I agree that HD shouldn't be considered a huge selling point, because a huge number of perfectly ordinary TV sets are out there. However, I think it would be a huge mistake to ignore it, as well. The same people that buy HDTVs tend to also have a great deal of disposable income as well, and are probably more likely to go out and buy the system.
There are some HDTVs that can display a low resolution picture and it looks just fine, but there are also some HDTVs (LCD) that are at a set resolution. Have you ever seen the GameCube or PS2 in non-progressive scan mode on a TV like that? It looks really awful. Not supporting HD at all means possibly driving some of these people away, and that's not a good thing either.
They don't even have to push it. Just make it so their games can run in higher resolution modes so that the TV doesn't have to make up for it. Computer games have seemingly done this for ages, supporting far more resolutions than the console has to.
The only problem with that is the problem I've had -- stupid people suddenly turn you into a walking question and answer machine.
Collaboration only works when everyone is willing to work. Otherwise you get people who are lazy, stupid, and would much rather ask you instead of figuring it out for themselves.
I'm currently a developer who is doing quite well, without a degree. I've never had a problem getting a job based on my work experience or technical knowledge alone. I've found that adaptability and a willingness to learn goes a very long way in making you important to a company.
I started out working on PCs in a local shop, and did a lot of learning on my own. You can work your way up, and I think the experience of doing so is invaluable. Now I sort of "ride the line" in that I develop a large amount (90%) of my time, but also double as a network engineer if a situation arises that they need more people. Learning to work on hardware as well as write software has proven beneficial.
No, I was, but less frequently, from another box. But with a solution in hand, I won't have to worry about the problem, and I can resume my testing on my development box.
I wouldn't cut out testing entirely, that would be silly. Believe it or not, I rarely run into any problems making it work on both systems, and making sure that it does is not that difficult. The problem was irritating, but now I know why it happened and that I did something stupid, so I'll try to avoid being stupid in the future.:P We all make mistakes sometimes, so I'll accept mine, and move on.
Of course, my seeming good fortune with compatibility is probably due to the fact that the interfaces I'm working on are not complicated things, in terms of HTML/CSS, which makes it easier.
I had problems with 1.5 too, which is the main reason I'm not using it right now.
When I installed 1.5, it took over the Windows file associations for URLs in a different way than it did before. From that point on, whenever I typed a URL inside of Internet Explorer itself, it would open a new Firefox window and go to the site. I literally couldn't use Internet Explorer at all. As a developer, I really need to make sure my programming runs on both, since this was a web based project.
I uninstalled Firefox, and the file shortcuts remained, effectively making it impossible for me to browse at all. I had to look up the settings on another computer and manually fix the file associations.
So, for the moment, I'm not running it at all, and I'm back to using Internet Explorer.
The idea that Best Buy actually cares about their customers boggles the mind.
This has absolutely nothing to do with that. The fact is, Best Buy is running scared since the FTC recently made CompUSA responsible for the rebates they had offered. They were required to put out a good sum of money to make good on those rebates.
"Best Buy announced in April 2005 that it intended to eliminate mail-in rebates from its portfolio within two years in an effort to improve customers' experience. The announcement also followed a warning from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in March 2005 that retailers will be held accountable for all rebates they advertise, including those sponsored by vendors. The edict came after the FTC ordered CompUSA to make good on hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid rebate claims."
I didn't mean to miscommunicate there, I agree completely with what you said. I probably should have phrased it better, but that's why I mentioned the whitelist... anything they need access to, they should be able to have access to, pending someone reviewing it.
But yes, security should be restrictive at first, and then relaxed as needed, so that the maximum potential can be achieved. That, and users tend to complain less when you give them something back, as opposed to taking something away that has become a problem.
The only real problem is overzealous proxy servers, which can be tough to configure, but should have a whitelist of some sort... the rest of the problems mentioned are problems that have solutions. There are plenty of corporate-level antivirus solutions that will allow the control of virus scanning policies so that you could enable the sending of e-mail through SMTP. If it's corporate policy not to allow it, then it really isn't a computer problem, but a company policy problem. There are also plenty of options for keeping up on patches that would relieve the users of this responsibility. Even in the case of Windows, Microsoft distributes a free "private" version of Windows Update, called Windows Server Update Services that can be deployed on a network. This version allows you to choose when and how which patches are distributed; all you have to do is point your computers to the server. Assuming you are running a Windows network, the settings for the Windows Update can be deployed via Group Policy without ever having to visit a workstation. Workstations can be scheduled to update themselves without taking control away from the IT department in regards to which patches they want installed.
Most of that was assuming you are running a Windows-based network. I am not as familiar with Linux software, but I know that similar services are available for Linux as well. In my experience managing network environments, most of this has never been a major problem. It seems to me that the network environment doesn't suffer from too much security, but that the existing security needs to be better managed so that it doesn't prove detrimental to the productivity of the employees.
I keep seeing these keyboard replacements, and I don't understand why they have to mess with the keyboard at all. There are a lot better solutions. The key layout of a keyboard, while great for typing, I found a little uncomfortable for playing games. So I went out and bought a Nostromo SpeedPad n52 from Belkin. It works fantastic, it doesn't replace my keyboard, and it's extremely comfortable.
I much prefer a secondary control device to replacing my good old keyboard.
Definitely good points. I didn't mean to imply that a newbie should be tossed on a network that he isn't aware of; it's obviously best if someone with experience were to work with it, someone who can provide a guiding hand.
I was mainly referring to the fact that a lot of the technicians I've worked with, seem to resist learning at all, be it on their own, or from another more experienced technician. Some of it seems to stem from a fear of the subject matter, and some of it stems from just plain bias. My point was just to keep an open mind about it, because you never know if what you learn might come in handy some day.
This is definitely true. I've found it much easier, if instead of thinking of people as Windows techs, or Linux techs, you simply think of them as techs.
A good tech should not be afraid of discovering and learning any system he or she might put their hands on, because part of being a good tech is learning how to keep your mind open and troubleshoot a problem. It doesn't matter if the problem is Windows, Linux, or a coffee maker -- you use the tools that you have to do the best job you can.
I am a programmer for a living, but I also do double time as a technician. I am just as comfortable configuring Windows Server 2003 as I am with Novell Netware 6.5, or any flavor of Linux. I don't see it as my job, or my passion, to devote myself to one platform. My job is to help people with computers and give them advice on what solution works best for them. Of course, I have a primary area of expertise, but that doesn't stop me from learning on my own.
I own both, and I can say that there's a massive difference in graphics quality between the PS2 and the Xbox.
The PS2 has zero hardware anti-aliasing. The graphics look very jagged compared to both the Xbox, and the GameCube, because of this. The PS2 was released very early in comparison, so it's understandable.
I don't expect the PS3 and the Xbox 360 will look very different, though.
So far, my favorite part, is my ability to continue question solo if I like. The henchman concept, so far, has made it possible for me to play alone if I want.
I realize that if I want to be alone, I shouldn't be playing an MMORPG... but the popularity of MMORPGs has made really good PC RPGs a continuing rarity.
Actually, I did. I had a level 60 Hunter, and when I finished that, I began a priest, which made it to level 41 before everything finally got to be too much. I had also started a few others, but they never made it past level 11 or so.
I am not saying the game was a bad game. It gave me many, MANY hours of entertainment, it was a fantastic game. I was just a bit disappointed when I worked hard to get to 60, and then everything after that was so impossible to tackle. New characters are fun, but when you put so much time in to hit level 60, there's a lot of desire to do more with that character, since you worked so hard to get there.
That was my main reason for losing interest. Coupled with some of the more irritating things of the game, I just decided it was time to move on.
It's the entire reason I cancelled my account and moved to Guild Wars. While I don't know if Guild Wars will be any better toward the end, at least I get the early on experience again. I absolutely despised the end of the game where anything worth attaining on my character was so hopelessly out of reach of someone like me who casually plays. Blizzard consistently said "We realize our main audience is casual players", and then implemented these massive, sluggish requirements on the high level quests.
I don't have 8 hours to sit and play. There are times when I barely have ONE hour.
(Guild Wars is a lot of fun, if anyone is wondering.)
1. Right click on My Computer, and select Manage.
2. Under Storage, select Logical Disk Management.
3. Right click the drive you want to mount under a folder, and click "Change Drive Letters and Paths".
4. Click on Add.
5. Select the option to mount in an empty NTFS folder, and put the folder in.
If you aren't using NTFS, this may not work. I don't have a FAT32 machine handy, though!
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I suppose sending them a death threat with the words "Take my video games away and I'll f****** kill you!" would not be helpful to the cause?
I agree that HD shouldn't be considered a huge selling point, because a huge number of perfectly ordinary TV sets are out there. However, I think it would be a huge mistake to ignore it, as well. The same people that buy HDTVs tend to also have a great deal of disposable income as well, and are probably more likely to go out and buy the system.
There are some HDTVs that can display a low resolution picture and it looks just fine, but there are also some HDTVs (LCD) that are at a set resolution. Have you ever seen the GameCube or PS2 in non-progressive scan mode on a TV like that? It looks really awful. Not supporting HD at all means possibly driving some of these people away, and that's not a good thing either.
They don't even have to push it. Just make it so their games can run in higher resolution modes so that the TV doesn't have to make up for it. Computer games have seemingly done this for ages, supporting far more resolutions than the console has to.
Actually, it's a Ford. Though, I guess that really isn't too far apart. :)
My dad's new truck only allows you to set while the PARKING BRAKE is on. You can't even just be in park!
However, I just bought a new car, and the system allows me to do whatever I want while cruising down the road... go figure.
The only problem with that is the problem I've had -- stupid people suddenly turn you into a walking question and answer machine.
Collaboration only works when everyone is willing to work. Otherwise you get people who are lazy, stupid, and would much rather ask you instead of figuring it out for themselves.
Hey, we're not all like that. :) I go to the gym 6 days a week!
I second this.
I'm currently a developer who is doing quite well, without a degree. I've never had a problem getting a job based on my work experience or technical knowledge alone. I've found that adaptability and a willingness to learn goes a very long way in making you important to a company.
I started out working on PCs in a local shop, and did a lot of learning on my own. You can work your way up, and I think the experience of doing so is invaluable. Now I sort of "ride the line" in that I develop a large amount (90%) of my time, but also double as a network engineer if a situation arises that they need more people. Learning to work on hardware as well as write software has proven beneficial.
No, I was, but less frequently, from another box. But with a solution in hand, I won't have to worry about the problem, and I can resume my testing on my development box.
:P We all make mistakes sometimes, so I'll accept mine, and move on.
I wouldn't cut out testing entirely, that would be silly. Believe it or not, I rarely run into any problems making it work on both systems, and making sure that it does is not that difficult. The problem was irritating, but now I know why it happened and that I did something stupid, so I'll try to avoid being stupid in the future.
Of course, my seeming good fortune with compatibility is probably due to the fact that the interfaces I'm working on are not complicated things, in terms of HTML/CSS, which makes it easier.
Wow, that's good to know. I couldn't find anything about the problem when I looked.
Seeing as I have full MSDN access, though, I wouldn't say it was illegal. Whether or not Microsoft would, I couldn't care less.
I had problems with 1.5 too, which is the main reason I'm not using it right now.
When I installed 1.5, it took over the Windows file associations for URLs in a different way than it did before. From that point on, whenever I typed a URL inside of Internet Explorer itself, it would open a new Firefox window and go to the site. I literally couldn't use Internet Explorer at all. As a developer, I really need to make sure my programming runs on both, since this was a web based project.
I uninstalled Firefox, and the file shortcuts remained, effectively making it impossible for me to browse at all. I had to look up the settings on another computer and manually fix the file associations.
So, for the moment, I'm not running it at all, and I'm back to using Internet Explorer.
Hmm... linked worked from Google, but not from here. If anyone is truly interested, I found it with this Google search.
The idea that Best Buy actually cares about their customers boggles the mind.
This has absolutely nothing to do with that. The fact is, Best Buy is running scared since the FTC recently made CompUSA responsible for the rebates they had offered. They were required to put out a good sum of money to make good on those rebates.
From http://www.twice.com/article/CA6301701.html:
"Best Buy announced in April 2005 that it intended to eliminate mail-in rebates from its portfolio within two years in an effort to improve customers' experience. The announcement also followed a warning from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in March 2005 that retailers will be held accountable for all rebates they advertise, including those sponsored by vendors. The edict came after the FTC ordered CompUSA to make good on hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid rebate claims."
I didn't mean to miscommunicate there, I agree completely with what you said. I probably should have phrased it better, but that's why I mentioned the whitelist... anything they need access to, they should be able to have access to, pending someone reviewing it.
But yes, security should be restrictive at first, and then relaxed as needed, so that the maximum potential can be achieved. That, and users tend to complain less when you give them something back, as opposed to taking something away that has become a problem.
The only real problem is overzealous proxy servers, which can be tough to configure, but should have a whitelist of some sort... the rest of the problems mentioned are problems that have solutions. There are plenty of corporate-level antivirus solutions that will allow the control of virus scanning policies so that you could enable the sending of e-mail through SMTP. If it's corporate policy not to allow it, then it really isn't a computer problem, but a company policy problem. There are also plenty of options for keeping up on patches that would relieve the users of this responsibility. Even in the case of Windows, Microsoft distributes a free "private" version of Windows Update, called Windows Server Update Services that can be deployed on a network. This version allows you to choose when and how which patches are distributed; all you have to do is point your computers to the server. Assuming you are running a Windows network, the settings for the Windows Update can be deployed via Group Policy without ever having to visit a workstation. Workstations can be scheduled to update themselves without taking control away from the IT department in regards to which patches they want installed.
Most of that was assuming you are running a Windows-based network. I am not as familiar with Linux software, but I know that similar services are available for Linux as well. In my experience managing network environments, most of this has never been a major problem. It seems to me that the network environment doesn't suffer from too much security, but that the existing security needs to be better managed so that it doesn't prove detrimental to the productivity of the employees.
I keep seeing these keyboard replacements, and I don't understand why they have to mess with the keyboard at all. There are a lot better solutions. The key layout of a keyboard, while great for typing, I found a little uncomfortable for playing games. So I went out and bought a Nostromo SpeedPad n52 from Belkin. It works fantastic, it doesn't replace my keyboard, and it's extremely comfortable.
I much prefer a secondary control device to replacing my good old keyboard.
Definitely good points. I didn't mean to imply that a newbie should be tossed on a network that he isn't aware of; it's obviously best if someone with experience were to work with it, someone who can provide a guiding hand.
I was mainly referring to the fact that a lot of the technicians I've worked with, seem to resist learning at all, be it on their own, or from another more experienced technician. Some of it seems to stem from a fear of the subject matter, and some of it stems from just plain bias. My point was just to keep an open mind about it, because you never know if what you learn might come in handy some day.
This is definitely true. I've found it much easier, if instead of thinking of people as Windows techs, or Linux techs, you simply think of them as techs.
A good tech should not be afraid of discovering and learning any system he or she might put their hands on, because part of being a good tech is learning how to keep your mind open and troubleshoot a problem. It doesn't matter if the problem is Windows, Linux, or a coffee maker -- you use the tools that you have to do the best job you can.
I am a programmer for a living, but I also do double time as a technician. I am just as comfortable configuring Windows Server 2003 as I am with Novell Netware 6.5, or any flavor of Linux. I don't see it as my job, or my passion, to devote myself to one platform. My job is to help people with computers and give them advice on what solution works best for them. Of course, I have a primary area of expertise, but that doesn't stop me from learning on my own.
Uhm... this isn't a Blizzard game... it's by Gas Powered Games, and published by Microsoft.
I own both, and I can say that there's a massive difference in graphics quality between the PS2 and the Xbox.
The PS2 has zero hardware anti-aliasing. The graphics look very jagged compared to both the Xbox, and the GameCube, because of this. The PS2 was released very early in comparison, so it's understandable.
I don't expect the PS3 and the Xbox 360 will look very different, though.
I have a hard time understanding how Sony ever thought this was going to take off in the first place.
Why does Sony think I want to buy my movies twice?
So far, my favorite part, is my ability to continue question solo if I like. The henchman concept, so far, has made it possible for me to play alone if I want.
I realize that if I want to be alone, I shouldn't be playing an MMORPG... but the popularity of MMORPGs has made really good PC RPGs a continuing rarity.
Actually, I did. I had a level 60 Hunter, and when I finished that, I began a priest, which made it to level 41 before everything finally got to be too much. I had also started a few others, but they never made it past level 11 or so.
I am not saying the game was a bad game. It gave me many, MANY hours of entertainment, it was a fantastic game. I was just a bit disappointed when I worked hard to get to 60, and then everything after that was so impossible to tackle. New characters are fun, but when you put so much time in to hit level 60, there's a lot of desire to do more with that character, since you worked so hard to get there.
That was my main reason for losing interest. Coupled with some of the more irritating things of the game, I just decided it was time to move on.
I definitely agree with this one.
It's the entire reason I cancelled my account and moved to Guild Wars. While I don't know if Guild Wars will be any better toward the end, at least I get the early on experience again. I absolutely despised the end of the game where anything worth attaining on my character was so hopelessly out of reach of someone like me who casually plays. Blizzard consistently said "We realize our main audience is casual players", and then implemented these massive, sluggish requirements on the high level quests.
I don't have 8 hours to sit and play. There are times when I barely have ONE hour.
(Guild Wars is a lot of fun, if anyone is wondering.)
1. Right click on My Computer, and select Manage.
2. Under Storage, select Logical Disk Management.
3. Right click the drive you want to mount under a folder, and click "Change Drive Letters and Paths".
4. Click on Add.
5. Select the option to mount in an empty NTFS folder, and put the folder in.
If you aren't using NTFS, this may not work. I don't have a FAT32 machine handy, though!
Am I the only one who is looking forward to the day when I can plug things into my head? :P