No, the XBox has a single connector on the back which provides the video and audio output. Depending on the cable plugged into it you might get RCAs + analog, or SVideo + optical, or component. It actually makes sense in some ways, but you don't get a choice which cable you get. I have all three because I didn't have an HD TV when I got the XBox, but needed the optical output the Advanced video pack gave me.
The fact that the 360 comes with the HD cables is a big value...
Newer DVD players are similar. My DVD player has HDMI, which I use to connect to my TV. Its not a special connector, but HDMI cables are a lot more expensive than component cables.
You're missing the fact that the XBox doesn't have a pile of RCA connectors on the back of it.
An XBox Component kit is expensive, and I think the MS one requires a second kit to get the optical output, as well. (I have the Monster cable kit because it was the only thing I could find locally... that was like $110 between the cost of the Monster component/optical cable and the actual optical adapter you need to actually plug the fiber into it).
With a hard drive, and a wireless controller, and a headset, and a remote control and component video cables. If you add up the price of those extras for the current Xbox, it's probably around $100. Add that to the Xbox original launch price ($299) and, well, whaddya know.
Thats probably closer to $200. The component video cable is in the $60 range, the headset and adapter is nearly $50. Remote control is $30. Wireless controllers vary but the good ones are at least $60.
There was a lot of theoretical planning done during the 50's and 60's around the non-military use of nuclear devices. (Shaped charge devices used for mining, breaking up big storms, etc)
Now I've had pleanty of coffee and I still can't remember what the sources of that were... but I clearly remember reading a lot report about plans for that, prior to the test ban treaty being passed.
I remember reading about planning in the Army Corps of Engineers or maybe it was just the AEC about the use of a small yield "clean" device to disrupt a hurricane by denotating it at the eye wall or something like that.
Unfortunately its 8:00, I haven't had coffee, and it was probably five years ago I was reading about it, so thats all the detail I can give. Someone more awake might know what I'm talking about...
I've never had a PC harddrive fail during normal useful lifetimes with them, and most of them over the last fifteen years have been used 24/7. That goes from MRM, to RLL, to ESDI, SCSI, and IDE drives for desktop and laptops. Probably, if I had to guess, 20-30 drives total over that period of time. When I've upgraded to a bigger drive usually after four or five years, it goes on a shelf, and on the few occasions I had to go back to them, still worked.
And I'm not someone who buys new hardware very often. My fastest PC is a 500mhz Celeron, so its not like I'm replacing them once a year or something.
If you think thats even in the top hundred things FEMA has gotten wrong on this, you haven't been watching the news.
Its a non-issue. A tiny percentage of real users have heard of anything other than IE, and an even tinier percentage of people who need FEMA support have electricity, internet access or a computer anymore.
If you all are going to get bent about something FEMA is doing, get bent about the fact that phone and internet is the only way to register and most refugees have neither. Or get bent about the fact that 90% of calls don't go through to the FEMA number.
This is just rediculous to get worked up about. Who cares? If 1% of thet people affected have internet access, and 1% of those use Firefox (and happen to be using someones computer that has Firefox and not IE), then out of the million people affected, what? 100 might have a problem? 100 people tech aware enough to use firefox? They probably can find a damn cell phone.
Being a good engineer means even if a company does outsource development, finding more work is easy, even during a down market. Good means good at selling yourself, as well as good at your job.
And yes, plumbing is a pretty good option, and it does kids a disservice to suggest otherwise. 40 hours a week, eighty grand a year, no possibility of outsourcing, and you get to work with your hands.
People who aren't all that good at their job, and conciously or subconciously know it are panicked about the possibility their job may be outsourced. Unfortunately these days, half the people who claim to be software engineers fall into that camp.
The moral is be good at your job. And if you can't be in the top half of people doing a job that is so easily mobile, you ought to pick a trade career that is less likely to be outsourced.
And like you say, its no different now than any time else in recent history (certainly going back 50 or 60 years).
I suspect that/.'s active posting population is skewed fairly young... college students and people just starting out who haven't established themselves in their career and are more concerned and vocal about it.
If you've been buying consoles at their release all along, you'd know adjusted for inflation, the XBox 360 is not nearly the most expensive console at release.
Slashdot Mirror
Don't forget to add the component cables and optical cable. Thats another $40, if you order them online or buy them somewhere like Walmart.
No, the XBox has a single connector on the back which provides the video and audio output. Depending on the cable plugged into it you might get RCAs + analog, or SVideo + optical, or component. It actually makes sense in some ways, but you don't get a choice which cable you get. I have all three because I didn't have an HD TV when I got the XBox, but needed the optical output the Advanced video pack gave me.
The fact that the 360 comes with the HD cables is a big value...
Newer DVD players are similar. My DVD player has HDMI, which I use to connect to my TV. Its not a special connector, but HDMI cables are a lot more expensive than component cables.
You're missing the fact that the XBox doesn't have a pile of RCA connectors on the back of it.
An XBox Component kit is expensive, and I think the MS one requires a second kit to get the optical output, as well. (I have the Monster cable kit because it was the only thing I could find locally... that was like $110 between the cost of the Monster component/optical cable and the actual optical adapter you need to actually plug the fiber into it).
What a great way to be a good neighbor. Piss all over all the channels available so no one else can do anything.
With a hard drive, and a wireless controller, and a headset, and a remote control and component video cables. If you add up the price of those extras for the current Xbox, it's probably around $100. Add that to the Xbox original launch price ($299) and, well, whaddya know.
Thats probably closer to $200. The component video cable is in the $60 range, the headset and adapter is nearly $50. Remote control is $30. Wireless controllers vary but the good ones are at least $60.
Do not put a link to this post on your resume.
Trust me.
There was a lot of theoretical planning done during the 50's and 60's around the non-military use of nuclear devices. (Shaped charge devices used for mining, breaking up big storms, etc)
Now I've had pleanty of coffee and I still can't remember what the sources of that were... but I clearly remember reading a lot report about plans for that, prior to the test ban treaty being passed.
Wouldn't it be better to just glue it on or something?
I remember reading about planning in the Army Corps of Engineers or maybe it was just the AEC about the use of a small yield "clean" device to disrupt a hurricane by denotating it at the eye wall or something like that.
Unfortunately its 8:00, I haven't had coffee, and it was probably five years ago I was reading about it, so thats all the detail I can give. Someone more awake might know what I'm talking about...
You clearly missed who the editor was who posted it.
Something here, probably the google toolbar, just sent me to a google search for that.
Actually I have nothing else to add, but wanted to work piss into the discussion.
I've never had a PC harddrive fail during normal useful lifetimes with them, and most of them over the last fifteen years have been used 24/7. That goes from MRM, to RLL, to ESDI, SCSI, and IDE drives for desktop and laptops. Probably, if I had to guess, 20-30 drives total over that period of time. When I've upgraded to a bigger drive usually after four or five years, it goes on a shelf, and on the few occasions I had to go back to them, still worked.
And I'm not someone who buys new hardware very often. My fastest PC is a 500mhz Celeron, so its not like I'm replacing them once a year or something.
If you think thats even in the top hundred things FEMA has gotten wrong on this, you haven't been watching the news.
Its a non-issue. A tiny percentage of real users have heard of anything other than IE, and an even tinier percentage of people who need FEMA support have electricity, internet access or a computer anymore.
If you all are going to get bent about something FEMA is doing, get bent about the fact that phone and internet is the only way to register and most refugees have neither. Or get bent about the fact that 90% of calls don't go through to the FEMA number.
This is just rediculous to get worked up about. Who cares? If 1% of thet people affected have internet access, and 1% of those use Firefox (and happen to be using someones computer that has Firefox and not IE), then out of the million people affected, what? 100 might have a problem? 100 people tech aware enough to use firefox? They probably can find a damn cell phone.
Really? I thought it was "y-a-n-k-e-e-s"?
P.S. - Yes, I'm from Boston!
P.P.S. - And no, I'm not really much of a baseball fan.
If he was really up to that task, he would have posted his reply twice.
Slashdot doesn't need editors that don't take that initiative!
.
If he was really up to that task, he would have posted his reply twice.
Slashdot doesn't need editors that don't take that initiative!
*one day passes*
Zonk - "Oh Sh*t! The slashcode server's on fire!"
Just go back to the new articles a couple days ago.
It was an orgy of double posting and lack of critical thinking.
Okay seriously... Troll?
;-)
Clearly someone didn't see Zonk's postfest on Friday night / Saturday morning.
This is a site that hires, or at least otherwise uses the services of, Zonk.
And you're surprised they don't test anything?
Being a good engineer means even if a company does outsource development, finding more work is easy, even during a down market. Good means good at selling yourself, as well as good at your job.
And yes, plumbing is a pretty good option, and it does kids a disservice to suggest otherwise. 40 hours a week, eighty grand a year, no possibility of outsourcing, and you get to work with your hands.
A lot of engineers can't do as well.
People who aren't all that good at their job, and conciously or subconciously know it are panicked about the possibility their job may be outsourced. Unfortunately these days, half the people who claim to be software engineers fall into that camp.
/.'s active posting population is skewed fairly young... college students and people just starting out who haven't established themselves in their career and are more concerned and vocal about it.
The moral is be good at your job. And if you can't be in the top half of people doing a job that is so easily mobile, you ought to pick a trade career that is less likely to be outsourced.
And like you say, its no different now than any time else in recent history (certainly going back 50 or 60 years).
I suspect that
If you've been buying consoles at their release all along, you'd know adjusted for inflation, the XBox 360 is not nearly the most expensive console at release.
Huh? They're worth money?
Whats a nice low 4-digit UID worth?