good reason for the US to want the war with China. We've borrowed so much money from them, what better way to wipe the debt than to wipe them out?
Not to mention. If you want to stay the big dog in the yard. You gotta make sure the 2nd biggest dog in the yard is afraid of you.
Ironically. Having the medium of cyber attacks as an outlet for shenanigans on both sides may very keep these two giant countries from decimating the world around them just to be on top
As someone else said "We do live in interesting times". Im glad to have been born at this time. The future may be to bleak to enjoy life and well the past (IMO) wasnt much to be excited about either
I wonder if any of you many people saying "guns" bothered to read the part where it was clearly said guns are not an acceptable solution. Heck. Dont even need to read the article saying that to know its true. Sailors would have to be trained in their use. And then there is potential accidents. Whether they be accidents between personnel on board. Accidental discharges damaging cargo, ship radio, navigation equipment etc etc. Guns are just not an acceptable solution.
It could be argued the difference in the context is the same as the difference between a bullet just leaving the chamber, and a bullet having hit its target. Both different levels of progression along the same path. The day I see one of these "researches" actually looking into the reasons behind negative behaviours of gaming kids, then I will be satisfied. Its probably been done already, and was just never sensationalized by the media.
I guess I should just make a new account here. It seems someone has decided to mod anything I write negatively. Please explain how the quoted post here is flamebait. Im dying to know.
To know you have been beaten. To know you cant ever fight again. Must be a terrible feeling. Doesnt make anything he did right per say. But I cant help but feel bad for the guy. If I was him I would probably be considering suicide right now.
I guess the difference is in the psychology instead of economy. After all, it is a psych study, right?
Lying to your spouse that you gambled away the money for the rent and that you'll now face eviction is probably a little further up on the totem pole of big lies than "nah, mom, I did my homework, yeah right...".
C'mon, you never lied to your parents about your homework because Timmy had this really cool new action figure and you wanted to go there to play with it? Does that mean you were (or are?) addicted to action figures?
It could be argued the difference in the context is the same as the difference between a bullet just leaving the chamber, and a bullet having hit its target. Both different levels of progression along the same path. The day I see one of these "researches" actually looking into the reasons behind negative behaviours of gaming kids, then I will be satisfied. Its probably been done already, and was just never sensationalized by the media.
Its funny because you all:
A) modded me a troll for simply telling the truth and my own point of view. Very classy.
B) You all seem to be ignoring the main point that none of your "distro's" have anythign for the public.
Where are the games? The easy to understand GUI? Easy to configure and understand without a Comp Sci degree? The only way you can prove my point wrong is to give Windows and Linux to an average user and have them give you honest criticism on their experience using both. And guess what. Sales have shown that the experience with windows is just better.
And guess what, you aren't being unique or sparing your individuality by complaining just the same as every other guy who uses Linux and thinks hes sticking it to the man because he didn't pay one red cent for it. And on the subject of cost. You cant afford 200$ for your OS? You will blow 6000 for a state of the art rig you put together and then complain about paying for the OS? I am the only one who can see the childishness of this?
Well enjoy your Ubuntu and all that data management boys. Im gonna go play Fallout 3 without having to reconfigure WINE every Thursday, just as soon as Im done at my cushy job managing a windows network full of PCs that may have their individual problems but are terribly easy to manage and keep an eye on.
I have yet to see Linux platform DELIVER ANYTHING the entire world wants to use, in an easy to manage, easy to interact with format. I tried installing redhat a few times back in the 90s and after banging my head a few times to actually get it working I thought to myself "Oh. Sweet. Free Civ and data management I DONT NEED."
And then Linux users go out of their way to do things like make World of Warcraft work on their PC. Look buddy. Ya great you got it working but you are very knowledgeable in Linux, which has a steep learning curve. And most users dont want to spend 2 weeks getting their drivers to work just right to play a game.
I guess what Im really saying is, most Linux/open source advocates do it for the rebellion not because they have a better product to promote. After all if your open source was a decent product, youd be able to SELL IT. And we've all seen how much of that is goin on right now.
Kill me.
I approve of this message. Personally I'd rather be tied naked to a pack of wild horses and dragged through a field of broken glass than have anything to do with Cobol.
87.9% of people who play EA games are people who buy Madden v X.y.Z and call it a quality game. So yes if you like polling the lowest common denominator of gamers for your opinion on what gamers want then sure. Your "facts" such as they are presented... are fine.
If EA wants to stub their own big toe stepping on their customers like this, I applaud it. Anything that scares customers away from such a SHAM of a gaming company, and helps move the money towards more deserving companies is fine by me.
Funny how every other corporation in the world fights just as dirty and its ok for them to do it. But when Microsoft tries to make money and ensure its own success just the same as anyone else would, its evil.
Why dont you go cry about something that matters like the underground slave market of north american girls being sold as sex slaves in asia? Why dont you go cry about Tibet?
Plenty of WORTHWILE subjects to whine about in the world that should have far more priority than this. Grow up and move on.
Every day at midnight, the geode add on wakes your laptop and sends a very quick communication to a database online. The database is simple. Geode identifier and a y/n column for has your computer been stolen? If a user has reported his laptop stolen the connection stays on and local authorities are notified.
It was the virgin mary and you all know it.
Mac needs to spread its wings to give the illusion of being bigger than it really is.
Good job on patenting, something with no innovation, thats a big messy clutter on most computers.
BRB have to give a cat an award for peeing inside the litter box.
Note to Self: Add password to BIOS, watch laptop become next to useless for thief. Report to insurance. Get free upgrade.
I havent used your buggy ass software since the mid 90s. Im pretty sure most of the people you WANT using your software are doing the same.
What I find astounding here is that a real failure like Real Networks has managed to somehow stay afloat and not go under ALL this time.
I'd say more but swordgeek said it best
The most common mistake made in interviews is to let the interviewer convince you, that you are the one being interviewed. Ever since I was taught to turn the interview around on them, and be the one asking the questions I have yet to go to an interview where I was not later offered the position.
Some companies take a "we are paying you for your intellegence.. part of your job is to argue your design and beliefs" attitude whilst others take more of a "we are paying you.. so shut up and do it the way we want" approach.
Most companies these days do the later
Yup. I spend time on /. learning "important industry news critical to the ongoing success of our business". Yes. Im serious. (not saying I dont go anywhere else either)
At first when someone pointed out to me, that Canada, my home country had the least amount of attacks, he spun it to me in a sad manner. "Aww we have the least amount of hackers :("
To which I responded
"No no young padawan. We have the least amount of hackers who were traced"
GO CANADA!!
Milk in a bag FTW