From what I understand, the 'harmonization' of US legislature is in line with the EU directives of copyright law; although I don't believe that Taiwan would agree with that either.
A lot of you folks out there may not remember the 'original' version of Pong; but I had one....it's what I grew up on (my first video game as a matter of fact). At that time, we were just excited to HAVE a video game console; not whether or not it supports USB, can be hacked, can support TiVO, can download email messages or if the hard drive is too big (granted all of these options were not available anyway at the time). JESUS...it's a GAME SYSTEM! Why does everyone have to dissect a game system to search for its vulnerabilitis or its capabilities? Why not just see it for what it is: A GAMING SYSTEM!!!!!!!! Just enjoy the games people! If you don't like it because it's MS, then don't buy it (ie..Dreamcast).
But then again, knowing THIS crowd, if I buy one NOW, my email will be sent to China via a server in Taiwan by means of a government unlock code that will get me arrested in 2 days.
Just relax people and remember: IT'S JUST A GAME!!!!!!!!!!!
I always wondered why people on this sound board were so hard on MS; but I think I figured it out;
1. You have no life outside of finding weaknesses in it's OS;
2. You have no thought process outside of the fact that one needs a Masters degree to figure out something different that ALL people can work with;
3. There are WAY too many acronyms in the PC world (I think you develope them DAILY);
4. And finally, you spend WAY too much time on the internet discussing these things.
IMO, people stick with what works and with what they know; so who is anyone else to criticize?
Thank God this is America; who else would you have to bitch to?
Let me illustrate: let's say two guys come up to you and say "you must choose one box out of our offerings."
One of them has one box, and the other has 10. If you choose to take the first guy's box, your pick is easier, if
you take the 2nd's box, you have to choose out of ten. However, you have no idea what's in the boxes, the
second guy's 10 boxes may each be filled with 100 dollar bills, while the other guy's one box might have horse
manure in it or something. But here's what you're doing: you're picking the guy with one box just because he has
one. That's plain silly.
What if the other ten boxes ALL have horse dung in them? Then what?
I think that may be the problem; the word 'free'. Didn't your grandmother ever tell that nothing in life is free? What's the expense in this case:
1. A lack of software that support MY needs;
2. Convenience (although I DO realize that most Linux users do NOT value this);
3. Support (although this may be subjective);
4. A Masters Degree in Computer Engineering just to TRY to interpret it (again; not a Linux users downfall);
5. TCO - Total Cost of Ownership; how much time will I spend just TRYING to figure out what's going on with my PC? You will probably suggest that I give up security for the price of convenience, but I'm not the 'average' PC user either. I like to stay away from pontentially dangerous situations and I also keep my AV software up to date. I know it's not the solution, but it helps.
Lastly, I don't really mind which company (or individual) is running my OS as long as it works for ME. I like XP; but that's my OPINION. Now THAT'S diversity.
The only thing I really need to consider (as an average consumer) is price, value and functionality. If Intel has what I need and it comes bundled in a package that is inexpensive for my use, then so be it.
People who write articles and responses on Slashdot tend to forget that the 'masses' don't really care about GCC, C++, processors or operating systems; they just want a product that works at a price they think is fair.
So, before we cut down 'Joe Schmoe' for buying a Pentium, think to yourself:
"Is this what I would buy if I were just an average consumer (even if the marketing strategy doesn't work)?"
Slashdot Mirror
From what I understand, the 'harmonization' of US legislature is in line with the EU directives of copyright law; although I don't believe that Taiwan would agree with that either.
Or....maybe just don't trust it enough.
A lot of you folks out there may not remember the 'original' version of Pong; but I had one....it's what I grew up on (my first video game as a matter of fact). At that time, we were just excited to HAVE a video game console; not whether or not it supports USB, can be hacked, can support TiVO, can download email messages or if the hard drive is too big (granted all of these options were not available anyway at the time). JESUS...it's a GAME SYSTEM! Why does everyone have to dissect a game system to search for its vulnerabilitis or its capabilities? Why not just see it for what it is: A GAMING SYSTEM!!!!!!!! Just enjoy the games people! If you don't like it because it's MS, then don't buy it (ie..Dreamcast). But then again, knowing THIS crowd, if I buy one NOW, my email will be sent to China via a server in Taiwan by means of a government unlock code that will get me arrested in 2 days. Just relax people and remember: IT'S JUST A GAME!!!!!!!!!!!
I always wondered why people on this sound board were so hard on MS; but I think I figured it out; 1. You have no life outside of finding weaknesses in it's OS; 2. You have no thought process outside of the fact that one needs a Masters degree to figure out something different that ALL people can work with; 3. There are WAY too many acronyms in the PC world (I think you develope them DAILY); 4. And finally, you spend WAY too much time on the internet discussing these things. IMO, people stick with what works and with what they know; so who is anyone else to criticize? Thank God this is America; who else would you have to bitch to?
Let me illustrate: let's say two guys come up to you and say "you must choose one box out of our offerings." One of them has one box, and the other has 10. If you choose to take the first guy's box, your pick is easier, if you take the 2nd's box, you have to choose out of ten. However, you have no idea what's in the boxes, the second guy's 10 boxes may each be filled with 100 dollar bills, while the other guy's one box might have horse manure in it or something. But here's what you're doing: you're picking the guy with one box just because he has one. That's plain silly. What if the other ten boxes ALL have horse dung in them? Then what?
Sounds to me like this OS & it's components are not necessarily 'free'; unless you want to deal with the bugs.
I think that may be the problem; the word 'free'. Didn't your grandmother ever tell that nothing in life is free? What's the expense in this case: 1. A lack of software that support MY needs; 2. Convenience (although I DO realize that most Linux users do NOT value this); 3. Support (although this may be subjective); 4. A Masters Degree in Computer Engineering just to TRY to interpret it (again; not a Linux users downfall); 5. TCO - Total Cost of Ownership; how much time will I spend just TRYING to figure out what's going on with my PC? You will probably suggest that I give up security for the price of convenience, but I'm not the 'average' PC user either. I like to stay away from pontentially dangerous situations and I also keep my AV software up to date. I know it's not the solution, but it helps. Lastly, I don't really mind which company (or individual) is running my OS as long as it works for ME. I like XP; but that's my OPINION. Now THAT'S diversity.
The only thing I really need to consider (as an average consumer) is price, value and functionality. If Intel has what I need and it comes bundled in a package that is inexpensive for my use, then so be it.
People who write articles and responses on Slashdot tend to forget that the 'masses' don't really care about GCC, C++, processors or operating systems; they just want a product that works at a price they think is fair.
So, before we cut down 'Joe Schmoe' for buying a Pentium, think to yourself:
"Is this what I would buy if I were just an average consumer (even if the marketing strategy doesn't work)?"