"But to think that installing a modern linux distribution is complicated is just being ignorant."
Having recently gone through it myself, no I don't think so. In any case, that wasn't exactly my point. Coming pre-loaded with Linux is certainly better than forcing people to go download it.
Re:Thousands per year
on
Paid To Spam
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· Score: 1
"If I'm going to sell my soul, I'm going to sell it for a lot more than that!"
Why would you be 'selling your soul'? Sounds to me like you'd be forcing change. If spam becomes ridiculous enough, suddenly new email protocols etc come into demand.
"You spend so much time denouncing Linux. Why is this?"
Hardly a rebuttal, but I'll answer anyway. I'm not denouncing Linux. I'm pointing out its weaknesses. Why would I do this? Well certainly it's not to convert people to another OS. I want to see Linux improved. I want to see more people use it. I want it to be used broadly enough that I can switch to it without giving up hardware compatibility and the game library. Slashdot sometimes has a hard time realizing why Windows is in the lead, sometimes a little smack with the reality stick is in order.
"Having read through your comment history, you make it very clear that you're pretty die-hard when it comes to windows (minus some dabbling in linux). So what do you care?"
Die hard when it comes to Windows? Eh I guess in a sense that's sort of true. It's not because I like Windows, it's because Linux hasn't caught up to Windows in some of the areas that count.
"Or is this the same mindset that makes all usenet windows-advocacy groups full of linux advocates and all linux-advocacy groups full of windows advocates?"
I am not a Windows advocate.
"Are you so egomaniacal to think that you're turning people away from the evil path, or can you just not resist the urge to throw in your opinion no matter what?"
I'm pointing out Linux has flaws. Sorry if that's too much to take. A wiser person would listen to my criticism and figure out a.) if it's valid, b.) what to do if point A is true. Attempting to label me with names like 'egomaniacal' is really rather fruitless.
You said the average dude is clueless about what DRM does. That would imply that the differences aren't rocking the boat enough for him to become aware of it.
"The easiest option I have found is the use of two HDD's: one for linux, one for XP. Choose your poison at boot time using the BIOS options. This gets me around upgrade problems with MBR's and GRUB config."
Not sure if this means anything to you, but as an experienced Windows user, I completely concur with this.
"Having not used this native-emulation mentioned, I still rather doubt that Linux would have truly have control enough to avoid Windows' shortcomings."
I dunno what limitations XP would impose, but I imagine access to the graphic system would be limited. My reason for speculating on this is because VM-Ware still, to the best of my knowledge, cannot access the 3D hardware. I imagine it's too much trouble to jump through Microsoft's DirectX hoops.
" If XP locks up (which I have NEVER had) I imagine you lose Linux."
Why would this be the case? I mean, obviously if XP really really stalled, Linux wouldn't be able to run, but surely all saved data would be recoverable when you reboot? This is the main reason I'm replying here, I'm not sure I fully understand what you're saying here.
"I'll stick with Mac OS X and Linux, except where XP is required for specific software - you gotta do what ever it takes sometimes."
Though I personally believe that a lot of MS's business practices are overblown (at least on Slashdot...), I respect that you stick with the tools that you need. I really wish the religions around OS's would melt away.
Sorry for preaching, but I've been chewed about my choices for using Windows before. Never mind that the apps I run are only on Windows, I'm some sort of retard. Heh. I think most that have roasted me about it would be surprised that I have dabbled with Linux.
"Don't forget, the GC was known as 'Project Dolphin' before than and momentarily after that as 'StarCube' (at least in one magazine)."
I think I can answer the 'StarCube' comment here. Around the time that the GC was shown to the public (August 01 I think?) Nintendo registerred a bunch of domain names, starcube.com being one of them. At least one news site speculated that was the name of the system. It was probably a diversion tactic so nobody'd know for sure what the final name is.
"Not that the UI is the most important part of Linux, of course."
For mass adoption, oh yeas it is the most important part. Parent post is not exactly off-topic either, considering the Slashdot story asks about Linux changing the world.
"If I need to use Linux Compiler while sitting on a Windows box, I would rather use vmWare. Also vmWare has made great progress in their GSX and ESX, to make all this very easy."
Seeing as how Slashdot is benefitting from NYTimes' work, isn't it a bit unprofessional to mod people up for telling people how to sneak around their registration system? I wouldn't mind but NYT doesn't have a bad reputation for abusing registeree's.
"Nintendo has made a lot of bad decisions by failing to address a HUGE hole in their business: networked games."
Hardly a bad business decision. It's not doing Sony or Microsoft a whole lotta good. Part of the reason for the GC's success is its low price. So either they'd have to include a network adapter and raise the price of the system (Microsoft's having difficulty keeping up with the GC despite having one) or they'd have to provide a peripheral system, which hasn't historically shown much success.
"Also, I question the portability issue of the cube. It's not like they got rid of all the attachments necessary to make a gamecube truly portable. You still have to hook up the audio. You still have to plug it into a DC outlet. You still have to bring the controllers along. Sure it's lighter than a PS2, but that still doesn't mean it's a whole lot easier to lug around."
Speaking as somebody who has lugged the system around a few times, I can assure you that the GC survives movings much more readily than any other system to date. The small form and the handle are very helpful, most TVs have a video in on the front, and Wavebird controllers make the whole cable mess disappear. The PS2 and XBOX are monsters in comparison, and far more fragile. The lack of a handle on either machine is noticably painful as well.
"Get something going along networked gaming. M$ and Sony are killing along those lines."
They're only killing Nintendo in the sense that they haven't provided a service yet. Yes, you are right there. The real question is whether or not Sony or Microsoft are making any real money with their on-line stuff. I'd be willing to bet the answer is 'unsubstantial', but would welcome clarification.
"Maybe even allow independant parties to make games for your system without imposing minimums like a 10,000 minidisc purchase."
What good would that do besides tying up their publishing business?
I think Mr. Iwata is looking in the right direction. He makes the claim that the next generation will be difficult to distinguish from this current generation. I'm not sure that's 100% true. I recently saw a demo of 'modern realtime hardware' that involved a lot of shadow casting etc that would definitely make next-generation games more interesting. I think it'll be the generation following the next one that'll be difficult to be distinguishing.
Anyway, I have drifted a bit. Modern game consoles have reached a point where it's more about what the artist can do with the system than what the system can do for them. At that point, Mr. Iwata is right, competition becomes very difficult. His suggestion that there needs to be other distinguishing factors is spot on. It is, for this reason, that I think Nintendo has ample opportunity to retake the market. They, as a game developer as well as a hardware developer, know what it takes to entertain, and they certainly have the right talent to cook up those juicy new ideas. I don't have as much faith in Sony or Microsoft. Sony's too arogant (ask the developers about what making a PS2 game is like)and Microsoft is too inexperienced. Niether have any real experience making AAA games.
Maybe saying Nintendo will win back the market is a bit of an overstatement. All this talk of Nintendo losing market share conveniently leaves out figures of how much the market has grown in the last 5 years. Maybe Nintendo won't be #1 again. Maybe it'll be #2 and the market is big enough for them to be quite comfortable profit-wise. Personally, I think that's a bigger win. It means there's another company who's producing an alternative that another segment of the market likes. Who knows?
Well at this point I'm just babbling. Sorry. I just think that Nintendo has at least the right mind-set to continue to succeed. I also think that if Sony and Microsoft are smart, they'll listen to what Iwata has to say very carefully.
"I believe they're greatest fault is as you said, the poor online gaming."
I'm not sure I readily agree with this. The reason Nintendo isn't into on-line gaming right now is that they're shy about asking their customers to pay a monthly fee to play a game. Some are obviously willing to do this, but are enough doing it that it is profitable? I mean seriously, why isn't the XBOX a much greater competitor to the PS2 if all that really matters is the on-line play?
Yes, I'd like on-line play, too. But I understand why Nintendo's not keen on it just yet. It's not like people can just throw up a server and provide on-line pay for free like you can with PC games.
"Huh? The GameCube is already abbreviated as "GCN". What's with console manufacturers reusing acronyms for their next-gen consoles? Sony also did it with "PSX", which was the abbreviation for the original PlayStation. Weird."
Slashdot Mirror
"He must have heard that there are a lot of people into eunuchs here."
Probably worried about the Mac people after he heard OSX was built on eunuchs...
"But to think that installing a modern linux distribution is complicated is just being ignorant."
Having recently gone through it myself, no I don't think so. In any case, that wasn't exactly my point. Coming pre-loaded with Linux is certainly better than forcing people to go download it.
"If I'm going to sell my soul, I'm going to sell it for a lot more than that!"
Why would you be 'selling your soul'? Sounds to me like you'd be forcing change. If spam becomes ridiculous enough, suddenly new email protocols etc come into demand.
Pff I wish I was being paid.
"You spend so much time denouncing Linux. Why is this?"
Hardly a rebuttal, but I'll answer anyway. I'm not denouncing Linux. I'm pointing out its weaknesses. Why would I do this? Well certainly it's not to convert people to another OS. I want to see Linux improved. I want to see more people use it. I want it to be used broadly enough that I can switch to it without giving up hardware compatibility and the game library. Slashdot sometimes has a hard time realizing why Windows is in the lead, sometimes a little smack with the reality stick is in order.
"Having read through your comment history, you make it very clear that you're pretty die-hard when it comes to windows (minus some dabbling in linux). So what do you care?"
Die hard when it comes to Windows? Eh I guess in a sense that's sort of true. It's not because I like Windows, it's because Linux hasn't caught up to Windows in some of the areas that count.
"Or is this the same mindset that makes all usenet windows-advocacy groups full of linux advocates and all linux-advocacy groups full of windows advocates?"
I am not a Windows advocate.
"Are you so egomaniacal to think that you're turning people away from the evil path, or can you just not resist the urge to throw in your opinion no matter what?"
I'm pointing out Linux has flaws. Sorry if that's too much to take. A wiser person would listen to my criticism and figure out a.) if it's valid, b.) what to do if point A is true. Attempting to label me with names like 'egomaniacal' is really rather fruitless.
"You mean like everyone else does? Interesting concept."
You'll notice that 'everyone' isn't a whole hell of a lot of people.
"Why not buy a Dell, format with Linux, good to go."
.CONF files, yeah you could do that.
Well if you want to download several install CDs, try to hunt down drivers, and edit a bunch of
You said the average dude is clueless about what DRM does. That would imply that the differences aren't rocking the boat enough for him to become aware of it.
"Is that it will sell just as well as non-DRM'd hardware because the masses are clueless as to what it does."
If the difference between DRM and non-DRM is negligible, then why is Slashdot's panties in a bunch?
"The 35GB drives hold 90GB compressed (according to Iomega)."
Sadly, that's still only 35 gig of porn.
"The easiest option I have found is the use of two HDD's: one for linux, one for XP. Choose your poison at boot time using the BIOS options. This gets me around upgrade problems with MBR's and GRUB config."
Not sure if this means anything to you, but as an experienced Windows user, I completely concur with this.
"Having not used this native-emulation mentioned, I still rather doubt that Linux would have truly have control enough to avoid Windows' shortcomings."
I dunno what limitations XP would impose, but I imagine access to the graphic system would be limited. My reason for speculating on this is because VM-Ware still, to the best of my knowledge, cannot access the 3D hardware. I imagine it's too much trouble to jump through Microsoft's DirectX hoops.
" If XP locks up (which I have NEVER had) I imagine you lose Linux."
Why would this be the case? I mean, obviously if XP really really stalled, Linux wouldn't be able to run, but surely all saved data would be recoverable when you reboot? This is the main reason I'm replying here, I'm not sure I fully understand what you're saying here.
"I'll stick with Mac OS X and Linux, except where XP is required for specific software - you gotta do what ever it takes sometimes."
Though I personally believe that a lot of MS's business practices are overblown (at least on Slashdot...), I respect that you stick with the tools that you need. I really wish the religions around OS's would melt away.
Sorry for preaching, but I've been chewed about my choices for using Windows before. Never mind that the apps I run are only on Windows, I'm some sort of retard. Heh. I think most that have roasted me about it would be surprised that I have dabbled with Linux.
"Don't forget, the GC was known as 'Project Dolphin' before than and momentarily after that as 'StarCube' (at least in one magazine)."
I think I can answer the 'StarCube' comment here. Around the time that the GC was shown to the public (August 01 I think?) Nintendo registerred a bunch of domain names, starcube.com being one of them. At least one news site speculated that was the name of the system. It was probably a diversion tactic so nobody'd know for sure what the final name is.
"Not that the UI is the most important part of Linux, of course."
For mass adoption, oh yeas it is the most important part. Parent post is not exactly off-topic either, considering the Slashdot story asks about Linux changing the world.
"If I need to use Linux Compiler while sitting on a Windows box, I would rather use vmWare. Also vmWare has made great progress in their GSX and ESX, to make all this very easy."
VMWare is like $300. CoLinux is free.
"Hardware is so cheap, I would just get two boxes."
Insightful? (Maybe if he had said dual booting?)
It's useful if you want a low-impact way to sample Linux. That's why Windows users such as my self like distros like Knoppix.
"XP is ugly. Please come back when you have taste."
Good thing it's skinnable, isn't it? Got any other misconeptions about Windows XP I can clear up for yoU?
Yeah, respecting their wishes is too much to ask.
Still, I don't think this will save us from the Vogons.
"NY Times Reg-free link"
Seeing as how Slashdot is benefitting from NYTimes' work, isn't it a bit unprofessional to mod people up for telling people how to sneak around their registration system? I wouldn't mind but NYT doesn't have a bad reputation for abusing registeree's.
"Don't forget the MP3, SVCD, and Warez sites that will also likely exploit the service."
Two easy ways to avoid this:
1.) Only allow attachments up to say 2 megs.
2.) Disallow accounts from being accessed by more than 10 ip addresses in a 24 hour period.
The article refers to a fan-made image of the "GameBoy Extended" machine that plays GC games.
I found a pic of it:
http://www.jeux-france.com/images0_4_2049.html
Yep, it's a hoax, but the artist did a darned good job.
"Nintendo has made a lot of bad decisions by failing to address a HUGE hole in their business: networked games."
Hardly a bad business decision. It's not doing Sony or Microsoft a whole lotta good. Part of the reason for the GC's success is its low price. So either they'd have to include a network adapter and raise the price of the system (Microsoft's having difficulty keeping up with the GC despite having one) or they'd have to provide a peripheral system, which hasn't historically shown much success.
"Also, I question the portability issue of the cube. It's not like they got rid of all the attachments necessary to make a gamecube truly portable. You still have to hook up the audio. You still have to plug it into a DC outlet. You still have to bring the controllers along. Sure it's lighter than a PS2, but that still doesn't mean it's a whole lot easier to lug around."
Speaking as somebody who has lugged the system around a few times, I can assure you that the GC survives movings much more readily than any other system to date. The small form and the handle are very helpful, most TVs have a video in on the front, and Wavebird controllers make the whole cable mess disappear. The PS2 and XBOX are monsters in comparison, and far more fragile. The lack of a handle on either machine is noticably painful as well.
"Get something going along networked gaming. M$ and Sony are killing along those lines."
They're only killing Nintendo in the sense that they haven't provided a service yet. Yes, you are right there. The real question is whether or not Sony or Microsoft are making any real money with their on-line stuff. I'd be willing to bet the answer is 'unsubstantial', but would welcome clarification.
"Maybe even allow independant parties to make games for your system without imposing minimums like a 10,000 minidisc purchase."
What good would that do besides tying up their publishing business?
I think Mr. Iwata is looking in the right direction. He makes the claim that the next generation will be difficult to distinguish from this current generation. I'm not sure that's 100% true. I recently saw a demo of 'modern realtime hardware' that involved a lot of shadow casting etc that would definitely make next-generation games more interesting. I think it'll be the generation following the next one that'll be difficult to be distinguishing.
Anyway, I have drifted a bit. Modern game consoles have reached a point where it's more about what the artist can do with the system than what the system can do for them. At that point, Mr. Iwata is right, competition becomes very difficult. His suggestion that there needs to be other distinguishing factors is spot on. It is, for this reason, that I think Nintendo has ample opportunity to retake the market. They, as a game developer as well as a hardware developer, know what it takes to entertain, and they certainly have the right talent to cook up those juicy new ideas. I don't have as much faith in Sony or Microsoft. Sony's too arogant (ask the developers about what making a PS2 game is like)and Microsoft is too inexperienced. Niether have any real experience making AAA games.
Maybe saying Nintendo will win back the market is a bit of an overstatement. All this talk of Nintendo losing market share conveniently leaves out figures of how much the market has grown in the last 5 years. Maybe Nintendo won't be #1 again. Maybe it'll be #2 and the market is big enough for them to be quite comfortable profit-wise. Personally, I think that's a bigger win. It means there's another company who's producing an alternative that another segment of the market likes. Who knows?
Well at this point I'm just babbling. Sorry. I just think that Nintendo has at least the right mind-set to continue to succeed. I also think that if Sony and Microsoft are smart, they'll listen to what Iwata has to say very carefully.
"I believe they're greatest fault is as you said, the poor online gaming."
I'm not sure I readily agree with this. The reason Nintendo isn't into on-line gaming right now is that they're shy about asking their customers to pay a monthly fee to play a game. Some are obviously willing to do this, but are enough doing it that it is profitable? I mean seriously, why isn't the XBOX a much greater competitor to the PS2 if all that really matters is the on-line play?
Yes, I'd like on-line play, too. But I understand why Nintendo's not keen on it just yet. It's not like people can just throw up a server and provide on-line pay for free like you can with PC games.
"Huh? The GameCube is already abbreviated as "GCN". What's with console manufacturers reusing acronyms for their next-gen consoles? Sony also did it with "PSX", which was the abbreviation for the original PlayStation. Weird."
It's just an internal project name.