Gah, I remember those skeleton Hammerites in Thief as being some of the scariest enemies in any game I've played. It's not just the way they look (which isn't exactly calm-inducing), it's the fact that they run up to you at amazing speed and don't make much noise besides their cackling. They were a good excuse to keep the fire arrows ready at all times.
My understanding (from having seen one in person and having spoken to people in forums about it) is that at least the 12" PowerBook is fine in that regard, and the 17" PowerBook should be the same (same general keyboard and case design).
You don't necessarily need a cloth for the keyboard, by the way: I have a standard 8.5-by-11 piece of paper for my 15" PowerBook, and I have yet to see marks despite a few months' use. You do occasionally have to replace the paper.
I'm glad that I'm not the only one who noticed that they used the specs for the 12" PowerBook in place of the iBook; how fair is a comparison like that... to the Lindows system (or the others, really)? The 12" PowerBook is probably one of the faster and most full-featured laptops in the class, so of course it's going to cost $1799.
The worst part is that it's evident that Lindows isn't just exaggerating the value of their system - they're blatantly trying to deceive people into thinking that they have the only affordable small-sized laptop in existence. One wonders if they think that the $999 iBook only exists in a parallel universe!
No matter how much the cost or weight might be appealing, I can only see this laptop as being a nightmare for anyone who isn't technically experienced. Imagine some middle-aged couple trying to get an Internet connection, for example, or to get their USB printer to work. They probably wouldn't get much help at all from any company outside of Lindows, and "go check out the Ars Technica Linux forum" (as another example) is not going to help when many support-dependent people aren't even savvy enough to recognize when they have something like Windows XP! No matter what you might think of Macs, they at least have some official support beyond their manufacturer.
I understand that it may be heat issues. What's fine in a desktop system, which has space for a big fan/heatsink and to circulate the hot air out, could cause problems in the tight confines of a rack full of 1U servers.
The problem is that this computer is being advertised as an entity unto its own - as an appliance that happens to be a computer. If having Windows was more important than the feature set, then the Profile 4 would be a better deal. For $1499 you get a much faster system and a higher-resolution display.
From what I've seen (in this review and elsewhere), the Vaio W just fits into a horribly awkward spot in the market that will only suit a few people. If you just need a compact all-in-one computer, then Apple and Gateway undercut the price by a few hundred. Both Apple and Gateway also have AIO units that will be considerably better for both DVDs and some light gaming (especially with the 17" iMac's GeForce 4 MX).
The W is only for people who REALLY need to save space, or else appreciate the features of the keyboard-up clock and CD player.
The eMac and iMac don't have L3 cache or a 133+ MHz system bus; both of those are major factors in why the PowerMac is faster, as the G4 depends heavily on having lots of bandwidth (memory and otherwise). Even the 667 MHz PowerBook from last year can beat the current eMacs or iMacs in some cases, simply because of how much room it has to work with.
If you can, wait until the iMac is updated (which should be soon, possibly within a week), and compare their speed to the dual-processor PowerMacs. If the iMac gets a 133 MHz system bus, you might not see as much of a difference between it and a similarly-clocked PowerMac.
I don't think that Microsoft will be sued for damages in this circumstance. Since the fix was already available for several months, it's the fault of the server admin if they didn't patch it up properly.
I think most Mac users would choke on their Wheaties if someone told them that they "should" add serial/parallel ports and a floppy drive to their systems. You DO realize that the only reason they've been on computers so long is because they're legacy devices, right?
And it's fairly evident that you haven't really used or read about Macs as of late. 256 MB is very much useable on most Macs (like my PowerBook 867) running OS X. It's also entirely possible that MacWorld San Francisco will bump up the minimum memory to 256 on at least the iMac, as well as add USB 2 and/or Firewire 2.
Furthermore: the current Firewire spec has actually been demonstrated as being about as fast (or faster) than USB 2 in practice. Most Mac users probably wouldn't care much about USB 2 except that they would want to ensure ultimate compatibility.
I haven't seen anything online suggesting that 15" production will stop altogether, so be wary of those who predict that every iMac will be a 17" model as of next week.
Apple, like most computer manufacturers, will EOL (end-of-line) a product depending on when they release a new model, as well as how many existing models they need to clear out of their stock. Apple could well have just stopped production on the current-generation iMacs because they're about to be replaced, and did so in October because they knew that interest in the initial models was fading fast after almost a year.
Mind you, would I (and others) like it if there were nothing but 17" models at about the same prices? Heck yeah.
Have almost no offect on home users? Funny, I just got a call from a friend this morning - her system had just been infected by a virus (likely Klez), and it was able to both disable Norton Antivirus AND exploit her Outlook Express address book. If a removal tool doesn't work, she'll likely have to reformat her system.
I'd say Windows security vulnerabilities have a significant impact on home users, how about you?
Eeek, when I checked on this article this morning it said that there were exactly 666 comments. For those of you who wanted proof that anything associated with Microsoft is evil incarnate...
While if InterTrust wins they'll probably just force Microsoft to rewrite some sections of their code (which may be a lot of work, but isn't crucial), it's interesting to entertain thoughts of more serious consequences.
Wouldn't it be horribly ironic if a lawsuit like this brought down Microsoft - not necessarily completely, just its monopoly position - while the epic-length antitrust case hardly made a dent? I'm sure there would be quite a few Linux and Mac users dancing in the streets, as thousands of computer companies are forced to stop selling their systems simply because they run Windows.
I'd better stop now, before I let the thought get to my head.:)
That's because you're forced to subsidize the entire cost of Windows Media Player through buying Windows. I suppose Quicktime is at least partially subsidized through buying OS X, but Quicktime Pro's cost is porbably there for a reason...
Anyways, I don't really have problems with Quicktime in Windows. It hasn't crashed on me or exhibited weird bugs (at least, not as of yet). The only thing that bugs me about it is the inability to keep the player window on top of other apps while it's running.
Bell is definitely pervasive in Canada, but (for the Americans who don't know, but still care) thankfully you don't HAVE to go with them on a number of aspects.
You can go with alternative long-distance companies; they may or may not have to pay Bell for the "privilege," but if you're not a Bell supporter then you can at least avoid paying the whole enchilada.
Cellphone service can be provided by Rogers or Telus if you're so inclined. Personally, if I needed a cellphone, I think I'd go with Telus... any company that markets their products with squirrel monkeys can't be all that bad.:)
With satellite, you do have at least one other choice, StarChoice. You can also always go with cable, if you're willing to deal with the cable company (Rogers for me, often Shaw elsewhere or Videotron in Quebec).
ISPs, now there's a sore spot. In terms of DSL, the only alternatives are generally small, local services who still have to pay a bit to use Bell's lines. It's either that or cable (again). On the other hand, I know that at least one DSL provider in Ottawa supposedly goes without a transfer cap.
So you do have alternatives in most areas, but more often than not Bell is there in some capacity, or else you go with the dominating cable company in your area. At least Bell is better than AOL Time Warner down in the states, who practically dominates what Americans see and hear...
Though I'm not altogether enthralled with the thought of running a PDA-level CPU as a "full" computer, that's not really a setback if it's not being used as a serious workhorse (however much the company may claim that they have spectacular performance).
For me, the catch is that they've basically put this 'revolutionary' design into an ordinary, beige mini-tower case (clearly to save costs). If you don't need gobs of power and don't need to worry about that much heat generation, why use up all the extra space? In my mind, it would have probably helped sales more to use one of those slimline desktop case designs, or even a 2U rackmount (assuming the GF2 MX will fit, it might need something closer to a 3U).
Basically, this computer is too big and plain to be practical in terms of the CPU it has. Also, it's not very stylish; when you're trying to advertise your PC as being unique, don't give the impression that it's no different than anything else!
I'm aching to get an iBook or a Powerbook (probably the latter at this rate) in January, and I'm no big fan of Microsoft either - but I do admit that they're doing some things right.
Those Media Centre and Tablet PC editions of Windows may just be glorified versions of XP Professional, but it IS about time that someone set to work on making a fully-featured OS that catered to needs beyond those of someone sitting at a computer desk or laptop.
Things like the PocketPC or Xbox are definitely "me too" products, and it's those that tend to get roasted more often. The Xbox was the first to have a built-in Ethernet card and hard disk, but given the timing (a year later than the PS2) one wonders to what degree Microsoft was just trying to beat Sony to the punch.
I don't think Apple has always tried to boast that it's the first with everything, just that it's clever at how it approaches its products. The iPod *is* pretty neat... I don't have one, but there's no question that having Firewire plus the ability to auto-sync your MP3s is rather convenient. And let's not forget the new iMac. It might look like it should be called the iLamp, but it's probably the most un-computerlike design I've ever seen. A lot more inviting than a beige (or black, thanks to Dell and IBM) box.
For sake of reference: I'm still keeping my Windows XP box for games.
Re:Biodiesel and fleets
on
239 MPG Car
·
· Score: 1
You're apparently very used to American gas stations, since even here in Canada (let alone in Europe) diesel is an option at quite a few "regular" gas stations.
That, in turn, makes it fairly easy to live with a diesel car or truck. My mother has one of the current-generation Jetta TDI models, and 60 MPG certainly isn't unheard of with her car. She can't refill absolutely anywhere, but she won't ever be stranded - and when you sometimes only have to refill once a month, it's not a major problem.:)
That 1L concept is snazzy, but what I want to see is the technology being applied to more mundane cars, or at least going to the top-end to let the existing technology filter down. If a Jetta TDI can easily reach 60 MPG with its existing design, imagine what it would do with "just" an aluminum engine block and chassis!
I don't think it can get much simpler than a direct USB cable and some direct-conversion software. Also, if your Windows computer has a CD writer, why not just copy your documents/images/music over that way?
The simple fact is that you'd have to arrange for a transfer even if you were just getting another Windows computer (Detto has "IntelliMover" hardware/software on their site that handles this very task), so this is very much a logical solution on Apple's part.
The currently suggested date is November 5th; MacPlus has "sources" that are confirming the new TiBook and/or a new 19" widescreen display for around then. Sites like MacRumors are claiming that they have confirmation of this, though we'll see. All I know is that A) early November would make it just past 6 months since the last update for the TiBook, and B) MacWorld Expo Spain begins the very same day.
There's no definite specs, but it's likely that we'll see something like 800/1000 MHz processor options (I've heard that it may be 867/1000), and maybe DDR memory and/or a Superdrive option. The cooling and paint processes may be improved as well.
Slashdot Mirror
You want a game that affected me in a literal sense? Descent! It's the only 3D game where I actually started to feel sick from disorientation.
:)
Thankfully, I eventually got over it... by playing Descent over and over again.
Gah, I remember those skeleton Hammerites in Thief as being some of the scariest enemies in any game I've played. It's not just the way they look (which isn't exactly calm-inducing), it's the fact that they run up to you at amazing speed and don't make much noise besides their cackling. They were a good excuse to keep the fire arrows ready at all times.
Something tells me that it's because everyone and their mother is hitting the site. ;)
Apple might have huge capacity, but I don't think they expect everyone to storm the ramparts like this every day.
My understanding (from having seen one in person and having spoken to people in forums about it) is that at least the 12" PowerBook is fine in that regard, and the 17" PowerBook should be the same (same general keyboard and case design).
You don't necessarily need a cloth for the keyboard, by the way: I have a standard 8.5-by-11 piece of paper for my 15" PowerBook, and I have yet to see marks despite a few months' use. You do occasionally have to replace the paper.
I'm glad that I'm not the only one who noticed that they used the specs for the 12" PowerBook in place of the iBook; how fair is a comparison like that... to the Lindows system (or the others, really)? The 12" PowerBook is probably one of the faster and most full-featured laptops in the class, so of course it's going to cost $1799.
The worst part is that it's evident that Lindows isn't just exaggerating the value of their system - they're blatantly trying to deceive people into thinking that they have the only affordable small-sized laptop in existence. One wonders if they think that the $999 iBook only exists in a parallel universe!
No matter how much the cost or weight might be appealing, I can only see this laptop as being a nightmare for anyone who isn't technically experienced. Imagine some middle-aged couple trying to get an Internet connection, for example, or to get their USB printer to work. They probably wouldn't get much help at all from any company outside of Lindows, and "go check out the Ars Technica Linux forum" (as another example) is not going to help when many support-dependent people aren't even savvy enough to recognize when they have something like Windows XP! No matter what you might think of Macs, they at least have some official support beyond their manufacturer.
I understand that it may be heat issues. What's fine in a desktop system, which has space for a big fan/heatsink and to circulate the hot air out, could cause problems in the tight confines of a rack full of 1U servers.
The problem is that this computer is being advertised as an entity unto its own - as an appliance that happens to be a computer. If having Windows was more important than the feature set, then the Profile 4 would be a better deal. For $1499 you get a much faster system and a higher-resolution display.
From what I've seen (in this review and elsewhere), the Vaio W just fits into a horribly awkward spot in the market that will only suit a few people. If you just need a compact all-in-one computer, then Apple and Gateway undercut the price by a few hundred. Both Apple and Gateway also have AIO units that will be considerably better for both DVDs and some light gaming (especially with the 17" iMac's GeForce 4 MX).
The W is only for people who REALLY need to save space, or else appreciate the features of the keyboard-up clock and CD player.
The eMac and iMac don't have L3 cache or a 133+ MHz system bus; both of those are major factors in why the PowerMac is faster, as the G4 depends heavily on having lots of bandwidth (memory and otherwise). Even the 667 MHz PowerBook from last year can beat the current eMacs or iMacs in some cases, simply because of how much room it has to work with.
If you can, wait until the iMac is updated (which should be soon, possibly within a week), and compare their speed to the dual-processor PowerMacs. If the iMac gets a 133 MHz system bus, you might not see as much of a difference between it and a similarly-clocked PowerMac.
I don't think that Microsoft will be sued for damages in this circumstance. Since the fix was already available for several months, it's the fault of the server admin if they didn't patch it up properly.
Does having Internet access on Everest bring new meaning to the term "lag spike?" :)
Someone mod up this comment as "funny!" It's so true. :)
I think most Mac users would choke on their Wheaties if someone told them that they "should" add serial/parallel ports and a floppy drive to their systems. You DO realize that the only reason they've been on computers so long is because they're legacy devices, right?
And it's fairly evident that you haven't really used or read about Macs as of late. 256 MB is very much useable on most Macs (like my PowerBook 867) running OS X. It's also entirely possible that MacWorld San Francisco will bump up the minimum memory to 256 on at least the iMac, as well as add USB 2 and/or Firewire 2.
Furthermore: the current Firewire spec has actually been demonstrated as being about as fast (or faster) than USB 2 in practice. Most Mac users probably wouldn't care much about USB 2 except that they would want to ensure ultimate compatibility.
I haven't seen anything online suggesting that 15" production will stop altogether, so be wary of those who predict that every iMac will be a 17" model as of next week.
Apple, like most computer manufacturers, will EOL (end-of-line) a product depending on when they release a new model, as well as how many existing models they need to clear out of their stock. Apple could well have just stopped production on the current-generation iMacs because they're about to be replaced, and did so in October because they knew that interest in the initial models was fading fast after almost a year.
Mind you, would I (and others) like it if there were nothing but 17" models at about the same prices? Heck yeah.
Have almost no offect on home users? Funny, I just got a call from a friend this morning - her system had just been infected by a virus (likely Klez), and it was able to both disable Norton Antivirus AND exploit her Outlook Express address book. If a removal tool doesn't work, she'll likely have to reformat her system.
I'd say Windows security vulnerabilities have a significant impact on home users, how about you?
Eeek, when I checked on this article this morning it said that there were exactly 666 comments. For those of you who wanted proof that anything associated with Microsoft is evil incarnate...
While if InterTrust wins they'll probably just force Microsoft to rewrite some sections of their code (which may be a lot of work, but isn't crucial), it's interesting to entertain thoughts of more serious consequences.
:)
Wouldn't it be horribly ironic if a lawsuit like this brought down Microsoft - not necessarily completely, just its monopoly position - while the epic-length antitrust case hardly made a dent? I'm sure there would be quite a few Linux and Mac users dancing in the streets, as thousands of computer companies are forced to stop selling their systems simply because they run Windows.
I'd better stop now, before I let the thought get to my head.
That's because you're forced to subsidize the entire cost of Windows Media Player through buying Windows. I suppose Quicktime is at least partially subsidized through buying OS X, but Quicktime Pro's cost is porbably there for a reason...
Anyways, I don't really have problems with Quicktime in Windows. It hasn't crashed on me or exhibited weird bugs (at least, not as of yet). The only thing that bugs me about it is the inability to keep the player window on top of other apps while it's running.
Bell is definitely pervasive in Canada, but (for the Americans who don't know, but still care) thankfully you don't HAVE to go with them on a number of aspects.
You can go with alternative long-distance companies; they may or may not have to pay Bell for the "privilege," but if you're not a Bell supporter then you can at least avoid paying the whole enchilada.
Cellphone service can be provided by Rogers or Telus if you're so inclined. Personally, if I needed a cellphone, I think I'd go with Telus... any company that markets their products with squirrel monkeys can't be all that bad. :)
With satellite, you do have at least one other choice, StarChoice. You can also always go with cable, if you're willing to deal with the cable company (Rogers for me, often Shaw elsewhere or Videotron in Quebec).
ISPs, now there's a sore spot. In terms of DSL, the only alternatives are generally small, local services who still have to pay a bit to use Bell's lines. It's either that or cable (again). On the other hand, I know that at least one DSL provider in Ottawa supposedly goes without a transfer cap.
So you do have alternatives in most areas, but more often than not Bell is there in some capacity, or else you go with the dominating cable company in your area. At least Bell is better than AOL Time Warner down in the states, who practically dominates what Americans see and hear...
Though I'm not altogether enthralled with the thought of running a PDA-level CPU as a "full" computer, that's not really a setback if it's not being used as a serious workhorse (however much the company may claim that they have spectacular performance).
For me, the catch is that they've basically put this 'revolutionary' design into an ordinary, beige mini-tower case (clearly to save costs). If you don't need gobs of power and don't need to worry about that much heat generation, why use up all the extra space? In my mind, it would have probably helped sales more to use one of those slimline desktop case designs, or even a 2U rackmount (assuming the GF2 MX will fit, it might need something closer to a 3U).
Basically, this computer is too big and plain to be practical in terms of the CPU it has. Also, it's not very stylish; when you're trying to advertise your PC as being unique, don't give the impression that it's no different than anything else!
I'm aching to get an iBook or a Powerbook (probably the latter at this rate) in January, and I'm no big fan of Microsoft either - but I do admit that they're doing some things right.
Those Media Centre and Tablet PC editions of Windows may just be glorified versions of XP Professional, but it IS about time that someone set to work on making a fully-featured OS that catered to needs beyond those of someone sitting at a computer desk or laptop.
Things like the PocketPC or Xbox are definitely "me too" products, and it's those that tend to get roasted more often. The Xbox was the first to have a built-in Ethernet card and hard disk, but given the timing (a year later than the PS2) one wonders to what degree Microsoft was just trying to beat Sony to the punch.
I don't think Apple has always tried to boast that it's the first with everything, just that it's clever at how it approaches its products. The iPod *is* pretty neat... I don't have one, but there's no question that having Firewire plus the ability to auto-sync your MP3s is rather convenient. And let's not forget the new iMac. It might look like it should be called the iLamp, but it's probably the most un-computerlike design I've ever seen. A lot more inviting than a beige (or black, thanks to Dell and IBM) box.
For sake of reference: I'm still keeping my Windows XP box for games.
You're apparently very used to American gas stations, since even here in Canada (let alone in Europe) diesel is an option at quite a few "regular" gas stations.
:)
That, in turn, makes it fairly easy to live with a diesel car or truck. My mother has one of the current-generation Jetta TDI models, and 60 MPG certainly isn't unheard of with her car. She can't refill absolutely anywhere, but she won't ever be stranded - and when you sometimes only have to refill once a month, it's not a major problem.
That 1L concept is snazzy, but what I want to see is the technology being applied to more mundane cars, or at least going to the top-end to let the existing technology filter down. If a Jetta TDI can easily reach 60 MPG with its existing design, imagine what it would do with "just" an aluminum engine block and chassis!
I don't think it can get much simpler than a direct USB cable and some direct-conversion software. Also, if your Windows computer has a CD writer, why not just copy your documents/images/music over that way?
The simple fact is that you'd have to arrange for a transfer even if you were just getting another Windows computer (Detto has "IntelliMover" hardware/software on their site that handles this very task), so this is very much a logical solution on Apple's part.
If you drop this laptop from a plane, I'm sure it will!
The currently suggested date is November 5th; MacPlus has "sources" that are confirming the new TiBook and/or a new 19" widescreen display for around then. Sites like MacRumors are claiming that they have confirmation of this, though we'll see. All I know is that A) early November would make it just past 6 months since the last update for the TiBook, and B) MacWorld Expo Spain begins the very same day.
There's no definite specs, but it's likely that we'll see something like 800/1000 MHz processor options (I've heard that it may be 867/1000), and maybe DDR memory and/or a Superdrive option. The cooling and paint processes may be improved as well.