I wonder how long before it will be that the same places that outlaw talking on a cellphone while driving have to add iPods to that list? I've never been in a situation where I needed to watch tv so bad that I felt I had to carry one around with me everywhere.
Would I feel differently if I had one of my own? Doubtful, (though I am open-minded about it) because I'd much rather have someone buy me something that I could really use, like a new garage door opener.
I'm sure I'll get flamed for this, yadda yadda, but paying all that money for a tiny TV just seems ridiculous to me, when there are so many other things that I could use, like this. You never know when they might save your life!
Just the simple fact that windows even allows programs to manipulate the task manager goes to show how much farther Windows needs to go. After my wife went on a 'deal hunting' spree on my laptop, I showed her exactly what she had done to the computer. I disconnected it from the internet, ran various anti-virus and spyware programs (luckily no viruses, but tons of spyware). When I went to show her the task manager list, the task manager was actually disabled. Of the various methods to view the task manager (right-clicking taskbar, cntl-alt-delete, etc.) none of them were enabled. Just the simple fact that Windows allowed a program to disable the task manager proved to me that Windows is truly an inferior product.
No technology in the world is going to protect a user who doesn't want (or care, or know) to be protected.
They compared 15 men in their 20s who admitted that gaming had chased other activities - such as work and socialising - out of their lives, and 15 game-playing but otherwise healthy controls.
Who says that the gamers would have had an active social life if they weren't gaming?
They're making a generalization about addiction. ALL addictions are like this, whether it be sex, games, drugs, music, tv, or even the lottery. To single out games just makes those who play games look a little more like drug addicts to the non-game playing community.
In another test, the researchers monitored the response of a large muscle in the eye, to see how much the volunteers could be startled while looking at a game-related image. Scientists theorise that the most pleasing stimuli prompts the smallest of startle reflexes. They found that excessive game players could not be easily startled, unlike the controls.
If you try to get someone to flinch, maybe they'll flinch the first few times, but usually after a while, people either get used to the flinch-worthy action, or they come to expect it. Any stimulus that a person gets exposed to will eventually desensitize them after a while. I was raised being allowed to watch movies like Friday the 13th. Now, bloody movies do nothing to me. I have a friend who, in contrast, was not allowed to watch any scary movies. Years later we watched a movie together and he couldn't handle it. Just another example of personal experience in a given situation.
"Computer games have a reinforcing quality, for sure," agrees John Westland, a social worker at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada. "I don't think the comparison [to a drug of abuse] is a bad one," he says.
I wonder how long it will be before a pre-employment application form has 'Game addiction' along side 'Drug addiction'. Might as well add Mountain Dew to the list, or hey, coffee!
And while not everyone agrees that computer games have the addictive potential of drugs, or even gambling, groups such as Online Gamers Anonymous and EverQuest Widows are overflowing with stories of people so wrapped up in slaying monsters that for days they neglect to eat, wash or sleep.
When this happens (I recall reading a story about StarCraft in one of the Korean countries a while back) I think the issue to consider is the person who doesn't eat or sleep for days at a time, and not the games. For every person who has gotten addicted to pain meds, there are plenty others who have taken them without any addiction. Blaming the pain pills (or in this case, the games) is misfocused. Obviously that person needs professional help.
In trying to assist the average Windows user, I think Microsoft could do something to help aid fight against unauthorized spyware/viruses:
When I open the task manager to view all my running processes, there are usually a ton of programs running. Some I recognize (explorer.exe, System, firefox.exe, etc.) but some I have no idea what they are. Some are from my firewall (BlackIce), some are anti-virus (mcshield.exe), some are other system processes (mdm.exe: the machine debugger), and some I just plain do not know what they are. There are various sites where I can search for these programs, but when there are 50-60 in the list, it gets quite tedious. What would be nice is if the task manager actually produced a mouse-over popup (much like an 'alt' tag in HTML) that gives information about the process. Now this would have to be part of task manager, and not a factor of the application, or malware could just say that its some important legitimate file. I don't know if this is possible, feasible, or even necessary, but I know it would make it a whole lot easier for me to examine all of my currently running processes.
Just a though in light of the keystroke logging article.
No, RTF comment again. The store you buy the game in isn't the museum. The GAME is the museum. Its an entertaining "time" where you get to see art, walk around, etc.
THERE IS NO RIGHT ANSWER.
If you can give me any decent logical evidence supporting the fact that: 1. Games do not contain art. 2. Games are not entertainment. 3. Art museums do not contain art. 4. Art museums are not entertainment.
Then I would be inclined to believe you. I, however, sincerely doubt you can prove any of the four. Even the original 'Wolfenstein 3D' had art. As you walked through the castle, there were pictures of Hitler on the CGA walls.
'With text games, you can sit there at the prompt, go make a sandwich, then come back and play more.'"
I do this in WoW all the time. Hit 'Stealth'. Go make a sandwich, etc. Come back, and I'm still stealthed. In the unlikely event (mostly depending on where I am when I go afk) that I die, I can just resurrect. Sure I'm out a few silver for repairs, but at least I have a sandwich!
Shouldn't that mean that paintings, sculptures, and other forms of traditional "art" need to become more accessible to non-museum-going people? This is becoming less of a problem with the internet (and specifically sites like Google Image) but the full effect of traditional art doesn't get expressed to those who are not active in the artistic community (ie those who don't go to art museums and such.)
I'd say that games contain art. Some people would argue that code writing (at least the good kind) is an art. Surely some of the music scores and sound effects are art. The levels, characters, weapons, backgrounds, textures, etc. are art.
Games contain art. Games are entertainment. Art museums contain art. Art museums are entertainment.
libel Audio pronunciation of "libel" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (lbl) n.
1.
1. A false publication, as in writing, print, signs, or pictures, that damages a person's reputation.
2. The act of presenting such material to the public.
2. The written claims presented by a plaintiff in an action at admiralty law or to an ecclesiastical court.
One key point that they need to be able to prove in order to win a libel suit, is that the statement(s) have to be FALSE. Its absolutely not libelous if the statements are true. Unmodified pictures seem to show these kinds of cases very well, although we hope the court has enough sense to do the right thing.
No, they shouldn't. But states should outlaw nonconsensual "agreements," where someone is exposed to an agreement after the sale as a seperate transaction, and told that if they decline the second transaction, it somehow invalidates the first.
This is actually exactly what I was talking about. The sort of 'You opened the software so that means you agreed to.... '
Thanks for the comment, I realize the difference, just didn't express it that way.
That's one thing I never really understood. Historically, its never been the case (legally at least) where just because you write it down and make someone agree to it, it becomes legally binding. If I put in the EULA for software that I wrote, that if you click OK and install this software, you immediately forfeit all rights to your house, all cars, and all cash assets to me, you know someone would just click through that without reading, but of course they wouldn't be legally bound to give me their assets. Any court in the country would overturn that, which just goes to show, just because you write something down doesn't make it legally binding.
If I got you to sign a paper saying I could beat the snot out of you, and a police officer walks by during the act, what do you think said cop would say if I said "Its OK officer, he signed a waiver saying I could do this to him." Its just ridiculous.
Congress should outlaw EULA agreements altogether, even the part that says 'If this breaks we aren't responsible.' They wrote the software saying that it works, and if it breaks, they SHOULD be responsible.
Instead of investing the hundreds of thousands (millions?) of dollars in researching and developing these anti-copying techniques (most of which get hacked anyway) how about they NOT spend that money, and cut the cost of the systems AND/OR the games by, oh lets say.. half?
In many cases, if price is the only issue, halving the price will more than double the sales. The latest game console system I have is a Nintendo 64. After EBGames said they've give me $7 trade-in value (not just cash, but trade-in value for store credit) for my system, two controllers, and 2 games, I decided I'd much rather hold onto it and let my children play Donkey Kong 64 and Super Mario 64 when they get a little older.
There's no way in hell I'm paying $400 for a game system, when I've got a perfectly good (and relatively modern) PC at home. In addition to these games, I have dual-booting Windoze/Linux (yes Linux is default!) my Gravis Gamepad Pro, a Logitech Wheel for my NFS games, and plenty of other stuff. Sure there are a few games out (Starcraft Ghost, Resident Evil 0, etc) that I can't play on a PC, but I'll get over it.
However if one of these companies announced that they were cutting the price of the system and the games (maybe the *little* older games, I would probably pick one up.
One thing that Sony, and more specifically the MPAA and RIAA doesn't seem to realize, is that 1) there will always be piracy, and there's nothing they can do to completely stop it. 2) there just might be less piracy if the products they released weren't so damn expensive. Sure, people will say that Sony has to be reimbursed for their time and effort of research and development, blah blah blah. If Sony was going to 'just barely break even' then they wouldn't even be in the business to begin with. These companies make insane profits, because the actual cost to manufacture a unit is a very small fraction of the price they charge the consumer.
Just like popcorn at a movie theater. $4.00 for a bucket of popcorn that probably cost less than.50? The bucket they put it in probably cost them more. I never buy it at a theater, but if it was $2.00, I'd probably have one (at least) every time I went to the movies, and so would probably most other people in the theater.
Of course I'm not a marketing genius, or a business executive, but the simple fact remains. Lower the price and you will sell more units. Sony and Microsoft will probably recoup a large portion (if not all) of their R&D costs just in the first day of their units being sold. After that, its just gravy in their wallets.
Try selling a cup of lemonade for $5.00. Your mom *might* buy one. Try selling them for.50 and see how many more you sell. You don't have to have an MBA to see the problem here. Perhaps their target audience is the gaming community that has money to burn. I hate to say this, but the majority of the people in this country do not have disposable income for games and game systems.
Actually, no; no one is "born religious." That is entirely the fault of their parents, who fill their heads with their own particular brand of brainwashing from birth.
Halle-goddamn-lujah.
I'll never forget this freshman in my Philosophy class (focus: Ethics and Morals in Society) who said that the proof that god exists was that "nothing this beautiful could have occurred naturally". Now thats scientific right there.
I'm not talking about waiting until their product is stale. I'm talking about creating a new v3 version before their v2 version is even released.
I'm all for product updates, especially given the history of security flaws in software (not just Microsoft) but why should they expect people to go out and buy Longhorn when they announce that they're already working on something even newer than Longhorn?
Quite frankly I don't give a shit how they run their business, because their successes and failures are their problem, not mine. I think it seems stupid to announce the release of the latest and greatest even before their previous version has hit the shelves. I would think for most non-vegetable people, most of which who probably don't NEED the upgrade, they might as well wait until the new one is released, so they're not spending money on a product that will be replaced soon.
You missed my point, but doesn't really matter to me, because I really just don't care. They make money, they lose money, whatever.
Is Longhorn even out yet? I haven't been watching (or do I care) about its release, whether or not its out, or what the date is, because I won't be using it. If it already has been released, then it must be relatively recently. They're already talking about their NEXT operating system? Allow me to say:
WTF?
Once, just once, I'd like to see Microsoft release an operating system where they actually PLAN (note it doesn't really have to happen, just planned) for it to be out there for a while? Hasn't the world seen enough of their new and exciting operating systems?
Yes, this is a troll. Yes, I hate Microsoft. Yes, I'd rather be hacking my 2.6 kernel at home right now.
So Microsoft want to get as much publicity as they can for the X-Box 360 launch day - big deal...
Why is this any different to Apple's launch of the iPod, Sony's launch of the PS2 or Nintendo's launch of the Gameboy Advance? All of these "sold out" on the day of their launches.
I have no love for Microsoft whatsoever but they're just a big corporation marketing a product that they just want to sell lots of.
And if they leech money from the countless sheeple who just *have* to have something before anyone else in their street, then I say good luck to them!
I have to agree. Shipping out all of your product without knowing exactly where the high and low points of sale will be isn't too bright. The possibility then arises of having surplus stock in an unpopular area while having a shortage in another area. Its a much better idea to put a few out, see where its popular, then devote more products to that area. If you see that a particular area didn't sell out, and hasn't for 2 months, then they don't need any more shipped to that location.
Akin to what the parent of this comment said, I'd like to know how many people who posted anti-Microsoft banter will still try to rush out and buy one the first day.
Someone tell me why a post about the article being a dupe got modded to 5-Informative? It says nothing about the article, dupe or not, nothing about the topic, and yet its still modded up to the maximum. It should be 'offtopic' since it has nothing to do with the content of the article.
For me this wasn't a dupe since I hadn't read it already, yet the first comment I see is some offtopic crap about a duplicate post. What? You mean the/. folks are human? OMGWTF, call the police.
Note this is also offtopic, but I refuse to hide behind the AC mask, because, well, I just damn well feel like it.
Here I am, sitting in my basement, 30 years old, finding myself having to save the game and go upstairs (during the day, I might add) after hearing that faint whisper:
"Sssssave me." or "This way." or "Follow me..."
*gah*
Towards the end of the game, the imp summoning was nothing. I'd wait until they were close, and blast them with my shotgun. But when I first started playing that game, I found I was more freaked out than the first time watching the Nightmare on Elm Street.
I always enjoy hearing this type of news from a software company. In addition to the prospect of boosting their future sales by getting users, managers, companies, etc. used to their product, it also serves another purpose, both to the benefit of the company and prospective users. It allows people (like myself) who otherwise could not afford such software (nor usually has a reason to purchase the pricey package) to learn the software, so they can make themselves more marketable. Maya did a similar thing with their personal learning edition. The tradeoff for them was that it had a large watermark on every generated frame. The end result? People had basically fully-functioning software to use and learn on for their own purposes, yet prevented (for the most part) any usage in the production or commercial industry. While I still haven't devoted much time to learning Maya, the opportunity exists, and the thought of being able to learn the software without shelling out the thousand+ price that the commerical package costs is a nice one.
Slashdot Mirror
I wonder how long before it will be that the same places that outlaw talking on a cellphone while driving have to add iPods to that list? I've never been in a situation where I needed to watch tv so bad that I felt I had to carry one around with me everywhere.
Would I feel differently if I had one of my own? Doubtful, (though I am open-minded about it) because I'd much rather have someone buy me something that I could really use, like a new garage door opener.
I'm sure I'll get flamed for this, yadda yadda, but paying all that money for a tiny TV just seems ridiculous to me, when there are so many other things that I could use, like this. You never know when they might save your life!
Those responsible for sacking the people who have just been sacked, have been sacked.
Microsoft's team picks through the game making sure there are no bugs, that menus all work correctly, and that there are no compatibility issues.
I wish they put the same effort into securing Windows.
Just the simple fact that windows even allows programs to manipulate the task manager goes to show how much farther Windows needs to go. After my wife went on a 'deal hunting' spree on my laptop, I showed her exactly what she had done to the computer. I disconnected it from the internet, ran various anti-virus and spyware programs (luckily no viruses, but tons of spyware). When I went to show her the task manager list, the task manager was actually disabled. Of the various methods to view the task manager (right-clicking taskbar, cntl-alt-delete, etc.) none of them were enabled. Just the simple fact that Windows allowed a program to disable the task manager proved to me that Windows is truly an inferior product.
No technology in the world is going to protect a user who doesn't want (or care, or know) to be protected.
They compared 15 men in their 20s who admitted that gaming had chased other activities - such as work and socialising - out of their lives, and 15 game-playing but otherwise healthy controls.
Who says that the gamers would have had an active social life if they weren't gaming?
They're making a generalization about addiction. ALL addictions are like this, whether it be sex, games, drugs, music, tv, or even the lottery. To single out games just makes those who play games look a little more like drug addicts to the non-game playing community.
In another test, the researchers monitored the response of a large muscle in the eye, to see how much the volunteers could be startled while looking at a game-related image. Scientists theorise that the most pleasing stimuli prompts the smallest of startle reflexes. They found that excessive game players could not be easily startled, unlike the controls.
If you try to get someone to flinch, maybe they'll flinch the first few times, but usually after a while, people either get used to the flinch-worthy action, or they come to expect it. Any stimulus that a person gets exposed to will eventually desensitize them after a while. I was raised being allowed to watch movies like Friday the 13th. Now, bloody movies do nothing to me. I have a friend who, in contrast, was not allowed to watch any scary movies. Years later we watched a movie together and he couldn't handle it. Just another example of personal experience in a given situation.
"Computer games have a reinforcing quality, for sure," agrees John Westland, a social worker at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada. "I don't think the comparison [to a drug of abuse] is a bad one," he says.
I wonder how long it will be before a pre-employment application form has 'Game addiction' along side 'Drug addiction'. Might as well add Mountain Dew to the list, or hey, coffee!
And while not everyone agrees that computer games have the addictive potential of drugs, or even gambling, groups such as Online Gamers Anonymous and EverQuest Widows are overflowing with stories of people so wrapped up in slaying monsters that for days they neglect to eat, wash or sleep.
When this happens (I recall reading a story about StarCraft in one of the Korean countries a while back) I think the issue to consider is the person who doesn't eat or sleep for days at a time, and not the games. For every person who has gotten addicted to pain meds, there are plenty others who have taken them without any addiction. Blaming the pain pills (or in this case, the games) is misfocused. Obviously that person needs professional help.
In trying to assist the average Windows user, I think Microsoft could do something to help aid fight against unauthorized spyware/viruses:
When I open the task manager to view all my running processes, there are usually a ton of programs running. Some I recognize (explorer.exe, System, firefox.exe, etc.) but some I have no idea what they are. Some are from my firewall (BlackIce), some are anti-virus (mcshield.exe), some are other system processes (mdm.exe: the machine debugger), and some I just plain do not know what they are. There are various sites where I can search for these programs, but when there are 50-60 in the list, it gets quite tedious. What would be nice is if the task manager actually produced a mouse-over popup (much like an 'alt' tag in HTML) that gives information about the process. Now this would have to be part of task manager, and not a factor of the application, or malware could just say that its some important legitimate file. I don't know if this is possible, feasible, or even necessary, but I know it would make it a whole lot easier for me to examine all of my currently running processes.
Just a though in light of the keystroke logging article.
If you have access to a computer (or more specifically behind a computer) just add one of these:
for PS/2 Keyboards
or for USB Keyboards
Anti-virus and anti-spyware won't protect you from this kind of technology.
So... EB and Gamestop are like museums
No, RTF comment again. The store you buy the game in isn't the museum. The GAME is the museum. Its an entertaining "time" where you get to see art, walk around, etc.
THERE IS NO RIGHT ANSWER.
If you can give me any decent logical evidence supporting the fact that:
1. Games do not contain art.
2. Games are not entertainment.
3. Art museums do not contain art.
4. Art museums are not entertainment.
Then I would be inclined to believe you. I, however, sincerely doubt you can prove any of the four. Even the original 'Wolfenstein 3D' had art. As you walked through the castle, there were pictures of Hitler on the CGA walls.
'With text games, you can sit there at the prompt, go make a sandwich, then come back and play more.'"
I do this in WoW all the time. Hit 'Stealth'. Go make a sandwich, etc. Come back, and I'm still stealthed. In the unlikely event (mostly depending on where I am when I go afk) that I die, I can just resurrect. Sure I'm out a few silver for repairs, but at least I have a sandwich!
and they need to be more accessible to nongamers
Shouldn't that mean that paintings, sculptures, and other forms of traditional "art" need to become more accessible to non-museum-going people? This is becoming less of a problem with the internet (and specifically sites like Google Image) but the full effect of traditional art doesn't get expressed to those who are not active in the artistic community (ie those who don't go to art museums and such.)
I'd say that games contain art. Some people would argue that code writing (at least the good kind) is an art. Surely some of the music scores and sound effects are art. The levels, characters, weapons, backgrounds, textures, etc. are art.
Games contain art. Games are entertainment.
Art museums contain art. Art museums are entertainment.
Courtesy of Dictionary.com:
(emphasis mine)
libel Audio pronunciation of "libel" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (lbl)
n.
1.
1. A false publication, as in writing, print, signs, or pictures, that damages a person's reputation.
2. The act of presenting such material to the public.
2. The written claims presented by a plaintiff in an action at admiralty law or to an ecclesiastical court.
One key point that they need to be able to prove in order to win a libel suit, is that the statement(s) have to be FALSE. Its absolutely not libelous if the statements are true. Unmodified pictures seem to show these kinds of cases very well, although we hope the court has enough sense to do the right thing.
No, they shouldn't. But states should outlaw nonconsensual "agreements," where someone is exposed to an agreement after the sale as a seperate transaction, and told that if they decline the second transaction, it somehow invalidates the first.
This is actually exactly what I was talking about. The sort of 'You opened the software so that means you agreed to.... '
Thanks for the comment, I realize the difference, just didn't express it that way.
That's one thing I never really understood. Historically, its never been the case (legally at least) where just because you write it down and make someone agree to it, it becomes legally binding. If I put in the EULA for software that I wrote, that if you click OK and install this software, you immediately forfeit all rights to your house, all cars, and all cash assets to me, you know someone would just click through that without reading, but of course they wouldn't be legally bound to give me their assets. Any court in the country would overturn that, which just goes to show, just because you write something down doesn't make it legally binding.
If I got you to sign a paper saying I could beat the snot out of you, and a police officer walks by during the act, what do you think said cop would say if I said "Its OK officer, he signed a waiver saying I could do this to him." Its just ridiculous.
Congress should outlaw EULA agreements altogether, even the part that says 'If this breaks we aren't responsible.' They wrote the software saying that it works, and if it breaks, they SHOULD be responsible.
Instead of investing the hundreds of thousands (millions?) of dollars in researching and developing these anti-copying techniques (most of which get hacked anyway) how about they NOT spend that money, and cut the cost of the systems AND/OR the games by, oh lets say.. half?
.50? The bucket they put it in probably cost them more. I never buy it at a theater, but if it was $2.00, I'd probably have one (at least) every time I went to the movies, and so would probably most other people in the theater.
.50 and see how many more you sell. You don't have to have an MBA to see the problem here. Perhaps their target audience is the gaming community that has money to burn. I hate to say this, but the majority of the people in this country do not have disposable income for games and game systems.
In many cases, if price is the only issue, halving the price will more than double the sales. The latest game console system I have is a Nintendo 64. After EBGames said they've give me $7 trade-in value (not just cash, but trade-in value for store credit) for my system, two controllers, and 2 games, I decided I'd much rather hold onto it and let my children play Donkey Kong 64 and Super Mario 64 when they get a little older.
There's no way in hell I'm paying $400 for a game system, when I've got a perfectly good (and relatively modern) PC at home. In addition to these games, I have dual-booting Windoze/Linux (yes Linux is default!) my Gravis Gamepad Pro, a Logitech Wheel for my NFS games, and plenty of other stuff. Sure there are a few games out (Starcraft Ghost, Resident Evil 0, etc) that I can't play on a PC, but I'll get over it.
However if one of these companies announced that they were cutting the price of the system and the games (maybe the *little* older games, I would probably pick one up.
One thing that Sony, and more specifically the MPAA and RIAA doesn't seem to realize, is that 1) there will always be piracy, and there's nothing they can do to completely stop it. 2) there just might be less piracy if the products they released weren't so damn expensive. Sure, people will say that Sony has to be reimbursed for their time and effort of research and development, blah blah blah. If Sony was going to 'just barely break even' then they wouldn't even be in the business to begin with. These companies make insane profits, because the actual cost to manufacture a unit is a very small fraction of the price they charge the consumer.
Just like popcorn at a movie theater. $4.00 for a bucket of popcorn that probably cost less than
Of course I'm not a marketing genius, or a business executive, but the simple fact remains. Lower the price and you will sell more units. Sony and Microsoft will probably recoup a large portion (if not all) of their R&D costs just in the first day of their units being sold. After that, its just gravy in their wallets.
Try selling a cup of lemonade for $5.00. Your mom *might* buy one. Try selling them for
Actually, no; no one is "born religious." That is entirely the fault of their parents, who fill their heads with their own particular brand of brainwashing from birth.
Halle-goddamn-lujah.
I'll never forget this freshman in my Philosophy class (focus: Ethics and Morals in Society) who said that the proof that god exists was that "nothing this beautiful could have occurred naturally". Now thats scientific right there.
I'm really surprised that the Prius recall got in there over this bug:h tml.
http://www.ima.umn.edu/~arnold/455.f96/disasters.
Maybe I'm old fashioned, but loss of life is a bigger problem than loss of profit.
What the hell is your problem?
My problem is this:
I'm not talking about waiting until their product is stale. I'm talking about creating a new v3 version before their v2 version is even released.
I'm all for product updates, especially given the history of security flaws in software (not just Microsoft) but why should they expect people to go out and buy Longhorn when they announce that they're already working on something even newer than Longhorn?
Quite frankly I don't give a shit how they run their business, because their successes and failures are their problem, not mine. I think it seems stupid to announce the release of the latest and greatest even before their previous version has hit the shelves. I would think for most non-vegetable people, most of which who probably don't NEED the upgrade, they might as well wait until the new one is released, so they're not spending money on a product that will be replaced soon.
You missed my point, but doesn't really matter to me, because I really just don't care. They make money, they lose money, whatever.
Your request was not completed successfully.
Please try it again. If you continue to receive this message, please try your request again later.
I tried it again. I tried it later. Maybe I should 'try later again' and perhaps then it might work!
Those responsible for watching the people who were watching the watchers, have just been sacked.
A m00se once bit my sister...
Is Longhorn even out yet? I haven't been watching (or do I care) about its release, whether or not its out, or what the date is, because I won't be using it. If it already has been released, then it must be relatively recently. They're already talking about their NEXT operating system? Allow me to say:
WTF?
Once, just once, I'd like to see Microsoft release an operating system where they actually PLAN (note it doesn't really have to happen, just planned) for it to be out there for a while? Hasn't the world seen enough of their new and exciting operating systems?
Yes, this is a troll. Yes, I hate Microsoft. Yes, I'd rather be hacking my 2.6 kernel at home right now.
So Microsoft want to get as much publicity as they can for the X-Box 360 launch day - big deal...
Why is this any different to Apple's launch of the iPod, Sony's launch of the PS2 or Nintendo's launch of the Gameboy Advance? All of these "sold out" on the day of their launches.
I have no love for Microsoft whatsoever but they're just a big corporation marketing a product that they just want to sell lots of.
And if they leech money from the countless sheeple who just *have* to have something before anyone else in their street, then I say good luck to them!
I have to agree. Shipping out all of your product without knowing exactly where the high and low points of sale will be isn't too bright. The possibility then arises of having surplus stock in an unpopular area while having a shortage in another area. Its a much better idea to put a few out, see where its popular, then devote more products to that area. If you see that a particular area didn't sell out, and hasn't for 2 months, then they don't need any more shipped to that location.
Akin to what the parent of this comment said, I'd like to know how many people who posted anti-Microsoft banter will still try to rush out and buy one the first day.
Someone tell me why a post about the article being a dupe got modded to 5-Informative? It says nothing about the article, dupe or not, nothing about the topic, and yet its still modded up to the maximum. It should be 'offtopic' since it has nothing to do with the content of the article.
/. folks are human? OMGWTF, call the police.
For me this wasn't a dupe since I hadn't read it already, yet the first comment I see is some offtopic crap about a duplicate post. What? You mean the
Note this is also offtopic, but I refuse to hide behind the AC mask, because, well, I just damn well feel like it.
Here I am, sitting in my basement, 30 years old, finding myself having to save the game and go upstairs (during the day, I might add) after hearing that faint whisper:
"Sssssave me."
or
"This way."
or
"Follow me..."
*gah*
Towards the end of the game, the imp summoning was nothing. I'd wait until they were close, and blast them with my shotgun. But when I first started playing that game, I found I was more freaked out than the first time watching the Nightmare on Elm Street.
Pac-Man. When that little red ghost is quickly closing in...
so close...
gaining...
the faint sound of 'wakka.... wakka.... (silence)'
so close... the air is chilled.
THEN HE GETS YOU! "Mwah mwah mwah".
*shiver*
I always enjoy hearing this type of news from a software company. In addition to the prospect of boosting their future sales by getting users, managers, companies, etc. used to their product, it also serves another purpose, both to the benefit of the company and prospective users. It allows people (like myself) who otherwise could not afford such software (nor usually has a reason to purchase the pricey package) to learn the software, so they can make themselves more marketable. Maya did a similar thing with their personal learning edition. The tradeoff for them was that it had a large watermark on every generated frame. The end result? People had basically fully-functioning software to use and learn on for their own purposes, yet prevented (for the most part) any usage in the production or commercial industry. While I still haven't devoted much time to learning Maya, the opportunity exists, and the thought of being able to learn the software without shelling out the thousand+ price that the commerical package costs is a nice one.