As much as I hate to learn that people are using modded consoles to play illegally distributed software, this sort of action makes me shake my head and tut at Microsoft.
If the lock on the door isn't good enough, you don't make lickpicks illegal, you make a better lock. People selling my software illegally make me mad; governments who allow industry to limit my consumer rights make me livid.
He is not a child molester. It depends on the age on consent of the country the act took place in. For instance, the age of consent here in the UK is 16, which qould make his act perfectly fine. In some 'civilised' countries it's as low as 14.
I have no idea what the age of consent is in China, but don't just jump to conclusions because of your own local laws and moral climate.
Re:Actually as an employee of Omnicare...
on
Shrinkwrapped Books
·
· Score: 1
If you were to go to the trouble of returning the book to their local outlet (or whatever), could you charge them for your time and expenses ? It would be pretty easy to justify quite a stiff charge ($200+) for a couple of hours of my time to return a book I didn't request and yet was not 'allowed' to throw in the trash.
It seems the only way to make companies change their behaviour is to make their behaviour expensive for them
This current situation is certainly interesting. As an OSX convert (I now use OSX and Linux instead of Windows), it's refreshing to see Apple feeling confident lately.
The only application that is missing from OSX is a decent Office clone - and that's just because OpenOffice OSX isn't quite here yet (it's coming). Of course MS feel like their back is against the wall. They can't fight Apple over ease of use, and they can't exclusively lock the vendors into Windows only pre-installs. The BSD core of OSX shows Win2K/XP to be the hack that it is, and the windows desktop is feeling tired and glitchy. Mozilla OSX is as good as IE OSX too (some would say better). The only weapon they have against Apple is the threat of withdrawing Office.
I don't use office now, and I don't care to use it in the future. I wonder how many OSX users are really bothered...
Ironic in light of the United States' refusal to join the United Nations resolution to ban the use of land mines, when most other countries in the UN agreed to the banning of this murderous warfare technique.
When Russia pulled out of Afganistan in the late 80s the Russian forces left maps revealing where they had placed land mines, so that the indiginous population could disarm mines in relative safety. Compare this to how unexploded US landmines are still maiming people in South Vietnam after the US invasion of Vietnam in the late 60s. The US's answer to unexploded landmines in North Vietnam is that 'the people know the risks, and shouldn't live in areas contaminated with unexploded mines.'
I'm sure the US tax payer is proud of their great nation.
Brilliant. £2750 for a new powerbook and now it's as good as tin.
Re:blatant reporting bias
on
Microsoft Freon
·
· Score: 2, Interesting
Although I agree that MSNBC is totally biased, I've got to correct you about your estimation of the PS2 vs XBox.
I'm a console programmer, and I've worked on both the PS2 and the XBox. The libraries included with the XBox are a load better than the ones included with the PS2. As is the hardware. XBox kicks PS2 on everything but fill-rate.
The dev-kit is also cheaper, and comes with a full suite of dev tools - something the PS2 dev-kit doesn't do. As much as MS get's deserved grief here on/. it's dangerous to ignore the facts.
I remember attending my first XBox Developers Conference a couple of years ago (I'm an XBox programmer), and hearing from the big cheese at the time that one of the driving forces behind the XBox was the desire to not make it a jack of all trades. 'This isn't going to be a toaster-teapot' or some-such.
I can't help thinking that MS are changing tack with this after the none-too-promising sales of XBox of late. I think they have realised that even though XBox has better hardware than both PS2 and GC, people don't think the XBox is sexy enough to lay over their dough. Sony and Nintendo make sexy, fashionable hardware that people love to own. Most peoples only interaction with Microsoft is when they are forced to fight with Windows whenever they use a PC. Microsoft just ain't sexy, that's the problem they are facing.
But who knows, maybe they will have better luck fighting against TiVO and ReplayTV (if they haven't been sued out of business yet). Maybe they can smuggle XBox in under the wire, in the world of set top boxes where functionality could be perceived as more important than 'fashion accessory'.
Let's just hope they don't make the next one a big plastic brick with badly designed joypads. It's a shame the XBox isn't doing too well (especially in Europe and Japan), it's a great bit of kit; it's just got a chronic image problem. I always thought it was a bad idea to plaster 'Microsoft' all over it.
The software industry sure is innovative. There can't be too many industries which make it so easy for users to start using their product. The only other one which springs to mind is the addictive drug industry - the first hit is always free, right ?
Maybe Windows is to operating systems what nicotine is to recreational drugs. Socially accepted, extortionately priced, ultimately damaging to the user, and very hard to quit.
This Longhorn sounds like the answer to all our problems - an OS that works for us and stops all those nasty viruses and hackers from stealing my VISA card numbers - it will also help me play those nice hollywood films and pop music on my PC without risking that evil mp3 stuff.
rewind two years
This XP sounds like the answer to all our problems - a simple OS that helps me watch all that rich web content without all those old bugs in WindowsME. It's got a redesigned interface and makes working with a PC a safe and enjoyable XPerience - indeed I will be able to fly. Where do I sign up ?
rewind two years
This WindowsME sounds like tha answer to all our PC problems. It's got multimedia extensions built in and more user friendly software. Now I can handle all my media on the PC without fear of downloading any nasty software from the interweb. Where to I pay ?
rewind two years
This Windows98 really is the biz - it helps me handle all my PC jobs and lets me enjoy the interweb without any of that nasty netscape software. It can play media files and even games. Wow - where do I sign up ?
rewind two years
Oh yes - now this is cool Windows95 finally lets me enjoy the power of my 486. It's got a revolutionary new interface and even lets me enjoy the interweb. Where do I sign up ?
rewind two years
Holy smoke, this Windows3.1 really is the biz - I can use a mouse and just click the little pictures instead of having to touch the keyboard. Finally, I can use the PC with one hand.
fast forward to 2010
Wow - this new WindowsXXX really is the biz. I don't even have to type in my credit card details anymore - I can hire music instead of own it, and rent films instead of owning them - I don't have to lift a finger because all my data is held in the safe hands of MS. It even shows me the news when I turn it on - MSNBC really is a high class newsfeed. It tells me how nice those MS people are and how there are no bugs or security problems with Windows. One of my nasty friends tried using that Linux stuff last month, but we all just laughed at him - he's been taken away now for not supplying his social security details at the checkpoint. He was a communist and a theif. I love my happy world of the interweb - someone else has taken care of it all for me. All I have to do now is click a button to consume the lovely produce of our great society. Only terrorists would use anything else - why else would they want to keep their information secret ? I am finally free from all those confusing decisions.
You could do a lot worse than take a look at these books:
Algorithms - Robert Sedgewick
Code Complete - Microsoft
Effective C++ - Scott Myers
Game Programming Gems - Deloura
Design Patterns - Gamma et al.
Large Scale C++ Design - Lakos
Each of these books has served me well during my programming career. If I had to recommend two all-purpose programming must-have's from the list they would be 'Algorithms' by Sedgewick and 'Code Complete'. Algorithms shows you how to program, not how to learn APIs and syntax - it's a true gem. And Code Complete goes through a wealth of knowledge about how to get the job done effectuvely, quickly, and with few bugs - it's very good.
And everyone who keeps on coming back for more is just gullible. Don't get me wrong, the Star Wars and Indiana Jones sagas are incredibly compelling films - I whooped for joy when I heard that the Indy trilogy will be available on DVD soon - but he really is remorselessly manipulative when it comes to money-making.
I bought the Star Wars trilogy when it came out on VHS about 8 years ago, and just after I had bought the vids, what happens but the special editions come out - ready for me to pay for the same films yet again. This was the point I stopped being a chump, and stopped buying Star Wars stuff.
The only thing that is more predictable than Lucas's relentless re-hashing money making antics is the gullibility of the people who keep buying the same films over and over and over again.
But, hey, if that's what you want to do with your money, that's fine - it's your cash. Personally, I'd rather spend it on the EFF, the latest Linux distro (yes I actually pay for and support Linux!), or a good Chomsky book. 8)
Slashdot Mirror
If the lock on the door isn't good enough, you don't make lickpicks illegal, you make a better lock. People selling my software illegally make me mad; governments who allow industry to limit my consumer rights make me livid.
I have no idea what the age of consent is in China, but don't just jump to conclusions because of your own local laws and moral climate.
It seems the only way to make companies change their behaviour is to make their behaviour expensive for them
Anyone know the law about this sort of thing ?
The only application that is missing from OSX is a decent Office clone - and that's just because OpenOffice OSX isn't quite here yet (it's coming). Of course MS feel like their back is against the wall. They can't fight Apple over ease of use, and they can't exclusively lock the vendors into Windows only pre-installs. The BSD core of OSX shows Win2K/XP to be the hack that it is, and the windows desktop is feeling tired and glitchy. Mozilla OSX is as good as IE OSX too (some would say better). The only weapon they have against Apple is the threat of withdrawing Office.
I don't use office now, and I don't care to use it in the future. I wonder how many OSX users are really bothered...
When Russia pulled out of Afganistan in the late 80s the Russian forces left maps revealing where they had placed land mines, so that the indiginous population could disarm mines in relative safety. Compare this to how unexploded US landmines are still maiming people in South Vietnam after the US invasion of Vietnam in the late 60s. The US's answer to unexploded landmines in North Vietnam is that 'the people know the risks, and shouldn't live in areas contaminated with unexploded mines.'
I'm sure the US tax payer is proud of their great nation.
Brilliant. £2750 for a new powerbook and now it's as good as tin.
I'm a console programmer, and I've worked on both the PS2 and the XBox. The libraries included with the XBox are a load better than the ones included with the PS2. As is the hardware. XBox kicks PS2 on everything but fill-rate.
The dev-kit is also cheaper, and comes with a full suite of dev tools - something the PS2 dev-kit doesn't do. As much as MS get's deserved grief here on /. it's dangerous to ignore the facts.
I can't help thinking that MS are changing tack with this after the none-too-promising sales of XBox of late. I think they have realised that even though XBox has better hardware than both PS2 and GC, people don't think the XBox is sexy enough to lay over their dough. Sony and Nintendo make sexy, fashionable hardware that people love to own. Most peoples only interaction with Microsoft is when they are forced to fight with Windows whenever they use a PC. Microsoft just ain't sexy, that's the problem they are facing.
But who knows, maybe they will have better luck fighting against TiVO and ReplayTV (if they haven't been sued out of business yet). Maybe they can smuggle XBox in under the wire, in the world of set top boxes where functionality could be perceived as more important than 'fashion accessory'.
Let's just hope they don't make the next one a big plastic brick with badly designed joypads. It's a shame the XBox isn't doing too well (especially in Europe and Japan), it's a great bit of kit; it's just got a chronic image problem. I always thought it was a bad idea to plaster 'Microsoft' all over it.
Maybe Windows is to operating systems what nicotine is to recreational drugs. Socially accepted, extortionately priced, ultimately damaging to the user, and very hard to quit.
Or maybe I'm rambling again 8).
If we're all users, who is the dealer ?
rewind two years
This XP sounds like the answer to all our problems - a simple OS that helps me watch all that rich web content without all those old bugs in WindowsME. It's got a redesigned interface and makes working with a PC a safe and enjoyable XPerience - indeed I will be able to fly. Where do I sign up ?
rewind two years
This WindowsME sounds like tha answer to all our PC problems. It's got multimedia extensions built in and more user friendly software. Now I can handle all my media on the PC without fear of downloading any nasty software from the interweb. Where to I pay ?
rewind two years
This Windows98 really is the biz - it helps me handle all my PC jobs and lets me enjoy the interweb without any of that nasty netscape software. It can play media files and even games. Wow - where do I sign up ?
rewind two years
Oh yes - now this is cool Windows95 finally lets me enjoy the power of my 486. It's got a revolutionary new interface and even lets me enjoy the interweb. Where do I sign up ?
rewind two years
Holy smoke, this Windows3.1 really is the biz - I can use a mouse and just click the little pictures instead of having to touch the keyboard. Finally, I can use the PC with one hand.
fast forward to 2010
Wow - this new WindowsXXX really is the biz. I don't even have to type in my credit card details anymore - I can hire music instead of own it, and rent films instead of owning them - I don't have to lift a finger because all my data is held in the safe hands of MS. It even shows me the news when I turn it on - MSNBC really is a high class newsfeed. It tells me how nice those MS people are and how there are no bugs or security problems with Windows. One of my nasty friends tried using that Linux stuff last month, but we all just laughed at him - he's been taken away now for not supplying his social security details at the checkpoint. He was a communist and a theif. I love my happy world of the interweb - someone else has taken care of it all for me. All I have to do now is click a button to consume the lovely produce of our great society. Only terrorists would use anything else - why else would they want to keep their information secret ? I am finally free from all those confusing decisions.
Bah - Gimme a 6502...
Anyone got a mirror of this they can paste in ? The proxy is not letting requests in. 8/
- Algorithms - Robert Sedgewick
- Code Complete - Microsoft
- Effective C++ - Scott Myers
- Game Programming Gems - Deloura
- Design Patterns - Gamma et al.
- Large Scale C++ Design - Lakos
Each of these books has served me well during my programming career. If I had to recommend two all-purpose programming must-have's from the list they would be 'Algorithms' by Sedgewick and 'Code Complete'. Algorithms shows you how to program, not how to learn APIs and syntax - it's a true gem. And Code Complete goes through a wealth of knowledge about how to get the job done effectuvely, quickly, and with few bugs - it's very good.I bought the Star Wars trilogy when it came out on VHS about 8 years ago, and just after I had bought the vids, what happens but the special editions come out - ready for me to pay for the same films yet again. This was the point I stopped being a chump, and stopped buying Star Wars stuff.
The only thing that is more predictable than Lucas's relentless re-hashing money making antics is the gullibility of the people who keep buying the same films over and over and over again.
But, hey, if that's what you want to do with your money, that's fine - it's your cash. Personally, I'd rather spend it on the EFF, the latest Linux distro (yes I actually pay for and support Linux!), or a good Chomsky book. 8)
Well, and my new Powerbook of course 8))....
A significant hike in features, but also a significant hike in price.
Still want one though - anyone want to buy me iBook ?