Re:HL2 == Highest rated PC game ever reviewed
on
Review: Half-Life 2
·
· Score: 1
Very, very few reviewers will ever dock a game for not being cross-platform.
Halo 2 certainly hasn't lost any reviewer points for being an XBOX exclusive title, same for GTA: San Andreas and the like.
Sure, it'd be nice if you could play it on the OS of your choice, but the fact that you can't doesn't make it any less of a great game.
HL2 == Highest rated PC game ever reviewed
on
Review: Half-Life 2
·
· Score: 1
In case it hasn't been mentioned already, the average of all reviews for Half-Life 2 has made it the second highest rated video game of all time (Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time is the first), and the highest rated PC game overall. http://www.gamerankings.com/
As much as I dislike the buggy steam activation system, the game is deserving of its ranking.
My understanding is they're pushing Firefox/Thunderbird (and perhaps Sunbird eventually) because they want to move away from the complex all-in-one swiss-army knife of a browser. Firefox's UI is much more simple and streamlined than Mozilla's, so it's naturally going to be the horse they're going to back when they advertise to Joe User. The separate application approach also makes more sense in terms of development and debugging. When you have 5 different applications under one roof and bugs start cropping up, weeding problems out becomes a much more complex task.
Now from what I understand, the Mozilla suite won't be entirely phased out. if you look at the roadmap it states they will continue to update and support the Mozilla browser suite (codenamed Seamonkey). They understand they still have Mozilla customers, and they're not going to leave them out in the cold.
But in terms of attracting and maintaining a new mainstream userbase, they know Firefox is a better solution in the long run.
My computer? When did I mention my computer?
My personal computer doesn't need to go through any of that, I use Firefox.
And if Microsoft would bother to make a properly permissioned OS with a web-ready application that DOESN'T give remote root access faster than you can say "please", then this article wouldn't exist in the first place.
Yeah, I'll usually install Firefox, along with the explination that if they use it they're not likely to get the same sort of infections (which is probably the only way to modivate them out of their set ways of clicking the IE icon to browse).
Our store gets about 15-20 units checked in per-day. Believe me, I have no need of repeat infections and re-works.
...I fully concur with that estimation, if not higher.
At least 8 of the 10 computers that I fix follow this routine:
Update and run AV program, if possible.
Install Adaware, update, run.
Install Spybot S&D, update, run.
Run CWShredder.
Fire up a HijackThis! log and manually remove the leftovers.
I'm getting pretty damn good at filtering out the hijackthis logs, too.
Seriously, if you familiarize yourself with spyware removal, you could make a killing on the home PC market. Manufacturers won't help you with spyware. It's getting to the point where the retail chains and PC shops won't deal with it either; they'll simply offer you a format/reinstall.
They're always at the regular $299/399/499 price, never at a discount of any sort. You read that right, it's 'for sale' at the *regular* price. Stores guilty of this include Best Buy, Circuit City, Target, and CompUSA. Why do stores do this? How often?
CompUSA does this in just about every single ad they circulate. They do it to generate traffic for people who don't know any better.
That's pretty much the entire reason CompUSA exists: People don't know any better.
As far as if Apple will discount the iPod? Don't bet on it anytime soon. The only reason iTunes was released free for Windows was because Apple hoped it would help fuel iPod sales.
It wasn't First Contact, it wasn't The Wrath of Kahn (though there were similarites), but it did have its good points. It was certainly better than Insurrection (I would like those two hours of my life back plz? kthx).
But then, maybe I've been desensitized from watching Voyager and Enterprise episodes.
I mean come on, even something as silly as Buffy the Vampire Slayer has better plotlines and character development.
Subject: My computer, my bandwidth, my choice. To: general@anti-leech.com MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Length: 636
I must say, the gall of your company is simply astounding. In this market, where consumer confidence is dropping and the market is as sluggish as it is, you have the audacity to claim that those people who do not allow subversive and potentially malicious code onto the computer which they own, to be thieves.
What's more, you employ methods to block access to people wishing to give companies their money, by your estimates, as many as 15%. I wonder if it occurred to you that the reason popup blockers are so popular, is that people have no desire to see popup ads, nor do they do anything but close them as soon as they appear. Or that they would take an even more severe approach, to vow never to purchase from such companies that apply such obtrusive and invasive tactics.
Again, I applaud you for your utter arrogance in the face of common sense. I only advise you to keep your resumes polished and ready, I do believe you well be needing them in the near future.
If you haven't seen it in CN already, Outlaw Star is fairly similar to Cowboy Bebop. The artwork and the content aren't quite as mesmorizing as Bebop, but it's still worth the ride.
Also, if you haven't, you need to see Akira, Ghost in the Shell, Princess Mononoke, and Spirited Away too, if at all possible. Even if you end up not liking them, the quality of these works is undenyable. Rent 'em if nothing else.
While not exactly like Cowboy Bebop, Escaflowne is a fantastic fantasy series. And the music is done by the same composer as Cowboy Bebop, the extrordinarily gifted Yoko Kanno (suck it, John Williams).
Also, as you're a slashdotter and presumably into technology and communications, go check out Serial Experements Lain. Very different. Very mind-blowing. Very cool.
As far as the points of eyestrain and glare, this handy-dandy item will alleviate most, if not all of those problems. Aside from being easy on the eyes, they're also just dang cool, a must for geeks and non-geeks stationed behind monitors alike.
Penny-Arcade has said
all that needs to be said, as far as which platform "0wnz", and which is "pwned".
Seriously though, if you really consider yourself a dedicated gamer, you play both console and PC. Purists be damned, they're no better off for their irrational zealosy. Both platforms have great things to offer, and neither one is going away anytime soon. You would think people would take advantage of that awesome diversity and be grateful, instead of being such chattybitch llamas.
--because no self respecting geek would get a Dell.
True, they were better when they were expensive and unpopular. However, now that neither of these are true, they're going down the same road as every other garbage OEM desktop manufacturer.
They've already started with the proprietary crap (proprietary motherboard + proprietary power supply = can't upgrade either one seperately). I'm sure it won't be long before they start
putting the BIOS on the hard disk, or something equally stupid.
Honestly, if you're at all serious about computers, pick up a good PC hardware book and build your own. Even if you don't do it right the first time and make your mistakes, the knowledge gained is more than worth it.
You were looking for actual news? Man, has someone ever lost his way...
Re:Social bonds dispersing not breaking...
on
Browsing Alone
·
· Score: 1
I'll give testimony to that. I made the best friends of my life in college, and now that we're all out, they're... everywhere. Everywhere but here, that is. True, there are still some in the same state as I, but at least one is currently as far away as Puerto Rico! Yet, we're able to log on to our message board of choice (it's a bbs, even) and stay in contact as if we were shooting the breeze on the old campus grounds. And for this ability, I am deeply grateful.
And yes, I've had the opportunity to make very meaningful, close friendships which started out as nothing more than internet-relay babble.
Currently I believe there is a shortage of support and developers for computer related handicapped devices and applications (at least that's my understanding from my conversations with those who've worked with and had experience with this area).
I wondered if some open source avenues could be taken toward this end, since what these people need is effective, reliable, and long lasting software.
Granted, it's not overseas saving the world behind a console, but it's a good start, and a nobel endevor none the less.
Really, as far as I'm concerned, Farscape is the only sci-fi show currently airing that's delivering real quality in nearly every aspect. It's the only sci-fi I've watched lately and said, "Wow, that kicked ass!"
Especially after the monstrosity that was the X-Files premiere. Gggggghhhuuu....
This wasn't the typical IT setting I'm sure, but I had a blast with the guys (and girls!) when I worked helpdesk at the college I was going to.
Some were full time employees, some were part time students, but it really wasn't a large staff. I'd say about 15 to 20 people made up the whole department (the college was moderatly small). It helped that I knew a few of the student workers from on campus, but most of the staff was quite friendly anyway.
Some of the guys there just plain hilarious, as a good number of geeks seem to be, so it was ovearall a very pleasent work atmosphere. The helpdesk coordinator at the time would give all the IT employees a cookout at his home at the end of the year, those were always nice to be a part of.
One of our real vices was playing Quake II (yeah, I know, it was new then, shaddup) on the LAN after hours. Man I miss that job...
Slashdot Mirror
Very, very few reviewers will ever dock a game for not being cross-platform. Halo 2 certainly hasn't lost any reviewer points for being an XBOX exclusive title, same for GTA: San Andreas and the like. Sure, it'd be nice if you could play it on the OS of your choice, but the fact that you can't doesn't make it any less of a great game.
In case it hasn't been mentioned already, the average of all reviews for Half-Life 2 has made it the second highest rated video game of all time (Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time is the first), and the highest rated PC game overall.
http://www.gamerankings.com/
As much as I dislike the buggy steam activation system, the game is deserving of its ranking.
My understanding is they're pushing Firefox/Thunderbird (and perhaps Sunbird eventually) because they want to move away from the complex all-in-one swiss-army knife of a browser. Firefox's UI is much more simple and streamlined than Mozilla's, so it's naturally going to be the horse they're going to back when they advertise to Joe User. The separate application approach also makes more sense in terms of development and debugging. When you have 5 different applications under one roof and bugs start cropping up, weeding problems out becomes a much more complex task.
Now from what I understand, the Mozilla suite won't be entirely phased out. if you look at the roadmap it states they will continue to update and support the Mozilla browser suite (codenamed Seamonkey). They understand they still have Mozilla customers, and they're not going to leave them out in the cold.
But in terms of attracting and maintaining a new mainstream userbase, they know Firefox is a better solution in the long run.
My computer? When did I mention my computer? My personal computer doesn't need to go through any of that, I use Firefox. And if Microsoft would bother to make a properly permissioned OS with a web-ready application that DOESN'T give remote root access faster than you can say "please", then this article wouldn't exist in the first place.
Yeah, I'll usually install Firefox, along with the explination that if they use it they're not likely to get the same sort of infections (which is probably the only way to modivate them out of their set ways of clicking the IE icon to browse).
Our store gets about 15-20 units checked in per-day. Believe me, I have no need of repeat infections and re-works.
...I fully concur with that estimation, if not higher.
At least 8 of the 10 computers that I fix follow this routine:
Update and run AV program, if possible.
Install Adaware, update, run.
Install Spybot S&D, update, run.
Run CWShredder.
Fire up a HijackThis! log and manually remove the leftovers.
I'm getting pretty damn good at filtering out the hijackthis logs, too.
Seriously, if you familiarize yourself with spyware removal, you could make a killing on the home PC market. Manufacturers won't help you with spyware. It's getting to the point where the retail chains and PC shops won't deal with it either; they'll simply offer you a format/reinstall.
CompUSA does this in just about every single ad they circulate. They do it to generate traffic for people who don't know any better. That's pretty much the entire reason CompUSA exists: People don't know any better.
As far as if Apple will discount the iPod? Don't bet on it anytime soon. The only reason iTunes was released free for Windows was because Apple hoped it would help fuel iPod sales.
You know, This one?
Penny-Arcade has all the rebuttal that needs to be said on that topic.
Well, perhaps they saw the recent ads for MS's .NET server and thought they'd be welcome.
Or perhaps they just came with the benefit of doubt that the place was not run by geek elitist assholes.
But then, maybe I've been desensitized from watching Voyager and Enterprise episodes. I mean come on, even something as silly as Buffy the Vampire Slayer has better plotlines and character development.
I'm a little bitter they didn't have that in my school when I was a tyke.
Subject: My computer, my bandwidth, my choice.
To: general@anti-leech.com
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Length: 636
I must say, the gall of your company is simply
astounding. In this market, where consumer confidence
is dropping and the market is as sluggish as it is,
you have the audacity to claim that those people who
do not allow subversive and potentially malicious code
onto the computer which they own, to be thieves.
What's more, you employ methods to block access to
people wishing to give companies their money, by your
estimates, as many as 15%. I wonder if it occurred to
you that the reason popup blockers are so popular, is
that people have no desire to see popup ads, nor do
they do anything but close them as soon as they
appear. Or that they would take an even more severe
approach, to vow never to purchase from such companies
that apply such obtrusive and invasive tactics.
Again, I applaud you for your utter arrogance in the
face of common sense. I only advise you to keep your
resumes polished and ready, I do believe you well be
needing them in the near future.
Also, if you haven't, you need to see Akira, Ghost in the Shell, Princess Mononoke, and Spirited Away too, if at all possible. Even if you end up not liking them, the quality of these works is undenyable. Rent 'em if nothing else.
While not exactly like Cowboy Bebop, Escaflowne is a fantastic fantasy series. And the music is done by the same composer as Cowboy Bebop, the extrordinarily gifted Yoko Kanno (suck it, John Williams).
Also, as you're a slashdotter and presumably into technology and communications, go check out Serial Experements Lain. Very different. Very mind-blowing. Very cool.
As far as the points of eyestrain and glare, this handy-dandy item will alleviate most, if not all of those problems. Aside from being easy on the eyes, they're also just dang cool, a must for geeks and non-geeks stationed behind monitors alike.
Excuse me? Exactly which industry is raking in the profits for the sales of these popular little discs?
Penny-Arcade has said all that needs to be said, as far as which platform "0wnz", and which is "pwned".
Seriously though, if you really consider yourself a dedicated gamer, you play both console and PC. Purists be damned, they're no better off for their irrational zealosy. Both platforms have great things to offer, and neither one is going away anytime soon. You would think people would take advantage of that awesome diversity and be grateful, instead of being such chattybitch llamas.
True, they were better when they were expensive and unpopular. However, now that neither of these are true, they're going down the same road as every other garbage OEM desktop manufacturer.
They've already started with the proprietary crap (proprietary motherboard + proprietary power supply = can't upgrade either one seperately). I'm sure it won't be long before they start putting the BIOS on the hard disk, or something equally stupid.
Honestly, if you're at all serious about computers, pick up a good PC hardware book and build your own. Even if you don't do it right the first time and make your mistakes, the knowledge gained is more than worth it.
Not even close. Try looking here.
Great choices for games, especially on a long flight, but I'm not aware of a Mac port...
...because as long as Word documents fit on floppies, they won't be going away any time soon.
You were looking for actual news?
Man, has someone ever lost his way...
I'll give testimony to that. I made the best friends of my life in college, and now that we're all out, they're... everywhere. Everywhere but here, that is. True, there are still some in the same state as I, but at least one is currently as far away as Puerto Rico! Yet, we're able to log on to our message board of choice (it's a bbs, even) and stay in contact as if we were shooting the breeze on the old campus grounds. And for this ability, I am deeply grateful.
And yes, I've had the opportunity to make very meaningful, close friendships which started out as nothing more than internet-relay babble.
It's all what you make of it.
Telnetting to the site with a GET request fed back this:
HTTP/1.1 302 Found
Date: Wed, 02 Jan 2002 06:41:09 GMT
Server: Apache/1.3.3 (Unix)
Location: http://207.87.8.117
So it certainly seems to be running an Apache server. So how do you get a lisa to run Apache?
Currently I believe there is a shortage of support and developers for computer related handicapped devices and applications (at least that's my understanding from my conversations with those who've worked with and had experience with this area).
I wondered if some open source avenues could be taken toward this end, since what these people need is effective, reliable, and long lasting software.
Granted, it's not overseas saving the world behind a console, but it's a good start, and a nobel endevor none the less.
Really, as far as I'm concerned, Farscape is the only sci-fi show currently airing that's delivering real quality in nearly every aspect. It's the only sci-fi I've watched lately and said, "Wow, that kicked ass!"
Especially after the monstrosity that was the X-Files premiere. Gggggghhhuuu....
This wasn't the typical IT setting I'm sure, but I had a blast with the guys (and girls!) when I worked helpdesk at the college I was going to.
Some were full time employees, some were part time students, but it really wasn't a large staff. I'd say about 15 to 20 people made up the whole department (the college was moderatly small). It helped that I knew a few of the student workers from on campus, but most of the staff was quite friendly anyway.
Some of the guys there just plain hilarious, as a good number of geeks seem to be, so it was ovearall a very pleasent work atmosphere. The helpdesk coordinator at the time would give all the IT employees a cookout at his home at the end of the year, those were always nice to be a part of.
One of our real vices was playing Quake II (yeah, I know, it was new then, shaddup) on the LAN after hours. Man I miss that job...