Being a cheap bastard, I'm borrowing this from ABC.com's FAQ.
Benefit: Picture Resolution
Resolution is a measure of picture sharpness. Current analog television contains about 480 active scanning lines resulting in a picture resolution of about 330 lines of resolution. By comparison today's VHS VCR's have about 240 lines of resolution which is why VHS recordings don't look as sharp as the original picture. DVD's offer higher resolution typically on the order of 400-480 lines of resolution. (Note the number of scanning lines does not equal resolution. For example, both the VHS and DVD formats have 480 active scanning lines but have different resolutions.) HDTV offers resolution that is at least twice that of analog television. You can expect razor sharp images from HDTV.
I have heard that there are two HDTV formats -- 720p and 1080i. Is there a difference between these formats and can my television receive both these formats?
Regardless of the HDTV format being broadcast, all new HDTV receivers can receive both formats. New HDTV televisions will convert any received signal to a format that is compatible with your new display. The 720p format uses progressive scanning, which is just like your computer monitor. Progressive scan offers crystal clear images that virtually eliminates those scanning lines that are visible on most large screen televisions. ABC broadcasts all of its programming using the 720p format except in Dallas, where the ABC station broadcasts in 1080i. Many new flat panel displays use progressive scan.
The 1080i format uses interlace scanning just like today's analog televisions. Scanning lines are less visible on big screens due to the number of lines. Most currently available projection HDTV's use 1080i.
Even though he mentions selling systems "several generations old", that doesn't mean they'll use the same form factor, IE, possibly shrinking them. There is no reason they couldn't make an NES with the width and depth of a GC at the original NES's height. Why would they? I don't know. I'm ranting.
What would be nice is reproducing older games. I don't own an old Nintendo Console (just an Genesis and Game Gear), but finding games is starting to be difficult, especially since most are preowned. Why couldn't the big N rerelease the NES? (The SNES wouldn't be a good idea since the GBA is getting a TON of ports).
Ok, I'll be quiet and just wait for the Game Boy Advance SP now.
Back when MAVAV was not known to be a hoax (I REALLY need to remember to look into those things!), I wrote them an email. I'm rather lazy, so I'll just post it here.
After hearing about MAVAV, I felt I needed to find out just how serious your association IS about this.
There are violent video games. I agree with this completely, and I play some. Some, however, are a bit over the top for me even.
For example, I play a game which you probably abhor, Grand Theft Auto 3. It is violent, yet it has redeeming qualities. For one thing, it is one of the most open-ended games out there. To advance the storyline you end up do some violent things, but you can just take a car and jump over bridges, see how many times you can make it roll, and many other things. Even if you ignore the guns, the storyline, and some other game mechanics, it still is not a peaceful game.
I play it. My brothers, who are nine, eight, and five, respectively? IF they come into the room, I turn it off.
They have a PSOne and Game Boy Advance. They play it quite a bit. Why? Well, for one thing, our neighborhood isn't perfect - quite the opposite. There are some parents who let their young children swear and fight among other things. Instead of letting my brothers out to pick these habits up, my parents and I decided on video games.
They play RPGs like Final Fantasy, which encourage strategic thinking. They play educational games which help teach phonics. They play fighting games which simply improve hand-eye coordination. They play the dreaded Pokemon and Digimon, they have a couple of Megaman games, as well as a few other titles.
They spend a couple hours a day doing this. It's better than watching television, both mentally and, albeit to a lesser extent, physically. To that end, I'm getting ready to show them Dance Dance Revolution, a game where you dance on a enlarged game pad. No violence whatsoever, I might add.
I'm not saying that the decision I helped my parents with was the best one - I can think offhand of at least one game that we shouldn't have gotten, but we steered their interest away from it.
After looking through only the titles in your articles section, it appears to be safe to say that you appear to be zealots. Half appear to be straight out of a tabloid (Secret Industry Report Reveals!). The remainder are either too bland for them or so off the wall even the paparazzi would cringe.
Mortal Combat, for example, is a violent game. This has been established years ago when it was first released. I can't wait to read the rest.
Yet the GTA3's and Mortal Kombat's of the world all have one thing in common these days - they have ratings. I work at a large retailer, and many games, when bought, ask for age verification. These are violent games, but they aren't targeted at young children and pre-teens. They are targeted at adults (the official rating system considers 17 to be adult, which I find a bit silly, but I digress).
I also find that you have a story of a college dropout hilarious. There will always be college dropouts. If games aren't a distraction something else will be, be it being in a band or dating. Also, consider the rare few that simply cannot handle the increased amount of work.
As for America's Army, the military has been working on these for years. Did you know that there was a modified version of Doom for military training?
I rarely am able to attend LAN parties, but they're enjoyable. It's not a hedonistic meeting of virtual murderers. We trade music. We play games. We offer each other advice to improve our computers, be it simple things we can DO or recommended things to buy.
Your resources section is laughable; not only does it not offer any resources, which I define as advice or links to studies, etcetera, but it contains some points which you do not back up with facts of any kind.
The poor school grades point - I've played games since I was 6, and yet I was in the gifted classes until high school, at which point such classes consisted merely of field trips that I for one had gone on before.
Your arguments about MMORPGs have some validity - they can be addictive. In my experience, that doesn't last long. I once won an MMORPG, Neocron. At first it was fun, but it quickly became boring. Furthermore, most of the people online were friendly enough - no one spiteful. In fact, in one region with limited resources, perfect strangers worked together to find fair ways of sharing these resources.
As for videogames being a profitable industry, have you looked at television and movies lately?
Speaking of which, GTA3 is aimed at an audience similar to The Sopranos. Would you let your child watch that?
In the end, it is up to the parent to set reasonable limits. Limiting the amount of time on the game is important. However, as a parent, you have the responsibility of screening games in a manner similar to what you allow your child to watch on television and in movies. Would you let your child watch a James Bond movie? No? Then don't let them play the game.
One last thing I'd like to make you aware of. Before you label me as a feral young child or a pre-teen, let me point out that as of January 11, 2003, I will be nineteen. So while I'm not exactly a respected member of society, I'm not prone to bouts of mouthiness that are so common of pre-teens.
I doubt that if in fact MAVAV is serious I can change even one person's mind. However, if I can make one person think about a single point that they hadn't considered, then the time I've spent writing this email was time well spent.
I can confirm this. In my area, a local electronics retailer ditched their copies (Metal Linux case including SUSE 6.2 install CD) to a nearby dollar store about 4 months ago. I picked up 8, selling 2 and keeping the rest for LAN parties.;)
While building an identical network is a nice idea, it's silly. Instead, start using WiFi. Also, comparmentalize this network, IE, separate nodes so that if inventory ordering has a problem then personnel and radiology don't go down.
If a bad app comes up or a virus infestation occurs, have a duplicate server ready with the latest safe backup data. Also, have all clients off until a technician can make sure that each individual client is safe to bring back on. Start with mission critical systems, like radiology, patient records, etc.
The benefit of this approach is that first, you can set it up so that a client only connects when said connection is needed, not persistant.
Second, it's pretty easy to kill wireless access even against backdoors. There are no passwords, no need to unplug each server - all you do is cut power to each access point. Since it's compartmentalized, you may not even have to kill every system.
Third, you have an excuse to transition to WiFi, which, if you manually add another software layer of security, is a Killer App for hospitals, provided it doesn't have cell phone-like interference.
Furthermore, you can keep the ethernet up as a backup solution. Set up a seperate honeypot on each to help keep records secure. The WiFi honeypot will prevent wardrivers, and the wire one will prevent malicious people from using the wired solutions in hidden locations - which will be plugged into the wall but disabled at the regular server level and in each client.
Obviously, this isn't practical for my local Northwest Medical Center which has 200 beds at the most, but for a large urban hospital this type of flexibility, simplicity and redundancy shouldn't be considered handy, it should be considered the rule, if not even the rule of law.
My first handheld was a Palm III I got secondhand from a friend who got a Visor. It had a digitizer problem, but beyond that it was fine.
It soon died, however, and could not be resuscitated. So, as my graduation present, I got the Palm m105.
What can I do that I use regularly with even the wimpy m105? Let's see:
- Check email and compose them for sending at next sync
- Read Slashdot, The Onion, and a few other sites via AvantGo
- Use Note Pad. OFTEN.
- Games aren't a feature to be overlooked. Once in a while you just need to kill a bit of time.
- Store technical documents, like cable pinouts, language references, etc. in PalmDOC, iSilo, etc.
- Read ebooks. 1984.
- Use the darn thing as a watch.
At least for me, phone numbers are useless - I have a cellphone, and of course it holds them too, so I'm better off putting them in there.
Is it perfect? No. Is it worth the now $100 or less for an m105? Easily. You just need to experiment a bit.
Remember that a Palm is a computer. When you buy a new computer it can take awhile to become useful. You'll download lots, delete half of it, and probably crash it once or twice. Make it a part of your routine to sync.
Honestly, banning modded users is not a bad idea. What if Joe Blow (or John Doe or God or some other fictional person) mods their box and then makes a slightly modified game DVD-ROM that, say, gives him the ability to whomp on anyone.
Also, this helps prevent truly malicious code. Guess what? With online play comes a whole new slew of problems, and this solves half of them.
Actually, there's also the large foot on the side signifying funny stuff (Monty Python-esque?)
This article was posted TO start a flame war. Now, of course, it's all in good fun, since real geeks know that at least those moronic vi users are better then MS's bottom-feeding paperclip lovers and csh-it-heads know when too much is enough, as in the case of MS's Denial Of Service..
Was the article directly appropriate for mainstream Slashdot? No. Was it appropriate to post considering the category as well? Yes. It's not their fault if some pitiable fools forget how to use their %($#@! eyes before opening their mouths.
This sounds like a great idea, and I know many people (my grandfather included) who would prefer this to the finger pricking fun on a regular basis. However, it does raise a couple of questions.
1) How long would it last? Since it ISN'T absorbed into the cells, how long could the fluorescent dye, if you will, stay in the "interstitial fluid"? Would you need a new tattoo every month? year?
2) How much will it cost? The method doesn't really sound that expensive, except for the watch-like device. But will HMOs pay for it? Medicare?
3) How reliable is it? There are some diabetics who are very sensitive to sugar differences. Howa accurate can this be? Does it compare favorably with strips?
Microsoft's anti-trust case is for many reasons, and while this is one of them, the exact point is the ability to undo it.
If Netscape or Opera were to offer comingling that could be switched on and off, they would not be under scruteny(sp?).
Also, like I said, there are many other reasons, such as forcing OEMs like Dell and Gateway to install IE and NOT install Netscape.
Personally, I like the feature, but wish I could just use the Gecko renderer.
Re:What platform would they miss?
on
.NET for Apache
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· Score: 1
Honestly, I don't have to much trouble with.NET. From what I've seen, it seems to merge many of MS's technologies, and since the.NET framework and SDKs are free downloads, that's fine.
Actually, I'm pretty impressed with ASP.NET Web Matrix. It's free, WYSIWYG and code-friendly, and small (1.2MB).
I don't want to see folders in Mozilla, I want to see Gecko-rendered HTML in Windows Explorer.
This is an ease-of-use issue. With IE, it's transparent. Can you switch EVERY explorer window, as in My Computer, etc., to do this? I'm on a 566Mhz Celery-on, and speed is an issue, since I'm running Win2K with only 128MB RAM. One way I work around this is by, when I want to open a few sites at once, opening a few folders from the desktop. IE proper isn't loading a seperate URL, so it's fast, and by the time dial-up is complete I've got all my URLs ready. Silly and contrived, but it works.
Personally, I"m wondering if they may ever get it down from the current ~10MB size. It's a bit annoying, because even though IE is no lightweight, not everyone would jump from Outlook Express to Mozilla Mail, and I just want to use a lightweight Gecko implementation.
K-Meleon is rather old (the newest build is almost a year old!) and a bit buggy.
Personally, what I would like to see is a way to make Mozilla/Gecko interchangable with IE in Explorer windows (IE, I'm in folder X, I'll just type a URL in the toolbar and go...).
Re:What plat form would they miss?
on
.NET for Apache
·
· Score: 1
Ah, my bad.... That also changes the outlook for the Linux port a bit, since it may be a bit closer to a GPL problem.
Thanks.
What plat form would they miss?
on
.NET for Apache
·
· Score: 1
The general concensus, along with your statement, is that IIS is expendable to achieve.NET saturation. The question is, is.NET Server equally sacrificial?
MacOS is one OS I doubt a bit, but considering Microsoft's Mac-friendly stance, I'm not completely discounting it.
Solaris and other UNIXes are also a good choice, since they have little market share and thus have little impact.
Now, it's down to Windows and Linux.
The Windows port would be a direct sacrifice of IIS. Why bother supporting it under Windows when Windows already has IIS, which has close OS ties? Sure, this port would be quickest and easiest, but still, the sacrifice is more than IIS, which is already free; it's also credibility.
Linux isn't as much of a stretch as one might think. It's Apache's primary platform, and even though MS has never really acknowledged it by WORKING with it, this is a decent way to slide in.
What is stopping a.NET2 killer? Not much, however, Microsoft will have to be careful about the structural arrangement into Apache, or GPL claims could reach into.NET and hamper a.NET2 shutout.
One thing is certain: This is going to be a very interesting announcement. Now, if only I could actually watch/. for it, but no, gotta go to Pittsburgh. Pah!
Aren't VCRs about half as a much as DVD players, aren't VHS a TINY bit more copy-proof (GASP, I need to have AND hook up 2 VCRs), and aren't VCRs just a bit more widely available?
I don't think my old high school, OCHS, had any DVD players (even DVD-ROMs), but they had at least 4 VCRs.
Also, business wise, VCRs are better bacause of cost efficiency: I can buy two for the price of one DVD player, and when one breaks, we're still slightly better off than having one DVD player.
Oh, and wouldn't tapes be a bit more durable than VCDs? SCRATCH.... VCD: Well, this one's shot. Tape: Well, get a sticker, we need to re-label this...
Anime is part of geekdom in general. Another reply pointed out that also part of this heritage is DnD-style medieval fantasy stuff and the like.
These things are part of geekdom. You're a geek for collecting hundreds of Magic:TG cards, or for camping out in wait of Star Wars, or going to a Comic-Book con, or watching anime.
We all have different interests, but one of the most popular right now is anime, which happens to be popular with my age group (15-20). My father also reads Slashdot. Does he give a hoot about anime? Of course not. He rarely even cares about "His Rights Online."
That's why the categories exist. For exmaple, I loathe Katz. I could complain about him until I'm blue in the face, or I could block him. Mind you, I don't, because once in a blue moon he'll have a good point and exposition often ends up funny as heck, but if I wanted to badly enough, I could.
Heck, up to about a year ago, I hated DnD and the like. Now my tastes have changed. Slashdot doesn't carry much on the subject, but maybe it did help show me a bit.
Slashdot Mirror
I think these will do fine. When was that stated? Probably in the hayday of the GeForce2/3...
Being a cheap bastard, I'm borrowing this from ABC.com's FAQ.
Benefit: Picture Resolution
Resolution is a measure of picture sharpness. Current analog television contains about 480 active scanning lines resulting in a picture resolution of about 330 lines of resolution. By comparison today's VHS VCR's have about 240 lines of resolution which is why VHS recordings don't look as sharp as the original picture. DVD's offer higher resolution typically on the order of 400-480 lines of resolution. (Note the number of scanning lines does not equal resolution. For example, both the VHS and DVD formats have 480 active scanning lines but have different resolutions.) HDTV offers resolution that is at least twice that of analog television. You can expect razor sharp images from HDTV.
I have heard that there are two HDTV formats -- 720p and 1080i. Is there a difference between these formats and can my television receive both these formats?
Regardless of the HDTV format being broadcast, all new HDTV receivers can receive both formats. New HDTV televisions will convert any received signal to a format that is compatible with your new display. The 720p format uses progressive scanning, which is just like your computer monitor. Progressive scan offers crystal clear images that virtually eliminates those scanning lines that are visible on most large screen televisions. ABC broadcasts all of its programming using the 720p format except in Dallas, where the ABC station broadcasts in 1080i. Many new flat panel displays use progressive scan. The 1080i format uses interlace scanning just like today's analog televisions. Scanning lines are less visible on big screens due to the number of lines. Most currently available projection HDTV's use 1080i.
This really doesn't help me. I have no AGP slots on my cheap motherboard...
The big question is, are there going to be any PCI releases faster than the GeForce 2 MX400?
I'd love to get a new system, but I'm tight right now...
Even though he mentions selling systems "several generations old", that doesn't mean they'll use the same form factor, IE, possibly shrinking them. There is no reason they couldn't make an NES with the width and depth of a GC at the original NES's height. Why would they? I don't know. I'm ranting.
What would be nice is reproducing older games. I don't own an old Nintendo Console (just an Genesis and Game Gear), but finding games is starting to be difficult, especially since most are preowned. Why couldn't the big N rerelease the NES? (The SNES wouldn't be a good idea since the GBA is getting a TON of ports).
Ok, I'll be quiet and just wait for the Game Boy Advance SP now.
Ok, so only about half of the message is on-topic here.... BAKA!
I actually have it. I once beat it, almost enjoying it.
I can confirm this. In my area, a local electronics retailer ditched their copies (Metal Linux case including SUSE 6.2 install CD) to a nearby dollar store about 4 months ago. I picked up 8, selling 2 and keeping the rest for LAN parties. ;)
Um, I beat it when I was 11. That was only 9 years ago.
I also enjoyed getting to level 70+ on defender.
...that 90% of the complainers are mules of a few regularly used accounts. ;)
While building an identical network is a nice idea, it's silly. Instead, start using WiFi. Also, comparmentalize this network, IE, separate nodes so that if inventory ordering has a problem then personnel and radiology don't go down.
If a bad app comes up or a virus infestation occurs, have a duplicate server ready with the latest safe backup data. Also, have all clients off until a technician can make sure that each individual client is safe to bring back on. Start with mission critical systems, like radiology, patient records, etc.
The benefit of this approach is that first, you can set it up so that a client only connects when said connection is needed, not persistant.
Second, it's pretty easy to kill wireless access even against backdoors. There are no passwords, no need to unplug each server - all you do is cut power to each access point. Since it's compartmentalized, you may not even have to kill every system.
Third, you have an excuse to transition to WiFi, which, if you manually add another software layer of security, is a Killer App for hospitals, provided it doesn't have cell phone-like interference.
Furthermore, you can keep the ethernet up as a backup solution. Set up a seperate honeypot on each to help keep records secure. The WiFi honeypot will prevent wardrivers, and the wire one will prevent malicious people from using the wired solutions in hidden locations - which will be plugged into the wall but disabled at the regular server level and in each client.
Obviously, this isn't practical for my local Northwest Medical Center which has 200 beds at the most, but for a large urban hospital this type of flexibility, simplicity and redundancy shouldn't be considered handy, it should be considered the rule, if not even the rule of law.
My first handheld was a Palm III I got secondhand from a friend who got a Visor. It had a digitizer problem, but beyond that it was fine.
;)
It soon died, however, and could not be resuscitated. So, as my graduation present, I got the Palm m105.
What can I do that I use regularly with even the wimpy m105? Let's see:
- Check email and compose them for sending at next sync
- Read Slashdot, The Onion, and a few other sites via AvantGo
- Use Note Pad. OFTEN.
- Games aren't a feature to be overlooked. Once in a while you just need to kill a bit of time.
- Store technical documents, like cable pinouts, language references, etc. in PalmDOC, iSilo, etc.
- Read ebooks. 1984.
- Use the darn thing as a watch.
At least for me, phone numbers are useless - I have a cellphone, and of course it holds them too, so I'm better off putting them in there.
Is it perfect? No. Is it worth the now $100 or less for an m105? Easily. You just need to experiment a bit.
Remember that a Palm is a computer. When you buy a new computer it can take awhile to become useful. You'll download lots, delete half of it, and probably crash it once or twice. Make it a part of your routine to sync.
Ok. I'm done. Tear me to shreds.
Honestly, banning modded users is not a bad idea. What if Joe Blow (or John Doe or God or some other fictional person) mods their box and then makes a slightly modified game DVD-ROM that, say, gives him the ability to whomp on anyone. Also, this helps prevent truly malicious code. Guess what? With online play comes a whole new slew of problems, and this solves half of them.
Actually, there's also the large foot on the side signifying funny stuff (Monty Python-esque?)
This article was posted TO start a flame war. Now, of course, it's all in good fun, since real geeks know that at least those moronic vi users are better then MS's bottom-feeding paperclip lovers and csh-it-heads know when too much is enough, as in the case of MS's Denial Of Service..
Was the article directly appropriate for mainstream Slashdot? No. Was it appropriate to post considering the category as well? Yes. It's not their fault if some pitiable fools forget how to use their %($#@! eyes before opening their mouths.
This sounds like a great idea, and I know many people (my grandfather included) who would prefer this to the finger pricking fun on a regular basis. However, it does raise a couple of questions.
1) How long would it last? Since it ISN'T absorbed into the cells, how long could the fluorescent dye, if you will, stay in the "interstitial fluid"? Would you need a new tattoo every month? year?
2) How much will it cost? The method doesn't really sound that expensive, except for the watch-like device. But will HMOs pay for it? Medicare?
3) How reliable is it? There are some diabetics who are very sensitive to sugar differences. Howa accurate can this be? Does it compare favorably with strips?
Microsoft's anti-trust case is for many reasons, and while this is one of them, the exact point is the ability to undo it.
If Netscape or Opera were to offer comingling that could be switched on and off, they would not be under scruteny(sp?).
Also, like I said, there are many other reasons, such as forcing OEMs like Dell and Gateway to install IE and NOT install Netscape.
Personally, I like the feature, but wish I could just use the Gecko renderer.
Honestly, I don't have to much trouble with .NET. From what I've seen, it seems to merge many of MS's technologies, and since the .NET framework and SDKs are free downloads, that's fine.
Actually, I'm pretty impressed with ASP.NET Web Matrix. It's free, WYSIWYG and code-friendly, and small (1.2MB).
I don't want to see folders in Mozilla, I want to see Gecko-rendered HTML in Windows Explorer.
This is an ease-of-use issue. With IE, it's transparent. Can you switch EVERY explorer window, as in My Computer, etc., to do this? I'm on a 566Mhz Celery-on, and speed is an issue, since I'm running Win2K with only 128MB RAM. One way I work around this is by, when I want to open a few sites at once, opening a few folders from the desktop. IE proper isn't loading a seperate URL, so it's fast, and by the time dial-up is complete I've got all my URLs ready. Silly and contrived, but it works.
So that was you? You covered the cucumbers in carrot puree!!!
Personally, I"m wondering if they may ever get it down from the current ~10MB size. It's a bit annoying, because even though IE is no lightweight, not everyone would jump from Outlook Express to Mozilla Mail, and I just want to use a lightweight Gecko implementation.
K-Meleon is rather old (the newest build is almost a year old!) and a bit buggy.
Personally, what I would like to see is a way to make Mozilla/Gecko interchangable with IE in Explorer windows (IE, I'm in folder X, I'll just type a URL in the toolbar and go...).
Ah, my bad.... That also changes the outlook for the Linux port a bit, since it may be a bit closer to a GPL problem.
Thanks.
The general concensus, along with your statement, is that IIS is expendable to achieve .NET saturation. The question is, is .NET Server equally sacrificial?
.NET2 killer? Not much, however, Microsoft will have to be careful about the structural arrangement into Apache, or GPL claims could reach into .NET and hamper a .NET2 shutout.
/. for it, but no, gotta go to Pittsburgh. Pah!
MacOS is one OS I doubt a bit, but considering Microsoft's Mac-friendly stance, I'm not completely discounting it.
Solaris and other UNIXes are also a good choice, since they have little market share and thus have little impact.
Now, it's down to Windows and Linux.
The Windows port would be a direct sacrifice of IIS. Why bother supporting it under Windows when Windows already has IIS, which has close OS ties? Sure, this port would be quickest and easiest, but still, the sacrifice is more than IIS, which is already free; it's also credibility.
Linux isn't as much of a stretch as one might think. It's Apache's primary platform, and even though MS has never really acknowledged it by WORKING with it, this is a decent way to slide in.
What is stopping a
One thing is certain: This is going to be a very interesting announcement. Now, if only I could actually watch
They make them here two. I guess it's just as easy to spin a blender blade as it is a drill bit...
Aren't VCRs about half as a much as DVD players, aren't VHS a TINY bit more copy-proof (GASP, I need to have AND hook up 2 VCRs), and aren't VCRs just a bit more widely available?
I don't think my old high school, OCHS, had any DVD players (even DVD-ROMs), but they had at least 4 VCRs.
Also, business wise, VCRs are better bacause of cost efficiency: I can buy two for the price of one DVD player, and when one breaks, we're still slightly better off than having one DVD player.
Oh, and wouldn't tapes be a bit more durable than VCDs? SCRATCH....
VCD: Well, this one's shot.
Tape: Well, get a sticker, we need to re-label this...
Anime is part of geekdom in general. Another reply pointed out that also part of this heritage is DnD-style medieval fantasy stuff and the like.
These things are part of geekdom. You're a geek for collecting hundreds of Magic:TG cards, or for camping out in wait of Star Wars, or going to a Comic-Book con, or watching anime.
We all have different interests, but one of the most popular right now is anime, which happens to be popular with my age group (15-20). My father also reads Slashdot. Does he give a hoot about anime? Of course not. He rarely even cares about "His Rights Online."
That's why the categories exist. For exmaple, I loathe Katz. I could complain about him until I'm blue in the face, or I could block him. Mind you, I don't, because once in a blue moon he'll have a good point and exposition often ends up funny as heck, but if I wanted to badly enough, I could.
Heck, up to about a year ago, I hated DnD and the like. Now my tastes have changed. Slashdot doesn't carry much on the subject, but maybe it did help show me a bit.