Well the starting over new was going from Windows 3.11 to Windows 95... then NT 3.5, and 4, and then Windows 2000. Eventually they'll jump on the bandwagon and find some poor unsuspecting UNIX and bastardize it. Oh wait, they did that with SCO. Maybe they'll get it right the second time around.
It would be in a lot of their benefits to use vector files rather than raster. I mean, they develope in vector files anyway. I believe Gabe and Greg both use Illustrator then save as jpg or gif for their websites. Isn't there a vector plugin or something? Heck they could use Flash and make it one freaking frame. Surely it would be smaller.
You have to keep in mind that people are REALLY REALLY DUMB. Deer Hunter was too difficult for many people. I'm sure some poor Tech Support fella can tell you all about it. Shit man, AOL is too difficult for most people.
We need more games like Ico. You run around, beat stuff with a stick, and jump. That's about it. And I had just as much... no, more fun with Ico than I did with Halo's single player missions.
I think another large part of it is that game installers are total BS. Computer games should be more like console games. The installation should consist of nothing more than putting in the CD - maybe the installer would copy the whole damn thing to the hard drive. And patching should be auto-magic without any notification to the user. Just update and go on.
I think this can all be done. I also think it can all be done in Linux. I think someone could make a lot of money with a Linux Game distribution. If it took about a 4GB partition off of a hard drive and setup a highly customized Linux install and a dual bootloader screen they could even keep their Windows install. Then the games could load straight from the disk and keep user info and updates on the machine. Set LGD (Linux Gamer Distribution) standards posted on the game boxes and you would know if your machine can handle it or not. Then sell them for half the cost of XBox, GameCube and PS2 games and include a copy of LGD Lite in every box and you've got one hell of a setup.
I think there is a certain amount of marketability behind being a big game manufacture with a big name and flashy design, but while I was playing ICO on my PS2 I realized something. That game isn't technologically advanced. It doesn't have flashy new features and wild new concepts. It's a simple game and it was TONS of fun.
ICO tells a nice story, nothing spectacular. It has simplified game play, nothing brilliant. It has quality graphics, nothing amazing.
But I was captivated by it for four straight days. I played nearly six ours every day for four consecutive days. By the way, that's a lot for me.
I think two things went into this. A simple game that I was able to purchase for $30 (my limit) and play without vast instruction or learning curve. It captivated me immediately.
Ico was produced by Sony, I believe, but it wouldn't take a multi-billion dollar corporation to put out a game like that. A couple guys banging away on their home computer could come up with that. They just need to be creative and know how to not make it too complex at the same time. What's killing the small shops is their competing in the wrong market. They need to tone it back and work on projects they can handle.
I'm running a network of 100+ nodes on a/28 - not quite as glorious as yours (: I don't see why people think all their devices need Internet routable IP addresses. It's basically an expression of ignorance. They won't take the time to learn how to properly setup a network and therefore are wasting IP space. The Universities are the worst to blame. If they'd NAT their networks it would have a huge impact on the way lots of things work. Starting with, there would be a plethora more IPs available. And things like P2P networks would be cut way back as it's more difficult to structure them with thousands of NAT'd nodes.
In one case I had a/24 (of which I used precisely four IP's) and in the other case I had a/28 (which was used more completely because of multiple web sites).
That's kind of where I am, though it is possible to run multiple websites with a single IP address. My issue involves additional services and mass complication with a mail server and mostly a set of cantankerous admins.
I use lots of devices that requires AA batteries. Standard AA batteries are 1.5v, rechargables are 1.2v. I've not found this to be a major issue, and I've saved a TON of cash by using rechargables.
An example of a negative would be in wireless devices like remotes and keyboard / mouse setups. Their range is weakened slightly.
But once you get a good collection of spare rechargables, you won't be finding yourself running to the store to make more costly purchases. Just grab a fresh set from the charger and slap the burned ones in for a recharge.
them: "Am I speaking with ?" me: "Sorry, he's dead."
I see vast benefits for being legally dead - mainly people would stop bugging you so much. I wonder what the negatives would be. It might be difficult to get a credit card... but maybe that's one of the benifits too. It just seems like it could be a good thing for everyone you don't know to think you're dead.
I've thought seriously about setting up a couple cameras on my car to video tape all the lunatics on the highways in the morning. I supposed I'd be required to but a bumper sticker on my car that says I'm recording, but I'd have to check on that.
Personally, I think it's a good idea. They should record what is happening in the cockpit, and the passenger compartment. Though I'm not sure what they're trying to see...
What scares me, though, is that letting terms get defined and propagated by the general uneducated public tends to lead more toward inaccurate explanation of terms. Tell me again, what is 'memory' in a computer? I keep hearing "I have 3 gigs of memory available but it won't let me run Photoshop" - people need true education of terms, or someone to hold their hand through it all.
Automobiles for example - people have no idea what's going on under the hood. They press the accelerator and it goes. Fill it with gas and it keeps going. If ever it stops going, take it to the man who fixes it.
They either have to have formal education or be left completely in the dark. I think this applies to most subjects / areas of study, not just computers.
If I had a good reason to hack an XBox I'd do it, but as it stands, it's best for playing video games. It would be fun to buy a bunch of XBoxes, mod them, and continue to screw Microsoft, though. Oh well.
Yes, Macs apply to the same rule as all other computer equipment, "The right tool for the job".
Before OS X - I find them incredibly simple which makes them fairly reliable and amazingly easy to use.
Post OS X - Still quite easy to use, but with a hightened reliability. I personally don't enjoy 'getting around' in OS X and I find the lack of customization to the interface to be annoying.
Oh crap, back on topic before I get modded down...
Also with Apple's experience with the Newton they should be able to implement a beautiful 'scribble recognition' interface for a portable tablet computer.
I hate Apple with a passion. I've hated them for years. I administrate a bunch of old bastard Macs and their users and I hate them all.
BUT!....
If you want a system like this done well, you'll wait for Apple to do it. They pour more intelligent research into the user experience than anyone else. You'll be garounteed ease of use, comfortable portable device, and software that doesn't break.
Unfortunately you'll be stuck with OS X and the nasty Aqua interface. Oh, and the desktop will have a one button mouse (:
I don't think anyone at Apple would say they're "leapfrogging" Windows with a "fast user switching" work-alike feature. I think they would say, however, that they're going to do it better. And I bet they do.
Well maybe not better by nerd standards. Better in the sense that a lot more of the user base actually finds the feature understandable and easy enough to actually use instead of being one of those wierd "did you know?" features of windows that only nerds use.
Actually I hope they hide the feature away in some rarely-looked at place. Your average user who doesn't know the difference between a document and a program certainly doesn't know the difference between logging out and logging out while leaving applications running. I mean just think of the people who have come to you and said "mydocument is gone!" because it no longer appeared in the "recently used" list.
Actually you might want to get your head out of Steve Job's ass and snap back to reality. Have you used XP Home edition? You click "switch user" in the menu and then click the user you want to be. I'm sure Apple will do it the same way. And I use "did you know" with my Mac users far more often than I do with my Windows users. The majority of Mac people I have encountered rarely go past what they originally see. If it's not part of the desktop or the root level of the Apple Menu they don't know it exists.
And why would you want them to hide a wonderful feature? That makes no sense at all. They should double the minimum memory count and replace "logout" with "switch user". That way when someone goes to "login" their desktop imediately leaps on the screen with all their programs already loaded into memory. THAT would impress the hell out of mom and dad. "You mean I don't have to wait for my email program to start up?"
Please don't worship Apple/Steve Jobs/OS X - Yeah it's cool, but it's not that cool. And besides, most of the features Apple is putting in OS X are things Microsoft did with Windows many years ago. That's not to say Windows is some amazing product, but calling OS X new and original is a load of crap. It's new to the Mac hardware, but it's all old ideas.
There are two kinds of monitors in the world - those with Trinitron tubes, and those without.
Every monitor I have ever purchased (current count is five), every television I have ever purchased (current count is one), has been a Trinitron. Every single one is still in excellent working condition. The oldest I have is a Dell 17" from 1997. I've seen the same monitor branded as Sun, Compaq, SGI, and I believe HP.
There should be much more focus on "System Link" games, in my opinion.
It's pretty much why I dont bother with online gaming anymore, except for stuff where I'm playing peer to peer with a (real life) friend, or my kid brother, or something like that.
That's pretty much how I feel as well. I'd rather take the time to round up 8+ friends to play networked Halo rather than jump online with a bunch of punk kids for a few rounds of Unreal.
Additionally, Internet gameplay has never been very fun for me because my cable provider pretty much sucks. StarCraft is about the only game I can play over the Internet with acceptable performance. Ghost Recon (XBox Live) has been ok, but I get quite a few drops there as well.
The biggest benefit for "online consoles" would be patches and upgrades. But the people making XBox games are wanting to charge quite a bit for addition add-ons to their games - screw that.
Have you already considered the legal ramifications for what you're doing?
It's a sterling idea, it's just that some publishers might get aggrieved when they see information on their publications being held by a third party. -- -- Smokey, this is not 'Nam, this is bowling. There are rules.
While I agree with you on these points, I have only one reply..
Slashdot Mirror
Well the starting over new was going from Windows 3.11 to Windows 95 ... then NT 3.5, and 4, and then Windows 2000. Eventually they'll jump on the bandwagon and find some poor unsuspecting UNIX and bastardize it. Oh wait, they did that with SCO. Maybe they'll get it right the second time around.
It would be in a lot of their benefits to use vector files rather than raster. I mean, they develope in vector files anyway. I believe Gabe and Greg both use Illustrator then save as jpg or gif for their websites. Isn't there a vector plugin or something? Heck they could use Flash and make it one freaking frame. Surely it would be smaller.
You have to keep in mind that people are REALLY REALLY DUMB. Deer Hunter was too difficult for many people. I'm sure some poor Tech Support fella can tell you all about it. Shit man, AOL is too difficult for most people.
... no, more fun with Ico than I did with Halo's single player missions.
We need more games like Ico. You run around, beat stuff with a stick, and jump. That's about it. And I had just as much
I think another large part of it is that game installers are total BS. Computer games should be more like console games. The installation should consist of nothing more than putting in the CD - maybe the installer would copy the whole damn thing to the hard drive. And patching should be auto-magic without any notification to the user. Just update and go on.
I think this can all be done. I also think it can all be done in Linux. I think someone could make a lot of money with a Linux Game distribution. If it took about a 4GB partition off of a hard drive and setup a highly customized Linux install and a dual bootloader screen they could even keep their Windows install. Then the games could load straight from the disk and keep user info and updates on the machine. Set LGD (Linux Gamer Distribution) standards posted on the game boxes and you would know if your machine can handle it or not. Then sell them for half the cost of XBox, GameCube and PS2 games and include a copy of LGD Lite in every box and you've got one hell of a setup.
I think there is a certain amount of marketability behind being a big game manufacture with a big name and flashy design, but while I was playing ICO on my PS2 I realized something. That game isn't technologically advanced. It doesn't have flashy new features and wild new concepts. It's a simple game and it was TONS of fun.
ICO tells a nice story, nothing spectacular. It has simplified game play, nothing brilliant. It has quality graphics, nothing amazing.
But I was captivated by it for four straight days. I played nearly six ours every day for four consecutive days. By the way, that's a lot for me.
I think two things went into this. A simple game that I was able to purchase for $30 (my limit) and play without vast instruction or learning curve. It captivated me immediately.
Ico was produced by Sony, I believe, but it wouldn't take a multi-billion dollar corporation to put out a game like that. A couple guys banging away on their home computer could come up with that. They just need to be creative and know how to not make it too complex at the same time. What's killing the small shops is their competing in the wrong market. They need to tone it back and work on projects they can handle.
Did anyone else expect the AIR FORCE to have robots that fly ? I mean, really ...
Well, I'd have to say that louder is generally better, but not always. More volume gives you greater detail in sound.
I have two sayings...
"as loud as I wanna be"
"play it loud"
I'm running a network of 100+ nodes on a /28 - not quite as glorious as yours (: I don't see why people think all their devices need Internet routable IP addresses. It's basically an expression of ignorance. They won't take the time to learn how to properly setup a network and therefore are wasting IP space. The Universities are the worst to blame. If they'd NAT their networks it would have a huge impact on the way lots of things work. Starting with, there would be a plethora more IPs available. And things like P2P networks would be cut way back as it's more difficult to structure them with thousands of NAT'd nodes.
/24 (of which I used precisely four IP's) and in the other case I had a /28 (which was used more completely because of multiple web sites).
In one case I had a
That's kind of where I am, though it is possible to run multiple websites with a single IP address. My issue involves additional services and mass complication with a mail server and mostly a set of cantankerous admins.
I use lots of devices that requires AA batteries. Standard AA batteries are 1.5v, rechargables are 1.2v. I've not found this to be a major issue, and I've saved a TON of cash by using rechargables.
An example of a negative would be in wireless devices like remotes and keyboard / mouse setups. Their range is weakened slightly.
But once you get a good collection of spare rechargables, you won't be finding yourself running to the store to make more costly purchases. Just grab a fresh set from the charger and slap the burned ones in for a recharge.
them: "Am I speaking with ?"
... but maybe that's one of the benifits too. It just seems like it could be a good thing for everyone you don't know to think you're dead.
me: "Sorry, he's dead."
I see vast benefits for being legally dead - mainly people would stop bugging you so much. I wonder what the negatives would be. It might be difficult to get a credit card
I've thought seriously about setting up a couple cameras on my car to video tape all the lunatics on the highways in the morning. I supposed I'd be required to but a bumper sticker on my car that says I'm recording, but I'd have to check on that.
...
Personally, I think it's a good idea. They should record what is happening in the cockpit, and the passenger compartment. Though I'm not sure what they're trying to see
What scares me, though, is that letting terms get defined and propagated by the general uneducated public tends to lead more toward inaccurate explanation of terms. Tell me again, what is 'memory' in a computer? I keep hearing "I have 3 gigs of memory available but it won't let me run Photoshop" - people need true education of terms, or someone to hold their hand through it all.
Automobiles for example - people have no idea what's going on under the hood. They press the accelerator and it goes. Fill it with gas and it keeps going. If ever it stops going, take it to the man who fixes it.
They either have to have formal education or be left completely in the dark. I think this applies to most subjects / areas of study, not just computers.
Strange, I get the same performance out of 600mhz G3 Apple machines as well.
No wait, Sony did that for the community.
If I had a good reason to hack an XBox I'd do it, but as it stands, it's best for playing video games. It would be fun to buy a bunch of XBoxes, mod them, and continue to screw Microsoft, though. Oh well.
Will NOT be Z1ON0101. However, I will be adding that to my dictionaries (:
I like that, but instead, how about we all just make phone calls at the same time? Show that we appreaciate them by melting their switches.
Yes, Macs apply to the same rule as all other computer equipment, "The right tool for the job".
...
Before OS X - I find them incredibly simple which makes them fairly reliable and amazingly easy to use.
Post OS X - Still quite easy to use, but with a hightened reliability. I personally don't enjoy 'getting around' in OS X and I find the lack of customization to the interface to be annoying.
Oh crap, back on topic before I get modded down
Also with Apple's experience with the Newton they should be able to implement a beautiful 'scribble recognition' interface for a portable tablet computer.
I hate Apple with a passion. I've hated them for years. I administrate a bunch of old bastard Macs and their users and I hate them all.
....
BUT!
If you want a system like this done well, you'll wait for Apple to do it. They pour more intelligent research into the user experience than anyone else. You'll be garounteed ease of use, comfortable portable device, and software that doesn't break.
Unfortunately you'll be stuck with OS X and the nasty Aqua interface. Oh, and the desktop will have a one button mouse (:
I'm not sure this is a caracteristic of Mac users. I was helping a PC user: he discovered copy/paste after four years of daily use of his computer!
... I wouldn't attribute that to any spacific type of computer user, just oblivious people in general.
Wow
Well I'd say the main "new" thing about OS X is the fact that nobody has ever had a unix GUI worth a damn before. That's new enough.
That's definitely the truth. Or at least a successful one. Be Inc did a pretty good job with the BeOS UI, though their product tanked.
I don't think anyone at Apple would say they're "leapfrogging" Windows with a "fast user switching" work-alike feature. I think they would say, however, that they're going to do it better. And I bet they do.
Well maybe not better by nerd standards. Better in the sense that a lot more of the user base actually finds the feature understandable and easy enough to actually use instead of being one of those wierd "did you know?" features of windows that only nerds use.
Actually I hope they hide the feature away in some rarely-looked at place. Your average user who doesn't know the difference between a document and a program certainly doesn't know the difference between logging out and logging out while leaving applications running. I mean just think of the people who have come to you and said "mydocument is gone!" because it no longer appeared in the "recently used" list.
Actually you might want to get your head out of Steve Job's ass and snap back to reality. Have you used XP Home edition? You click "switch user" in the menu and then click the user you want to be. I'm sure Apple will do it the same way. And I use "did you know" with my Mac users far more often than I do with my Windows users. The majority of Mac people I have encountered rarely go past what they originally see. If it's not part of the desktop or the root level of the Apple Menu they don't know it exists.
And why would you want them to hide a wonderful feature? That makes no sense at all. They should double the minimum memory count and replace "logout" with "switch user". That way when someone goes to "login" their desktop imediately leaps on the screen with all their programs already loaded into memory. THAT would impress the hell out of mom and dad. "You mean I don't have to wait for my email program to start up?"
Please don't worship Apple/Steve Jobs/OS X - Yeah it's cool, but it's not that cool. And besides, most of the features Apple is putting in OS X are things Microsoft did with Windows many years ago. That's not to say Windows is some amazing product, but calling OS X new and original is a load of crap. It's new to the Mac hardware, but it's all old ideas.
There are two kinds of monitors in the world - those with Trinitron tubes, and those without.
Every monitor I have ever purchased (current count is five), every television I have ever purchased (current count is one), has been a Trinitron. Every single one is still in excellent working condition. The oldest I have is a Dell 17" from 1997. I've seen the same monitor branded as Sun, Compaq, SGI, and I believe HP.
Trinitron - accept no substitutions.
There should be much more focus on "System Link" games, in my opinion.
It's pretty much why I dont bother with online gaming anymore, except for stuff where I'm playing peer to peer with a (real life) friend, or my kid brother, or something like that.
That's pretty much how I feel as well. I'd rather take the time to round up 8+ friends to play networked Halo rather than jump online with a bunch of punk kids for a few rounds of Unreal.
Additionally, Internet gameplay has never been very fun for me because my cable provider pretty much sucks. StarCraft is about the only game I can play over the Internet with acceptable performance. Ghost Recon (XBox Live) has been ok, but I get quite a few drops there as well.
The biggest benefit for "online consoles" would be patches and upgrades. But the people making XBox games are wanting to charge quite a bit for addition add-ons to their games - screw that.
A more reputable online news service, Penny Arcade, has their own take on voice communication in gaming.
The Strip: "So, Com?" - Enjoy!
Ah, no. Please don't confuse them with people who know what they're talking about. They are managers who happen to know the right buzz words.
Have you already considered the legal ramifications for what you're doing?
..
It's a sterling idea, it's just that some publishers might get aggrieved when they see information on their publications being held by a third party.
--
--
Smokey, this is not 'Nam, this is bowling. There are rules.
While I agree with you on these points, I have only one reply
"Fuck`it dude, lets go bowling."