Things you didn't have in 1997 (on a desktop OS) but wouldn't want to give up today:
* Protected memory (MacOS 8 and 9 didn't have it, neither did Windows 95/98) - necessary for any degree of security and OS stability. * user-mode display drivers (Vista has it... not sure what the MacOS situation is). - drivers shouldn't be able to crash the PC. * 3D acceleration effects through a platform standard API. Eye candy, I know... but I like it. * Reliable plug and play. * multi-threading. * managed code frameworks (.NET, Java on MacOS) - more robust applications at the expense of performance. * Internationalization (wide character) support.
I agree that a lot of the bloat doesn't come from the above, but rather web browsers, media players, etc. Those things don't/shouldn't slow down the PC though; they just take up hard drive space. The above list (by no means complete) consists of features that are GREAT for an OS to have, but do have a negative effect on performance. I'm somewhat frusterated with Vista, but so, so glad I don't have to use (or support) 9x installations (or even 2000 soon - wooo!) anymore.
With the average MP3 i completely agree. With a variable bitrate LAME 3.97 mp3, they sound surprisingly good (though not usually transparent). With 128kbit VBR iTunes AAC, i have trouble spotting even problematic things like clapping (sounds like water rushing because of pre-echo), unless i'm doing a direct comparison with the CD source.
I dunno, on this one i'm pretty torn. On one hand, i hate, HATE, allowing the government to ban anything. I'm a huge advocate of legalized marijuana and prostitution. I think if there is demand for something, we may as well roll with it even if we don't all like it. I don't smoke, but I know very well second-hand how hard it is to quit, and I know many smokers who are very thankful that here in Alberta we've made it easier for them to stop. I'd never ban it outright, but asking them to take it outside - is it really a big deal?
If we don't ban it, what bar will voluntarily kick people out for smoking? None of them will. I really think this might be the only solution (albeit begrudgingly). And I haven't even gotten into the costs to our public healthcare system.
Something i only became aware of after having done a real, double-blind ABX test, is that anyone who says things like "the CD sounded more alive" has never done a real, double-blind ABX test.
If you had, you'd have failed the first time (at probably 96kbps) and then read up on and trained yourself what to listen for: things like pre-echo and ringing on the high frequencies. The "liveliness" of the recording is not really identifiable past about 96kbps - 128kbps with a modern codec.
I remember discussion about whether the PSX would have a DVD drive at launch. You're right; by the time the PS2 was out, they were pretty standard (although they hadn't yet dropped to firesale prices like they did a few years later - it WAS still considered a somewhat luxurious feature). The Blu-ray drive though is an expensive and exotic feature, that most people haven't even heard of yet.
I could have just had good luck over the years, but I've always thought Linksys was the best of the cheap networking brands. Friends with Netgear routers and APs have complained again and again, and I always recommend Linksys to people who ask me for advice. I haven't heard any complaints from them, either. My only major complaint was one NIC that exploded (seriously - literally) wrecking the soundblaster live beside it. It is true though that most of this happened a few years ago, when Linksys was still releasing linux-based equipment.
Twilight princess is fucking incredible (and I can't put it down), but it's pretty ugly in my opinion. Background: I've had a 360 on my 1080p 42" Sharp since before Christmas, and only a few weeks ago managed to find a Wii (hooked up correctly, in 480p and whatnot). RE4 looks better than Twilight princess, and its a 2 year old GC game. Yes, I know Twilight started development as a GC game, but i'm still disappointed that it looks so bland, ESPECIALLY after the (IMO) beautiful Wind Waker.
Anything YOU write in Java would be immune, but unfortunately large parts of the runtime itself are still written in native, platform-specific code. A lot of it (like this image library) could/should be reimplemented in Java though, like the other responder indicated.
bandwidth. We just started doing QoS throttling at work, effectively ruining streaming audio and video applications, in order to save the company money.
Ocarina was freaking awsome, for sure, but I'm playing Twilight Princess now and I'm really amazed at how much more epic it is. I mean, gameplay-wise they're pretty identical (Wiimote aside), but MAN this game kicks ass in the story department. This list is (if you read the article) apparently not giving extra points for being "classic" (first), so i'd say Twilight should be ahead of Ocarina.
Yes, it does. Evolution just means change over time. Linux changes over time. Intelligent design runs counter to Natural Selection as a mechanism for evolution, not evolution itself.
I don't even know what you're trying to say. It sounds like you're disagreeing with me on something, but we were talking about build quality and general console satisfaction. I made an offhand comment about how the dreamcast was pretty cool too. I have no idea why we're talking about console modding now. Very confused.
I bought mine last november. They've changed the disc drive since launch - mine isn't loud at all. I can't really hear it. The fans do get a bit loud during gaming, but not watching movies or media center. I haven't had it crash or hang or anything at all. Discs are not coming out scratched. I don't deny that these things have happend to some people, but they certainly haven't happened to all or most.
I'd actually be inclined to say this is the best all-round console experience I've had since the dreamcast.
I can't wait until I take a guitar lesson, and the instructor tells me that he isn't allowed to teach me, for example, and Warner music, because he only has a Sony license.
Well, i noticed they had her slim down a bit. Probably gave in to pressure. in season one she was pretty fucking tough looking for a leading lady. Not "real world" large, but large for hollywood.
I've never understood "trailers". They don't trail anything, they preempt it. "previews" makes more sense.
Its the same thing with you Americans and your "Check" after a meal. First of all, its "cheque" not "check", and second of all, you PAY bills, and you WRITE cheques. I asked for my bill in California last week, and the waitress stared at me with a blank expression.
Actually, its the lack of a robust, documented SDK. Both machines require the programmers write multithreaded C code (with maybe some powerpc assembly). Microsoft has always been fantastic with SDK documentation for all their platforms, while (at least as of a year ago) parts of the PS3 SDK were still only available in Japanese, if you can believe it.
Once you write a properly multithreaded game engine, it shouldn't really care if it has 3 cores or 7.
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+1
Carl Sagan did it for me. I read Contact i think, first, and then moved on to his non-fiction stuff from there. This was in grade 9 probably.
Things you didn't have in 1997 (on a desktop OS) but wouldn't want to give up today:
* Protected memory (MacOS 8 and 9 didn't have it, neither did Windows 95/98) - necessary for any degree of security and OS stability.
* user-mode display drivers (Vista has it... not sure what the MacOS situation is). - drivers shouldn't be able to crash the PC.
* 3D acceleration effects through a platform standard API. Eye candy, I know... but I like it.
* Reliable plug and play.
* multi-threading.
* managed code frameworks (.NET, Java on MacOS) - more robust applications at the expense of performance.
* Internationalization (wide character) support.
I agree that a lot of the bloat doesn't come from the above, but rather web browsers, media players, etc. Those things don't/shouldn't slow down the PC though; they just take up hard drive space. The above list (by no means complete) consists of features that are GREAT for an OS to have, but do have a negative effect on performance. I'm somewhat frusterated with Vista, but so, so glad I don't have to use (or support) 9x installations (or even 2000 soon - wooo!) anymore.
With the average MP3 i completely agree. With a variable bitrate LAME 3.97 mp3, they sound surprisingly good (though not usually transparent). With 128kbit VBR iTunes AAC, i have trouble spotting even problematic things like clapping (sounds like water rushing because of pre-echo), unless i'm doing a direct comparison with the CD source.
I dunno, on this one i'm pretty torn. On one hand, i hate, HATE, allowing the government to ban anything. I'm a huge advocate of legalized marijuana and prostitution. I think if there is demand for something, we may as well roll with it even if we don't all like it. I don't smoke, but I know very well second-hand how hard it is to quit, and I know many smokers who are very thankful that here in Alberta we've made it easier for them to stop. I'd never ban it outright, but asking them to take it outside - is it really a big deal?
If we don't ban it, what bar will voluntarily kick people out for smoking? None of them will. I really think this might be the only solution (albeit begrudgingly). And I haven't even gotten into the costs to our public healthcare system.
Something i only became aware of after having done a real, double-blind ABX test, is that anyone who says things like "the CD sounded more alive" has never done a real, double-blind ABX test.
If you had, you'd have failed the first time (at probably 96kbps) and then read up on and trained yourself what to listen for: things like pre-echo and ringing on the high frequencies. The "liveliness" of the recording is not really identifiable past about 96kbps - 128kbps with a modern codec.
I remember discussion about whether the PSX would have a DVD drive at launch. You're right; by the time the PS2 was out, they were pretty standard (although they hadn't yet dropped to firesale prices like they did a few years later - it WAS still considered a somewhat luxurious feature). The Blu-ray drive though is an expensive and exotic feature, that most people haven't even heard of yet.
I could have just had good luck over the years, but I've always thought Linksys was the best of the cheap networking brands. Friends with Netgear routers and APs have complained again and again, and I always recommend Linksys to people who ask me for advice. I haven't heard any complaints from them, either. My only major complaint was one NIC that exploded (seriously - literally) wrecking the soundblaster live beside it. It is true though that most of this happened a few years ago, when Linksys was still releasing linux-based equipment.
Twilight princess is fucking incredible (and I can't put it down), but it's pretty ugly in my opinion. Background: I've had a 360 on my 1080p 42" Sharp since before Christmas, and only a few weeks ago managed to find a Wii (hooked up correctly, in 480p and whatnot). RE4 looks better than Twilight princess, and its a 2 year old GC game. Yes, I know Twilight started development as a GC game, but i'm still disappointed that it looks so bland, ESPECIALLY after the (IMO) beautiful Wind Waker.
Anything YOU write in Java would be immune, but unfortunately large parts of the runtime itself are still written in native, platform-specific code. A lot of it (like this image library) could/should be reimplemented in Java though, like the other responder indicated.
bandwidth. We just started doing QoS throttling at work, effectively ruining streaming audio and video applications, in order to save the company money.
Why is this rated funny? The CDN $ is literally 10% higher than it was 6 months ago.
According to TFA, they can't because they need intact cells, and they'll all have burst from the freezing process.
Ocarina was freaking awsome, for sure, but I'm playing Twilight Princess now and I'm really amazed at how much more epic it is. I mean, gameplay-wise they're pretty identical (Wiimote aside), but MAN this game kicks ass in the story department. This list is (if you read the article) apparently not giving extra points for being "classic" (first), so i'd say Twilight should be ahead of Ocarina.
If you literally believe in Noah's ark, then we're done here. Rest of argument: ignored.
Yes, it does. Evolution just means change over time. Linux changes over time. Intelligent design runs counter to Natural Selection as a mechanism for evolution, not evolution itself.
I don't even know what you're trying to say. It sounds like you're disagreeing with me on something, but we were talking about build quality and general console satisfaction. I made an offhand comment about how the dreamcast was pretty cool too. I have no idea why we're talking about console modding now. Very confused.
I bought mine last november. They've changed the disc drive since launch - mine isn't loud at all. I can't really hear it. The fans do get a bit loud during gaming, but not watching movies or media center. I haven't had it crash or hang or anything at all. Discs are not coming out scratched. I don't deny that these things have happend to some people, but they certainly haven't happened to all or most.
I'd actually be inclined to say this is the best all-round console experience I've had since the dreamcast.
Or, they can just contribute to GCC, like I believe Apple did in order to get altivec optimizations in there.
Bah, you can use facts to prove anything. -Homer
I can't wait until I take a guitar lesson, and the instructor tells me that he isn't allowed to teach me, for example, and Warner music, because he only has a Sony license.
Just wait. It'll happen.
Actually, 2nd person would be if the camera was held by those you're shooting at. That would be fairly disorienting.
Well, i noticed they had her slim down a bit. Probably gave in to pressure. in season one she was pretty fucking tough looking for a leading lady. Not "real world" large, but large for hollywood.
Wow, you sure took this tongue-in-cheek discussion seriously. Do you get this worked up about important stuff, too? Yeesh.
I've never understood "trailers". They don't trail anything, they preempt it. "previews" makes more sense.
Its the same thing with you Americans and your "Check" after a meal. First of all, its "cheque" not "check", and second of all, you PAY bills, and you WRITE cheques. I asked for my bill in California last week, and the waitress stared at me with a blank expression.
Actually, its the lack of a robust, documented SDK. Both machines require the programmers write multithreaded C code (with maybe some powerpc assembly). Microsoft has always been fantastic with SDK documentation for all their platforms, while (at least as of a year ago) parts of the PS3 SDK were still only available in Japanese, if you can believe it.
Once you write a properly multithreaded game engine, it shouldn't really care if it has 3 cores or 7.