Unfortunately the companies own the cars, and they are simply 'licensing' (no pun intended) them to the consumers. This is similar to software these days. For instance with windowsXP, you buy the rights to use the software but do not own it. Microsoft in turn can do whatever they want just like the car companies do whatever they want.
In both cases trampelling on people's rights seems to be normal and accepted.
So far, very nice. But then X Windows came up. Unfortunately, the monitor I normally use for testing is not a multisync monitor. This apparently was a problem for the system as configured. As a result, the screen became entirely unreadable. Faced with this, I decided to do what any novice user would do: I powered the machine off. Yes, I could have gone to one of the text consoles, logged in as root, and issued the shutdown command, but very few Wal-Mart buyers would know about that.
I do not find this part of the article fair. I don't know about most of you, but almost all monitors that have come out in the last 7 or 8 years are multisync compatible. I don't think it's fair to blame ancient hardware not working on the system. Besides, most people who buy these walmart systems would pick up a new, and most likely multisync compatible, monitor.
3) This thing is selling for $90 Canadian (about $60 US) even in the "no one beats our prices" electonics stores.
Agreed! 90$ canadian for a computer video game is outrageous! Thats even more expensive than many console games.
Unfortunately, since I am such blizzard fan, I will undoubtably fork over the 100$ it will cost me (including 15% quebec tax) to buy the game. However I must say that raising the price of a game 20-30$ higher than normal is in no way going to PREVENT piracy.
I think to encourage using sites that dont require registration, slashdot should begin rejecting any submissions that link to sites that do. Normally there is a mirror to a site that does not require registration anyway, and it would make reading slashdot stories alot easier. I personally do not visit any nytimes stories posted on slashdot, I ignore them as if they are not there.
The entire open source philosophy would appeal to china as it is more akin to the countries communist ideals. If china were to switch to MS products, they would be forced to bow down to american capatalism. It would also be very easy for MS to slip in a little 'extra features' that could allow the US government to spy on china more easily. If they are using linux, it would be extremely difficult to spy on them, maybe china realizes this.
Since I am not a terrorist, a drug user, a criminal etc.. I have no fear for blood tests or iris scans and what not. Since I have no plans of killing people or taking over the government I am not bothered if someone knows what my iris looks like or my blood type.
Really, if you have nothing to hide, tests like this shouldn't be an issue at all.
I don't know about you guys, but I don't think neo-nazis or anti-religious (any religion) people deserve any rights. It's hate speach, it spreads a bad message to children, and it is especially damaging to a country already in turmoil.
It would be nice if the united states put more effort into restricting hate sites online.
alot of vis plugins are badly coded and run slow on any system.
check out geisswerks. I can run all their plugins at max detail at 1024 x 768 on my xp 1800 system. I have run them on slower computers and the fps is ussually good.
I feel that flash becoming open source is NOT a good thing for web designers. If it's support becomes more widespread and standard, it could cause web coders to become more lazy. A couple of examples.
Often web designers use marquees. Instead of using the much quicker tag, many designers use bloated swf files for their marquees.
Another way flash is abused is with flashing text. Instead of using the common tag, people create huge swf files to make blinking text.
Another abuse, forms. Instead of using quick java based forms, people often create huge flash files just to input data.
Finally, animations. Coders could easily use dhtml and animated gifs to create effective animations on their page, however instead they use bloated swf files that need state of the art pc's just to run simple anumations.
1. stop playing riaa music. This will help independant artists (such as myself) alot, but will cause people to not hear the music they want to hear at first.
2. Don't host in the US, use overseas servers. The riaa will probably try and make their laws apply to other contries (stupid), but I doubt it will work on all countries.
The same stores that sell those custom built white box pcs also sell parts. Unless you are looking for something hard to find, such as crucial ram (I had alot of trouble finding a store that stocked it, but finally did) then its just easier to get it from a store. If you have a defective product, you can simply bring it back. If you order a defective product, it might take you 6 weeks to get a replacement! By then, the hardware you ordered may have already become obsolete:)
-it doesn't work with window or linux by default (you need special programs to use it)
-itunes SUCKS. I have used itunes on a g4/500 with 384mb ram and it takes at least 30 seconds just to load a playlist of 7 gigs of mp3s.
Toshiba's will probably be cheaper, won't need one of those expensive plastic boxes to run it (aka a mac), and won't force you to use the horrible itunes.
Slashdot Mirror
Unfortunately the companies own the cars, and they are simply 'licensing' (no pun intended) them to the consumers. This is similar to software these days. For instance with windowsXP, you buy the rights to use the software but do not own it. Microsoft in turn can do whatever they want just like the car companies do whatever they want.
In both cases trampelling on people's rights seems to be normal and accepted.
Anyone think its possible they might have just ended up interviewing the latest version of alice?
Now I finally have some weapons with the proper dementions for my weekly 'hamster death match' on the patio.
So far, very nice. But then X Windows came up. Unfortunately, the monitor I normally use for testing is not a multisync monitor. This apparently was a problem for the system as configured. As a result, the screen became entirely unreadable. Faced with this, I decided to do what any novice user would do: I powered the machine off. Yes, I could have gone to one of the text consoles, logged in as root, and issued the shutdown command, but very few Wal-Mart buyers would know about that.
I do not find this part of the article fair. I don't know about most of you, but almost all monitors that have come out in the last 7 or 8 years are multisync compatible. I don't think it's fair to blame ancient hardware not working on the system. Besides, most people who buy these walmart systems would pick up a new, and most likely multisync compatible, monitor.
unfortunately there is no 'American' race. So you cannot say that they are 'large' or 'small', it does not compute.
3) This thing is selling for $90 Canadian (about $60 US) even in the "no one beats our prices" electonics stores.
Agreed! 90$ canadian for a computer video game is outrageous! Thats even more expensive than many console games.
Unfortunately, since I am such blizzard fan, I will undoubtably fork over the 100$ it will cost me (including 15% quebec tax) to buy the game. However I must say that raising the price of a game 20-30$ higher than normal is in no way going to PREVENT piracy.
windows only has nothing to do with it, Decss was for linux and it still got someone in heaploads of trouble.
No source just means the software won't be improved, but it would still be distributed.
I think to encourage using sites that dont require registration, slashdot should begin rejecting any submissions that link to sites that do. Normally there is a mirror to a site that does not require registration anyway, and it would make reading slashdot stories alot easier. I personally do not visit any nytimes stories posted on slashdot, I ignore them as if they are not there.
Most theatres have pay phones. 911 is free.
The entire open source philosophy would appeal to china as it is more akin to the countries communist ideals. If china were to switch to MS products, they would be forced to bow down to american capatalism. It would also be very easy for MS to slip in a little 'extra features' that could allow the US government to spy on china more easily. If they are using linux, it would be extremely difficult to spy on them, maybe china realizes this.
Since I am not a terrorist, a drug user, a criminal etc.. I have no fear for blood tests or iris scans and what not. Since I have no plans of killing people or taking over the government I am not bothered if someone knows what my iris looks like or my blood type.
Really, if you have nothing to hide, tests like this shouldn't be an issue at all.
well the difference between myself and nazis is I didn't kill 6 million jews.
I don't know about you guys, but I don't think neo-nazis or anti-religious (any religion) people deserve any rights. It's hate speach, it spreads a bad message to children, and it is especially damaging to a country already in turmoil.
It would be nice if the united states put more effort into restricting hate sites online.
-a spring loaded fist that punches you if you try and copy any eminem cds
-a spring loaded built in lawyer that will automatically sue you if you try and copy any microsoft OS installation cds
-a beer holder (this is australia)
-australian friendly instructions such as "insert the bloody cd here!"
-anti-croc certification of all machines from the crocodile hunter
alot of vis plugins are badly coded and run slow on any system.
check out geisswerks. I can run all their plugins at max detail at 1024 x 768 on my xp 1800 system. I have run them on slower computers and the fps is ussually good.
If they make a windows codec version available it will run just fine with media player, just like how divx does.
Moby's new album isn't that good, he hasn't gone in any new directions since his last album. It's very predictable.
Blaming bad sales of a weak album on technology is pretty lame.
I feel that flash becoming open source is NOT a good thing for web designers. If it's support becomes more widespread and standard, it could cause web coders to become more lazy. A couple of examples.
Often web designers use marquees. Instead of using the much quicker tag, many designers use bloated swf files for their marquees.
Another way flash is abused is with flashing text. Instead of using the common tag, people create huge swf files to make blinking text.
Another abuse, forms. Instead of using quick java based forms, people often create huge flash files just to input data.
Finally, animations. Coders could easily use dhtml and animated gifs to create effective animations on their page, however instead they use bloated swf files that need state of the art pc's just to run simple anumations.
1. stop playing riaa music. This will help independant artists (such as myself) alot, but will cause people to not hear the music they want to hear at first.
2. Don't host in the US, use overseas servers. The riaa will probably try and make their laws apply to other contries (stupid), but I doubt it will work on all countries.
The same stores that sell those custom built white box pcs also sell parts. Unless you are looking for something hard to find, such as crucial ram (I had alot of trouble finding a store that stocked it, but finally did) then its just easier to get it from a store. If you have a defective product, you can simply bring it back. If you order a defective product, it might take you 6 weeks to get a replacement! By then, the hardware you ordered may have already become obsolete :)
wasn't there a speculation that the terrible devestation in siberia was caused by a small piece of anti-matter?
java has always been in windows (or at least, with IE).
Microsoft didn't include it in XP because of a lawsuit, get your facts straight.
why would someone spend 2 times as much money on a system that is generally slower than a pc that costs half as much? The programs and the OS.
As much as apples hardware is lagging way behind pc's, their OS and programs are easier to use and the average consumer is impressed by that.
a few notes about the ipod:
-it's overpriced
-it doesn't work with window or linux by default (you need special programs to use it)
-itunes SUCKS. I have used itunes on a g4/500 with 384mb ram and it takes at least 30 seconds just to load a playlist of 7 gigs of mp3s.
Toshiba's will probably be cheaper, won't need one of those expensive plastic boxes to run it (aka a mac), and won't force you to use the horrible itunes.
to the trolls of slashdot