I noticed that one of Gates' most interesting points references the value of the software if you consider piracy.
Considering that, he says, it truly comes down to the worth of the product, and that is something I greatly dispute.
As a long time linux and windows user, I've gotten past the flash of geek 'pride'. I dislike MSFT intensely, but yet I still use their OS willingly, despite the numerous flaws (and yes, shoddy code). I have an iBook, which I love immensely, and I have two various Linux boxen. However, WinXP is still my primary OS. Why?
Games. Argue all you like, but until I can pop a copy of any brand-new game I want into my Linux or Mac machines, I'll keep XP. I'll even -pay- for it (not that I have to worry about that for a while, thank you Longhorn), but from what I see in the people I know, that's often the sole sticking point.
Make that easy, and people will forget (or at least be a lot less critical) of a lot of Linux's other problems.
Unfortunately, as of when I checked this (shortly before the timestamp on this post), they'd raised the price to $65 US.
I only hope it's because us/.ers have practically bought them out of these keyboards, and not because they thought they could use the opportunity to milk us techies out of some extra cash.
I suffer from much the same problem. I actually own a 15" LCD, but never use it because things are generally much too small, and increasing font size (or what have you) simply take up so much of the screen estate that it does become fairly unusable. However, I too have a 21" monitor that I've set up to run things more comfortably, and I find it much superior.
As for CRTs totally phasing out, I can't imagine that happening any time in the near future, especially since the cost of an equivalent LCD panel ends up being approximately double (at least in my researches). Until that price goes down, phasing out of CRTs is rather unlikely.. not to mention that there will probably always be some sort of a market for the CRT, if not for those of us who have rather poor eyesight.
What we're all forgetting is that the real problem is voter apathy. Let's face it, when what? 20 percent (and that's probably a gross overestimation -- I don't remember the numbers) of eligible voters ACTUALLY register and vote, this is at the very least, an attempt to get those lazy armchair whiners out there to go and pick a candidate, instead of sleeping in on election day and then spending the next four years griping because they don't like who the/voters/ actually chose. Oh, yes, and let's not forget that this will make it easier for the disabled and elderly to get out and have their say. Yes, I do resent the fact that it's build on Windows as opposed to putting the effort into making it platform-ubiquitous -- But let's concentrate on the possible benefits, too.
You mean that they've been profiting... and still trying to pay off congress to let them profit more?!? Next you'll be telling me the record companies are going bankrupt.
Is it doublethink? I don't agree. There's no contradiction in understanding a concept, but falling prey to it yourself. I sure as hell don't want this in my backyard, nor can I blame those in Nevada who don't either. This is one of those things that nobody wants, and rightly so.
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I noticed that one of Gates' most interesting points references the value of the software if you consider piracy.
Considering that, he says, it truly comes down to the worth of the product, and that is something I greatly dispute.
As a long time linux and windows user, I've gotten past the flash of geek 'pride'. I dislike MSFT intensely, but yet I still use their OS willingly, despite the numerous flaws (and yes, shoddy code). I have an iBook, which I love immensely, and I have two various Linux boxen. However, WinXP is still my primary OS. Why?
Games. Argue all you like, but until I can pop a copy of any brand-new game I want into my Linux or Mac machines, I'll keep XP. I'll even -pay- for it (not that I have to worry about that for a while, thank you Longhorn), but from what I see in the people I know, that's often the sole sticking point.
Make that easy, and people will forget (or at least be a lot less critical) of a lot of Linux's other problems.
I would also point out that there are many other such games, especially for those folks who may not much care for the TOS-era game type.
Star Trek: Paradox (paradox.nashlink.net 1701) has a fairly large playerbase, and focuses on TNG/DS9 era gameplay.
Graphical MMORPGs may be flashy, but there's nothing like text to make you think. And most importantly, this is free.
Unfortunately, as of when I checked this (shortly before the timestamp on this post), they'd raised the price to $65 US. /.ers have practically bought them out of these keyboards, and not because they thought they could use the opportunity to milk us techies out of some extra cash.
I only hope it's because us
I suffer from much the same problem. I actually own a 15" LCD, but never use it because things are generally much too small, and increasing font size (or what have you) simply take up so much of the screen estate that it does become fairly unusable. However, I too have a 21" monitor that I've set up to run things more comfortably, and I find it much superior.
As for CRTs totally phasing out, I can't imagine that happening any time in the near future, especially since the cost of an equivalent LCD panel ends up being approximately double (at least in my researches). Until that price goes down, phasing out of CRTs is rather unlikely.. not to mention that there will probably always be some sort of a market for the CRT, if not for those of us who have rather poor eyesight.
What we're all forgetting is that the real problem is voter apathy. Let's face it, when what? 20 percent (and that's probably a gross overestimation -- I don't remember the numbers) of eligible voters ACTUALLY register and vote, this is at the very least, an attempt to get those lazy armchair whiners out there to go and pick a candidate, instead of sleeping in on election day and then spending the next four years griping because they don't like who the /voters/ actually chose.
Oh, yes, and let's not forget that this will make it easier for the disabled and elderly to get out and have their say. Yes, I do resent the fact that it's build on Windows as opposed to putting the effort into making it platform-ubiquitous -- But let's concentrate on the possible benefits, too.
You mean that they've been profiting... and still trying to pay off congress to let them profit more?!? Next you'll be telling me the record companies are going bankrupt.
Is it doublethink? I don't agree. There's no contradiction in understanding a concept, but falling prey to it yourself.
I sure as hell don't want this in my backyard, nor can I blame those in Nevada who don't either. This is one of those things that nobody wants, and rightly so.
There's only one real answer to this post...
Out of minutes or no, this hiker must have been sitting down to dinner...
Oompa Loompas, indeed. Looks like these people have been a little too heavy into the fizzy lifting drinks, if you get my drift.