Decoding video isn't what needs constant updates, encoding video is. A properly designed codec will work as such. Just look at MPEG2 on DVDs-- most players can still play "new" format DVDs, without needing updates.
This card does have it place. I use mine to play out to a TV while I do other things. My friends can watch an archived movie/tv show (encoded in DivX or MPEG2), while I do other things. And the picture/sound is flawless. Other times I have used it for "VJing" at parties-- showing music videos while people dance to the music. The remote control works great, and doesn't work with just their own player-- you can get remote selector and use it to control winamp and powerdvd as well.
And, of course, if the manufacturer goes out of business, or looses interest, or doesn't support the same favor of M$ software that you want to run, you have a hundred dollars worth of junk.
Couldn't the same be said about any hardware manufacturer? I'm sure they'd have some sort of contingency plan for situations like that. But until they do go out of business, why worry about it?
Unless you're complaining about lack of drivers for other OS's (ie Loonix/BSD).. if so, I can't help you there. Most manufacturers don't want to provide support or drivers for Linux because it's not a "mainstream" desktop OS (and in my opinion, it shouldn't be; it's not ready.) Anyhow..
The Hercules Game Theater XP is arguably one of the worst designed/made sound cards ever produced. I'd imagine the reviewer couldn't even get the card working properly, and that's why it's not included in the review.
than web designers will again have to consider netscape/mozilla when doing pages
No thanks, I don't want to have to write two seperate sets of code because Netscape doesn't want to conform to the standards. Screw AOL users. They should get their heads out of their asses anyhow.
ATi, Matrox, and nVidia chipsets do not do MPEG2 decoding. They have MPEG2 "acceleration" (which is really just a term used to say the card supports DirectDraw, and maybe some automatic pulldown/iDCT functions), but by no means are any of their cards out there fully decoding the video and audio with on-board hardware.
This is a myth that I wish people would stop spreading.
Given that Linux and Windows 2000/XP replace all BIOS routines once loaded, do these upgrades really matter?
Uhh, last time I checked, you still needed a BIOS to run an OS, chief. And that BIOS isn't "replaced" by Windows or Loonix or FreeBSD or any OS. Certain parts of the OS might interface with the BIOS (re: ACPI, IRQ tables, etc.), but certainly doesn't "bypass" the BIOS.
So yes, BIOS upgrades do matter. Not to mention most of the time upgrading your BIOS will allow you to run "newer" hardware in older motherboards. Faster CPU/RAM, etc.
Why is this even an "Ask Slashdot" question? And why didn't the SlashDot editor catch the fact that this guy is a moron?
XP will always ask you if you wish to reboot after installing hotfixes or installing Windows Update add-ons. If your machine rebooted by itself, it sounds like there might have been other forces at work, and not XP itself.
And define "fatally crashes". It's probably your poor excuse for a box, or some other pile of crap software you've installed that's caused IE to bomb out.
Of course I can contact Microsoft, but they won't respond for the shorter of 4 months
Obviously you have never really contacted Microsoft, because they take security issues very seriously, and usually respond back to you within 24 hours (if you've discovered a real security problem)
Even then it usually takes two weeks for a hotfix that breaks half the software on the server, and then another two weeks for a fix for the fix that I can apply.
I don't know about you, but I've never had a hotfix on XP/2k/NT4 break anything. Follow the directions and it works fine.
Yeah, and those patches are what fix the exploits, jabroni. As do patches for any OS.
I bet you read Steve Gibson's little rants on NT security/internet flooding and believe every word he says.
Just as a side note, the regular joe-shmoe home computer user doesn't leave their machine on 24/7. (Unless some old technician/uninformed person told them that repeatedly shutting it off/on is bad for the electronics, ugh)
The same could be said about any person who runs a computer connected to the internet.
One of the problems is that people get on the internet without proper knowledge of networking, services, hotfixes/patches, or even really the basic OS they are using.
It's really not that difficult to maintain an NT4/2k/XP box. Either use Microsoft's free hotfix checking utility, or Shavlik's free personal sercurity advisor. Heck, Microsoft has even designed a patch "push" system so you don't have to restart the server to install most hotfixes.
It only cost me $1150, and it's worked better than I could have imagined. I had my doubts about how games/video would look, but it's only slightly worse than a standard display. UT runs great at 1600x1200. Also, the 2000FP has four different inputs, D-SUB, DVI, SVIDEO, and COMPOSITE.
I would recommend the 2000FP over this piece of junk NEC anyday.
Considering the hotfix that fixes this problem has been on Windows Update since March of 2001, you can blame the morons who don't check Windows Update often.
And can Slashdot turn down the "I hate Microsoft" dial a bit? Having it at 11 all of the time just isn't healthy.
No ATi video card that I know of does hardware MPEG2 decoding or encoding. Some do MPEG2 Hardware Accleration for decoding, which is a completely different thing altogether. Almost any high-end card you can buy nowadays has this acceleration (Matrox, nVidia, ATi).
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Decoding video isn't what needs constant updates, encoding video is. A properly designed codec will work as such. Just look at MPEG2 on DVDs-- most players can still play "new" format DVDs, without needing updates.
This card does have it place. I use mine to play out to a TV while I do other things. My friends can watch an archived movie/tv show (encoded in DivX or MPEG2), while I do other things. And the picture/sound is flawless. Other times I have used it for "VJing" at parties-- showing music videos while people dance to the music. The remote control works great, and doesn't work with just their own player-- you can get remote selector and use it to control winamp and powerdvd as well.
And, of course, if the manufacturer goes out of business, or looses interest, or doesn't support the same favor of M$ software that you want to run, you have a hundred dollars worth of junk.
Couldn't the same be said about any hardware manufacturer? I'm sure they'd have some sort of contingency plan for situations like that. But until they do go out of business, why worry about it?
Unless you're complaining about lack of drivers for other OS's (ie Loonix/BSD).. if so, I can't help you there. Most manufacturers don't want to provide support or drivers for Linux because it's not a "mainstream" desktop OS (and in my opinion, it shouldn't be; it's not ready.) Anyhow..
DivX4 and up can/does encode to MPEG4, and this card really does decode MPEG4.
DivX3, which was the hacked versions of the Microsoft "MPEG4" codecs, is not true MPEG4.
The Hercules Game Theater XP is arguably one of the worst designed/made sound cards ever produced. I'd imagine the reviewer couldn't even get the card working properly, and that's why it's not included in the review.
Yeah, I guess so. Seeing as 90% of the world uses IE as their browser. I'd say that's the standard, fucktard.
And thanks for posting as an AC. You big man you!
than web designers will again have to consider netscape/mozilla when doing pages
No thanks, I don't want to have to write two seperate sets of code because Netscape doesn't want to conform to the standards. Screw AOL users. They should get their heads out of their asses anyhow.
ATi, Matrox, and nVidia chipsets do not do MPEG2 decoding. They have MPEG2 "acceleration" (which is really just a term used to say the card supports DirectDraw, and maybe some automatic pulldown/iDCT functions), but by no means are any of their cards out there fully decoding the video and audio with on-board hardware.
This is a myth that I wish people would stop spreading.
When will Slashdot's editors stop using the term "root" for NT machines? Sheesh.
Most MP3's out there are MPEG 1.0, Layer 3, not MPEG 2.0, Layer 3.
TiVO does not record at 720x480, but rather at 480x480 (SVCD Res).
Given that Linux and Windows 2000/XP replace all BIOS routines once loaded, do these upgrades really matter?
Uhh, last time I checked, you still needed a BIOS to run an OS, chief. And that BIOS isn't "replaced" by Windows or Loonix or FreeBSD or any OS. Certain parts of the OS might interface with the BIOS (re: ACPI, IRQ tables, etc.), but certainly doesn't "bypass" the BIOS.
So yes, BIOS upgrades do matter. Not to mention most of the time upgrading your BIOS will allow you to run "newer" hardware in older motherboards. Faster CPU/RAM, etc.
Why is this even an "Ask Slashdot" question? And why didn't the SlashDot editor catch the fact that this guy is a moron?
Go here.
It doesn't have the most recent, but it's got everything else. Enjoy!
Steel coasters DO flex a bit. Next time you watch a steel coaster, watch the support beams and the loops. They will sway and shake slightly.
Also, I'd argue that a wooden coaster has more "roughness" than a steel coaster does. Not as smooth at all.
XP will always ask you if you wish to reboot after installing hotfixes or installing Windows Update add-ons. If your machine rebooted by itself, it sounds like there might have been other forces at work, and not XP itself.
Or you could just download HFNETCHK to check for new hotfixes occaisionally (it runs in a command window):
k b; EN-US;q303215
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=
And define "fatally crashes". It's probably your poor excuse for a box, or some other pile of crap software you've installed that's caused IE to bomb out.
That is quite possibly the worst analogy I've ever heard. Congratulations for sounding like a complete tool.
Of course I can contact Microsoft, but they won't respond for the shorter of 4 months
Obviously you have never really contacted Microsoft, because they take security issues very seriously, and usually respond back to you within 24 hours (if you've discovered a real security problem)
Even then it usually takes two weeks for a hotfix that breaks half the software on the server, and then another two weeks for a fix for the fix that I can apply.
I don't know about you, but I've never had a hotfix on XP/2k/NT4 break anything. Follow the directions and it works fine.
Yeah, and those patches are what fix the exploits, jabroni. As do patches for any OS.
I bet you read Steve Gibson's little rants on NT security/internet flooding and believe every word he says.
Just as a side note, the regular joe-shmoe home computer user doesn't leave their machine on 24/7. (Unless some old technician/uninformed person told them that repeatedly shutting it off/on is bad for the electronics, ugh)
Just how much easier can they make it? You can already walk right in the front door whistling Dixie with the way things are currently.
Oh, really? Would you mind posting links showing how I can "walk right in the front door whistling dixie" on ANY NT machine? Please?
It's not like they're trying to make crackers work for it - they sneeze and a new crack is born.
Oh yeah, and Linux/FreeBSD/MacOSX has never had an exploit or bug.
The same could be said about any person who runs a computer connected to the internet. One of the problems is that people get on the internet without proper knowledge of networking, services, hotfixes/patches, or even really the basic OS they are using. It's really not that difficult to maintain an NT4/2k/XP box. Either use Microsoft's free hotfix checking utility, or Shavlik's free personal sercurity advisor. Heck, Microsoft has even designed a patch "push" system so you don't have to restart the server to install most hotfixes.
My wrist hurts from deleting over a meg of mail worm viruses a day.
No, your wrist hurts from whacking off too much, and trying to bash Microsoft constantly.
Why don't you get a virus scanner installed on your e-mail server? Maybe that would be a Good Thing (tm).
Jackass.
It only cost me $1150, and it's worked better than I could have imagined. I had my doubts about how games/video would look, but it's only slightly worse than a standard display. UT runs great at 1600x1200. Also, the 2000FP has four different inputs, D-SUB, DVI, SVIDEO, and COMPOSITE.
I would recommend the 2000FP over this piece of junk NEC anyday.
Fire yourself, the download to fix the security problem is only 500k, not "15-45 MB".
This all could have been avoided had the bundled mail program used by millions of people actually been properly tested before it was shipped.
Oh, and I suppose every piece of software leaves the developer 100% bug free? Fire yourself again.
Considering the hotfix that fixes this problem has been on Windows Update since March of 2001, you can blame the morons who don't check Windows Update often. And can Slashdot turn down the "I hate Microsoft" dial a bit? Having it at 11 all of the time just isn't healthy.
No ATi video card that I know of does hardware MPEG2 decoding or encoding. Some do MPEG2 Hardware Accleration for decoding, which is a completely different thing altogether. Almost any high-end card you can buy nowadays has this acceleration (Matrox, nVidia, ATi).
CMFA