YaST 2 is mostly a configuration application, with a section for package management of rpms from the install media and whatever they have mucking around on their servers. It would work great if gnucash was part of their distribution, but last I checked it was just an ansulary app, and therefore didn't have the updates available through YOU (YaST Online Update).
On the other hand, it comes with pharmacy and (I think) rpm-get, so it has CVS and distribution decently covered.
Yeah, those were great. Even better were the "Gold Box" SSI Dragonlance games. Then again, SSI was the major RTS publisher and those games were, of course, RTSs... and it always seemed to me that they worked best that way, better than the Gauntlet-ish arcade and the might and magic-esque Myth Drannor series.
If you want to dabble with mods, the modplug (modplug.com, I believe)software is the best. If you want samples, RPGamer has a whole bunch of s3m/mod/xms, in addition to the stuff at modplug. Just some handy links.
While a really weird workaround, Neverwinter Nights, I think, can come really close to the old Sierra/Lucasarts adventures. You can make custom objects, triggers, everything. A stretch, but it's possible.
That would be a spectacular idea. However, I think it would be much better suited in this venue for software. I think that would fix 90% of the mess that this COULD cause with application needs. Go to Walmart, browse the software trees, pick what you want, it burns the CD, make some sort of rpm manager (like SuSE's YaST) so they can plug the CD in at home and have everything install nicely. All they would need to do would be to set the kiosk to autoupdate its packages every once in a while. Users get their apps, walmart gets cash and more exposure to customers (waiting for 4 minutes to burn your apps? Have a look over at our microwaves....), and the whole thing is painless.
The problem with this idea, though, is that the major sell Lindows is going for is their subscription service. The whole lindows boat is resting on people subscribing (flatline oem fees) to their app service, and if walmart did the above, that service would be unweildly and absurd in comparison.
I will agree with you in the lack of linux apps at Walmart, but I would like to mention that stocking of linux (and other niche software) is entirely up to the manager of each individual CompUSA (and, for that matter, Best Buy). In fact, my semi-local (not really) CompUSA has a whole aisle of linux and linux-related stuff, and most every "good" boxed distribution. Not only that, thier employees KNOW about all this stuff and can sell it in a responsible and intelligent fashion (telling people everything they can about software x and helping them to get what they want). It's so good I gladly drive the 45 minutes needed to get there, sometimes just to chat about stuff with the staff (but more than likely to grab a game or the newest SuSE).
Our Best Buy in the area is starting to do the same, at least. I dropped in to pick up SuSE 8 and NWN (ate dinner accross the street, don't have time to go to that compusa), and on a lark I asked some of the staff about what they had (which was about twice what they had around the 7.3 release) and they were pretty knowledgable about everything. I think that they're making a concerted effort to support and build linux market share in the area.
so, the point of that long-windedness was that it is possible for a "stupid store" manager and staff to stock, support and sell linux, and while walmart may not be the bastion of consumer/seller credibility, if individual managers see the benefits of training and selling these things in stores, it's very, very possible that it could take off and be a good way to sell linux.
(yes, I buy SuSE in-store rather than FTP install. I like to support stuff I like, so don't don't mock me:P)
Re:Going after users/file sharing
on
RIAA to Sue You Now
·
· Score: 4, Insightful
Use of object has absolutely nothing to do with the legality of that object. If it did, scissors would be illegal because you could kill someone with 'em. Rather stupid, I know, but I'd rather not see P2P die out because it's being used for piracy NOW and the system itself is found illegal rather then down the road when networks like these might actually be productive.
When the hell did they lie to us? How did they screw us over? They delayed the product to make it better. Everyone does it. The only difference is they didn't bump back one of the versions because, most likely, their publisher told them 4 years was enough. You're getting the game, the same way. The only difference is you need to cart over some files and wait a month or whatever. Lying to us would just be canning the game outright.
If you boycott every company that delays a game, then you're not going to be playing a whole lot, methinks.
Very true on all points. I'm just pointing out that we can't be too critical and say they don't care. It seems they do care, all their plans spawned from that kind of just fell apart.
Yes, I know this is late and no one cares anymore, but I WOULD like to point out that Bioware has done an incredible job at least trying to justify and make this game work cross-platform. From the very start, there were supposed to be FOUR versions of NWN, one for Windows, MacOS, Linux and finally BeOS. Come on, any company that would seriously consider developing for 4 completely different platforms (including one that was never popular in its prime) is at least making some sort of effort.
You must also remember, the chunk that Bioware bit off would be a far sight more than a lot of companies could chew. Most would slack off and cut features, or in the least cut corners with gameplay elements, which Bioware DID NOT do. This sizable undertaking took them FOUR YEARS to complete. Since then, the BeOS port fell to the wayside (they couldn't justify writing for a dead OS), and my thinking on the Mac client is that they were not adequetely prepared for the (decently drastic) switch between OS 9 and OS X. As for the windows client, it was rushed to market before they were completely satisfied (there was a patch available the day it was released), probably to appease Infogrames (which bailed them out when they got in that big spat with Interplay, if you recall). I mean, what kind of game has a beta that lasts less than a month?
That leaves the linux client. They promised it at launch, but when they bumped up (or didn't delay, rather) the windows client, I assume they didn't think it would be worth it to rush the linux client to market, and wanted to do things right (a pretty big assumption, granted, but I do believe Bioware is that kind of company. If they didn't have to worry about publishing they'd remind me a lot of Nintendo.) So, we get the linux server (albeit a bit late), with promises for a linux client "soon," but if you really look at it, I think you have to respect the great effort these people put forth to make this game available for EVERYONE, with full cross-platform compatibility.
As for the windows install required for the linux applications, that probably wasn't there not so long ago. The plan was to release all 3 clients (and then later just the 2) on-disc, out of the same box. My best guess is that all that got ripped to shreds when they decided they wouldn't want to release a new edition with the windows and linux clients in stores so soon after the initial launch, so they decided to leave the client all by its lonesome online and grab the libraries off the windows install. True, that doesn't justify the absence of a proper linux install, but it at least might explain why they chose to go this route. Either way, becrying their tactics as valvian is, I think, rather off the mark when you consider what they at least tried to do.
Much, much better than the "CHARGE FOR BINARIES??!?! OMG!!!" Kneejerk I saw in the first half hour of this story. I'd mod you up or something, but I'm an idiot and forgot how to.:(
Actually, look at the figures. Sony makes a loss on every PS2 sold. MS takes a MASSIVE loss on every XBox sold. Out of all the console makers, only Nintendo makes a profit on the actual hardware. Sure, you say, but the money is all in software! And then you remember Sony and MS rely completely on third parties, making less money off licensing than Nintendo with their first and second parties.
"works" and "supported" are two completely different things. without an official and well-tested driver, you can never be really, REALLY sure that the hardware won't just crap out on you.
The difference is that with ___ Linux distro, you can choose to install or leave X application. Windows doesn't give you that sort of power. That's why we're going through this whole mess, because microsoft's manuvered itself to a position where they pretty much dictate what everyone uses, and that's horrible for the consumer.
True, but the point is, it's nurture that a great deal of them don't want to, not nature. Right now the big "regular user" companies aren't talking about power or flexibility or security and focusing completely on making something easy to use. If you blast someone in the ear with the ease of use foghorn 24/7, that's going to have a drastic effect on how people view computers, whether they have a natural inclination to do more or if they really do like pointing and clicking.
And the linux argument is flawed, anyway. Most people don't even know what linux is... most people don't know what an OS is, for that matter. They just take Windows as the computer itself.
The flipside of that argument is that people are stupid about computers and computing options because of this one platform's pervasiveness. Think about it... many computer-illiterates are very, very intelligent people, who can do things like build car engines and the like... they can read and write and think critically. Then you ask "Why are these people intelligent but can't manage to use a computer properly?" And the answer is "Because they've never had to." Maybe if these people had to do research into the OS they'd be buying with their computer and heck, even the hardware that goes into it, they would start to be able to decide for themselves what they liked about different things and, in the process, because a knowledgable and competent user. Just throwing out something and saying "A blind lame inbred camel could use this!" is going to entice everyone to use that product as a blind, lame camel would.
You forget that MS is saying they want to up security. The author is just providing a list of what they need to do. "Oh no, they won't like that because it would cost money!" is stupid, because if they're serious about making security top priority, they're should expect to take the profit cuts associated with making secure software.
And MS in bed with W3C, MS came in and told them that they were going to do things MS's way, and made thier own standard. W3C got fucked over by MS.
The reviews were not so good. If you read the article, one of them decided to review SSB:M early, too. And gave it a dismal rating.
I'm sure Nintendo cares... any bad publicity is... well... BAD.
Slashdot Mirror
That and the fact that, you know, they own the bandwidth to begin with and want it back.
Not everything is a conspiracy. See posts above for non-DRM-enabled HD signals.
YaST 2 is mostly a configuration application, with a section for package management of rpms from the install media and whatever they have mucking around on their servers. It would work great if gnucash was part of their distribution, but last I checked it was just an ansulary app, and therefore didn't have the updates available through YOU (YaST Online Update).
On the other hand, it comes with pharmacy and (I think) rpm-get, so it has CVS and distribution decently covered.
Oh yes, it's a lovely mess. But Tuxgames is apparently offering a real hybrid CD for people that order. Close enough, I guess.
Where's my client?!?!?! ... oops, wrong thread! :O
Yeah, those were great. Even better were the "Gold Box" SSI Dragonlance games. Then again, SSI was the major RTS publisher and those games were, of course, RTSs... and it always seemed to me that they worked best that way, better than the Gauntlet-ish arcade and the might and magic-esque Myth Drannor series.
If you want to dabble with mods, the modplug (modplug.com, I believe)software is the best. If you want samples, RPGamer has a whole bunch of s3m/mod/xms, in addition to the stuff at modplug. Just some handy links.
While a really weird workaround, Neverwinter Nights, I think, can come really close to the old Sierra/Lucasarts adventures. You can make custom objects, triggers, everything. A stretch, but it's possible.
That would be a spectacular idea. However, I think it would be much better suited in this venue for software. I think that would fix 90% of the mess that this COULD cause with application needs. Go to Walmart, browse the software trees, pick what you want, it burns the CD, make some sort of rpm manager (like SuSE's YaST) so they can plug the CD in at home and have everything install nicely. All they would need to do would be to set the kiosk to autoupdate its packages every once in a while. Users get their apps, walmart gets cash and more exposure to customers (waiting for 4 minutes to burn your apps? Have a look over at our microwaves....), and the whole thing is painless.
The problem with this idea, though, is that the major sell Lindows is going for is their subscription service. The whole lindows boat is resting on people subscribing (flatline oem fees) to their app service, and if walmart did the above, that service would be unweildly and absurd in comparison.
I will agree with you in the lack of linux apps at Walmart, but I would like to mention that stocking of linux (and other niche software) is entirely up to the manager of each individual CompUSA (and, for that matter, Best Buy). In fact, my semi-local (not really) CompUSA has a whole aisle of linux and linux-related stuff, and most every "good" boxed distribution. Not only that, thier employees KNOW about all this stuff and can sell it in a responsible and intelligent fashion (telling people everything they can about software x and helping them to get what they want). It's so good I gladly drive the 45 minutes needed to get there, sometimes just to chat about stuff with the staff (but more than likely to grab a game or the newest SuSE).
:P)
Our Best Buy in the area is starting to do the same, at least. I dropped in to pick up SuSE 8 and NWN (ate dinner accross the street, don't have time to go to that compusa), and on a lark I asked some of the staff about what they had (which was about twice what they had around the 7.3 release) and they were pretty knowledgable about everything. I think that they're making a concerted effort to support and build linux market share in the area.
so, the point of that long-windedness was that it is possible for a "stupid store" manager and staff to stock, support and sell linux, and while walmart may not be the bastion of consumer/seller credibility, if individual managers see the benefits of training and selling these things in stores, it's very, very possible that it could take off and be a good way to sell linux.
(yes, I buy SuSE in-store rather than FTP install. I like to support stuff I like, so don't don't mock me
Use of object has absolutely nothing to do with the legality of that object. If it did, scissors would be illegal because you could kill someone with 'em. Rather stupid, I know, but I'd rather not see P2P die out because it's being used for piracy NOW and the system itself is found illegal rather then down the road when networks like these might actually be productive.
When the hell did they lie to us? How did they screw us over? They delayed the product to make it better. Everyone does it. The only difference is they didn't bump back one of the versions because, most likely, their publisher told them 4 years was enough. You're getting the game, the same way. The only difference is you need to cart over some files and wait a month or whatever. Lying to us would just be canning the game outright.
If you boycott every company that delays a game, then you're not going to be playing a whole lot, methinks.
Very true on all points. I'm just pointing out that we can't be too critical and say they don't care. It seems they do care, all their plans spawned from that kind of just fell apart.
Holy mother of forgetting to HTML format it. Sorry :(.
Yes, I know this is late and no one cares anymore, but I WOULD like to point out that Bioware has done an incredible job at least trying to justify and make this game work cross-platform. From the very start, there were supposed to be FOUR versions of NWN, one for Windows, MacOS, Linux and finally BeOS. Come on, any company that would seriously consider developing for 4 completely different platforms (including one that was never popular in its prime) is at least making some sort of effort. You must also remember, the chunk that Bioware bit off would be a far sight more than a lot of companies could chew. Most would slack off and cut features, or in the least cut corners with gameplay elements, which Bioware DID NOT do. This sizable undertaking took them FOUR YEARS to complete. Since then, the BeOS port fell to the wayside (they couldn't justify writing for a dead OS), and my thinking on the Mac client is that they were not adequetely prepared for the (decently drastic) switch between OS 9 and OS X. As for the windows client, it was rushed to market before they were completely satisfied (there was a patch available the day it was released), probably to appease Infogrames (which bailed them out when they got in that big spat with Interplay, if you recall). I mean, what kind of game has a beta that lasts less than a month? That leaves the linux client. They promised it at launch, but when they bumped up (or didn't delay, rather) the windows client, I assume they didn't think it would be worth it to rush the linux client to market, and wanted to do things right (a pretty big assumption, granted, but I do believe Bioware is that kind of company. If they didn't have to worry about publishing they'd remind me a lot of Nintendo.) So, we get the linux server (albeit a bit late), with promises for a linux client "soon," but if you really look at it, I think you have to respect the great effort these people put forth to make this game available for EVERYONE, with full cross-platform compatibility. As for the windows install required for the linux applications, that probably wasn't there not so long ago. The plan was to release all 3 clients (and then later just the 2) on-disc, out of the same box. My best guess is that all that got ripped to shreds when they decided they wouldn't want to release a new edition with the windows and linux clients in stores so soon after the initial launch, so they decided to leave the client all by its lonesome online and grab the libraries off the windows install. True, that doesn't justify the absence of a proper linux install, but it at least might explain why they chose to go this route. Either way, becrying their tactics as valvian is, I think, rather off the mark when you consider what they at least tried to do.
Much, much better than the "CHARGE FOR BINARIES??!?! OMG!!!" Kneejerk I saw in the first half hour of this story. I'd mod you up or something, but I'm an idiot and forgot how to. :(
Actually, look at the figures. Sony makes a loss on every PS2 sold. MS takes a MASSIVE loss on every XBox sold. Out of all the console makers, only Nintendo makes a profit on the actual hardware. Sure, you say, but the money is all in software! And then you remember Sony and MS rely completely on third parties, making less money off licensing than Nintendo with their first and second parties.
"works" and "supported" are two completely different things. without an official and well-tested driver, you can never be really, REALLY sure that the hardware won't just crap out on you.
The difference is that with ___ Linux distro, you can choose to install or leave X application. Windows doesn't give you that sort of power. That's why we're going through this whole mess, because microsoft's manuvered itself to a position where they pretty much dictate what everyone uses, and that's horrible for the consumer.
True, but the point is, it's nurture that a great deal of them don't want to, not nature. Right now the big "regular user" companies aren't talking about power or flexibility or security and focusing completely on making something easy to use. If you blast someone in the ear with the ease of use foghorn 24/7, that's going to have a drastic effect on how people view computers, whether they have a natural inclination to do more or if they really do like pointing and clicking. And the linux argument is flawed, anyway. Most people don't even know what linux is... most people don't know what an OS is, for that matter. They just take Windows as the computer itself.
The flipside of that argument is that people are stupid about computers and computing options because of this one platform's pervasiveness. Think about it... many computer-illiterates are very, very intelligent people, who can do things like build car engines and the like... they can read and write and think critically. Then you ask "Why are these people intelligent but can't manage to use a computer properly?" And the answer is "Because they've never had to." Maybe if these people had to do research into the OS they'd be buying with their computer and heck, even the hardware that goes into it, they would start to be able to decide for themselves what they liked about different things and, in the process, because a knowledgable and competent user. Just throwing out something and saying "A blind lame inbred camel could use this!" is going to entice everyone to use that product as a blind, lame camel would.
silly user, TuxRacer and Chromium have been in the games package since 7.2.
It may not be incredibly newsworthy, but it's a very interesting topic and could spur some nice conversation.
Nothing beats SSI's D&D games. I might set up a box just for those!
You forget that MS is saying they want to up security. The author is just providing a list of what they need to do. "Oh no, they won't like that because it would cost money!" is stupid, because if they're serious about making security top priority, they're should expect to take the profit cuts associated with making secure software. And MS in bed with W3C, MS came in and told them that they were going to do things MS's way, and made thier own standard. W3C got fucked over by MS.
The reviews were not so good. If you read the article, one of them decided to review SSB:M early, too. And gave it a dismal rating. I'm sure Nintendo cares... any bad publicity is... well... BAD.