Your point is valid given current market conditions, consumer adoption plateaus, and the sheer pace of technological breakthroughs. However the DRM restrictions threatened by the major companies are well within their capabilities of implementing. DRM can be made to happen given current technologies and does not require a "shared-key" approach. IMHO one of the few things holding DRM back from being effective is the rapid growth of technology and the lack of infrastructure to support client-based DRM.
With the Internet a medium for digital transfer exists. It is not unfeasible to assume that you or I can buy "Internet-enabled" appliances in the near future, Imagine a DVD player hooked into the Internet capable of generating it's own unique keys!
Game reviews used to mean something. They were honest and reflected a true experience that you could count on. These days anyone who has been burned a few times checks out the player forums of a game already released before buying. Hype (marketing) sells a product these days.
You CAN download demos and watch videos of the "latest" "greatest" "best-of-all-times" preview/sneak-peak games. With the right spin any game within a galaxy of being decent can be spun within a light-minute of saleability.
Marketing has taken over the gaming industry. Big business controls the religion and the gamers are the sheep. Money flows and people get quick-rich from the profits of mediocre products. If you send the right message people will flock to you. People (bah) are addicted to marketing.
Gaming used to be an adventure. Every page turned was a wonder and thrill to experience. Now that money rules the gaming industry the achievements of imagination are lost in the dollars and sense of greed.
As a frequent computer user I lean to the side of software written by people who write it to make a better product before considering the money they may make. That doesn't mean my intentions are to wipe out Microsoft. History and personal experience has proven that the strategies Microsoft use limits alternatives to Microsoft. Personal experience has shown that a product created with open standards (and open source) is better for the consumer.
Everything has their faults and Linux is by no means a perfect solution. However with Linux consumers benefit from it's open source nature, not to mention the stability and security. Without competition Microsoft would dominate and dictate their policies to their consumers. I welcome a shift away from Microsoft, I welcome a better balance of power between the corporation and the consumer.
With Linux you get much more then you paid for. With Microsoft you get less then what you paid for AND a future of paying more for less.
Nope. That's not the point. There have been 7 "different" operating systems released by Microsoft in the past 7 years. Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 98 SE, and Windows ME are all basically the same product with enhancements as the product matured. The instability of that product line is legendary. Then came along Windows 2000 (a Windows NT 4 with a much better GUI) and Windows XP (Home and Professional versions). Now suddenly peoples scanners, printers, and other peripherals were no longer compatible. Hmmm...shell out a couple of hundred dollars extra to maintain the usefulness of the original tool. And why? Because that is the way a company like Microsoft wants it to be.
Now Microsoft seemingly wants to relax their opposition to Linux. With a history of stomping out competition and the experience gained in the process who would be foolish enough to entertain the idea that Microsoft is doing this out of goodwill. If Microsoft can eliminate Linux they will make more money, if Linux continues to gain ground Microsoft loses money. Microsoft is all about money - the writing is on the wall.
lol. Given the past 7 years of Microsoft products your insight makes sense. Remember Windows 98 Second Edition? Wow! A bug fix release for Windows 98 that they marketed as a new product - talk about supreme marketing strategy. Windows ME? Hmmm...who thought there could be so many flavours of vanilla ice-cream?
Microsoft has consistently proven their ability to control their marketplace. Now that they must compete with a free and popular alternative it is interesting to see how they play their cards. When I wander stores and see Windows XP (Professional) selling for CAN $400 (note, these links may not work due to session tracking, check out Future Shop (Canada) for price details) and Microsoft Office for CAN $600 I am forced to ponder the corporate strategies involved. How long can I be a pawn milked for my money by a company that attempts to force overpriced products down my gullet? I am lucky enough to see the writing on the wall. Linux is the only competitive product capable to compete with the Microsoft phenomenon/monetary-monopoly and it is FREE.
As a frequent computer user I lean to the side of software written by people who write it to make a better product before considering the money they may make. Cheers to Linux.
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Your point is valid given current market conditions, consumer adoption plateaus, and the sheer pace of technological breakthroughs. However the DRM restrictions threatened by the major companies are well within their capabilities of implementing. DRM can be made to happen given current technologies and does not require a "shared-key" approach. IMHO one of the few things holding DRM back from being effective is the rapid growth of technology and the lack of infrastructure to support client-based DRM.
With the Internet a medium for digital transfer exists. It is not unfeasible to assume that you or I can buy "Internet-enabled" appliances in the near future, Imagine a DVD player hooked into the Internet capable of generating it's own unique keys!
Game reviews used to mean something. They were honest and reflected a true experience that you could count on. These days anyone who has been burned a few times checks out the player forums of a game already released before buying. Hype (marketing) sells a product these days.
You CAN download demos and watch videos of the "latest" "greatest" "best-of-all-times" preview/sneak-peak games. With the right spin any game within a galaxy of being decent can be spun within a light-minute of saleability.
Marketing has taken over the gaming industry. Big business controls the religion and the gamers are the sheep. Money flows and people get quick-rich from the profits of mediocre products. If you send the right message people will flock to you. People (bah) are addicted to marketing.
Gaming used to be an adventure. Every page turned was a wonder and thrill to experience. Now that money rules the gaming industry the achievements of imagination are lost in the dollars and sense of greed.
lol. Ain't that the truth.
Everything has their faults and Linux is by no means a perfect solution. However with Linux consumers benefit from it's open source nature, not to mention the stability and security. Without competition Microsoft would dominate and dictate their policies to their consumers. I welcome a shift away from Microsoft, I welcome a better balance of power between the corporation and the consumer.
With Linux you get much more then you paid for. With Microsoft you get less then what you paid for AND a future of paying more for less.
Now Microsoft seemingly wants to relax their opposition to Linux. With a history of stomping out competition and the experience gained in the process who would be foolish enough to entertain the idea that Microsoft is doing this out of goodwill. If Microsoft can eliminate Linux they will make more money, if Linux continues to gain ground Microsoft loses money. Microsoft is all about money - the writing is on the wall.
Microsoft has consistently proven their ability to control their marketplace. Now that they must compete with a free and popular alternative it is interesting to see how they play their cards. When I wander stores and see Windows XP (Professional) selling for CAN $400 (note, these links may not work due to session tracking, check out Future Shop (Canada) for price details) and Microsoft Office for CAN $600 I am forced to ponder the corporate strategies involved. How long can I be a pawn milked for my money by a company that attempts to force overpriced products down my gullet? I am lucky enough to see the writing on the wall. Linux is the only competitive product capable to compete with the Microsoft phenomenon/monetary-monopoly and it is FREE.
As a frequent computer user I lean to the side of software written by people who write it to make a better product before considering the money they may make. Cheers to Linux.