The people that think the gov will be taking care of them are just in for a rude awakening I guess then. If they won't research what is their own responsibility for retirement, then they deserve to be destitute.
I understand the point about the item not being available to you, and can appreciate your situation, and I'm sure you're not the only one, but please don't imply that it's OK to be a thief just because it's free and easily available. If you enjoy the product, and agree with the ways of the producer, by all means, if it's available to you and you have the funds you should support that producer. If everybody pirates the good stuff and never buys it, the good stuff will dry up.
"And my suspicion that programmers have unjustifiably taken the title "software engineer" in a petty attempt to inflate their status shows basis."
Why don't you take your beef about using the term "engineer" up with microsoft, who use it regularly in their tech support titles.. ie:MCSE - Microsoft Certified Software Engineer, etc..
Get over it man. So grub failed. I'm sure you're scarred for life from that experience. Guess what? Regardless of all the ranting you've done here, at least you've learned something (hopefully, anyway).
"I'm not about to let my 6-year-old play Battlefield 2 (not that she could anyway), but even something as simple as Mario Kart 64 is still fun!"
Methinks you seriously underestimate your young one. Mine was playing Gran Turismo at 4, Halo at 5 (yes, he beat it way back when, and is working through it on Heroic), and Halo2 at 6 (beat it the 3rd day we had it on Normal difficulty). We play multiplayer Halo (1&2) both coop and head to head regularly (he is normally victorious... and I don't suck). He has a BF2 demo and is quickly getting the hang of it. He plays Steel Battalion! His only drawback so far is that some of the text in many games is a bit advanced for his skill level. I'm working on that with him now. On the other hand, he is the math star in his class, therefore he has no problem understanding things like how much ammo he has left lol!
Pretty much the only games I restrict are the obvious.. GTA type games (street gang kinda stuff), and overly gorey horror type games.
You've *clearly* never gone up against a child who was raised with a controller in his hand. I've put him (my 7yr old, the one wearing the shirt that says "Berserker") up against mid and late teens (you know, those guys that seem to think they're the best of the best), and the looks on the teens faces when they have death rained down upon them instantly is just priceless.
For the record, 41yr old mom, gamer pretty much since the inception of computer/console/arcade games.
No, I think most people are assuming that the only people this concerns are those that actually DO use the software. If you don't, then shut the fuck up and quit bitching. It's not about you.
What it looks to me is that Google is being blamed for lame user (and admin) incompetance. I mean, if you can't read, or understand what is basically written in big red letters on the page that "Your files will be uploaded to a remote server if you check this box. This could be a bad thing. Don't do it unless you really, really, reallyreallyreally.. REALLY mean it. Don't say we didn't warn you."... well then.. umm, sorry, but you really shouldn't be allowed around a computer.. of any type. Likely your VCR still blinks 12:00.
I'm guessing you missed the hoopla? From where I was sitting I watched the contraversy explode about it pretty much anywhere I looked. Not real sure how other consumers could have missed it.
This is a rehash of all the hoopla that went around months ago when talk started about HDMI monitors. Just to recap, yes, your going to need a tv with the correct connections to watch your HD-DVD player (and your blu-ray), component will either downsample (television) *or* possibly not even show a picture (computer monitor). Your computer will also require a HDMI spec vid card in addition to HDMI monitor to watch protected hi-def content.
I know I went all Banzi about this shit back then. I really don't understand what they are trying to do other than piss people off. Are they trying to curb piracy? Well, duh. Will it work? Not in this lifetime. Why can't they see this? My theory is that it's just a way to prevent casual user piracy (cause we all know that everything will be available in full hi-def glory in all the "usual" places). Problem with it is, the access and usage is getting so screwed that it's actually going to become a roadblock to adoption.
"a really expensive plasma TV that I sure as hell won't be replacing anytime soon"
Umm, you do know that the life span of a plasma tv isn't anywhere near that of crt's, right? You're not gonna be keeping the same tv for 10's of years anymore. What I've heard is that 5 is about the useful life of those things.
Keep on telling yourself that it only appeals to kids with limited prior experience. I'm 41, have followed fps's since their inception (actually pretty much got bored with them), and STILL think Halo kills them all. It's not any one thing about it, it's the total package. When I started playing it with a friend of mine (in his mid 50's, also a reasonably avid gamer.. we had many enjoyable hours with XCom back in the day), we'd always let the game run a while after it booted, because we enjoyed the intro music so much. The story is top notch (and much deeper than one troll described it.. "aliens invading the planet" or some such drivel). The game is simply finished to a degree of detail that is uncommon.
Before you go blasting me, saying I'm a "MS fanboi", you might want to know that I loathe MS (other than the xbox and halo... and it was halo that changed my mind about the xbox, which I despised at the time also), am a full time *nix user (linux, solaris & Irix), as well as a wife and mom.
Well, if it was me, I'd probably choose door #3, that is, use a good, free codec solution, and allow my customers to purchase their own license of any non-free codecs that they care to have on their system. I certainly wouldn't be re-inventing the wheel.. at least, not if my goal was simply to give my customers a media player as you want to insist that is what MS is doing. Now on the other hand, if I *were* looking to create a very large, captive audience, then I can see where my own proprietary codec would fit into the picture.
Slashdot Mirror
And since the parent was asking about *nix specifically, you're grand observation about win executables pretty much misses the mark.
The people that think the gov will be taking care of them are just in for a rude awakening I guess then. If they won't research what is their own responsibility for retirement, then they deserve to be destitute.
My hand is up, and I've had a boycott starforce graphic in my sig on various forums for a while now :).
I understand the point about the item not being available to you, and can appreciate your situation, and I'm sure you're not the only one, but please don't imply that it's OK to be a thief just because it's free and easily available. If you enjoy the product, and agree with the ways of the producer, by all means, if it's available to you and you have the funds you should support that producer. If everybody pirates the good stuff and never buys it, the good stuff will dry up.
Being a Gentoo user, you actually had to go to the Ubuntu forums to figure out how to edit your x.org file? Wow. Color me boggled.
"And my suspicion that programmers have unjustifiably taken the title "software engineer" in a petty attempt to inflate their status shows basis."
Why don't you take your beef about using the term "engineer" up with microsoft, who use it regularly in their tech support titles.. ie:MCSE - Microsoft Certified Software Engineer, etc..
Get over it man. So grub failed. I'm sure you're scarred for life from that experience. Guess what? Regardless of all the ranting you've done here, at least you've learned something (hopefully, anyway).
Oh gods. I don't know if I'm pms'ing or what, but I started crying when I read that.
:).
Thank you
"I'm not about to let my 6-year-old play Battlefield 2 (not that she could anyway), but even something as simple as Mario Kart 64 is still fun!"
Methinks you seriously underestimate your young one. Mine was playing Gran Turismo at 4, Halo at 5 (yes, he beat it way back when, and is working through it on Heroic), and Halo2 at 6 (beat it the 3rd day we had it on Normal difficulty). We play multiplayer Halo (1&2) both coop and head to head regularly (he is normally victorious... and I don't suck). He has a BF2 demo and is quickly getting the hang of it. He plays Steel Battalion! His only drawback so far is that some of the text in many games is a bit advanced for his skill level. I'm working on that with him now. On the other hand, he is the math star in his class, therefore he has no problem understanding things like how much ammo he has left lol!
Pretty much the only games I restrict are the obvious.. GTA type games (street gang kinda stuff), and overly gorey horror type games.
Enjoy them while they're young, because before you know it, they'll own your ass in a heartbeat.
"Rounded... yes indeed. Both in the "well" and "physical" sense."
/. commenting about lack of physical excercise during a chosen activity.
My my.. an AC, on
Does anyone besides me see the irony?
"No different from going outside except lacking in exercise."
:).
Unless, that is, you make sure to throw in a round of DDR at least once a day
"its easier to defeat a kid"
You've *clearly* never gone up against a child who was raised with a controller in his hand. I've put him (my 7yr old, the one wearing the shirt that says "Berserker") up against mid and late teens (you know, those guys that seem to think they're the best of the best), and the looks on the teens faces when they have death rained down upon them instantly is just priceless.
For the record, 41yr old mom, gamer pretty much since the inception of computer/console/arcade games.
Says the Anonymous Coward, who can't back his words up with a name.
No, I think most people are assuming that the only people this concerns are those that actually DO use the software. If you don't, then shut the fuck up and quit bitching. It's not about you.
What it looks to me is that Google is being blamed for lame user (and admin) incompetance. I mean, if you can't read, or understand what is basically written in big red letters on the page that "Your files will be uploaded to a remote server if you check this box. This could be a bad thing. Don't do it unless you really, really, reallyreallyreally.. REALLY mean it. Don't say we didn't warn you."... well then.. umm, sorry, but you really shouldn't be allowed around a computer.. of any type. Likely your VCR still blinks 12:00.
I'm guessing you missed the hoopla? From where I was sitting I watched the contraversy explode about it pretty much anywhere I looked. Not real sure how other consumers could have missed it.
"Why do people always assume microsoft is doing something bad?"
Historical evidence, perhaps?
Already been done.
r ceid=mozilla-search&start=0&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=ut f-8&client=firefox&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:unofficia l
http://www.cdfreaks.com/news2.php?ID=12115
http://www.google.com/search?q=dvi+hdcp+spatz&sou
This is a rehash of all the hoopla that went around months ago when talk started about HDMI monitors. Just to recap, yes, your going to need a tv with the correct connections to watch your HD-DVD player (and your blu-ray), component will either downsample (television) *or* possibly not even show a picture (computer monitor). Your computer will also require a HDMI spec vid card in addition to HDMI monitor to watch protected hi-def content.
I know I went all Banzi about this shit back then. I really don't understand what they are trying to do other than piss people off. Are they trying to curb piracy? Well, duh. Will it work? Not in this lifetime. Why can't they see this? My theory is that it's just a way to prevent casual user piracy (cause we all know that everything will be available in full hi-def glory in all the "usual" places). Problem with it is, the access and usage is getting so screwed that it's actually going to become a roadblock to adoption.
"a really expensive plasma TV that I sure as hell won't be replacing anytime soon"
Umm, you do know that the life span of a plasma tv isn't anywhere near that of crt's, right? You're not gonna be keeping the same tv for 10's of years anymore. What I've heard is that 5 is about the useful life of those things.
I'm watching to see what Apex bring out :).
Blu-ray doesn't help matters any, and in some ways is worse.
Sell it all you want. If it's locked to your player, it's no good to anyone that buys it from you.
"You may also note that originally Halo was set to be for Mac and PC only."
Of course, back then it *was* still a RTS game.
Keep on telling yourself that it only appeals to kids with limited prior experience. I'm 41, have followed fps's since their inception (actually pretty much got bored with them), and STILL think Halo kills them all. It's not any one thing about it, it's the total package. When I started playing it with a friend of mine (in his mid 50's, also a reasonably avid gamer.. we had many enjoyable hours with XCom back in the day), we'd always let the game run a while after it booted, because we enjoyed the intro music so much. The story is top notch (and much deeper than one troll described it.. "aliens invading the planet" or some such drivel). The game is simply finished to a degree of detail that is uncommon.
Before you go blasting me, saying I'm a "MS fanboi", you might want to know that I loathe MS (other than the xbox and halo... and it was halo that changed my mind about the xbox, which I despised at the time also), am a full time *nix user (linux, solaris & Irix), as well as a wife and mom.
Well, if it was me, I'd probably choose door #3, that is, use a good, free codec solution, and allow my customers to purchase their own license of any non-free codecs that they care to have on their system. I certainly wouldn't be re-inventing the wheel.. at least, not if my goal was simply to give my customers a media player as you want to insist that is what MS is doing. Now on the other hand, if I *were* looking to create a very large, captive audience, then I can see where my own proprietary codec would fit into the picture.