We have been tracking Wiis online for the last year (http://www.wiisearcher.com/) and have never seen long-term availability, either in the UK (where we are) or US. I know that during the summer they were in retail quite often but selling out very quickly (hand written signs - "wii in stock today" etc.)
The latest gimmick here in the UK is to sell other stuff with a FREE Wii. Going big at the moment is cellphones. Bascially choose a handset and a contract (starting at £35 / $70 per month) and get a free Wii when approved for the phone.
It's an expensive way to get a Wii, sure, but some people REALLY want a Wii, and if they have to commit to a new phone in the mean-time they will do so. We're not seeing big take up on this, but the phone suppliers claim to have 3,000+ Wiis in stock ready to go. That obviously means 3k less in the normal channels...
We haven't yet seen free Wii with a car, horse, house or tractor to incentivize the sale, but then it's not December yet... The panic has yet to really set in.
How many people here have had similar discussions with friends, neighbours (English), FOAFs etc:
"My little Jimmy wants to work in computers when he's older. He loves his. Always on it"
A little digging turns out that his "computer" is actually a PlayStation or Xbox or some other games console. How someone who spends all day, everyday on a games console thinks that is working in computers simply defies logic. I don't know what they think happens in the real world.
Sure, technically LCD wins hands down, but as others have pointed out, LCD can at times be TOO good. Yes, plasma and LCD display HD fantastically, but plasma generally displays SD much better than LCD, which is simply too perfect, and ends up displaying all the encoding artifacts that CRT and plasma blur slightly.
IMHO, Anyone buying a plasma for the next 2 or 3 years is probably on the good side. Once more material and sources for HD are available, then LCD will start to be the best choice.
I find it damn amusing that there is almost as much mirth about the name Goonhilly and Lizard Point as there is disinterest in the rest of the story. And the funny thing is that this is from people who live in the same country (possible the same state) as places such as: Coxsackie, Frog Suck, Monkey's Eyebrow, Sugar Tit, Shafter and the simply great Wanker's Corner.
well we all know that iPod nanos stopped working when the screens got scratched, so maybe Macs stop working when the white rubs off. Coming soon: Macs that change from black to grey.
As someone else has said, the best way is to start your own company and find your own clients. I know that can't be done in some cases, but if it's an option, then it should be taken with both hands.
I've worked from home for the last 3 years or so, initially in London (New Malden) and now in Telford. It seemed mad to be living in an expensive London suburb when I didn't need to commute at all. And now we are out of the cramped London conditions, next to the countryside, with NO TRAFFIC JAMS!!!
Again, being in IT, it's fairly easy to get everything you need installed at home. A clutch of PCs and servers, software, some kind of Internet connectivity, and a telephone.
With a permanent Internet connection, IM helps you stay in touch, and to be honest I probably make more of an effort to chat when i see friends & family all over the world appear on my IM list. It'll be better if ADSL is actually going to make it to my local exchange...
Telford is about 2.5 - 3 hrs from London, so not exactly a huge distance away, and my trips there (and to Reading) can take place up to 3 times a week without any problems - any more than that and it would be a bit tiring...
But as someone else has said - if you have kids, it's great. My first child I was working a 1-1.5hr drive away. She was just getting up when I left, and just going to bed when I got back. She seemed to grow up really quickly. My second child, I was working only a 15 minute scooter ride away; I saw much more of her and could take part in more of the school related things. With child number 3, he has just hit 2 years old, and he has a strop when I have to go out for the day! He is so used to me being there, that when I'm not, his whole world gets shattered.
The ability to pop out if needed, take a day off at short notice, and basically decide your own game plan is fantastic.
Slashdot Mirror
10 million are registered. They are used all over the place. Are you sure you've never seen them?
We have been tracking Wiis online for the last year (http://www.wiisearcher.com/) and have never seen long-term availability, either in the UK (where we are) or US. I know that during the summer they were in retail quite often but selling out very quickly (hand written signs - "wii in stock today" etc.)
The latest gimmick here in the UK is to sell other stuff with a FREE Wii. Going big at the moment is cellphones. Bascially choose a handset and a contract (starting at £35 / $70 per month) and get a free Wii when approved for the phone.
It's an expensive way to get a Wii, sure, but some people REALLY want a Wii, and if they have to commit to a new phone in the mean-time they will do so. We're not seeing big take up on this, but the phone suppliers claim to have 3,000+ Wiis in stock ready to go. That obviously means 3k less in the normal channels...
We haven't yet seen free Wii with a car, horse, house or tractor to incentivize the sale, but then it's not December yet... The panic has yet to really set in.
How many people here have had similar discussions with friends, neighbours (English), FOAFs etc:
"My little Jimmy wants to work in computers when he's older. He loves his. Always on it"
A little digging turns out that his "computer" is actually a PlayStation or Xbox or some other games console. How someone who spends all day, everyday on a games console thinks that is working in computers simply defies logic. I don't know what they think happens in the real world.
Sure, technically LCD wins hands down, but as others have pointed out, LCD can at times be TOO good. Yes, plasma and LCD display HD fantastically, but plasma generally displays SD much better than LCD, which is simply too perfect, and ends up displaying all the encoding artifacts that CRT and plasma blur slightly.
IMHO, Anyone buying a plasma for the next 2 or 3 years is probably on the good side. Once more material and sources for HD are available, then LCD will start to be the best choice.
I find it damn amusing that there is almost as much mirth about the name Goonhilly and Lizard Point as there is disinterest in the rest of the story. And the funny thing is that this is from people who live in the same country (possible the same state) as places such as: Coxsackie, Frog Suck, Monkey's Eyebrow, Sugar Tit, Shafter and the simply great Wanker's Corner.
m es.htm
http://www.philbrodieband.com/jokes-jokes_town_na
well we all know that iPod nanos stopped working when the screens got scratched, so maybe Macs stop working when the white rubs off. Coming soon: Macs that change from black to grey.
Those of us in Europe have the exciting opportunity to pay EUR 89 ($115) for this.
Sky now reporting 45. And increasing.
As someone else has said, the best way is to start your own company and find your own clients. I know that can't be done in some cases, but if it's an option, then it should be taken with both hands.
I've worked from home for the last 3 years or so, initially in London (New Malden) and now in Telford. It seemed mad to be living in an expensive London suburb when I didn't need to commute at all. And now we are out of the cramped London conditions, next to the countryside, with NO TRAFFIC JAMS!!!
Again, being in IT, it's fairly easy to get everything you need installed at home. A clutch of PCs and servers, software, some kind of Internet connectivity, and a telephone.
With a permanent Internet connection, IM helps you stay in touch, and to be honest I probably make more of an effort to chat when i see friends & family all over the world appear on my IM list. It'll be better if ADSL is actually going to make it to my local exchange...
Telford is about 2.5 - 3 hrs from London, so not exactly a huge distance away, and my trips there (and to Reading) can take place up to 3 times a week without any problems - any more than that and it would be a bit tiring...
But as someone else has said - if you have kids, it's great. My first child I was working a 1-1.5hr drive away. She was just getting up when I left, and just going to bed when I got back. She seemed to grow up really quickly. My second child, I was working only a 15 minute scooter ride away; I saw much more of her and could take part in more of the school related things. With child number 3, he has just hit 2 years old, and he has a strop when I have to go out for the day! He is so used to me being there, that when I'm not, his whole world gets shattered.
The ability to pop out if needed, take a day off at short notice, and basically decide your own game plan is fantastic.
And long may it continue, I hope...