yes, it is... in fact, I see no real reason an advanced file system couldn't allow you to access, on the fly, a file in any format the system is capable of reformatting it to. Not only that, but savvy apps should be able to inquire if a file can be reformatted on the fly into a useable format if an incompatibility is encountered.
take this far enough and you see a universal file system that can proffer data in the format the app requests no matter the way it is stored.
And I yours. I always advocate people purchase the software they find useful. I also believe that those who use software professionally should always pay. However, I always recommend freeware or OSS whenever possible.
As for the comment, not to worry, if I didn't like the heat, I'd stay outa the kitchen.;~)
As a final note, I'd like to add that a mutually beneficial relationship is always the most profitable, in the long run.
(a) A supposed sense which was held to be the common bond of all the others.
However, I'd like to point out that it's a "supposed" sense and often common sense is quite wrong. As in this case.
There is no harmful correlation between casual coping and sales, and in fact, when there is a correlation, it's a positive one. It's simply a myth that people who use a crack would actually pay. The truth is most would find less expensive more accessible alternatives. In fact the whole high prices thing is simply incompetent management.
Here, try reading, "A Plea For Casual Copying" http://tinyurl.com/6t5ht
Secondly, overly high prices directly limit sales and therefore profits. Simple, basic economics.
Third, the software market is known for it's manipulative market practices and for its relentless attacks of both consumer rights and the public domain.
However, you are right, it is a choice. Many choose not to purchase the game, one way or another. To bad those executives aren't smart enough to fiqure out a way to allow everyone who wanted to play, an easily affordable way to do so.
Oh, and by the way, I have found a constructive way to fight evil corporations. I simply don't buy thier products or use thier services.
"A last trick is to become personal, insulting, rude, as soon as you perceive that your opponent has the upper hand, and that you are going to come off worst. It consists in passing from the subject of dispute, as from a lost game, to the disputant himself, and in some way attacking his person." ~ Arthur Schopenhauer http://coolhaus.de/art-of-controversy/erist38.htm
The author discusses the disruption of the development of leisure time and it's implications for modern society. It's not a pretty picture. Welcome to salary slavery.
"Common sense is judgment without reflection, shared by an entire class, an entire nation, or the entire human race." ~ Giambattista Vico http://www.bartleby.com/66/52/62852.html
You blame the "pirates" rather than dealing with it's root cause. Furthermore, you've lumped everyone from those who won't pay to play up to and including commercial mass-production blackmarketers.
If the price was actually affordable, there would be little if any copyright infringement. This would be even more true if copyright was limited to fourteen years as the founding fathers had intended.
It's clear from my perspective that it is you who requires an exlanation of both critical reasoning skills and basic economic theory.
free market !!! rotflmao... boy, are you naive, or what, eh
ever hear of all the market can bear?
i'm always amazed at how few people actually understand what free enterprise means... it certainly doesn't mean endless copyright and patent perversion
lol, whatever... you can call it justification all you want, it matters not, in fact, the truth is, given the chance, most people will usually always do the easiest thing
these companies just fail to make it affordable enough and if you weren't in denial, you'd expect the executives who are well paid decision makers, to make decisions that maximized customer satisfaction and profits
funny how you blame the consumer, who has little power, and not the executives who do
btw, no, I haven't played HL2 nor, sadly, do I want to, until the price comes down
I've been reading the comments and to me it seems the issue boils down to this:
Is it right or wrong to use software you haven't paid for?
I contend it is, given the circumstances.
If software was priced fairly, there would be little point in stealing it.
What is it with people who think they should be paid over and over for the very same effort?
Consumer software is grossly overpriced, therefore people simply make an economical evaluation of the situation and choose the most valuable course of action.
Moralists can argue over these issues but pragmatists would simply lower the price point, forget copyright, profit! and move on...
Sure dood, go ahead, justify elitism, incompetence and greed. Many of us do not use cracks, we just don't play. Period. I refuse to spend fifty bucks for a 30 cent CD and a cardboard box. If the greedy suits that run these large corporations were really competent, they would lower the price point and make their software accessible to all equally, thereby increasing sales and profits. Of course, the fact they are grossly overpaid doesn't help either.
As far as I can see, you're just an overly affluent classist, and your point is an untrue belief intended to allow you to continue to feel good about an immoral lifestyle. It's sad really.
VALVe Software spent over $40 Million to develop Half-Life 2. Show them you appreciate their work. Buy the game!
or,
VALVe Software paid themselves $40 Million to have a lot of fun while developing Half-Life 2. Show them you appreciate how much they're overpaid for their work. Go ahead, pay way too much and buy the game!
Actually no, I meant naïve, as in "marked by or showing unaffected simplicity and lack of guile or worldly experience" http://www.cogsci.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/webwn and I must say, it's amazing arrogant of you to assume you know what I meant better than I do myself.
As well, America is a democracy, although not a direct one, so therefore I feel you are factual incorrect as well. Nor do I agree that a "true democracy" equates to mob rule. I believe the correct term you were seeking would be "anarchy", which, if rational, is not a bad thing.
As to your point, hardly, given the current state of political corruption and the disenfranchisement of millions of voters and of the entire lower class. Imho, sadly, America has largely become a nation of corporate slavers and wage slaves, despite the best efforts of the founding fathers.
then you are simply naive, imho. It seems clear to me that no matter who you vote for, the powerful remain in control and the powerless carry the costs.
Good point! However, there is a subtle distinction here.
Well it is true that no one is responsible for the misdeeds of others, developers do have a responsibility in ensuring that their creations are well designed.
In this, many businesses are guilty of a lack of concern for high quality for which we all now bear the costs.
I support quite a few home systems. Currently, the majority of my time is spent cleaning spyware and virus infestations. After installing Ad-Aware, HijackThis and Spybot, my clients stop having problems. As well, a working virus scanner is important. I've encountered several systems where the virus scanner has been deactivated. Therefore, I've been putting the EICAR test virus on all my systems.
If we went back to the original seven years that copyright protection originally afforded an artist, and only an artist, then many, many more would respect copyright. Current copyright law is corrupt and unenforcable and many people have chosen to disregard it.
To single out some for the behavior of many is an injustice.
Did I say economy? No, what I said was market. As well, a free market does not imply commerce at any cost. In fact, it discourages it. I feel you've simply mistaken activity for effectiveness. Wasteful spending is simply not, nor could ever be, mistaken as a necessity for an effective market.
Oh and by the way, when you have to resort to extremes, it simply serves to weaken your argument.
Perhaps if anyone's fallen into a trap it's the person who assumes so much about others? Actually, if you read me carefully, I suggested an efficent and effective market, not an artificially active economy.
I expect the actions of scoundrels to be immoral and unethical. However, what really bothers me is the callous complacency and self-interest of the electorate.
Sir, I agree to this Constitution, with all its Faults, if they are such; because I think a General Government necessary for us, and there is no Form of Government but what may be a Blessing to the People if well administered; and I believe farther that this is likely to be well administered for a Course of Years, and can only end in Despotism as other Forms have done before it, when the People shall become so corrupted as to need Despotic Government, being incapable of any other. ~ Benjamin Franklin
Actually, it's not the cost of an item, rather it's value that sways most purchases. The point was however, that currently consumers blindly trust a corrupt and deceptive labelling system rather than being held responsible for critical reasoning during the evaluation of a financial transaction.
A true free market wouldn't be gentle or kind. However, it would be maximally efficent and effective.
Slashdot Mirror
judges sell out the law,
americans sell out the country
and people sell out each other
yes, it is ... in fact, I see no real reason an advanced file system couldn't allow you to access, on the fly, a file in any format the system is capable of reformatting it to. Not only that, but savvy apps should be able to inquire if a file can be reformatted on the fly into a useable format if an incompatibility is encountered.
take this far enough and you see a universal file system that can proffer data in the format the app requests no matter the way it is stored.
just a thought
And I yours. I always advocate people purchase the software they find useful. I also believe that those who use software professionally should always pay. However, I always recommend freeware or OSS whenever possible.
;~)
As for the comment, not to worry, if I didn't like the heat, I'd stay outa the kitchen.
As a final note, I'd like to add that a mutually beneficial relationship is always the most profitable, in the long run.
I'd agree with the definition,
0 /dvd-css/role.htm
(a) A supposed sense which was held to be the common bond of all the others.
However, I'd like to point out that it's a "supposed" sense and often common sense is quite wrong. As in this case.
There is no harmful correlation between casual coping and sales, and in fact, when there is a correlation, it's a positive one. It's simply a myth that people who use a crack would actually pay. The truth is most would find less expensive more accessible alternatives. In fact the whole high prices thing is simply incompetent management.
Here, try reading, "A Plea For Casual Copying"
http://tinyurl.com/6t5ht
Secondly, overly high prices directly limit sales and therefore profits. Simple, basic economics.
Third, the software market is known for it's manipulative market practices and for its relentless attacks of both consumer rights and the public domain.
http://cse.stanford.edu/class/cs201/projects-99-0
However, you are right, it is a choice. Many choose not to purchase the game, one way or another. To bad those executives aren't smart enough to fiqure out a way to allow everyone who wanted to play, an easily affordable way to do so.
Oh, and by the way, I have found a constructive way to fight evil corporations. I simply don't buy thier products or use thier services.
Really, your response is just so typical.
"A last trick is to become personal, insulting, rude, as soon as you perceive that your opponent has the upper hand, and that you are going to come off worst. It consists in passing from the subject of dispute, as from a lost game, to the disputant himself, and in some way attacking his person." ~ Arthur Schopenhauer
http://coolhaus.de/art-of-controversy/erist38.htm
This book goes into this in great detail:
Waiting for the Weekend
by Witold Rybczynski
http://tinyurl.com/6kt4r [amazon.com]
The author discusses the disruption of the development of leisure time and it's implications for modern society. It's not a pretty picture. Welcome to salary slavery.
Common sense ... rotflmao
"Common sense is judgment without reflection, shared by an entire class, an entire nation, or the entire human race." ~ Giambattista Vico
http://www.bartleby.com/66/52/62852.html
You blame the "pirates" rather than dealing with it's root cause. Furthermore, you've lumped everyone from those who won't pay to play up to and including commercial mass-production blackmarketers.
If the price was actually affordable, there would be little if any copyright infringement. This would be even more true if copyright was limited to fourteen years as the founding fathers had intended.
It's clear from my perspective that it is you who requires an exlanation of both critical reasoning skills and basic economic theory.
Perhaps because they profit from the same system they claim to be so objective about?
Oh and what about the economists who wouldn't agree that it's a free market?
"Economics is the only field in which two people can share a Nobel Prize for saying opposing things."
free market !!! rotflmao ... boy, are you naive, or what, eh
... it certainly doesn't mean endless copyright and patent perversion
ever hear of all the market can bear?
i'm always amazed at how few people actually understand what free enterprise means
you would, but then again, you are most likly, an overly affluent first worlder ... btw, just how much is fifty bucks in the second or third worlds?
i guess in your view poor folks don't deserve technology cause they can't afford to support millionaires, eh
lol, whatever ... you can call it justification all you want, it matters not, in fact, the truth is, given the chance, most people will usually always do the easiest thing
these companies just fail to make it affordable enough and if you weren't in denial, you'd expect the executives who are well paid decision makers, to make decisions that maximized customer satisfaction and profits
funny how you blame the consumer, who has little power, and not the executives who do
btw, no, I haven't played HL2 nor, sadly, do I want to, until the price comes down
it just isn't worth that much to me
I've been reading the comments and to me it seems the issue boils down to this:
...
Is it right or wrong to use software you haven't paid for?
I contend it is, given the circumstances.
If software was priced fairly, there would be little point in stealing it.
What is it with people who think they should be paid over and over for the very same effort?
Consumer software is grossly overpriced, therefore people simply make an economical evaluation of the situation and choose the most valuable course of action.
Moralists can argue over these issues but pragmatists would simply lower the price point, forget copyright, profit! and move on
Sure dood, go ahead, justify elitism, incompetence and greed. Many of us do not use cracks, we just don't play. Period. I refuse to spend fifty bucks for a 30 cent CD and a cardboard box. If the greedy suits that run these large corporations were really competent, they would lower the price point and make their software accessible to all equally, thereby increasing sales and profits. Of course, the fact they are grossly overpaid doesn't help either.
As far as I can see, you're just an overly affluent classist, and your point is an untrue belief intended to allow you to continue to feel good about an immoral lifestyle. It's sad really.
VALVe Software spent over $40 Million to develop Half-Life 2. Show them you appreciate their work. Buy the game!
or,
VALVe Software paid themselves $40 Million to have a lot of fun while developing Half-Life 2. Show them you appreciate how much they're overpaid for their work. Go ahead, pay way too much and buy the game!
Personally, I'm tired of supporting greedy & self serving pointy heads.
Actually no, I meant naïve, as in "marked by or showing unaffected simplicity and lack of guile or worldly experience" http://www.cogsci.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/webwn and I must say, it's amazing arrogant of you to assume you know what I meant better than I do myself.
As well, America is a democracy, although not a direct one, so therefore I feel you are factual incorrect as well. Nor do I agree that a "true democracy" equates to mob rule. I believe the correct term you were seeking would be "anarchy", which, if rational, is not a bad thing.
As to your point, hardly, given the current state of political corruption and the disenfranchisement of millions of voters and of the entire lower class. Imho, sadly, America has largely become a nation of corporate slavers and wage slaves, despite the best efforts of the founding fathers.
so, how is my other point wrong?
(As an aside, my original comment certain seems to have upset some people. Good, I hope it hurts.)
then you are simply naive, imho. It seems clear to me that no matter who you vote for, the powerful remain in control and the powerless carry the costs.
First off it's not "stealing", it's copyright infringement.
Secondly, much of what is copied would be public domain if copyright law had not changed.
Third, the public domain benefits us all, current laws hurt by diminishing our common culture.
Fourth, Mom was right, sharing is a good thing.
Fifth and finally, movies and music are way overpriced and these industries live far too well already.
Good point! However, there is a subtle distinction here.
Well it is true that no one is responsible for the misdeeds of others, developers do have a responsibility in ensuring that their creations are well designed.
In this, many businesses are guilty of a lack of concern for high quality for which we all now bear the costs.
(btw, most excellent thread)
IMHO, Spybot & Ad-Aware are both absolutely necessary as is HijackThis:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html
I support quite a few home systems. Currently, the majority of my time is spent cleaning spyware and virus infestations. After installing Ad-Aware, HijackThis and Spybot, my clients stop having problems. As well, a working virus scanner is important. I've encountered several systems where the virus scanner has been deactivated. Therefore, I've been putting the EICAR test virus on all my systems.
http://www.eicar.org/anti_virus_test_file.htm
Spyware used to be most bots from hackers, now it seems it's all marketing crap from big business. Isn't greed grand?
http://www.truthinlabeling.org/index.htmlm l b eling02.cfm g es.html
http://cspinet.org/new/200312111.html
http://www.cspinet.org/letters/labeling_coupon.ht
http://www.organicconsumers.org/Irrad/deceptivela
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/malt_bevera
etc.
Sorry, I just assumed everyone could google.
copying for personal use
copying for profit
theft
three different things in the eyes of the law
If we went back to the original seven years that copyright protection originally afforded an artist, and only an artist, then many, many more would respect copyright. Current copyright law is corrupt and unenforcable and many people have chosen to disregard it.
To single out some for the behavior of many is an injustice.
Did I say economy? No, what I said was market. As well, a free market does not imply commerce at any cost. In fact, it discourages it. I feel you've simply mistaken activity for effectiveness. Wasteful spending is simply not, nor could ever be, mistaken as a necessity for an effective market.
Oh and by the way, when you have to resort to extremes, it simply serves to weaken your argument.
Perhaps if anyone's fallen into a trap it's the person who assumes so much about others? Actually, if you read me carefully, I suggested an efficent and effective market, not an artificially active economy.
I expect the actions of scoundrels to be immoral and unethical. However, what really bothers me is the callous complacency and self-interest of the electorate.
Sir, I agree to this Constitution, with all its Faults, if they are such; because I think a General Government necessary for us, and there is no Form of Government but what may be a Blessing to the People if well administered; and I believe farther that this is likely to be well administered for a Course of Years, and can only end in Despotism as other Forms have done before it, when the People shall become so corrupted as to need Despotic Government, being incapable of any other. ~ Benjamin Franklin
Actually, it's not the cost of an item, rather it's value that sways most purchases. The point was however, that currently consumers blindly trust a corrupt and deceptive labelling system rather than being held responsible for critical reasoning during the evaluation of a financial transaction.
A true free market wouldn't be gentle or kind. However, it would be maximally efficent and effective.