In many ways it is about gaming - I have macs in the house, and have been confined to mostly console gaming because of it. It was a sacrifice I made when I bought the computers, but it would be nice to have the option.
In many ways it is also about the multitude of small software pieces that companies of different sizes employ. Many of them only run on Windows, and aren't well suited to a translator environment, which is a barrier if they've considered getting apple machines. For a small buisiness owner, it may be attractive to get apple hardware, and still be able to keep their specialized applications around for when they need them.
The largest part of the slump in anime sales can be attributed to one very legal use: Netflix rentals. My own anime consumption (ie: buying) has dropped precipitously, while I'm watching more shows than ever. $19 a month for 7 discs of anime is a far better deal than $25/3 episodes. Though Netflix does buy a large number of discs, it is still fewer than the same group of fans who all rent them.
However, this is all a bit off-topic; the machine itself sounds like it is well-suited to a unique set of needs, using open-source technology. I just want to see screen shots of the unit in action.
I don't get this phenomenon of wanting to watch movies on your cell phone or iPod or even sitting at your desk in from of your computer.
There is a (rather small) minority who have a media machines hooked up to their televisions.
I have a Mac Mini that we use to watch backed-up DVD's, fansubbed anime, and now - music videos and TV shows from the iTunes store. It is definitely a lower quality than I would see if I had the DVD version, but it is close enough to what would air over cable that it works pretty well.
a quasi-substitute for a window manager, that would at least let you fiddle with the color/texture scheme of aqua is Shapeshifter. it's a nice little app, and many of the themes at least play with the shapes and textures underlying the interface. not a total solution, but it adds at least some more flavor to the view.
For those following the "your study is better than my study" debate, the Seattle PI ran this article in early July giving a general run-down of several of the well known, and often quoted, studies on both sides of the fence.
The most telling part of the article is the tagline at the end - "Media violence is only one of many factors that contribute to societal violence," Anderson has written, "and is certainly not the most important one."
One of the things that disturbs me about the originally released material, as well as this rabid little tid-bit, is the reliance that the author has on a classic logical fallacy. His assumptions follow this pattern.
1. many programmers cheat
2. Linus must have cheated
I may be just an English graduate, but there's a basic problem with this pattern. In an essay of even dubious academic merit, an author would be required to fill in several steps before claiming either of these conclusions. Rather, the author of this article relies on the assumption [again] that if everyone says:
1. average programmers can only write so fast
2. Linus must write at the same [or slower] speed without help
If you want to make a scholarly paper, book, pamphlet or press release about a certain subject, it is probably better to not rely on "he-said she-said" arguements - or accuse the very movement spawned by the subject to be like a disease. Some may argue that you show a lack of perspective.
Re:Thinking of Switching to a OSX for a laptop
on
Fix a Troubled Mac
·
· Score: 1
But hey, at least Apple still makes the most *expensive* personal computer on the market, right?
er, actually, my 12" PowerBook was $500 cheaper than the equivalent laptop of any other make at the time it was released. that wasn't the case about 6 months later, but was when I purchased it.
I don't believe that any company, including Apple, is perfect in their hardware implementation. zealots on both sides of the Apple/M$ flamewars argue that each company is eeevil [as in fru-its of the de-vil], and I believe that they have a good point.
I also know, that though imperfect, I still haven't had any non-self-inflicted trouble with my machine.
Re:Thinking of Switching to a OSX for a laptop
on
Fix a Troubled Mac
·
· Score: 5, Interesting
I have to admit, as corny as it sounds, the Apple laptops do work right out of the box. No manufactured laptop will be absolutely perfect, but the system and hardware are generally worry-free.
I've crashed my 12" PowerBook twice - the first time was an accident, the 2nd was a repeat of the behavior to make sure that it really was something I just shouldn't do [trying to open a finder window for a DVD while the system is pre-writing the file structure before burning said DVD]. This has actually made me incredibly impatient with the machines that I support for family, friends and work -- but it is an impatience I am happy to live with.
The only problem is that some of the ignorant masses don't actually download the programs causing the banner ads -- they get webjacked into doing so.
Though the "software license agreements" that most adware pushers have people page through seemingly give them the right do produce the pop up ads, this particular lawsuit addresses the end result -- the software equivalent of hiring someone to wear a billboard for your store to stand in the doorway of your nearest competition. Your hireling wouldn't necessarily prevent them from going in, but it annoys the heck out of the consumer, and infringes on the space of your competition.
--
sig: I'm not here right now, or busy. Please leave new sig after the tone.
I think it's even more disturbing that the author doesn't seem to have a problem with the use of only one source to back up what is a pretty wide-ranging assertion --> security company A says that apple has big flaws, so apple must have BIG FLAWS! OMG! The sky is falling!! -- instead of relying on a collection of different security company opinions to base her assertions.
Stepping back from the apple/*nix/Windows flame wars, the article itself seems subject to the very thing it attempts to criticize - a lack of any sort of depth of information.
--
If we do not do what we must do, what we must do does not get done.
.. what would be another improvement, along the "nested lists" format = playlist folders.
In iTunes itself, I could care less how many playlists clutter my space, but when I'm quickly trying to track down a playlist I use for driving, and it is one of 17 different playlists all relating to j-pop, it quickly gets difficult. I would love either nested lists, or folders, to chuck those lists into. That way, under "Car Tunes," I could shuffle between those lists, or simply pick "Genki Anime List" and be on my merry way with two punches, and not a lot of scrolling.
Smart playlists are great, but you do have to create a seperate one for each and every one of your needs, and that clutters the screen on the iPod.
-
If we do not do what we must do, then what we must do does not get done.
Slashdot Mirror
In many ways it is about gaming - I have macs in the house, and have been confined to mostly console gaming because of it. It was a sacrifice I made when I bought the computers, but it would be nice to have the option.
In many ways it is also about the multitude of small software pieces that companies of different sizes employ. Many of them only run on Windows, and aren't well suited to a translator environment, which is a barrier if they've considered getting apple machines. For a small buisiness owner, it may be attractive to get apple hardware, and still be able to keep their specialized applications around for when they need them.
The largest part of the slump in anime sales can be attributed to one very legal use: Netflix rentals. My own anime consumption (ie: buying) has dropped precipitously, while I'm watching more shows than ever. $19 a month for 7 discs of anime is a far better deal than $25/3 episodes. Though Netflix does buy a large number of discs, it is still fewer than the same group of fans who all rent them.
However, this is all a bit off-topic; the machine itself sounds like it is well-suited to a unique set of needs, using open-source technology. I just want to see screen shots of the unit in action.
There is a (rather small) minority who have a media machines hooked up to their televisions.
I have a Mac Mini that we use to watch backed-up DVD's, fansubbed anime, and now - music videos and TV shows from the iTunes store. It is definitely a lower quality than I would see if I had the DVD version, but it is close enough to what would air over cable that it works pretty well.
a quasi-substitute for a window manager, that would at least let you fiddle with the color/texture scheme of aqua is Shapeshifter. it's a nice little app, and many of the themes at least play with the shapes and textures underlying the interface. not a total solution, but it adds at least some more flavor to the view.
The most telling part of the article is the tagline at the end - "Media violence is only one of many factors that contribute to societal violence," Anderson has written, "and is certainly not the most important one."
1. many programmers cheat 2. Linus must have cheated
I may be just an English graduate, but there's a basic problem with this pattern. In an essay of even dubious academic merit, an author would be required to fill in several steps before claiming either of these conclusions. Rather, the author of this article relies on the assumption [again] that if everyone says:
1. average programmers can only write so fast 2. Linus must write at the same [or slower] speed without help
If you want to make a scholarly paper, book, pamphlet or press release about a certain subject, it is probably better to not rely on "he-said she-said" arguements - or accuse the very movement spawned by the subject to be like a disease. Some may argue that you show a lack of perspective.
er, actually, my 12" PowerBook was $500 cheaper than the equivalent laptop of any other make at the time it was released. that wasn't the case about 6 months later, but was when I purchased it.
I don't believe that any company, including Apple, is perfect in their hardware implementation. zealots on both sides of the Apple/M$ flamewars argue that each company is eeevil [as in fru-its of the de-vil], and I believe that they have a good point. I also know, that though imperfect, I still haven't had any non-self-inflicted trouble with my machine.
I've crashed my 12" PowerBook twice - the first time was an accident, the 2nd was a repeat of the behavior to make sure that it really was something I just shouldn't do [trying to open a finder window for a DVD while the system is pre-writing the file structure before burning said DVD]. This has actually made me incredibly impatient with the machines that I support for family, friends and work -- but it is an impatience I am happy to live with.
Though the "software license agreements" that most adware pushers have people page through seemingly give them the right do produce the pop up ads, this particular lawsuit addresses the end result -- the software equivalent of hiring someone to wear a billboard for your store to stand in the doorway of your nearest competition. Your hireling wouldn't necessarily prevent them from going in, but it annoys the heck out of the consumer, and infringes on the space of your competition.
--
sig: I'm not here right now, or busy. Please leave new sig after the tone.
I think it's even more disturbing that the author doesn't seem to have a problem with the use of only one source to back up what is a pretty wide-ranging assertion --> security company A says that apple has big flaws, so apple must have BIG FLAWS! OMG! The sky is falling!! -- instead of relying on a collection of different security company opinions to base her assertions.
Stepping back from the apple/*nix/Windows flame wars, the article itself seems subject to the very thing it attempts to criticize - a lack of any sort of depth of information.
--
If we do not do what we must do, what we must do does not get done.
.. what would be another improvement, along the "nested lists" format = playlist folders.
In iTunes itself, I could care less how many playlists clutter my space, but when I'm quickly trying to track down a playlist I use for driving, and it is one of 17 different playlists all relating to j-pop, it quickly gets difficult. I would love either nested lists, or folders, to chuck those lists into. That way, under "Car Tunes," I could shuffle between those lists, or simply pick "Genki Anime List" and be on my merry way with two punches, and not a lot of scrolling.
Smart playlists are great, but you do have to create a seperate one for each and every one of your needs, and that clutters the screen on the iPod.
-
If we do not do what we must do, then what we must do does not get done.