Does Sony make desktop computers? I'm just asking, I've never seen any. Laptop, yes, but a console would compete within the desktop market not within the laptop market?
No... Quad-Core, 4Gig RAM, perhaps even 8 or 16, and SLI Graphics cards. That's gonna set you back. Besides £500 is still more than the €400 for a PS3 which is guaranteed hassle-free.
The only question that I have for you is: did you try GTA4?
I frankly don't think so. I am writing this on a 2.6GHz HT P-IV with 2Gig RAM and a GeForce FX5500. Will it run GTA4? Hell no! Could I even upgrade it to make it run at lowest-of-lowest settings? Hello no! The machine is AGP-based for crying out loud!
Now, my brothers PC is much better. Over time we did upgrade it: from single core to dual-core. From 512Meg RAM to 2Gig RAM. The only thing we didn't upgrade is his graphics card which is a GeForce 6600GT and most likely the reason why GTA4 doesn't run. The minimum system requirements for GTA4 are Dual-Core in the 2GHz range, 1Gig RAM and a 256 MB NVidia 7900. That is minimum, which every gamer knows means "won't run". So will buying an 512MB NVidia 8600 (Recommended) solve the problem? I haven't understood Nvidias numbering scheme in ages. Would a 9500GT work (~76€)? I have no idea...
The adaptable settings are a red herring, because you know as well as I do that PC gamers won't accept the lowest setting. They'll run out and buy new hardware.... even if 3 years ago they said they would never do that.
Console games "just work" and even tend to get better over time. Have you ever seen GTA San Andreas on the PS2? That game was insanely well made on a underpowered MIPS based machine. Sure, I'm sure it will run on my 2003 P-IV, but would it run on a 2000 PC (that's when the PS2 came out)? Even with a few upgrades? I honestly don't think so. And the port of GTA San Andreas was actually a good port.
My brothers PC cost 1000€ two years ago. What is reusable? The harddisk and the optical drives. All the rest needs to be replaced. [1] So, okay, take 600€ to get a "okay rig" (Quad-Core, SLI GFX card possible for that price? Because it seems GTA4 only runs okay on such rigs) That new machine is going to play GTA4 fine (I must assume), but in two years GTA5 comes out and he'll be faced with the same upgrade costs. However GTA5 will run on the PS3 because consoles have a much longer "lifecyle".
Console games seem to be the same price as PC games where I live.
[1] Also note that upgrades take a lot of time. A lot of MY time.
On the other hand, you use your computer for far more than only games. Those 160Gig might be more than sufficient for the games only. Reminds me of how the PSP would only sell in the "Mega Pack" version because it came with a 1Gig memory card and the regular version only came with a 32Meg memory card. Well, for my savegames the 32Meg memory card still isn't full! Go figure....
The 30" display on my gaming PC has a maximum resolution of 2560x1600 and cost the same as most 32" 1920x1080 HDTVs. Perhaps I'm just spoiled
Considering that a PS3 costs about $500, it still makes more sense to just fork out the extra money for a machine that can do vastly more than a game console.
Except that for the PS3, there will still be games made for it in 5 years. A 5 year old PC? Upgrading? I don't think so. So, yes, I could upgrade the graphics card for 100€ and not be sure that it works correctly. That's the main problem: I have no idea if "just buying a GeForce 9800" will do. Nobody can guarantee me that.
My brother buys his games anyway.... So 50€ for a boxed PC game or 50€ for a boxed PS3 game are no difference. The games coming out in 2 years will not work on his PC and as such he will have to fork over those 800€-900€ (you're really optimistic for gaming grade hardware). Every, fucking, two years. The PS3 will happily run in two years with all the games coming out for it. Sure, the next gen console will be around the corner.
Longevity for consoles is much larger than longevity for gaming PCs.
Yes, but what if consoles add in support for keyboard and mouse? With the harddisks in consoles today, you can have your patches/expansions/what have you....
Yes, I know... He preordered it. I didn't find out until the day I actually had to install it on his machine. My wifes PC is from 2003 and runs Half Life 2 just fine. Sure, I did upgrade the graphics card.....
It really is because of the shitty port, but my brother is a die hard GTA fan, so it's either spend a lot of money, or spend a lot less on a console.
Never gonna happen.... I simply can't see that ever happening. It would at least partially mean that companies like Sony or Nintendo need to build components and allow interoperability with what is essentially an open platform. It means releasing control, they won't do that.
Besides, consoles are mostly played at the TV and installed in a fixed way like a DVD Player. It is simply convenient. Connecting a laptop to your TV? Cumbersome!
I personally think that PC gaming is on the way out except for a few niches. My brother bought GTA4, and we simply can't get to run it on his 2 year old PC. He now faces the choice: pay about 1500€ for a new rig in order to play GTA4 at acceptable rates. Or spend +/-450€ on a PS3 and buy the game again....
I recommended him to get the PS3.... Throw in a USB mouse and a USB keyboard and he can play like he is used to.
You and I would know. The problem is that he's not in our business... He simply expected a new windows PC to run the same thing an old windows PC did. Microsoft someohow got "backward compatibility" associated with their brand.... That's the problem.
Yes, Europe here.... To authorize an institution, you send a signed paper to the institution, and that institution then sends it to your bank. (That way both the bank and the institution are informed) When you want to cancel it, you send a notice to your bank. The institution will be informed by your bank.
I have done this at numerous times. I fired up the ebanking site they have, wrote an email explaining the situation (internal secured email). That was it. I got a complaint letter from the institution, but that one was filed vertically.
Where I live (Europe), you contact the bank to cancel the direct debits. It's easy... Next time that organization tries to get the money, they get a nice message it has been cancelled. I have done this on numerous occasions.
External flash disks? Like SD cards and compactflash? Yeah, using the new filesystem will most likely work with Cameras/Phones/... I don't think it's going to roll...
I already did... Long time ago, in an e-Banking application. If you pressed ctrl-alt and clicked on the bank logo, you got a picture of the development team. It was innocent stuff, but I know as a fact that they have removed it by now. It was simple code, a bit of JavaScript and a picture named as if it was an advertisement banner.
Ah, the good old days when I was young and foolish.
That brand was BMW...It was indeed a pretty insightful ad. The point was "come and test it and convince yourself". Alas, that's just another sales tactic. If you've got the customer testing a car, the sale is pretty much done.
Slashdot Mirror
Does Sony make desktop computers? I'm just asking, I've never seen any. Laptop, yes, but a console would compete within the desktop market not within the laptop market?
Am I missing something?
No... Quad-Core, 4Gig RAM, perhaps even 8 or 16, and SLI Graphics cards. That's gonna set you back. Besides £500 is still more than the €400 for a PS3 which is guaranteed hassle-free.
The only question that I have for you is: did you try GTA4?
I frankly don't think so. I am writing this on a 2.6GHz HT P-IV with 2Gig RAM and a GeForce FX5500. Will it run GTA4? Hell no! Could I even upgrade it to make it run at lowest-of-lowest settings? Hello no! The machine is AGP-based for crying out loud!
Now, my brothers PC is much better. Over time we did upgrade it: from single core to dual-core. From 512Meg RAM to 2Gig RAM. The only thing we didn't upgrade is his graphics card which is a GeForce 6600GT and most likely the reason why GTA4 doesn't run. The minimum system requirements for GTA4 are Dual-Core in the 2GHz range, 1Gig RAM and a 256 MB NVidia 7900. That is minimum, which every gamer knows means "won't run". So will buying an 512MB NVidia 8600 (Recommended) solve the problem? I haven't understood Nvidias numbering scheme in ages. Would a 9500GT work (~76€)? I have no idea...
The adaptable settings are a red herring, because you know as well as I do that PC gamers won't accept the lowest setting. They'll run out and buy new hardware.... even if 3 years ago they said they would never do that.
Console games "just work" and even tend to get better over time. Have you ever seen GTA San Andreas on the PS2? That game was insanely well made on a underpowered MIPS based machine. Sure, I'm sure it will run on my 2003 P-IV, but would it run on a 2000 PC (that's when the PS2 came out)? Even with a few upgrades? I honestly don't think so. And the port of GTA San Andreas was actually a good port.
My brothers PC cost 1000€ two years ago. What is reusable? The harddisk and the optical drives. All the rest needs to be replaced. [1] So, okay, take 600€ to get a "okay rig" (Quad-Core, SLI GFX card possible for that price? Because it seems GTA4 only runs okay on such rigs) That new machine is going to play GTA4 fine (I must assume), but in two years GTA5 comes out and he'll be faced with the same upgrade costs. However GTA5 will run on the PS3 because consoles have a much longer "lifecyle".
Console games seem to be the same price as PC games where I live.
[1] Also note that upgrades take a lot of time. A lot of MY time.
On the other hand, you use your computer for far more than only games. Those 160Gig might be more than sufficient for the games only. Reminds me of how the PSP would only sell in the "Mega Pack" version because it came with a 1Gig memory card and the regular version only came with a 32Meg memory card. Well, for my savegames the 32Meg memory card still isn't full! Go figure....
Perhaps? Perhaps?!?
That's exactly how I use my Asus EEE PC to surf on the web in the living room. Especially if I wan to type a slashdot comment. So, what's the problem?
Except that for the PS3, there will still be games made for it in 5 years. A 5 year old PC? Upgrading? I don't think so. So, yes, I could upgrade the graphics card for 100€ and not be sure that it works correctly. That's the main problem: I have no idea if "just buying a GeForce 9800" will do. Nobody can guarantee me that.
My brother buys his games anyway.... So 50€ for a boxed PC game or 50€ for a boxed PS3 game are no difference. The games coming out in 2 years will not work on his PC and as such he will have to fork over those 800€-900€ (you're really optimistic for gaming grade hardware). Every, fucking, two years. The PS3 will happily run in two years with all the games coming out for it. Sure, the next gen console will be around the corner.
Longevity for consoles is much larger than longevity for gaming PCs.
Yes, but what if consoles add in support for keyboard and mouse? With the harddisks in consoles today, you can have your patches/expansions/what have you....
With HDTV the resolution is even there....
I don't know for sure, because I never tried. I used to have a PS2, and one some games there was mouse & keyboard support.
Actually, it didn't... The ATI in it couldn't cope...
It really is because of the shitty port, but my brother is a die hard GTA fan, so it's either spend a lot of money, or spend a lot less on a console.
Never gonna happen.... I simply can't see that ever happening. It would at least partially mean that companies like Sony or Nintendo need to build components and allow interoperability with what is essentially an open platform. It means releasing control, they won't do that.
Besides, consoles are mostly played at the TV and installed in a fixed way like a DVD Player. It is simply convenient. Connecting a laptop to your TV? Cumbersome!
I personally think that PC gaming is on the way out except for a few niches. My brother bought GTA4, and we simply can't get to run it on his 2 year old PC. He now faces the choice: pay about 1500€ for a new rig in order to play GTA4 at acceptable rates. Or spend +/-450€ on a PS3 and buy the game again....
I recommended him to get the PS3.... Throw in a USB mouse and a USB keyboard and he can play like he is used to.
Actually the tradition is version 3.... 7 might be it.
You and I would know. The problem is that he's not in our business... He simply expected a new windows PC to run the same thing an old windows PC did. Microsoft someohow got "backward compatibility" associated with their brand.... That's the problem.
That's why I read slashdot.... Somebody tried :-) Thank you!
Yes, Europe here.... To authorize an institution, you send a signed paper to the institution, and that institution then sends it to your bank. (That way both the bank and the institution are informed) When you want to cancel it, you send a notice to your bank. The institution will be informed by your bank.
Easy.... and even logical in my eyes...
The NSA ban has been lifted for ages. There were some countries where it was illegal for private use. France was one of them IIRC. Not Germany, AFAIK.
I have done this at numerous times. I fired up the ebanking site they have, wrote an email explaining the situation (internal secured email). That was it. I got a complaint letter from the institution, but that one was filed vertically.
Citation needed.... I have as a matter of fact worked with a German product doing encryption before the export limitations of the US were lifted.
Where I live (Europe), you contact the bank to cancel the direct debits. It's easy... Next time that organization tries to get the money, they get a nice message it has been cancelled. I have done this on numerous occasions.
With a standing order?
External flash disks? Like SD cards and compactflash? Yeah, using the new filesystem will most likely work with Cameras/Phones/... I don't think it's going to roll...
I already did... Long time ago, in an e-Banking application. If you pressed ctrl-alt and clicked on the bank logo, you got a picture of the development team. It was innocent stuff, but I know as a fact that they have removed it by now. It was simple code, a bit of JavaScript and a picture named as if it was an advertisement banner.
Ah, the good old days when I was young and foolish.
True about the German scent ads... There is one I like though. The Chanel No 5 one with the little riding hood. Might be a French ad, though.
That brand was BMW...It was indeed a pretty insightful ad. The point was "come and test it and convince yourself". Alas, that's just another sales tactic. If you've got the customer testing a car, the sale is pretty much done.