I think we get more American politics up here than Canadian. Harper makes sure no one talks to the press here so there's never anything to report unless it's something good concerning the conservatives or bad concerning the opposition. The liberals just elected a new head on Monday, the first I heard about it was from a conservative attack ad Monday night, and there's still two years until the next federal election.
What's the point in having a jury if the judge gets to tell them you're guilty?
The truth is the jury has the power to decide based on the situation if you should be held guilty or not, the judge just gets to decide what happens if they find you guilty. Not that I disagree with you on the destruction of property, just on what the function of a judge and jury is.
I had an economics professor once that wrote his thesis on using patterns to predict stock market trends. As he described it as soon as a pattern is recognized and published market investors jump on board, thus changing the parameters of the algorithm and ruining the pattern, which creates new trends.
The truth is, big consoles are killing themselves. Smaller indi-consoles running Linux variations are just stepping up to fill the void, but you're right it's going to be at least 5 to 10 years before there's a really decent selection of games for them.
There's only theory to back it up, but my best guess would be Microsoft didn't want to put their console in competition with Windows PCs. I could be entirely wrong, but why would someone spend $500-$800 for a console if they could just buy the games to play on an existing Windows PC at no extra cost!
Exclusive games sell consoles. I can't count the number of times I've read arguments between Sony and MS fanbois about which console had the best exclusives.
I think the big question now is why all the sudden are Sony and MS moving to a standard x86 architecture where it will be easier for developers to port games between all three systems?
You're a little behind the times. Having to upgrade your computer every six months to a year is as mythical as Linux only being usable by geeks. I haven't had to upgrade the video card in any of my gaming machines, which are all laptops anyway, in quite awhile. I believe the main reason is game developers are mainly developing for consoles so they're not always pushing the envelope like they use to. I guess playing to the lowest common denominator, out of date before they're even released consoles, has some benefits for PC gamer. I just bought a new laptop from System 76 six months ago because I wanted something shiny and new, but I still use my four year old HP laptop running Linux Mint to play all the games I've bought on Steam and GOG. Aside from games though, I can use my four year old $800 HP for a ton more than my seven year old PS3, which I also paid $800 for.
There were tons of bugs reported for both Dragon Age and Skyrim for XBox 360. While I'll give you that consoles seem to have fewer bugs than PC games I'm fairly certain, at least in recent history, it's because games are being developed to run on consoles then crappy ports are made to run the games on PCs. Since, as I said, both the Xbox 720 and PS4 are using the x86 architecture, it should be primary the same code for all three systems. So, when there is a bug it'll probably show up on all the systems, I guess that'll depend on the Dev packages MS/Sony put out for their respective systems.
And if you think PC games are free of odious DRM, then you don't understand what Steam really is.
I fully understand what Steam really is. It does have some drawbacks, but I've never hand an issue with it. I have three systems in home for gaming, all Linux based, mainly so my wife and I can play Civ II, Warcraft II and Starcraft. I can pick any system up at anytime and run steam in a VM for my windows games and now nativity in Linux for the games I've recently started purchasing. I know a lot of people disagree with me on this, but as far as I'm concerned the cheap games I can get on sale and ability to install on any machine in my house or at my in-laws/brothers/sisters/fathers place significantly out weighs the Steam DRM. If I have a game pre-installed I can still play on my laptop in off-line mode when the power's out or when I go to sea, which is where I was just last month for three weeks. So as I said I have no problem with Steam.
I'm also of the opinion that if there's going to be a DRM or a glitch between me and a game I've purchased I'd rather it be on a PC where I can "work around" the issue using techniques that could most likely get you banned from XBL or PSN, which would mean the loss of any games or content you've bought through those services.
I do fully understand the moving target issue with developing for PCs and that can be a challenge for many developers, but it's still a heck of a lot easier for me as a consumer.
Or since the next generation of consoles are x86 architecture anyway, just jump back to PC gaming. The whole reason for using the standard x86 is so developers can more easily port games between consoles and PCs. Why bother with a five to eight hundred dollar console with very few exclusive games that's going to allow MS or Sony to control your gaming library, username and passwords (Which they don't protect properly) and how and when you can you play, when you can get a PC that's going to be twice as good (spec wise), upgradeable as needed for a better experience, will have the same titles and more, allows you to do more than the console will ever allow (media server, indi development, emulator, video player, and much more) without jail breaking/hacking it and when all else fails after buying a game with a shitty DRM will allow you to download a working copy so you can play a game you paid for (Not that I've ever done that, but it's an option)?
My personal opinion is the next generation of consoles is dead in the water. I only have a linux machine at home and with the availability of Steam and indi games, I've only turned my PS3 on in the last 10 months so my 2 year old could watch the Care Bears movie, which doesn't seem to be available on Netflix (build into my TV). I was surprised the PS3 even worked, it's one of the original consoles that had the OtherOS Feature. I was sure Sony would have bricked it by now in some update, which I don't have to worry about them doing on my PC.
Have a rechargeable < 100 KM battery for short everyday commute to and from work, then the long range battery you could buy when planning a > 100 KM trip.
The challenge would be to make them cheap and easy to swap.
I actually heard an interesting theory on that from a student I was mentoring. He claimed that when Democrats are in the white house zombies are popular, When Republicans are in it's vampires.
His reasoning was that the political parties play on subconscious fears of what that party generally stands for.
Democrats are generally in the socialist direction; So people are afraid of just being one in a crowd of many.
Republicans are generally everyone for themselves; Let the few rich/powerful/strong do as they wish with little regulation.
I wish I could explain it as well as he did. Obviously there's a bit of a wake so Twilight was written when Bush was in, but the movies where part of the wake that trailed over to Obama's administration.
I think this is the difference between Windows 8 RT and Windows 8 Pro. Ultimately I think MS will make it so only applications bought through their app store will be installable on windows systems, but to my knowledge they've only done this on Windows 8 RT at the moment. I think they purposely made the naming of Win RT and Win Pro obscure to make it confusing about what people are complaining about when they say, "I couldn't install X on my new windows (RT/PRO) device". That way MS can always come back with, "oh you didn't read the system requirements. That price of software clearly states it's not for (RT/PRO) device".
I'm not going to hold my nose because of a 4 year old Linux thing, or a 15 year old cd root kit thing. What I care is, how awesome will bioshock infinite 2 or assassin's creed V look? The only thing missing fromm the summary is a ship date. Will it be out the door in time for Christmas?
And this ^ is exactly why they keep getting away with it. I'd give you some lube, but apparently you enjoy being rammed by Sony et. all
I played FFXI for a couple weeks after lvl 10 it's impossible to do anything on your own. I would end up waiting for people from all over to join up to do some leveling, but by the time everyone was there it was 2 hours later and people started leaving, then we'd have to find replacements. I spent three nights trying to put a group together when I finally gave up, which is a shame because it seemed like it would have been an awesome game.
If you can deal with that, it's no wonder you haven't killed anyone... yet.
Yeah, What gamer seriously puts down the controller long enough to A) do research and B) create a detailed excel file? This is obviously the work of a grad student or scientist. We should burn them all at the stak.... hold on someone's at the door.
What guy has ever been told that he shouldn't be in the field because he's a guy?
Ah... That happens all the time in the Nursing and Teaching professions. Men are highly discouraged from being Nurses in both Canada and in the States. Men are often call perverts for wanting to teach young children. Their called Gay if they want to be hair dressers, make-up artists or work in the fashion industry. And yet, some men just ignore the ridiculer and do what they want anyway.
Your whole post is full of bullshit, men deal with the exact same issues women deal with and vice versa. We just don't have a choice in how we deal with it because if we bitch or cry about it there's further ridicule for not being "men" about it. Same pressures, different coping.
Also the event that took place happened in between talks while the attendees were on breaks. I've organized and worked at several conventions they aren't just for people to go and party, that's what you see in the movies and on TV. Normally there are a bunch of speakers talking at the same time in different rooms. It takes place normally over a few days, and people travel from all over the place to attend. Occasionally the attendees need to eat and sleep so they're not always "sitting quietly and listening" to a speaker.
I think you should attend a couple of conventions before deciding what people are allowed to do at one.
If she gave up so easily, she probably shouldn't be a programmer, we all take a lot of torment. If I gave up on programming because of every time I was called a geek or nerd when I was 8, I'd be flipping burgers.
This situation has nothing to do with the women in the IT industry are treated. It has everything to do with one person involving themselves in a conversation they weren't part of and publicly shaming people who weren't talking to her and she couldn't even clearly hear. This could have happened in any busy public place and you might as well say that 8 year old gave up on her dream of being a stripper.
If a publisher changed the file to remove DRM, it would be considered as altering the book. Wouldn't adding DRM also be considered an alteration? Was WHSmith given permission to alter the books?
That's a pretty good point. If removing a lock without permission is illegal, then adding a lock without permission should be just as illegal.
I wouldn't be too happy to come home to find the city put an extra lock on my house, not providing me a key, because I didn't explicitly tell them not to do it. Of course, as others pointed out, it depends on the terms of the contacts. If electric company gave the city permission to put an extra lock on my door, I still wouldn't be happy, but if I gave the electric company the rights to do that, then I'm at fault for not reading the contract.
My wife and I are from a large rural area in our province, referred to as the Valley. Normally we'd take highway 101 to get there from where we live, but in the summer when it's nice and we want a more scenic drive we use to take the old #1 highway. The 100 series highways are 110 Km/h, the older single digit highways are 80 Km/h.
So it's a nice day and we're driving along at 75 Km/h enjoying the weather, then hidden behind some tree or other type foliage, blink and you miss it, there's a speed sign and all the sudden you're in a 50 Km/h zone surrounded by cattle and corn fields, 30 km/h if you're entering a school zone (speed fines doubled between 30 and 50 Km/h, triple if you're over 50 Km/h). Lately it seems schools have been popping up all over the place... well at least the signs for school zones have been, which seems odd since I keep reading about the rural schools closing and the students merged into schools in other counties.
We don't dare take the #1 highway anymore, something we've been doing for nearly 15 years, because all the little stick friggn' nowhere towns along the way started using the #1 as a money maker with hidden or poorly maintained speed signs.
How about because companies decide what core hours are, which tend to be relative to whether DST is in affect or not. I Know very few people that decide What hours they'll work when working forsomeone else.
'm also rather bummed that the stylus doesn't work on the "Menu" and "Back" buttons at the bottom.
Yes, that's one of my primary complaints as well. It kind of breaks the usage flow when you're clicking around with the stylus then you have to move it away from the screen so you can use you're thumb or finger to hit the menu or back.
I think they could make much more use of the button on the stylus. As far as I know the only time you'd use it is if you wanted to take a screen capture by pressing the button and holding the stylus down on the screen. It would be nice if it could be setup so pressing the button and taping the screen would bring up a context menu or allow gesturing for back or menu options.
There's only a submit button on the mobile version of/., no preview button. I guess I'll have to get out of the habit of hitting preview to read my post before submitting.
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I think we get more American politics up here than Canadian. Harper makes sure no one talks to the press here so there's never anything to report unless it's something good concerning the conservatives or bad concerning the opposition. The liberals just elected a new head on Monday, the first I heard about it was from a conservative attack ad Monday night, and there's still two years until the next federal election.
They sure don't waste anytime.
It's ok, No one here needs to read the article anyway. I kid of course ;)
What's the point in having a jury if the judge gets to tell them you're guilty?
The truth is the jury has the power to decide based on the situation if you should be held guilty or not, the judge just gets to decide what happens if they find you guilty. Not that I disagree with you on the destruction of property, just on what the function of a judge and jury is.
I had an economics professor once that wrote his thesis on using patterns to predict stock market trends. As he described it as soon as a pattern is recognized and published market investors jump on board, thus changing the parameters of the algorithm and ruining the pattern, which creates new trends.
Rinse and repeat.
The truth is, big consoles are killing themselves. Smaller indi-consoles running Linux variations are just stepping up to fill the void, but you're right it's going to be at least 5 to 10 years before there's a really decent selection of games for them.
There's only theory to back it up, but my best guess would be Microsoft didn't want to put their console in competition with Windows PCs. I could be entirely wrong, but why would someone spend $500-$800 for a console if they could just buy the games to play on an existing Windows PC at no extra cost!
Exclusive games sell consoles. I can't count the number of times I've read arguments between Sony and MS fanbois about which console had the best exclusives.
I think the big question now is why all the sudden are Sony and MS moving to a standard x86 architecture where it will be easier for developers to port games between all three systems?
You're a little behind the times. Having to upgrade your computer every six months to a year is as mythical as Linux only being usable by geeks. I haven't had to upgrade the video card in any of my gaming machines, which are all laptops anyway, in quite awhile. I believe the main reason is game developers are mainly developing for consoles so they're not always pushing the envelope like they use to. I guess playing to the lowest common denominator, out of date before they're even released consoles, has some benefits for PC gamer. I just bought a new laptop from System 76 six months ago because I wanted something shiny and new, but I still use my four year old HP laptop running Linux Mint to play all the games I've bought on Steam and GOG. Aside from games though, I can use my four year old $800 HP for a ton more than my seven year old PS3, which I also paid $800 for.
Console games just work.
There were tons of bugs reported for both Dragon Age and Skyrim for XBox 360. While I'll give you that consoles seem to have fewer bugs than PC games I'm fairly certain, at least in recent history, it's because games are being developed to run on consoles then crappy ports are made to run the games on PCs. Since, as I said, both the Xbox 720 and PS4 are using the x86 architecture, it should be primary the same code for all three systems. So, when there is a bug it'll probably show up on all the systems, I guess that'll depend on the Dev packages MS/Sony put out for their respective systems.
And if you think PC games are free of odious DRM, then you don't understand what Steam really is.
I fully understand what Steam really is. It does have some drawbacks, but I've never hand an issue with it. I have three systems in home for gaming, all Linux based, mainly so my wife and I can play Civ II, Warcraft II and Starcraft. I can pick any system up at anytime and run steam in a VM for my windows games and now nativity in Linux for the games I've recently started purchasing. I know a lot of people disagree with me on this, but as far as I'm concerned the cheap games I can get on sale and ability to install on any machine in my house or at my in-laws/brothers/sisters/fathers place significantly out weighs the Steam DRM. If I have a game pre-installed I can still play on my laptop in off-line mode when the power's out or when I go to sea, which is where I was just last month for three weeks. So as I said I have no problem with Steam.
I'm also of the opinion that if there's going to be a DRM or a glitch between me and a game I've purchased I'd rather it be on a PC where I can "work around" the issue using techniques that could most likely get you banned from XBL or PSN, which would mean the loss of any games or content you've bought through those services.
I do fully understand the moving target issue with developing for PCs and that can be a challenge for many developers, but it's still a heck of a lot easier for me as a consumer.
Or since the next generation of consoles are x86 architecture anyway, just jump back to PC gaming. The whole reason for using the standard x86 is so developers can more easily port games between consoles and PCs. Why bother with a five to eight hundred dollar console with very few exclusive games that's going to allow MS or Sony to control your gaming library, username and passwords (Which they don't protect properly) and how and when you can you play, when you can get a PC that's going to be twice as good (spec wise), upgradeable as needed for a better experience, will have the same titles and more, allows you to do more than the console will ever allow (media server, indi development, emulator, video player, and much more) without jail breaking/hacking it and when all else fails after buying a game with a shitty DRM will allow you to download a working copy so you can play a game you paid for (Not that I've ever done that, but it's an option)?
My personal opinion is the next generation of consoles is dead in the water. I only have a linux machine at home and with the availability of Steam and indi games, I've only turned my PS3 on in the last 10 months so my 2 year old could watch the Care Bears movie, which doesn't seem to be available on Netflix (build into my TV). I was surprised the PS3 even worked, it's one of the original consoles that had the OtherOS Feature. I was sure Sony would have bricked it by now in some update, which I don't have to worry about them doing on my PC.
I kind like that idea.
Have a rechargeable < 100 KM battery for short everyday commute to and from work, then the long range battery you could buy when planning a > 100 KM trip.
The challenge would be to make them cheap and easy to swap.
I actually heard an interesting theory on that from a student I was mentoring. He claimed that when Democrats are in the white house zombies are popular, When Republicans are in it's vampires.
His reasoning was that the political parties play on subconscious fears of what that party generally stands for.
Democrats are generally in the socialist direction; So people are afraid of just being one in a crowd of many.
Republicans are generally everyone for themselves; Let the few rich/powerful/strong do as they wish with little regulation.
I wish I could explain it as well as he did. Obviously there's a bit of a wake so Twilight was written when Bush was in, but the movies where part of the wake that trailed over to Obama's administration.
I certainly don't disagree with you.
I think this is the difference between Windows 8 RT and Windows 8 Pro. Ultimately I think MS will make it so only applications bought through their app store will be installable on windows systems, but to my knowledge they've only done this on Windows 8 RT at the moment. I think they purposely made the naming of Win RT and Win Pro obscure to make it confusing about what people are complaining about when they say, "I couldn't install X on my new windows (RT/PRO) device". That way MS can always come back with, "oh you didn't read the system requirements. That price of software clearly states it's not for (RT/PRO) device".
Also means you'll have to go repurchase all the stuff you own, if they make it available at all.
I'm not going to hold my nose because of a 4 year old Linux thing, or a 15 year old cd root kit thing. What I care is, how awesome will bioshock infinite 2 or assassin's creed V look? The only thing missing fromm the summary is a ship date. Will it be out the door in time for Christmas?
And this ^ is exactly why they keep getting away with it. I'd give you some lube, but apparently you enjoy being rammed by Sony et. all
You, sir, have a lot of patients.
I played FFXI for a couple weeks after lvl 10 it's impossible to do anything on your own. I would end up waiting for people from all over to join up to do some leveling, but by the time everyone was there it was 2 hours later and people started leaving, then we'd have to find replacements. I spent three nights trying to put a group together when I finally gave up, which is a shame because it seemed like it would have been an awesome game.
If you can deal with that, it's no wonder you haven't killed anyone... yet.
Yeah, What gamer seriously puts down the controller long enough to A) do research and B) create a detailed excel file? This is obviously the work of a grad student or scientist. We should burn them all at the stak.... hold on someone's at the door.
What guy has ever been told that he shouldn't be in the field because he's a guy?
Ah... That happens all the time in the Nursing and Teaching professions. Men are highly discouraged from being Nurses in both Canada and in the States. Men are often call perverts for wanting to teach young children. Their called Gay if they want to be hair dressers, make-up artists or work in the fashion industry. And yet, some men just ignore the ridiculer and do what they want anyway.
Your whole post is full of bullshit, men deal with the exact same issues women deal with and vice versa. We just don't have a choice in how we deal with it because if we bitch or cry about it there's further ridicule for not being "men" about it. Same pressures, different coping.
Also the event that took place happened in between talks while the attendees were on breaks. I've organized and worked at several conventions they aren't just for people to go and party, that's what you see in the movies and on TV. Normally there are a bunch of speakers talking at the same time in different rooms. It takes place normally over a few days, and people travel from all over the place to attend. Occasionally the attendees need to eat and sleep so they're not always "sitting quietly and listening" to a speaker.
I think you should attend a couple of conventions before deciding what people are allowed to do at one.
If she gave up so easily, she probably shouldn't be a programmer, we all take a lot of torment. If I gave up on programming because of every time I was called a geek or nerd when I was 8, I'd be flipping burgers.
This situation has nothing to do with the women in the IT industry are treated. It has everything to do with one person involving themselves in a conversation they weren't part of and publicly shaming people who weren't talking to her and she couldn't even clearly hear. This could have happened in any busy public place and you might as well say that 8 year old gave up on her dream of being a stripper.
If a publisher changed the file to remove DRM, it would be considered as altering the book. Wouldn't adding DRM also be considered an alteration? Was WHSmith given permission to alter the books?
That's a pretty good point. If removing a lock without permission is illegal, then adding a lock without permission should be just as illegal.
I wouldn't be too happy to come home to find the city put an extra lock on my house, not providing me a key, because I didn't explicitly tell them not to do it. Of course, as others pointed out, it depends on the terms of the contacts. If electric company gave the city permission to put an extra lock on my door, I still wouldn't be happy, but if I gave the electric company the rights to do that, then I'm at fault for not reading the contract.
I hate those towns too.
My wife and I are from a large rural area in our province, referred to as the Valley. Normally we'd take highway 101 to get there from where we live, but in the summer when it's nice and we want a more scenic drive we use to take the old #1 highway. The 100 series highways are 110 Km/h, the older single digit highways are 80 Km/h.
So it's a nice day and we're driving along at 75 Km/h enjoying the weather, then hidden behind some tree or other type foliage, blink and you miss it, there's a speed sign and all the sudden you're in a 50 Km/h zone surrounded by cattle and corn fields, 30 km/h if you're entering a school zone (speed fines doubled between 30 and 50 Km/h, triple if you're over 50 Km/h). Lately it seems schools have been popping up all over the place... well at least the signs for school zones have been, which seems odd since I keep reading about the rural schools closing and the students merged into schools in other counties.
We don't dare take the #1 highway anymore, something we've been doing for nearly 15 years, because all the little stick friggn' nowhere towns along the way started using the #1 as a money maker with hidden or poorly maintained speed signs.
How about because companies decide what core hours are, which tend to be relative to whether DST is in affect or not. I Know very few people that decide What hours they'll work when working forsomeone else.
'm also rather bummed that the stylus doesn't work on the "Menu" and "Back" buttons at the bottom.
Yes, that's one of my primary complaints as well. It kind of breaks the usage flow when you're clicking around with the stylus then you have to move it away from the screen so you can use you're thumb or finger to hit the menu or back.
I think they could make much more use of the button on the stylus. As far as I know the only time you'd use it is if you wanted to take a screen capture by pressing the button and holding the stylus down on the screen. It would be nice if it could be setup so pressing the button and taping the screen would bring up a context menu or allow gesturing for back or menu options.
Awesome, works even better plus, I was also able to increase the nonrecognition time so the message doesn't time out in the middle of a word.
There's only a submit button on the mobile version of /., no preview button. I guess I'll have to get out of the habit of hitting preview to read my post before submitting.
Plus I can't spell.