So, in summary, it doesn't seem unethical for Amazon to oppose the collection of CA taxes if their reasons for doing it are #1 and #2. But if their reasons include #3, this is ethically problematic. What their exact actual reasons are is not something I know.
I'll go ahead and pick nits. In your own argument you stated that #1 doesn't apply to Amazon and #2 doesn't justify the response. Therefore, according to your argument, their behavior is unethical regardless of whether or not we know their actual reasons.
The disk rental offers newer content and a larger selection but you have to wait a few days for the mail to cycle your disks. The streaming offers more consumable content because you don't have to wait for the mail. The main advantage streaming Netflix has over Hulu is you don't have to watch commercials and the main advantage it has over Amazon is $9/month for all you can watch vs $2 per episode.
Exactly. If I actually could get HBO and Showtime for $9 per month I probably would. But there's no way I'm paying $80 (or even $40) for the bundle of those plus the channels I don't care about.
Well, this is all subjective, but I find the streaming plus over the air broadcasts a much better value than cable. The streaming lineup is increasing constantly for older movies and past season TV shows (which is 90% of what basic cable offers anyway). For about the same cost you could get high speed internet plus Netflix or low speed internet plus basic cable.
You will not be able to get a good degree without the general education courses. However, you can always pick up a few CS books and do your own research. It's a lot cheaper than paying tuition.
Arguably, it might actually be better to start beginners out with more physical projects: Sure, robotics has also increased enormously in sophistication and power; but high end robots are still expensive and uncommon, and there is a more visceral "wow" factor to "Hey, I hammered out the feedback logic that allows my little *duio bot to follow lines" than there is to "Oh, I've just produced 10% of Zork; but less witty and 25 years late. Let's go play Medal of Life Half-Gear Assault 2011."
Absolutely. I was just thinking the same thing. The draw, back in the day, wasn't the language itself but directly controlling the computer. Robotics is still new enough that just getting it to do simple tasks would be great for a "wow" factor.
That's article is very good. When I first learned assembler I was most reminded of BASIC. The author is correct that they've very similar structurally and both very direct (as opposed to abstract).
The article says windows is getting a new API, WinRT, which is a modern version of Win32..NET and C++ development will both be updated for WinRT and have the same capability as each other so you can work in the environment you choose. Silverlight is supported, updated and renamed (codenamed?) Jupiter. Some other new things were added. In summary,.NET developers, you're getting new functionality. C++ developers, you're getting new functionality. Plus it will be easier than ever to go back and forth between the two because, underlying it all, is a new unified API.
Yeah, make the class game centric. Some will like the art aspects, some will like the programming, others will like being the "idea/problem solver" guy or girl. Teams work together to make a product just like real life.
Wow. Thanks for the insightful post. I too learned in BASIC. C and C++ are horrible languages. They have their uses but teaching programming isn't one of them. Even pros hate C and C++ because those languages are so very wrong from a design standpoint. For instance, what kind of twisted mind thought assignment should be allowed in a logical evaluation?
I look at it this way, for pay as you go, DDO offers a lot of content. I like the idea of pay as you go content because I don't play enough to justify a monthly subscription fee. They are a business, not a charity. They have to make money somehow and anyone who faults them for this is just ignorant. They make new adventure packs and you're free to buy them or not while still having access to all of your previously purchased content.
Ethics only comes in when deceit or coercion are intentionally applied.
No, it's broader than that. You can be perfectly honest and still lead someone down the wrong path. For instance "If you learn the secrets of the Dark Side you will gain great power." There's nothing coercive or deceitful about that statement.
You've got the indies producing all kinds of games, you have social games, big budget games, mmos, varying price points for whatever you budget can handle and more games, and different types of games, available than ever before.
I'm sorry if you misconstrued my post. I wanted to show that DRM free ebooks were available if DRM was an issue preventing you from buying ebooks. If it's not an issue to you then buy whatever you want.
The reason I personally won't buy DRM'd ebooks is because in my past I bought a lot of DRM protected music files (wmas). Then Microsoft turned off their authentication servers and those files became basically worthless. They still worked on the portable music player I had them on, but I couldn't transfer or play them anywhere else. Eventually that music player got stolen and my music investment went with it. If the files were DRM free I could have transferred them to any music device I had as well as backed them up somewhere else.
Slashdot Mirror
Well I get at least $8 per month entertainment value from it. If you're finding a better legal value then good for you.
$8 for streaming only. I don't think it's a bad deal. I might even get a 3DS to watch it on:
http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2011/07/nintendo-3ds-netflix-app/
I'll go ahead and pick nits. In your own argument you stated that #1 doesn't apply to Amazon and #2 doesn't justify the response. Therefore, according to your argument, their behavior is unethical regardless of whether or not we know their actual reasons.
Sorry, make that $8 for all you can watch.
The disk rental offers newer content and a larger selection but you have to wait a few days for the mail to cycle your disks. The streaming offers more consumable content because you don't have to wait for the mail. The main advantage streaming Netflix has over Hulu is you don't have to watch commercials and the main advantage it has over Amazon is $9/month for all you can watch vs $2 per episode.
Exactly. If I actually could get HBO and Showtime for $9 per month I probably would. But there's no way I'm paying $80 (or even $40) for the bundle of those plus the channels I don't care about.
Well, this is all subjective, but I find the streaming plus over the air broadcasts a much better value than cable. The streaming lineup is increasing constantly for older movies and past season TV shows (which is 90% of what basic cable offers anyway). For about the same cost you could get high speed internet plus Netflix or low speed internet plus basic cable.
At least with steam you'll never have to worry about lost, scratched or stolen disks.
You will not be able to get a good degree without the general education courses. However, you can always pick up a few CS books and do your own research. It's a lot cheaper than paying tuition.
There was never a subscription. Free, in this instance, means no-one has to pay for the initial purchase.
Sounds like sniper is the class for you.
Absolutely. I was just thinking the same thing. The draw, back in the day, wasn't the language itself but directly controlling the computer. Robotics is still new enough that just getting it to do simple tasks would be great for a "wow" factor.
That's article is very good. When I first learned assembler I was most reminded of BASIC. The author is correct that they've very similar structurally and both very direct (as opposed to abstract).
Ada is one of the best, if not the best, structured languages ever designed. Can't go wrong with Ada.
Odd. I found assembly language very similar to BASIC.
The article says windows is getting a new API, WinRT, which is a modern version of Win32. .NET and C++ development will both be updated for WinRT and have the same capability as each other so you can work in the environment you choose. Silverlight is supported, updated and renamed (codenamed?) Jupiter. Some other new things were added. In summary, .NET developers, you're getting new functionality. C++ developers, you're getting new functionality. Plus it will be easier than ever to go back and forth between the two because, underlying it all, is a new unified API.
Yeah, make the class game centric. Some will like the art aspects, some will like the programming, others will like being the "idea/problem solver" guy or girl. Teams work together to make a product just like real life.
Wow. Thanks for the insightful post. I too learned in BASIC. C and C++ are horrible languages. They have their uses but teaching programming isn't one of them. Even pros hate C and C++ because those languages are so very wrong from a design standpoint. For instance, what kind of twisted mind thought assignment should be allowed in a logical evaluation?
A strange game. The only winning move is not to play.
Completely free MMOs exist. They're called MUDs.
I look at it this way, for pay as you go, DDO offers a lot of content. I like the idea of pay as you go content because I don't play enough to justify a monthly subscription fee. They are a business, not a charity. They have to make money somehow and anyone who faults them for this is just ignorant. They make new adventure packs and you're free to buy them or not while still having access to all of your previously purchased content.
No, it's broader than that. You can be perfectly honest and still lead someone down the wrong path. For instance "If you learn the secrets of the Dark Side you will gain great power." There's nothing coercive or deceitful about that statement.
...that can be used for good or for evil.
Making up games in BASIC got me started on the path to a good career.
You've got the indies producing all kinds of games, you have social games, big budget games, mmos, varying price points for whatever you budget can handle and more games, and different types of games, available than ever before.
I'm sorry if you misconstrued my post. I wanted to show that DRM free ebooks were available if DRM was an issue preventing you from buying ebooks. If it's not an issue to you then buy whatever you want.
The reason I personally won't buy DRM'd ebooks is because in my past I bought a lot of DRM protected music files (wmas). Then Microsoft turned off their authentication servers and those files became basically worthless. They still worked on the portable music player I had them on, but I couldn't transfer or play them anywhere else. Eventually that music player got stolen and my music investment went with it. If the files were DRM free I could have transferred them to any music device I had as well as backed them up somewhere else.