I disagree. Mickey Mouse is a trademark, not a copyright. Disney currently has the right to renew their trademark for as long as they are using him as such.
Now the story of "Steamboat Willie" (the first Mickey Mouse cartoon) and the Disney version of "Snow White" is another matter. These should have passed into public domain some time back.
Yeah, the latest and greatest game machine might have better graphics, and might even be upgradable to maintain the graphics edge (although that's not the current business model among gaming machines). But it's not just about graphics.
As players get more sophisticated they aren't only going to be looking for whiz-bang graphics. They'll be looking for playability. They'll be looking for emotional attachment. They'll be looking for convenience. And if the machine that conveys those is a general machine that can also keep your checkbook balanced, let you type your letters, store your data, and communicate your friends, then graphics will remain a secondary concern for many. That is why we're more likely to see the PC and the game machines merge than see game machines dominate PCs.
No, I'm not saying that we in "reality" are going to have to worry about holodeck character rights, but there are many examples of ethical questions explored in SF that eventually made it into the headlines as technology caught up. Cloning? Instantaneous communication? Space travel? All explored decades before in literature.
So please, don't pull the "it's fictional so it doesn't matter" card.
I see that Microsoft remains reluctant to provide any information on their error screens that might help an average user understand what went wrong. Color me unimpressed.
That's the way that technology development is supposed to go. The first to do something has to put in much greater resources because they're not sure how something's going to work. Hence, the triple redundancy on NASA systems.
Once it's done once, the next person to do it not only has a working model, but also has a chance to refine the process.
It's funny how the availability of help was never made clear. My mother-in-law was very surprised when I told her that she could've gotten help...especially given how crowded the precinct was.
I'll repeat to you what my father told me when I asked him whether he could catch a ball that an outfielder dropped: "No one is paying me to make those plays."
I wouldn't be the one replacing Arnie, but I'll bet there are 1000 muscle-bound actors that can not only replace him but can do a better job.
And, how much did you pay for that equipment? $250? $1000? Including a large enough TV and you're talking about spending in the multi-thousands.
I can STILL go to a movie for $7.50 (plus or minus a couple of bucks depending on what time, where, and how old I am). Pick the right time and I'm in the theater by myself. A little planning and I'm watching the movie months before you are and spoiling it. This will still be the case three years from now.
I'm just curious, but once Satellite is on an even playing field with Cable, why would Cable roll over and go out of business? The same "cable" networks and services are available to cable companies to provide to their customers that are available to the satellite companies to provide to theirs. Logically, the "local" networks would also be available to the cable companies to provide to their customers if they so wished.
I understand your point about avoiding monopolies but under Adam Smith's model for capitalism if you have multiple companies competing for the same business each will try to offer a better product than its competitors. I'm not interested in the status quo. If this helps to break the cable monopolies and pushes the cable companies to improve their service then I'm all for it.
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Point of information: Lieberman joined his fellow Democrats today and voted against cutting off debate on the renewal of the Patriot Act provisions. As far as being a "Democrat in name only", Lieberman is nowhere near as bad as Zell Miller was.
I disagree. Mickey Mouse is a trademark, not a copyright. Disney currently has the right to renew their trademark for as long as they are using him as such.
Now the story of "Steamboat Willie" (the first Mickey Mouse cartoon) and the Disney version of "Snow White" is another matter. These should have passed into public domain some time back.
Yeah, the latest and greatest game machine might have better graphics, and might even be upgradable to maintain the graphics edge (although that's not the current business model among gaming machines). But it's not just about graphics.
As players get more sophisticated they aren't only going to be looking for whiz-bang graphics. They'll be looking for playability. They'll be looking for emotional attachment. They'll be looking for convenience. And if the machine that conveys those is a general machine that can also keep your checkbook balanced, let you type your letters, store your data, and communicate your friends, then graphics will remain a secondary concern for many. That is why we're more likely to see the PC and the game machines merge than see game machines dominate PCs.
Very simple: because at some point it might.
No, I'm not saying that we in "reality" are going to have to worry about holodeck character rights, but there are many examples of ethical questions explored in SF that eventually made it into the headlines as technology caught up. Cloning? Instantaneous communication? Space travel? All explored decades before in literature.
So please, don't pull the "it's fictional so it doesn't matter" card.
I see that Microsoft remains reluctant to provide any information on their error screens that might help an average user understand what went wrong. Color me unimpressed.
That's the way that technology development is supposed to go. The first to do something has to put in much greater resources because they're not sure how something's going to work. Hence, the triple redundancy on NASA systems.
Once it's done once, the next person to do it not only has a working model, but also has a chance to refine the process.
I'm not sure that humans need more than that.
And yes, I do get the reference.
It's funny how the availability of help was never made clear. My mother-in-law was very surprised when I told her that she could've gotten help...especially given how crowded the precinct was.
For all intents and purposes she was on her own.
I'll repeat to you what my father told me when I asked him whether he could catch a ball that an outfielder dropped:
"No one is paying me to make those plays."
I wouldn't be the one replacing Arnie, but I'll bet there are 1000 muscle-bound actors that can not only replace him but can do a better job.
And, how much did you pay for that equipment? $250? $1000? Including a large enough TV and you're talking about spending in the multi-thousands.
I can STILL go to a movie for $7.50 (plus or minus a couple of bucks depending on what time, where, and how old I am). Pick the right time and I'm in the theater by myself. A little planning and I'm watching the movie months before you are and spoiling it. This will still be the case three years from now.
Are you thinking of 2061, where they land on Europa?
Actually, it can also go before the FULL 9th Federal Court as well as the Supreme Court.
Just FYI
They may end up in the world THEY deserve, but the rest of us will end up in a world we DO NOT deserve.
If it's not worth archiving why was it worth posting in the first place?
It wouldn't be much of a surprise attack since it'll take the weapons about 2 days to get back to Earth.
I'm just curious, but once Satellite is on an even playing field with Cable, why would Cable roll over and go out of business? The same "cable" networks and services are available to cable companies to provide to their customers that are available to the satellite companies to provide to theirs. Logically, the "local" networks would also be available to the cable companies to provide to their customers if they so wished.
I understand your point about avoiding monopolies but under Adam Smith's model for capitalism if you have multiple companies competing for the same business each will try to offer a better product than its competitors. I'm not interested in the status quo. If this helps to break the cable monopolies and pushes the cable companies to improve their service then I'm all for it.
Finally get around to changing those diodes down its left side, of course.
I'll support them. I can assure you that whether this is successful or not I'll now look more favorably on Philips products.
I prefer to think of GPL as evolutionary. "Viral" code forces people to do it the way it was programmed. Hmmm...sound familiar?