It seems most of/.'s article headlines these days have been either flamebait, shock-value, or on the lines of "fear-inducing."
Which isn't far from how most US news media outlets act. Over here in Northern VA good old Fox in DC was airing commercials about "a deadly bacteria spreading around the DC area that could kill you!"
And it's that arrogance towards doing things the way people are comfortable doing them that is making the switch from Windows to GNU/Linux for many people too challenging.
But the thing is the most popular window managers are the ones that build upon those previous "bad habits" of Windows users. Gnome and KDE are, either by accident or by design, made to be somewhat familiar in look and feel and behavior as the Win/Mac WMs.
The biggest hurdle to switching, however, is the arrogance of GNU/Linux users. Too many people like yourself are quick to call their past experiences with using a computer (the procedures they've grown comfortable with, such as clicking "next,next,next" to install) "bad habits." You have to take into account procedures they're comfortable with if you're going to want them to switch.
Either that or provide some new procedure that is soooo good that they switch because of it; I've yet to see that on a popular GNU/Linux WM.
You talk about the huge gains in usability (in "linux" no less...which is a kernel...now if we're talking usability in a specific distro or window manager, that's a different matter), but you provide no evidence in your post. How is this informative?
It isn't just the simplicity of dragging an icon into the apps folder that makes software installation easy on OS X. "Usability" includes the assumptions and past experiences of the user. Because users have dragged icons from one place to another, it makes OS X's system of installation simple; it builds on their previous experience.
The problem with much of Linux distro/window manager usability is you're not building on their previous experience (in the context of installation of software) of double-clicking on a binary to run its install script or dragging an icon - they're forced to use a commandline interface for a package manager or compile something or some other nonsense they care not to learn.
The N64 was hardly a flop - 30 million consoles sold is nothing to complain about.
The PS1 didn't win only because it came out first, as your post seems to imply. And "nobody" owned the console, if "nobody" means "lots of people" in that context.
I can't help but think that those without a sense of measure and lack of business education should really comment on a company worth about $10 billion. Especially when they haven't done their homework. The "vicious cycle"...were you even alive back then? Horrible take on the reason Nintendo 64 didn't sell like the PSOne...
Funny thing is the SNES itself (which is the same color scheme as the controller) starts turning a yellowish color because of the material used to make the case...(at least that's what is happening to the top part of my SNES)
The developers over at Konami at least have a sense of humor about it (or maybe they just got tired of the damned code)...but I believe it was in Super R-Type for the SNES, if you pause and do up up down down left right left right B A start, your ship would explode and you'd die:)
X is restricted from 0 to pi (the original poster made this restriction)...meaning we know that sin(X) has values only from 0 to 1...meaning that as long as X != 0 we're fine. The nitpicking poster was just pointing out that now we know that as long as X != 0 then sin(X) is positive, and figuring out whether X == 0 or not is our only factor...which goes in the face of the argument the original poster was trying to make.
Tangent (chuckle) aside, the above facts are just nitpicking...the original post was trying to make a point, but just made a mistake in his way of conveying it...if he said [0,2*pi] it would've been fine...make that (0,2*pi) so that we don't have to go into the negative and positive 0 discussions.
I guess Nintendo's stance on the dead-pixel, offering to replace any DS that has a dead-pixel, forced them into this...otherwise it would've been a blackeye for them. Competition is already making the handheld war good for the consumer. It should make this a good handheld war, much like the golden days of SNES vs Genesis...
Please, I've owned every system from the NES up until the Xbox.
My nickname is not something that stems from being a fan of Kirby games; infact, I've never really owned a Kirby adventure game. The nickname was received at a fighting game tourney where Super Smash Bros. Melee was featured. I tore up all the Sheik and Marth whores with a Kirby, ended up getting first, and someone called me a Kirby meister. It just stuck.
At the same tourney I placed 3rd in Capcom vs SNK2 and got owned pretty quickly in Soul Calibur 2.
And I didn't call your 'nice' kiddy comments a pile of shit; just the argument in general. It's a cop-out for people who just are too unsure of their masculinity and adulthood.
And you are not what you play. If you were, you'd be running over hookers and you'd be able to cast spells at will. Games are played as an escape from what you are limited to in real life abilities. I'd like to have been a space bounty-hunter or a dark knight, but I know I'll never be one.
I guess when one can't argue the points, one turns to snide remarks...
Casual gamers would understand the fun part of gaming better than the hardcore gamers if they wouldn't skip over games like Katamari Damacy, Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo, Viewtiful Joe, Alien Hominid, etc. just because of the presentation styles of those games.
Who cares what the Mario's storyline is? It's the gameplay that matters. You can't seem to understand that...
Here's an example:
Zelda 1 involved controlling Link in a top-view and solving puzzles and defeating enemies in a dungeon to get the triforce pieces.
Zelda 2 involved a side-scrolling Link, and was more action-based than the previous title.
Super Metroid, arguably the greatest 2D platformer of all time, involves a side-view of Samus as you go through the planet in search of the last Metroid.
Metroid Prime brings the game into the 3D realm, a first person adventure game involving light platforming and lots of shooting and exploring.
Those examples are better examples of "ports that are original from the sequel" than your "Halo on the PC is different from Halo on the Xbox" example...
I swear, this kiddy argument is the biggest pile of shit I've ever seen...You're acting like a pre-teen, wanting to "prove" your adulthood...Guess what buddy? I'm 22, and I'm pretty comfortable with my adulthood; I don't need my videogames to tell people I'm "mature." If you need your games to do that, then that's the furthest from the definition of "being mature" that you can get.
The casual gamers like yourself have forgotten that games just need to be fun. If games stop being about fun and start being about image, then what is the point to videogaming?
"...I for one have seen enough Mario's and Zelda's/Pokemons for an entire lifetime , then give me some original PS2 ports instead:-)"
Can you repeat that again? Original PORTS? Don't you understand the very definition of a port?
And if you're talking about port in the sense of bringing a franchise to a console but making new additions to gameplay, then why are you complaining about Zelda, Mario, and other Nintendo franchises? Those franchises go through evolutions in gameplay everytime a sequel is released...
The motion sensor technology in these Powerbooks is the same idea as the ones used in the Thinkpads - detect motion, and if there is too much, it stops the HDDs to prevent any possible damage...
Now, I can't find info on how it exactly works, but I figure it stops the heads until shaking stops (someone care to elaborate?)...Thinkpads have a cool feature on Windows that shows how you're tilting the laptop and when the HDD is stopped.
Indeed...most people don't think Smash has a lot of depth actually...but there are skill levels out there that no scrub can really touch with button mashing...at least not any better than in any other fighting game...
Says who? Apple invested a lot of money in getting Aqua as it is now. It is THEIR product. They created it. It wasn't open source to begin with. While you might not like the fact that you can't compile Aqua for your box, tough. Apple, having created the project, is allowed to choose whatever distribution method it pleases with that project, much like how OSS programmers are allowed to choose the method of software distribution for their product as well.
They have already done the right thing, in returning the part of the product based on someone else's work.
So? How is that bad? They were allowed to use the kernel and package it as they do by the license, and did the right thing by returning code to the community.
What kind of point are you actually trying to make?...
OS X without its GUI would probably fall under crippled. However, OS X as a whole isn't open source software that Apple "took and returned to the community a crippled version to us."
Darwin, the kernel that OS X uses, however, is the OSS project Apple used. Apple has since returned many changes they've made to this kernel back to the community. Aqua, the window manager, was developed by Apple itself, and so does not fall under the category of "OSS product they stole and returned a crippled version to us."
So your original point, that they took Darwin and returned a crippled version of it, is false.
Now, you're saying taking the OSS product, adding a window manager, and returning the changes to the OSS product but not including the WM is what makes Apple evil and against OSS? Who the hell do you think you are? Apple created Aqua on its own; it has the sole right to decide how to distribute it, not you.
Your statement about other distros not adding a WM and commercializing it is moot; most other distros include X11, but if they created their own WM then they would have the sole right to decide how to distribute that.
Are they? I know some "programmers" who definitely do not practice "software engineering" all the time...the engineer who needs a quick tool to plug and chug some calculations isn't really going to care so much about code reuse as someone who's writing a word processor...
Does it count if he flies in the opposite direction the earth rotates? Because then really all he has to do is hover above the ground for 24 hours and he's golden.
Slashdot Mirror
Which isn't far from how most US news media outlets act. Over here in Northern VA good old Fox in DC was airing commercials about "a deadly bacteria spreading around the DC area that could kill you!"
And it's that arrogance towards doing things the way people are comfortable doing them that is making the switch from Windows to GNU/Linux for many people too challenging.
The biggest hurdle to switching, however, is the arrogance of GNU/Linux users. Too many people like yourself are quick to call their past experiences with using a computer (the procedures they've grown comfortable with, such as clicking "next,next,next" to install) "bad habits." You have to take into account procedures they're comfortable with if you're going to want them to switch.
Either that or provide some new procedure that is soooo good that they switch because of it; I've yet to see that on a popular GNU/Linux WM.
It isn't just the simplicity of dragging an icon into the apps folder that makes software installation easy on OS X. "Usability" includes the assumptions and past experiences of the user. Because users have dragged icons from one place to another, it makes OS X's system of installation simple; it builds on their previous experience.
The problem with much of Linux distro/window manager usability is you're not building on their previous experience (in the context of installation of software) of double-clicking on a binary to run its install script or dragging an icon - they're forced to use a commandline interface for a package manager or compile something or some other nonsense they care not to learn.
The PS1 didn't win only because it came out first, as your post seems to imply. And "nobody" owned the console, if "nobody" means "lots of people" in that context.
I can't help but think that those without a sense of measure and lack of business education should really comment on a company worth about $10 billion. Especially when they haven't done their homework. The "vicious cycle"...were you even alive back then? Horrible take on the reason Nintendo 64 didn't sell like the PSOne...
So...you could say you sent him a confirmation e-male? *rim shot*
Funny thing is the SNES itself (which is the same color scheme as the controller) starts turning a yellowish color because of the material used to make the case...(at least that's what is happening to the top part of my SNES)
The developers over at Konami at least have a sense of humor about it (or maybe they just got tired of the damned code)...but I believe it was in Super R-Type for the SNES, if you pause and do up up down down left right left right B A start, your ship would explode and you'd die :)
Wow...I figured that this wouldn't impress you much...:P
I think that whole post could be applied to any slashdot story, and still be valid...the Simpsons have done everything, afterall...
"There's no justice like angry mob justice!"
Tangent (chuckle) aside, the above facts are just nitpicking...the original post was trying to make a point, but just made a mistake in his way of conveying it...if he said [0,2*pi] it would've been fine...make that (0,2*pi) so that we don't have to go into the negative and positive 0 discussions.
I guess Nintendo's stance on the dead-pixel, offering to replace any DS that has a dead-pixel, forced them into this...otherwise it would've been a blackeye for them. Competition is already making the handheld war good for the consumer. It should make this a good handheld war, much like the golden days of SNES vs Genesis...
I did play SotN...which is why I stated Super Metroid was "arguably" the better one...
My nickname is not something that stems from being a fan of Kirby games; infact, I've never really owned a Kirby adventure game. The nickname was received at a fighting game tourney where Super Smash Bros. Melee was featured. I tore up all the Sheik and Marth whores with a Kirby, ended up getting first, and someone called me a Kirby meister. It just stuck.
At the same tourney I placed 3rd in Capcom vs SNK2 and got owned pretty quickly in Soul Calibur 2.
And I didn't call your 'nice' kiddy comments a pile of shit; just the argument in general. It's a cop-out for people who just are too unsure of their masculinity and adulthood.
And you are not what you play. If you were, you'd be running over hookers and you'd be able to cast spells at will. Games are played as an escape from what you are limited to in real life abilities. I'd like to have been a space bounty-hunter or a dark knight, but I know I'll never be one.
Casual gamers would understand the fun part of gaming better than the hardcore gamers if they wouldn't skip over games like Katamari Damacy, Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo, Viewtiful Joe, Alien Hominid, etc. just because of the presentation styles of those games.
Here's an example:
Zelda 1 involved controlling Link in a top-view and solving puzzles and defeating enemies in a dungeon to get the triforce pieces.
Zelda 2 involved a side-scrolling Link, and was more action-based than the previous title.
Super Metroid, arguably the greatest 2D platformer of all time, involves a side-view of Samus as you go through the planet in search of the last Metroid.
Metroid Prime brings the game into the 3D realm, a first person adventure game involving light platforming and lots of shooting and exploring.
Those examples are better examples of "ports that are original from the sequel" than your "Halo on the PC is different from Halo on the Xbox" example...
I swear, this kiddy argument is the biggest pile of shit I've ever seen...You're acting like a pre-teen, wanting to "prove" your adulthood...Guess what buddy? I'm 22, and I'm pretty comfortable with my adulthood; I don't need my videogames to tell people I'm "mature." If you need your games to do that, then that's the furthest from the definition of "being mature" that you can get.
The casual gamers like yourself have forgotten that games just need to be fun. If games stop being about fun and start being about image, then what is the point to videogaming?
Can you repeat that again? Original PORTS? Don't you understand the very definition of a port?
And if you're talking about port in the sense of bringing a franchise to a console but making new additions to gameplay, then why are you complaining about Zelda, Mario, and other Nintendo franchises? Those franchises go through evolutions in gameplay everytime a sequel is released...
Now, I can't find info on how it exactly works, but I figure it stops the heads until shaking stops (someone care to elaborate?)...Thinkpads have a cool feature on Windows that shows how you're tilting the laptop and when the HDD is stopped.
Indeed...most people don't think Smash has a lot of depth actually...but there are skill levels out there that no scrub can really touch with button mashing...at least not any better than in any other fighting game...
They have already done the right thing, in returning the part of the product based on someone else's work.
So? How is that bad? They were allowed to use the kernel and package it as they do by the license, and did the right thing by returning code to the community.
OS X without its GUI would probably fall under crippled. However, OS X as a whole isn't open source software that Apple "took and returned to the community a crippled version to us."
Darwin, the kernel that OS X uses, however, is the OSS project Apple used. Apple has since returned many changes they've made to this kernel back to the community. Aqua, the window manager, was developed by Apple itself, and so does not fall under the category of "OSS product they stole and returned a crippled version to us."
So your original point, that they took Darwin and returned a crippled version of it, is false.
Now, you're saying taking the OSS product, adding a window manager, and returning the changes to the OSS product but not including the WM is what makes Apple evil and against OSS? Who the hell do you think you are? Apple created Aqua on its own; it has the sole right to decide how to distribute it, not you.
Your statement about other distros not adding a WM and commercializing it is moot; most other distros include X11, but if they created their own WM then they would have the sole right to decide how to distribute that.
Are they? I know some "programmers" who definitely do not practice "software engineering" all the time...the engineer who needs a quick tool to plug and chug some calculations isn't really going to care so much about code reuse as someone who's writing a word processor...
Does it count if he flies in the opposite direction the earth rotates? Because then really all he has to do is hover above the ground for 24 hours and he's golden.