Except...
#1) Lack of software. There's not even a version of Photoshop working on OS-X yet!
#2) The games are crap
#3) You overpay for fixed configuration hardware
#4) One button mouse? You've got to be kidding me...
#5) This ain't the early 90s anymore. Quality of many of the Mac products is just as crappy now.
Sorry, not a viable solution and your suggestion is barely related to the topic of this post.
Disable region encoding; diable macrovision; NTSC/PAL/RSC format supported; mp3 supported; component out. Only thing this is missing is progressive scan.
There is a good reason for these players, however. They are clearly easier to manufacture, resulting in a cost savings for the consumer. Instead of maintaining 5 separate product lines with different hardware configurations, there is a single line with a flashable BIOS at the end for each region. So Daewoo isn't courting the after-market hackers, but rather just being a good manufacteurer.
I can't see myself ever using this service. I have a hard time with traditional rentals. Looking at a cost benefit analysis, a new movie in the theatre typically costs $12.50 per adult in Canada. For my wife and I, that's $25, plus the possibility of a popcorn combo for another $10 so we're now at $35. For the price of one night out, we can save money on gas & the hassel and BUY most new-release DVDs (typically $25 here). With our new 53HX71 Toshiba + surround sound (pro logic...sorry) it's pretty close to the real deal. The thing with DVDs is that I see a $20 value...CDs I see a $2 value, hence mp3s, but if I can buy and own I would never, ever rent.
Conclusive proof that the internet is becoming all pervasive. It would also be nice, now, if the government could help facilitate future growth via funded expansion of shared infrastructure. Broadband access is apparently become less readily available and more costly, right at a time when demand for access is increasing. Just as there is a federal highway system, it would be nice to see a federally funded mega-sized inter-state backbone that would ensure bandwidth needs are met in future. The auto industry was the bellweather of the american economy for 50-75 years, but that industry was not responsible for funding the deployment of roads and highways. Similarly, software companies and internet services would greatly benefit from a shared, open infrastructure that ensures all Americans have access.
Of course, I'm a Canadian so what do I know?;)
Always pay in cash if you can. Don't participate in "points" programs. Keep your loans/credit cards with banks as opposed to retail chains. Avoid participating in raffles/draws. A couple of pieces of common sense and you can live a relatively hassel-free life...
This is probably the biggest reason why people resist subscription or service models with regards to technology -- we want our privacy. Tivo is not available here in Canada, but I assumed that it was a set top box that worked similar to a VCR, NOT as an addressable, readable device like a descrambler. This is an innocent use of the product, but who knows what insidious marketing schemes will be hatched in future based on this? I don't want Microsoft watching what I do on my TV; I don't want my telephone company listening to my telephone calls; and I don't want my cable provider knowing what I watch, when I watch it.
From the newsbytes article:
"In the interview, Austin acknowledged that he vandalized the Web sites and that he knew it was illegal to do so. But he defended the act by saying it was necessary to get his message out." So he acknowledges he does something illegal, and then complains about being arrested? SWAT team may be overkill for an 18 punk hacker, but then again there were instructions on bomb making materials. In the heightened state of alert for all police forces since Sept 11, they'd be foolish not to be prepared. People may try to simplify this to a "free speech" or "destruction of the free internet" argument, but I think this case is pretty much cut and dried.
I think you raise a good point; I watched Nature last night on WNED (Buffalo) and it had 3 corporate sponsors at the end, all with a 20 second blurb. I don't think that advertising necessarily is an evil; the "public" broadcasters in other countries do it. However, whereas PBS gets some government funding and begs/borrows/steals the rest, I think the FCC should be setting an example. Run a really good public television station that aims higher than the lowest common denominator. Pure 100% laissez faire capitalism will result in "When Animals Attack Millionares Part VI".
As an added point to this effect, I believe the US is the only country in the Western Hemisphere (okay, 1st world western country) to not have a public broadcaster. Canada's got the CBC, England has the BBC, I think France has TV5... etc etc.
Surely the US can show the Ukraine how this will benefit their economy as well. Think of how many millions of dollars (rubles?) are lost due to the 'pirating' of Ukrainian pop music in China. I wonder what percentage of their GDP '99 Luftballoons' accounts for...
Reminds me of the old Max Headroom TV series..."off" switches for TVs are completely illegal (punishable by capital punishment IIRC). For what it's worth, I watch DVDs now much more than regular TV (except for sports)...if a TV show is good enough, it'll make it to syndication (e.g. Homicide:LOTS; Futurama one day) and then ultimately to a complete DVD set that I rent/buy.
Universal is dirty! Apparently the first victim of a major class action lawsuit by artists...for defrauding them of past royalties. Glad they're adding copy protection to protect the artists' rights! (sic)
http://artscanada.cbc.ca/artsNow/index.jsp?label=l ee020117
The great unaccessed Market of China is an absolute myth. What is their buying power? Nil. And guess what? Relatively democratic, geographically accessible, resource rich countries (e.g. South America) have been around for decades and yet they are still straddling the line between 2nd and 3rd world economies. What happened to trade lifting up the masses via economic growth and exapnsion? It's a joke. You have close to a billion people south of us, and their average buying power is less than that of a Des Moines McDonalds trainee.
Because it doesn't add anything to the bottom line! It is not a profitable activity; it serves no purpose but to make money for another company. I do not audit my employees to confirm that they pay the government the right amount of income tax; i do not audit the cars in our parking lot to confirm they're license plates are up to date. Our company pays up front rate for a new computer loaded with standard software: Win2k, MS Office; and some other utilities. We've paid up front for licensing. I should not be required arbitrarily to have to audit at the behest of another company. If a company comes through clean from one of these audits, I hope they sue to BSA for the costs.
I sense an MS troll, but I'll respond anyways...
MS makes easy to use products. Cool, good for them, their application software isn't too shabby actually. But if we use a car manufacturing analogy, some cars have standard, others automatic. How long do you think the feds would allow automatics on the road if they were less safe, inferior quality, etc? Microsoft is awarded with good sales because they market simple to use products. If the quality of that product is lacking, however, they should suffer the consequences.
Slashdot Mirror
Except... #1) Lack of software. There's not even a version of Photoshop working on OS-X yet! #2) The games are crap #3) You overpay for fixed configuration hardware #4) One button mouse? You've got to be kidding me... #5) This ain't the early 90s anymore. Quality of many of the Mac products is just as crappy now. Sorry, not a viable solution and your suggestion is barely related to the topic of this post.
My current understanding of the 'hackable' DVD market indicates that the Daewoo 5700 is the current holy grail model.
http://www.dvd-wizards.com/darrenk/Daewoo_DVD5700
Disable region encoding; diable macrovision; NTSC/PAL/RSC format supported; mp3 supported; component out. Only thing this is missing is progressive scan.
There is a good reason for these players, however. They are clearly easier to manufacture, resulting in a cost savings for the consumer. Instead of maintaining 5 separate product lines with different hardware configurations, there is a single line with a flashable BIOS at the end for each region. So Daewoo isn't courting the after-market hackers, but rather just being a good manufacteurer.
I can't see myself ever using this service. I have a hard time with traditional rentals. Looking at a cost benefit analysis, a new movie in the theatre typically costs $12.50 per adult in Canada. For my wife and I, that's $25, plus the possibility of a popcorn combo for another $10 so we're now at $35. For the price of one night out, we can save money on gas & the hassel and BUY most new-release DVDs (typically $25 here). With our new 53HX71 Toshiba + surround sound (pro logic...sorry) it's pretty close to the real deal. The thing with DVDs is that I see a $20 value...CDs I see a $2 value, hence mp3s, but if I can buy and own I would never, ever rent.
antidisestablishmentarianism thundercats Does thundercats count? It's a proper name. PS I'm scared where my train of thought takes me sometimes...
Conclusive proof that the internet is becoming all pervasive. It would also be nice, now, if the government could help facilitate future growth via funded expansion of shared infrastructure. Broadband access is apparently become less readily available and more costly, right at a time when demand for access is increasing. Just as there is a federal highway system, it would be nice to see a federally funded mega-sized inter-state backbone that would ensure bandwidth needs are met in future. The auto industry was the bellweather of the american economy for 50-75 years, but that industry was not responsible for funding the deployment of roads and highways. Similarly, software companies and internet services would greatly benefit from a shared, open infrastructure that ensures all Americans have access. Of course, I'm a Canadian so what do I know? ;)
Always pay in cash if you can. Don't participate in "points" programs. Keep your loans/credit cards with banks as opposed to retail chains. Avoid participating in raffles/draws. A couple of pieces of common sense and you can live a relatively hassel-free life...
This is probably the biggest reason why people resist subscription or service models with regards to technology -- we want our privacy. Tivo is not available here in Canada, but I assumed that it was a set top box that worked similar to a VCR, NOT as an addressable, readable device like a descrambler. This is an innocent use of the product, but who knows what insidious marketing schemes will be hatched in future based on this? I don't want Microsoft watching what I do on my TV; I don't want my telephone company listening to my telephone calls; and I don't want my cable provider knowing what I watch, when I watch it.
We would only target Starbucks -- honest.
From the newsbytes article: "In the interview, Austin acknowledged that he vandalized the Web sites and that he knew it was illegal to do so. But he defended the act by saying it was necessary to get his message out." So he acknowledges he does something illegal, and then complains about being arrested? SWAT team may be overkill for an 18 punk hacker, but then again there were instructions on bomb making materials. In the heightened state of alert for all police forces since Sept 11, they'd be foolish not to be prepared. People may try to simplify this to a "free speech" or "destruction of the free internet" argument, but I think this case is pretty much cut and dried.
I think you raise a good point; I watched Nature last night on WNED (Buffalo) and it had 3 corporate sponsors at the end, all with a 20 second blurb. I don't think that advertising necessarily is an evil; the "public" broadcasters in other countries do it. However, whereas PBS gets some government funding and begs/borrows/steals the rest, I think the FCC should be setting an example. Run a really good public television station that aims higher than the lowest common denominator. Pure 100% laissez faire capitalism will result in "When Animals Attack Millionares Part VI".
As an added point to this effect, I believe the US is the only country in the Western Hemisphere (okay, 1st world western country) to not have a public broadcaster. Canada's got the CBC, England has the BBC, I think France has TV5... etc etc.
Surely the US can show the Ukraine how this will benefit their economy as well. Think of how many millions of dollars (rubles?) are lost due to the 'pirating' of Ukrainian pop music in China. I wonder what percentage of their GDP '99 Luftballoons' accounts for...
Reminds me of the old Max Headroom TV series..."off" switches for TVs are completely illegal (punishable by capital punishment IIRC). For what it's worth, I watch DVDs now much more than regular TV (except for sports)...if a TV show is good enough, it'll make it to syndication (e.g. Homicide:LOTS; Futurama one day) and then ultimately to a complete DVD set that I rent/buy.
Universal is dirty! Apparently the first victim of a major class action lawsuit by artists...for defrauding them of past royalties. Glad they're adding copy protection to protect the artists' rights! (sic)l ee020117
http://artscanada.cbc.ca/artsNow/index.jsp?label=
The great unaccessed Market of China is an absolute myth. What is their buying power? Nil. And guess what? Relatively democratic, geographically accessible, resource rich countries (e.g. South America) have been around for decades and yet they are still straddling the line between 2nd and 3rd world economies. What happened to trade lifting up the masses via economic growth and exapnsion? It's a joke. You have close to a billion people south of us, and their average buying power is less than that of a Des Moines McDonalds trainee.
Because it doesn't add anything to the bottom line! It is not a profitable activity; it serves no purpose but to make money for another company. I do not audit my employees to confirm that they pay the government the right amount of income tax; i do not audit the cars in our parking lot to confirm they're license plates are up to date. Our company pays up front rate for a new computer loaded with standard software: Win2k, MS Office; and some other utilities. We've paid up front for licensing. I should not be required arbitrarily to have to audit at the behest of another company. If a company comes through clean from one of these audits, I hope they sue to BSA for the costs.
I sense an MS troll, but I'll respond anyways... MS makes easy to use products. Cool, good for them, their application software isn't too shabby actually. But if we use a car manufacturing analogy, some cars have standard, others automatic. How long do you think the feds would allow automatics on the road if they were less safe, inferior quality, etc? Microsoft is awarded with good sales because they market simple to use products. If the quality of that product is lacking, however, they should suffer the consequences.
!yaw on